The Maine Film & Video Association (MFVA)
Promoting Maine's Media Community
September 25, 2008 Fall MFVA Meeting
at the Camden International Film Festival
"Maximizing Production Values"
ROCKPORT -- The next meeting of the Maine Film and Video Association is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport and features a dynamic panel discussion on how to produce a high value look and style on a limited budget. Come learn some tips from seasoned veterans who have made a career out of creating exceptional works of film on both shoestring and big budgets.
All are welcome. Free for MFVA members, Workshop students, and UMaine students with valid ID; $5 for non-members; $25 for annual dues (includes entry to all meetings).
The meeting will be held in Union Hall (the brick building on the harbor at 2 Central St., Rockport, Gallery Entrance). The Workshops will also offer dinner for all participants beginning at 6:00 p.m. The charge is $10. Please RSVP to kanelewis@aol.com as soon as possible.
The MFVA meeting will be followed by the Opening Night of the Camden International Film Festival (September 25-28) which will feature a special work-in-progress screening of "The Way We Get By", a raw and intimate look at the lives of three senior citizens in Maine, who greet troops at the Bangor International Airport.
Facing issues common to the nation's ever-growing population of seniors, these greeters find the strength to overcome their own personal battles, and learn to say goodbye to what they love the most.
MFVA Panel Presenters include:
Bestor Cram: Bestor Cram has over twenty-five years of experience as a director,producer and cinematographer. In 1982, Bestor founded Northern Light Productions. Under his direction, Northern Light has produced and directed scores of films including many broadcast documentaries that concentrate on issues relating to contemporary society, science, art and history. His latest documentary feature Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (2008) has been sold to television broadcasters around the world and is being distributed by SONY BMG in a box-set, re-release of the classic1968 album. Other recent credits include The Special (2005, PBS) selected for AFI's Silver Docs, and Unfinished Symphony: Democracy and Dissent (2001, Sundance Film Festival) which won top honors at festivals home and abroad. As a lighting cameraman, Bestor's shooting forte lies in 16mm and 35mm film as well as extensive use of HD formats. He studied and lectured with Richard Leacock at MIT, has taught film at Tufts University and the Art Institute of Boston. He was a founding board member of the Boston Film/Video Foundation, and is the Massachusetts representative to the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers.
Anelisa Garfunkel: Anelisa began as a filmmaker in the Federated States of Micronesia. As the in-house filmmaker for Micronesian Seminar (MicSem), a local non-profit, she wrote, produced, directed, and edited over fifteen educational films about the pressing socio-economic issues of the region. The films have been broadcast throughout Micronesia and the South Pacific. In the past year, Anelisa finished her first dramatic short film, St Milly. Prior to St. Milly, Anelisa completed work on a personal documentary film, One Hundred Steps. This film is a social commentary on healthcare and disability told through her father's struggle after a debilitating injury left him a quadriplegic.
Jim Planette: Jim Plannette is one of Hollywood's most renowned and respected Chief Lighting Technicians (Gaffer) with more than 30 years experience in the motion picture business. As Gaffer, he collaborated with the DP in the lighting of over 35 films including"Young Frankenstein," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "The Fisher King," "Legends of the Fall", "Braveheart", "Twister", "The Rainmaker", "Magnolia", "Traffic", "Heist", "Ocean's Eleven", and "Solaris".
Geoffrey Uloth: A former professional snowboarder, Geoff Uloth is a graduate of Communication Studies at Concordia University in Montreal. After founding his independent production company, Evergon Arts, Geoff has spent the last 10 years working within the Montreal film community, and has written, directed and produced three award-winning short films as well as directed several television spots. Geoff is currently in post-production on two new shorts and is in development on two feature films that he will write and direct.
The MFVA meeting starts at 4:00 PM with a "meet and greet" and free refreshments.
The panel discussion will take place from 4:45 - 6:00 followed by dinner at the Workshops, then the Opening Night of the Camden International Film Fest's work-in-progress screening of The Way We Get By at 7:00 at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, Maine.
On Saturday, September 27 the MFVA, in conjunction with the Portland Media Artists and the Camden International Film Festival, will be holding a FILMMAKERS' ROUNDTABLE on the future of film tax incentives in Maine. The Roundtable will take place at 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in the Farnsworth Museum's Auditorium. The meeting will continue at the Black Bull in Rockland, 420 Main St. The meeting is free and open to all.
The Maine Media Workshops are located at 70 Camden Street, Rockport, Maine. (UMVA meeting at 2 Central St., Rockport, Gallery Entrance) Phone: 207-236-8581 Web: www.theworkshops.com.
The Farnsworth Museum is located at 16 Museum Street, Rockland, Maine. Phone: 207-596-6457 Web: www.farnsworthmuseum.org.
For more information on these events also check out the Camden International Film Festival website at www.camdenfilmfest.org.
Check out the MFVA website at www.mainefilm.com New annual membership fee $25 for individuals, $45 for organizations, $10 for students.
