Panelmania
It has been a week of panels for me. Yesterday I moderated a panel on distribution at the Evil City Film Fest. The panels took place in the basement of Fontana’s Bar in the Lower East Side and it felt like we should have been doing karaoke and burlesque rather than talking about film but the small crowd was really into it and I highly recommend moderating after drinking margaritas! The panels started with one on blogging with a fantastic line-up: S.T. VanAirsdale from The Reeler, Karina Longworth from Spout, Pamela Cohn from Still in Motion, and Mike Tully from Boredom at its Boredest. These people are all great writers with the gift of the gab so it was a rowdy and fun panel.
Danielle DiGiamcomo moderating with aplomb – Stu VanAirsdale, Karina Longworth, Pamela Cohn and Mike Tully
The panel on distribution also had a really great line-up: Susan Buice and Arin Crumley directors of Four Eyed Monsters, Leah Meyerhoff director of Team Queen and Twitch and really on it with her website and mailing list, Danielle DiGiacomo of distributor IndiePix, Billy Saleebey director of Rolling, and Jerry Rapp director of Mojave Phone Booth. These directors are smart and savvy about distribution and marketing and are clear that things are changing and changing fast. Filmmakers need to stay on top of the game to find their audience and get their work out there. They are also very aware of the power of the Web as a vital tool in this revolution – and they share their resources and experiences so check out their websites to find out more. I learned about TubeMogul, a great site for easily uploading your films to the top video sharing sites and then tracking who is watching your work and how. Analytics are so important when you’re trying to keep track of what is having an impact and where, although I have to admit that I haven’t really gotten my head around all the available web-analytic tools yet and I’m very suspicious of the accuracy of many of them.
Leah Meyerhoff, Danielle DiGiacomo, and Pamela Cohn
Earlier last week I participated in a panel at the Foundation Center – How You Can Afford to Be an Artist: Ideas for Creating a Sustainable Career. I am often surprised by the lack of communication between filmmakers and other artistic pursuits and it was really great to sit on a panel with people doing such amazing things for the arts in NYC because at the end of the day we are all going to be so much stronger if we partner up and share resources as we fight the good fight to allow creativity to flourish in a city where it can sometimes (often?) feel impossible to be an artist/independent filmmaker. The Foundation Center offers lots of free events and it is definitely worth looking into what might be useful for you. And please check out the organizations of my fellow panelists who inspired me so much with their passion and the incredible things they are doing:
Fractured Atlas is a non-profit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. Our programs and services facilitate the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it. We help artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, healthcare, education, and more, all in a context that honors their individuality and independent spirit. By nurturing today’s talented but underrepresented voices, we hope to foster a dynamic and diverse cultural landscape of tomorrow.
Chashama
Since 1995, chashama, a non-profit arts organization has provided opportunities for performing and visual artists by awarding grants, producing shows and providing subsidized studio, rehearsal and performance space.
Materials for the Arts, NYC helps artists realize their visions, provides students with a richer educational experience, and furnishes businesses with a simple and efficient way to enhance the cultural life of their city while promoting environmental awareness and reuse.
Rock on.