I learned about Sezmi via a friend of mine in Los Angeles.  They are head quartered in the bay area and offices in  Fort Lauderdale.  The company was founded by Dr. Pati who holds a Ph.D in electrical engineering.  He is also a very successful entreprenuer. Sezmi is a creative solution for audiences who are now watching TV and movies on the web. The product is designed for your own personal preferences regarding what you like to watch. This includes TV shows( old and new) on the web, movies or any content made for the web strictly. As a customer, you don’t have to worry about a complicated process of making it function properly either, ie) wiring or a set up box. Also, this enables the customer to have a visually enjoyable viewing experience. You don’t have to use your lap top or computer anymore! All the programming is customized for you.

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I came across Quantcast and am amazed to see what services they can provide for the small business owner or even a big corporate house.  Quantcast already works with 220 million internet users in the U.S  and is growing rapidly. This model is more advertising geared in order to target consumers directly. I do see this model working for a filmmaker if one is aware of how to brand what you are selling. Or it could work for a film production or sales company that has a strong web presence. They are based in Sanfrancisco and New York with many or hubs or “data centers” around the globe. Very exciting and innvovative information for your business.

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I came across this company on the web and it caught my eye because of how innovative their services are in today’s world of technology and media.  Ooyala includes a team with online expertise in media, marketing, advertising, consumer and enterprise technologies.  The company is growing fast and they are hiring in Mountain View, New York and London. This company is rapidly expanding because of the huge market demand. I am impressed with the CEO’s vision and what he has already accomplished thus far. Jay Fulcher is someone I am keeping my eye on now and in the years to come. He is penetrating hollywood and several companies in various business sectors that have a need for effective online video services that also include marketing and web analytics.

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San Francisco Silent film festival is beginning July 10th. It’s a rare treat and one of the most  renowned  events in the United States.  This marks the 14th year of the festival.  Some works include “The Gaucho” and “Amazing Tales From the Archives” and the “Underworld”. The Castro theater is the perfect selected venue. One feels you are in the 1920’s during this festival.  For more information about this festival.  Check out. http://www.silentfilm.org/

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A filmmaker to appreciate and to learn from is Mohsen Makhmalbaf. He  alone created the new wave of Iranian cinema and his daughter who was one of his  first students  is the youngest directors to date to be invited to Cannes for her film, “Sib” ( The Apple 1998).   After Makhmalbafmade several incredible films, he devoted himself to produce and mentor new filmmakers. He established the  Makhmalbaf Film House. His efforts were successful despite being criticized by the Iranian Ministry of Culture. He started the school at his very own home with his family and friends who were  his first students.  Read more at  Mohsen Makhmalbaf.

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 In Dubai, ( GFF) will be screening a number of films made which is a product of the thriving and growing Saudi film industry. Films like “Revenge” and ” The Fort” are voices of a part of the world that we don’t often hear.  There are also a number of short films which have come from Saudi Arabia.  This is one part of the world, where a multitude of stories and perspectives are starting to get noticed and this film festival is giving a platorm for this to finally start happening. This is a 6 day event being programmed by the Dubai Culture and Arts Association.

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 I came across another interesting article posted from indieWire regarding distribution. Peter Marshall also brought it to my attention.   We all know that getting a good theatrical run is tough and very limited so at least we have the internet as an outlet.  Panelist at SXSW,  Gary Huswit did earn 60 grand in digital sales for his doc, “Helectiva”. There is hope. Filmmakers now have a means to go directly to their audiences but is this enough? Another great point raised is why strengthen someone else’s company with online sales when you can do it yourself ( for your own company) and in fact strengthen your own voice and brand.

The fact is many filmmakers don’t have an interest in distribution. However times are changing. Instead of getting ripped off by a traditional sales company or distributor  for a domestic video release, there is opportunity now to manifest sales of your film on your own so you don’t have to share any profits with anyone else. Its getting easier and not as time consuming. I guess you do have to have some interest in distribution though. I can understand why a filmmaker would want to focus on the film alone and nothing more. A solution is work with someone you trust that can help you with online distribution. A friend or colleague who understands the potential and has a vested interest in knowing how much of an advantage you have with the present day marketplace in today’s world of entertainment.

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 If you are in paris or live in Paris, Check out the 11th Brazilian film festival at the end of April.  The Birth of the Bossa Nova and Claude Levi-Strauss will be highlighted. Three documentaries will be shown, highlighting Nova’s life. This is also gives you a chance to discover new fiction films and documentaries coming out of Brazil’s rich historic and cultural heritage. I wish I could go!

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 Dante’s Inferno will be made into an animated feature film by Electronic Arts in Mumbai and Starz Media. This is the second collaboration between a video game company and the animation studio. Starz Media will display it for the international TC. Community. Starz is already doing intl. sales for Dead Space: Downfall at MIPTV.  It will be interesting to see how Dante does in the intl. marketplace. Animation is a more challenging sell in the tv arena domestically or on an international level. However, the team is taking a very creative approach. For one, using multiple studios.

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I am excited to see “Antichrist”.  The story is about a couple who is suffering the loss of a child.  They decide to take refuge in a cabin where all of these unthinkable things start happening.  Need I say more? In that case, check out IndieWire for more details.

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 This is an amazing time. Professionals from Google, BBC, SKY , Facebook and a handful of others speak in an internet marketing class about how social media is crucial to marketing in today’s world, even for the “corporates” or bigger companies. They have to keep up. Social media is growing faster in the North America but Europe is catching up too.

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Scary Cow Productions is an easy way to get started with meeting other filmmakers to get inspired and supported.  This environment and model allows you to make feature films in an affordable way.  You work in small teams and compete with other teams , the best team goes to the next level in order to make another film funded by Scary Cow. You are learning filmmaking by making films. This model is similar to the American Film Inst. MFA program. This is the best way to learn, hands on and ego off.   

Membership is only $50 a month.

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What a great way to take advantage of a disability and transform it into a means of seeing and experiencing the world in a unique way. This is the story of someone who is using his disability as a way to empower.  As filmmakers we hope to share and inspire others to see, capture and celebrate alternative ways of experiencing our environment. What if you as a filmmaker, were lacking one eye?

Rob Spence is a courageous man to put a camera in his prosthetic eye. His muscles in his eye socket will move the camera. Rob won’t include anyone in his doc about “sleepwalking into an Orwellian society” without their permission. I think this is a great experiment and unique to Rob’s voice and his perspective. Its honest and nobody can actually use this same tactic unless they are missing an eye! This is what is so powerful about Rob. I wish him the best of luck with the documentary and I cannot wait to see it!

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The Berlinale film festival in Berlin was not affected by the recession from a consumer’s perspective. Interestingly enough, by mid festival, there were more tickets sold in 2009 than were sold by the end of the festival in 2008. Galas were also sold out as well. Berlinale was successful because of the selection of films and the quality of their events. Inspite of the global economic recession, International movie goers or even buyers are looking for interesting stories that are unique and that can appeal to the masses. Berlinale has always been known for recognizing talent and producing unique events for the general public.

[via Spiegel]

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The independent voices of entertainment are suffering because the freedom to distribute movies and television is being pushed out by major media companies. Our industry is being led by a handful of conglomerates such as TIME WARNER and CBS. They have combined TV, cable networks, studios and as many possible distribution channels to all be one entity for any given conglomerate. The result is there is no room for independent air time. This is affecting the Internet as well. The independent’s hope of creating a  presence online and with new media may be at major risk. Telecom and cable companies are striking deals to secure program supply for broadband networks they control… YIKES!!! This is what scares me the most. You can do something about this. Read more in detail at Fight for Independents.

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President Obama signed a bill delaying the changeover of TV broadcasting signals from analog to digital. The proposed change was to take effect on Tues Feb 17th, 2009, and has been delayed until June 12th. It affects older TV sets that use antennae. In a nutshell, this means your non-digital TV will cease to get signals after the changeover. You will have to buy a converter box which is about $60. The supply of free coupons for consumers was exhausted.

The question is will this really enable the U.S to take advantage of “free” frequencies used by emergency organizations. What are these emergency organizations?

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One of my favorite design websites, Smashing Magazine, recently published a collection of 50 beautiful movie posters. I’m not sure if “beautiful” is the right word, but there really are some great examples in this collection. Many of my favorite “lo-fi design” movie posters are represented, so I’m happy. And then there’s the American Beauty poster above - sorry but I’m just a sucker for a bare belly button.

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A blogging colleague of mine, Mubs, has just launched his See It? Skip It? site. Not only does it show some of the latest movie posters, but you can also see trailers. Want to vote on something? Just register and have fun. Of course, now I don’t have to finish the movie poster/ trailer site I’d set up elsewhere at this site

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This is the first in an irregular series of posts providing links to possible freelance work in the area of film. Initially, the opps listed might only be writing, but I’ll try to expand over time.

Here are today’s items:

1. Articles about Accolade-winning filmmakers - $100 - Craigslist.
2. Writers for web series to film project - Craigslist.
3. Dramatic screenplay needs writer - LA - Craigslist.
4. Comedy script writer needed - LA - Craigslist.
5. Writer needed for movie summary - $150 - South Bay - Craigslist.

If you have paid film-related work that you would like listed, please email them to rdash001 at yahoo dot ca. Listings are currently free. Please put “FilmScenic Work Listings” in the subject line.

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Edward Norton plays Dr. Bruce Banner in the new The Incredible Hulk movie, opening Fri Jun 13, 2008. Except apparently he hasn’t been doing any publicity, and is supposedly hiding away on some island.

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