The following is taken from an email sent by Thomas Kelly of REK Films:

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IFN

Independent Filmmaker’s Network

We would like to thank all of the 48 Hour filmmaker’s and guests who helped make last month’s IFN a success! 

IFN has grown in multiple ways over the past couple of months.  Our first night, May 24th 2009, had just about 150 in attendance.  Our second night, August 25th, was more than double with over 300 guests throughout the course of the night.  We expect things to get bigger and better from here on out. 

IFN has changed dynamically as well, by expanding to Independent Filmmaker’s Network, we are looking towards new ways to strengthen our community.  IFN offers a way for independent filmmakers to not only stay in contact with one another, but work and learn together as well.  Each night we will ways for our community to get engaged and refine our skills through contests, screenings, and workshops. 

REK Films is proud to announce that the next IFN will be held on September 23rd at the House of Blues New Orleans for the low price of $5 (proceeds go to contest winners and the growth of IFN). This month we have plenty in store for you.

We have broken the night up into three parts, in order to offer opportunities and variety to everyone.

PART I: The Contest 

The contest will be the first portion of IFN inviting friends, family and filmmakers to vote for their favorite. This is a way for New Orleans filmmaker’s to shine on a monthly basis, showing everyone what they are learning and keeping the creative gears grinding.  The contest will change each month and will push filmmakers to the limits of their creativity, encouraging them to work together and think outside of the box.  In order to create a “fair voting” process we encourage you to not vote for your own film, all ballots will have films and teams listed.  They will also include a place for your name and team name, if applicable, to further “fair voting” process.  All ballots will be counted by IFN staff, and any ballot with no name, team name, or any found voting for themselves will be dismissed.  There will be a substantial cash prize to the winner which is why we are trying to create an unbiased voting process and will encourage this the night of the contest screening.

The contest this month is to create a 10 minute (max.) short horror film. The competition is open to anyone interested.  There is no criteria, except that it must be some sort of horror film.  We ask that all submissions be given on a playable DVD and the deadline for this contest is no later than Tuesday, September 21st.  This allows time for us to test the film prior to the screening to ensure everything runs smoothly.

PART II: The Screenings

Do you have any films collecting dust on your shelf?  Looking for a way to guarantee people see your movie?  Then part II of IFN is for you.  As filmmaker’s ourselves, we at REK Films know how rewarding it is to finish a film you’ve spent countless hours on.  We also know that getting that film scene is a task in itself.  The internet does help, but it’s tough to get the viewers we want. We have another option for you.  This is a great opportunity to showcase your film in a large venue with a core group of viewers.

IFN is run completely and independently by our team at REK Films, all films are voluntarily donated to REK Films solely for screening at IFN.  We will in no way own any part of your films, they are all yours, we just want to show them. Due to our categorizing process, films may be submitted at anytime for review and scheduling. We accept all types of film; feel free to submit short films, feature films, music videos, documentaries, and anything else you would like to screen. The only stipulation is that each film is your personal work, and gives credit where credit is due. Before the film is screened, each filmmaker will have an opportunity to introduce his/her film.  

PART III: The Workshops

This is the part I am most excited about, our workshops!  Once all of the films have been screened we will invite any filmmakers and guests interested to stay and take part in a group workshop.  This will be an opportunity for each filmmaker to describe what they felt to be there greatest accomplishments and how they achieved them, as well as their biggest hurdles and ask other filmmakers for their advice on how to either avoid or remedy those situations.  We will be inviting professionals and professors to each IFN to support these workshops and offer their knowledge to the rest of us.  We are also planning on hosting workshop oriented nights in the future where we will have professionals teach on each aspect of the filmmaking process. 

This is what IFN is all about.  Creating an atmosphere in which we can compete, observe, and grow together as a community.  I believe that with opportunities like this, filmmaker’s will not only begin to work together, enabling us to complete larger and more complicated projects, but also produce much higher quality work making New Orleans a force to be reckoned with when it comes to Independent Filmmaking.  There is no reason why we can’t be the pioneers of film in the US.  If you have and questions about IFN, REK Films or would like to submit films for either screening or the contest please feel free to contact me.  

Be sure to visit our first sponsor’s website at www.strikeitgreenprops.com, thank your Lonnie!

And spread the word, there is strength in numbers!

House of Blues (The Parish Room)
225 Decatur St.
New Orleans, LA 70130

Thomas Kelly
(504) 296-1115
Independent Filmmaker’s Network (IFN), Founder
REK Films, Co Owner

Real quick post. looking for a good script to produce. Must have local flavor and local lore. Any good ideas out there? Leave me a comment. I want to begin production and finish before the end of the school year. Pass this on to your friends and others. Let’s see what happens!

Nine Lives - a 48 Hour Film Project

Last weekend, my wonderful cast, crew, and of course, writer spent 48 hours creating “Nine Lives”. The film is the story of a young woman struggling to step out of her comfort zone with a little help from her “friends”. The competitors showed their films last night at Warren Easton High School and the judges submitted their picks for the winners.

We won… nothing! But, it doesn’t matter. We received great comments and congratulations from members of the audience and other teams. We were more than pleased with the final film and what we created as compared to the other entries. In my view, each and everyone of Team LaFilm are definitely WINNERS!

The required elements we were given are:
Genre: Buddy Film
Prop: Folding Chair
Character: Johnny or Joanne Miler, CEO
Line of Dialogue: “He said he would be right back.”

I would be remiss if I didn’t  give my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the cast:
Nicole Domiano – Nicole
Brandon Williams – Sexy Guy, Nerdy Guy, Gallery Owner
Rhonda Laizer – Joanne Miler, Trashy Woman, Nicole’s Mom
Josef Stengl – Artistic Guy, Boring Guy, Store Customer
Sean Bishop – Coffee Shop Owner

Crew:
David Dubos – Screenwiter extraordinairre
Christy Killelea – Script Supervisor, P.A.
Noah Noble – P.A.
Ryan Asprion and Andrew deBuys, The Local Rebels for their wonderful, original music.

Finally, most special thanks to:
 John Preble and the Abita Mystery House
Sean Bishop and the Potter’s Green Thumb
The Town of Abita Springs, LA along with Mayor Louis Fitzmorris and Mayor Pro-Tem Sherri Campbell.

The final film? Take a look and enjoy!

If you’d like to know more about the process and what we went through to accomplish the task in such a short time, please leave a comment below!

I have submitted and have had accepted a video for the Hannity Support the Military video contest. The direct link to my video is below. If you find it in your heart, and I hope you do, please click on the link below and rate my video!

The actual link is: http://www.hannity.com/videos/?uri=c…/400393/976228.

Please view and rate it (give it 5 stars, please) so it can move up in the ratings and be one of the most watched.

Any help you can give woould be GREATLY appreciated!

     Like me, Sean Hannity supports and defends our military. He created a contest for the “small people” (sorry, BP joke); for the people of America to submit a one minute video saluting our armed forces. I thought about what I was going to do and decided to focus on the relationship of family and our soldiers.

     Sean put it like this on his website: “You and I both love the United States and are grateful to our military forces; the courageous men and women at home, overseas, and on the front lines fighting for our country and our freedom each and every day. Now you have an opportunity to show your pride by creating an original video honoring and saluting our United States military.”

     So enjoy my entry!

A one minute salute to the men and women of our Armed Forces who guard our shores so that we may enjoy our freedom.

Thanks to: Kyle Krieger, Charlene Parker, and Jeremy Oliver. Without you, none of this would have been possible!

The following was copied (stolen) directly from the 48 Hour Film – New Orleans web page! This is for the information/edification of my team members and any others who wanna play!

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The New Orleans 48 Hour Film Project

The 48 Hour Film Project comes to New Orleans on the weekend of August 13th. Filmmakers from all over the New Orleans will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world.

Enter today! Space is limited.

This year, teams will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Once the initial registration is complete, we will accept teams for the Waiting List. If a registered team must drop out, we will go to the Waiting List. If there is enough interest, and we can secure additional theater time, we may be able to add more teams from the list.

Early Bird Registration is $135. Teams must register on or before Monday, July 19, to get this special rate. Afterwards, registration is $155.

Register for New Orleans now!

Events

Network at The Big Top

Crew & Cast Final Call

Kickoff

Dropoff

Premiere Screenings

New Orleans 48HFP Links

• Sign up for the New Orleans mailing list
• Join a New Orleans team
• Email Raymond D. Sweet, New Orleans Producer of the 48HFP
• Watch films from New Orleans using our Film Catalogue and 48.tv
• See what’s playing on 48.tv
• Buy t-shirts or other goodies
• Put a 48HFP badge on your homepage or blog
• Other 48 Hour Film Projects in New Orleans: 2009 • 2008 • 2007

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     Well, world, I am finally out of the world of SD and firmly ensconsed in the world of HD filmmaking. Though I will probably still deliver in SD on DVD, I will forevermore shot in HD and love it!

     I’ve been playing with a recently purchased Canon T2i HDSLR with a Tamron 18-250mm f3.5-5.6 lens. Yes, you do loose a lot f light with the lens, but the images are still spectacular in low light situations! I do plan, however, investing soon in a 50mm f1.4 lens as soon as I can for that truly low-light shooting. The camera itself is not ergonomically designed for video, i.e., it’s a bear to shoot with! I plan on using it as a “Camera Of Opportunity” when I’m out and about and as a B-Cam when tasks call for one.

     Now, what will be my main camera? Up to now, the main cam was a Sony PD-170 DVCAM SD camcorder. It’s a beautiful machine, but still SD. I need HD quality, so what do I do? I could have gone the HDV route and shoot on tape still with all of its requisite capturing of footage before I edit. But that wasn’t the best option.

     I opted for the Sony AX2000 AVCHD camcorder. It records onto SDHC cards and, if I use 16GB cards, I can record up to 180 minutes non-stop! How’s that for some neat sh*t? The camera is larger that my old PD-170 in size and lens diameter. I cannot use the PD-170′s Wide Angle adapter on it (*sniff*), but I can use every other accessory I already own! The batteries, AC adapter, chargers, etc. for the PD-170 are the same as what the AX2000 uses. Also, my Varizoom rocker zoom controller interfaces perfectly with the camera! I’ll give a full report and pictures/video a bit later for your enjoyment, but in the meantime I’ll be playing, learning, enjoying, and hopefully creating with the new gear!