The Film Panel Notetaker

IFP’s Script to Screen Conference
Writers in CollaborationMarch 7, 2009New York, NY

Writer/Director Ira Sachs (Forty Shades of Blue, Married Life) moderated a discussion on the collaborative writing process. He started the conversation by saying that everything he does is about how well he works with other people. “There’s almost nothing that isn’t about trying to negotiate [...]

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IFP’s Script to Screen Conference
Conversation with Keynote James Schamus – CEO, Focus FeaturesMarch 7, 2009New York, NY

(Scott Macaulay & James Schamus. Photo by Brian Geldin.)
Focus Features CEO James Schamus makes his second appearance here at The Film Panel Notetaker (his first being at the Woodstock Film Festival last fall) with my notes taken in a [...]

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Independent Film WeekCase Study: Documentary Marketing – Beautiful Losers & I.O.U.S.A.September 18, 2008
This panel was about how to consider the marketing dimensions of a film. To think through how to secure fan, organizational and subject support. Every film is unique and marketing is expression of film’s core values.Case Study: Beautiful LosersThe film’s subjects were urban [...]

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No Borders Case Study with John HadityIndependent Film WeekWednesday, September 17, 2008FIT – Katie Murphy Amphitheater – New York, NY

Last Wednesday at Independent Film Week, No Borders International Co-Production Market presented a Case Study on Single Picture Financing with John Hadity, President and CEO of Hadity & Associates, Inc., a consultancy firm that specializes in [...]

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The State of the IndustryIndependent Film WeekTuesday, September 16, 2008FIT – Haft Auditorium – New York, NY

Last Tuesday at the Independent Filmmaker Conference, Variety’s Anne Thompson moderated a discussion with indie film distribution stalwart Bob Berney, who lead Warner Bros.’ specialty division Picturehouse, which was recently relinquished into the larger fabric of the company. [...]

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A Conversation with Kevin SmithIndependent Film WeekSunday, September 14, 2008FIT – Haft Auditorium – New York, NY
Filmmaker Kevin Smith, whose new film Zack and Miri Make a Porno opens in theaters this Halloween, came to the Independent Filmmaker Conference to talk about his new film, his career, his upcoming politically-driven film Red State, and to [...]

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Independent Film WeekWorking with Doc SubjectsSeptember 18, 2008
Again, this panel was composed of all Femmes who each provided clips exhibiting their wonderful films. In each, it was clear that they had to make their subjects a part of the film to accomplish it. Ethics is in the bloodstream of a filmmaker.
Most of Nina Davenport’s previous [...]

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Medicine For Melancholy – Opening Night FilmIndependent Film WeekMonday, September 15, 2008Clearview Chelsea Cinemas – New York, NY

(Medicine for Melancholy actor Wyatt Cenac and director Barry Jenkins)
Photo by A.M. Peters
Before the screening of Independent Film Week’s opening night film Medicine for Melancholy, New York State Governor’s Office For Motion Picture and Television Development Commissioner Pat [...]

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Sunday was the first day of Independent Film Week 2008. At the Filmmaker Conference, I attended a panel on positioning for festivals that addressed once you’ve finished your film, what do you do next? How do you manage your expectations for film festivals? Below are some highlights of that discussion.
Show & Sell: Positioning for FestivalsIndependent [...]

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Be on the look out next week for a slew of notes from the great panel discussions planned at IFP’s 30th Independent Filmmaker Conference being held during Independent Film Week in New York at Chelsea’s Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) and surrounding venues. This will mark my seventh return to the conference, which was called [...]

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