Interview with Vanessa Boris – Senior Producer of Multimedia

Vanessa heads the multimedia production team at IDG Enterprise, a publishing company focusing on IT based in San Fransico, CA and Framingham, MA.

1. Can you briefly define your job to me?

My job is to be a producer of all media. As the senior producer, I see a project through its inception to the final product and help conceive what needs to be done. I also do studio directing, audio editing, and video editing. We typically produce videos, webcast, podcasts, advertisements; it depends on what the client wants, and it’s very mixed media. Our most important audience is CIOs from some of the big name IT companies.

We usually don’t have to hire other editors, but it depends on the budget and the timeline. In some cases, we’ll bring in a sound designer or whoever we need to complete a project, but most of the time we work with a small team. We’re expected to do all of the production work. The type of work varies from day to day. One day we could be working on actual production, and another day could be meetings and conference calls. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work.

2. How did you get started in the business?

When I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to do something with filmmaking. I did lots of internships and did some advanced coursework. Eventually I got a job working for Richard Leacock, a documentary filmmaker. I was his right hand man. I soaked up everything about documentary filmmaking and the art of making a story.

Eventually, I had to decide what I wanted to do next. I decided I wanted to do video editing. I got a lot of jobs doing educational videos. I worked on PBS kids shows, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, you name it. After a while I decided I’d had enough editing, and I’ve worked in publishing ever since.

3. How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?

Most people I’ve worked for understand the constraints. I’ve been lucky enough to work with people that propose reasonable deadlines and recognize the limits. I would say, instead of saying “I can’t,” you could say, “This task isn’t working, here’s an alternative.” That’s to be expected, especially when working with deadlines. It’s important to take a step back and reevaluate. Explore various options.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?

Rick (Richard) used to tell me, mange the film—that is eat the film. Be an incredible consumer of movies if you want to make movies. If you want to do advertizing, watch tons of commercials. If you want to do documentaries, watch every documentary you can get your hands on. I’d say mentoring is important early in your career. Find a mentor and learn everything you can.

When I was teaching, I would always tell my students to take risks. Remember that filmmaking is an extremely collaborative experience. Think a lot about the story. Never lose focus of the story. Stay in touch with the people you work with. Start building a network now. Always remember that you can make changes later on in your career.

Interview with Steve Marra

I interviewed Steve Marra, president of Adrenaline Motion Pictures, LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Question 1. Can you briefly describe your job for me?

Steve is a director, screenwriter, and producer for films and television shows in Indiana. He basically said he does everything because he owns the independent production company of Adrenaline Motion Pictures, LLC.

Question 2. How did you get started in the business?

Steve originally was in a rock and roll band in Indianapolis. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his music career. After two years he gave up the dream of being a famous musician and began to focus on his other passion, film. He then attended UCLA Film School and remained in Los Angeles for another nine years. He began working for low budget horror movies and other small films as a production manager and as extras. He would take any job he could find at any position. He eventually began working as a reader for MGM, which taught him what a bad script looks like. He then got married and had two children. He did not want to raise his children in Los Angeles, so he moved back to Indiana and continued his film career by starting Adrenaline Motion Pictures, LLC.

Question 3. How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?

Steve said that it is "never an option." He said that you have to finish a project once you start it.

Question 4. Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?

Steve said, "Don't move to Indiana for a film career, especially with the economic situation." Steve said the best advice he received was from Jack Epps Jr. Jack said, "the secret to film is the four P's." Steve explained that the four P's were "passion, perception, persistence, and phuck 'em." "Phuck 'em" was included because he said that nobody knows what makes a good movie, and you have to go on your own instincts and beliefs.

Steve also said that a good way to make connections in the film industry is by visiting www.massify.com, which is an online film community for film makers. Anyone can post pictures, films, and scripts on the website to get his or her name out there.

Interview with Mark Dixon- Director of Locations

I interviewed the Connecticut Film Commission's Director of Locations, Mark Dixon. He was a pleasure to talk with. While I questioned him, he also took it upon himself to ask me questions about to get a better understanding on what I plan to do in the future. During the interview, Mark Dixon gave me very good advice about the film industry that I found very insightful.

• Question 1- Can you briefly describe your job to me?

Mark: "I work in the locations area of the film commission. I'm the person that interfaces between location scouts and location managers, I work with people to look for places to film,such as state government agencies, colleges, and high schools."

• Question 2- How did you get started in the business?

Mark: "By accident (lol)... I volunteered to work in a film office while I was in college and this led to getting a job at the Connecticut Film Commission. I'm happy that I ended up here."

• Question 3- How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?

Mark: "Well, my boss is great! He's very approachable. I don't have a problem accomplishing a task. Basically, you have to know what they want and need in order to complete all of his tasks."

• Question 4- Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?

Mark: "Working in a film commission is very time consuming, but very fun and it's never boring. For a media student that wants to work in a film office, the job is about state government and about being a film liaison for the government. I am payed by the government to work for the industry."

*After the interview, I then asked Mark a follow-up question:

• Question 5- What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in the film industry?

Mark: "An advantage of my job is that there is a lot of steady work and every project is different and keeps you interested. A disadvantage of my job is that no matter what you do, some people make other decisions besides in locations that determine how and when to make a film."

This concludes my interview with Mr. Mark Dixon.

Group Book Reports

Group 1: The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience, by Carmine Gallo

Group 2: Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter

Group 3: Influence, the Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini

Group 4: You Can Negotiate Anything, Herb Cohen

Extra Credit: looking for a group of two to four that will do a presentation on Getting Things Done, by David Allen

Interview with Assistant Director Laura Anderson Burnell

I Did an interview with Assistant Director (AD) Laura Anderson Burnell in Michigan. She is the 1st AD for the new film by "BRAUER INDIEFLIMS" called "FITFUL" which was written & directed by "Michigan Filmaker of the Year," Richard Brauer. It is set to premier in LA, Spring 2010. You can check out the details of the film at http://brauerindiefilms.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

Ms. Burnell is a very polite person who seems to enjoy her job and was very descriptive about her occupation and responsibilities. I really enjoyed our conversation and was as much appreciative of her taking the time out of her busy schedule to allow me to interview her. This is a 'short' version of our interview.

Question #1 Can you briefly describe your job for me?

Laura: My job is to control the set so the Director can be creative. I allow all the creative visions of the Director to come to life. I coordinate the plans of the Director and make sure it happens on the set. I set the tone of the set so that things stay in control. In other words..."I am responsible for everything, but in control of nothing."

Question #2 How did you get started in the business?

Laura: My father was actually a film producer. So I got the luxury of growing up knowing the business first hand. It's kinda funny because at first I didn't want to get involved with filmaking because I seen how much time it took with my dad and I didn't want to have a family and have to be away from them so much. So, I actually decided to work in "Corporate" America 1st managing businesses as I had got my degree in Psychology. It just so happens that my father started teaching a film class and kept asking me to come & join the class. After my refusal, he asked me to at least come and audit the class. So I agreed and there you have it. I fell in love with it and now I have been doing it over 10 years now.

Question #3 How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?

Laura: "I never tell them that!" My job is to identify problems and offer solutions. I am always forward thinking and constantly thinking of creative solutions to handle ANY problem that I or anyone else has identified.

Question #4 Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?

Laura: YES! Work on as many projects as you possibly can. In film school you learn a propective that is indeed "Above the Line," but the only way to become familiar with what it really takes is to actually get out there and create or work on something. Do PA work, learn the set, sometimes the set teaches you different things than what film school can teach you. "Experience is the key...Always learn...and always practice!"

This concluded my interview with Ms. Laura Anderson Burnell.

Interview with Charles Tudor

Charles Tudor

Virginia Beach, VA

Credits: "Good Morning America" (ABC), "World News Tonight" (ABC), "Nightly News" (NBC), Family Channel (various), "Movie Magic," "Treasures In Your Home," "Storm Warning," "Personal Story," "Modern Marvels" (Actuality Productions).

I called Charles Tudor in Virginia Beach, and he was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and the interview lasted about 20 minutes. Here are the points I managed to write down as we were talking:

1) Can you briefly define your job to me?

-There are several different ways I could describe it to you, depending on the project. If it's a film I start with a script. If it's a documentary I start with an idea or a theme. If I don't have anything, I start looking for a script or an idea or a theme. Once I've got the basic theme of the project the big task is to get everybody together. You've got to get a crew, you've got to get a production manager, everyone who is going to make this happen for me. The most important thing about this part of the job is MAKING SURE THESE PEOPLE WORK WELL TOGETHER. Get reliable, creative, effective, people who all mix well together. I'm juggling egos! I'm a babysitter! I'm an organizer. The best producer is one who is able to get the best people together to make a product. You've got to have connections, and those people have to have connections; getting the group together is mostly just networking. You use people who have done good things in the past that are going to do good things for you, because it's YOUR name on the product! And these people have to make it for you!

-You've also got to be a businessman. You've got to make sure the product is bankable. It's got to make money. You're spending a lot of money to make it in the first place it better return some. Don't waste anything! That's another reason you've got to get a good crew. You don't want to have someone not call the talent and then have the talent not show up and everyone's waiting around for an hour while the clock is ticking and we're losing money! Again, you've got to make sure to GET GOOD PEOPLE!

-You get the project off the ground, these people have to keep it running. The production manager is probably the most important to me of the crew in that aspect.

2) How did you get started in the business?

-My father was a cameraman in WWII and he got me interested in photography. We moved to France and I watched some filming of Is Paris Burning, then moved o Naples, Italy and saw a few more movies being shot so I decided to get a job in the movie business. I got a job sweeping floors! I moved to the US and got involved in television. My first job in the US was as a cameraman on a TV station. From there I met people, started to do projects with other people, and eventually somehow got to wherever I am now!

3) How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?

*awkward silence*

-I have a problem saying no! I always say yes!

-The first thing I learned in TV was don't say "I can't." I was on camera 3, the director told me to dolly over to get a shot. There were chairs and people in the way and I told him I couldn't get over there. We didn't get the shot, and the director became very quiet on the headset. At the end of the show he came up to me and he said, "In TV, we don't say we can't."

-As a boss, I find the biggest problem is high expectations. You have to learn to temper expectations with reality. You have this vision of this really amazing project, and in reality it's just probably not going to be perfectly as you envisioned it! Just don't be disappointed, because that can turn into attitude. You can't get mad at a cameraman and get an attitude with him, because he's got to get the next shot!

4) Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?

-"RUN!!!!! Be a doctor!!!!!!"

-Networking. Get a reel out of school. Hone the craft of creativity but also develop a good business sense.

-Make one, sell many!

-If you're going to do it, go where it is happening.

-Be personable. Don't oversell. Listen. Get connected to someone who is going places. Do good work for them and they'll want to hire you more. Be known as the best at what you can do.

-Humility.

-Have a plan. 5, 10, 15 years. Think about retirement!

-Own what you do, have other people's help to make it happen.

-Be able to work a percentage.

-Find people who can do what you can't do!

-Find encouragement, and a partner to work with.

-Don't be afraid to ask questions!!

Extra Credit, Film Marketing Workshop

Sign up here. This is copied from the FILMSC.com website:

MARKETING YOUR INDEPENDENT FILM - FEBRUARY 27, 2010
Strategize – Market – Distribute; the key steps to marketing your film in the new distribution landscape.

The South Carolina Film Commission and University of South Carolina present a seminar on how to give your marketing plan a jump-start and move towards getting your independent film “out there.”

February 27, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., room 214, McMaster College, USC, Columbia.

Join Jennifer Warren, a NYC-based Independent Film Consultant, for a one-day workshop to explore the marketing strategies required in today`s independent film marketplace. Strategizing your distribution options can’t come too early in your process. Once your picture is locked you should launch your marketing and distribution strategy. In this workshop Jennifer will lend her experience to the necessity of creating and utilizing a marketing plan, what this plan entails and how to run it like a political campaign to get the word out, gain support, raise money, and get people to show up at the movie theater when you début.

The workshop includes live-linked discussions from progressive filmmakers who are currently setting trends and thinking outside the box to get their films out to audiences. Find out how to effectively implement cutting-edge ideas from new models in exhibition, DIY and digital distribution. By exploring a number of key marketing and distribution strategies available to both short and feature films, discover how to use this shifting landscape to take advantage of new opportunities that are changing the ways films are marketed, distributed, and creating revenue.

Working in the entertainment industry for the past 15 years in both the UK and US, Independent Film Consultant, Jennifer Warren has a media background in sales and marketing. Having gained experience within the studio-system in Los Angeles, Jennifer chose to bring her know-how to independent producers by offering consulting services exclusively for independently produced content. Now residing in New York City, Jennifer continues to help independent filmmakers with marketing strategies from the business plan stage to distribution. Her clients include films that have received international release on multiple platforms to smaller local community or special interest films.

Evolving with the changing distribution landscape Jennifer’s current focus is on strategy for finding an audience as well as identifying strategic alliance and sponsorship opportunities for her clients. Jennifer Warren.