Independent Filmmakers: Showcasing Work

February 24, 2012

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams 

In today’s blog, we will be fulfilling a need for information for independent filmmakers about how to become visible on the filmmaking scene. 

Indie Filmmakers, have you written a screenplay and are looking for a venue to display your work? Big Vision Empty Wallet is a national place to pitch your work. The mission of this competition is to explore screenwriters and their work and discover the next great feature film. The grand prize of $100,000 will help the winner of the competition to complete their feature film. 

Although, this year’s finalists have already been chosen, you can vote for your favorite contestant’s trailer film on this site. http://bit.ly/w4PiHw. The final selection will be chosen on May 1, 2012 and will be based on the full screenplay which must be completed and submitted from March 1 to April 1, 2012. 

If you have a screenplay in progress, stash this information away and submit for next year’s competition. In the meantime, take time to visit the website Big Vision Empty Wallet to see if your vision could benefit and be improved from watching other filmmakers work. 

Think professionalism, marketability, quality, style and originality and all things fulfilling as you complete your project.  Essential to keys of life and successful business, too!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


The Art of Pleasing Palates

February 17, 2012

Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.”
~
Thomas Jefferson

Did you ever want to take a sneak peak into what is inside the making of the dainty delicacies known as sushi?  Now you can. One of the top independent documentary films of the year is called Jiro Dreams of Sushi. 

This film is about an 85 year old culinary artist and the teaching of his craft to his son, whom he hopes will be the next tour de force within the world of sushi making. Can the son ever live up to the standards that are expected of him to take over the trade? After all, combining colors, textures and the right tastes to please high end palates is no easy task!

Sushi lovers, unite! This film is sure to be fulfilling for those who have always wanted to know more about the culture, schooling and economy that is behind making this food for very discriminating tastes. Over the past twenty years, sushi bars, a trendy alternative to traditional dining has appeared on the scene in urban centers, luxury-oriented centers and on commonplace streets and locales.

If you please, become familiar with sushi terminology before watching this film by going to this link http://www.sushiref.com/glossary/ . The Jiro Dreams of Sushi is said to be “mouthwatering” by Leslie Felperin of Variety and it is set to be released in theatres on March 9th.

Rather stay home and watch? You can place your order for the film through www.imdb.com. Don’t forget to pick up an order of your favorite sushi from your favorite sushi bar. Bring it home and enjoy this film while stuffing your mouth!


Adjusting for the Times

February 16, 2012

Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” ~ Anais Nin 

On Valentines Day, my “sweetie” and I took in the movie  “The Artist.” I flat out loved this cinema release.  It is the story of George Valentin and his fall as a silent movie star due to the introduction of “talkies” – movies with sound. His refusal to move with the times, and accept the fact that the movie industry was undergoing vast change led to his come-uppance with himself and the world in which he existed. 

If you go see this movie, be alert to the subtle imagery that was creatively incorporated in the production of the film. The successful use of small details in scenes artfully told the story without the need for words in this silent, black and white film. Very masterfully done! 

Thinking back to the film, I could not refrain from comparing the overtones in this theme to the changes that have taken place in our economy and also, in the publishing industry over the past years. Those who have survived having had the “rug pulled out from underneath of them” are those who have adjusted their attitudes, and moved with the times. 

There was little that I did not like about this film. Although James Cromwell’s role in the overall storyline was significant, I would have liked to have seen him more in the film. For those of you who have seen James Cromwell as an actor in A Lonely Place for Dying, http://bit.ly/mAvP5d  a film that has had 45 award nominations and it has won 15 awards for best film, you know that James Cromwell is very capable of having more than a supporting role. 

I look forward to seeing the Academy Awards on February 26th. It will be interesting to see how the movie holds up against all the rest that are vying for top spots.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Being Receptive to Messages

February 15, 2012

On Monday  I posted a blog called the Art of Listening. I promised to share more information on All Things Fulfilling about H.A.Levin’s book “A History of Horses Told by Horses: Horse Sense for Humans.” So here it is ~ 

This book is told from the perspective of a horse. Thoughts are communicated from horse to human (the author) telepathically.  Essentially – What would horses say about humans and their world if they could talk? 

Hal, the author, is a spiritual healer who communicates with animals. Through his telepathic capacities he points out from a horse’s point of view, that our society has grown too complex, leaving a detachment between people and the natural world. The reason women and horses form particularly close relationships is that women are more open to inspiration and enlightenment. Horses want women to gain self confidence through their relationships with equines, so they will feel the ability to change the course of the world. How about it women? Are you up to the task?

Author H.A. Levin (Hal) travels to many countries to learn about various species of horses and how man and animal have accomplished  things together  throughout civilization. There are chapters on the history of numerous kinds of equine species, such as: 

  • sporting horses
  • work horses
  • war horses
  • race horses
  • performance horses 

This author has planned a series of books about the history of animals and their place in our world, please visit  http://bit.ly/AuzEE3 Habitat for Humanity is a publishing partner in the The History of Horses Told by Horses

For non-animal lovers,  ”Letters to An Angel: How to Love Life and “ Quotations for Successful Living“  are more books from H.A. Levin. They share with the reader how Hal has “learned to look for a rich and fulfilling life despite obstacles or fear of failure.” 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Life. Live it, Love it.

February 14, 2012

Valentines Greetings from me to you on this winter white February Day from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 

Love comes in all kinds of forms and unexpected ways, meaning something different to each of us. Today, I simply wish to quote one the brightest stars in history on the business of living life and finding personal fulfillment ~Albert Einstein. He said it all.  “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

“Make this day and every day about all things fulfilling in your life!

More independently published thoughts, words and views tomorrow from  www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

 

 


Independent Documentary Film of Stellar Proportions

February 10, 2012

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.”  ~Author Unknown 

Juan Mandelbaum of Le Monde, has called the independent documentary film Nostalgia for the Light  a “work of cosmic serenity, of luminous intelligence, with a sensitivity that could melt stone. At such a level, the film becomes more than a film. An insane accolade to mankind, a stellar song for the dead, a life lesson. Silence and respect.”  

Sounds serious, doesn’t it? 

The setting for this documentary film, directed by Patricio Guzman, is the Atacama Desert, the most arid place on earth. The stars in the skies from this place, 10,000 feet above sea level, are more clearly visible than from most locations on the earth. 

The intense desert sun has kept Pre-Columbian mummies  and corpses of other explorers who perished in the Atacama  intact for hundreds of years. Portrayed in this film are women who travel with astronomers on very personal missions of their own, looking for the remains of their relatives, political prisoners who were left there.

 The stunning landscape along with the exploration of horizons known and unknown in this independently produced documentary, by Icarus Films, has brought very fulfilling, favorable reviews. It has been an official selection and won awards at the most prestigious film festivals in the world. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/fSS6io

To order this film and to watch a trailer of this documentary, please visit IMDB http://imdb.to/ciOxVq.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Teaser, Pleaser

February 7, 2012

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it. “ ~Buddha 

Have you noticed that the way we select reading material has changed with the arrival of e-books? Now we have more to go by than just reading reviews on the back cover and the flaps of the book. Many authors are offering sample chapters or abbreviated versions of their books on-line to get us hooked. It works! 

Last night I searched Google i-books and downloaded a sample of a non-fiction publication by Susan Cain. The title of the e-book is Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. A monkey is now on my back! 

Being a life time consumer of self-help books, the sample left me wondering whether I am truly an introvert. Just prior to the end of the sample book, is a brief test that is designed to determine if you are a true introvert. It is similar to a Myers-Briggs personality test. My score indicates that perhaps I am an ambivert. In other words, I have tendencies toward being both introverted and extroverted. 

 I must read on to begin fulfilling my need to examine the degree of introversion that I possess and how to best use my traits for success.

Good job, Susan Cain. Your book sample grabbed me enough to want to finish the book. Now, I must just find the time to purchase it and carry on. 

For more information on this fascinating read that analyzes the psyche and how an introverted personality can be used to your advantage in life and business, please follow this link. http://bit.ly/ywojam.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.


Shorts are in Fashion at the Luna Fest

February 3, 2012

Happy Film Friday! It has been a busy week for me, so today our blog will be brief. I am looking forward to a fun event tonight to culminate the week. 

The Lunafest at the Bud Werner Memorial Library http://www.steamboatlibrary.org/  in Steamboat Springs,Colorado is on the calendar for tonight. It kicks off at 7 pm. The Lunafest is a film festival of “shorts” by and for women. If  this year’s Luna Fest is anything like last year, I am in for a fulfilling night of independent film entertainment. 

The Luna Fest is paired with Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project and the Bust of Steamboat.  Between 5pm –7pm, an exhibition of inspired art will be displayed and auctioned off to raise awareness and funds for treating women with breast cancer. An award will be given for the Bust of Steamboat. http://thebustofsteamboat.org/

The Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project is just one of many, many non-profits in this county with valuable missions. The volunteer efforts in this town is beyond anything I have ever experienced before. It is impressive, to say the least. 

I will return on Monday with more independent thoughts, words and views brought to you on the company blogsite of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Have a good weekend, everyone! I will let you know next Film Friday, which Luna Fest “short” film ranked the highest on my list.


Values, Talent and Paint Spot-On!

January 31, 2012

This is my third and final segment of my interview with artist Nancy Howe. It is more lengthy than Part One and Part Two, so hang in there because Nancy has so much of value to say about her life since making her mark on the art scene in 1990 and what it means to her to fulfill her life with what she loves to do. If you missed Part I and Part II of our interview scroll back to the blogs of January 19 and January 24.

 Sue: Nancy, you are a self taught artist who broke into the art scene in a big way, when you won the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Federal Duck Stamp Competition in 1990. You became the first woman artist selected since the contest began in 1934, for your painting of King Eiders that became the 1991-1992 conservation stamp. That was quite an honor. What words of advice would you have for other artists and art students who hope to win national acclaim for their art some day? 

Nancy: “Do not paint to win…anything.  It will be the kiss of death to your creativity and success as a painter.  Paint what you love and are most excited about….for the intrinsic reward painting that particular subject will bring….rather than thinking about trying to win an award/contest or get personal acclaim/recognition….for the extrinsic reward.  Awards and acclaim will come as the natural consequence of working in this way.  I have learned this the hard way from several sad experiences of producing some of my least successful paintings while trying to win an award.  A number of years ago I received a significant national honor, unaware while painting for the show that there was even a monetary award to be given for the winner.  In the case of the Duck Stamp I wanted desperately to win for more than a decade, only to be successful after giving up on the idea that I might someday win and decided to paint for MYSELF.” 

Sue: Nancy, I know you have two grown sons and one of the first paintings that I ever saw of yours was “Intimate Nature”. A painting of your son reading a book with his cockatiel. Did either of your sons inherit your passion for art and painting? 

Nancy: “My younger son, Tyler has a very keen artistic/design sense and appreciation for the visual beauty of things and of good art, but is not an artist.  He made some of the most wonderful drawings and sculptures as a child but lost interest in it over time.  He is my greatest fan though, and had prints of my artwork on the walls of his dorm rooms during his college days, and now as an adult proudly hangs them in his apartment.” 

“I never really felt any particular regret that neither of them became artists.  It’s probably better in a way because they have talents that are quite different from my own, which has allowed them the freedom from comparison with me.  Their personalities and interests, because they are quite different from mine, have enriched and added dimension to my life.   And I believe that their love for travel rubbed off on me and is probably partly responsible for my own fairly recent interest in exploring new places.”

Sue: Before we end this interview, what has it meant to you to be able to do what you love in life – paint?

Nancy: “I have always been artistic, and painted off and on from childhood through to adulthood, but without a singular focus on art.  I always had other interests….raising livestock, gardening, nature, skiing, hiking, rock collecting….and didn’t want only to paint or have art as a profession.  That came quite late in life when my first marriage ended and I needed a way to support myself and my sons.  I had always considered that doing art for a living would somehow spoil the fun of it for me, and was surprised to find that by educating myself and committing to it fully, the improvement that resulted became a great motivator.  Painting has been the vehicle for my personal growth and self-discovery, it has been MY gift.   It has helped me to connect with people… though my paintings and by extension, through my project…..and made me so much more observant of all aspects of life.  I once was quoted in a magazine interview as saying that at first I painted to be seen, to be acknowledged for doing something well, but now I paint to SEE. ”

Sue: When your inspiration wains, what do you do to pick yourself up and stir up creativity or is that never a problem?

Nancy: “I don’t think I am ever at a loss for painting ideas, it’s deciding which one I want to do most that can be a problem.  I feel as though I am playing catch-up because I didn’t begin my art career until I was 40.  Also because it takes me so long to produce a finished painting, it can be frustrating to know that most of my ideas will never come to life on canvas.  But I find that music, travel, and experiencing great art by historical or contemporary painters can be inspiring if I start to get sluggish in my work.”

Sue: I know you traveled to Ireland not too many years ago too. Will we see any paintings from your travels there and any other plans on the horizon besides the Bhutan series?

Nancy: “The material I have from Ireland relates mostly to landscape subjects.  I am planning to explore a more loosely rendered tonalist style of painting this coming year to balance the detailed cultural portraits for my project, and the lush, moody Irish landscapes would present perfect subjects for this.  The tonalist artists have long been among my favorites, and their paintings those to which I have felt most connected on an emotional level.” 

“I started to develop my interest in painting people around 2001 after a trip to Copper Canyon in Mexico and having experience with the Tarahumara Indians from this region.  I have painted a number of portraits of them and still have material remaining in my file to draw from if I decide to add this area to my project. ”

“In March I will be travelling to Panama’s San Blas Islands off the Caribbean coast for the purpose of having experience with the Kuna indigenous people for the project.  Next fall I am hoping to make a trip to New Zealand to create paintings of the Maori culture there. Other cultures on my wish list are the Inuit, the Sami people of northern Scandinavia, the people of Papua New Guinea, and the Aymara of the Andes.   In each country I will partner with an effective non-profit working in some area benefitting women that resonates with me.”  

Sue:  Ever since I met you and was introduced to your artwork,  I have become a real fan of your remarkable art. In yourKenya paintings, it is so evident that when you go into a country you fully absorb the human depth of emotions in the native people. You translate it so well onto the canvas. I am so impressed by how so far you see beyond the subject and the canvas in front of you. You see the big picture for what art can do for people in this world.  It is very inspiring to those of us who are not even painters. Drawing from what you see in your subject’s eyes, in their facial expressions or in their stance and getting that down on the canvas, is this the most difficult part of painting? 

Nancy: “All of painting is difficult to me.  I am slow, sometimes painfully slow, and often it’s a struggle…..I’m maybe more a Beethoven than a Mozart.  I never seem to get it right the first time, sometimes doing particular passages over and over until I’m happy with the result.  It just seems like so much trial and error…. a lot of error.  Unfortunately, and sometimes fortunately, I am a perfectionist, which in itself is painful.  I think it is that characteristic, along with my almost inhuman persistence, that makes the process so long, but also generally successful.  I know what it is I am trying to capture when I begin, but I don’t know how I get there sometimes…..seems like dumb luck when I do.  But I know enough to realize when I’ve nailed it and when it’s just not there yet.  That’s when my persistence comes in handy.  I never know what part of the painting is going to jump up and bite me.  Some part I think will be difficult comes easily and another that seems simple isn’t.  So I never know until I get into it what will be the most difficult aspect of a particular painting.  But I do know that there is a lesson to be learned from every problem and struggle encountered. ”

Sue: Nancy, I so appreciate the time you have given me today. I would like to say thank you for sharing your paintings with the world and it is a pleasure knowing you as an Artist. There is so much more we could talk about, but people will have to visit www.howeart.com to find out more about your work. You need to get back to the easel, I am sure!


What are Indie Publishers All About?

January 30, 2012

Remember those words sung by Dionne Warwick from many years ago – 

What’s it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?”
 

Over the past ten or twelve years, these same types of questions have been asked by readers and writers everywhere. They want to know – What is the independent publishing industry really all about? 

On Thursday evening, February 2nd at 7pm, I will be giving a presentation at the Hayden Library in Hayden, Colorado on the evolution (or revolution, as some may see it) of independent publishing and the arrival of e-books to the publishing scene. 

Join me and feel free to ask “What is it all about, Suzie?” I have spent many years sorting out this constantly changing, exciting and growing industry of independent publishing, as best as I possibly can! And, no! It is not just for the moment we live – books live on and on, and many “independent minded people” publish as a way of leaving a legacy to their families, friends and for many more reasons, too. 

Again – we will be discussing fulfilling dreams of publishing on February 2nd at 7pm in Routt County, Colorado at the Hayden Library. You will see “the possibilities are endless… one merely needs to step forward.” 

SHe Writes Steamboat http://on.fb.me/oOWKWm because of their affiliate membership with the Colorado Independent Publishers Association http://bit.ly/w2f0gu has all the educational resources and vendors available to help authors  along the way to becoming a successful independent publisher. 

Come along. Jump on the Fast Track of Independent Publishing. It’s a New Year, and a great time in publishing! Join in.


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