Category Archives: Film Editing and Filmmaking

Film Friday – “A Guerilla Artist?”

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“Summer’s filled with breaking the rules, standing apart, ignoring your head, and following your heart.” ~ Unknown

Arriving in theatres across the country, just in time for kid’s summer break from school, is “Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer.” This PG rated movie is based on Megan McDonald’s popular book series. 

Judy Moody (played by Jordana Beatty), pegged as a “guerilla artist,” creates her summer of a life time along with her brother Stink and Aunt Opal, who arrives on the scene when Judy’s parents take an unexpected trip to California without the kids. Judy’s vivid imagination takes the audience on a summer ride to remember, of calamity and  hilarious antics, for a fulfilling, fun-filled cinema release for both parents and kids. Just how the term “guerilla artist” comes in to the overall scheme of things is for the audience to discover. 

To watch a trailer of this soon-to-be released summer film, Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer,  visit Reelz Channel http://bit.ly/mFEA9S. 

P.S. I would remiss if I didn’t mention that today, June 3rd is Free Hug Day, so embrace your favorite filmmaker – they are the folks that keep us entertained through the power of film. I am sending a hug through the internet to my favorite film editor at Reelz Channel.

Will return on Monday with more independent publishing news. See you then.

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Safe Harbor for She Writes Steamboat

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“Dwell in Possibility” ~ Emily Dickinson 

On last Friday’s blog, mention was made of Chicken and Egg Pictures, a non-profit organization supporting women independent filmmakers. The tag line of this non-profit “Incubating and Hatching All at Once” well represents what I have been feeling about She Writes Steamboat http://on.fb.me/lbnPms  over the past few months. I have been envisioning and growing in my mind, a meet-up group that will provide networking opportunities and support and foster independent publishing success. 

I have decided the time is NOW to hatch the group and support a group of women who have stories to tell, but are still in the incubation period and want to actively hatch and grow their desires. 

For those just starting down the road to independent publishing, beginning can be a scary thing! Women are good at supporting and communicating with each other in their efforts to succeed. What independent publishers have in common is a real and pressing need to inspire and entertain others through storytelling or to educate and inform all through the power of the written word. With independent publishing, there is no competition because everyone has an individual and unique narrative to tell. 

So my thoughts are “why not get together, meet-up and all be there for each other.” Our first She Writes Steamboat meet-up will be Tuesday, June 21 at 4:00 pm at the Bud Werner Library Hall. 

Ladies, feel free to invite others who are in any stage of publishing or those interested in learning more about the independent publishing process. At our first meeting, we will be discussing what time we should schedule our future meetings, how often we chicks should gather. We will be laying the groundwork for a group that I hope will be a safe harbor so independent publishers will not feel as if they are all alone in their publishing efforts. 

Join Us! There is nothing to lose and everything to gain in learning more about the dynamic industry of independent publishing. There are no membership fees. By the way, this group is affiliated with www.SheWrites.com.

 

         See you then!

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New Film Initiative: Women Leading

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“Leaders of the future will have to be visionary and be able to bring people in – real communicators. These are things that women bring to leadership” ~ Anita Borq 

There is a new initiative focusing on films about women and girls in leadership roles, world-wide, being brought to us by PBS.  “Women and Girls Lead” was kicked off several weeks ago with the TV broadcast of the film Bhutto, which chronicles Benazir Bhutto and the challenges she faced in a global leadership role as Prime Minister of Pakistan. 

Independent Lens, opened up new slots in programming for independent documentary filmmakers with compelling stories to tell about women in commanding positions, and more than 1000 films were vying for a spot. Fifty films have been chosen to be broadcast as part of this new initiative. 

Non-profit organizations in support of women engaged in the art of filmmaking have provided funding support and promotion of this new initiative. Organizations such as Chicken and Egg http://bit.ly/kEqk , Women Make Movies http://bit.ly/BP4hb , The Fledgling Fund http://bit.ly/hShb7T, and even media mogul Oprah http://bit.ly/8HYvLn  are behind these efforts. 

This multi-year initiative aimed at educating, informing and connecting people globally all through the power of film, will bring awareness about struggles and successes women and girls have when they assume leadership roles. 

 I look forward to viewing these compelling films right from the comfort of my home, all brought to us by PBS.

Happy Film Friday, everyone, and we will be back on Monday with more independent thoughts, words and views.

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Pilot Program for Independent Publishers

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“It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating! I would not trade one moment, even the worst moment, for all the riches in the world.” ~ Elizabeth Blackwell 

According to Jamie LaRue, the Director of Douglas County Libraries in Colorado, “this is the most exciting time in publishing since the invention of the printing press. Until now, books coming through the gateway of the library have been restricted to only those that have been published by the big traditional publishing houses.” The new agreement that has been signed between the Douglas County Library System http://douglascountylibraries.org/  and the Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com  will allow a system whereby independent publications can be found by library patrons and libraries will essentially be fulfilling a need for the independents by helping them to find readers, too. How cool is that? 

The magnitude of opportunity and possibilities that this agreement opens up for libraries all across the country and for independent publishers, too, is mind boggling. “Take this another few steps further”, a Colorado Independent Publishers Association member remarked at the signing of the agreement, “and think what this agreement can do for independent publishers of film and music, too.” 

Of course, providing top quality books has always been the objective of libraries, and this will remain unchanged. Being put into place is a “rating system” that will allow the best  to be included in catalog of e-booksthat will be sold to libraries. 

Jamie LaRue told his story of how his mind-set had been changed toward independent publishers. He used to interview authors, and as he began to feature a few independent publishers, he realized there is a whole new generation of publishers who have outstanding, valuable stories to share but the big traditional publishing houses are passing them by. It seems his objective is to provide excellence in literature for his library patrons, whether traditionally published or not. 

To read more about this e-book Pilot program agreement between the Colorado Independent Publishers Association and the Douglas County Libraries, please visit http://bit.ly/eYPEix. 

You can be sure, we will be following this story as this agreement unfolds. Keep in touch with what is happening in the dynamic and changing world of independent publishing through All Things Fulfilling. This blog site is dedicated to those who have independent thoughts, words and views, that will truly change the world of publishing.

This photograph is the signing of the e-book agreement between Colorado Independent Publishers Association President, Nancy Mills and Director of Douglas County Library System, Jamie LaRue.

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New Matrimonial Movie on Film Friday

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“In the opinion of the world, marriage ends all, as it does in a comedy.  The truth is precisely the opposite:  it begins all. “         ~Anne Sophie Swetchine

Magazine publishers are determined not to let us forget about the wedding of the Century between the Brits, William and Kate. “Collector’s Issues” of magazines featuring the Royal Wedding now line the racks of drugstores, grocery stores and news stands everywhere. 

Being released in just in time for the busiest month of the year for weddings, is the latest movie about marriage called “Bridesmaids.” It is opening in theatres today! From the sound of it, June brides may want to take time from putting the finishing touches on their plans for the big day, to go see it. It may put what seems like abnormal strain and stresses of planning and carrying off a wedding, into prospective. To watch a trailer of “Bridesmaids” or to listen to film critic Richard Roeper’s review of this new cinema release, please visit http://bit.ly/kJaobE. 

Matrimony is a very serious commitment, yet hilarious and unexpected circumstances do sometimes occur even though every minute by minute detail has been organized and planned. Wedding day bloopers and blunders are the basis of many funny film parodies about this day of celebration. 

On this Film Friday, let’s mention a few other films about marriage that are popular picks:

      • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
      • Princess Bride
      • My Big Fat Greek Wedding
      • Father of the Bride (Spencer Tracy)
      • Father of the Bride (Steve Martin)
      • The Bride of Frankenstein
      • The Wedding Planner 

      Have a fun weekend! Put your feet up and watch a movie about what is a very fulfilling “institution”, as long as the relationship turns out to be right!

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She Writes Steamboat

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“We can begin by doing small things at the local level… like looking out for our neighbors. That is how change takes place …from many local actions occurring simultaneously.” ~  Grace Lee Boggs 

One of the very best ways to build business is through networking – building communities of like-minded people! This applies to building independent publishing businesses, too. Self-publishing authors, micro-presses and small presses, do not have some of the benefits and the marketing advantages of traditional publishing conglomerates at their dispose. Therefore, it is important to join independent publishing trade associations and writers guilds. Cooperative efforts can be very effective in supporting the non-traditional publisher.

What self-publishing authors, micro-presses and small presses do have, to their advantage, is the flexibility of doing business any way they see fit. Many decide to independently publish for this very reason.  Publishers who go the independent route are fulfilling a need by providing unique publications that readers are looking for. Non-traditional publishers often opt for tactics of selling and marketing their books that traditional publishers may reject. 

There is a new networking group called She Writes www.shewrites.com  being established inSteamboat Springs, Colorado. This meet-up group’s goal is to heighten awareness of independent publishing projects that creatives in Steamboat Springs and the surrounding Routt County are engaged in and to support those efforts. Anyone who is starting or is in the process of independently publishing a book, film, music or other media can attend. 

She Writes Steamboat’s first objective is to establish a time and a regular place to meet and to connect with those in the community who would like to collaborate and network with other independent-minded publishing folks. In the coming weeks, more information will be available on our first gathering. Keep your eyes open to future blog posts on All Things Fulfilling about the She Writes Steamboat Meet-up group. Excitement is in the air!

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Words and Images Haunt

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“It is not a bad thing that children should occasionally, and politely, put parents in their place.”  ~Colette, My Mother’s House, 1922 

Yesterday I met with a client at the Bud Werner Library in Steamboat Springs, CO. www.steamboatlibrary.org .  As I sat in the library café waiting for my client to arrive, I began to leaf through Book Page. There was an article in it on how to raise readers. As I browsed the article, I began to laugh out loud!  One of the tips was some thing like  “when reading a book to a child, don’t necessarily keep to the script. Feel free to use editorial control.” 

How, may I ask, “Can a parent get away with that?” I never could! I was caught in the act, every time!  My son would scold me, as if I was raiding the refrigerator, taking out all the good stuff, in the middle of the night. 

“No, Mom, that is not right! That is not how the story goes!” he would say. Even as a little toddler, he could sense every time I strayed from the storyline, skipped a page or two, or ad-libbed just a wee bit. He knew when my words did not exactly match the pictures. Could this be the reason he has become a film editor and filmmaker? Now he is fulfilling his need for perfection – making sure the story told in pictures, matches the script! 

So, what is the point of the blog? One of the very best ways to raise a reader is to be a reader. But, caution, parents – even when you think your kids aren’t watching they are. Take heed, children notice and remember parent’s independent words and deeds as well as lessons learned from books. 

To read the full article on How to Raise a Reader, stop by your local library. Pick up a complimentary May issue of Book Page.  Most libraries have the publication available for their patrons or go on-line to www.bookpage.com.

 By the way, Happy Mother’s Day to Moms everywhere!

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