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2009 marks debut of “Interdependent Cinema” magazine

Monday, October 27th, 2008
at 8:55pm

Interdependent Cinema - An electronic Magazine / Blog / Print publication by Sabi

Today I had a terrific discussion with Sabi producer Daniel J. Carmody about the concept for a new Magazine/Blog for the modern indie filmmaker that understands/represents the true “interdependent” nature of collaboration on an ‘indepdendent’ film (and especially for those filmmakers that endeavor to create cinema art).  Daniel sketched out the structure of the site, complete with case studies, how-to articles, improvisation articles, videos and filmmaker contributions (articles & behind the scenes on interdependent films).  

He envisions an elegant and simple design for the site, with the information easily accessible for the first Phase.  Subsequent phases will entail a place for audiences and filmmakers to interact in discussions about Interdependent filmmaking - and eventually lead to the debut of a film that subscribes to the ‘rules’ of this new realization of process on cinefist.com.  

These rules, unlike those of the Dogme 95 movement, are entirely dependent upon each film itself (and thus, in flux) - but shares in its spirit an effort to depict a more organic and naturalistic style of filmmaking, a more true to life (realistic, honest) portrayal of the character’s journey.  The rules include an emphasis on creative collaboration, transcendence, guided improvisation, set atmosphere, and several more elaborate details of making a successful ‘interdependent’ picture (most of which will be explored in our first Issue).

Interdependent Cinema magazine will work in close creative collaboration with Cinefist.com and we hope there will be some cross pollination of filmmakers from both growing communities, as well as a direct emphasis on emerging projects that share key qualities of the interdependent process.  Daniel and my discussion about the Magazine - which will ultimately be a resource to up and coming interdependent filmmakers - got me very excited about the prospects and possibilities.  And with a community goal of 1,000 completely new subscribers by 2009, Daniel has been put in charge of a very large and important undertaking.  

As head editor & writer for the magazine, Carmody will be interviewing filmmakers about their creative collaborations with their crew and their cast, as well as regularly post articles from Zak Forsman, Erik Reese, Joshua Nitschke, Jamie Cobb, and dozens of other Sabi veterans that have taken part in the spirited process of  ’interdependent cinema.’

I’m truly excited about announcing here today the debut of “Interdependent Cinema” magazine, which will be available soon FOR FREE at www.interdependentcinema.com and www.interdependentfilmmaking.com

Our head editor Daniel Carmody and I are looking forward to seeing you there in 2009 -

Kevin K. Shah

 

 

Evolving Rules of Low-Budget Filmmaking

Saturday, January 26th, 2008
at 1:31am

Every Producer, Director, Crew member, Actor and artist has their own rules for how they make a film, whether it’s a short, music video, or indie feature film. In an effort to compile and share these snack-sized tidbits of Wisdom, please respond with your own tips for other Filmmakers like you that are simply trying to tell the story they have in their head.

Excerpted from my evolving journal:

FIRST A.D. COMES FIRST:

1. Be selective in who you Crew. Make sure all that come in for the interview or second interview understand what you are trying to do and have a legit reason for wanting to contribute to the show. Do not hire any crew that “want to be an actor” unless of course they lie to you and don’t tell you right away, which happens.

CATERING AND CRAFTY:

2. They are your family. Pay them first with money. They are your crew, pay them second with amazing Food - as much as the budget might allow. Good food and snacks, meat but mostly vegetarian if possible until the point of rebellion, healthy high energy snacks and popcorn always available. Popcorn every day. The smell alone is worth a thousand words and this is the movies.

MAKE-UP:

3. If they look good they way they look & the director is happy - have the Actors do their own make-up. The time it saves, saves a production and make-up can get complicated. Natural is a better look in general esp. with HD

PRODUCING:

4. Have a full CREW read-thru of the script the week before production. Have the crew play the different roles (Crew only, no cast). This way the Crew has gone through the whole story together at least once. A discussion should follow led by the producer(s). A crew read through is also a lot of fun. Make sure there’s food there…