Kier's Musings: December 2007 Archives

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December 20, 2007

Joyful Holiday

IMAC Enewsletter - December 20th, 2007

1/Joyful Holiday Wishes to All + IMAC's Holiday Hours

Hello to the IMAC membership! The staff and board of IMAC wish you all the best this holiday season. 2007 was a packed year with many new initiatives and great member-involvement and productivity. 2007 saw the first annual Screenwriter's Bootcamp, The first annual Masterclass Workshop Series, the second annual Centred Screening series, the first annual IMAC Summer Production, the Multimedia Extravaganza, as well as continuing initiatives with the PEIMA/ECMA podcasting crew, the Summer Video Youth Camp, the Racism Stop It! Youth Video Competition, and the Open Workshop Series. So far in 2007, IMAC members have produced approximately 40 works on film and video, some of which were screened at festivals across Canada or were picked up by distribution companies.

There's lots to get excited about in the new year as well... but this is your co-op, so if there is any programming you'd like to see put into place, or anything you think IMAC could be doing better, please let us know!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this co-op a vital place to be in 2007!

IMAC will be closed from Monday December 24th - the morning of Wednesday January 2nd.

If you have any desperate equipment needs over the holidays contact Bill Harrington at imacequip@pei.aibn.com - or preferably make arrangements on or before Friday December 21st.

2/Pete Murphy's Screening!!!

Long-time member and prolific filmmaker, Peter Murphy, is screening his tour de force horror film 'Bootlegger of the Damned' on Friday, December 28th at 7pm, upstairs at the whY - Charlotetown. All proceeds from the screening will go to support member Kate Poole. It's bound to be a scarily good time!

3/IMAC Winter Production

stills from 'Mysterious To Seymour' - IMAC Summer Production

Remember not so long ago when it was sweltering and muggy and just sitting made you sweat...and a brave crew of IMAC members joined forces to shoot a short film; the first IMAC Summer Production 'Mysterious to Seymour'? Well... we want to do it again, but colder!

This is a call out to the IMAC membership for persons interested in being the Producer of the IMAC Winter Production. This is also a call out to members who have a short script in hand that they would like to see produced.

The Producer's role will be to work with the IMAC Board and Staff to select one of the submitted scripts, find funding, assemble a crew, and initiate a production. If you are interested in this role please indicate your interest ASAP!

The scriptwriter's role is to submit a brilliant script to IMAC by Monday, January 7th.

To reiterate:

-If you are interested in being the Producer of the IMAC Winter Production - indicate your interest to the IMAC office ASAP.

-If you have a short film script that you would like produced, please drop it off/email it (email preferred) to imac@pei.aibn.com by Monday, January 7th.

4/Workshops in the New Year

When the new year roles around and you're all a-fire with resolutions to enhance your skill set and knowledge base... IMAC will be there with oodles of hands-on film and video making opportunities to fulfil your lofty goals. The following courses will include not only familiarizing yourself with the cameras and their functions, but also provide the opportunity to shoot short scripts!

Shoot Yourself - The Bolex Film Camera - with Dave Ward - Level One

Though it may be the digital age, there is no substitute for working with real film. Learn the original craft of filmmaking; how to read a light meter, load 16mm. Film, and all the other functions of a Bolex film camera.

(A three session course)

-Tues/Thurs Jan 15/17 from 6-9pm (location TBA)

-Sat Jan 19 from 10am-3pm (location TBA)

-$40 members/ $48 non-members (film included)

Shoot Yourself - The Video Camera - with Paul Ness - Level One

Because it is the digital age, you might as well know all there is to know about the digital video camera; learn all the functions and proper use of the PD170 video camera.

(A three session course)

-Thurs/Fri Jan 24/25 from 6-9pm (location TBA)

-Sat Jan 26 from 10am-3pm (location TBA)

-$35 members/ $42 non-members

Coming up in February:

Let There Be Light - Lighting techniquesfor Film and for Video - Level One

Sound Saavy - Sound recording - Level One

5/January Centred Screening

The theme for the first Centred Screening of the new year is 'Bizarro'... so pretty much anything goes! In the world of independent filmmaking, bizarre is not an uncommon trait. It's amazing just how strange humans can be... this screening will be a testament to that fact.

The screening on Monday January 7th at 7pm at The Guild, will include many Island-made works, such as 'Scarface' by Richie Mitchell, 'Commando vs. Commando' by Scott Gallant, 'March of the Eggs' by Jeremy Larter, and 'The Torturer' by Adam Perry; there seems to be a wealth of weirdness here on PEI. Other works to be screened have been produced by independent media artists from across Canada through film co-ops such as the New Brunswick Film Co-op, The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers, The Yukon Film Society, and many more. The January Artist challenger is local videographer Errol Richardson who is sure to come up with something outside the realm of normal. Tasty morsels will be provided as always. So for those who want to kick off the new year in an unusual way, this screening is the place to be. For a full schedule go to www.islandmedia.pe.ca

Also of special note: There will be an information session following the screening, about the second annual Screenwriter's Bootcamp which is to take place on PEI in June. All interested screenwriters, who wish to apply to this incredible mentoring program and get a chance to work with and pitch to industry professionals should come on down to find all about it!

6/Screenwriting Club!

Member Dave Bennett is initiating a screenwriter's circle entitled Write-On Thirdsday! This dedicated yet casual club of screenwriters will meet at IMAC on the third Thursday of every month to go over eachother's work, do some writing exercises, and generally hone their writing skills. You don't have to be a member to attend, and there are no fees... just show up and talk scripts. Exact times will be posted in the new year.

Local News:

1/Trapeze Animation Studios - Needs Digital Background Painter

My name is Julie Biggar and I am the Production Manager for Trapeze Animation Studios Ltd (TASL) in Charlottetown. TASL will be soon be entering into production for a new children's series entitled Razzberry Jazzberry Jam. We are currently looking for people to fill the positions of Digital Background Painters for the series. I am attaching the job description to this email and if you know of anyone within The Island Media Arts Co-op that may be interested, could you please pass the information along. As indicated in the description, interested parties can contact careers@trapeze.com .

2/Youth Arts Council Launches Photo Contest

Charlottetown - The Confederation Centre Youth Arts Council, a new group for teens by teens, kick starts their 2008 program this week with a photo contest and invites submissions from Islanders ages 13 to 18.
"The theme of the contest is 'mingle,' and participants can interpret that any way they want," says Siobhan Wiggans, Gallery Educator at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery.

"First, second and third place winners will receive complementary tickets to Confederation Centre of the Arts productions and the winning photograph will be published in the March issue of The Buzz," Wiggans adds.

"The Youth Arts Council is a very exciting experience because it brings the Confederation Centre to youth and motivates students to express their creativity," says Jackie Skinner, a YAC member from Bluefield High School. "We chose the theme 'mingle' to inspire students to capture each other in moments of communication, and to go against the stereotype of teens only communicating through media such as computers and cell phones."

"We hope that through this contest we inspire students to express their talents to the public and follow through with their passions," Skinner says.

Wiggans says they will be displaying all of the entries at the YAC Café, the first coffeehouse hosted by the Council. The coffee house, open to all youth interested in the new Youth Arts Council, takes place Friday, February 1 at 7 p.m. in the Confederation Centre Art Gallery.

Submissions for the photo contest may be made by email or post. For submission guidelines, please visit www.confederationcentre.com and click on 'Youth Arts Council' in the 'Young@Arts' section. All submissions are due by midnight, Sunday, January 27, 2008.

Other News:

1/Flicks International Film Festival - Call for Submissions

The deadline for submissions to the Flicks International Film Festival for Young People has been extended to January 15th, 2008.

If you have films or videos by, for or about youth produced within the last two years, we'd love to see your work! All themes and genres welcome. Flicks programs dramas, docs, animation and experimental works, both short and feature length.

Submission forms are available online at www.flicksfilmfest.org

2/Viewfinders' International Youth Film Festival - Call for Submissions

For works of all different genres BY or FOR youth! Deadline is January 18th.

Go to http://www.atlanticfilm.com/view/ for more details.

3/Call for Submissions - NSI Online Festival

The National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI) is now calling for submissions for its brand-new, year-round short film showcase: the NSI Online Short Film Festival. Through the NSI Online Short Film Festival, NSI anticipates streaming around 100 Canadian short films on its website annually. Four calls will be issued each year.

The deadline for this first call for submissions is February 4, 2008. There is no submission fee. Submissions will be accepted on DVD only.

For full details and an application form: http://nsi-canada.ca/nsionlineshortfilmfestival/

During each selection period, approximately 25 films will be programmed and streamed on the NSI site.

4/Available Light Film Festival (Whitehorse)

The Available Light Film Festival, hosted by Yukon Film Society, is accepting feature drama and documentary film and media art works produced after Jan 1, 2006 and over 45 minutes in length. There is no submission fee. Preview tapes and DVD's will not be returned unless a SASE is included. Projection formats: 35mm, 16mm, Beta SP, HDCAM, DVCAM or mini-dv. All video formats NTSC. Accepted films are paid an artist fee or the fee set by the distributor. ALFF submissions: 4137 C 4th Avenue Whitehorse, YT Y1A 1H8.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2007
Info: www.yukonfilmsociety.com

5/International Media Poetry Contest (France)
For its tenth edition (May 2009), the International Poetry Biennial is pleased to announce an International Media Poetry Contest. Works considered "media poetry" are those that place contemporary technologies at the service of poetry, be it within the framework of a performance or in that of a recorded and projectable work. Among the many forms accepted are included videopoetry, digital poetry, multimedia poetry, sound poetry, interactive poetry, and poetic installations in physical space or on the Internet. Works that illustrate a poem will not be considered (these are works that use sound or images to represent or complement a poem, for example). There are no restrictions regarding the form or content of the media poems submitted. Work presented shall not exceed 15 minutes and can be presented in the form CD, DVD, or on the Internet. Application: Candidates willing to submit their work to the International of Media Poetry Contest shall express their intention via email before December 31st, 2007. To do so they shall write an email to: direction@biennaledespoetes.fr. The works submitted shall arrive at the Poetry Biennial's office (11 rue Ferdinand Roussel 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine France) before December 31st, 2008. If the work is online, the Internet address shall arrive via email on this date. A jury made up of ten international artists will examine the works and will allot the Media Poetry Prize 2009. The prize will be given to the winner during a special ceremony to be realized during the Poetry Biennial. The prize winner will choose between being invited to Paris for one week with all expenses paid during the Poetry Biennial or the equivalent amount in cash. Participation in the contest automatically authorizes the Biennial to publicly exhibit submitted works. Unless otherwise specified, the copyright of the works remains with the artists.
DEADLINE: December 31, 2007 (application) - December 31, 2008 (submission of the work)

6/Hot Docs - Call for Submissions
Hot Docs accepts submissions of documentaries of all lengths and subject matter. The Festival Programming Team decides in which program a film will be presented, and includes this information on the official invitation. Hot Docs features two competitive programmes, Canadian Spectrum and International Spectrum, and several non-competitive programmes. All feature films selected for Hot Docs are eligible for the Audience Award.
Due Date: January 10th, 2008
Info: www.hotdocs.ca/industry/2008festival/submitfilm

7/CHRSC Seeking to Hire Consultant

The Cultural Human Resources Council is seeking to hire a consultant/firm on a contractual basis, in order to determine the training needs for competencies identified in the Film and Television Directors' Competency Analysis (to be provided), to survey the current training offerings for those competencies, and to analyze the training gaps based on the training needs assessment and offerings survey.

Please see attached request for proposals.

8/Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge

Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge is a educational initiative hosted at the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation, that aims to sensitize young Canadians to global development issues and to support them in becoming responsible and engaged global citizens.

Building on the popularity of video-sharing, KALEIDOSCOPE is inviting youth participants (8 to 12 and 13 to 18 years old) to prepare and submit a "video clip" (under 5 minutes), on what they believe is the most pressing global issue, and what action(s) Canadians can take locally to address it.The contest website(www.videochallenge.ca) offers background information about the Millennium Development Goals, links to resources that explain how to upload videos to the Internet, a selection of resources for youth to enhance their video production skills and detailed information about the contest.

The contest will be open until March 31, 2008. We invite you use this contest as a motivational tool and connect youth to global issues! Entries will be judged regionally to determine one finalist from each age category. Regional winners will receive a video camera (or the equivalent value in cash up to $1,000). One national winner of each age group will be selected from the 14 finalists through a combination of on-line voting, andreview by a national panel. National winners will be recognized at aceremony in Ottawa in May 2008.

__________________________________________________________________________

Mille Clarkes
IMAC Coordinator

Island Media Arts Co-operative
Box 2726
115 Richmond St. 3rd Flr.
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 8C3

Ph/Fx: (902) 892-3131
imac@pei.aibn.com
www.islandmedia.pe.ca

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Posted by kier at 4:46 PM

December 15, 2007

Women's Equality PEI

1. Status of Women Blog: Women's Equality PEI

The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women has set up an interactive
online presence at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com

The PEIACSW blog has been quieter this week as staff members finish up
projects before some holiday time. There is a recent posting regarding the
passing of Hilda Woolnough. We look forward to new postings in the new
year. The blog is an experiment, and if response is positive, we will
continue to maintain it. Community Notices are now posted to the blog every
Friday as well as being sent out on the mailing list.

2. 2007 Plum Pudding Campaign

The 4th annual plum pudding campaign is underway. Pat and Silas Robinson are
gearing up for another successful fundraising campaign. This year the
proceeds of all of the puddings will go to the PEI Humane Society (by decree
of Silas).

The PEI Humane Society is a non-profit organization. The Society serves the
province of PEI, providing care to thousands of injured, stray, homeless and
abandoned animals. The work of the PEI Humane Society is made possible by
the generosity of supporters and volunteers. They are a registered
charitable organization, and listed with Revenue Canada under the following
registration number: 11910-3133-RR001. A volunteer Board of Directors,
comprised of community leaders who are interested in the welfare and humane
treatment of animals, governs the P.E.I. Humane Society. The PEI Humane
Society is the only humane society or SPCA working on Prince Edward Island
for Island animals.

Please help us support the PEI Humane Society! In other years, we have
raised over $3,000 for local charities - let's have our best year yet!

Plum puddings sell for $8 or two puddings for $15. They are vegetarian
friendly, low fat, low sugar.

Beautifully wrapped with a recipe for the sauce attached. They make
fantastic gifts or host presents.

To place an order or to get further information, please call (902) 566-4388.
You can leave a message or email us at plumpudding@eastlink.ca We need a
name, contact number and number of puddings desired.

3. Give the Gift of Learning

Looking for the perfect holiday gift...one that has no trans fats, doesn't
make loud noises or have 1000 pieces to put away, and is never too big or
too small? Consider giving a donation on someone's behalf to Breakfast for
Learning PEI. A twenty dollar donation could provide breakfast for a
student for one month, or feed an entire classroom of Island children
breakfast for a day. Your gift can contribute to the success of an Island
child, as hungry students can be tired, disinterested or hyperactive. Your
gift to your boss, favorite aunt or former teacher can help ensure local
students attend school, well-nourished and ready to learn.

For more information about this program, which provides gift cards and tax
receipts, contact Charmaine at Breakfast for Learning PEI at 368-6844 or
cecampbell@edu.pe.ca

4. PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada Announcement

1) Volunteer as a 'Holiday Host' With Newcomers to Canada

Welcome a new family to Canada by volunteering for project 'Holiday Host',
through the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada. In this program you
will experience a cultural exchange by inviting a family into your home for
a meal over the holidays. We can connect you with a family spending their
first Christmas in Canada. For more information, call Erica at 628-6009,
email erica@peianc.com, or visit www.peianc.com

Erica Carragher, Host Program - Community Outreach Team, PEI Association for
Newcomers to Canada, 25 University Ave., Holman Building Suite 400,
Charlottetown, PE, C1A 8C4 ph.: (902) 628-6009 fax.: (902) 894-4928
email: erica@peianc.com website: www.peianc.com

5. The Return of BARAKA

The 2nd Annual BARAKA Day celebration will be held at Le Carrefour de l'Ile
St-Jean on Saturday, March 1st.

BARAKA Day is an occasion to celebrate the long-time association between
Prince Edward Island and Africa, extending from the days of slavery on the
Island, two centuries ago, to the present-day influx of students and
immigrants of African origin. The co-sponsoring organizations are the Black
Islanders Co-operative and Farmers Helping Farmers, in association with
CUSO, the PEI Newcomers Association, and the City of Charlottetown.

BARAKA 2008 will include a day-time Fair with displays, demonstrations,
ethnic food, crafts, free performances and various other free events for
the whole family. The evening will feature a special Farmers Helping Farmers
fund-raising Concert, highlighting music with an African flavour. Many
amazing musicians will be performing, including: The Baraka Band, JaNuba,
The Count and the Cuban Cocktail, Fugato and No Fuss Movers.

Admission to the Fair portion of BARAKA Day is FREE. Tickets for the evening
Concert are $20.00 and can be purchased from members of Farmers Helping
Farmers (see www.farmershelpingfarmers.ca for contact information, or email
n.shaw@pei.sympatico.ca).

A full program of activities, speakers, and performers will be published
early in the New Year.

In the meantime, be sure to mark your calendars for March 1st!

6. The Community Events/Notices will return Friday, January 4, 2008.

_____________________

Community Events/Notices are forwarded to you by the PEI Advisory Council on
the Status of Women. You will also find them posted shortly on our new blog,
Women's Equality PEI at http://peiacsw.wordpress.com

For further information or questions specifically relating to these notices,
please contact the individual or organization hosting the community event.

If you do not wish to receive this weekly community notice, please reply and
let us know by typing - Unsubscribe - in the subject line.

PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women
PO Box 2000 (161 St. Peter's Road), Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
tel: 902 368 4510
fax: 902 368 3269
peiacsw@isn.net
www.gov.pe.ca/acsw

Posted by kier at 2:42 AM

December 12, 2007

1/Ye Old IMAC Christmas Fest!

IMAC Enewsletter - December 7th, 2007

1/Ye Old IMAC Christmas Fest!

We decided to keep it simple this year... no fancy restaurants, no conceptual art projections... just good clean free booze! (And food, and friends, and maybe some films). Drop on by the IMAC Christmas Festivities.

Thursday, December 13th

7pm

@ IMAC (top floor of the Guild)

a.. IMAC members, friends of IMAC members, and friends of IMAC are welcome.
b.. The second Super-8 Challenge will be launched at the party.

2/IMAC Winter Production

The scriptwriter's role is to submit a brilliant script to IMAC by Monday, January 7th.

To reiterate:

a.. If you are interested in being the Producer of the IMAC Winter Production - indicate your interest to the IMAC office ASAP.
b.. If you have a short film script that you would like produced, please drop it off/email it (email preferred) to imac@pei.aibn.com by Monday, January 7th.

3/Workshops in the New Year

The Fall round of IMAC workshops has wrapped... But keep your eyeballs peeled for the next round of workshops coming up in the new year. These workshops will begin with technical workshops on the Film Camera and the Video Camera in mid-January.

photos courtesy of Michael Nesbitt

In the new year look forward to:

a.. Shoot Yourself - The Video Camera and the 16mm. Film Camera (Level One and Two)
b.. Let There Be Light - Lighting for film and for video. (Level One and Two)
c.. Sound Saavy - Sound recording (Level One and Two)
d.. Outtakes - Editing with Final Cut Pro (Level One and Two)
e.. Soundwaves - Post Production Sound with Protools. (Level One and Two)
f.. Sense of Direction - Direction Theory (Level Two)

4/Informative New Books and IMAC!

IMAC has recently purchased two new filmmaking books for your greater edification. These books are in the IMAC resource library and are available for signing out! The news books are:

a.. Shot by Shot - visualizing from concept to screen.
b.. Film Lighting - talks with hollywood's cinematographer's and gaffers.

Other News:

1/PEI Council of the Arts - Membership and Art Exhibit

If you are a member of IMAC you can become a member of the PEICA for $2. $2! As a member of the PEICA you can contribute to the PEICA's member exhibition in the Gallery space at the Guild. This exhibit's official opening is Saturday, Dec.8th at 2pm. However, the exhibit will be accepting new works over the next month, so if you have a media art project you'd like to display, drop it off to Darrin White at the PEICA office.

IMAC has a mini-cinema set up in the gallery to display member's works - these will be on display during the week and also during evening shows at the Guild. (Thanks to Darrin White).

2/New Video Game Art and Design Course at Holland Collage

Holland College is offering a 20-week Introduction to Video Game Art and Design certificate program scheduled to start in January. This 20-week course will provide the basics for people interested in working in the Video Game Art and Design industry. With a $24.5 billion dollar global market, the video game segment is the fastest growing part of the entertainment industry, and there are currently a number of video game companies in Prince Edward Island.

The Introduction to Video Game Art and Design program will prepare students to enter into the two-year Video Game Art and Design diploma program in September of 2008. Topics to be covered in the Introduction to Video Game Art and Design program include traditional drawing skills, design fundamentals, college English, computer applications, basics of animation, introduction to 2D animation, introduction to 3D software, digital imaging, and basic multimedia, art and design skills

For more information about the Introduction to Video Game Art and Design certificate program and the two-year Video Game Art and Design diploma program, call 1-800-446-5265 or visit the Holland College website at www.hollandcollege.com.

3/NSI Global Marketing deadline: Dec. 14, 2007

Winnipeg - Television producers are now encouraged to apply for NSI Global Marketing MIPTV 2008. This professional development program offered by the National Screen Institute - Canada teaches the essentials of selling, pitching, promoting and networking in preparation for the international market in France.

Apply by Friday, December 14, 4:30 p.m., Central Time.

Guidelines and an application form are available at: www.nsi-canada.ca/global/registration.shtml

NSI Global Marketing is targeted at mid-level Canadian television producers who have projects ready to sell internationally. Participants are not required to pay tuition fees or relocate. Some financial assistance and attendance at either MIPTV or MIPCOM is provided as part of the training program.

Training is led by Mickey Rogers.

4/Call for Submissions - Animated Anomalies

Animated Anomalies Screening 29th February 2008

Curated by Lisa Morse and Amy Baker

The program will showcase animated media from artists engaged in anomalies of content and form, concentrating on grotesquerie, fringe sexuality, ribald humour and the unconventional. Only those included within the program will be contacted. If you'd like your submission previews returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.
Specifications: Shorts, up to 10 minutes, completed since 2005.
Screening formats: Film (16mm), Video (preferably mini DV).

Submission preview formats: VHS, DVD. You must include a brief description and bio (50-70 words), and the year of completion.

Submission deadline: 15th December 2007. Artist fees will be paid.

_____________________________________________________________________

Mille Clarkes
IMAC Coordinator

Island Media Arts Co-operative
Box 2726
115 Richmond St. 3rd Flr.
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 8C3

Ph/Fx: (902) 892-3131
imac@pei.aibn.com
www.islandmedia.pe.ca

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Posted by kier at 8:53 AM