American Cinema Blog

I thought it would be appropriate to introduce our readers to a world that was completely foreign to me a month ago – designer toys. It was late June and we were putting the finishing touches on our 2010 program. Just a few hours before we planned on notifying the selected filmmakers, a lonely envelope appeared in the ACEFEST PO box. Little did we expect the contents of that unsuspecting 6×9 package had the power to send us back to the drawing board with our latest schedule draft.

‘The Vinyl Frontier‘ was a pleasant surprise, almost as if it were sent from the heavens above by some mystical cinematic force. It opened our eyes to a world of creativity, expression and collective passion. Designer toys are short-run, limited edition items made by artists from all over the world who come from all corners of the industry including graphic design, illustration and painting.

The now massively popular art-form originated in the 1990’s and still has unlimited growth potential on a global scale. ‘The Vinyl Frontier’ takes the audience on a journey into this underground world introducing us to the legends in the industry as well as outlining the fascinating process of making these figures from concept to completion. This documentary has plenty of local appeal, wonderful stories to be told and an incredible perspective on a sub-culture you may never have known existed otherwise!

‘The Vinyl Frontier’ plays Sat, Aug 28 at 8:20pm
Tickets / Info

/Film (slashfilm.com) is a daily destination for countless cinema fans and just so happens to serve as my personal movie trailer resource. You can imagine my excitement to find ACEFEST’s very own ‘Earthwork‘ trailer featured last week! And for the record, /Film’s review of the trailer would translate perfectly to a review of the full-length film as well.

‘Earthwork’ plays Sat, Aug 21 at 6:40pm
Tickets / Info

Well, this party just may have been our best yet! Over 200 film industry professionals gathered at the exclusive Luxe Lounge in the Midtown-West area of Manhattan for an evening of mixing, mingling and bowling (yes… BOWLING!) We’ve received excellent feedback about the venue, quality of guests, music and atmosphere. No matter what club we use or what city we’re in, it seems that every networking event we host, the need for opportunities like this become more apparent. What a fun and exciting way to make valuable new contacts!

If you were unable to attend, no worries – we’re hosting our Opening Night After Party at Luxe again on August 20th so mark your calendars! If you were there, sit tight – photos will be emailed in the next few days.

Let’s face it.  At least 65 percent of the planet owns some kind of mobile device – cell phone, portable music player, GPS navigator etc… and  mobile  technology is becoming smaller, faster and, well…mobile-er.  Because of this, 25 percent of cell phone users world-wide have used their devices to shoot video.  Most of these videos are deleted or forgotten about –  never to see the light of day and much less, the silver screen.

Mobile filmmaking is gaining a presence for itself simply because these devices capable of video capture are always where the action is (for example, at the karaoke bar around the corner) and ‘directors’ are coming up with better material and better production methods every day.  Here are some tips for making your next mobile masterpiece a hit.

They say that it is easier to forgive poor video quality than it is to forgive poor audio quality.  Mobile filmmaking is no exception to this and until your flip phone has its own stereo condenser mic built into it, you should always record audio separately using a digital recorder and some decent-quality microphones.

Although no amount of editing can fix bad camera work,  some patience and the right tools can put you on the right path to success.   Keep your shooting short, sweet, and stable if you can help it.  Shorter shots mean less room for wobbly camera work.

Being able to export video from your mobile device to a familiar format (ie Apple’s Quicktime or Windows Media) is a definite plus because the most popular video editing software titles  support a multitude of formats.

Mobile filmmaking is still very much in its infancy and we at ACEFEST urge you to go out and experiment with different techniques and subject matter.  Who knows, the next thing you shoot on your cell phone could be the next viral video sensation!

The Spring 2010 issue of MovieMaker has hit the shelves and they’ve named ACEFEST one of the TOP 25 FILM FESTIVALS WORTH THE ENTRY FEE! We couldn’t be more honored or humbled by this recognition. It’s an achievement marking 4 years of putting our filmmakers first and never wavering from our original mission of curating, promoting and celebrating the American Cinematic Experience!

A free one-year subscription to Videomaker isn’t the only perk ACEFEST has to offer (though it’s certainly a great one). “Filmmakers submit their work to ACEFEST because they know of our undying devotion to selling each and every seat in their screenings,” says executive director Tom O’Malley. “Every last film, from the epic feature to the 30-second animation, is given the utmost attention in all marketing efforts and play on an equal forum with one another, regardless of budget, star appeal, genre or content.” This marketing focus includes a dedicated page on the fest’s website.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted their blood, sweat and tears to ACEFEST in the past and anyone who will enter in the future. It’s all about you!

Entry Deadline is June 2! Submit now

ACEFEST, Manhattan’s beloved annual grassroots film festival, whose mission is to cultivate, promote and preserve American independent cinema and encourage networking among its followers, is kicking-off its fourth season with industry parties in three major cities: Los Angeles, Austin and, of course, New York City. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll be honest, it took me some time to buy into the whole “green” movement. It just seemed so drastic and sudden that I couldn’t help but be mildly skeptical of people’s genuine motives. Out of nowhere, people are carrying groceries in burlap sacks and using light bulbs that make your kitchen feel like an operating room. Regardless of my delayed adoption, I get it now. I could certainly be more environmentally-friendly, but I’m determined to not be the generation responsible for the end of the world. You can get tips for greener living in countless magazines, websites, books, newspapers and TV shows but what about extending your efforts to your filmmaking? Should your love for Mother Earth pause when you’re on set? I think not. So let’s make films… greener. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, the Florida House and Senate unanimously voted the Entertainment Industry Incentive Bill into legislation. This historic movement marks great potential for putting the Sunshine State back on the map in the Biz. Supporters of the bill are expecting an almost immediate effect in the job market – with new productions come new employment opportunities.

“This may be the single most important bill we passed this Session to bring high wage jobs to Florida almost immediately,” said Rep. Ambler.

Offering attractive incentives to film, video and TV productions will keep Florida competitive with other U.S. locations and should prove to be a very positive thing for the entertainment industry as a whole.

Throughout the history of filming in New York City, there have been no permit fees. This rare and highly-appreciated perk was used to lure new productions to The Big Apple. However, it looks like those days might be over. Due to budget woes, the fee to obtain a permit will now be $300. It’s not a lot but it’s certainly more than zero. The new fee applies to to films, commercials, music videos and television series shot in New York.

Each year, AFCI holds a Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica. Regardless of the production industry’s recent slump, this event beams a ray of light on the future of filmmaking. The 25th annual event brought in just as many exhibitors and visitors as ever before, showcasing hundreds of exciting locations around the world including Kentucky, Oregon, Romania and even Abu Dhabi.

This trade show is a great way to become acquainted with new and interesting places to shoot as well as their current tax breaks and local incentives.

Visit the AFCI Website