Author: Nadine Graham

A Happy New Year to all! I missed January, I am unclear where that month went but alas it is gone and many things to report!

Last month I participated in the ACRL (Association of College and Research Librarians) Media Resources Discussion Group during the Mid-Winter American Library Association conference. It was a great talk, people asked fantastic questions about the production of media and how to deliver it, and how end users are using what they are using. Others in the discussion were Tracy Montri of the Toledo-Lucas Public Library and Tom Ipri (who actually asked us to do this) from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Thanks to Tom being brilliant, here is a link if you would like to take a peak. I believe viewing the link is totally public, not needing a password:

http://wikis.ala.org/acrl/index.php/Media_Resources_Discussion_Group

A roundtable discussion I proposed has been accepted to the ACRL for their conference in March in Seattle. I (representing the Reframe Collection – www.reframecollection.org) along with 5 other agencies will be discussing the different paths of delivery that media can take for inclusion in college and university curriculum. The other agencies include Films Media Group, INTELECOM, SCCTv, and the awesome librarian from Indiana University – Monique Threatt.

Which brings me to a very important point of expansion for my wee list:

SEND ME YOUR LINKS

From going to various conferences I have learned how many of you present on really interesting and useful topics that should be shared by all, about the usage of media and new resources or events. If you have a moment, send me your links to these types of things and I will include them in future newsletters and on the website.

Film Updates

The Gillian Film will be part of a Self-Determination Summit entitled Power of 3, sponsored by the state of Louisiana in March. Filmmaker Joanne Hershfeld and her daughter Gillian will also be there to present about the transition to independent living for youth with disabilities. (www.TheGillianFilm.com)

From Alice Elliott/Welcome Change – The Academy Award-nominated The Collector of Bedford Street will be screening in March, in Vermont with the Green Mountain Film Festival. (www.WelcomeChange.org). Body & Soul will be airing on PBS this October – which coincidentally is National Disability Awareness Month and National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I will send out more on this later.

Arthur Dong’s Flower Drum Song was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. He’s also recently released a new film on DVD – Hollywood Chinese. Check out his info at www.deepfocusproductions.com

Absolutely Safe – a fascinating exploration of issues surrounding breast implants – is finally available on DVD. Along with the 83 minute film, the DVD features include deleted scenes and interviews with implant activists and experts. You can purchase the DVD by going to: www.absolutelysafe.com/buy_individuals.html

My older films off the shelf? It is taking a little while because I have to complete all the deliverables but I am finally practicing what I preach and putting my own older films into the Reframe Collection. You can view the page by going to:

http://reframecollection.org/filmmakers/filmmaker?Id=1128

I am putting together plans to attend the Fast Forward Media showcase in Vancouver in April. I was there 2 years ago and it helped several films I work with to get a little foothold in Canadian educational media.

As usual, feel free to pass this on, or tell me that you no longer wish to receive it.

Cheers for 2009!

Best,

Rachel

Happy Holiday Season to one and all.

Here are the big items of the moment:

Firstly, I am finally practicing what I preach and will be including my personal short films in the Reframe Collection (www.reframecollection.org). A link to the page will most likely appear in the next newsletter. There is a process involved, and thanks to the kindness and patience of my previous collaborator, writer Carl Kelsch, I have been getting all the technical deliverables together to move forward. Room Tone (2002), my first directing project, and Bench Warmers (2005) have gotten positive feedback in the past so perhaps someone I do not know can find use for them as well. There will also be a compilation DVD of 4 shorts that will include these two plus Writing on the Wall, and Open Shutter, films I am excited about the opportunity of getting out more.

I am now officially a member of the American Library Association, and of the Video Round Table within ALA, and I am very happy about it.

The Reframe Collection is also looking for bloggers and curators from colleges and universities to provide each other peer-reviewed media that they have found useful. If you are interested in participating in such a venture, contact Teri Tynes at teritynes@hotmail.com. Tell her I sent you. She is good people and very open to ideas.

Reframe is sending me to the Mid-Winter conference of the American Library Association in January, which will take place in Denver. If you or anyone you know will be attending, I would love to connect with them. I have been asked by my brilliant friend Tom Ipri to talk about indie film and distribution at one of the meetings so I am looking forward to more interaction on this subject.

“Events” and film-specific announcements tend to thin out as the year comes to a close but I am extremely happy to report that The Gillian Film will be screening at the conference of Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc, January 13-16 of 2009. The subject of the film, Gillian, and her mother/filmmaker Joanne Hershfeld, will be in attendance to speak with the film. You can learn more about the film by going to www.TheGillianFilm.com and the conference by going to www.ipulidaho.org.

Shooting People recently requested I write a blog for their tools section about non-theatrical distribution, so here is the first part of that essay. I hope you find it useful:

http://shootingpeople.org/tools/2008/12/01/a-primer-on-non-theatrical-distribution-part-1/

Thanks very much for your interest in independent film. As usual, you are welcomed to pass this on to whomever you wish, and if you would like to get knocked off the list, please tell me so gently.

With warm regards,

Rachel