Monday, April 29, 2013

Paris Photo



Saw all the latest from the photo world this weekend at Paris Photo.

Paris Photo, you ask?

You know... "the most prestigious art fair dedicated  to historical and contemporary photography. This fair takes place annually at the Grand Palais in Paris mid-November and at the Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles at the end of April."

That one.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Hanging Downtown Screened in Boston



Hanging Downtown screened at the Boston International Film Festival on Monday.

The screening was at approximately the same time the bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, sadly.

I spoke to Jason Escape by phone right after the screening ended, as events became known. Apparently the screening went very well -- the film looked great on the big screen, and sounded good, and Jason spoke at the Q&A session -- but in light of these other events, it's been impossible to celebrate or to even think about the film.

So, here's to hoping that when the new film -- Escape/Artist -- is complete, we make it into one of the Boston festivals, and get to attend a screening there, and that Boston has only peaceful events in its future.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Screening: Let's All Be Free Film Festival


My short documentary Rolling on the Floor screens on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the Let's All Be Free Film Festival in London.

It features Killebrew Mason and was made with Kirk Dilley and Matt Conway.

Rolling On The Floor

4 min - USA - 2012 | dir. Ted Fisher | INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
They say you should dance like no one is watching ... but what happens when you do? When the idea of free, unrestrained self expression crashes into the vanity and pride of youth, which wins out? When Killebrew Mason went to the college dance, she knew it would be a moment she'd never forget. She just didn't know why.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Let's All Be Free



Some notions take a long time.

In January 2010, I had an idea for a mini-documentary, and decided the best way to approach it would be to find an interview subject on Twitter. Believe it or not ... it worked.

As you probably know, however ... there are always complications. In fact, in this case, there were many delays. The film -- less than five minutes long --wasn't completed until March 03, 2012. From there, the filtering process of finding, entering, and being accepted into film festivals has meant that no one has seen it yet. Finally, though, we've got the good word: two festivals have accepted the film -- Rolling on the Floor -- and will screen it.

I'll write more about the March screening soon.

Today, though, I want to direct your attention to our April 5th screening in London at the Let's All Be Free Film Festival.

The festival will be held in Central London at the Brunei Gallery, part of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Let’s All Be Free Film Festival aims to explore and celebrate what it means to be free. We seek to create a comfortable and open forum that will encourage constructive dialogue and debate around the notion of being free, with the aim of creating greater understanding and awareness around this vital issue. We want to use this enhanced knowledge and insight to implement a tangible, positive force for good in the world around us, and inspire others to do the same. 

One of the ways we want to achieve this is through creative expression – through the powerful and timeless medium of film. We seek to find the best, boldest and brightest cinematic expressions of being free, and showcase them to the world.

(Above: poster for the festival designed by Tim Leete of Creative Meld.)

Friday, February 15, 2013

Rolling on the Floor to Screen in London



My short film "Rolling on the Floor" is in competition at the Let's All Be Free Film Festival, scheduled to screen April 5, 2013.

I feel lucky: the fest notes that
"Out of the 675 films that were submitted to our film festival from all over the world, we've managed to choose the official selection of 37 films that will screen in competition at our film festival."
More on the film -- and another festival screening -- soon.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Hanging Downtown Screens in Winnipeg



My short documentary "Hanging Downtown" will screen at the Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival two times this weekend:
  • Saturday, February 16th, Noon 
  • Sunday, February 17th, 5:30 p.m.

You can see the trailer for the film, or find out the backstory, here:
http://tedfisher.com/hangingdowntown/

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Update: The Film Fest Run


I've been tracking (and learning from) the film festival "run" of my short documentary film "Hanging Downtown."

Shot in April 2010, completed about two years later, and submitted to film fests starting May 24, 2012,  it's had a good run so far. So, where are we? To date:

  • five festival acceptances
  • five festival rejections
  • awaits notification from five fests

The current batting average, then, is 50%, and the total acceptance rate will be at least 33%. (Unless we submit to further fests or receive requests from them.)

Here's the scorecard:


FILM FESTIVAL Entry Date
Notification Result
Coney Island Film Festival 24-May-12
28-Aug-12 Screened 22-Sep-12
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 24-May-12
6-Jan-13 Not accepted.
San Francisco Documentary Festival 26-May-12
25-Sep-12 Screened 10-Nov-12
New Hampshire Film Festival 26-May-12
27-Sep-12 Not accepted.
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival 16-Jun-12
15-Aug-12 Not accepted.
True False Film Festival 16-Aug-12
1-Feb-13 Not accepted.
Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival 14-Sep-12
15-Jan-13 Screening 16-Feb-13
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival 16-Sep-12
7-Jan-13 Not accepted.
Boston International Film Festival 16-Sep-12
12-Mar-13 Screening 15-Apr-13
Independent Film Festival of Boston 16-Sep-12
25-Mar-13 Waiting
Detroit Docs 22-Sep-12

Waiting
Thin Line Film Fest 27-Sep-12
4-Jan-12 Screening 13-Feb-13
Rooftop Films 4-Nov-12
10-May-13 Waiting
Biografilm Festival 17-Nov-12
30-Apr-13 Waiting
Olhar de Cinema - Curitiba Int'l Film Festival 20-Nov-12
8-May-13 Waiting


What's next? Well, there are three screenings this week:
Thin Line Film Festival
Wednesday, February 13th, 6:00 p.m.

Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival
Saturday, February 16th, Noon
Sunday, February 17th, 5:30 p.m.

And then another in April:
Boston International Film Festival
Monday, April 15 2:00 p.m 
(tentative schedule, subject to change)

And there's one other surprise ahead. More news on that soon....

Friday, February 08, 2013

Upcoming Screenings

Upcoming screenings of Hanging Downtown:
Thin Line Film Festival
Wednesday, February 13th, 6:00 p.m.

Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival
Saturday, February 16th, Noon
Sunday, February 17th, 5:30 p.m.

Boston International Film Festival
Monday, April 15 2:00 p.m 
(tentative schedule, subject to change)

Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Film Fest Run - What Have We Learned?


On May 24, 2012, I completed "Hanging Downtown" and started submitting it to film festivals. You can read the background on how and why the film was made here:

Hanging Downtown: Directed by Ted Fisher

Now, eight months later, the film ...
  • has screened at two festivals 
  • is set to screen at two more
  • awaits notification from seven fests
  • was "not accepted" at four events

Let's look at the scorecard:

FILM FESTIVAL Entry Date
Notification Result
Coney Island Film Festival 24-May-12
28-Aug-12 Screened 22-Sep-12
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 24-May-12
6-Jan-13 Not accepted.
San Francisco Documentary Festival 26-May-12
25-Sep-12 Screened 10-Nov-12
New Hampshire Film Festival 26-May-12
27-Sep-12 Not accepted.
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival 16-Jun-12
15-Aug-12 Not accepted.
True False Film Festival 16-Aug-12
1-Feb-13 Waiting
Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival 14-Sep-12
15-Jan-13 Screening 16-Feb-13
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival 16-Sep-12
7-Jan-13 Not accepted.
Boston International Film Festival 16-Sep-12
12-Mar-13 Waiting
Independent Film Festival of Boston 16-Sep-12
25-Mar-13 Waiting
Detroit Docs 22-Sep-12

Waiting
Thin Line Film Fest 27-Sep-12
4-Jan-12 Screening 13-Feb-13
Rooftop Films 4-Nov-12
10-May-13 Waiting
Biografilm Festival 17-Nov-12
30-Apr-13 Waiting
Olhar de Cinema - Curitiba Int'l Film Festival 20-Nov-12
8-May-13 Waiting


Four yes, four no, seven to be decided. A long, slow process. And it's likely a lot will happen in the next four months.

So ... let's revisit this May 24, 2013.

Monday, November 12, 2012

DocFest #DocFest2012



Ted Fisher stands outside the Roxie Theater during the San Francisco Documentary Festival, Monday, November 12, 2012. (Photo: Karen K. Barber)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Hanging Downtown Screens Today



My short documentary Hanging Downtown screens today at 5 p.m. at the Roxie. It's part of San Francisco Documentary Festival. If you've seen the film, go to its IMDB page and give it a rating or a review. Thanks!

Sunday, November 04, 2012

Six Days Until Screening



On November 10th, 12th and 14th my short documentary "Hanging Downtown" is screening at the San Francisco Documentary Festival.

Don't think, however, that you only get my film for the price of your ticket. All three screenings are paired with a really exciting documentary called:

Without A Net.”

It's made by director Kelly J. Richardson, and I encourage you to come and see it.

(It's the same ticket, see ... so come see both.)

Above: check out this episode of Ondi Timoner's B.Y.O.D. (Bring Your Own Doc) show, which features Ms. Richardson speaking about the film.

Saturday, November 03, 2012

Seven Days Until Screening



There's a new site posted for my short documentary "Hanging Downtown." It gives a bit of background on the film, and links everything about it in one place. Check it out here:

Hanging Downtown - Directed by Ted Fisher


Above: the promo postcard for the film.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Hanging Downtown, San Francisco Documentary Festival

hanging downtown with jason escape

My short documentary on escape artist Jason Escape will screen at San Francisco Documentary Festival on ...
  • Saturday, November 10, at 5 p.m. 
  • Monday, November 12 at 9:30 p.m. 
  • Wednesday, November 14 at 7:15 p.m.

More information on the film is here: Hanging Downtown.