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.

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.

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.

60-second Trailer for "Hanging Downtown"

60-second Trailer for Hanging Downtown from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Previously, Hanging Downtown had a trailer that was 1 minute, 42 seconds long. Now, here's a 60-second version.

Rolling on the Floor Screens in London

My short documentary Rolling on the Floor screens April 5, 2013 at the Let's All Be Free Film Festival. So check out the trailer for the festival (above).

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.)

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.

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/

Hanging Downtown Screens Today

My short documentary "Hanging Downtown" screens at Thin Line Film Festival today.

I have a page all about making the film right here:

http://tedfisher.com/hangingdowntown/

You can see the trailer for the film here:


Trailer for "Hanging Downtown" from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

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....

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)

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.

Hanging Downtown Trailer

Trailer for "Hanging Downtown" from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Here is the trailer for my short documentary "Hanging Downtown."

In February, the film screens at Thin Line Film Festival and at Winnipeg Reel to Real Film Festival.

More about the film here or check out the film's IMDB page.

Old Friends Are Golden. Um, Tan.

A visit from an old friend of this blog.

On Love

Carrots, Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

DocFest #DocFest2012

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

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!

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.

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.

Hanging Downtown, San Francisco Documentary Festival

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.

This Is My Photo of Gaffer's Tape

I say if you're gonna make a photo of gaffer's tape, then make a photo of gaffer's tape.

The Dance Project

Above: The Dance Project.

"A series of 60-second videos on the theme of dance created by 25 artists."

More about the project on UCTV and on IMDB.

The Scan Project

Above: The Scan Project.

"A series of 60-second videos directed by artists, each relating to the term "scan" in some way. A longer segment on Lieve Prins, an artist who creates works by "scanning" with a modified copy machine, is included."

More about the project at UCTV and on IMDB.

Hanging Downtown screens at Coney Island Film Festival

My film "Hanging Downtown" will screen at the Coney Island Film Festival at 5 p.m. on September 22, 2012 in Program 5.   

Strapped into a straitjacket, tied up with rope, and hung upside down, Jason Escape risks his life and his pride to make Boston audiences see the world his way.

It features Jason Escape, and includes music by Sherwin Smith and Dennis Perez

Crossing

Smoke from a car fire fills the street in Los Angeles, Friday, August 10, 2012.

Microphone Comparison

Microphone Comparison Test from Ted Fisher on Vimeo.

Above: a comparison of three microphones:

• an Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier
• a Rode Lavalier Microphone
• and an Azden Barrell Shotgun Mic With XLR Outputs

All three are presented as recorded with no changes in level or equalization. The ATR-3350 does very well (and sells for a very reasonable sub-$25 price) but the Rode delivers what I think is a much more pleasant tone for a documentary interview. The shotgun mic does well, and with careful microphone placement and adjustment of recording levels can do even better.

Never Be Seen

An insect realizes he isn't blending in, Wednesday, July 11, 2012.

Mirrors and Windows

A sign at Wilshire and Fairfax, Monday, June 11, 2012.

Support Indie Film ... Now

My friend Kirk Dilley is raising funding to support his upcoming independent film "Know The Difference."

Above is a draft of the poster, designed by Matt Conway.

Go and check out the Kickstarter for the film.

Maybe you can help them out, or maybe you can promote them ... after all, it's all-or-nothing fundraising, meaning if they don't hit the goal, then they get nothing.

Why do I think it's a film worth supporting?

• Well, first: I'm going to do sound on it, and that's half the battle in Indie production: good sound.
• Second, have you seen the films Matt has worked on? Here's his IMDB page -- so, no question this will be great looking.
• Third: the actors involved are excellent.

Give the Kickstarter a look, see if you can help out.

B-Ball

A boy plays basketball late in the day in Upland, Calif., Sunday, May 27, 2012.

Know The Difference - Kickstarter!

Know the Difference Promo from Kirk Dilley on Vimeo.

"Pictures that move? Wow! That sounds expensive."

"It can be, but only if the Producers choose to pay for things such as cast, crew, food, lighting, costumes, makeup, transportation, and specialized motion picture equipment."

"If you take all of those things out of the equation, it actually becomes quite cheap."

Visit the Kickstarter page for Know The Difference and throw in a dollar or two towards those filmmaking luxuries ... like "cast" and "crew"...

Ernie Watts

Ernie Watts plays saxophone at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Friday, June 8, 2012.

Know The Difference: Joe

Actor Joe Willand waits during a promotional shoot for the film "Know The Difference" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Know The Difference

Director Kirk Dilley records HDSLR video of Caroline Macey during a promotional shoot for the film "Know The Difference" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

Jazz Silhouettes

Musicians perform with bassist Henry “The Skipper” Franklin at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Friday, May 18, 2012.

Jazz Friday

A jazz bass player performs at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Friday, May 11, 2012.

Paper

A newspaper disintegrates in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Fairfax

A tagged rooftop seen on Fairfax in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

Rock On

A transport vehicle holds a giant boulder on the site for LACMA's "Levitated Mass" in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

I Do The Rock

A woman answers interview questions in front of the site for LACMA's "Levitated Mass" in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

DocuDay and the Oscars

I went to DocuDay on Saturday, watching all the Academy Award nominated docs from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. -- but couldn't stay for "Undefeated," thereby guaranteeing it the win. I was also able to predict that "Saving Face" would win. I'm not sure why I knew that.

But the two real surprises:

1. DSLR video was key to "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom," shot on a Canon 7D, and also "Hell and Back Again," shot in essentially a photojournalistic style but on video.

2. The 3D look and feel of "Pina," which I thought I would hate, worked. Worked very well, even. Biggest surprise: Wim Wenders was very clear about the fact that editing for a 3D doc could not just use existing strategies from 2D work. It has to be a different edit.

Above: the worst cell phone camera photo I've ever taken.

Ball

A chain link fence supports a ball near the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles on Monday, February 13, 2012.

Bricks

Chalk text seen on the USC campus in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 11, 2012.

Balls

Two preserved Union 76 ball signs seen through the window of a Metrolink train traveling westbound near Claremont, Calif., on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

Hiromi Oshima Signing a Bruce Hall Photo #photoLA

Hiromi Oshima signs a photograph by Bruce Hall during the Photo L.A. event in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Hiromi Oshima #photoLA

Hiromi Oshima poses for a fan in front of photographs by Pete Eckert during the Photo L.A. event in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Pete Eckert #photoLA

Pete Eckert, a member of the Blind Photographer's Guild, stands near a booth with his work during the Photo L.A. event in Santa Monica, Calif. on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Incident

Police investigate an incident in Los Angeles on Friday, January 6, 2012.

Everybody's Got An Angle

A photographer snaps an early bettor during "Photography Day" at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Thursday, December 29, 2011.

On Form

A horse and jockey train during the morning workout at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Thursday, December 29, 2011.

Inside Looking Out

Patrons watch the end of the seventh race in the FrontRunner restaurant at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Thursday, December 29, 2011.

Aftermath

A racehorse walks back toward the stables after a race at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Thursday, December 29, 2011.

Once More Around

A carriage driver looks at his canine passenger between races at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Thursday, December 29, 2011.

The True Meaning of Something or Other

Upland, Calif. on Sunday, December 25, 2011.

Previously: 

First New Friend

Wait, "Fauve" Means Wild Beast?

Next Stop: Hollis

A visitor waves in Upland, Calif. on the evening of Saturday, December 24, 2011.

Outside, Looking In

A man looks in to the Apple Store from above at The Grove in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 22, 2011.