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.