September 2010 CASA Mass Focus

[Todd Bradley]

Hi, everyone.  Sorry for the late notice.  September just sort of snuck up on some of us.  The next CASA Mass Focus event is going to be next Saturday!

That's Saturday September 11 at the Bug Theatre, from 1pm to 4pm.

The Bug is at 3654 Navajo Street in Denver.

I'm Todd Bradley, and I have volunteered to be your guest host for the event.  We will feature a short local film, a scene autopsy, some cold reads, news about current local film projects and classes, and a great opportunity to mingle and mix with other film actors, directors, and writers.  And we'll also have some live music before the show and at intermission.

As always, all this is free of charge.

If you have anything you'd like to present or share at the Mass Focus, please reply on this comment thread.  That includes pages for a cold read, monologues you want feedback on, trailers or short films you've finished lately, and so on.  Also, if you'd like a few minutes to talk about current or upcoming projects - casting calls, news from the editing room, whatever - let me know.

[Todd Bradley]

The program is still coming together but it looks like the highlights for Saturday's Mass Focus will be:

Special Guest: Rich Lerner, renowned cinematographer speaking about "Mistakes the Camera Can't Fix: A Cinematographer's Advice for Writers and Actors"

Short Film: "Through My Eyes" by Jen Summers, with Q&A

Scene Autopsy with Jim Brennan: "The Conversation"

Cold reads of scenes by several writers, including at least two writers new to CASA (hurray for fresh blood!)

Live background music beforehand and during intermission by Rich Reid and his Theremin

And of course cold drinks, snacks, networking, and the usual fun

We have room for one more short film or trailer. If you've got something to show, let me know!

[Acting Alchemy]

...also want to give a shout out to Patrick Sheridan for his blood, sweat and tears...and to all of the members that showed up! Great turn out and amazing reads. Rich Lerner was invaluable with his real life advice and experience with the the Colorado Film Industry in its glory...we have so much to look forward to!

~M

[Dylan Otto Krider]

I'd like to talk about my latest project, Ones and Zeros, and the Hueso de Perro Grindhouse, if possible.

[Todd Bradley]

Great, I just added you to the list, Dylan.

[Cooper Christian]

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Coop

[Michael Conti]

The Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival Boulder with the support of the Boulder Arts Commission along with Boulder Digital Arts is excited to provide a special pre-Shoot Out workshop again next Saturday in Boulder. Also, The Shoot Out Boulder is providing a $2000 cash prize to the Best Film this year. All details may be found on the website at http://theshootoutboulder.com


The Shoot Out Boulder asks filmmakers to trust their courage, imagination and determination by making a 7-minute film in just 24 hours. The challenge and skill involved becomes evident with the list of required technical, material, and timing 'rules' for creating the films.

Each film can be no longer than 7 minutes in length (including credits) and must be edited in-camera and returned to the event organizers no later than 24 hours after the start of the event. All films must include 5 of the eleven items announced at the start of the event in “The Brief.” All films are judged to come up with the Top 10 Films for the Gala Screening Event. Go About The Shoot Out Boulder to learn more!

EDITING IN CAMERA: What It Means in 2010

Films must be shot in sequence, i.e. produced in a linear fashion (NO EDITING). This means that teams may rewind tape, delete and tape over what was last shot. Teams may not edit i.e. you can not use an editing suite, any method that views it through a monitor or by connecting several cameras or VTRs together or use of a computer or any other technology other than one camera used to shoot the video/film.

[Michael Conti]

NEW FOR 2010: You can now use the camera's internal memory sticks or HD as long as you don't reorder your scenes. You MUST STILL SUBMIT your final edit tape i.e. MiniDV, even if the camera has an internal hard drive. If any concerns come up during judging regarding editing, you must provide your HD or Memory Stick for review by Judges.

[Todd Bradley]

Michael, are you coming to the CASA Mass Focus to talk about the Shoot Out? If not, I think you've posted this in the wrong place.

[Jake Jacobs]

Hey there Todd. Thanks for the great invite. Sonds like a lot of fun, and sadly will need to miss it. Am being taken over today with unseen and unforcasted parental duties, and don't even get me started with the rogue sprinkler playing fits in the backyard!! (there's info and copy right there that you could make a cold read out of...hahaha, you just can't make this stuff up!!) Anyway, please try to give more heads-up next time, as I would love to come up from Parker for the afternoon for this.

All the best........

Jake Jacobs
720.209.6297
[e-mail]

[Jim Brennan]

Thanks to Todd for doing a great job putting together today's gathering. Thanks to Patrick for the access to the Bug, and a big thanks to the writers who brought pages and the actors who read them. Special thanks to Rich Lerner for sharing some great wisdom from an experienced pro.

A very worthwhile day. Looking forward to the next one.

[Acting Alchemy]

Jim thanks for bringing "The Conversation" to CASA today...excellent discussion!

[Todd Bradley]

You're welcome. I so badly wish we could have done the scene autopsy I prepared. So many of the great insights about what makes a good scene would have been perfectly demonstrated by the lack of those same things in my scene from "Avatar." Maybe next time.