Colorado Film Forum

[SalSteels]

Just wanted to let everyone know about the Colorado Film Forum. I posted a link if you want to take a look.

http://www.meetup.com/coloradofilmforum/

Thanks,

Sal Steels

[Jim Brennan]

Hey Sal,

That sounds great, and I signed up on the site. But I am curious why it is necessary to have another film group in Colorado.

I am not trying to discourage you. I just want to know in what way this group is different from what we already have access to between CASA, CFVA, Emerging Filmmakers Project, independent workshops and seminars by people like David Dalton and Haylar Garcia, etc.

The filmmaking community in the state is fractured, largely because most of us are very busy with our own projects. Prioritizing where we put our time is a huge choice. Adding another group to attend, or keep track of can (under some circumstances) be a chore as much as a tool.

Again, I am not trying to discourage you. I just want to understand the advantage this group has, since most of us already lack the time to be a part of all the things we want to participate in.

Give us the pitch ;-) In the meantime, I will check out your site.

Best of luck!

[SalSteels]

Jim:

Well, most of the groups that I have seen around this area ask a fee or have some admission costs. It has been my experience, coming from Austin, TX, that SOME film groups can be a bit pretentious and elitist; normally consisting of committee members deciding what is best for their group and how to charge their members more money for workshops and festivals all while losing focus from their original mission statements.

I started Colorado Film Forum because many of us are struggling artists and it is not just our time that is valuable but it is also our hard earn dollar. Some people in the film community cannot afford to pay to be a part of an organization that may or may not be beneficial to their overall film/television career. I think you can miss a lot of opportunities when financial segregation takes place.

Colorado is a great place to live and produce creative works but it is NOT at all competitive with successful areas like Vancouver, New Zealand, Louisiana, and Texas. I feel there is plenty of room in Colorado for another film group. Competition can be healthy.

So what does the Colorado Film Forum offer?

Free membership
Place to showcase/discuss your creative works
Place to solicit employment
Local production companies will have a chance to show their services
See the latest DV technology from vendors
Combine the business with art
Discuss feature films and television with professionals and amateur filmmakers.
A place where we can build a strong community that wants our state legislature to help increase creative jobs.

Of course, membership is always optional.

Regards,

Sal Steels

[Jim Brennan]

It sounds awesome Sal, and I will definitely try to attend one of the upcoming gatherings.

But again, there really isn't anything you list that isn't already available for free if you are connected to the community.

There are some groups like the CFVA that ask for a small membership fee (I am not a member, but sometimes go to their schmoozers), but they are not gatekeepers to what you describe. They are also not for "filmmakers" as much as they are for people who work in the film and video industry (not necessarily the same thing). I don't belong to any group that charges a fee, nor do I belong to any that promote a self-serving agenda. I'm not saying they don't exist, just that I don't belong to any, and I have access to all that you describe.

I definitely agree that Colorado is not like the other places you list, although that is changing (slowly, but surely), but I think it is important to understand that there is a marked difference to being an area that promotes the film INDUSTRY (as those areas do with incentives that attract promotion), and being a good place to be a FILMMAKER. In the first area we may be lacking (although for some of us who have had the opportunity to live in those places, that is not a bad thing), but in the second area we are not. There are numerous and varied opportunities to connect with other filmmakers, showcase your work, and further both your commercial and creative goals.

Thanks,

Jim

[SalSteels]

Jim:

Where did I state that Colorado Film Forum was offering something radically new compared to the groups that you listed or are a part of?

Am I to assume that I need to “reinvent the wheel” in order to start a group for Filmmakers and other industry professionals and amateurs?

It seems that this group might not be the best fit for you right now, are you sure you would like to be a member?

Sal Steels

[Jim Brennan]

Sal, I'm not trying to pick a fight.

I am merely asking the question to understand the purpose of the group. I'm also not saying that it needs to be radically different in any way.

I do know that after years of joining, running and starting various groups in this state, that people usually need a reason to pick something to do. If they are already engaged in one group, and another group comes along that sounds very similar, they might be less inclined to check it out because it doesn't offer anything different. So by asking these questions I was hoping to give you the opportunity to tell hundreds of CASA members why they should invest their time in what you are doing, as opposed to what they are already involved in. I'm trying to help you state your case.

If you took any other meaning from my questions, I apologize.

[Jim Brennan]

For example (not saying this is true, just illustrating):

The CASA GA is held monthly, and focuses on cold reads and monologues, the CFVA schmoozer is monthly and is primarily social. The Colorado Film Form hopes to meet twice a month and have a different topic for interactive discussion for the first part of the meeting, and then we will give updates and have a brainstorming session about our individual projects.

That's what I am asking for, not "are you sure you would like to be a member?"

[Haylar Garcia]

I would love to check out anything that has to do with film and film community. Thanks Sal!
Looking forward to more resources that go beyond what we already have.
What's the forum's main focus/mission?

-H

[Haylar Garcia]

Just checked it out, looks friendly and cool.
SOOOOOOOO many social networking sites in my life at the moment though.
Hope to be part of it in the future, (I can barely manage my CASA life now.
But good job and making things happen sal.

-H

[SalSteels]

Jim:

Thanks for your inquiry. I think that it would be best if you continue with your current film groups. I will go ahead and take you off the Colorado Film Forum.

Best of luck!

Sal Steels

[SalSteels]

Haylar:

Thanks for your positive support.

Sal Steels