AFI BLOG: Media and Technology

The New York Times
More than 3,600 independent features were submitted to the Sundance Film Festival this year, a record driven by inexpensive digital equipment and an abundance of film financing. But only a couple hundred of those movies will ever be distributed in theaters. Does that mean that almost 90 percent of indies have zero [...]

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Sundance Panel on Digital Opportunities for Creatives - CinemaTech

This afternoon’s panel at the New Frontier was a heap of fun. I especially enjoyed the interplay between Maria Maggenti, a writer/director in the true indie mode (her last movie, ‘Puccini for Beginners,’ was made with InDigEnt and shown at Sundance two years ago), and Evan Spiridellis, [...]

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That Queasy Feeling at Sundance - BusinessWeek
Amid the excitement over 3D, high anxiety about how to hold on to paying customers
Archetypal Sundance moment: It is backstage after the screening of a hotly hyped film, and Reasonably Famous Producer is being directed toward a backdoor exit by Concerned Minder.
CM: (slightly anxious, motioning) Let’s go out this [...]

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I will be participating in a panel moderated by BAVC’s Wendy Levy at this year’s Sundance on January 21st. Please say hi if you’re there. Here is the full list of panels this year….
SUNDANCE PANELS

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Wendy Levy from Bay Area Video Coalition is moderating a panel at Sundance, and I’ll be participating. Ping me at nickd@afi.com if you plan to attend Sundance.
Here’s the relevant information:
ALTERNATIVE STORYTELLING FOR NEW DIGITAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 12:30 P.M.
NEW FRONTIER ON MAIN (MICROCINEMA)
How do you tell good stories in a world where your computer [...]

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As we head into the Awards season, I’ll be posting significant round-ups of awards (no, not another Oscar-watch blog)… just because I am following some of my favorite movies, and I know you will be too.
Two of the independent film world’s biggest brands coincide this week with the announcement of the Spirit Award nominees, which [...]

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