DIGITAL FILMMAKING WORK SHOP

Is film school worth the time and the money? No, Why go there for two years and come out in debt with a few student short films. Why take two years when you can learn all you need in two days? The myth of film school is just that a myth. It’s true-- people come out of film school and do make feature films or work on a few productions.
The reality is, you don’t need film school at all. Bill Millios and Marc Vadeboncoeur are doing their 2nd Digital Filmmaking Work Shop. On March 31st and April 1st . Below information is from the Backlot films blog.
Check out the website http://www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com/

Thursday, March 01, 2007

New DFW Press Release
March 1, 2007 / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEGuest lecturers announced for Digital Filmmaking WorkshopTwo-day seminar on “Producing, Marketing and Screening Your Independent Film” returns to the MCAM Studios in Manchester, NH on March 31-April 1, 2007.RAYMOND, N.H. – The Digital Filmmaking Workshop has announced the guest lecturers for their upcoming two-day seminar on “Producing, Marketing and Screening Your Independent Film” which will take place during the weekend of March 31-April 1 2007 (9:00 am – 5:00 pm) in the studios of Manchester Community Access Media, 540 Commercial St., Manchester, N.H.The guest lecturers include:
Matthew Newton (Film Specialist for the New Hampshire Film and Television Office)
Jeff Rapsis (Associate Publisher for HippoPress, the weekly arts and entertainment newspaper of Manchester, Nashua and Concord)
Paul Durham (past Senior Counsel at Playboy TV International and current Entertainment Lawyer for Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green)
Julia Radochia (Actress in Bleached, Everybody Does It, and Old Man Dogs and also Writer-Director of award-winning short films such as Eddie's Winning Date and Jimmy's House of Hugs)
From the crew of Dangerous Crosswinds, Old Man Dogs and the upcoming Death & Glory the Digital Filmmaking Workshops have been created by Bill Millios of Back Lot Films & Marc Vadeboncoeur of Goodheart Media Services with a philosophy towards instructing students how they can achieve their goals with a ‘no-nonsense do-it-yourself’ approach.“We’re very proud to announce the lineup of guest speakers for this year’s workshop,” said Millios. “They are an exceptionally experienced and diverse group of media and film professionals who add yet another dimension to this already ambitious workshop”.
Attendees will receive valuable insight into the creative, technical, and marketing strategies essential for filmmaking. Small class size, practical demonstrations, and a wide range of topics will give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge and put it to immediate use. Testimonials from past workshops have been posted on the http://www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com/ website.In 2005 Dangerous Crosswinds screened in close to twenty locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, including the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, N.H., Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, N.H. and the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Mass. Commentators praised the film as an outstanding example of independent film made outside traditional cinema circles. DVDTalk.com awarded the film a four-star rating, New Hampshire Magazine called Dangerous Crosswinds “provocative – a film which explores the light and dark sides of human nature,” John Clayton of the New Hampshire Union Leader wrote that “this is honest and brave filmmaking,” while Mike Sullivan in the Portsmouth Herald described Dangerous Crosswinds as being “independent filmmaking in its purest form.”Registration for the two-day seminar is $347. Seats for this popular workshop fill up fast, so be sure to register early. Registrations received by March 14, 2007 will get 15% off the standard workshop fee. In addition, attendees will receive complimentary copies of the Digital Filmmaking Workshops Handbook, a DVD of Dangerous Crosswinds and the Discmakers Ultimate Guide to Releasing Your Film on DVD. Space is limited, so register early. For more information please call Marc Vadeboncoeur at Goodheart Media Services at 603-206-4364 or visit http://www.digitalfilmmakingworkshops.com/.
posted by backlotfilms at 7:49 AM
Saturday, February 24, 2007

Four quick things...
Marc Vadeboncoeur has informed me that the video for Sevendust's new single Driven will make its world premiere broadcast this coming Saturday, March 3 on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. As I first wrote about, Marc and Morgan Murphy produced this spot which I was one of the camera operators for. I'm looking forward to seeing the final edit. We also shot an 11-song mini-concert featuring all the songs found on their new CD, Alpha, which comes out on March 6, 2007.
Speaking of Marc, in the next few days we'll be announcing our list of guest speakers for our upcoming Digital Filmmaking Workshop. Also, early registration discount has been extended until March 7, 2007.
Last night I saw and absolutely loved the DVD of Clint Eastwood's The Flags of our Fathers. Clint's certainly on a roll...
Next week I'll officially be moving from New Boston, New Hampshire to Fremont, New Hampshire. I'll post updated contact info here as soon as I have it.

FEAR, ACTION, AND FILMMAKING

In the last few posts I've gone in to starting a movement. Talk means nothing! I'll just be honest I'm tired of movies about movies being made. It's time to take real chances. As I have just written these words The Other Side Of Hell is still not finished. I can talk, write, hell even sing my thoughts but if there is no action behind it what does it mean? I'll tell you what it means nothing.
Fears we all have them when doing any kind of art. The one fear on all of our minds will people like the films, writting, pictures, and music that the artist makes. Fear is something that can hold you back from doing anything truly new and daring.

NEVER GIVE UP

The closer I get to finishing The Other Side Of Hell I think about the road blocks I've hit along the way. Everything from weather problems, camera's breaking, and actors quitting and rejoining and never losing the drive to finish the film.
At times I wanted to quit and move on to do something new. If did give up and leave the film unfinished then I'd never know how this film would be.
No matter what any one says good or bad The Other Side Of Hell is the start of something.
Never give up on your dreams, never give up.

AN HONEST MAN IS ALWAYS IN TROUBLE!

"An honest man is always in trouble" , is a quote from one of my favorite films ,Henry Fool, by Hal Hartley http://www.possiblefilms.com/. I suggest that you check out Henry Fool at this link http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/henryfool/ .
Bill Millios put a lot on the line with being honest about what is going on in this so called NH film community. First check out these blogs from Bill about what is going on in plain sight http://backlotfilm.blogspot.com/2006/11/more-ramblings-snob-film-festival-etc.html http://backlotfilm.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_backlotfilm_archive.html .
I know there are filmmakers out there who agree with Bill, and I'm one of them. The other filmmakers who agree with Bill but keep their mouths shut in fear of losing contacts or losing the support of the weak corrupt like minded people. Those gutless filmmakers want it both ways-- they want to make it so badly that they are willing to do anything. They lost their courage and creative spirit along the way!
Is filmmaking hard? Of course. Do you make money at it right away? No! To be honest, you may never make a dime. If you are one of those filmmakers who is in it because you think you will make a million dollars then quit! Go become a plumber!
Silence happens only in death. Why hold back what you think about the NH film esabllishment, seedy film festivals and unethical dealings! If you speak up about those ills then there might be change. It takes intestinal fortitude to say what you think and to tell the truth. If telling the truth means burning bridges, then we as a collective who really want change should burn every crooked bridge we come across.
Those filmmakers who want real change should start a revolution!

SICK

As I'm finishing up the final edits to the Other Side Of Hell I can't help but to think to myself what has happened to the world of filmmaking? This is a question I keep asking myself as of late. First I'd like to you to check this link....Bill gives some great insight in to what's going on. In this link Bill deals with the issues of lack of originality of films and filmmakers who take the easy way out doing parodies http://backlotfilm.blogspot.com/2006/11/originality_20.html.
I'm going to be honest I'm sick and tired of crappy films, politics, and just really lazy filmmaking. Some people may say how can I even talk about these things when I've been working on a film for the past ten years?

CINEMA OF TEARS

I haven't seen a movie in a theatre in months. I'd have to say almost all the films coming out now are Hollywood trash. Its sad when the only thing that matters is the dollar and there are no chances being taken by the studios.
Even indy filmmakers are trying to be Hollywood and in my opinion that's not the way to go. What ever happened to the creativity in filmmaking?????? I have to hope there are filmmakers out there trying to do something different. Those filmmakers know who they are. When the zombies open there eyes then there will be a change!

Almost done hell

It has almost been ten years since I started making The Other Side Of Hell and I'm happy to say I'm almost finished. It has been a long hard road. I've been lucky to have friends and people who have worked on the film and understand why it has taken so long.
I just bought a 250 external hard drive to finish up the film. Once I have my final cut where I want it then its off to do sound work and music.
I want to announce that I'm going to be doing a 10 retro documentary on the making of Old Man Dogs to be added to the 10 anniversary. Dogs is a Backlot Films production; Directed by Bill Millios. I can't wait to sink my teeth in to this production. A little note on Old Man Dogs: Dogs is the first feature film I worked on. I learned a lot about filmmaking and how to do things the right way. Every Backlot Films production I have worked on are the best planned out. Go to http://backlotfilm.com/to learn more about upcoming films and also check out http://deathandglorythemovie.com/ Bill Millios's upcoming film.
I want to end this blog in saying no matter what your dreams are never give up......No matter how difficult things get no matter how much bad luck you have. If you give up you will never know what might have been.
Coming on future blogs pictures and more news on The Other Side Of Hell.

The Other Side of Hell

I recently just completed the trailer and will soon be posting more details about the completion and release of the film.