ZOMBIE NIGHT

A night of independent zombie shorts

TUESDAY • NOV 3 2009 • 7:30 PM • MAIN ART THEATRE • ROYAL OAK

CALL FOR ZOMBIE SHORTS

The Mitten Movie Project is proud to host the third annual ZOMBIE NIGHT, a night dedicated to screening independent zombie shorts, zombie trailers, zombie music videos, zombie documentaries, zombie animations, experimental zombie pieces – basically, anything zombie. ZOMBIE NIGHT takes place on November 3, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at the Main Art Theatre (118 N. Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067

We are actively seeking submissions for this year’s zombie festival. If you have an independent zombie short or know of someone that does, please mail a screener to the following:

Mitten Movie Project
715 E. Milwaukee
Detroit, MI 48202

Submissions may also be sent by online link (if accepted, the filmmaker will be asked to supply a screener DVD) to Connie Mangilin, Curator of the Mitten Movie Project (mangilc@yahoo.com). Submission is free.

Screeners can also be hand-delivered at the 10/6 Mitten Movie Project at the Main Art Theatre.

The 2008 Zombie Night drew 250+ zombie enthusiasts to the Main Art Theatre. Accepted submissions will be screened on the big screen and included in PR materials sent to over 15,000 film enthusiasts, industry professionals, actors, filmmakers, etc. via mailing lists, forums, facebook/myspace pages, industry listservs, and group sites.

For past Zombie Night lineups, visit The Mitten Movie Project

Detroit Entertainment Commission Request for Proposal / Documentary Film Makers “1st ANNUAL ‘Laughin the Pain Away’ Comedy Show”

OVERVIEW

We live in difficult times. World wars, foreclosures, pin slips, stock market crashes, and high gas prices all dominate the news. To get America back on track with a sense of hope and purpose, President Obama instilled in the public the value of service. People across the nation are adhering to the President’s initiative with programs that help the needy and disenfranchised. The Detroit Entertainment Commission is hosting its 1st annual comedy show entitled, “Laughin the Pain Away” with a group of comedians who will contribute their time in support of this event. The event will be launched in Detroit for the benefit of victims of domestic violence, the unemployed and homeless in Detroit in late August 2009 or the beginning of September 2009. This event is free and admission is usually cans of food for local food banks.

Yet a multitude of Detroiters are still hurting. They need help and emotional assurance. Everyone knows that the best relief is “comic relief.”

PURPOSE
To produce a documentary on Detroit’s comedians participating in the 1st Annual “Laughin the Pain Away” Comedy Show.

GOAL
To secure the best documentary filming production crew to accomplish the above stated purpose for a finished product to be broadcasted on television.

PROGRAM
“Laughin the Pain Away” is a documentary showcasing stand-up comics in the city of Detroit who are answering the call to service. This fascinating documentary will feature a rotating crop of Detroit’s hottest comics who represent the true backbone of American humor. These comics will provide comic relief in rescue shelters and mingle with “regular people” and identify the issues of today. In turn, they draw from that experience and perform their “Pulse of America” on stage.

The documentary will include performances by eight to ten comics and a guest music artist. The documentary filmmaker will get up close and personal with these comics, who not only perform in various communities, but also see them involved in local food drives or help out at relief shelters. Detroit will showcase one of their well-known celebrity comics as the MC who welcomes guest comics – all in front of an enthusiastic audience in their community. The documentary will feature video clips of in-depth interviews from “regular people” in the community who share their personal experiences.

The documentary starts on a stage at a venue comparable with a brief comic monologue by a person, whose talk touches on the issue of the day. The documentary filmmaker then goes aboard a traveling tour bus and listens in on the comics as their conversation continues with the issue of the day. The first 30 minutes of the documentary is “cinema verite” reality style as we follow the comics as they inject themselves into the community and bond with the less fortunate. They visit local attractions like the Lake Huron swap meet where neighbors are known to help neighbors literally with the shirts off their backs. The last 30 minutes of the documentary will entail a multi-camera HD shoot of our diverse comics in a larger venue to the Music Hall or the Detroit Opera House that the unfortunate people cannot afford to attend. Here, they will represent the ailing community and become the Comic CNN news.

PHASES
The filming of the documentary will include the following phases:

Phase I – Preparation
Phase II – Production / Interviews
Phase III – Editing / Post Production

REQUEST
Submission of your proposal in filming this production should include a budget and the type of equipment being used. This documentary is being produced on a speculative partnership basis for placement as a joint venture. Submit your proposal to the Detroit Entertainment Commission c/o Gregory J. Reed, 1201 Bagley, Detroit, MI 48226 or gjrassoc@aol.com. A resume and experience should accompany the proposal. The deadline is August 14, 2009. All proposals will be reviewed and the best one will be selected.

Be Awesome!
Billy Whitehouse

Detroit Entertainment Commission – Film Committee

Executive Producer – Youngblood Solutions
Executive Director – FilmEmerge.org
Producer – MichiganMakesMovies.com/CBSRadio
Associate Producer – Raised Alone – www.SamKProduction.com
Advisor to the Michigan Film Industry
Actor – Film/Television/Theatre

Detroit Entertainment Commission – Request for Proposal / Experienced Film Makers “The Kronk Empire / Emmanuel Steward Story”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

PURPOSE
To produce one of the following: a documentary, docudrama or television series on the Kronk Empire interweaved with Emanuel Steward’s life.

GOAL
To secure the best filming production proposal to accomplish the above stated purpose for a finished product to be broadcasted on television or feature film. To preferably use Michigan’s talent.




FILM TREATMENT, “REGISTERED WITH THE WRITER’S GUILD OF HOLLYWOOD”

The film opens in the interior of the famed Kronk boxing gym in Detroit, Michigan. A door swings open. An unidentified man stands in a silhouette against the backdrop of bright sunlight. The man enters and a montage of images follows from the man’s point of view: A boxer wraps his hands. A boxer skips rope. A boxer hits the heavy bag. A boxer hits the speed bag. A boxer shadow boxes in a mirror. A nervous boxer stands in the corner ring waiting to begin a sparring session. The unidentified man enters the frame and positions himself just below the boxer in the corner ring. The bell rings. The boxer commences to spar with another boxer and we hear encouragement from the unidentified man. The scene fades to:

Interior bedroom of a plush residential Detroit home. We see the unidentifiable man go through a ritual of preparing for a black tie event. He brushes his black dress shoes. He puts cuff links on the cuffs of his white shirt. He puts on his silver tie. He puts on his black tuxedo coat and then exits the bedroom. And we fade to:

Exterior Curb in front of entrance to the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, Michigan – Evening, where a black limo pulls up and stops. A valet opens the door. Our unidentified man exits the limo and is met by a talent escort who partially blocks his view, so we can’t tell who he is. The escort walks our sharply dressed man to a nearby side door of the grand hotel. A security guard appears at the doorway and they enter.

We follow our unidentified man as he is continually greeted by others who are obviously thrilled by his presence as the escort hurries him behind a curtain. Here, a group of smiling faces greet him. One person places a lavaliere onto his lapel. While another places a piece of paper in his hand.

As the unidentified man waits in the stage/right wings, a male voice is heard on the PA system, “He is a man who is a prominent icon in his community. He also was an influential force, not only in my life, but in my boxing career as well. He is a man who guided me with his philosophy in life and showed me how to live right through his unique health regime”. The voice goes on to say, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a legendary boxing trainer, an HBO boxing analyst, an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and one of the greatest men I know, Mr. Emanuel Steward.”

The audience stands and applauds as Emanuel Steward enters the room and crosses to the podium. The camera pans to reveal a black tie event. It is the First Annual Kronk Foundation Fundraiser. People of note are in the room like Las Vegas Casino owner Don Barden, TV Judge Greg Mathis, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Attorney Gregory Reed who represented the Kronk Empire and several champions, HBO Commentator Jim Lampley and former boxing champions, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. When Emanuel reaches the podium we see him give a respectful hug to the gentlemen standing nearby. We can now see and recognize the presenter’s face. It is his longtime friend and mentee, Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns.

Emanuel then turns back to greet the crowed howlers who demand his attention. We seek a look of sincerity on his face as he continues to thank the seemingly never ending applause coming from the over-filled room. The camera pans the smiling faces as the clapping and cheering continues to fill the arena, as we fade to:

It is hours later in the Interior of the Kronk gym. Emanuel Steward, wearing his tux without his tie, walks around the gym looking things over. He stops at the boxing ring. He picks up a stool and enters the ring with it. He places the stool in the center of the ring and sits down.

A news columnist climbs into the ring and approaches with a mike in their hand. “Are you ready, Mr. Steward?” Emanuel nods and takes a swallow of a health drink he developed over the years for his fighters. The columnist continues, “You have trained more than forty professional world champions and Olympic gold medalists. Can you tell us what that was like?

Emanuel pauses to reflect on his long career. Then as narrator, he begins to share with us the story of his life. He takes us back to the “SHOWDOWN,” the highest gross revenue close circuit and pay per view events in boxing history between his protégé, welterweight Tommy “Hit Man” Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. This opening segment will entail archival boxing footage of the hype, pre-fight, the aftermath and the rematch of these two incredible fighters that help illuminate the Kronk legend.

As the documentary unfolds, the visual style will entail the use of still photos, newspaper clippings, archival boxing footage of other championship fights, staged re-enactments and live interviews. In learning more about Emanuel Steward, we hear again from the “Hitman” and “Sugar” along with other Marquee boxing greats like Oscar De La Hoya and Lennox Lewis as well as the common man. You will know the stories of Emanuel’s childhood, his family life, his life as a prolific boxing trainer, boxing hall of fame inductee, astute businessman, and how this incredible man became a compassionate community leader throughout the world.

The most important aspect we learn about Emanuel is that since the 1970’s, his hometown of Detroit, Michigan has experienced a steady economic downturn. Yet, through his socio-economic turmoil, he infused in the city a sense of pride and ownership with the success of the Kronk gym. Emanuel has said, “Detroit is known for cars and the Motown Sound. It’s also known as the home of the Kronk Gym and the Spirit of Its People”.

The film ends back in the ring at the Kronk Gym, where the news columnist asks Emanuel one final question as End credits and music roll.

Columnist: “What is your childhood ambition?”

Emanuel: “When I was a little kid I wanted to be an artist or painter. But once I got into boxing all I wanted was to box.” Then we fade to black.

Fade Up: The screen is black. Then what follows is a scroll of the following words: “The boxing world provided Emanuel Steward a platform in which he became a world class trainer of championship boxers. He eventually acquired Kronk Gym and raised it to legendary status in the USA and abroad. Today, Emanuel continues to give back to his community. He still trains young “up and coming” fighters. He teaches them life lessons and prepares them for the next “Big Showdown.” Fade to Black.

PHASES
The filming of the documentary will include the following phases:

Phase I – Preparation / Cost Analysis
Phase II – Production / Interviews
Phase III – Editing / Post Production

REQUEST
Submission of your proposal in filming this production should include a budget and the type of equipment being used. This project is being produced on a speculative partnership basis for placement as a joint venture with the Kronk Foundation. Submit your proposal to the Detroit Entertainment Commission c/o Gregory J. Reed, 1201 Bagley, Detroit, MI 48226 or gjrassoc@aol.com. A resume and experience should accompany the proposal. The deadline is August 14, 2009. All proposals will be reviewed and the best one will be selected.

Be Awesome!
Billy Whitehouse

Detroit Entertainment Commission – Film Committee

Executive Producer – Youngblood Solutions
Executive Director – FilmEmerge.org
Producer – MichiganMakesMovies.com/CBSRadio
Associate Producer – Raised Alone – www.SamKProduction.com
Advisor to the Michigan Film Industry
Actor – Film/Television/Theatre

http://www.FilmBoot.com

Michigan Production Alliance is presenting NEHST, a traveling script pitching boot camp THIS WEEKEND.

Do you have a great idea for a screenplay, but have no idea how to go about executing it? Are you curious about the process, but not enough to spend thousands of dollars on film school? Just how difficult is it to make a movie, from initial concept to final cut? And how do you break into the industry? How is the industry changing? What’s the impact of the web and other technologies?

Step by step, you’ll learn how to write and direct your own low-budget feature, hear extensive information on the “business” of the business and be guided through the steps of prepping, producing, finishing and delivering a film. Capping off the weekend will be an opportunity for everyone to pitch their own ideas to the featured speakers, giving everyone the possibility of actually securing a deal for their dream project!

Speakers at the Nehst Aspiring Filmmakers Boot Camp are infamous for telling the truth. They’re in-your-face, no-BS, take-no-prisoners. The kind of Boot Camp instructors you want, and really need! You will come out changed.

INTRODUCTION:
(Day 1 Eve)
What is a filmmaker and why do you want to be one?

DEVELOPMENT:
(Day 1 Eve)
Bringing a concept to the page. Proper format. Budgeting, scheduling and pitching.

SECURING FINANCING:
(Day 2)
Forming a corporation. Creating a contract for investors. Putting together a prospectus. Methods of financing.

PRE-PRODUCTION:
(Day 2)
Casting. Hiring crew. Choosing a format, equipment and a lab. Location scouting. Shooting script, shot lists, storyboards. Rehearsing and working with actors. Addressing music needs. Final production meeting.

PRODUCTION:
(Day 2)
Shooting your film. Dailies, camera reports, the role of the editor.

POST PRODUCTION:
(Day 2/3)
Editing. Creating original music vs. clearing rights to existing songs. Sound design, dialogue editing, mixing. Negative cutting and timing your final print.

FINDING & SECURING DISTRIBUTION:
(Day 3)
Finding a producer’s rep. The film festival and market circuits. Creating a press kit and buzz. The option of “four-walling.” Negotiating with a distributor.

How to survive it all without starving to death!!!

Q&A/PITCHING:
(Day 3)
All questions will be addressed, and all pitches (under 5 minutes) will be heard.

LARRY MEISTRICH

In 1990, at the age of 24, Larry Meistrich, with just $7,000, founded The Shooting Gallery (TSG). In his triple role as Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Executive Officer of TSG, Meistrich was a hands-on producer and an integral part of the production of roughly 100 films, commercials and music videos including the Academy Award-winning “Sling Blade” and the Academy Award nominated “You Can Count on Me.” Meistrich made industry history when Miramax purchased Thornton’s “Sling Blade” for a price that broke all previous sale records in independent film.

Meistrich’s other well-known and successful films include Henry Fool, Croupier, and New Jersey Drive. His pictures have won the gamut of international awards including the Academy’s Oscar and include Golden Globes, SAG Award, DGA Award, Top Five category awards at Cannes, Sundance and Berlin. Actors and Directors Meistrich has produced at “passion project prices” include Al Pacino, Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee and Billy Bob Thornton.

Larry Meistrich was also the founder and CEO of FILM MOVEMENT a groundbreaking DVD of the month club that releases films in theaters and on DVD at the same time. By creating a new distribution model, Meistrich provided audiences everywhere access to award-winning films that usually only play in select markets like Los Angeles and New York. As Film Movement, approached its second anniversary, it turned a profit, further proving Meistrich’s strong entrepreneurship and ability to raise capital in a highly competitive market place.

Pitching at the Bootcamp

One of the most anticipated events at the Aspiring Filmmakers Boot Camp is the Pitch Session. Each participant gets five minutes to pitch. They know the stakes are higher than any other pitch class in the business. Why? It’s for real. We are actively looking to greenlight new projects. People have already gotten deals from Boot Camp pitches. Pitching is the process of presenting your idea to a producer for consideration. It takes skill and talent to construct a killer pitch, and to sell it in a way that gets their attention. You’ll learn the how and why of great pitches, and how to make yours stand out.

University of Miami student Rafi Marcus pitched his idea to our panel of experts and Larry Meistrich decided on the spot to do a development deal with him. It doesn’t make any difference if you’re polished or a bit rough, this experience will improve your professional pitching skills. And while we can’t promise that everyone will get a production deal – everyone at the Boot Camp will get a SHOT at one.

HOW TO PITCH

* Copyright or register your material at the Writers Guild prior to pitching.
* Be prepared.
* Know your subject
* You must be able to pitch in under 5 minutes.
* You must sign a release
* Actors should bring headshots, directors should bring reels and musicians should bring demos.

Nehst Studios

NEHST Studios is a content financing, development, production, and distribution company that integrates the most powerful trends in entertainment and technology today. NEHST creates, produces and distributes feature films, TV, and new media in all outlets. We link them through a network of service-based web communities and products.

NEHST embodies the innovative premise that the business of content development and distribution is fundamentally about niche marketing, community and branding. By harnessing technology, the experience of its team and a deep understanding of the digital revolution, we are building the next generation entertainment network.

Because of this clear focus, NEHST is discovering and producing the types of content people want. This enables us to work with established talent, develop new talent, and create compelling, high quality content for film, TV and the web. NEHST is actively building a slate of theatrical films and other media. We are funding pictures in the 2 to 50 million dollar range. We are also pursuing co-production opportunities, distributing completed projects, gap financing, and finishing projects in need of completion.

www.nehst.com

Must to go http://filmboot.com/buytickets.php to register