The Independent Collective

Gen Art Reborn

My first experience with the Gen Art Film Festival came way back in the late 90’s.  I acted in a never to have seen the light of day indie called Ropewalk and the producer invited us all to this insane party in a warehouse under a bridge for a new film festival he was convinced would screen the aforementioned Ropewalk, which I might add was written and directed by Matthew Brown, starred Peter Facinelli, Lena Headey, and Michele Hicks, and is still on a shelf somewhere.  Anyway, we entered the party and there was fake snow being blown out of machines into the air, and everything was neon.  I thought, “Wow….this is like a party in Less Than Zero!”  I soon learned Gen Art had a unique approach to indie film: pick 7 cool films, and throw 7 cool parties.  Period.  Simple, elemental, perfectly suited to NYC nightlife.

Gen Art thrived for years, expanding into fashion shows, art shows, and popped up in all the major cities.  Then like everything artistic that depends on corporate sponsorship (Acura?), the rug got pulled out from them during the recession.  After at least a decade, Gen Art closed the party.

Over the years, we have befriended Jeffrey Abramson, VP of film at Gen Art, basically, the taste-maker of the festival, and awesome, awesome, film lover and all around good guy who many of you, I’m sure, know of have seen at Sundance, Tribeca, and Toronto. He bears a resemblance to a young Richard Gere (in pic next to Christian Slater?!?).  Jeffrey has been great to us, and although we have never screened at Gen Art yet, he has always been a huge advocate of The Cake Eaters, and our other developing projects.  He always invites us to Gen Art, and I have to say, we were very sad when it went away.

But I’m here to say Gen Art is back.  Check out the trailer of films screening starting tonight http://www.genart.org/channel/Gen_Art_Film_Festival.php with A Beginner’s Guide to Endings starting Scott Caan and Harvery Keitel.  I hope to see you all at one of the 7 screenings and parties, because unlike other festivals, Gen Art manages to be extremely exclusive but at the same time extremely accessible.  Buy a ticket, and you are there watching great films, going to a great party.

Long Live Gen Art!

We are fundraising for the film Tiny Dancer.  By donating at www.theindependentcollective.com you become a member of TIC and help us achieve our goal of raising the film’s budget.  Spreading the word, “following” and “liking” are free.  And we like you too.

Don’t be scared of SAG!

There will come a time when you wake up in the middle of the night, covered in pre-production sweat, screaming “How do I get my indie film under a SAG contract?!” Don’t be scared, you can do it!  It’s important to be working under a union contract with union performers.  It says a lot to all involved in your production about the quality level and your goals so don’t let the paperwork intimidate you because the union really wants to work with you.

As a proud SAG, AFTRA, EQUITY, and WGA member, I am all about the union and how important it is to preserving the gains performers, writers, directors, and crew have worked decades to achieve.  So just because you are making your film with money your neighbor donated to you in cash, doesn’t mean you can’t at least work under a SAG indie contract,

1st - got to SAGINDIE, then resources, contracts, and scroll down the list of budget levels until you find yours.

2nd - super easy, click the START THE SIGNATORY PROCESS button on the left, and you’ll download an easy to use nicely highlighted application for short films/and ultra, modified, and low budget contracts.

3rd- I filled out the short film agreement for our project, Tiny Dancer, so let me speak to that.  It’s pretty easy, I think I filled mine out on the subway.  The only trouble spot for me was budget, but I knew some rough numbers, so I plugged them in and it worked.  They assume your budget will fluctuate.

4th- a week later, I got a nice email from SAG asking for documents.  Here it is

Jayce,
Please find the short film signatory paperwork attached.  Have these documents filled out, executed and returned to the address below as soon as possible.  In addition, please send the following:
·         Operating Agreement for Vinyl Foot Productions LLC
·         Script
·         Budget
·         Shooting Schedule

 If you have any questions, please contact your signatory representative, Renae Robinson, at 212-827-1478 or rrobinson@sag.org.

Now, we decided to become a signatory producer (which basically means you are signing a SAG agreement) through our LLC which is a little more complicated, you have to send in copies of all your LLC paperwork and operating agreement, but you can just as well become a signatory yourself by sending in a copy of your drivers license.

Sending in the SCRIPT is pretty easy, but the detailed budget and schedule throw a lot of people because many of us have never done this or don’t feel we need to since we are working on such limited means.  WRONG. 

It’s a great skill to be able to generate a proper budget (you can do it simply in EXCEL) and a schedule can be done using CELTX, a great FREE filmmaking program where you can share your script with your crew online (for $4.99) plus export schedules, call sheets, etc….  All this will not only help you get your SAG agreement, but more importantly, it will help your film run smoothly!  It’s important!

5th - right before you start your first day of shooting, you will think SAG has forgotten you, but the night before, you will receive an email with your SAG paperwork, which looks like something out of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.  It’s pretty damn easy to use paperwork.  You will get:

Time Reports - which your actors sign after your AD notes the time they arrives to set and left so they don’t exceed their union 12 hrs, etc…
Day Performer Agreement - which is your SAG actors’ actual contract.  They sign it and will be happy to do so.
Final Cast List - who your final cast is…
Casting Data Report - basically a sort of survey about the ages and races and genders of who is getting hired. For SAG purposes, I would assume.

And that’s it!  Pretty easy. You collect all your paperwork, and mail it back to your contact within a week after production ends, and your are golden SAG.

We are fundraising for the film Tiny Dancer.  By donating at www.theindependentcollective.com you become a member of TIC and help us achieve our goal of raising the film’s budget.  Spreading the word, “following” and “liking” are free.  And we like you too.

A Thing of Beauty

(courtesy of AMG Photography)

Sorry we have missed the last two Five For Fridays, but we have a good excuse - we’ve been off making Tiny Dancer.  Here are a few pictures from the shoot courtesy of our wonderful set photographers Aeric Meredith-Goujon and Francisco Daum.  Check back next week for a new Five For Friday!

(courtesy of AMG photography)

(courtesy of AMG photography)

(courtesy of francisco daum)

(courtesy of francisco daum)

We are fundraising for the film Tiny Dancer.  By donating at www.theindependentcollective.com you become a member of TIC and help us achieve our goal of raising the film’s budget.  Spreading the word, “following” and “liking” are free.  And we like you too.