2010 | FRESHI NOW

RECRUITMENT!

With summer just around the corner, we're on our way to re-energize Freshi Now with all new features and a new determination to create a home for young filmmakers / media creators from around the world.

If you would like to take part, send us an email, tell us what you're interested in (movie making, animation, game design, music, writing....whatever you create - and you're in. If you have a vlog, let us know, and we'll post it on our upcoming vlog board. See you soon!

RAHUL MENDIRATTA, 2006 FRESHI INDIA FILM CAMPER, HEADS TO USA

In 2006, Freshi went to India to conduct our first international Film Camp. One of the teens attending the camp was Rahul Mendiratta (seen below at the camp - he's the boy with his hand raised). We're excited to announce that Rahul will be visiting America soon at part of the Global Youth Leadership Council, "a unique leadership development program that brings together outstanding young people from around the world to build critical leadership skills in a global context. "

"GYLC offers students the opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with some of the world's top business leaders, policy officials, lobbyists, journalists, diplomats and academics in the challenging and dynamic environments of Washington, D.C. and New York City; or Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai."

In addition to visiting New York and Washington D.C., Rahul will also be spending time in California. We look forward to seeing him again, and wish him well with this incredible opportunity!

Rahul Mendiratta, center, during the 2006 Freshi Program in India.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON VLOGGING

Vlogging is a form of communication - it's a chance not only to be heard, but to get to know other like-minded people around the world. With a little bit of planning, a good sense of humor, and the ability to be yourself - the vlogging experience can expand your universe. At the same time, protect your privacy and your independence with a vengeance. While most people in the vlogging world are great, some are only out for trouble. In that way, it's just like the real world.

Recently, a popular young vlogger found his home address posted on a public site by a mean-spirited viewer a continent away, who offered the information to other vloggers worldwide via Twitter. How did he track down the vlogger's personal information? The vlogger made two mistakes. First, he freely offered his full name on his YouTube channel and various websites. Second, he maintained a website with public registration. If you establish a website, you must provide a contact address to complete the registration. Most people use their actual home address, but it's possible, through your internet provider, to register your website through a service that protects your private information - including your address. This vlogger didn't take that step, and as a result, the viewer could have put him at risk for stalking by anyone who might have come across the information. Fortunately, the information was quickly taken down - but it doesn't' take much imagination to understand how it all could have gone wrong.

If you decide to vlog - have fun, protect your privacy like you're a celebrity, and - most importantly - let us know!

VLOG EVERY DAY APRIL: VLOGBROTHERS!

No salute to vlogging would be complete with the most famous Vloggers of all time, VLOGBROTHERS! Here's a recent post on Google/YouTube's new auto-captioning feature, which is supposed to take the voice in your video and convert it to text captions. It doesn't work so well:

VLOG EVERY DAY APRIL: WAFFLESAM

Today's "Vlog Every Day April" highlight comes from WaffleSam, a 15 year-old vlogger in England. Make sure to check out his YouTube channel.

VEDA - VLOG EVERY DAY APRIL

April is Vlog Every Day April (VEDA) - an annual challenge vloggers take on to do as it says - create a vlog every single day of the month. We'll celebrate VEDA this week by featuring vlog-related videos - some on how to vlog, others by some of the creative teen vloggers on YouTube.

Enjoy! And START VLOGGING!

Here's the first, by Youtuber "NickSpov," with his guide to vlogging:

GOT MOVIE REVIEWS?

Now that the IFFF is over, your humble webmaster is looking forward to getting back to firing up Freshi Now!

Freshi Now reporter Ben Spiegel attended the IFFF, and will soon be posting an exclusive interview with China's biggest child star. A large group of filmmakers from China were in attendance this year at the festival, and Ben had special access.

Ben is also working on developing a YouTube collab channel dedicated to 30 second movie reviews - which will also post here - anyone interested in committing to 30 seconds a week? Let us know! Either contact Ben directly (using the links at the left), or this webmaster.

FOLLOW THE INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL!

Starting today, you'll be able to follow the International Family Film Festival online from the IFFF blog, at http://ifffblog.blogspot.com

Watch for blog updates periodically during the day!

We'll also be constantly updated the the photo feed at Flikr, also available at the IFFF Blog (to the right of the latest blog entry) or directly at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifffpix

Check here for vlog updates later in the evening, or first thing in the morning (we won't have the chance to upload during the day) - alternatively, if you have a YouTube account, you can subscribe to the webmaster's channel at

http://www.youtube.com/user/WorldAccordingtoRich

to be notified whenever new videos are posted.

We'll also post some surprises on Twitter, so follow us at intfamfilmfest.

See you there!

The International Family Festival Vlog

Rich Samuels, webmaster of Freshi Now, spoke recently on his vlog, "The World According to Rich" about his special vlog/blog coverage of the International Family Film Festival:

SITE FOR FILMMAKERS: THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE

AFI.COM is the home page of the American Film Institute, the Los Angeles-based center of film education. It was founded in 1967 as a national arts organization to "train filmmakers and preserve America's film heritage."

The website features information on the many educational programs offered by the AFI, it's yearly film festival, and a guide to accessing the Louis B. Mayer Library, one of the major libraries in the world of film making and film history.

The AFI is a public organization, and offers extensive membership benefits.

SITE FOR FILMMAKERS: THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES

OSCARS.ORG is the home site of the most prestigious organization in the film industry, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - they hand out the Oscars every year, but also provide a wealth of resources for anyone interested in the history and technology of the motion picture industry.

The Academy's website not only offers in-depth information on the Academy Awards, but information on the many public events offered throughout the year, and a guide to accessing the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library, an extensive library of films, books, photographs and other important historical memorabilia detailing the evolution of the motion picture industry. If you're serious about your love for the history of the motion picture industry, this site will start you off on a fantastic life-long journey.

Make sure you check out the "Events and Exhibitions" section for regular events exploring all aspects of the production process as it has applied to some of the greatest films of all time.

SITE FOR FILMMAKERS: ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES

Emmys.org is the home page of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the organization that - you guessed it - gives out the Emmy Awards each year.

In addition to current and past information on Emmy recipients, Emmys.org includes information on events - many open to the pubic - that explore both the business and entertainment side of the television industry. This site also access to articles from Emmy Magazine, and some website-only extras.

SITE FOR FILMMAKERS: THE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION

Documentary.org, the home page of the International Documentary Association, is a critical site for filmmakers interested in documentary filmmaking. it features clips from numerous documentaries, featured articles from Documentary Magazine, an online community of documentary filmmakers eager and willing to help other like-minding filmmakers, funding news, and much more. Documentary.org is truly the home of the documentary community.

SITE FOR FILMMAKERS: THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CINEMATORGRAPHERS

This week, we'll be highlighting important websites that aspiring filmmakers will find inspiring.

Today's link is the home site for the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) which is the most prestigious professional organization of cinematographers. The site offers full articles from American Cinematographer Magazine (which features detailed behind-the-scenes stories on the making of the most important current films), links to public events exploring cinematography in current and historical productions, and a series of educational resources, such as a glossary of terms for high definition photography, and a section on how to use reflectors.

If you're serious about cinematography, http://www.theasc.com/index.php is a must-go site.

YOU ARE NEEDED!

We need writers and vloggers to report on filmmaking and gaming - Our whole purpose to help talented young "media creators" do what they do - so as you report on people like yourself, we'll also feature your work, and link back to your own website or YouTube channel. We have visitors from all over the entertainment industry, and around the world - it's a great way to get your work out there!

Contact Rich Samuels, Freshi's Director of Production (and your FRESHI NOW webmaster!), at rich.samuels@freshiflix.com

SALOME SALIA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH YOUTUBER ERIC STRIFFLER

Eric Striffler, 18, is a successful YouTuber with over 33,000 subscribers - whatever you're interested in on YouTube, he probably has something for you!

Salome Salia brings FRESHI NOW this exclusive interview!

First, take a look at this video introducing his channel, at http://www.youtube.com/user/EricStriffler

Describe in a few words what you do and what inspired you?

To put it VERY basically, I make videos and put them on YouTube. I have two Channels; one for my short films and one for my entertainment news and reviews. What I really love to do is make films so I prefer my Channel EricStrifflerVids over ErickWithNoK, but both are a LOT of fun. I've been into making movies since I was VERY young, and it's happened to stick with me over the years!

What would you say is the key to YouTube fame?

If I knew, I would have a LOT more subscribers haha! I have never done anything specific to get subscribers so I really have no idea. I think it's just that people like to see consistency and to see people legitimately enjoying what they're doing. I have stuck with my Channels fully for years and I really do love doing all of it. I really think it shows.

What do you have to say to young filmmakers?

"Hello, I'm Eric and I'm just like you!" Haha I'm currently a Freshman at film school so I don't really have any leg up over anyone else if you look at it that way. I'm learning as well so I wouldn't really have any advice exactly because I could use advice sometimes too! Although I do think young filmmakers should really consider what they want out of their craft; do they want to make Hollywood movies or indie movies or TV shows? I do think it's important to figure out what you want and set your goal early. But like I said, I'm taking my own advice right now and I don't have any knowledge past that really!

When you started, did you expect to be so successful?

Never in a hundred million years did I expect to actually make money from making videos. Like I said, I've been making videos since I was really young, so it's crazy to me. I started uploading videos to YouTube for fun, as I still do now to be honest. I did it for over a year before I started to make money from it, and I'd continue to do it if the money stopped coming. It's what I love to do and I'd like to keep it going for a long time, so it's definitely nice to see that I can make money on doing what I've wanted to do all my life.

How much of your time does your Youtube account take up?

Well it depends really. On EricStrifflerVids, the videos can take an hour to shoot and two hours to edit, or a few days to shoot and 6 hours to edit. On ErickWithNoK, the videos usually take less than 15 minutes to film, edit, and post. The fun thing about ErickWithNoK is that news comes at random, so I could be watching TV and see that there's a new clip released from a movie I'm covering, so I literally run up to my room, look into it, film my video, and post it to YouTube immediately to get ahead of everyone else. In the reporting world, whoever has the first story is likely to get the steam from everyone passing their post around. It's very exciting and I find it to be a lot of fun!

"HOW DO I MAKE IT IN THE FILM INDUSTRY?"

One of the most common questions from anyone interesting in filmmaking is something along the lines of "How do I make it in the film industry?"

It's a complicated question of course - but there are some basic approaches to keep in mind if you want to be successful.

Alvin Toffler, a prolific author best known for "Future Shock," a 1970 book about society in an age of technology, once said that: "If you don't have a strategy, you' re part of someone else's strategy."

In other words - if you don't know where you're going, and at least have an idea of how to get there, then you're likely to be just a an instrument to be used by in someone else's goals and ambitions.

Ujj Naath, a successful Los Angeles businessman, added to Toffler's quote with additional observation, "all decisions seem reasonable when you lack a strategy."

If you don't know what you want to do, or put some effort into understanding how to get there, you'll find that you might be flailing around for something that might work - trying all kinds of things, taking all kinds of jobs, without any real understanding of what you're trying to gain from the experience. Most people in the film industry start from the absolute bottom. Those who succeed are people who understand not only how to work hard and make an impression, but what to gain from the experiences and relationships to achieve their goals.

Conclusion: Lesson #1 is FOCUS

YES, WE STILL NEED YOU!

Contact Rich Samuels, Freshi's Director of Production (and your FRESHI NOW webmaster!), at rich.samuels@freshiflix.co m

INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL ON TWITTER

The International Family Film Festival, which is one of Freshi's sister organizations, is now on Twitter - add us, if you would like a behind the scenes rundown of film festival action!

intfamfilmfest

YOUTUBE CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIEISSOCOOLLIKE

Charlie McDonnell, better known on YouTube as Charlieissocoollike, was recently challenged to create a song using only household items. He not only met the challenge, but put together a fun, creative music video to go along with it! Here's the result:

NEW FEATURE: ASK US ANYTHING!

Thanks to Formspring.me, we're offering a new feature: Ask Us Anything!

You know have an entire staff of professional filmmakers at your fingertips - if you have any questions about filmmaking, or Freshi programs (like our popular Hollywood Film Camp, give it a shot!

Check out our Formspring page at http://www.formspring.me/freshi for more!

Freshi Now staff - if you've got one, let us know!

FRESHI NOW CORESPONDENTS WANTED FOR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT

Freshi's sister organization, the International Family Film Festival, will be offering a very special block of Chinese children's films on the first day of the upcoming festival, March 10-14, 2010, at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.

The presentation, produced in association with China Aizi Movie and Television Education Council and The China Children's Film Association, will feature 14 feature-length films, and include a delegation of 25 of China's leading film directors, producers, cinematographers, distributors, programmers, actors and child stars. It's a truly unique insight into the modern Chinese film industry.

We're looking for Current or New Freshi Now Correspondents to cover all or part of this special event. The program is on a Wednesday, but if you can come in the late afternoon and spend a couple of hours with us, that's great. You'll have the chance to meet people with whom you might so far be unfamiliar, but whose names are instantly recognizable in China. For more information, check out our special Chinese Film Block page at the IFFF website.

We also looking for correspondents throughout the entire festival. If you're interested, contact Rich Samuels at rich.samuels@freshifilms.com.

SALLY SALIA: WHAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD FILM?

Every year the creative part of society comes up with thousands of ideas and plans for the entertainment business. Some of those, forgotten to be jotted down, get lost overnight. A few hundred scripts are written, but only a certain amount actually makes it to the screen. Now out of that, one or two truly makes it in to people’s hearts and memories; and that is my definition of a truly good film.

In my opinion, a truly great film is one that by far surpasses your expectations, even if they were sky high; One that leaves you trembling with emotion, tears, or laughter after leaving the theatre. A movie has to have a meaning. Ones that are just for entertainment with no moral are, in my opinion, not worth watching. A movie must be educative, while at the same time entertaining. It, and the characters, must be memorable. The situations and characters must relate to real people and problems [of coarse, I’m not talking about fiction]. The audience should be able to imagine themselves in the character’s shoes and see the world from a whole new angle.

One of the most important parts of a movie is the script. The quality of the dialogues, in my opinion, makes or breaks the film. The dialogue should be realistic and natural, not cheesy and fake. Also, the sceneries/settings of a movie are very important. For example, it would certainly be more inspirational if someone proposed under fireworks in a beautiful restaurant, rather than at the park.

I have to admit, I have a bad habit. I’m a fool for actors. I have my favorites and seeing a movie with them in it always blinds my judgment. I know that I should be observing the character and not the actor. I may even turn down a film because I don’t recognize or like the faces in the trailer. Even though ticket-selling, charming actors are necessary for a film’s success, there’s always room for new talent in Hollywood if given the opportunity.

UNIQUE ACCESS FOR FRESHI NOW REPORTERS

Freshi's sister organization, the International Family Film Festival, will be held this year at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, From March 10-14.

For our official Freshi Now reporters, we're offering unique access to the people behind the winning films - filmmakers, actors, craftspeople and others - to bring to the Freshi Now audience exclusive behind-the-scenes info on the people, films and screenplays featured at the festival. As a special added attraction this year, we'll be feature a special slate of Chinese Films, with noted Chinese filmmakers and actors in attendance.

Current Freshi Now reporters interested in taking part should contact Rich Samuels ASAP at rich.samuels@freshiflix.com .

ACADEMY AWARDS ANNOUNCED SCIENTIFIC / TECHNICAL AWARDS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that holds the Academy Awards each year, has announced the 2010 Scientific / Technical Awards. Those are the awards that are given only brief mention on the actual Academy Awards broadcast, but which represent some of the most important achievements each year in the technology of moviemaking.

Most of these descriptions might seem extremely technical, but they offer a challenge to the technically-minded - here's a challenge to Google a bit and create a more user-friendly description for Freshi Now - any takers?

Contact your webmaster at rich.samuels@freshiflix.com

BULLETIN: YOUNG HAITIAN FILMMAKERS SEND OUT FOOTAGE

This article, on the Canadian Broadcasting Centre's website, details the efforts of young filmmakers in earthquake-ravaged Haiti to apply their unique skills to bring news and information on this tragedy to a world audience. While media outlets from around the world are arriving in Haiti, these filmmakers are the only Haitians able to tell the story with a Haitian voice.

Can filmmakers make a difference? This Haitians are.

CATHY LE'S MUNDANE MONDAY: "OLD PEOPLE AND NEW THINGS"

So I turned 18 on Sunday. I think it'll take some time to sink in that I'm now old.I mean, I know I'm not that old, but still. I wonder if things will change now. Will people stop helping me out because I'm no longer a small minor making films? Finding filming locations are so much easier when you're young because no one really expects pay.

I've been working on developing a story for my next semester film project and find myself unable to think of ideas for a short film. I'm a long story/ feature film kind of person. I've got tons of stories for that.

I wrote one at 3am on Wednesday (I tend to have my best creative moments that late, after I'm done with all the homework I've procrastinated on) and later that day during 6th period, presented it to Daniel Petrie Jr, a professional screenplay writer known for "The Big Easy" and "Beverly Hills Cop". I was just thinking how fortunate I was to have opportunities like this. Of course the film industry is about talent, but it's also about who you know and how lucky you are.I certainly hope I remain lucky.

>>CLICK TO READ MORE<<

CATHY LE: "MUNDANE MONDAY" ON TUESDAY!

"My only week of Winter Break"

I'm such a busybody, especially now that I finally have a car. This last week, I literally lost track of the time and day of week because I always had something to do. I'd wake up at 7am some days, 3.34pm other days. I'd sleep at 10pm some days and 4am other days.One day just blurred into the next day.

Tuesday, I drove to Burbank, CA to visit Video Symphony, a school for professionals in the film industry, with our dear Serbian Exchange students. They used to be a retraining facility for professionals already working at companies like Universal, but now they're open to entry level (i.e. me!). I've known that Burbank was home to lots of film industry stuff since we filmed our semester project at St. Joseph's Hospital last year, but I didn't realize the magnitude of it until this day.
It's interesting the different paths you can take after high school to get into the industry. Video Symphony focuses on post production, like editing, sound, and special effects. It's comforting to know that they really help you get a job after you graduate, but it's too specific for me to choose as a post secondary school. Learning how to make films is only one part of it.Becoming a well rounded person with lots of different experiences is a big part. But I gotta learn how to use Cinema 4D.

>>CLICK TO READ MORE<<

WRITE / VLOG FOR US!

If you're in Los Angeles, you may have the opportunity to report "behind the scenes."

Contact Rich Samuels, Freshi's Director of Production (and your FRESHI NOW webmaster!), at rich.samuels@freshiflix.com

JUST DO IT.

If you don't think you have the time to make a film, Director Steven Soderbergh just shot a completely improved film in his spare time, while directing a play in Australia.

The lesson? Think big, remove all the obstacles (as in: I have no money, I only have a Flip camera, I only have a day, I'll never finish the script), think big, and just do it. You'll be amazed at what you can do.

Success Story: Filmmaker enters Netflix Contest, Wins Production Contract

Here's a story from the Los Angeles times about Philip Flores of Hemet, California, who entered the "Netflix Find Your Voice" filmmaking competition, won - and went from being a production assistant to writer / Director of his first feature film.

Get your work out there any way you can - if it's good, don't just post it online - enter festivals and competitions - you never know what might happen!

SALLY SALIA: ONLOACTIONVACATIONS.COM

Celebrities – If you know your sources, they’re not too hard to track down. Have you ever wished to know where you favorite TV Shows or upcoming movies you’re excited about are being filmed? Have you ever dreamed about meeting the stars? Well, www.onlocationvacations.com has hundreds of opportunities. No, they don’t lie or trick you; all their suggestions are 100% accurate. They have everything from upcoming filming locations to movie premieres to book signings. I’ve even gone to three events they’ve posted; a Nathan Fillion [Rick Castle from ABC’s Castle] book signing, Fox’s Bones set, and the New Moon premiere. I got to meet Nathan Fillion, someone from the set of Bones, and stood ten feet away from the beloved heartthrob, Robert Pattinson.

EVENT ALERT: VIDCON 2010

If you're interested in learning more about how to make effective online videos, or just want to meet some of the biggest names in online filmmaking, we've just heard of VidCon, occuring in Los Angeles July 9-10, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Century City.

This isn't a YouTube "Gathering," and it's not free ($40 a day / $80 for the conference), but you might want to take a look and see if it's something in line with what you want to accomplish in the future.

CATHY LE'S "MUNDANE MONDAY"

"Merry New Year!"

It's 2010, though I hardly feel anything is different. It's an arbitrary decision we make to have an excuse to change our lives. So I don't make New Year Resolutions. Since I'm done marching the Rose Parade though, I find myself with slightly more free time on my hands.

We've had exchange students from the Media Education Centre in Serbia over here in L.A. for the past two weeks. I've been sort of out of the loop since I've been rehearsing with my marching band, but on Tuesday and Wednesday, we'll be having Hollywood Behind the Scenes days, visiting places such as Modern Film and Video Symphony.

I recently got my computer back and am in the process of finding an editing program that works better than Windows Movie Maker. I use Final Cut Pro a lot, but that's only on my school's computer for school projects. As a very very very (emphasis on "very") low budget student film maker, I'm going to attempt to create a video using only my cellphone camera, Windows Movie Maker, some friends, and imagination.

Here's the plan: We'll probably have to do a music video. MovieMaker is okay at editing picture and if we set it on mute, it's pretty great. We can record a song on a free audio recording program called Audacity. Then we can put it over the video as an audio file. Success (hopefully).

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