Calling All FIlmmakers, Musicians, Writers, Actors!

This week! 11-11-11 MARNkino Kabaret will kick-off.

This is a 2-day filmmaking challenge. The theme will be announced at 5:30
Friday at MARN. There are no entry fees to participate in this event.

Then join us as we screen the films Thursday 11-17 at the Times Cinema at
7pm.

*MARNkino Kabaret Rules
* [image: KINO]
*Registration

• There is no cost to register.
• Filmmakers/team leaders can register in-person at the kickoff on
11-11-11.
* • Filmmakers who absolutely can't attend the kickoff may register in
advance by contacting MARN ( filmmakers@marnonline.com) Filmmakers who do
this will not get the theme in advance of the kickoff and will not get
access to the Milwaukee Music Library in advance; this information will be
communicated to them either during or at the close of the live kickoff
event.


*Film Rules

• Films must be turned in on DVD by 5:30pm on Sunday 11-13-11, along
with a 1-page form, which is provided at the kickoff.*
• Films must run 7 minutes or less including credits, and the credits
must include the MARNKino logo, which is available on the
www.artsinmilwaukee.org website.
• Films must incorporate the theme, which will be revealed at the
kickoff, and must be produced during the 48-hour period.
• Filmmakers may only use materials (for example images, locations,
music, etc.) for which they have secured permission to use.
• Films can't include any material that could be considered X-rated.
• Filmmakers who choose to use music from the Milwaukee Music Library
must credit the musicians/groups exactly as specified in the Milwaukee
Music Library (which will be made available to filmmakers at the kickoff.)
They must also provide a copy of the film on DVD to each of the
musicians/groups whose material is used in the film.


*Screening

• The Kabaret screening will be held at 7pm on Thursday 11-17-11 at the
Times Cinema on 60th & Vliet.*
• All films that follow the rules will be shown in a single screening.
• Films that could be considered R-rated will be shown in the second
half of the screening, to accommodate potential participation and
attendance of kids.
• *Tickets for the screening are only $3 each.
• Milwaukee Hot Club will play for a closing party held immediately
after the screening.*


*Prizes
*
• At the screening, the audience will be given ballots, and audience
choice award prizes will be presented--including one FABULOUS top prize to
be announced at the screening.

*What is Kino?*
The word “Kino” comes from the Greek word for “movement,” and is a slang
term for “cinema” in several languages. Born in Montreal, Kino began as
what founder Christian Laurence called a “jam session for filmmakers.” He
challenged his friends to make one new short film per month, every month
throughout 1999. But when the year 2000 came, they didn't want to stop. By
2002, a new venue was required because more than 400 people were showing up
each month to see the films. Soon the concept became an international
movement, and new Kino cells continue to spring up in cities around the
world.

1999: Montreal
2002: Paris; Hamburg; Madison, WI
2004: Lausanne; Toronto; Berlin; Vienna
2005: Adelaide; Lyon; Bordeaux; Louisville, KY
2006: Sydney; Toulouse
2007: Montpellier
2008: Barcelona; Ougadougu (Burkina-Faso); Mainz; Dresden
2009: London; Majunga (Madagascar); Bratislava; Zagreb; Whitehorse, Yukon
2010: Casablanca; Helsinki; Managua (Nicaragua); Amsterdam
2011: Marseille; Brussels; *MILWAUKEE!!

Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) is now sponsoring a Kino
microcinema in Milwaukee. Screenings are held on the third Thursdays of
each month at the Times Cinema on 60th & Vliet.

The Spirit of Kino*
Kino is about more than providing a monthly venue for filmmakers to screen
short films, or providing a unique local indie microcinema for film goers.
It's about creative freedom and collaboration, and about a collective of
artists producing new films with little or no means. Kino cells are
laboratories for artistic experimentation and development, and for creating
and showing films without constraints. Monthly screenings motivate the
artists, and act as a catalyst to inspire new work.
*
Kino Kabarets*
Kino cells typically hold an annual Kabaret, or 48-hour filmmaking
event. During these events, participating filmmakers receive a theme, and
have 48 hours to complete and turn in a new short film that incorporates
the theme. The event ends with a screening of the films and closing party.


--
Melissa Musante
Executive Director
Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN)
414.732.2121 office
414.305.2109 mobile

MIFS: Where did the idea for the film come from?

The story line came from my own life experience. The film illustrates that "strangers," or those that you don't know, can have a greater influence in your life then friends or family. That may seem like an odd statement but I find that friends and family veer between being uncritically supportive or bringing a sense of past shared experiences to current travails, and both can cloud judgement or the advice offered. In contrast, someone who doesn't know you as well can often bring a clarity to new conundrums that are unencumbered by shared experiences. While making this film I met others who had shared similar stories of meeting "strangers"  that had profound impact in their life. In a time when its so easy to watch the type of news we we want to hear, the importance of instead hearing truth cannot be underestimated.

MIFS: How much did the concept change when going to final edit?

The concept didn't change although the starting point in the film changed several times. In the final edit, I chose to start the film immediately where the interaction of the two characters begin rather than show the back story of Chloe's road trip and her anticipation of meeting someone unknown. It was difficult to break-up with the material especially when the cinematography was so beautiful. In the end, it was vital for the film to engage the audience immediately and the positive reviews and the awards the film has won indicate that I made the right decision.

MIFS: Were there any challenges during production?

The first version of this screenplay won the Manhattan Shorts' Screenwriters First Place Award — I knew I had something special so I quit my six figure job and gave making the film my full attention. In addition to having the fortitude and determination to resist the doubts associated with making my first film and leaving a good job in a bad economy to do so, I also had some real financial challenges. I had to reduce 7 shoot days to 4 days and that required six versions of rewriting to arrive at a shooting script that maintained the integrity of the original meaning and one I could afford. Jessica Embro, lead actress, was traveling in from Toronto, which was nerve-wracking and the lead actor, Kip Weeks, only had five days available in his schedule. We used one day as rehearsal and four days to shoot —we had to keep on the schedule even with new location changes everyday. There was no make-up time.

The second biggest challenge was the weather in Maine in early October is not ideal to go swimming. There was frost on the ground the night before the lake scene, Jessica Embro and Kip Weeks were brave and unyielding to the coldness. They drank whiskey in between takes in a cabin with a space heater wrapped in wool blankets. Myself, Alice Brooks, cinematographer, her assistants, and Branden Maxham, gaffer, adorned wet suits and even with a wet suit, I was shaking pulling if off after being in the water only a short time. Mind over matter, you won't even see goosebumps on the actors, I commend their ability to give such focus to their performance despite the cold.

MIFS: With the film completed, what has been the most rewarding thing about the whole experience?

I had already had many opportunities directing large photo shoots from my experience at Hanson Dodge Creative in Milwaukee as a Sr. Art Director and as Sr. Photo Art Director at L.L.Bean in Maine. While these experiences were great, they were always for a corporation and the primary goal was to sell products. Directing my film was the journey to a new personal expression of my ideas armed with the experience of creating compelling imagery. Leaving behind the myopic revenue-generating corporate focus to fully pursue a creative endeavor has been fulfilling to myself and inspiration to others who admire my leap of faith.

14 minutes screens Friday November 4th during the 5:15pm block, and at the Lubar Auditorium, Mil Art Museum.

Tickets are $10.00 

MIFS: With the film completed, what has been the most rewarding thing about the whole experience?

 The film gave me a chance to do some extensive work with blood effects which was ideal for me because I'm planning to shoot me first feature length horror film next year. The hours spent working with the blood gave me a solid idea of what to expect when shooting the horror film - I learned a lot.