Eighty-Watt Cinema-Related Links
Links to friends and valued colleagues
- Tim Naylor, Cinematographer
- The official website of Tim Naylor, talented cinematographer whose fine work is on display in The Surprise.
- Shoot Me: Creative Filmmakimg from Creative Concept to Rousing Release by Rocco Simonelli and Roy Frumkes
- Gary Cooper, who edited The Surprise is the amusing subject of a chapter in this delightful book.
- Baker Hostetler, LLP
- Our wonderful lawyers
- The Tribeca Film Center
The Surprise-Related Links
A diverse sampling of resources for issues related to the film
- Planned Parenthood of America
- National Right to Life
- Democrats for Life
- Pro-Life Action League
- National Abortion Federation
- The Pro-Choice Resource Center
Alternative Film Schools
Please note: if you're looking to take classes at any of these institutions, visit all of them in person, ask plenty of questions, and meet students and professors – visiting can be an education in and of itself. With most everything when you’re starting out, doing it in person is always better than calling, and calling is always better than e-mailing. Our recommendations are based on our own experience and the experiences of our colleagues and should not be taken as official endorsements.
- NYU SCPS Department of Film, Video, and Broadcasting (highly recommended)
- A no-nonsense, piecemeal alternative to traditional film school
- The New School University (highly recommended)
- Offering strong screenwriting and film production certificate programs
- New York Film Academy (highly recommended)
- We have no experience with the NYFA but Tim Naylor, award-winning cinematographer of The Surprise and a graduate of NYU Tisch Graduate Film, teaches there and highly recommends it.
- The Edit Center (highly recommended)
- Alan Oxman’s unique editing school offers the opportunity to work on scenes from a real feature in post-production
- The Rockport Workshops (highly recommended)
- If you can afford to make your way to Maine, these workshops are worth every penny. The faculty is amazing (John Toll teaches there, for example) and their reputation is very, very good. Many working industry professionals make their way to Rockport to improve and expand on their skills, but workshops are offered at all levels of experience
- The Gotham Writer's Workshop (recommended)
- Excellent writing classes for all disciplines
- DV Dojo
- A new organization that is gaining steam.
- Global Film School
- A comprehensive online film school
- School of Visual Arts
- The Learning Annex - Two Day Film School
- We don't know anything about it, but it was profiled by Time Out New York, and Tarantino and Guy Richie are alums...
- NYU Tisch’s summer program
- and a listing of all offered courses
General
A smattering of interesting and helpful websites in no particular order
- StudentFilmmakers.com
- Images Journal
- A journal of film and popular culture
- IMDB
- The database for everyone and everything. It's a bit commercial and gossip-y, but the pro version is much better and more professional. It’s also very helpful for tracking down the agents for both talent and production staff.
- Bright Lights Film Journal
- Kodak
- Check out the student filmmaker resources and the Filmmaker Focus section.
- Fuji Behind-the-Scenes
- Media Services
- This entertainment payroll firm also offers free production seminars on budgeting, scheduling, working with the unions, and many other topics
- Film Threat
- Netflix
- The best way to see all of the films you should have seen already
- Landmark Theaters
- The nation’s largest art-house chain also has a wonderful links section.
- Film and Television Law Quarterly
- Millimeter
- A great production and post resource that can answer a lot of technical questions
- Focal Press
- A wonderful resource for all things film. We especially value their companions/resource pages for books like Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video by Peter Rea and David Irving, two Tisch professors (a wonderful book).
- Broadcast Music Incorporated
- Drew’s Script-O-Rama
- A comprehensive database of free movie scripts
- IndieWire
- A great online publication for the independent community
- Indie Links
- Filmmaker.com
- Filmfestivals.com
- Carole Deane and From the Heart
- Carole, the founder of Studio Tape and Film (a filmstock house) coined the term ‘short ends’ and now runs a grant and seminars on financing. She’s very well connected and has great speakers at her seminars. Her book, which I just got an advance copy of, is also quite helpful.
- Official Dogma 95 Website
- Microcinema International
- The Foundation Center
- Wonderful resource for grant-seekers
- Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
- Mark Litwak
- This entertainment attorney offers very decent introductory articles and books that will help you begin to understand how all things get financed
- The New York Production Guide Online
- Greg Pak’s Film Help
- Mandy’s Production Directory
- Producer’s Source
- The Library of Congress
- With links to copyright procedures and the Film Preservation Board
Magazines
The so-called “trades”
- Variety
- The Hollywood Reporter
- Cineaste
- Filmmaker
- Backstage Magazine
- Film Score Monthly
- Screen Daily/Screen International
- Film Festivals Today
- IFC Rant
- Film Comment (published by the Film Society of Lincoln Center)
Organizations
Important organizations and societies within the filmmaking community
- The Independent Feature Project
- A wonderful, wonderful non-profit organization located in New York and L.A. – a must for any independent filmmaker. Their conferences, panels, and web resources are invaluable.
- NYC Mayor’s Office of Film and Television
- Lots of know-how and useful resources, as well as the popular Tech List
- The ASC
- The ASC’s resources section is brief but very helpful. You can also view the online edition of American Cinematographer Magazine.
- Women Make Movies
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- The American Film Institute
- NYC Police Movie and TV Unit
- The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)