Celtx reaches "1.0"

Celtx Software is a widely used freeware screenplay formatting/pre-production suite of programs that independent filmmakers might like to have a look at.

It's been around a while but has finally made it to release 1.0 status. I've used it on and off since it was first making a name for itself. It's useful but annoyingly (at least until recent versions) shies away from following industry formats in favour of its own "Our web-aware ways are better" (e.g. for breakdown sheets) approaches which makes it difficult to use if you've been brought up with other systems. It's also built around models that work well on computer screens and not so well when printed out on aper (and even low budget productions get through enough paper to account for entire acres of your average forest).

To this end, they've introduced tighter iPod integration (gee, thanks, just what I was waiting for). I'd have to see if the screenplay formatting and script import/export is as buggy as it used to be. I seem to remember a lot of fighting to get slug lines and dialogue to format properly that I wouldn't have with, say, MS word and a bunch of macros. However it is a very useful tool if you're prepared to abandon some of your Ralph S. Singleton ordained habits. If I have time I'll play around with it and and try a review.

If you have Microsoft Excel, I can also recommend you have a look at the (not free but cheap) filmmaker software package for budgeting and scheduling (areas that Celtx has been weaker on in the past)

Off topic in some ways again, as I prefer the info on this site to refer to what blogger and filmmaker Paul Hamill calls "self reliant film" (from production to distribution). TV broadcast is at the opposite end of that spectrum, but this set of articles from The Guardian is interesting as a call (in line with Ofcom policy) for more TV production to move out of London to engage with the various regions, both to bring money and work to the regions. Therefore, in terms of broadening access to the means of production and distribution (albeit a little higher up the chain) it might be of interest.

Youtube Screening room

Youtube have launched the Youtube Screening Room in order to promote short films to their huge global audience. The idea is to provide a more organised selective page where high quality (i.e. professionally produced) short films can be viewed. It's sort of backwards from what iFilm and Atom films did a few years back, those sites have now moved over to be based around User Generated content, while Youtube seems to be moving more towards producer made creative content.

These films always appear with the permission and involvement of the filmmakers, so be sure to rate, share and leave comments. This is your chance to not only watch great films from all corners of the globe, but also to converse with the filmmakers behind them. from ytscreeningroom.googlepages.com/home

Not that good a chance - I left a comment under the film Our Time Is Up and it got deleted, then the whole film was removed and reposted! Strange. Could it be my comment that it bore an great similarity to film by a friend of mine have annoyed someone?

While the majority of these films have played at international film festivals, occasionally you’ll find films that have never before screened for wide audiences.
from ytscreeningroom.googlepages.com/home

Actually the four films up there at the moment are all professionally produced, and the first film to be featured, the affore mentioned Our Time Is Up is directed by a Hollywood TV writer Rob Pearlstein, stars Kevin Pollack and Jorge Garcia (Hurley from Lost) and was nominated for an Academy Award (the New York Times described it as "an attempt to wring comedy from psychiatrist-couch clichés", it lost to Martin McDonagh's Six Shooter); another film was written by American indie darling Miranda July and stars John C Reilly.

Youtube encourage filmmakers, to propose submissions already online at youtube as long as the film is wholly owned by the filmmaker or distributor, to ytscreeningroom@youtube.com

Off topic.

An excellent video here, found via the Radiohead blog. It comes with a personal recommendation from band members Colin and Jonny. It's a remix of the song Nude from the new Radiohead album that appears to be played entirely with preprogrammed technology. Whether it's "for real" (what ever that could mean in this context) I'm not sure, but the effect is fantastic.


Big Ideas (don't get any) from James Houston on Vimeo.

Searchers 2.0

Alex Cox's HDV western, mentioned in an earlier post, will be broadcast in the UK on Monday 16th of June on BBC4 at 10pm. The movie was shot with Sony Z1s in 1080i mode and premiered at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.

Alex Cox has apparently recorded a special "Moviedrome" style intro for the film, as well as for some other classic westerns showing this weekend.

Avid in trouble?

I've no idea if stock price really does mean that a company is in trouble. However this site reports financial woes at Avid. www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/17543/

It's actually old news, but it's picking up. This came on the heals of news that Avid pulled out of NAB (the big US Broadcasting and video trade fair) in order to "focus on other ways of reaching their clients" (Apple also pulled out of NAB this year, though neither had big product launches to promote anyway). Since then Avid slashed the price of the software only version of Media Composer, in order to compete with FCP in the low budget market. (Avid also has the lowest price for student packages, though the educational licence is FAR more restrictive on use than the Apple education price licence, which is basically just the usual retail licence at a discount.)

MacDaily is right that FCP is gaining traction in the higher budget TV and Film world, but it's got nowhere near the dominance that Avid has. Apple has the lowest price and has kitted out Final Cut Suite with a treasure trove of additional software, but still cannot challenge Avid for rock solid media management. There is also the issue that there many film school and self trained Final Cut editors with lots of experience, but only in a capture-cut-'n'-export DV projects are getting work but without the proper training in workflow and data management that's required in a professional environment.

R.I.P. Bo Diddley

Off topic, but still, the otherwise immortal Bo Diddley has passed away.