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Bob Gebert guest starring on “The Office” tomorrow

April 15, 2009  | Comments?

bobgebertFilmmaker One podcast co-host Bob Gebert will appear on the hit NBC show The Office tomorrow night (Season 5, episode 22).

We don’t mention it much on the podcast, but Bob is quite an accomplished actor with dozens of stage productions under his belt in New York and Houston. Lately his acting career has taken off in Los Angeles with several television appearances on shows such as Monk, Criminal Minds, Leverage, and Two and 1/2 Men.

I can’t reveal anything about tomorrow’s plot, but I can say that Bob plays a Dunder Mifflin customer, and he has a funny scene with Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson (former Scranton branch regional manager Michael Scott and the ever-obsequious Dwight Shrute). The episode is titled “Heavy Competition” and the NBC website describes it as “Michael and Dwight in a high-stakes battle.” I wonder what, or whom, they might be battling over? Hmmmm…

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FWLIG and FilmmakerOne update

April 10, 2009  | Comments?

work_life_balance_signAs I look back with embarrassment over the last two FilmmakerOne “coming soon” posts, I learn a new lesson about personal podcasting; “Don’t make scheduling promises.”

I won’t bore you with sob stories about how FWLIG (family, work and life in general) get in the way of producing episodes. I’m sure you have heard them all before, and experience your own limitation on how you allot what creative energy you have left after dealing with FWLIG.

There are some podcast I listen to that literally open every episode with one to five minutes of apologies for the lateness of that particular episode. When I started FilmmakerOne I vowed never to do this because I thought it was bad form. Upon further reflection I now understand it better. Podcasting is a passion. A true labor of love, usually a love of a particular niche genre of information. These producers feel guilt about their slipping schedules, and you can tell it really bugs them. I know that feeling and not a week goes by that I don’t feel the pangs regarding FilmmakerOne.

Anyway enough mea culpa, here is the status of the show. The main sections of episodes 11 and 12 are recorded. They are currently in post production and will be released soon. How soon? See paragraph one.

In the mean time, I will be posting some quick articles on some industry related projects that Bob and I have been up that should be of interest to our listeners. Watch for these. They will be coming up right after FWLIG.

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Filmmaker One to make triumphant return in January 2009

January 3, 2009  | 4 Comments posted

Please stand byI am happy to report that new Filmmaker One episodes are in production and will be available in January. We recorded the final two episodes on Season One in December over the Christmas holidays. As promised, the next two episodes will cover The Screenplay - Act 2, and Act 3.

The plan is proceeding in retooling the show to a broader format with more industry info and interviews. Many thanks to all of you who have remained subscribers.

4 Comments posted

More to come…

April 23, 2008  | 2 Comments posted

Please stand byDavid from London writes: “Can you advise whether or not the Filmmaker One podcast is still going out? I’ve checked both iTunes and your website but unfortunately cannot find any additional episodes past podcast #10.”

Thanks for asking David. Yes, Filmmaker One is still alive, and has many more shows planned. We have been on an extended hiatus since episode 10. This is mainly due to entering the busy season for my production company. I extend my apologies and my appreciation for our listeners and subscribers who have stayed with us.

So here is the plan for the future of Filmmaker One. We have two more shows left in Season One. Episode 11 will cover The Screenplay - Act 2, and episode 12 will finish the season with Act 3. These shows will be posted the next few weeks.

In June we will start Season Two. We will retool the show with a new format, new music beds and new technology. We will be moving into new studios, which will enable us to expand the scope of the show. Bob and I will be talking to a wider variety of industry professionals.

Thanks to all for your patience and support for Filmmaker One. Please stay subscribed because “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

2 Comments posted

Filmmaker One - episode 10
Common First-time Screenwriter Mistakes

March 16, 2008  | 3 Comments posted

Filmmaker One Logo

In this episode, Bob Gebert and Tracy Evans set out to continue a previous conversation on components of the screenplay.

But the conversation quickly veers away from a no-doubt heady and ponderous discussion of Act Two, to a free-form exchange on flashbacks, dream sequences, orphans, script formatting and brass paper fasteners. Check back next week for the continued examination of the screenplay, with a focus on the Second Act.

Items mentioned:

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These guys won a prize, and so can you.

March 10, 2008  | Comments?

Win a production slate at filmmakerone.comHave you entered our drawing yet? For the last few weeks, we have been giving away iKan Production Slates to lucky weekly winners. We have but one more left, and here is how it could be yours!

Simply sign up for our free e-newsletter and you will automatically be entered into this weeks drawing, as well as all future drawings.

Next week marks the end (or does it?) of our six-week prize series. We plan to end it with a bang; a yet-to-be-announced super secret prize. I can’t reveal it yet, but I will give you a hint. It lights up, and makes noise!

Congratulations to our previous winners:

So sign up for our drawing today, and thanks for listening to the Filmmaker One show.

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Filmmaker One - episode #9 -
The Screenplay - The Second 10 Pages

March 9, 2008  | Comments?

Filmmaker One Logo

Topics aplenty on this weeks show. Bob Gebert continues his examination of the screenplay and how he approaches the second 10 pages.

Christina Mauro then joins Bob to continue their conversation on producing indie films, and procuring name talent.

I’ll talk about an upcoming digital media conference at which I will be speaking, the latest developments at Apple on digital self-distribution for indie producers, and we award another prize in our 6-week series of give-aways.

Items mentioned:

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Has Apple confirmed indie film self-distribution?

March 8, 2008  | 2 Comments posted

Apple content provider web siteThe holy grail of rumor confirmation is often a company executives slip-of-the-tongue, or an inadvertent web site posting. One of our astute readers (thanks Aaron) led me to this section of the Apple website. Do these few words confirm that Apple will soon allow indie filmmakers to distribute and sell their wares on iTunes?

We have discussed the probability of indie film self-distribution through AppleTV on this blog and podcast before (see episode 6). Apple already has a program in place for indie musicians. They can simply fill out an application, submit their work for review, and upload MP3 files to the iTunes Music Store.

The program is currently for music only, which the site states several times. However, at one point the site mentions promoting “your music, TV show, or movie” right after the paragraph on submitting your content. (see image above. highlight added.)

Bob Dylan on iTunesThe link in that sentence leads to the iTunes Affiliate Program, which allows anyone with a web site to post links to iTunes content, and receive a commission on a sale. For example, here’s a link to a cool Bob Dylan Album. Buy a song through this link and Apple will send me a nickel!

But the sentence uses the word “your” when referring to music and movies. Does it simply mean your favorite movie, or literally your movie. One might think the former were it not on a page all about uploading and selling your user-created content. The previous paragraph is titled “Submit your content” and this paragraph is titled “Market your content.”

Steve Jobs - CEO of Apple Computer - App Store pricing structureEarlier this week, Apple started another program for indie devlopers to sell iPhone applications in a similar fashion, with one big difference. The developer sets the price. This is a unique option that Apple does not even offer major music publishers or film studios.

Are we soon to see a similar program for indie film producers? Even disregarding this little web clue, I think so and here is why.

But what do you think? Is this a slip up that confirms Apples future indie plans? Or is it just a oddly worded phrase into which I am reading way too much. Post your feedback in the comment section and let me know.

Ahh, the internet. There is no better place to over-analyze minutia.

2 Comments posted

Apple soon to distribute and sell indie productions.

March 7, 2008  | 5 Comments posted

Steve Jobs - CEO of Apple ComputerA few weeks ago on the podcast, I postulated the possibility of selling your movie through Apple. I discussed the idea of low- to no-cost independent movie distribution via the iTunes Music Store, and suggested that this would happen someday soon.

Independent producers can’t currently sell movies in this way, but yesterday Apple took another step toward making this happen.

Steve Jobs and company announced that they will begin distributing and selling independently-produced applications for the iPhone in June of 2008. Anyone who can write a computer program will be able to sell it through their new App Store. It’s like the iTunes Music Sore for computer programs.

But here is how it significantly differs from the iTunes Store model, and why it is important to filmmakers. The iTunes Store only sells TV shows and movies from major film and television studios. The App Store will sell independently-produced content, at a price set by the producer. This pricing model is a first for Apple.

It will work like this. A programmer writes an app for the iPhone and submits it to Apple. Once it passes an internal review process, Apple posts it to the App Store where anyone can purchase it with a single click, right on their iPhone, iPod Touch or computer.

Although these are not movies or video, take note of the way they are approaching the business plan and compensation, because I feel quite certain that we will soon see a similar model for video and film producers.

Steve Jobs - CEO of Apple Computer - App Store pricing structureApple handles the hosting, bandwidth, and credit card transactions at no cost to the developer. The developer sets the price of their program, and splits the sale with Apple 70 % to the developer, 30%. to Apple. There is a one-time nominal $99 fee to join their developer program, but other than the cut of the sale, there are no other costs or charges. This is really an amazing deal for developer and programmers.

I expect to see them create a similar deal soon for video and film producers, possibly later this year.

When this happens, it will be a game changer for indie filmmakers. The concept of stocking your movie on the same “virtual shelf” beside major Hollywood releases, with no manufacturing or distribution fees is quite unprecedented. Customers will purchase, or possibly rent, your movie with the click of a button. And Apples send you checks monthly.

Never before has this type of distribution power been available to the indie filmmaker.

5 Comments posted

New Media Expo - Las Vegas

March 5, 2008  | Comments?

New Media Expo - Las VegasI am very excited to report that I have been invited to speak at the 4th Annual New Media Expo in Las Vegas. The Expo is a hands-on, learning event for independent content creators. Each year they offer a variety of “how-to” conference sessions on producing online video and audio content.

They have asked me to present a session which I proposed on producing audio podcasts. I call the workshop “Interviews - Top 10 Production Techniques”, and plan to explain and demonstrate various recording techniques and equipment setups. I am honored to be one of the 52 speakers they selected from over 700 submissions.

So if you are a filmmaker interested in exploring online media, an aspiring podcaster, or just looking for a good reason to go to Vegas, mark your calendar for August 14-16. I will have more information on the seminar and the event soon, including a link to a priority registration site for anyone interested in attending.

Tracy

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