week 5 post

 This week I've been focusing on making a presentation for the keynote brainstorming session. I took the info from the people who replied (not all did, but I’m not worried yet) and I put it into a google slides presentation on the drive. I couldn't get in contact with Felix Thompson, who would currently be my first choice of keynote speaker, but Shannon offered to try as well, so well se what's up soon. Shannon said Felix is travelling right now, on the festival circuit for his film, King Jack. So hopefully her email will get to him and he’ll get back to us soon. Aside from, that, I’ve been assisting with programming department stuff. Kevin divided up the database of contact info for our call for entries release info schools, and I’ve been checking my section to make sure they’re right and ready to go when it comes time to send the emails out. Other than that, I’ve just been looking at the art department’s stuff like everyone else and making comments and voting on stuff to try and help develop the best posters, flyers, logos and fonts we can get, and all the art stuff is really starting to come together.

Week 4 Post

This week I've been focusing on finding Keynote candidates. With the help of the Programming Department, we picked 9 possibilities from past visions, and I've contacted them all asking for info about where they are now career-wise for a class project. We tried to pick an even split of studies and production people, with an even sprinkling among the production candidates of documentary, narrative, and experimental. Though I am in no way ruling out women for the position, Shannon and I agreed that, since the last several speakers have been female, we should lean towards a male speaker this year. If we aren’t careful about who we pick each year, we will start to come across as something other than what we are to the general public, though it wouldn’t be intended. They don't yet know that they're being considered for the Keynote speaker for V6, but once we decide on a few top candidates, I’ll tell them one by one until one of them agrees to be the keynote speaker. I'll make a slideshow to present to class on those who respond, and we’ll discuss and vote on them to rank the top choices or identify new options to pursue.

Dirty Dozen for keynote finding shenanigans

1. What?
     -I'm finding the keynote speaker, that's what! We've been talking in class about some interest in Visions alumni, so I'm aiming for that. Shannon has also mentioned that the last few speakers have been women, so I'm slanting the search towards men, but not ruling anyone out just yet.

2. Customer?
     -Technically I'm not selling anything, but I guess I am "selling" the class on a speaker and "selling that speaker on the idea of coming to hang with us, so i guess those two things are my customer base.

3. Deliverables?
     -Tangibly, my only deliverable would be a speaker at the end of this search.
       Intangibly, I can get us a little more exposure to the outside world as well as bring back some inspiration to the class and students who attend Visions by showing them some successful folks who aren't to far ahead of them in life.

4. Budget?
     - Right now, I'm not spending anything. the budget will come in later when we look into flying the speaker here. that said, the budget will stay at the front of my mind in the search, because some of these peeps I'm looking at are kinda far flung in the world.

5. How long?
     -ASAP, really. the sooner I have a speaker locked in, the sooner we can plan for them. I'm making contact this week, I'll present the options t the class and we'll talk about them some and narrow down some choices. then I'll present those options with an invitation to see who's interested. I'm hoping this will take 3 weeks to a month tops, aiming for less than that.

6. Needed skills?
     -People skills to convince people of things

7. Special resources?
     -Not really, other than the budget later on.

8. Who is working on this?
     -Me! with periodic input and participation from the entire class.

9. Schedule? (long, aiming to be done a bit quicker)
     -sep 22 - present some choices to the class
     -sep 22-sep 29 - contact the narrowed down options about participating
     -sep 29 - final "top three" choice in class
     -sep 29-oct 6 - contact the options until one accepts
     -Oct 6 - present keynote speaker

10. Risks?
     -Biggest risk would be not getting a keynote speaker, but i don't think that'll happen. I'm confident that we'll have some interested parties.

11. Communicate?
     -I'll communicate with my team(programming) via fb chat

12. How to determine success?
     -Wether or not we have a keynote speaker on the day of the event.

interview answers

Interview Answers

Robbie D Fisher,

Co-Director of the Crossroads Film Festival, Jackson MS

1.     In addition to the mission statement of the Crossroads Film Society, I would ad that the Crossroads Film Festival (CFF) aims to promote independent film for Mississippi and also from a regional standpoint. We provide a place for regional filmmakers to reach an audience and for the filmmakers and audience to engage in dialogue. We also seek to provide quality independent films for the local population, who might not have that otherwise.

2.     I grew up in Mississippi, and I’ve been a filmmaker, director and now producer, for a long time. My first experience with CFF was in submitting films and being screened there. I liked the feel of the festival and enjoyed it a lot, then some friends suggested I get involved volunteering and it’s gone on from there.

¾. The most rewarding aspect of the festival is getting to see the audience react to the films and interact with the filmmakers. The most challenging part is marketing. It can be very hard to promote widely enough.

6. cumulatively, we received several thousand entries this past year. I couldn’t say without researching in the files how many were features and how many were shorts, but many of that number were music videos.

8-12. we accept entries through Withoutabox and Filmfreeway with our requirements posted on those sites, that’s our first filter for pre-screeners. Then we have a screening committee of many volunteers who screen the films over several months either in small groups in people’s homes or online by password. They fill out an online questionnaire for each film after viewing, and the data collected from that informs the selection process. We call for these volunteers over social media, our email list, and many local institutions like the colleges are excited to take part.

13. Our festival is the first weekend of April, so we usually put out our call in early august, with several deadline coming throughout the year.

15. CFF only employs one part time staffer, Michele Baker. Everyone else is a volunteer. We do hope to raise the money to hire on more full time folks in the future.

16. we like to use Quickbooks for our budgeting, and Constant Contact to manage our email list and send out email blasts.

17. We actually just met about this to discuss how to stay visible to the public year round. We’re trying to maintain a strong social media presence. Volunteers prepare press releases about what we’re doing, we’re looking for more print coverage throughout the year. In the past we have used billboards, fliers all over town, print and even TV.

19+23. Most of our funding comes from individuals through membership dues to the Crossroads Film Society. We do offer various packages to festival sponsors which basically amount to different level of visibility on our materials. Usually those are businesses we have a personal connection to and can approach. We also receive a few small grants every now and then from things such as the Mississippi Arts Commission and private companies’ philanthropic foundations.

18+20-22: once selected, the filmmaker receives an email from Michele Baker informing them of their acceptance and of what we need from them now. We invite them all to attend, some do and some don’t. we try to assist in their travel and lodging expenses when budget allows. Once they’re here, we provide vans for local transportation. They have access to everything, events, receptions, screenings, workshops. Folks have a good time, the experience really is what you make of it.

23. Be sure to focus on PR. Marketing and dedicated staff are the two most important things to running a film festival.

Festival research assignment part one

Festival research assignment part 1

Crossroads Film Festival,

Jackson, MS

1.     Robbie Fisher, festival codirector. We will be speaking on Friday, the 11^th, at 3 pm.

2.     It was created in 2000 by the Crossroads Film Society and is currently coordinated by Michele Baker, directed by Robbie Fisher, as well as a board of directors and a team working below them.

3.     “The Crossroads Film Society celebrates the art of filmmaking in all of its diversity and depth. The Crossroads Film Society will facilitate and promote a broader spectrum of film and video for the community, will present and honor films and videos related to Mississippi and the South, and will provide educational opportunities and facilitate general discussions for film lovers and aspiring film makers.”

4.     The films programmed in previous years do support the mission statement of Crossroads. There are a wide variety of films from an array of both male and female filmmakers of many backgrounds. The films cast a wide net in their combined target audience, with something for everyone. There have been animated buddy comedies, Russian classical literature relocated to the American south, shapeshifting horror films, documentaries on integration and segregation, and several modes of experimental film, just to name a few.

5.     Jackson, Mississippi

6.     Events take place from March 31^st to April 3^rd

7.     Submissions can be made through FilmFreeway or WithoutABox, or by mailing in a dvd

8.     Sept 19, Oct 17, and Oct 31 are the early, regular, and late deadlines, respectively. There is a special earlybird deadline, which is Aug 29 for MS filmmakers, or Aug 29 for everyone else.

9.     The cost to enter ranges from 5 dollars for music videos and local filmmakers up to $20 for youth and students, on to $45 and $55 for feature length films

10. Anyone is eligible, with categories for youth, students, locals, and all modes of filmmaking

11. Yes

12. They strongly prefer online screeners or links to online screeners on vimeo or youtube

13. Same as 12

14. Over 90 selected films and shorts

15. Typically 1 hour, give or take a few minutes

16. 11 shorts

17. from the information available, it seems that only certain events and screenings have carry a fee, from 5 to 10 dollars, typically

18. most of the top contributors were the expected film society/arts council type organizations. Most other sponsors were individual people, with a handful of local businesses (a restaurant, a news station, a local financial advisor) sprinkled in

19. the lowest two levels are ‘friends of the festival’ and ‘special thanks’ who both appear to only receive shout outs in list form on the website. Next up are ‘advertising sponsors’ and ‘directing sponsors’ who can be seen throughout the program and website, so they must have received a more substantial advertising package. After that is ‘directing sponsors’ who got a logo on the website, an ad in the program, and 2 passes. ‘producing sponsors’ got naming rights to an award, a logo in more places, a larger ad, and 4 passes. ‘premiere sponsors’ got to name a music event, film block, reception, or workshop, as well as a sponsor banner at the fest, and all of the previously mentioned things. Silver Screen sponsors got naming rights to an entire screen for the duration of the festival, 8 passes, as well as everything else. Studio Executive sponsors got “presented by ….” Credit, a 30 second spot before screenings, and everything else.

20. They did not appear to use crowdfunding sites for donations

21. They have had local music video showcases, live music/film events

22. They try to incorporate local culture, putting an emphasis on music, food, and local stuff

23. The layout is easy to navigate because it isn’t too busy, they stick to a simple layout and color scheme. Also, the menus and drop down sub menus are very clear

24. The only thing making the website difficult is its seeming lack of information. Not much could be found about ticket pricing and past festivals on the website

25. Most of the time, the info can be found quickly from a link on the homepage. Most of what is on the homepage is outdated news release

26. It’s pretty basic and simple, I do like the simple color scheme, but the design seems in need of revamping a little

27. There is far too much white, makes it seem like a rookie made the website

28. More info is needed, many of the above questions had to be answered from off site sources, including ticket info

29. No, more is needed

30. I would add color lower in the page and add more pages with more information

31. I would keep the design simple and the menus clear