A Signal reader reminded me that The Nickel is screening My Ancestors Were Rogues And Murderers by Anne Troake tonight in the parking lot below The Ship. You can view a trailer for the film here.

This will be the fourth film installment of the Nickel’s outdoor screening series. Bingo Robbers, a collection of NL produced shorts, and a special Republic of Doyle presentation were shown in the weeks previous to tonight’s screening.

Show time is 8:30 with no cost of admission. You’re encouraged to bring your own folding chair, and there will be popcorn on hand.

It’s shaping up to be a lovely evening, weather-wise, though you might want to bring a sweater just in case.

Thanks, Gerard!

Casting call. Click to enlarge.

Business in the front, party in the back. That seems to be the motto of this rather enjoyable group of filmmakers and their casting call.

“The font we’re using should suggest that we mean business. The colored [sic] paper should tell you that we like to have a good time.”

I can’t argue with that logic.

For more information or to book an audition, write to sjnlcasting@gmail.com or check out their Facebook Event.

Last year I participated in an ongoing collaboration between the Nickel Independent Film Festival and the Wreckhouse Jazz and Blues Festival called the Super 8mm Series.

During the run of The Nickel, three filmmakers are each given a Super 8 camera and a three minute roll of film and tasked with shooting a short from start to finish in-camera (no post production/editing allowed).

During the Wreckhouse Festival, the musician they’re paired up with performs the soundtrack to the film in front of a live audience.

The film and soundtrack are combined and the results are screened at the following Nickel Festival, during which the whole process starts anew with three new filmmakers…

Here is the film I shot, with music composed by Terence Campbell and performed by Terence and friends, starring Errin and Megan Condon.

Hoop-La-La from Darcy Fitzpatrick on Vimeo.

The Super 8 films shot during this past Nickel will be screening during the upcoming Wreckhouse, where they will have their soundtracks laid down live. I had to miss last year’s since I was out of town, so I’m looking forward to catching this year’s batch later this month.

Fresh coat of paint on the outside, so much more on the inside. Click to enlarge.

Geoff Panting serenaded film makers and lovers alike as they arrived for the opening night screening. Click to enlarge.

The Nickel’s tenth anniversary got off to a fabulous start tonight as filmmakers and film lovers filled the newly renovated LSPU Hall to capacity in celebration of the momentous occasion.

Festival organizer Jackie Hynes entertains the crowd as she heaps praise upon this year's volunteers. Click to enlarge.

Before the screenings began, Terry French, the minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation acknowledged the recent achievements in our province’s film and television industry, such as our first time at Sundance with director Adriana Maggs’ feature film Grown Up Movie Star, and a second season of Doyle.

A special lifetime festival pass was presented to Nickel founder Roger Maunder by the festival’s board of directors in acknowledgment of his tireless efforts to bolster and contribute to the local film community.

While Maunder received high praise, he took the time to acknowledge the work of others. And that's why we love him. Click to enlarge.

For ten years now the Nickel has served as a launching pad for many a great local film and filmmaker, and this year is no exception featuring twenty films made right here. Local filmmakers Jim Grace and David Gale of CNA Media Arts Centre, Kelly Davis, and Rob Blackie were all in attendance to introduce their films to kick off the night’s screening, a festival tradition I personally cherish.

At 39 weeks and three days, a very pregnant Kelly Davis surveys the audience for doctors. Click to enlarge (ha ha?).

Their three films set the local bar high and were in good company among comefromaway standouts such as the sublime The Man Inside and the hilarious Trolls.

It’s clear after ten years that not only has the local film community matured in it’s offerings, but the festival itself has come a long way, attracting a wide range of entertaining and deeply moving submissions.

The locally produced feature film that was named one of the top ten films in Canada in 2009 is playing its final night at Empire Theatres in the Avalon Mall tonight.

This is your last chance to see Crackie on the big screen on home turf. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend doing so.

But don’t just take my word for it. Check out the trailer and decide for yourself.

I’m not sure if this has ever happened before:

Two locally made feature films promoted side by side at Empire Studio 12. Grown Up Movie Star just finished its run last night, while Crackie hits the local big screen March 5th.

Writers/directors Adrianna Maggs (Grown Up Movie Star) and Sherry White (Crackie) are longtime friends and have even partnered up in the past, such as when they co-wrote and co-starred in Rabbittown, a pilot that aired on CBC in early 2006 but unfortunately never got picked up. That obviously didn’t slow down either of their careers, nor their continued synchronicity.

Grown Up Movie Star was an official selection at Sundance, while Crackie was named one of the top ten Canadian films of 2009.

[photo courtesy of Mary-Lynn Bernard]

Fancy yourself somewhat of a creative type? Use those xmas holidays to throw together a submission for the 2010 Arts & Letters competition. There’s no better time to put the pen to paper (so to speak) and type up that masterpiece of prose that lurks in the crevasses of your mind. Even if you don’t win, a solid deadline helps focus and motivate so you can finally walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk.
I myself submitted a film script two years ago. I didn’t win, or even agree with all the feedback, but at least I got a script that I can shoot out of it. You’re probably a better writer than me anyways, so what not take a stab at the $46k up for grabs?

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced their choices for the top ten Canadian films of 2009, and among them is Crackie, written and directed by Stephenville native Sherry White.

When I saw Crackie this past spring, before it began its world-wide festival tour, I fell all kinds of in love with it. Crackie is a fantastic film — and I don’t just mean that from a Newfoundland or even Canadian film perspective. It’s great, and you should see it.

Here’s the trailer:

If you happen to be in Toronto in the new year, all the top ten films (both short and feature length) will be screening at the TIFF Cinematheque from January 14 – 21. Crackie screens Saturday, January 16 at 9:30pm.

It’s been a good weekend for documentaries in my book I saw three last night and one and a half today and they were all decent if not great.  I say one and a half because 106 by Candice Day (which I saw at the Inco center), was not a doc at all, but was quite hilarious — certainly the best short I’ve seen all week.   It was followed by The Time of Their Lives, by Jocelyn Cammack, which was quite pleasant, as any movie motivated by many cups of tea and chats with multiple centenarians must be. Cammack went upstairs after the screening to participate in a “Doc Talks Q&A” with Nance Ackerman of “Four Feet Up” fame.  It was a small and cozy space, and a very informal talk about the nuts and bolts of documentary production.  The filmmakers answered questions about when to turn on the camera, what they actually shot on, and all sorts of other good stuff.  It made me want to get out with a camera and make a documentary, frankly, though it sounds like they’re getting harder to fund.  I almost pipped up when they started bashing the internet, but I figured I’d let the matter lie.    Now I’m off to the closing night party to flash my volunteer badge one last time. -martin

Today i did my second film forum at the International Women’s Film Festival, The Jan Miller Mini Pitch Session. Jan Miller is a world renowned ‘pitch specialist’ and president of Lowenbe Holdings. Her pitching seminars have been held at such festivals as the Toronto International Film Festival, Hot Docs, The Banff Television Festival, and the Atlantic Film Festival, and now, of course, the IWFF. Today’s session was called ‘mini’ because typically the workshop runs 6 hours and she whittled  it down to just under 2. Ms. Miller used to be a clown, and I tell you what, this isn’t lost in her animated demeanor. What could have been a pretty dry ‘communications’ seminar actually ended up being very entertaining, engaging, and of course, informative. She managed to get 4 brave volunteers to pitch their ideas to her in front of everyone (with a 3 minute time limit), then gave them feedback and took questions and suggestions from the room. I tried to scribble down some sort of pitch on my notepad during the discussion but I wasn’t quick enough so I had to content myself with just being an observer. I tip my hat to the 4 ladies who got up, especially those with absolutely no preparation. You’re braver, and quicker, than I.

So, what’s a pitch? You’re selling something and you want them to buy. Sort of. For those of you who missed today’s forum but plan on going to the one-on-one networking open house on Saturday, here’s your mini mini pitch session.To use Jan’s words, a pitch is a conversation. You need to listen, and always remember to speak with, not at. Breathing is key. Not only does it keep you from, y’know, losing consciousness, but it also allows the person you’re meeting with to keep up. If you just sit down and blurt out a 3 minute run on sentence, you’ve lost them by word 15. You’re painting a picture in the other person’s mind, you’re telling them a story. Don’t be afraid to give away the ending. They want to know how it ends so they can tell if it’s any good. And while you’re at it, having a clear beginning and middle helps too. You’re also telling them about you. Never be afraid to brag. Talk about yourself and your ‘package of pluses’. This includes awards you may have won, why you should be the person to tell this story, your history, your track record, or even your lack thereof. People are always on the lookout for new, emerging artists so don’t consider your lack of experience a handicap.

It would have been nice to sit on a full length session but the two hours were certainly well utilized. I wasn’t considering going to the one-on-ones on Saturday before today’s session, but now I think I just might. C’mon b’ys, gives a few bucks. Don’t be so tight.