Authors — Anisha Jhaveri
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Distributors, End the 20-Year License Term! Producer Mike Ryan Talking TV vs. Film and More at IFP Screen Forward
Earlier this summer, veteran producer Mike Ryan — an Independent Spirit “Producer of the Year” nominee as well as one of Variety’s “10 Producers to Watch” in 2007 — sparked a conversation with his Filmmaker article, “TV is Not the New Film.” Acknowledging the declining role of cinema in the broader culture amidst the rise of episodic television, Ryan spent the bulk of the piece detailing strengths of the film medium that are specific to its form. He called on filmmakers to embrace these formal qualities or else just go make TV instead. Ryan’s declarations sparked passionate agreement from cinephiles […]
by Anisha Jhaveri on Sep 25, 2015 -
Shooting on Film? At IFP Screen Forward, Debating the Merits and Pitfalls in a Digital Age
In this era of digital projectors, ALEXA cameras and minimal, DSLR-enabled budgets, the art of loading rolls of film into a magazine and shooting with a 16 or 35mm lens is fast becoming a fading practice. And yet, there are those determined storytellers who dare to pull it off. But is shooting on film on a low budget even possible these days? A Wednesday morning panel at the IFP’s Screen Forward conference comprised of cinematographer Frank DeMarco (All is Lost, Margin Call), producer Adam Piotrowicz (Listen Up Phillip, Queen of Earth). cinematographer/producer/director/editor Ferne Pearlstein (Imelda) and director/producer Ari Taub (79 […]
by Anisha Jhaveri on Sep 24, 2015 -
Four “Soft Skills” You Need to Remain Sane as a Creative Documentary Producer
It’s an unfortunate, but all-too-real paradox that one of the most demanding roles on or off the documentary filmmaking process is also one of the most under-appreciated: the creative producer. A problem-solver, accountant, disciplinarian, and therapist all rolled into one (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg), the responsibilities a creative producer faces on a daily basis go far beyond mere finances or logistics. From the visceral, chest-pounding conviction described by Emmy-winning producer Julie Goldman that inspires her to take on a project in the first place, the job requires an emotional strength and investment that’s just as, if […]
by Anisha Jhaveri on Sep 24, 2015 -
IFP Screen Forward: 5 Questions for Sales Agent and Producer Bill Strauss
You can conceive an ingenious plot, pen the perfect script, even begin to line up your ultimate cast — but it all risks being for naught if you can’t sell your vision. Even today, as alternative platforms emerge onto the distribution landscape, a successful pitch and getting that greenlight remains one of the most critical steps towards your project seeing the light of day, not to mention one of the most intimidating. But what goes into — and stays out of — making a powerful pitch? How do the people on the other side of that desk approach the process […]
by Anisha Jhaveri on Sep 21, 2015 -
Five Questions for Love Comes Later Director and La Semaine de la Critique Selectee, Sonejuhi Sinha
To premiere at La Semaine de la Critique is a singular achievement in itself. For one thing, it comes with the boasting rights of having triumphed through a discerning selection process, one that whittles over 1,700 submissions down to a lineup of merely 20 films. For another, as the competition running parallel to the Cannes Film Festival since 1962, La Semaine’s commitment to showcasing and nurturing new global talent through a combination of selectivity and exceptional personal attention has established it as one of the most valued platforms of exposure for budding filmmakers. But for New York-based editor-turned-writer/director Sonejuhi Sinha, […]
by Anisha Jhaveri on May 19, 2015
