The 4th Annual Central Florida Film Festival is almost here (September 4-6, 2009) with 64 "Official Selections," seminars, special guests, and parties galore. For as little as $20.00 a person can arrive at the theater at 10:00 am and enjoy films (in two screens) until 11:30 pm.
You can also leave the theater to grab a bite to eat. Use your ticket stub to receive discounts at several local restaurants and return to the theater or you can order food at the theater and eat while watching. The West Orange 5 Theater (in Ocoee) is the festival venue for films. Some festivals charge as much as $13.00 for one film. For seven dollars more you can stay all day and watch a dozen (or more). There are 15 features, 11 documentaries and over 40 shorts representing filmmakers from eleven countries and fifteen states.
Don't get locked out! Purchase tickets in advance! http://www.centralfloridafilmfestival.com/
....and cut!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hug your local Stuntman....
Today is a sad day for me and my second family at the Indiana Jones Stunt Show here in Orlando. One of our stuntmen was killed last night in a freak accident performing a simple (at least they make it seem so simple) stunt. It's a stunt that has been performed literally hundreds of thousands of times over the twenty years of the show. And contrary to the stupid remarks I have read on the Internet, I want those that follow my blog to know that the show hires the best possible people to, not only perform the stunts, but to rehearse these stunts over and over again. Remember, this show has been open for twenty years with high falls, explosions, fire, and any other possible stunt you can think of to excite an audience. After all these years, we are still listed as the most popular stunt show according to a theme park trade magazine.
Don't undermine what a stunt person does or how they are trained. You can say, 'it's in their blood', or 'it's a gift', but the talent, training and sacrifice can't be compared. Unless you've witnessed it first hand, you just don't understand. They are trained professionals that put their body (and their life) on the line during every performance. I wouldn't trade a moment I have spent with the cast of this show. We've worked together on stage for twelve years and more than a handful have worked performing stunts on my films as well as SAG and equity productions. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every member of our cast and to the family of our fallen soldier.
If you know a stunt performer, coordinator, or stand-in, give him or her a hug today. Let them know they're appreciated for making us "oooo and ahhhh" on television, on stage and in the movies.
......And cut!
Don't undermine what a stunt person does or how they are trained. You can say, 'it's in their blood', or 'it's a gift', but the talent, training and sacrifice can't be compared. Unless you've witnessed it first hand, you just don't understand. They are trained professionals that put their body (and their life) on the line during every performance. I wouldn't trade a moment I have spent with the cast of this show. We've worked together on stage for twelve years and more than a handful have worked performing stunts on my films as well as SAG and equity productions. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every member of our cast and to the family of our fallen soldier.
If you know a stunt performer, coordinator, or stand-in, give him or her a hug today. Let them know they're appreciated for making us "oooo and ahhhh" on television, on stage and in the movies.
......And cut!
I'm FIRED!!!!
According to IMDB today, I was replaced as COO of 20th Television by Greg Meidel. Not kidding, go to my IMDB (Bob Cook #1) and the news article has been added to my page. I've been confused before with who I'll call the other Bob Cook and even tried to get it straight. Falling on deaf ears. I can only hope I find work soon.
But I'm on IMDB!!!
Internet Movie Data Base or IMDB.com, as it's called is a resource for movie fans and industry professionals. IMDB is free and the site is paid for with banner ads galore. There is also an IMDB-pro, which most industry professionals subscribe to in order to research actors, producers, directors, and scam artists.
Have you ever tried to fix or add a credit on IMDB? The red tape is frustrating. Our festival had it's own IMDB page but some how got confused with another older festival that died in 1994. I've tried to fix the problem hours at a time but there is no direct contact. No problem solvers. I've had people add names to my films for credits never earned and I've tried to correct them but it falls on deaf ears. This had me searching the IMDB files on almost every title, actor, producer, director and just about every category you can think of looking at their credits.
How does "Uncredited" help an actor's resume? Seriously, you were insignificant enough NOT to receive a credit, why should anyone other than your parents care? Some people just want IMDB credit and they will do anything to get it. I saw a writer/actress with two credits. One was an "Uncredited" role in a film that hadn't received distribution and the other was for a screenplay she optioned to be developed into a feature. However, upon further review, she also wrote the screenplay, which makes everything bogus.
Take a look at the Job Postings and openings on IMDB. Ninety-nine point nine percent of them are "no pay!" What happened to the PRO in IMDB-PRO. Everyone is looking for something for nothing. I had a script sent to me for my consideration as a director. I kind of liked the script. It was a thriller with promise. It needed some work but don't they all. There was no funding in place but she wanted my name on a LOI and for me to recruit any crew or name acting friends, and then write a business plan. When I told her I needed an agreement with a retainer and additional promises for when the film received funding, she said that's not the way it's done. She's twenty-five, I'm fifty-seven and done it twenty times. When did the industry change? Needless to say, that's another film that won't get made. Kids are coming out of film school every semester and they are hungry to work for free. The problem is they don't have the experience or contacts it takes to get a movie made. I'm not talking credit card budgeted films but movies that an audience will be able to say they watched, enjoyed and perhaps even purchased for their library. Festival filmmakers should be commended. They go out, raise money, make their film and hope for the best. The good ones move up an increase their budget next time and the bad ones get to complain how unfair the world is and either try it again or go home and take a job at the local video store or movie theater.
Have you ever "Googled" yourself to see what people are finding out about you? Try it, it's fun. And remember, if I wanted to work for free, I would have started a film festival! Oh, crap, did I say that!
.....and cut!
Have you ever tried to fix or add a credit on IMDB? The red tape is frustrating. Our festival had it's own IMDB page but some how got confused with another older festival that died in 1994. I've tried to fix the problem hours at a time but there is no direct contact. No problem solvers. I've had people add names to my films for credits never earned and I've tried to correct them but it falls on deaf ears. This had me searching the IMDB files on almost every title, actor, producer, director and just about every category you can think of looking at their credits.
How does "Uncredited" help an actor's resume? Seriously, you were insignificant enough NOT to receive a credit, why should anyone other than your parents care? Some people just want IMDB credit and they will do anything to get it. I saw a writer/actress with two credits. One was an "Uncredited" role in a film that hadn't received distribution and the other was for a screenplay she optioned to be developed into a feature. However, upon further review, she also wrote the screenplay, which makes everything bogus.
Take a look at the Job Postings and openings on IMDB. Ninety-nine point nine percent of them are "no pay!" What happened to the PRO in IMDB-PRO. Everyone is looking for something for nothing. I had a script sent to me for my consideration as a director. I kind of liked the script. It was a thriller with promise. It needed some work but don't they all. There was no funding in place but she wanted my name on a LOI and for me to recruit any crew or name acting friends, and then write a business plan. When I told her I needed an agreement with a retainer and additional promises for when the film received funding, she said that's not the way it's done. She's twenty-five, I'm fifty-seven and done it twenty times. When did the industry change? Needless to say, that's another film that won't get made. Kids are coming out of film school every semester and they are hungry to work for free. The problem is they don't have the experience or contacts it takes to get a movie made. I'm not talking credit card budgeted films but movies that an audience will be able to say they watched, enjoyed and perhaps even purchased for their library. Festival filmmakers should be commended. They go out, raise money, make their film and hope for the best. The good ones move up an increase their budget next time and the bad ones get to complain how unfair the world is and either try it again or go home and take a job at the local video store or movie theater.
Have you ever "Googled" yourself to see what people are finding out about you? Try it, it's fun. And remember, if I wanted to work for free, I would have started a film festival! Oh, crap, did I say that!
.....and cut!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Festival "Mud Slinging"
I read the "not so Gala" preview of the Orlando Film Festival, in Roger Moore's online column. I also read the many comments after the article. People pretty much trashed the new downtown Orlando theater, it's service and even the parking. They also didn't like the "Mud Slinging," and "trash talking" about how the Orlando Festival is free and the other larger festivals charge for the same films. I personally don't care, and as long as they don't attack the Central Florida Film Festival. I have little to no opinion about other festivals. Upon investigation, I found only three duplicate screenings between their festival and ours and who cares -- ours is first and we have more than enough premiers.
I like to investigate other festivals but the Orlando Film Festival is in direct competition with AFI's Film Festival and AFM (American Film Market). AFM is where most working filmmakers need to attend. It's in Santa Monica, California and a thousand buyers from all over the world come to watch films presented by over seven hundred distributors. I've been seventeen times to observe my distributor showcase my film and take orders, hoping that in one fell swoop I can receive a return to my investors. Seventeen times since 1985, I've been listening to distributors complain about a slow economy hurting sales. It's only natural, now that it's fashionable to complain about the economy, every distributor will be crying even louder. It's funny, I never hear the buyers crying, except to whine there aren't any good films to purchase. Perhaps if the distributors attended more Indy Festivals around the country, they'd find better product for their buyers.
However, that's for feature films. I guess documentaries and shorts need a place to gather during that time as well....It might as well be Orlando. We've selected almost sixty shorts, a dozen documentaries and another fifteen excellent features (that will make their way to AFM), at the Central Florida Film Festival. Daily tickets are $20 (for an entire day of film watching!), $50.00, for three days or $99.00 for unlimited screenings, seminars and parties/mixers. AFM costs filmmakers $750.00 for a week long pass and the parking, seminars and parties are extra. CENFLO is reasonably priced for movie makers and movie watchers. Take advantage as tickets are on sale as www.CentralFloridaFilmFestival.com. I promise---"You'll get what you pay for!"
....and cut!
I like to investigate other festivals but the Orlando Film Festival is in direct competition with AFI's Film Festival and AFM (American Film Market). AFM is where most working filmmakers need to attend. It's in Santa Monica, California and a thousand buyers from all over the world come to watch films presented by over seven hundred distributors. I've been seventeen times to observe my distributor showcase my film and take orders, hoping that in one fell swoop I can receive a return to my investors. Seventeen times since 1985, I've been listening to distributors complain about a slow economy hurting sales. It's only natural, now that it's fashionable to complain about the economy, every distributor will be crying even louder. It's funny, I never hear the buyers crying, except to whine there aren't any good films to purchase. Perhaps if the distributors attended more Indy Festivals around the country, they'd find better product for their buyers.
However, that's for feature films. I guess documentaries and shorts need a place to gather during that time as well....It might as well be Orlando. We've selected almost sixty shorts, a dozen documentaries and another fifteen excellent features (that will make their way to AFM), at the Central Florida Film Festival. Daily tickets are $20 (for an entire day of film watching!), $50.00, for three days or $99.00 for unlimited screenings, seminars and parties/mixers. AFM costs filmmakers $750.00 for a week long pass and the parking, seminars and parties are extra. CENFLO is reasonably priced for movie makers and movie watchers. Take advantage as tickets are on sale as www.CentralFloridaFilmFestival.com. I promise---"You'll get what you pay for!"
....and cut!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Panhandlers are doing fine!
With a million things on my plate, I took a ride around Orlando to deliver some festival materials and make a few purchases. At one of the off ramps to I-4, I saw a Panhandler begging for money. I thought to myself. "in this economy it's got to be really tough." I pulled over and went to my wallet and asked him "is the economy hurting?" "Are people stiffing you and saying they're broke?" His answer was "It's about the same, man, the cheap ones are always the cheap ones, but I make about the same." I gave him a dollar (hey, didn't want to be considered a 'cheap one') and decided to perform a survey. Four out of five Panhandlers said, 'things were about the same as they've been.' The one that said things were worse, was a little less approachable than the others. I believe bad smelling and ugly looking panhandlers make less than the clean but downtrodden ones.
I did ask two of the panhandlers if they were interested in financing my next movie but they only laughed. Apparently, they've heard about back end deals. Armed with my own survey that the economy isn't as bad as everyone is making it, I continued with my errands. I went to Kinko's (My office away from my office) in Orlando. I went in to purchase two signs. They are called 'Sandwich boards' and are placed outside as an advertising tool. We need two for the film festival. Now remember, I'm not going in to look, or to beg for a handout. I went in to buy two at a quoted price of $40.00. I had stopped in the other day and received the quote from the assistant manager. I said "I would be back" because I had to get the expense approved. I now came back and the manager was off. I was now left with the only person working this side of the Kinko's Sign Shop and he had no idea what the price was and looked for a catalogue. I pointed to the sign in the lobby, which was the same sign the assistant manager showed me last week ($40). He quoted the price from the book as $52.00. I told him what the manager quoted and he left me to go in the back for something (perhaps another book). When he returns, a few minutes later (I figured with the signs), he told me those were bigger. "The more expensive ones?" ....I asked. "No, the smaller ones," was his reply. This made no sense at all. The lack of confidence in his voice gave me the impression he really didn't know the product he was hired to sell. He told me the assistant manager would be back tomorrow at 10:00 am and I should come back. There were no other customers in the store and he let me walk out without purchasing anything!!!! There are two other sign shops on the same street!!!! It's not the economy at all. It's corporate American hiring people for less money that know less, instead of keeping the experienced people that would NEVER let me walk out without buying something I came in to buy.
I went back to the first Panhandlers I spoke with and told him there may be an opening at Kinko's. At least he took the money as he answered my questions! God! If he only could raise money for a film!
......and cut!!
I did ask two of the panhandlers if they were interested in financing my next movie but they only laughed. Apparently, they've heard about back end deals. Armed with my own survey that the economy isn't as bad as everyone is making it, I continued with my errands. I went to Kinko's (My office away from my office) in Orlando. I went in to purchase two signs. They are called 'Sandwich boards' and are placed outside as an advertising tool. We need two for the film festival. Now remember, I'm not going in to look, or to beg for a handout. I went in to buy two at a quoted price of $40.00. I had stopped in the other day and received the quote from the assistant manager. I said "I would be back" because I had to get the expense approved. I now came back and the manager was off. I was now left with the only person working this side of the Kinko's Sign Shop and he had no idea what the price was and looked for a catalogue. I pointed to the sign in the lobby, which was the same sign the assistant manager showed me last week ($40). He quoted the price from the book as $52.00. I told him what the manager quoted and he left me to go in the back for something (perhaps another book). When he returns, a few minutes later (I figured with the signs), he told me those were bigger. "The more expensive ones?" ....I asked. "No, the smaller ones," was his reply. This made no sense at all. The lack of confidence in his voice gave me the impression he really didn't know the product he was hired to sell. He told me the assistant manager would be back tomorrow at 10:00 am and I should come back. There were no other customers in the store and he let me walk out without purchasing anything!!!! There are two other sign shops on the same street!!!! It's not the economy at all. It's corporate American hiring people for less money that know less, instead of keeping the experienced people that would NEVER let me walk out without buying something I came in to buy.
I went back to the first Panhandlers I spoke with and told him there may be an opening at Kinko's. At least he took the money as he answered my questions! God! If he only could raise money for a film!
......and cut!!
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