THE MOONDANCE SPRING 2-FOR-1 SPECIAL OFFER!

 

SPRING IS HERE, AND THE 

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,

TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON, IS OFFERING A SPECIAL DEAL*: 

 ~~~~~ SUBMIT TWO ENTRIES FOR A SINGLE ENTRY FEE! ~~~~~

Now you have TWO great opportunities to win the Moondance! Any combination of genres or media is accepted: 2 films, 2 screenplays, a film & screenplay, a film & original music…and so on.

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

• This 2-for-1  special offer expires on postmark May 31.

If you wish to submit two entries, just note the fee waiver option for your second submission.

WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

NEWS-BLOG: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/blog

SCROLL ON DOWN TO SEE:

• MOONDANCE SUBMISSION INFO • MOONDANCE COMPETITION CATEGORIES • 2014 MOONDANCE FESTIVAL EVENTS • MOONDANCE 2014 FESTIVAL DATES & LOCATION • A MONDANCE ANNOUNCEMENT • A RECOMMENDED BOOK • MOONDANCE SUPPORTS AFRICAN WILDLIFE • SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT + COOL IMAGES • MOONDANCERS WRITE US • ACTING TIPS FROM ROBERT DUVALL • CONTACT US

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

(in order of preference)

1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

2. FILM FREEWAY SUBMISSION SERVICE

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/MoondanceInternationalFilmFestival

3. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

*PLEASE NOTE:

• DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS IN ALL MEDIA ARE WELCOMED & ACCEPTED!

• FINAL SUBMISSION POSTMARK DEADLINE IS JUNE 30th

MOONDANCE COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

• FILMS (SHORTS & FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, NARRATIVE, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS)
• SCREENPLAYS
• FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC
• STAGEPLAYS
• SHORT STORIES
• FILM TRAILERS
• MUSIC VIDEOS
• KID’S FILMS
• TV PILOTS
• RADIO PLAYS
• REALITY TV CONCEPTS (NEW FOR 2014!)
• and more!

~ Click here for more MOONDANCE INFO, GUIDELINES & ENTRY FORM ~

EVENTS AT THE 2014 MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:

• INDIE FILM SCREENINGS! (Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, trailers & music videos)
• PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS!
• PITCH-PANELS FOR WRITERS, FILMMAKERS & COMPOSERS!
• PRODUCTIVE FREE NETORKING PARTIES & EVENTS!
• PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PROS!
• DINNER & A MOVIE EVENT!
• MINGLE WITH CELEBRITY ATTENDEES!
• SPECIAL VIP CELEBRITY FILM, Q&A WITH THE DIRECTOR + PRIVATE RECEPTION
• GALA AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION!
• & more!

2014 Moondance Film Festival dates: September 26, 27, 28,

in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, USA!

The 2014 Moondance International Film Festival’s host hotel & main venue:

Hotel Boulderado

In the heart of downtown: 2115 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Being fearless and bold, the Moondance International Film Festival is where monotonous conformity is considered mediocrity, and extravagant individualism, innovation, uniqueness and experimentation is encouraged, awarded and applauded!

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.” ~ Chinese Proverb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Follow the good path or follow the evil one. To stand at the crossroads may require more strength than you possess.” Heinrich Heine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Holding on to anger, hatred, resentment and a desire for revenge is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone; you are the one who gets burned.” ~ Buddha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 ”We must overcome the notion that we should be regular; it robs you of the chance to be extraordinary.” ~ Uta Hagen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 “We may have found a cure for many of the world’s evils, but we have found no cure for the worst of them all:  the apathy of human beings.” ~ Helen Keller

•apathy (n): indifference, a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or concern. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical and/or physical life and the world, and may lack a sense of purpose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STILL WATERS RUN DEEP RECIPE

INGREDIENT:

One life story

1. Flavor with your experiences

2. Spice it up

3. Stir gently

4. Smile big, breathe deep

5. Relax

~ Serves the entire world!

OF INTEREST:

“BRING ME MY DRAGONS!”

(Op-ed article on “Game of Thrones)

By Maureen Dowd

New York Times, April 6, 2014

“When a flattering adviser warns Cersei, the queen regent, that “knowledge is power,” she makes a feint to cut the man’s throat and then informs him, .”

MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “In the past, I have done well in the Moondance International Film Festival – HALFWAY HOME (2012 Feature Winner), CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: ACCIDENT (2012 TV Spec Winner), and THIS MODERN MAN IS BEAT (2012 Short Script Semi-finalist). Currently, my short film is in pre-production with Alex Merkin directing (Adrian Grenier, Britney Murphy, Terrence Howard, Peter Fonda, Queen Latifah), and Jordi Vilasuso playing the lead role (AMC, Emmy). Good luck with the Moondance IFF!  Maybe this is the year to come to Colorado.” ~ David J Schroeder, screenwriter

• “I will be in the Boulder area at the end of September, so I will make it a point to attend the festival. I look forward to it very much!” ~ Richard Sherman, actor & storyboard artist

• “It’s a GREAT Festival.  I won an award there twice. Once for a screenplay, a comedy, and once for a short story.  The Festival is excellent, very well run and Elizabeth English really helps the screenwriters.” ~ Lorna Kanter, screenwriter, artist

• “This event gives the attendees the wide range of opportunities to network and excel .. “.True happiness involves the full use of one’s power and talents.” ~ John W. Gardner, LinkedIn Entertainment Industry Group

ACTING TIPS FROM ROBERT DUVALL:

“The key to acting is simple: Just prepare yourself as best you can, and by the time you start, you’ve just gotta throw all that out the window. Just talk and listen, and listen and talk, just like we’re doing right now. Because for me, that’s the beginning and the end of it, acting is talking and listening. Very simple, but if you do it purely, if you do it purely, and don’t cheat it, it’ll lead you to good surprises emotionally.”~ Robert Duvall, (at the 2014 SXSW conference)

RECOMMENDED BOOK:

“Secrets of Breaking into the Film and TV Business:

Tools and Tricks for Today’s Directors, Writers, and Actors”

by Dean Silvers

Only $12.95 @ amazon.com

A highly successful, award-winning producer shares his funny, practical, and innovative approach to breaking into film or television, whether you want to direct, act, write, or produce. “This book will make you want to follow your dreams, and will give you the courage and tools you need to do so.”

 • Editor’s note: Dean Silvers has been invited to give a workshop at Moondance!

 MOONDANCE SUPPORTS AFRICAN WILDLIFE:

For 10 years, I have been trying to bring awareness about the dangers of deforestation and the direct link between illegal logging and wildlife poaching. If you believe, as I do, that we are at a crossroads in our society where we can no longer ignore the facts that we’re destroying our planet’s ecosystems, then please join me in helping to spread this important message. My company is developing a movie and webseries about these crises. We are trying to raise $250,000 on INDIEGOGO to produce the webseries and we need your help. Time is running out.

 Please become an advocate. If you can contribute, wonderful. If not, at the very least, help spread the word to visit our page and make a contribution (link is below). We have great perks at various levels, literally starting at $1. And as with any crowd-funding campaign, it is a numbers game. So take a few moments and visit the page. You will be helping with a noble cause and a great film! Thank you for your attention. LINK: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-lion-inside-webisode-series. Regards, Jim Branchflower, President, ECO Films, LLC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WCS Run for the Wild

Sneakers, kicks, tennis shoes – whatever you call them – they’re itching to be put to use for elephants! Sign up as a virtual runner for the WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY  Run for the Wild and join thousands of elephant-lovers on Saturday, April 26, by running or walking around town, at the gym, or even another 5K! You’ll get the chance to win incredible prizes – all while making an elephant-sized difference for wildlife! When you raise $30, you’ll receive our t-shirt; raise more to earn great fundraising prizes! REGISTER HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WILD GIRAFFES ARE IN TROUBLE ALL OVER AFRICA!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, & join our networking connections at the MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL GROUP on LinkedIn.com!

 ~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog! ~~

Please forward this news-blog on to your friends & colleagues!

 

EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

---

---

MOONDANCE MARCH NEWS & SPRINGTIME CELEBRATION!

SPRING IS IN THE AIR, AND THE

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL,

TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON, IS LOOKING FORWARD TO PREVIEWING YOUR FILM,

ORIGINAL MUSIC, FILM SCORE, OR WRITTEN PROJECT! 

SCROLL ON DOWN TO SEE:

• SUBMISSION INFO
• A MOONDANCE ANNOUNCEMENT
• MOONDANCE COMPETITION CATEGORIES
• 2014 MOONDANCE FESTIVAL EVENTS
• MOONDANCE 2014 FESTIVAL DATES & LOCATION
• MOONDANCE NEWS
• MOONDANCERS WRITE US
• SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT + IMAGES
• MOONDANCE SUPPORTS & RECOMMENDS

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:
(in order of preference)

1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

•

2. FILM FREEWAY SUBMISSION SERVICE

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/MoondanceInternationalFilmFestival

•
3. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

*PLEASE NOTE: SINCE I PERSONALLY PREVIEW AND JUDGE ALL ENTRIES, I PREFER TO PREVIEW SUBMITTED FILMS ON DVDs OR BLU-RAY, TO READ SCREENPLAYS IN HARDCOPY, AND TO LISTEN TO MUSIC ON CDS (OR AS A FILM SCORE ON DVD), RATHER THAN AS DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS.

MOONDANCE COMPETITION CATEGORIES: • FILMS (SHORTS & FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, NARRATIVE, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS)
• SCREENPLAYS
• FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC
• STAGEPLAYS
• SHORT STORIES
• FILM TRAILERS
• MUSIC VIDEOS
• KID’S FILMS
• TV PILOTS
• RADIO PLAYS
• and more!

~ Click here for more MOONDANCE INFO, GUIDELINES & ENTRY FORM ~

EVENTS AT THE 2014 MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:

• INDIE FILM SCREENINGS! (Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, trailers & music videos)
• PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS!
• PITCH-PANELS FOR WRITERS, FILMMAKERS & COMPOSERS!
• PRODUCTIVE FREE NETORKING PARTIES & EVENTS!
• PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PROS!
• DINNER & A MOVIE EVENT!
• MINGLE WITH CELEBRITY ATTENDEES!
• GALA AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION!
• & more!

2014 Moondance Film Festival dates: September 26, 27, 28,
in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, USA!

A MOONDANCE ANNOUNCEMENT:

BEING FEARLESS, MOONDANCE IS WHERE MONOTONOUS CONFORMITY IS CONSIDERED MEDIOCRITY, AND EXTRAVAGANT INDIVIDUALISM, INNOVATION, UNIQUENESS AND EXPERIMENTATION IS ENCOURAGED, AWARDED AND APPLAUDED!

Join the world’s fastest growing 
film festival submissions platform! Easily submit to hundreds of film festivals and 
contests all over the world. FilmFreeway is always 100% free for filmmakers and screenwriters. No tricky paid add-ons or upgrades. We built FilmFreeway for you. Crystal Clear Online Screeners, Free Vimeo and YouTube Integration, Safe and Secure, User-Friendly Technology, Mobile Ready, Real Customer Service, & You Own 100% of Your Rights! SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT TO MOONDANCE @ FILM FREEWAY

MOONDANCE NEWS:

• Four of the most respected and sought-after storytelling and screenwriting teachers in the world are John Truby, Christopher Vogler, Linda Seger and Michael Hauge, who, together have sold over 1,000,000 books, spoken to over 350,000 people, and traveled to more than 40 countries…and now one of them, Linda Seger (http://www.lindaseger.com), famed “script doctor”, will be presenting 3 workshops at Moondance 2014! (And Michael Hauge (http://www.storymastery.com) has been invited, too.) Updates on other professional entertainment workshop presenters and pitch-panelists will be forthcoming. Stay tuned!

Top Women’s Film Festivals
by Madeline Wickman (AKA Sophie Kinsella)

• “Moondance International Film Festival – This festival stays true to their original goal to present films and writing which successfully raise awareness about a variety of vital social issues. Besides their feminist initiatives, other objectives include educating writers, filmmakers, and film festival audiences, and inspiring them to take action upon this knowledge. Moondance uses this entertainment media to stimulate social and environmental change. Having initially started to widen the knowledge of the hardships women face, as the festival has matured, it has also expanded the social issues it promotes.” READ MORE

MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “I am a recent graduate of the directing program at the American Film Institute Conservatory. I am eager to submit my thesis film to the Moondance International Film Festival because it is well known for supporting emerging filmmakers and providing a platform for culture diversity in cinema. As a Chinese filmmaker who attended universities and lived overseas, I was exposed to and understand different cultures. I hope to convey this understanding through the cinematic expression of my films. It would be a tremendous honor for me to premiere my work at your prestigious festival. I recently received an email from the Festival de Cannes informing my film has been accepted for its Short Film Corner.” Sincerely, ~ Quan Zhou

• “While searching for festivals most welcoming of the type of film I created, I came across Moondance, and I was immediately impressed. “Honoring filmmakers, writers, and composers who actively increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, and address complex social issues” is a mission statement that closely resembles the motivations behind me making my film, both in story and in craft.” ~ Mike McAleer

• “I looked up your festival, and appreciate your emphasis on social issues and also women moviemakers (one of my previous movies was written by veteran writer, Ann Marcus, who is considered a pioneer woman in television. She also won an Emmy for creating a show called ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ with Norman Lear). I think you have a wonderful festival.” Nat Christian, www.newyolktimes.com

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose. Before one can do so, one has to first forget all the roses that were ever painted.” ~ Henri Matisse (editor’s note: one can extrapolate this concept to also be applicable to all the creative arts; film, writing, music & etc.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE WAYSEER MANIFESTO
(An inspiring video)
“Comfort the disturbed & disturb the comfortable. You have found your tribe. Welcome home!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPR3GlpQQJA

The Wayseers’ burgeoning new movement
is full of revolutionaries, geniuses, free-spirits and pioneers.
http://www.wayseers.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look as if they cannot be done.” Arnold Palmer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“If my music aims to achieve anything, it’s to deliver people from the limited ways in which they see and feel.” ~ Jim Morrison, The Doors

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others to show them how well you do what you do.” – Walt Disney

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’d move to Los Angeles only if New Zealand and Australia were swallowed by a tidal wave, if there was bubonic plague in Europe, and if the continent of Africa disappeared from a Martian attack.” ~ Russell Crowe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ~ Rachel Carson, author, “Silent Spring”

MOONDANCE SUPPORTS & RECOMMENDS:

African Wildlife • Smithsonian • Wildlife Conservation • Rainforest Alliance • Nature Conservancy • National Wildlife Federation • World Wildlife Fund • Defenders of Wildlife • Greenpeace USA • National Audubon Society • Habitat Conservation • Save the Dolphins & Whales ~ and many more!

MORE INFO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species

• Extinct: Atlas bear, aurochs, Bali tiger, blackfin cisco, Caribbean monk seal, Carolina parakeet, Caspian tiger, dodo, dusky seaside sparrow, eastern cougar, elephant bird, golden toad, great auk, Haast’s eagle, Japanese sea lion, Javan tiger, labrador duck, moa, passenger pigeon, pterosaurs, saber-toothed cat, Schomburgk’s deer, short-faced bear, Steller’s sea cow, thylacine, toolache wallaby, western black rhinoceros, woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros.

• Extinct in the wild: captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population. Examples: Barbary lion (maybe extinct), Catarina pupfish, Hawaiian crow, Père David’s deer, Scimitar oryx, Socorro dove, Wyoming toad

• Critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Examples: addax, African wild ass, Alabama cavefish, Amur leopard, Arakan forest turtle, Asiatic cheetah, axolotl, bactrian camel, Brazilian merganser, brown spider monkey, California condor, Chinese alligator, Chinese giant salamander, gharial, Hawaiian monk seal, Iberian lynx, Island fox, Javan rhino, kakapo, leatherback sea turtle, Mediterranean monk seal, Mexican wolf (now extinct in the wild), mountain gorilla, Northern hairy-nosed wombat, Philippine eagle, red wolf, saiga, Siamese crocodile, Spix’s macaw, southern bluefin tuna, Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran rhinoceros, vaquita, Yangtze river dolphin, northern white rhinoceros,Asiatic Lion

• Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples: African penguin, African wild dog, Asian elephant, blue whale, bonobo, Bornean orangutan, common chimpanzee, dhole, eastern lowland gorilla, Ethiopian wolf, hispid hare, giant otter, giant panda, Goliath frog, green sea turtle, Grevy’s zebra, hyacinth macaw, Japanese crane, Lear’s macaw, Malayan tapir, markhor, Persian leopard, proboscis monkey, pygmy hippopotamus, red-breasted goose, Rothschild’s giraffe, snow leopard, Steller’s sea lion, Scopas tang, Takhi, tiger, Vietnamese pheasant, volcano rabbit, wild water buffalo

• Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term. Examples: African grey parrot, African elephant (with recent poaching threats, may increase to Endangered), American paddlefish, common carp, clouded leopard, cheetah,Chinese giant salamander, dugong, far eastern curlew, fossa, Galapagos tortoise, gaur, blue-eyed cockatoo, golden hamster, whale shark, crowned crane, hippopotamus, Humboldt penguin, Indian rhinoceros, Komodo dragon, lesser white-fronted goose, lion, mandrill, maned sloth, mountain zebra, polar bear, red panda, sloth bear, takin, yak

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A WORLD WHERE EVERY WHALE AND DOLPHIN IS SAFE AND FREE
http://adopt-us.whales.org

“No one knows why dolphins protect humans, but stories of the marine mammals rescuing humans go back to ancient Greece, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. A surfer named Todd Endris, was hit three times by a great white shark and was facing likely death, when a pod of dolphins suddenly arrived and formed a protective circle around him until he got to shore. It seemed like the dolphins had been patrolling for trouble. If the dolphins hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have survived…” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Death Sentence For Yellowstone’s Bison?

In harsh winters like this one, Yellowstone’s bison — the last genetically pure wild bison in the country – naturally migrate outside the park in a desperate search for food, where the National Park Service rounds them up and ships them off to slaughter. More than 250 wild bison, symbols of the American West, have already been killed this year.

Bison are historical icons of the American West, integral to American Indian life and cherished by generations of Yellowstone visitors. James Holt, a member of the Nez Perce tribe who has worked tirelessly to protect bison, put it best: “It does them a disservice and is a disrespect to them that they are being treated in this manner.”

But there is hope — there are hundreds of thousands of acres of available public land next to Yellowstone that are part of the bison’s natural habitat. Last year, state agencies released a historic proposal to grant them access to that land. It’s time for the governor to listen to science, history, and the grassroots — not campaigns of misinformation and fear. Send your message and tell Governor Bullock to protect Yellowstone’s bison by allowing them access to public lands! ~ Ashley Allison, Senior Sierra Club Campaigner

VIDEO: BETTY WHITE & MORGAN FREEMAN AT THE AFI TRIBUTE:

Worth the few minutes to lift the spirit! They don’t make ‘em like this anymore…If you don’t do anything else today — Watch This! Betty White is 90+ years old. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=b4S7T05zTqY

Please like us on Facebook & Twitter, & join our networking connections at the
MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL GROUP
on LinkedIn.com!

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog! ~~

EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

---

---

MOONDANCE MARCHES ON! PLEASE JOIN US!

 

“The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless & free your actions will be.”
- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

SCROLL ON DOWN TO READ ABOUT:

• MOONDANCE 2014 SUBMISSIONS & CATEGORIES

• MOONDANCE 2014 FESTIVAL EVENTS

• MOONDANCERS WRITE US

• SUGGESTION FOR SCREENWRITERS

• SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

• MOONDANCE SUPPORTS & RECOMMENDS

• IN MEMORIAM: WU TIANMING

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2014

Open for submissions!

MOONDANCE COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

• • FILMS (SHORTS & FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, NARRATIVE, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS)
• • SCREENPLAYS
• • FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC
• • STAGEPLAYS
• • SHORT STORIES
• • FILM TRAILERS
• • MUSIC VIDEOS
• • KID’S FILMS
• • TV PILOTS
• • RADIO PLAYS
• • and more!

~ Click here for more MOONDANCE INFO, GUIDELINES & ENTRY FORM ~

EVENTS AT THE 2014 MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:

• • INDIE FILM SCREENINGS! (Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, trailers & music videos)
• • PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS!
• • PITCH-PANELS FOR WRITERS, FILMMAKERS & COMPOSERS!
• • PRODUCTIVE FREE NETORKING PARTIES & EVENTS!
• • PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PROS!
• • MINGLE WITH CELEBRITY ATTENDEES!
• • GALA AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION!
• • & more!

* The winning projects at Moondance 2014, in every category, are selected from all submissions received, from the US and many different countries, for their uniqueness, quality, artistic excellence, accomplished storytelling, professionalism, and cultural perspective.

 Moondance Film Festival dates: September 26, 27, 28, 

in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, USA!

* ALL FILM SCREENINGS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS AT MOONDANCE ARE AFFORDABLE, WELCOMING, ECO-FRIENDLY GREEN, ACCESSIBLE, USER-FRIENDLY, AND THERE IS NO GENERAL FESTIVAL FEE TO ATTEND! COME ENJOY OUR UNIQUE EVENTS, WHERE ALL ARE TREATED EQUALLY, AND EVERYONE IS A V.I.P.! Tickets will be on sale in August.

• True to the spirit of the best of entertaining, important and meaningful films, professional workshops & seminars, pitch-panels, networking events, and so on, Moondance is supported and attended by those people who value the very best in top-quality films, as well as the Moondance mission, and share a passion for the power of great films, stories & music to entertain, enlighten, inspire, encourage, educate and challenge peoples’ perceptions. Moondance is working with the US & international entertainment industry, and with celebrity advocates, helping connect our audiences to vital global issues, so, we thank you wholeheartedly for helping to make all of this possible!

Check out the Moondance Mission.

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

(in order of preference)

1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

•

2. FILM FREEWAY SUBMISSION SERVICE

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/MoondanceInternationalFilmFestival

•

3. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

 

MOONDANCERS WRITE US:

• “Great newsletter!!! Always!! You are really so good at what you do! Your hints and info to screenwriters are always so welcome and helpful. You should get accolades from all who enter Moondance for that alone.” ~ Lorna Kanter, New Jersey screenwriter & artist

 • “Thank you for the wonderful information and insight that you put into the festival blog. It’s such a joy to have people in the world who value and share the beauty around us. I’m so glad we found you. I just wanted to thank you so much again for your honesty and time. A few times in a life, you’re exposed to something that sticks with you from that point forward, and your advice (about our film) has fallen into that category. I’ve made significant changes to the film over this last year, with your words always in the back of my mind: a great deal more visuals, and a great deal fewer talking heads. Again, thank you so much, I’ll always be in your debt.” ~ Heather Spencer, Mission Possible Films, Hawaii 

• “That is so cool about the mission of Moondance! We are in the process of developing new projects right now but I’ll look forward to submitting to your fest one of these days, for sure!” ~ David Stone, Intrigue Films, Scottsdale, Arizona

SCREENWRITERS: A SUGGESTION:

To make sure your submissions to film festivals, writing competitions and production companies in the USA are seen as professionally-written and presented, this is what you need, in solid brass (not brass-plated), for submitting scripts: Acco Solid Brass Fasteners, 1 1/4 Inch Capacity, 100 Count, (A7071505) #6, AND ACCO Brass Washers, 15/32″, Box of 100 (71511) The washers go on the back side of the script. Both items are also available at Office Max, or by special order through the store.

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“The world is a mirror; growl at it, and it growls in return. Smile, and the world smiles back at you.” ~ Herbert Samuel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 “Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth. Set down as a gain each day that fortune grants.” ~ Eudora Welty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 “There are three points of view from which a writer can be considered: he (or she) may be considered as a storyteller, as a teacher, and as an enchanter. A major writer combines these three — storyteller, teacher, enchanter — but it is the enchanter in him (or her) that predominates and makes him (or her) a major writer.” ~ Vladimir Nabokov (parentheses by the editor)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”~ Anaïs Nin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What’s in a name? Everything — the seed, the germ of a new life, given to us by those who bring us into this world, with all their hopes and expectations. And…a name is ours to fill as we choose…” ~ Dominique Browning, Slow Love Life

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I believe in the power of film. Empowerment and motivation of Native peoples drive me to create. Films are stories and stories are teaching tool for the way you live your life. This art form will take us into the future, help us to make sense of this difficult time in our history, and give the People the power to reclaim and re-represent our histories to the world, more importantly, to ourselves.” ~ Ryan Begay, Native American filmmaker, New Mexico

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 “Inspiration is for amateurs – the rest of us just show up and get to work!” ~ Chuck Close

 

MOONDANCE SUPPORTS & RECOMMENDS:

http://www.internationalwomensday.com

 A global hub for sharing International Women’s Day news, events and resources. Women’s equality has made positive gains, but the world is still unequal. International Women’s Day celebrates the social, political and economic achievements of women while focusing world attention on areas requiring further action. The vast array of communication channels, supportive spokespeople, equality research, campaigns and corporate responsibility initiatives means everyone can be an advocate inspiring change for women’s advancement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 “Boots on the ground for nature conservation!”

http://lifenetnature.org

LIFE NET NATURE is a non-profit organization that protects wildlife and recovers endangered species by creating natural areas, engaging citizens in monitoring biodiversity, and by implementing science and policy initiatives. Life Net volunteers apply ecology and community-based conservation in biodiversity hotspots in Ecuador, Kenya, Chile, and parts of the USA.

We invite people who are (or wish to be) active in conservation to volunteer with us or to support our work via donations. An all-volunteer organization, Life Net balances the aspirations of local people with nature preservation to sustain biological diversity. MAASAI WALKING SAFARI VIDEO 2012

You can learn more about environmental works, needs & successes in Dr. Povilitis’ important book, “ Slipping Through Our Hands: Imperiled Species of the San Juan Mountains” of Colorado & New Mexico. This illustrated paperback book is a guide to endangered and vulnerable wildlife of the San Juan Mountains, San Juan Basin, and San Luis Valley of Colorado and New Mexico. It includes: profiles of 110 animal and plant species, information on habitat and threats, & conservation measures for wildlife advocates. Slipping Through Our Hands makes a great companion to standard animal and plant field guides. Purchase it here, for only $6 a copy, while supporting the organization and their international environmental work!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STREET ART CINEMA

How does Street Art pays tribute to Cinema? Discover the History of the 7th Art through the eyes of Urban Artists. http://www.streetartcinema.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

www.eileenfisher.com

Our environmental initiative is a company priority, involving changes big and small—from developing eco materials and supporting renewable energy to recycling clothing. It’s a commitment to our belief in honoring the earth and its connection to our well-being. By seeking the best practices throughout the lifecycle of our products, we are creating healthier environments for farmers, supply chain workers and future generations. We hope you will join us as our sustainability journey deepens—and grows. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

www.sustainableman.org

A sustainable world must be built from sustainable values. The vision for Sustainable Man aims to create multi-media (videos, articles, graphics) content that both counter the mainstream messages that reinforce separation and consumption and illustrate other ways of doing things aligned with the sustainable values from which we wish to form a more compassionate, empathetic civilization.

• WATCH “HOW WOLVES CHANGE RIVERS” SHORT VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

&…the fascinating & erudite brainpickings.org newsletter.

IN MEMORIAM:

Wu Tianming, Film Director, 1939-2014

 

 Wu Tianming, the acclaimed Chinese director and former head of the influential Xi’an Film Studios, on location in China.

Wu Tianming, known for his fame as a film director and esteemed mentor. For his outstanding contributions to Chinese cinema, he received many honors both from China and internationally. As the manager (and later president) of Xi’an Film Studios, he oversaw production of many renowned films. His own efforts as a film director have earned him many international awards and accolade. Known as the “Godfather of the Fifth Generation,” Wu directed several celebrated films that reshaped Chinese cinema, including The Old Well (1986) and The King of Masks (1996). These films, along with Life (1984), CEO (2002) and his final feature, Song of the Phoenix (2013), earned praise by critics around the world. His films were simple, resilient and full of humanity.

 As he was gaining stature as a filmmaker, Wu was offered the position of head of Xi’an Film Studios in the early 1980s. As the youngest person to head the studio, he fostered a creative environment for “Fifth Generation” directors. Filmmakers mentored by Wu went on to create such global critical and commercial hits as Raise the Red Lantern, Farewell My Concubine, House of Flying Daggers and Hero, among others.

 Please join our 5000+ networking connections at the popular

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL GROUP

on LinkedIn.com!

How many times Moondance has appeared in LinkedIn searches in just one recent week: 2,663. Moondance has one of the top 1% most-viewed LinkedIn profiles! Moondance now has over 5000+ opt-in connections on LinkedIn! Please consider joining the Moondance International Film Festival networking group there, too. Check us out on, linkedin.com, the professional international networking website!

 Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog! 

Please pass this blog along to colleagues & friends!

 

 EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

 * If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

 

 

 

---

---

READ THIS: THE 2014 MOONDANCE WANTS YOU!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COME JOIN US! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We sincerely hope you’ll consider submitting your film, script, story, and/or music project to the 2014 MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL competition, and plan to attend 3 days & nights of the gala film festival events, September 26, 27, 28, 2014, in beautiful Boulder, Colorado USA. / Colorado INFO.

OK, there’s no ocean here, but Boulder has lots of lovely wild & scenic hiking trails, mountain climbing, river rafting, wildflower meadows, dude ranches, biking & horseback trails, nearby historic gold-mining towns & steam-engine railroad trips, great nightlife, buffalo herds, fabulous dining, national parks, and not to mention fantastic trout fishing in mountain lakes and icy streams roaring down from our glaciers. Like mountain climbing? There are 50 “fourteeners” (14,000’ high mountain peaks) in the USA, and Colorado has 49 of them! Check out a virtual edition of the 2013 Official Colorado Virtual Guide here, & sign up for the e-newsletter, or download our Colorado iPad App here.

VIEW FROM BOULDER’S HISTORIC CHAUTAUQUA PARK

(just 2 blocks from the Moondance office & less than a  mile from downtown!)

MOONDANCE COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

• FILMS (SHORTS & FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, NARRATIVE, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS)
• SCREENPLAYS
• FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC
• STAGEPLAYS
• SHORT STORIES
• FILM TRAILERS
• MUSIC VIDEOS
• KID’S FILMS
• TV PILOTS
• RADIO PLAYS
• and more!

MOONDANCE AWARDS CATEGORIES:

• SPIRIT OF MOONDANCE AWARD
• MOONDANCE SEAHORSE AWARD
• MOONDANCE COLUMBINE AWARD
• MOONDANCE DOLPHIN AWARD
• MOONDANCE SANDCASTLE AWARD
• MOONDANCE GAIA AWARD
• & more!

EVENTS AT THE 2014 MOONDANCE FILM FESTIVAL:

• INDIE FILM SCREENINGS! (Features, shorts, documentaries, animation, trailers & music videos)
• PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS!
• PITCH-PANELS FOR WRITERS, FILMMAKERS & COMPOSERS!
• PRODUCTIVE FREE NETORKING PARTIES & EVENTS!
• PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PROS!
• MINGLE WITH CELEBRITY ATTENDEES!
• GALA AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION!
• & more!

ALL FILM SCREENINGS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS AT MOONDANCE ARE AFFORDABLE, WELCOMING, ECO-FRIENDLY GREEN, ACCESSABLE, USER-FRIENDLY, AND THERE IS NO GENERAL FESTIVAL FEE TO ATTEND! COME ENJOY OUR UNIQUE EVENTS, WHERE ALL ARE TREATED EQUALLY, AND EVERYONE IS A V.I.P.! Tickets will be on sale in August.

True to the spirit of the best of entertaining, important and meaningful films, professional workshops & seminars, pitch-panels, networking events, and so on, Moondance is supported and attended by those people who value the very best in top-quality films, as well as the Moondance mission, and share a passion for the power of great films, stories & music to entertain, enlighten, inspire, encourage, educate and challenge peoples’ perceptions. Moondance is working with the US & international entertainment industry, and with celebrity advocates, helping connect our audiences to vital global issues. Check out the Moondance Mission.

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

(in order of preference)


1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

•

2. FILM FREEWAY SUBMISSION SERVICE

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/MoondanceInternationalFilmFestival

•

3. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

FINAL POSTMARK DEADLINE FOR REGULAR SUBMISSIONS:

JUNE 30, 2014

…but don’t wait until the last minute! Send in your submission now!

READ THESE INFORMATIVE MOONDANCE E-ZINE ARTICLES HERE!

• 21 Suggestions to Better Your Chances of Winning Screenplay Competitions
• 23 Ways to Get Your Screenplay Rejected
• Titles & Loglines: 25 Words Open the Door
• Character & Characterization In Screenplays
• The Field of Dreams: Conflict as Metaphor
• How to Get an Agent

A MOONDANCER WRITES US:

“I would like to thank Moondance for the sponsored Inktip.com subscription. As well, I’d like to share some news: MovieBytes.com has identified GRACE as one of the top ten winning scripts for 2103 in three different categories. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I discovered this!” http://www.moviebytes.com/ws/ ~ Lynda Lemberg, Moondance winner for GRACE, feature screenplay

SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

“A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water always shapes itself to the container that holds it.” ~ Ancient Chinese Proverb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 “Nothing is so contagious as an example. We rarely do great good without bringing about more of the same on the part of others.” ~ La Rochfoucauld

“Do not be too quick to fabricate an injurious rumor, to falsely accuse, or lay unfair blame; speak always as though you were giving testimony before the judgment of your God.” ~ Anonymous

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Love really IS the answer! Nothing else, not controlling, nor bullying, nor cajoling, nor whining, nor blaming, nor any other means of self-protection or self-seeking, is as effective in attaining happiness as is the act of loving with an open-heart. Love is the key to a happy life – but you’ve got to give it in order to get it.” ~ Lynne Forrest (edited)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Freedom is that brief instant between when someone tells you that you must do something and when you decide how you will respond.” ~ Jeffrey Borenstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” ~ Anonymous

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS:

A LIST OF UPCOMING GRANTS FOR FILMMAKERS

 filmcontact.com

 To give everyone more time to work on your films and scripts and a little less time researching how to fund them find relevant opportunities for your narrative films, documentaries, and screenplays, with deadlines for applying for these grants. READ MORE: http://www.filmcontact.com/africa/south-africa/list-upcoming-grants-filmmakers

Movie Nation: The Numbers Behind Our Obsession

While the movie industry might be complaining lately about a lack of DVD sales due to piracy, Americans still attend cinema more often than several other popular entertainment options, including sporting events. We look at the numbers behind our movie obsession, including the cost of making movies, the cost of attending. Take a look: http://www.superscholar.org/movies/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amazon.com book listing (Audio CD)

Richard Miller, PhD, author

Yoga nidra or “yogi sleep” is a sleep-like state which yogis report to experience during their meditations. Yoga nidra, lucid sleeping is among the deepest possible states of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness. Lucid dreaming is the Western term used to denote a practice similar to yoga nidra. The distinguishing difference is the degree to which one remains cognizant of the actual physical environment as opposed to a dream environment. In lucid dreaming, one is only (or mainly) cognizant of the dream environment, and have little or no awareness of our actual environment.

The practice of yoga relaxation has been found to reduce tension and anxiety. The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety such as headache, giddiness, chest pain, palpitations, sweating and abdominal pain respond well. It has been used to help soldiers from war cope with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_nidra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a goal of providing the most accurate and up-to-date news and information available, MOTHER NATURE NETWORK covers the broadest scope of environmental news and social responsibility issues on the internet. And, we do so in a way that is engaging and easy-to-understand. MNN is designed for people who want to make our world a better place. Just as your world encompasses many different aspects—your family, your health, your lifestyle, your business, your community, AND your planet, so too does MNN. Every day offers a wide range of opportunities to improve your world, and MNN is here to help keep you informed. Join the MNN community and connect with others who share your interests and passions. http://www.mnn.com

Please join our 5000+ networking connections at the popular

MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL GROUP

on LinkedIn.com!   

• How many times Moondance has appeared in LinkedIn searches in just one recent week: 2,663. Moondance has one of the top 1% most-viewed LinkedIn profiles! Moondance now has over 5000+ opt-in connections on LinkedIn! Please consider joining the Moondance International Film Festival networking group there, too.

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog!  ~~

EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

 

 

---

---

A MOONDANCE SPECIAL TRIBUTE & NEWS

 C o m e   s w i m   w i t h   t h e   M e r m a i d s !

S C R O L L  O N  D O W N  T O  S E E : 

• CALL-FOR-ENTRIES SUBMISSION INFO
• A MOONDANCER WRITES US
• SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
• A TRIBUTE TO MOONDANCER, DONNA LISA

Send in your submission now, and plan to attend the

2014 Moondance International Film Festival

in beautiful Boulder, Colorado!

 

M O O N D A N C E   2 0 1 4   S U B M I S S I O N S   I N F O :

COMPETITION CATEGORIES: films, (shorts & features, documentaries, narrative, animation), music videos, screenplays, film scores & original music, stageplays, short stories, TV pilots, radio plays, and more!

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

(in order of preference)


1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

2. FILM FREEWAY SUBMISSION SERVICE

https://filmfreeway.com/festival/MoondanceInternationalFilmFestival

•

3. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

FINAL POSTMARK DEADLINE FOR REGULAR SUBMISSIONS:

JUNE 30, 2014

…but don’t wait until the last minute! Send in your submission now!

PLEASE READ & SUBSCRIBE TO THE MOONDANCE NEWS BLOG NOW: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/blog

A  M O O N D A N C E R   W R I T E S   U S :

“Your non-violence statement (in your previous blog) is wonderful, and needs to be said. For anyone who does not believe that the violence depicted in film has made a definite impression and influence upon society has only to read the daily newspapers. We have all become victims of a violent society. Thank you for doing a really special and un-selfish job of getting your wonderful message out to the public.” ~ Lorna Kanter, Moondance screenplay finalist & artist

S O M E   T H I N G S   T O   T H I N K   A B O U T :

“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” ~ Joseph Campbell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last; the spring rains will come again.” ~ Sarah Breathnach

A  T R I B U T E   T O  D O N N A   L I S A  4  K I D S : 

Moondance has sadly lost a good friend. Screenwriter-songwriter and 7-time Moondance award-winner over the years, Donna Lisa Rothstein, was recently struck by a car in New Jersey, along with her husband, and she passed away a few days later. Such a sad, tragic and unfortunate loss. She will be greatly missed by many, but her legacy will continue on. Please visit her website at: www.donnalisa.com

Donna was a very special friend of mine and of the Moondance, and we spent many happy and productive hours together. Her talent, kindness, generosity and love for all kids will always shine brightly, and will continue to inspire others.

My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and her many fans. ~Elizabeth

DONNA LISA’S MOONDANCE AWARDS:

“Kheng Kheng Crocodile” (Family Screenplay & title song)

“Koompa and His Crocodile” (TV
 Pilot for Kids) 

The June Bug” – (TV Pilot for Kids)

“Wheels” (TV Pilot for Kids)

“Bat Cat and Bitsy” (TV Pilot Scripts for Kids)

“Toucan You Can!” (Family Screenplay – Animation)

“Toucans of the Amazon” (Feature Screenplays for Kids)

“The playful quality of Donna’s songwriting & screenplays invite children to share an adventure with her. She takes youngsters on a whimsical journey and they eagerly respond by singing her catchy melodies and tapping into their own imaginations. These tunes & stories engage children and allow them to sing along. Donna’s lyrics & writings are informative
, and stimulate questions and learning. Donna’s lyrics paint memorable pictures of animals, places, imaginary characters and activities that intrigue children. Donna Lisa’s nurturing music is perfect for children and parents alike. Her themes and lyrics are so upbeat and enjoyable, they keep you humming the tunes long after hearing them. Donna was a contributing singer/songwriter and A&R Coordinator for “Playful Journeys to Grow On,” a compilation, children’s CD that will benefit The United Way.” (text excerpted & edited from Donna Lisa’s website)

DONNA LISA’S MOONDANCE TESTIMONIAL:

I will always be grateful to Moondance and Elizabeth English for giving me ongoing support and encouragement. I have submitted my writing to Moondance for the past few years. I still remember the first year I entered. I was unsure about the process. Elizabeth patiently explained things and gave me extra time to send in my submission. Each year I entered, I was recognized, affirmed, and given very helpful guidance. I love the fact that the festival makes a special effort to acknowledge the work of women. Moondance offers more awards, in more categories, than almost anyone.

When I attended the Moondance Film Festival, it was an enriching experience. I met writers, directors, filmmakers, producers, and musicians from all over the world. I enjoyed the workshops, the special events, the variety of new films, the consultations, the networking parties, and the awards ceremony. The heart of the festival was, and is, Elizabeth. She’s firm, direct, and very knowledgeable. Elizabeth has a way of nurturing creative people and making each of them feel important. Elizabeth has been a mentor to me and many other writers. She has gone out of her way to give me advice and has helped me make some significant connections.

I really can’t say enough positive things about Moondance and Elizabeth. I highly recommend the Moondance International Film Festival, and contest, to anyone in the creative/entertainment arts. ~ Donna Lisa, January, 2011

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog.  ~~

 

EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

 

---

---

MOONDANCE NEWS & CHINESE NEW YEAR WISHES!

 

新 年 乐

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and productive Chinese Lunar New Year of the Horse! I hope it’s good for me, too, as the horse (water horse) is my Chinese Zodiac sign… ~ My Very Best Regards, Elizabeth

In Chinese astrology, Horse year is considered a fortunate year that brings good luck and good things. Magical Horse has supernatural powers, is heroic, strong, and can even fly! Horse year is about freedom, returning to nature, and enjoying life and life’s adventures…you may feel more buoyant and able to tackle things that you have been putting on the back burner.

 S C R O L L  O N  D O W N  T O  R E A D  A B O U T : 

• 2014 SUBMISSION INFO
• INVITATION TO ATTEND THE 2014 MOONDANCE
• A MOONDANCER’S SUCCESS STORY
• MOONDANCERS WRITE US!
• BAD & GOOD NEWS FROM HOLLYWOOD
  • PETE SEEGER: IN MEMORIAM
  • RECOMMENDED THAI MUSIC VIDEO
  • SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
  • CONTACT US!

COMPETITION CATEGORIES: films, (shorts & features, documentaries, narrative, animation), music videos, screenplays, film scores & original music, stageplays, short stories, TV pilots, radio plays, and more!

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

(in order of preference)


1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

2. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

 Plan to join us at the original, the  one and only, Moondance International Film Festival, in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, September 26, 27, 28, 2014!

• Top-quality Indie film screenings from around the world
• Professional workshops & seminars
• Productive networking parties & events
• Gala awards ceremony
• Meet with Hollywood celebrities in attendance

Foothills of Boulder, Colorado

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT THE WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

A  M O O N D A N C E R ’ S   S U C C E S S   S T O R Y :

Moondance’s multi-award-winning animation filmmaker and artist, and Colorado resident, Damon Mohl, opens an art gallery show of his work. READ MORE:

M O O N D A N C E R S   W R IT E   U S :

“…you placed my script, “Quantum Leap”, in the Semi-Finalist category in 2010. I sincerely thank you for that because it gave me encouragement to develop it into a much better story…It has gone through endless re-writes and the consensus among all the reviews is that it is an astonishing original story with excellent marketing potential.” ~ Nick Szegedi

“I looked up Moondance and I am so pleased to learn about your festival! …and I have added Moondance to my “watch-list” on withoutabox.com.” ~ Erika Street

“Wishing you great success with the Moondance Festival!” ~ Nicole Dreiske, Executive Director, International Children’s Media Center

B A D  “N E W S”  F R O M   H O L L Y W O O D :

Hollywood’s hidden sexism: How casting notices keep beauty standards alive. Wonder why TV wives are always hotter than their husbands? Hint: It starts before the show is even cast… this discrepancy is lodged deep within the writing and casting processes…READ MORE Article By Victoria Frings, Salon Writer

G O O D  N E W S  F R O M  H O L L Y W O O D :

Harvey Weinstein Has Change of Heart On Violent Content In Films: “The Change Starts Here”, Says He Will Change His Choices In Regard To Violence: Video “You have to look in the mirror, too. I have to choose movies that aren’t violent or as violent as they used to be.” said Weinstein. From www.deadline.com

 * Check out the Moondance statement on non-violence in film

 

 • I N  M E M E M O R I A M •

Folk singer Pete Seeger, who established the music as an expression of community, conscience and social justice during a career that spanned eight decades, has died. He was 94. He viewed the sharing of folk songs as a democratic act. To participate in singing songs together – which Seeger encouraged in the group sing-alongs that were an inevitable feature of his concerts – was to participate in the inner workings of the country itself. ~ Christopher Morris, Variety, January 27, 2014

“(He) seemed to always have fun with that great smile, even while singing his protests. He paved the way for Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and truly was a one-of-a-kind troubadour for the whole world.” ~ John Vizzusi “Ever since he chose his path, he has stayed on it, and walked the walk he talked, and he inspired generations to raise our voices in song, to always think of others, to respect ourselves and all who cross our paths.” ~ David Amram, The New York Times 

S O M E  T H I N G S  T O  T H I N K  A B O U T :

“You can be right, or you can be happy. ~ Gerald G. Jampolsky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge, with both hands, up to the elbows, into life.” ~ Jean Anouilh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”― Gautama Buddha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Kindness and love is the language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear.” – Mark Twain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” ~ Wayne W. Dyer

SERENE MUSIC VIDEO RECOMMENDED:

 

The Thai Buddhist Forest Tradition, Thudong: Forest Monks and Hermits of Thailand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCJi3u_KmQQ

 

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog!  ~~

 

EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

 

---

---

HOLLYWOOD IN THE ROCKIES @ MOONDANCE 2014!

Send in your submission now, and plan to attend the

2014 Moondance International Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado!

SCROLL ON DOWN TO READ ABOUT: 

• 2014 SUBMISSION INFO
• ARTICLE: EARTHING: RECONNECTING
• A MOONDANCE WRITES US
• MOONDANCE RECCOMENDS
• SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
• CONTACT US! 

 ~~~~~Thanks a million for all the great submissions, so far! ~~~~~

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

• FILMS (SHORTS & FEATURES, DOCUMENTARIES, NARRATIVE, ANIMATION, MUSIC VIDEOS)
• SCREENPLAYS
• FILM SCORES & ORIGINAL MUSIC
• STAGEPLAYS
• SHORT STORIES
• TV PILOTS
• RADIO PLAYS
• AND MORE!

E A S Y   W A Y S   T O   S U B M I T   Y O U R   E N T R Y :

1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form/#gf_1

2. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

“I think of you often and am so grateful for the support you have given me with my screenwriting over the years.  You helped to give me the confidence to believe that I could write and tell stories.  I will do that forever.” ~ Sally Sutherland, Moondance feature screenplay winner

http://www.drsinatra.com/heart-health-earthing-main

~~~ Earthing is an amazingly simple concept that involves nothing more than reconnecting the human body with the energy naturally present in the ground we walk on. In a nutshell, here’s how Earthing (or grounding) works: The Earth’s surface contains a limitless number of free electrons that are continually replenished through solar radiation and lightning strikes; your body naturally absorbs these particles when you make physical contact with the ground.

~~~ In the body, these electrons have an anti-inflammatory effect because they reduce the free-radical activity that causes inflammation and chronic pain. (If you remember your high school science, electrons are negatively charged. Inflammation-causing free radicals are positively charged, which means the additional free electrons neutralize the free radicals.) The energy of the free electrons also helps keep your body’s innate electrical circuitry properly balanced. All of these effects are extremely beneficial to heart health.

~~~Without a regular connection to the Earth, people can develop what I call an electron deficiency. In turn, this can lead to imbalances in the body and potentially to significant health problems. For example, chronic inflammation—which is increasingly being identified as the cause of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders—may be a result of a lack of connectedness with the earth.

~~~ Fortunately, the connection can be easily restored by regularly practicing Earthing! The dozen or so completed studies on Earthing have proven beyond any doubt that becoming grounded has significant positive effects on our physiology and heart health. Getting started with Earthing is easy. If conditions allow, literally go barefoot outside. Just 40 minutes a day can make a difference. Grass, sand, dirt, and concrete are all conductive surfaces from which your body can draw the Earth’s electrons.

MICHAEL WEISE PRODUCTIONS

~~~BOOKS FOR SCREENWRITERS & FILMMAKERS~~~

 www.mwp.com

Shakespeare for Screenwriters: Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama

by J. M. Evenson

SHAKESPEARE FOR SCREENWRITERS is the first book to use Shakespeare’s works to examine the fundamentals of screenwriting, breaking down beloved characters, stories, and scenes to uncover timeless storytelling secrets. “If you think Shakespeare has no relevance to contemporary filmmaking, you aren’t looking very closely. Excellent!”
— Howard Suber, Professor, UCLA School of Film; author, The Power of Film

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Between the Scenes: What Every Film Director, Writer, and Editor Should Know About Scene Transitions

by Jeffrey Michael Bays

Between the Scenes delivers a fresh approach to film directing, screenwriting, and editing. Once you’ve got your scenes planned out, this book steps in by shifting your focus to how your individual sequences and scenes connect…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cinematic Storytelling

Film Directing: Shot by Shot:

Visualizing from Concept to Screen

by Steven D. Katz

An instant classic since its debut in 1991, Film Directing: Shot By Shot and its famous blue cover is one of the most well-known books on directing in the business, and is a favorite of professional directors as an on-set…

 

 

“Life is the perpetual present moment one lives in, and a perception that time is nothing more than the current…an eternal flowing back to the sea.” ~William Least Heat-Moon, author, “River Horse”

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the merely talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” ~ Stephen King

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it’s a Broadway spotlight. For others, it’s a lamp-lit desk.” ~ Susan Cain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It is better to wear out than to rust out.” ~ Richard Cumberland

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” ~ Zen Buddhist Proverb

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog!  ~~

 EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

 

 

---

---

HOW TO GET AN AGENT! & MOONDANCE MID-JANUARY NEWS

“True peace is a state of mind brought about only by peaceful people.”

~ Jawaharal Nehru

 

BOULDER, COLORADO: Moondance’s long-time home-town of beautiful Boulder, Colorado, is where this internationally known and well-respected film festival started in 1999, and to celebrate all the talent here in Colorado, Moondance 2014 will hold the first, the one & only…

~ ALL-COLORADO MOONDANCERS FILM SCREENINGS ~

…during the 15^th annual September event, in conjunction with all the other fine films selected for screenings from the US and around the world! Moondance will also have a special focus on Colorado writers and music composers, too! Moondance also promises to bring attention to the state of Colorado as a world-class destination for filmmakers to consider shooting their projects here.

 

The Flatirons, Boulder, Colorado 

Send in your submission now, and plan to attend the

2014 Moondance International Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado!

SCROLL ON DOWN TO READ ABOUT: 

• 2014 SUBMISSION INFO
• ARTICLE: HOW TO GET AN AGENT!
• MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS
• SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
• CONTACT US!

COMPETITION CATEGORIES: films, (shorts & features, documentaries, narrative, animation), music videos, screenplays, film scores & original music, stageplays, short stories, TV pilots, radio plays, and more!

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

 MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form/

OR:

WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

 HOW TO GET AN AGENT!

What Agents Want (and Don’t Want) to See

By Elizabeth English*

 

First, call, email or write to literary agents who are listed as being willing to look at unsolicited screenplays, or who are looking for new clients. Tell them  what you have and would like to send to them, for their consideration. Do not send a script unless you are invited to do so!

HOW TO FIND LISTED AGENTS:

• The Hollywood Creative Directory’s Agent/Management directory
• Writers Digest
• Writers Guild of America (East & West)

GUIDELINES FOR GETTING AN AGENT:

1. Write killer titles, loglines and one-sheet synopses for the all the scripts you want to submit to agents.

2. Write up a one-sheet document with titles and loglines of all your completed  screenplays. You may be asked to send these before sending in a screenplay.

3. Presentation of script: be sure to have a plain cardstock cover, front and back; a title page with all your contact info; three-hole punch white paper; two solid-brass brads in the top and bottom hole only.

4. You may be asked to submit your script digitally, via email. In that case, ask if the agent wants it in a screenwriting program, such as Final Draft, or as a .pdf.

5. In any case, always be sure to register your script with WGAw or WGAe, and/or copyright it before sending it out!

6. “Attachments”, in the form of interested actors, director, producer, and most importantly: money, to your project, will always help get almost any agent interested. Mention this, if applicable, in your cover letter. But don’t send a “wish-list” of actors, director, etc.

7. If you’ve had a film or films produced from other screenplays you’ve written, definitely mention this in your cover letter.

8. Getting your screenplay to an agent is a 4-step process. Be patient!

9. Have more than one screenplay completed. At least three of your best screenplays need to be completed and ready to go, when and if requested.

10. In your initial phone call or e-mail, try to find out what genre of story that agent is looking for, at the moment. Agents generally know exactly what the buyers and/or producers want to see, and will usually only request those genres. But needs change all the time, and at a moment’s notice, so let them know what you have, even if they’re not looking for that at the time of your call or email.

11. Story: This is the first thing agents look at, when considering whether to read your script or not. Write a unique story, well-told.

12. Writing ability and style. Everything depends on this.

13. Dialog: your ability to write good, memorable and believable dialog is paramount.

14. Format and structure: in submitting your work to an agent, you should be sure the script is in proper format and structure. There are many books and online articles on these vital subjects.

15. Print out your script and read it in hard-copy, checking every word and every line for typos, edits needed, and etc.

16. Submit a reader’s script, not a production script! No camera angles or technical suggestions. Don’t use (continued) or (con’t.) after every character name and scene or bottom & top of each page.

17. Remember, you’re the writer, not the director, director of photography, costumer, set director, producer, cinematographer, lighting director, editor, music director, and so on.

18. Budget: yes, a screenwriter needs to know about this. Many buyers are looking for specific subjects with very specific production budgets. Currently, a low-budget feature film will be $10-20 million, for example. If your script requires action scenes and/or CGI graphics, double that figure.

19. If you know The Business at all, and have experience and/or good contacts, make the agent aware of this, so he or she will know you are a professional.

20. Let the prospective agent know you are open to re-writes and edits of your scripts. You will always be asked to do re-writes, edits, revisions and polishes, sometimes “on spec”, so prepare yourself mentally and be agreeable to it.

21. Be willing and able to pitch your screenplay to production companies and studios, with the agent, in person. If you live far from L.A., or NY, let the agent know you can arrange to go there for pitching appointments. Try to schedule more than one pitch meeting at a time.

22. Be friendly and easy-going, yet professional and self-confident. Hollywood, even though it’s a “snake-pit” at times, is run on connections and contacts. If they don’t like you, and don’t feel they can work with you, you don’t have a chance there, no matter how good your script is.

23. Be honest! Never, ever hype yourself or your script unless the information is absolutely true & provable. If you’ve won a contest with your script, let them know.

24. And if you’ve been submitting your scripts around to everybody for years, and they ask, tell the truth. Production companies and studios keep lists of what has been submitted to them, and you don’t want to embarrass your new agent!

1. HOW TO GET “DISCOVERED”:

• InkTip.com is a the best website on which to post your scripts, to be seen by many agents, producers, managers, development  & acquisition executives
• LinkedIn.com is a good social networking site for making entertainment industry contacts & networking
• If you live in or near Los Angeles, attend parties, special film screenings, film festivals, and other events where Hollywood types will be.
• Enter the top film festival competitions with your best work, and win!
• If you do win a contest, add that info to your cover letter!

  WHAT SHOULD AN AGENT DO FOR YOU? ~ Send out your loglines and one sheet synopses, and scripts to Development & Acquisition executives at production companies and studios ~ Give suggestions on potential edits, revisions and re-writes that may be needed to sell the script ~ Set up pitch sessions for you at production companies and studios ~  Get the best deal he or she can for you, at or above schedule of WGA minimums. ~ Encourage and inspire you to create new material and projects. ~ An agent should NOT charge you any reading or consultation fees, nor for any expenses incurred for promoting you or your script. The agent will be compensated from his or her 10 or 15 % of the sale of your script.   WHAT AGENTS DO NOT WANT TO SEE:

• A script sent to them “cold”, with no phone call, e-mail or letter first
• A script that is too long (over 120 pages), or too short (under 90 pages)
• A script that is bound incorrectly (no brads, no cover, no title page)
• A script that is not formatted correctly & has grammatical and/or spelling errors
• A cover letter that is more than one page long
• A script that is mostly descriptions of people and locations, like a novel
• A script with unrealistic or stilted/boring dialog
• A script where the real action of the story begins late, after page 10 or 20
• A script with more than 100 scenes (each scene costs money)
• A script with a prospective production budget over that what is requested
• A script that has a lot of well-known copyrighted music noted in the text.
• A script that is not in the genre requested
• A writer who is unwilling to consider re-writes, revisions and edits
• A script that has any typos, misspellings or poor syntax
• A script without conflicts in the plot and story-line
• A script without interesting, memorable characters
• A story without character development
• A storyline that has been done a million times
• An incomplete screenplay
• A script that is not in proper screenplay format
• A script that has been shopped around for years
• A writer who calls or e-mails sooner than 2 weeks after the agent received the script

If and when you do call an agent, after you’ve sent your query letter, title & logline, and synopsis, then the screenplay, if requested, and waiting at least two weeks to get a response, don’t put the agent on the spot by calling or emailing to ask, “Did you get my screenplay? Did you read it? Did you like it?” Ask, instead, “Have you had a chance to take a look at (title of screenplay)?” If the agent or assistant or intern says “not yet”, and he or she probably will, ask when it might be OK to call or email again to follow up, and then wait to call until that date. IF the agent says “It’s not for us.”, thank them for their time, and ask if you can send another script, or a rewrite.

THE CARE & FEEDING OF YOUR NEW AGENT:

OK, you’ve finally gotten a good professional agent, preferably one associated with the Writers Guild, and who is excited about your work. Congratulations! You need to treat him or her well, don’t call or email all the time to find out what’s going on with your script(s). Your new agent also has many other clients to promote. Be nice, trust your agent. It’s like getting a new best friend, and you want to keep on his or her good side, making sure the person likes and respects you. The agent will work for you to sell your script to a production company and/or studio…that’s how both of you get paid.

SUGGESTED READING & RESOURCES:

Relevant articles, by Elizabeth English:

• Titles & Loglines: http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-16-Titles.html
• Pitching in Hollywood: http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-15-Pitching.html
• Making of a Hollywood Film: http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-13-Hwood.htmlTwo Brads or Three?: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-07-Brads.html
• Characters in Screenplays: http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-06-Character.html
• Conflict in Scripts:http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-05-Dreams.html

Books & Magazines:

• Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434
• Linda Seger’s How to Make a Good Screenplay Great
• Linda Seger’s How to Make a Good Screenwriter Great
• David Howard’s A Writer’s Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay
• Creative Screenwriting
• Scr(i)pt Magazine

*Need a professional script consultation at reasonable rates?

Contact: ELIZABETH ENGLISH

~~~~~~ >>))))*> ~~~~~~

CREATIVE AMERICA is a grassroots organization uniting the entertainment community and others against content theft. Creative America unites actors, directors, craft professionals, editors, cinematographers, small businesses that service the industry, studio employees, and all others making a living in and caring about film, television, and other creative industries, who believe that creativity and innovation deserve to be protected. Join the movement to stop content theft and protect American creativity and jobs.

 To be successful in the fight against content theft, we must make our voice heard in Washington and in communities across America. Creative America is supported by an unprecedented coalition of major entertainment unions, guilds, studios, and networks, including CBS Corporation, the Directors Guild of America, IATSE International, NBC Universal, SAG – AFTRA, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom, the Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Entertainment. – See more at: http://www.creativeamerica.org/

 http://www.neckerisland.virgin.com/en/necker_island/things_to_do/animals

NECKER ISLAND is a haven for some of the more rare species of plants and animals found in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world. Recent arrivals have cemented the island’s reputation as a place where nature’s diversity is truly celebrated and protected. From flamingos, soldier crabs and iguanas to our famous red-footed tortoise, Necker’s animal family continues to grow, with more recent newcomers joining the party: 35 Madagascar lemurs in addition to those already resident on island. They’ve also recently introduced a flock of Scarlet Ibis, White Cheeked Pintail and Roseate Spoonbills. Necker Island is Sir Richard Branson’s home and favorite hideaway.

  http://www.stage32.com

Lounge Articles:

• FILMMAKING – Filmmaking Wisdom From John Cassavettes
• PRODUCING – How Does Someone Find a Producer For a Small Indie Film Production?
• SCREENWRITING – Writing is Creating, Not Stealing

BEAUTIFUL WILD DOLPHIN SLIDE-SHOW!

http://explore.org/#!/photos/player/wild-dolphins

 

Photo by Jeremy Austin  

“People who postpone happiness are like children who try chasing rainbows in an effort to find the pot of gold at the rainbow’s end. But life will never be fulfilled until you are happy in the here and now.” ~ Ken Keyes, Jr.

“If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you back! Much of the best work in the world has been done despite seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.” ~ Dale Carnegie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“The way of Tao doesn’t force or interfere with things, but lets them work in their own way to produce results naturally. No stress, no struggle. The mind of Wu Wei flows like water, reflects like a mirror, responds like an echo. It evolves from an inner sensitivity to the natural rhythm of things, like that of water flowing over and around the rocks in its path.”  ~ Benjamin Hoff, author “The Tao of Pooh”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The ability to see beauty is the beginning of our moral sensibility. What we believe is beautiful we will not wantonly destroy.” ~ Rev. Sean Parker Dennison

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog!  ~~

EMAIL: director@moondancefilmfestival.com

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, thanks to Google’s strange email stacking system, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom! Thanks! ~~ EE

 

 

---

---

A MOONDANCE HAPPY NEW YEAR & YEAR-END WRAP-UP!

 

May the stars shine upon you; 
may nature fill 
your heart with beauty; 
may hope forever be in your heart; and, 
and above all
, may this new year be wonderful for you. The new year is the time to 
reach toward new horizons & realize your  dreams, 
to rediscover the strengths & talents within you, 
to rejoice in simple pleasures, and to gear up for new challenges. 
Wishing you a truly fulfilling, prosperous, healthy, peaceful  and happy 2014! ~ Elizabeth

Happy New Year, and may 2014 be your best year ever! Thank you for your continued support of Moondance, and may all your New Year’s wishes come true!

S C R O L L  • O N  • D O W N  • T O •  R E A D  • A B O U T :

•2014 SUBMISSIONS INFO

•2013 YEAR-END WRAP-UP NEWS

•WOMEN IN FILM ARTICLE

•WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW ARTICLE

•MIFF RECOMMENDATIONS

•A MOONDANCER WRITES US

•SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY:

(in order of preference)


1. MIFF ENTRY FORM

http://moondancefilmfestival.com/moondance-entry-form

2. ACTEVA

www.acteva.com/go/miff

3. WITHOUTABOX SUBMISSION SERVICE

http://www.withoutabox.com/login/1240

Best Women-Directed Films of 2013

BY MELISSA SILVERSTEIN AND INKOO KANG 

Women and Hollywood will run our own “Best of” lists to honor and celebrate the year’s best women-directed and women-centric movies and TV shows. See our previous posts on the “Best Women-Directed Documentaries of 2013,” the “Best Women-Centric Films of 2013,” and the “Most Popular Women and Hollywood Posts of 2013.”

Yes, 2013 was another terrible year for women directors, which makes the commemoration of great work by female filmmakers all-the-more important. We’ve compiled below seven great films from women this year, as well as five honorable mentions. Noteworthily, six of the seven films are about women — a sign that the gender of the person behind the camera is pretty damn important when it comes to what kind of protagonists and stories we see on screen. Also worth mentioning is that only two of the seven are American films — a reflection of the ongoing, entrenched sexism in Hollywood. But we also must note that another two films came from fairly repressive societies — Saudi Arabia and the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel — an indication of the feminist progress that goes around the world every day. Here are our favorite women-directed films of 2013 in alphabetical order: 

Enough Said – Nicole Holofcener

Fill the Void – Rama Burshtein

Hannah Arendt – Margarethe von Trotta

In a World… – Lake Bell

Love is All You Need – Susanne Bier

The Selfish Giant – Clio Barnard

Wadjda – Haifaa al-Mansour

 W R I T E R S :  • W R I T E  • W H A T  • Y O U •  K N O W !

By Elizabeth English

“A good writer needs to know what it’s like, and “it” can be just about anything. We have far too many writers today who have never ridden a horse, or fired a gun, or sharpened a knife, or fought with their fists, or been shot at. And so on and so on.” ~ Gene Wolfe, science fiction & fantasy writer, interview in a Barnes & Noble book review

 

Birds are important indicators of the overall health of our environment. Like the proverbial canaries in the coal mine, they send an urgent warning about threats to our water, air, natural resources, climate and more. Audubon’s unprecedented analysis of forty years of bird population data from Christmas Bird Count and Breeding Bird Survey reveals alarming declines for many of our most common and beloved birds.

Since 1967 the average population for the common birds in steepest decline has fallen 68 percent, from 17.6 million to 5.35 million. Some species have nose-dived as much as 80 percent, and all 20 birds included in the Common Birds in Decline report have lost at least 50 percent of their population – in just four decades. More than 800 bird species occur within the United States. With limited time and resources available to protect them, it is vital to know which species are at greatest risk.

It is especially important to identify at-risk bird species before their populations become so small that protecting them from extinction is costly, in every sense of the word. One quarter of U.S. birds need our help to keep them from slipping toward extinction. Read more

 

BOLD NEBRASKA is a group of farmers, ranchers, doctors and homemakers fighting to preserve their landowner rights, water, ecology, and plain old pride, against the megacorp behind the Keystone XL pipeline project. The TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline proposes to run it through hundreds of Nebraska homes, farms and ranches, crossing the delicate Sandhills, and putting the critical Ogallala Aquifer at great risk. They are fighting the good fight to oppose a pipeline that will carry – and spill –  some of the most polluting fossil fuel known to humankind! If everyone donates even $5.00, the Bold Nebraska support-base will triple. (http://boldnebraska.org/build) ~ Earl James, Moondance 2013 feature screenplay finalist

 

“When we see the land as a community to which we all belong, we may begin to use it with more love and respect.” ~ Aldo Leopold

“Every moment of your life is infinitely creative, and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.” ~ Shakti Gawain, author, “Creative Visualization”

~~ Thanks for reading & subscribing to the Moondance news blog!  ~~

 

* If you click on REPLY, to ask a question or make a comment on this newsletter, please change the subject line. Otherwise, I have to scroll through the entire newsletter again to hopefully find your message at the bottom!

Thanks! ~~ director@moondancefilmfestival.com

 

---

---

MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS INKTIP.COM for screenwriters, producers & agents!

 

ICM
(see more here)

All 2014 winning screenplays can be posted, for free, at www.inktip.com, as a special, annual consideration for Moondance screenwriters. Producers, directors, acquisition execs, managers, and literary agents regularly seek screenplays and talented writers at the InkTip.com website. 

 2014 Moondance call-for-entries info: www.moondancefilmfestival.com

---

---