Happy New Year & Moondance 2017 Call-for-Entries!

by Elizabeth English on January 1, 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MOONDANCE!

Out with the old, in with the new: may you be happy, the whole year through!

New beginnings, fresh starts, re-affirmations and promises for a brighter future all come to mind as we ring in the New Year around the world. A new year is like a blank book, and the pen is in your hands. This is your chance to write a beautiful new story for yourself. Right ahead, lies a new beginning. Make it a memorable experience. Let this New Year be the one when all your dreams come true. Wishing you a happy, peaceful, successful and prosperous New Year!

AND NOW, THE BIG NEWS FOR 2017!

Moondance 2017 is very pleased to announce that the entire film festival this season will be online-only! All submissions to be entered online, and all winning & selected films will be screened online. Now your winning film will have the opportunity for an audience of many thousands of viewers to preview it, for years to come, instead of maybe and audience of 50-100 or so, screened only once at a local film festival’s theatrical venue.

This is truly today’s preferred, state-of-the-art & most important global networking, promotional & networking advantage!

Writing & music selected winners all submission categories will also have their winning work listed online. Winners will have their titles, loglines & links posted on the website.

MOONDANCE 2017 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES:

Accepting submissions

January 1 through June 30, 2017

Take advantage of our Early-Bird discounted entry fee: only $25, through January!

PLEASE VISIT THESE PAGES ON THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO:

LINK TO SUBMISSION CATEGORIES LIST

• Narrative feature, short, documentary, drone & animation films • Feature & short screenplays •Film scores • Short stories, stageplays & radio plays •TV pilots, episodics…and many more!

LINK TO AWARDS CATEGORIES LIST

LINK TO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

LINK TO OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

LINK TO AWARDS BENEFITS

LINK TO MOONDANCE SUCCESSES

LINK TO THE MOONDANCE MISSION STATEMENT

Moondance is also accepting submissions at:

Click on the FilmFreeway logo above to go to the Moondance submission form there

NO Moondance 2017 submissions at Withoutabox.com

(WAB is not prepared for listing online film festivals)

THE SECRET TO OUR INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS:

The secret to the Moondance brand’s international success and longevity can be directly attributed to upholding our founding principles, goals, integrity, values and mission. We continually strive to inspire talented filmmakers, writers, composers and audiences, locally and globally. Maintaining the Moondance reputation for top-quality indie films, writing & music is always the festival’s first priority. Our valued sponsors, donors, supporters, friends of the Moondance, as well as our competition entrants, are an integral element of our long-term success.

INSIDER TIPS FOR FILMMAKERS:

DIRECTING ACTORS IN FILM

When judges preview films for film festival competitions, or when distributors look at films they may decide to screen in theaters, or during Academy Award nomination season, or when a talent agent may decide to take you on as a client, or when a production company or film studio is watching your demo reel or trailer, and considering you to direct a film, the actors’ performances are one of the most important elements they look for in the film. You may have a unique story, the best cinematographer, incredible editing, memorable film score, interesting locations, fabulous action scenes, great dialog, and impressive production values, but…if any of the actors, not just the lead actors, fluff a scene, or are wooden, over-act, are amateurish, or are simply unremarkable in their roles, you’ve just lost all credibility as a film director, and you may not ever get a second chance. READ MORE:

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MUSIC IN FILM

The power of music in film! Music is the non-verbal, unspoken dialog in a film. A feature film needs at least 30 to 40 minutes of music, which is one of the most important elements in a successful film. Take a look at: 1. A film score can be artfully used to…2. The major categories of a film score are…3. Along with a good screenplay, and great dialog, music is what makes a film memorable! All of these vital crafts and elements contribute to making the “Dream Factory” world of the film believable & memorable to movie audiences! READ MORE:

Don’t miss reading all the other great filmmaking & writing articles in the MOONDANCE E-ZINE, written by entertainment industry pros, exclusively for Moondance!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle, and comes back to us.” ~ Flora Edwards

This news-blog is dedicated in memory of my mother, Leni, child star in silent film, artist, poet, journalist, archaeologist, and world traveler, who passed away in April, 2016, at the age of 101, after a long and productive life.