“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
By popular request, the final deadline for submissions to the 2017 Moondance competition
has been extended to July 31st
For your best chance to win, send in your entry RIGHT NOW!
Accepting submissions NOW, through July 31st, 2017
Thanks a million for all the very fine submissions by talented filmmakers, writers and composers we’ve received, so far,
for the 2017 Moondance competition!
For all our many talented American Moondancers:
HAPPY JULY 4TH INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Scroll on down for insider tips: MAKING A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE
MOONDANCE 2017 CALL-FOR-ENTRIES:
LINK TO SUBMISSION CATEGORIES LIST
- Narrative feature, Short, Documentary, Drone & Animation Films • Feature & Short Screenplays • Film Scores • Short Stories, Stageplays & Audio Plays • TV Pilots, Episodics…and many more!LINK TO OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM
Moondance is also accepting submissions at:
Plan now to participate in this unique film festival, and help celebrate
the 18th annual Moondance International Film Festival!
~ READ & SUBSCRIBE TO THE POPULAR MOONDANCE NEWS-BLOG HERE! ~
To all our talented Canadian Moondancers:
HAPPY CANADA DAY 150!
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
Although more than 2500 years old, Aesop’s fables still have something vital to inform us, especially when it comes to funding the Moondance International Film Festival’s mission & goals. There’s something to think about in this fable of “The Crow and the Water Pitcher”.
A crow wanted a drink of water, but the level in the water pitcher was too low to reach. So she cleverly dropped pebbles in, one-by-one, which slowly raised the water level until she could drink the water!
That’s what you, our generous donors, financial supporters, sponsors and friends of the festival are to the Moondance! Individually, each one of you increases, dollar-by-dollar, our ability to continue our important mission. But all together, your support makes another festival year possible. You help continue a film festival’s indie film screenings, productive workshops, and amazing networking opportunities, and mission, that is admired and respected by filmmakers, writers, composers, agents, actors, producers, directors, distributors, indie film buffs, and an international audience around the world!
Raise the level! Donate now to support the
Moondance International Film Festival today!
INSIDER TIPS:
MAKING A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE:
By Elizabeth English
See all those people out there? All that equipment? Each and every one of them cost money. You wrote a screenplay, didn’t you? It got the greenlight. We’re making a movie here. OK? Quiet on the set! Rolling! And…action!
Director, assistant directors or ADs, Cinematographer and/or DP, producer, costumers, hair & makeup people, extras, focus-pullers, gaffers, best boy, key grips, script supervisor, body doubles, sound and light techs, still photographer, videographers, body-doubles, actors’ assistants, and actors!
Production assistants or PAs, studio execs, animal wranglers, props, art director, production designer, extras, location manager, assistant to the director, producer’s assistants, Foley, prop master, special effects, stunt coordinator, tech advisors, book-keeper/accountant, fire marshal, production designer, art director, story board artists, line producer, editor, catering, (and maybe even the screenwriter, if you’re lucky!). How many people are we talking about? 100+ below-the-line, maybe 25 above the line. Budget for this pic? Anywhere up to a hundred million dollars, give or take a million or so.
Now, the DIRECTOR’S GOALS here are two things: to get the best, most believable performances from the actors, and to get the best visual images on film. The PRODUCER’S GOALS, however, are to solve problems, give the director everything he or she wants, to spend the available time and money properly, and report to the investors. Of which, 70% goes to above-the-line costs, and only 30% go to below-the-line expenses.
But what do the STUDIO EXECS want to see? They want to see their money up on that screen! A movie is the most expensive entertainment production ever devised (other than the US presidential campaigns)!
Directors strive for a certain “harmonics”, a balance between the story components in your screenplay and proper production values. They want the story to be authentic: believable even. And entertaining! READ MORE HERE!
- Don’t miss reading all of the other great insider articles written by pros exclusively for Moondancers HERE!
A MOONDANCER WRITES US:
“In 2015, Moondance awarded my 4-part audio drama “5 Levels of Fear” a Spirit of Moondance award. It has been picked up by Aural Stage Studios in New York and will be recorded later this year. The folks there, Matthew and Monique Boudreau asked me to come on board as co-producer.” ~ Sable Jak
MOONDANCE RECOMMENDS:
SAVE OUR OCEAN WILDLIFE!
Following the president’s recent executive order setting the stage for oil and gas drilling to resume in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, the Trump administration has released draft authorizations for seismic blasting in the Atlantic. But to proceed, these companies need approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and that’s where you come in.
Seismic blasting poses a serious threat to ocean life. These blasts register 235 decibels – louder than a rocket launch – and travel for hundreds, if not thousands of miles through the ocean. Scientists tell us that at least 130,000 marine mammals, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, will be injured by these blasts.
Don’t let the Trump administration continue to put the interests of the oil and gas industry above those of the American people, of precious marine wildlife populations and of a healthy and clean ocean environment!
And that’s where you come in – seismic testing companies still need approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) before they can begin their work to survey for oil and gas.
TELL NMFS TO DENY AUTHORIZATION FOR SEISMIC BLASTING IN THE ATLANTIC!
Scientists estimate that at least 130,000 marine mammals, including endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale, will be injured or killed by these blasts. Seismic blasting can drive whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife out of the vital habitat they depend on for feeding, reproducing and migrating. It can also deafen marine mammals outright – the sound levels are powerful enough to cause them to bleed from their ears!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
WEBSITE: www.moondancefilmfestival.com
NEWS-BLOG: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/blog
EMAIL: [email protected]
