RMM General Meeting Minutes – February 2014

rmm

February 27, 2014 (February 2014 Meeting)
Start Time: 6:37PM
Total in Attendance: 23
Location: RCTV
Agenda:
 
Introductions:

  • Made individually around the room
  • Announced membership price of only $25.00 a year, and joint RMM/RCTV membership for only $65.00 a year
    • Voting members get free tickets and discounts to events
    • RMM is not in it for the money, and all of the membership fees go to keeping the group going

 
Upcoming Events:
Script-A-Palooza

  • To be held during March 2014 RMM General Meeting – March 27, 2014
    • Script Competition for 10-page or less scripts (short films or excerpts from feature films)
    • Members vote for “Best Screenplay” award
    • No money involved, but it is a fun night for all involved
  • Entrants are highly encouraged to attend a Writers Group meeting to pitch/read script and receive feedback
  • RMM will make a CALL FOR ACTORS before the event to get readers for the scripts
    • Will have a chance to read the scripts beforehand to give the best performance/reading
  • E-mail either wayne AT rochestermoviemakers DOT org or mike AT rochestermoviemakers DOT org to either submit a screenplay or sign up to be an actor/reader for the event
    • Visit http://www.rochestermoviemakers.org/events/scriptapalooza for full rules
  • These scripts provide content for Summer Shorts Productions
  • This is a great opportunity for screenwriters to practice, receive feedback, and improve on their writing
  • Can use free Celtx software for screenplay formatting (https://www.celtx.com/index.html)

 
RMM Auditions

  • Film auditions and casting event for Summer Shorts Productions
  • Will be in late April/early May 2014
  • Writers/Producers/Directors can submit scripts to read for your film
    • Auditions will be videotaped and can be made available for viewing
    • E-mail wayne AT rochestermoviemakers DOT org with sides or your screenplay ahead of time so actors can prepare using your script

Executive Board Meetings

  • Next meeting is Thursday March 13, 2014 at 6:00pm at The Little Theater Cafe

RMM Writers Workshop

  • Next meeting is Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 6:00PM at Pita Pit, 311 Alexander Street
  • Bring outlines, short scripts, or first ten pages of feature for reading and discussion
  • All skill levels welcome

 
Projects:
Greentopia Film Festival – Commissioning Short Documentaries

  • Greentopia will be commissioning three short documentaries to be shot and produced this spring/summer
    • Proposals need to be in by end of March and filmmakers will be selected by April 15, 2014
    • Each film chosen will receive $1000 and two all-access passes to the festival
    • More information and rules, visit http://greentopiafest.com/film/community-films/

Mark Logan – ARC (short film, thriller)

  • ARC is a short film about Special Agent Ivan Thompson and his mission to extract a high profile target from Russian mercenaries.
  • Currently looking for:
    • At least $400 in additional Indiegogo donations
    • Film extras – anyone who wants to be a soldier in the last days of shooting
      • Will need to be strong enough to hang/repel from a rope
      • Will be shot in front of a green screen in the next few weeks
    • Military wardrobe/costumes for the final shoot
    • Actors fluent in Russian to do voiceover work
      • Will be completed at RIT campus
  • Marc is a third year student at RIT
  • For more information e-mail Mark Logan at mloganvideo AT gmail DOT com or visit http://www.digital-reflex-productions.com/

Mark Logan – RIT student summer shorts

  • Producing student short films over the summer
  • Needs actors
  • For more information e-mail mloganvideo AT gmail DOT com

Adrien Esposito – Journey in Brookside

  • Writing a script about institutions for the mentally ill from the 1960s and 1970s
    • Needs help/assistance with structure and story of his screenplay
    • Contact adrianesposito AT rochester.rr DOT com for more information

Mike Boas and Wayne Coughlin

  • Announced a full-length film project to be occurring within eight to ten months

Empire Film Music Ensemble – Hochstein School of Music

  • University of Rochester and Eastman School of Music students will perform feature film music from the movies of Spiderman, Batman, and other superheroes
    • Will also have a visual component
  • Saturday, May 3, at 7:00pm

 
Speakers:
Mike Boas and Wayne Coughlin – “8 Simple Rules for Storytelling on the Screen”

  • The Eight Rules:
    • “An ounce of reality is worth a pound of dreams”
      • Need to clearly communicate
    • “Write Simple Stories & Complex Characters”
      • Emotion drives the characters more than plot
    • “Write with Authenticity”
      • Story needs a journey
    • “Identify & Articulate the Film’s Spine”
      • Film’s “spine” needs a “statement of purpose”
    • “Identify & Articulate the Character Spines”
      • Characters’ “spines” need to be authentic with a beginning, middle, and end
    • “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun”
      • Overview of the different story situations used throughout history
    • “The Foundation – The 3 Act Structure”
    • “Don’t Break the Rules Just Because They Are Difficult to Follow”
      • Understand the rules fully before breaking them

 
End of Meeting: 7:45PM
Click below for the minutes in DOCX format:
RMM General Meeting Minutes – February 2014