Flicker #20

Welcome to Flicker #20, September 1, 1998
4 year Anniversary

here's what we'll be screening tonight:

1. Sallie Patrick "A Thumbnail Tale"
1 min. 16mm

2. Craig Tenbroeck "Chain of Thought"
3 min. 35mm

3. Don Best "Spare Change"
3 min. Super 8

4. Reuben Sack "Limbo"
15 min. 16mm

5. Joyce Ventimiglia "Lena"
4 min. 16mm

6. John Tingue "An Intellectual Breakdown"
3 min. 35mm

7. John C. Homesley "The Jog"
1 min. 16mm

8. Matthew Scott "Adrenalin"
8 min. 16mm

9. Norwood Cheek "Hangin' in Hollywood"
3 min. Super 8

10. Michelle Crutchfield "Sex and the Single Girl"
5 min. 16mm

11. Dan Parham & Rob Chapelle "Transit"
11 min. 16mm

12. Tom Whiteside "Flag"
3 min. 16mm

13. Bo Webb "Business Class"
6 min. 16mm

Flicker #20

Welcome to the big 4 year anniversary of Flicker! Back on that hot night at the Local 506, in September of 1994, the screen went up. Local filmmakers showing their Super 8, Regular 8, and 16mm films. Thanks to Dave and the Local 506 for opening their door to us and being so supportive. Little did we know that 2 years later, so many filmmakers and film aficionados would necessitate a move down the street to a bigger locale. Thanks to Frank who has made us feel quite at home here at the Cat's Cradle. In 1996, Flicker also premiered in Paris, Bruxelles, and New York. That same year, the first $100 Flicker Film Grant was given to Matt Andronica. Tonight the 13th Grant will be given to another local filmmaker. 1998 has seen Flicker continue to grow as Flicker in Richmond made a stellar debut - and their 3rd festival is later this month. They've had enough local interest that James has already started giving Flicker Grants! In Los Angeles, Flicker has finally found the perfect home - a great club called SPACELAND. #1 will be Oct. 14! Flicker in Hoboken and Bordeaux have also started their projectors running. I took the name "Flicker" from the Athens, GA festival. Thought it might one day become a movement - Flicker Festivals sprouting up all over the world, with the focus being to give local filmmakers an outlet and a forum. And it's working! Thanks to Roger Beebe, James Parrish, Angie Grass, and of course, the filmmakers. Thanks for being here, we're all in this together.

Yours for better films,

What is "Local Film"?

With all the nonsense out there right now about the definition of "independent filmmaking," it seems like its about time to shift the terms just to confuse all the Hollywood moguls looking to tap into the indie craze. In that spirit, I want to offer up a notion of "local film," because this seems to me to be the real essence of what Flicker is trying to support and encourage. Obviously, at the literal level, "local film" just means films produced in your community. But I think there's a more interesting way of thinking about local films--a way that recently occured to me when people in other towns started forming Flicker fests of their own, or, as tonight, when we started thinking about taking Flicker on the road. It seems to me that since "independent filmmaking" is now simply a calling card to start a career in Hollywood, that there's a whole other range of filmmaking that has effectively been swept under the rug to make way for these mogul-wannabes. This kind of filmmaking ranges from shooting home movies or travelogues to hand-processed experimental films to shorts shot on super8 or 16mm cameras bought at garage sales to 35mm films shot on borrowed equipment shot on short ends of film thrown out by the big shots passing through town. These kinds of films (some of which used to be shown at Festivals until the independent explosion forced them back into obscurity) are what I want to call "local films."

But I don't want the name "local film" to imply that these films are destined only for local audiences. While they're currently limited to local screenings because of the nature of the beast, I think there's a future in these films--not a future of big money and fast cars, but a future of small circuits of distribution which will get these films to people who are interested in this kind of filmmaking. And it seems to me that this is what this emergent Flicker network is starting to provide as are things like the Comet Movie Night in Raleigh or a couple of analogous festivals in Seattle and Washington, DC. All it takes to get it going is one or two motivated people, some borrowed, scavenged, or stolen equipment, and people interest in coming to see stuff. Richard has the projectors, you've shown you can be the audience. Now go out and buy a couple of $10 super8 cameras & pass 'em around among your friends and make some films. Then when you're done. Tell me, tell Richard, or tell one of the people who runs a festival like Flicker (see the list below) and you've contributed to the world of local film. Good luck & have fun.

Roger.

BEST OF FLICKER , Volume 1

Since 1994, around 300 films have graced us with their shadows and light. The only problem is that we've never repeated a program, never shown a film twice, so if you happened to go for a drink at the bar, you may have missed something great. So what we've done is to put together a greatest hits tape - #1. This is the first of many, as we have seen so many great films. So tonight, pick up your very own copy of the Best of Flicker, Volume 1. ($15 for humans, $25 for institutions--video stores, libraries, etc.). All the proceeds go towards the purchase of a new video projector. So buy two, they make great gifts!

So you wanna shoot Super 8 but don't know where to start? Pick up your very own copy of the Flicker Guide to the World of Super 8. Chock full of information on where, how, who, what, Super 8 film, cameras, processing labs, editing and projection equipment. only $3.

Super 8 Delivered to your front door. Kodak now sells every Super 8 stock over the phone. Black and White and Color. This is the cheapest way to buy Super 8 film. call 800-621-FILM (3456) check out the Kodak web site www.kodak.com

AUSSI POWER!

Flicker Down Under was a Super 8 success. A 90 minute program of Super 8 films from the Ballarat Film Group - led by Verity Higgins, splashed down here at the Cradle April 26. From the documentary styled "Wayward Tendrils of the Vine" to the amazing interactive "Leaf it to Me", these films were inspiring, beautiful and fun! As part of this "exchange", a group of some of our own Super 8 films from Flicker folks screened as part of the Ballarat Winter film festival on July 19. Email from Verity relayed good reviews. We both agreed that this exchange program will have to continue each year.

Another Australian group led by Rodney Bourke in Melbourne, puts out a great 8mm zine called "8mm FILM GUIDE". There's lots of great info on film and film gadgets not available here in the US. send $14 (Australian) for a subscription of 4 issues. 8X8 is an annual 8mm film festival. Rodney has promised to send Flicker the 8 Best for a program later this year!

Rodney Bourke
8mm Film Guide
Box 122, Highett
Melbourne
Victoria 3190
Australia

Mexico City 1st Annual International Short Film Festival

October 1-4, 1998. A program of Flicker films will be sent in mid September. If you would like to submit a film for this special program contact Norwood or 323 464 8082.

20e Festival International du Film Independant

the entry deadline is September 18 so hurry! (no entry fee)

rue Paul Emile Janson, 12
1000 Brussels - Belgium
email centre.multimedia@euronet.be
http://club.euronet.be/centre.multimedia

Another great Super 8 site with tons of links to almost every Super 8 web site is small movies. http://www.city-net.com/~fodder/

Flicker Film Grant #12 was given to Jim Haverkamp. Tonight, Grant #13 will be awarded to a deserving local filmmaker. If you're pumped about shooting a film, but just need that extra $100 to get your film in the can, send a proposal telling us all about it.

Flicker
4000 Forestdale Dr.
Durham, NC 27712