left to right: Jan Waldman: TV Host/Producer, Alice Bouvrie: Producer/Director, Liane Brandon: Filmmaker and Still Photographer, Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness: Director

March is Women’s History Month, and we received four submissions from our call to members to be featured, so we decided to spotlight all of them!

 

Whats the best part about your work?

Jan Waldman: I truly love what I do. Meeting so many varied individuals in and out of the film world.

Alice Bouvrie: Getting to know the people and issues that are explored in my films.

Liane Brandon: It’s challenging and creative – a mix of art, craft, and technology. Depending on the project, I get to explore subjects I am passionate about.

Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness: Collaboration.

 

What challenges do you think you’ve faced in this industry?

Jan: Fortunately, the fact that I am a 50-year-old female has never been a detriment in my career. I would have to say that time is the biggest challenge. The amount invested is always the same whether the project is successful or not. Hard work is a given and it is the only way you can begin to become successful.

Alice: Financing the projects, and getting them out and seen.

Liane: When I started making films in 1969, there was no portable video and very few people had access to 16mm cameras and editing equipment. Film schools were few and far between. Very few women had any filmmaking skills. I was one of three independent women filmmakers in New England. I had to borrow a high school football team’s 16mm camera in the offseason, and teach myself how to use it to make my first film. There were almost no films about the issues girls and women were facing (equal pay, equal rights, employment discrimination) or about the lives of ordinary women. There were virtually no outlets for political or social issue films – let alone films about the Women’s Movement. Distributors said there was no audience for films about women’s issues – so we started our own distribution coop (New Day Films). We were told that we’d fail in a year. New Day is now 45 years old and a leading distributor of social issue films!

Marie-Emmanuelle: Raising money.

 

How long have you been a WIFVNE Member?

Jan: 2 Years.

Alice: Not sure, but at least 30 years or so.

Liane: 20+ years.

Marie-Emmanuelle: Two years.

 

What advice would you give to a new female filmmaker?

Jan: Do your research. Find out everything you are able to about the role, person or business you will be working with before you dive in. Be prepared.

Alice: Try not to lose your motivation and energy, and stay curious!

Liane: Learn as much as you can. Work hard. Persevere.

Marie-Emmanuelle: Act. Get out there and film.

 

What goals do you have for this year?

Jan: We will be looking for wider distribution to other public access TV stations in the state and across the country and more of an online presence.

Alice: Better marketing and promotion for the films that I have already made.

Marie-Emmanuelle: More collaboration.

 

Upcoming Events or Announcements? What are you working on?

Jan: My TV show, “Entertainment Plus with Jan Waldman” with producers/editors Steve Spencer and Mike Murray, aired its first show February 1, 2016. Upcoming guests include Carol Patton, publisher of Imagine Magazine and the producers of “The Folklorist” Angela Herrar, Andrew Eldridge and John Horrigan.

Alice: I just finished a short documentary about an MIT professor who is a cross-dresser, A Chance to Dress. I’m working to get it into the marketplace and to get it out and be seen.

Liane: I recently shot the stills for the upcoming (October) PBS American Masters bio of Edger Allan Poe (Spy Pond Productions). Exhibit of the photographs near the time of the PBS premiere. Also, upcoming exhibit of my photographic series of women powerlifters.

Marie-Emmanuelle: Writer’s Block is a finalist in the 2016 WIFTI Short Film Showcase, and will screen in DC and also at BIFF on April 16 at the Paramount Theater in Boston. My script Indentured was a finalist at Sundance Lab 2015 and RIIFF 2015.

 

How can your fans find you!?

Jan: You can find my show “Entertainment Plus with Jan Waldman” on www.satvonline.org My website is: agencyprotalent.com/janwaldman

Alice: I have a website: www.mineralkingproductions.com and FB: www.facebook.com/achancetodress

Liane: See my website www.lianebrandon.com for contact information

Marie-Emmanuelle: www.maiema.com

Flicks4Chicks is a completely new contest being held as part of the film festival Different Faces, Different Voices. This international competition challenges teams of filmmakers to create a unique film (ten minute or shorter in length) featuring a female as its major character. Men and women are encouraged to apply (and work TOGETHER) but every team must have AT LEAST one woman in a lead creative role: producer; writer; director; director of cinematography; editor. The Flicks4Chicks contest is now open for sign-ups via Film Freeway: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/Flicks4ChicksFilmContest

Its goal? To inspire original fictional stories that delve into the realities of a wide variety of women and girls (of differing races, ethnicities and ages) as they embrace their own destinies, taking charge of their lives as fully realized human beings, and not simply as Hollywood caricatures or sidelined shadows. Each team will be given a choice of dramatic “situations” to pick from and will have a period of one month from the contest start date of April 1st to complete and submit their project.

Active members of any and all Women in Film chapters or Harvard Square Script Writers www.hsswriters.com will receive $25.00 off the submission fee of $100.00.
PLEASE READ OUR GUIDELINES/RULES at FILM FREEWAY to understand how to sign up. You must set up an account with a temporary film project name at Film Freeway and pay your submission fee to be registered. Registration guarantees you a slot and that you’ll receive updates on upcoming workshops and meetups. Sign-ups close on March 27th so get registered NOW.

Local rental companies Talamas and Rule Boston Camera are supporting this contest with 25% off equipment rentals during the contest production month (April 1st – May 1st) for all participating teams! Talamas will also be running a series of workshops at their new facility to help filmmakers learn the latest techniques for lighting, camera work, and sound. Thanks to both of these fantastic organizations for supporting our mission to give women a greater voice in film-making.
There will be a wide assortment of terrific cash and product prizes in a number of award categories at our fabulous screenings and festival on June 29th and 30th in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA.

For more information about the contest and future events, check out our social media platforms:
Website http://flicks4chicks.org/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Flicks4ChicksMA
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Flicks4Chicks-1163823926982032/

 

WIFVNE, the Lowell Telecommunication Corporation (LTC) and The Lowell Film Collaborative are sponsoring a special screening of the Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) 2016 Short Film Showcase winners on Saturday, March 12^th at 2PM at Lowell Telecommunication Corporation (LTC) located at 246 Market Street, Lowell, MA.

The event is free and open to the public and will include the screenings along with networking, special guests and refreshments. The four winning short films represent narrative, documentary and animated work made by women from around the world.

This special screening of films made by women from across the globe will celebrate International Women’s month as well as the annual Lowell Women’s Week in Lowell, MA. For twenty years, Lowell Women’s Week has celebrated women — from the women who have come before us to the women of today.

This annual international film contest sponsored by WIFTI encourages unique points of view and storytelling that focus on subjects/issues that concern women. Nearly 1400 films were submitted from around the globe and winners were selected by a jury of industry professionals from 34 chapters. The four winning films will receive cash prizes and worldwide screenings by WIFTI chapters are planned on International Women’s Day, March 8. 2016.

The Winning films are:

• Best Narrative Film: Director Monda Webb, Washington, DC WIFV: (Zoo / Volkerschau).
• Best Documentary (tie): Director Dawn Mikkelson, Minnesota WIFT: (Shaping the Public) & Director Victoria Greene, Louisiana WIFT: (Monster in the Bayou).
• Best Animation: Director Zainab Zaher. Germany WIFT: (I Want to be Shahmama).

WIFTI is a global network of over 40 member chapters worldwide with more than 13,000 individual members dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, video, digital and other screen-based media. Past Short-Case short films have been nominated for Academy Awards, received distribution deals and garnered other recognition globally.

For more information about:
Women’s Week in Lowell, click here.
Lowell Telecommunications Corp, click here.
The Lowell Film Collaborative, click here.
2016 WIFTI Short Showcase Winning Directors and the finalists, click here.
For more information about Women in Film & Television International, click here.

Diane Pearlman: Executive Director, Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative (BFMC) & Independent Film & Visual Effects Producer

BFMC maintains an online production guide and locations library, and assists productions with permitting, location scouting and finding local crew and equipment. Since it’s inception in 2009, BFMC has facilitated numerous film, television and media projects.

We asked Diane, What advice would you give to a new female filmmaker?
“Find a female mentor – someone you can shadow and learn from. Work on their project; listen to how they handle production issues; be a sponge. Never be afraid to ask questions. It’s important to pursue your art, but also to understand the business aspects of filmmaking. As your career develops, put your heart into the projects that inspire you, but be willing to take on the the projects you may love a bit less, but will pay the bills! Most importantly, treat people well and with respect. This is a business about relationships and networking. The person you hire on one shoot may be the person who hires you on the next.”

How long have you been a WIFVNE Member?”
Not sure how long I’ve been a member – maybe 2.5 years? I’ve been a member of New York Women in Film and Television for 20 years and now have a dual membership to both.”

What goals do you have for 2016 we should know about for filmmaking?
“Besides planning networking events, educational and workforce development courses for BFMC, I’m producing a short film for award-wining actor, Karen Allen (Starman, Animal House, Indiana Jones films). The film is based on a Carson McCuller’s short story, “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud” and will shoot in the Berkshires in June of this year.”

Upcoming Berkshire Film & Media Collaborative Events:
Our next BFMC networking event will Tuesday, March 8th at Eastworks in Easthampton, MA. We are producing the event with the Easthampton City Arts as part of the Plug Into the Creative Economy in the Pioneer Valley. To find out more, watch our Facebook page or join our email list on our website: berkshirefilm.org

Talamas is reserving two spaces for interns from the current membership of Women in Film and Video of New England. They are looking for conscientious individuals who are interested in furthering their experience in digital cinema. Video Interns will develop their knowledge by training alongside Talamas video technicians and engineers giving them the opportunity to learn about custom camera builds and setups, lens collimation, projection, workflow, etc.  Interns will be assigned a mentor, and will have the opportunity to acquire experience handling and testing a wide range of equipment: cameras from DSLRs to the Arri Amira, associated lenses, as well as support equipment such as cine sliders, dollies, and stabilization gear.

Talamas Internship Syllabus:

● Each intern will be assigned a mentor.

● Check in/Check out with mentor each day for daily assignments.

● Daily Journal will be kept by each intern (student specific).

● Interns will learn about Talamas and the rental industry.

     ○ Insurance

     ○ Quality Control

     ○ Building rigs, jobs, etc.

● Interns will be members of the internal video production crew. They will assist in writing, fact checking and will have the opportunity to shoot test footage, b-­roll, internal events/seminars.

● Each intern will be required to pitch a video idea to Talamas. Once approved they will shoot and edit the video. They will complete their assigned video by the end of the semester/internship period. Talamas will hold a screening night and also post the videos to Talamas’ social media sites.

To apply, Women in Film and Video of New England interns must be current WIFVNE Members, and should be prepared to commit a minimum 10 hours a week to their internship. Interns should also complete a project highlighting an issue facing Women today, or promoting the Women in Film Organization. Projects should be completed or close to completion after 4 months.  Please email cover letters to: info@womeninfilmvideo.org subject line: Talamas Internship.

Thinking of making a film short for the upcoming WIFVNE/Harvard Sq. Script Writers Flicks4Chicks contest?  Come learn about the art and craft of both camera work and lighting at our festival sponsor Talamas’s fantastic new space.

Event Description:
Camerawork and lighting are powerful tools in storytelling that change the audience’s mood and perception of a scene. In this event, Lisa Sene and Mike Duca will discuss how these elements can be used effectively in storytelling in production. Example scenes will be screened and deconstructed visually, revealing not only how those results were achieved, but also why those choices were made with the overall story in mind. Audience members will have an opportunity to set up and shoot a practical scene to apply what they learn right away.

Due to overwhelming response to the February 20th date, a second workshop has been added for Saturday March 12th – RSVP below!

RSVP link: http://www.talamas.com/events/second-date-added-dont-move-camera-move-story
Event Date:  Saturday, March 12th, 9am-3pm; light lunch provided
Location: 149 California Street, Newton, MA 02458 (diagonally across from the Talamas main building, 145 California St)

And stay tuned — Talamas will also be running another workshop – Audio for Film & Video with Sennheiser’s Dave MissallonThursday, March 24th, 7-9pm.  Watch for details in future notices.

 

Mike Bio:

Michael Duca is a graduate of the New England Institute of Art and began working in the industry at 16. He started working at Talamas as an intern, and is now the lead technician in the video department. He is well respected for his immense technical ability, understanding of workflow, ergonomic gear design and usage, lighting technique, and experience in the field.

 

Lisa Bio:

Lisa Sene is a steadicam operator who yes, really will run around with that heavy camera strapped to her! Lisa has kept it steady on productions all over the country, and looks forward to the new challenges that come with every project. Her favorite part about being a steadicam op is being able to directly participate in the creative side of production. She holds a BA in Cinematography from Emerson College, and has a strong background in theatrical lighting, both of which contribute to her understanding of visual storytelling.

Big news! The Athena Film Festival is back and we are pleased to offer you a special discount offer!

Now in its sixth year, the Athena Film Festival — a celebration of women and leadership — is an engaging weekend of feature films, documentaries and shorts that highlight women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world.  The four-day festival, which includes conversations with directors and talent and workshops for filmmakers, has quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious festivals of its kind.  The complete slate of films, workshops, panels, and events has been released at athenafilmfestival.com, and we hope you’ll check out this year’s incredible lineup.

The festival will be held Feb. 18 – 21, 2016 at Barnard College in the heart of New York.

JUST FOR WIFVNE MEMBERS!:
Visit athenafilmfestival.com and receive a 30% discount on your tickets when you use the code sent to your member email.  This offer is good for up to two tickets per film.

START ORGANIZING YOUR TEAM NOW!  WOMEN IN FILM & VIDEO/NEW ENGLAND & HARVARD SQUARE SCRIPT WRITERS ANNOUNCE FLICKS4CHICKS SHORT FILM CONTEST

Harvard Square Script Writers and The New England Chapter of Women in Film and Video are presenting an exciting film contest – Flicks4Chicks, launching for sign-ups in early 2016.

Flicks4Chicks will be the first contest held as part of the film festival Different Faces, Different Voices.  This international competition will challenge teams of filmmakers to create a unique short (ten minutes or less in length) featuring a female as its major character.

The Flicks4Chicks contest will open for sign-ups on February 14th via Film Freeway. Its goal?  To inspire original fictional stories that delve into the realities of a wide variety of women and girls (of differing races, ethnicities and ages) as they embrace their own destinies, taking charge of their lives as fully realized human beings, and not simply as Hollywood caricatures or sidelined shadows.

Each team will be given a list of dramatic “situations” to choose from and will have a period of one month from the contest start date of April 1st to complete and submit their project. Active members of any and all Women in Film chapters or HSSW will have $25.00 off the submission fee of $100.00.

Crew may come from anywhere in the world but must complete their film in English (or with English subtitles) and must have a female in at least one of the following creative roles: producer; director; director of photography; writer; editor.

We will be sponsoring hands-on workshops and meetups in preparation for the contest in hopes of bringing creative types of both genders together.  The screenings/festival will be held in Cambridge, MA on June 29th and 30th with major awards and prizes offered.  Producers of these films will retain full ownership as the festival organizers hope that they will then submit and share these stories around the world.  Watch for details and more dates to follow.

Link to Flicks4Chicks FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Flicks4Chicks-1163823926982032/

Would you like to help strengthen the collaboration of women working in the film, video and digital media industries in New England? Want to play an important role in guiding the vision of this professional organization in 2016 and beyond?  We are seeking at least 5 new board members to join our current dynamic team.

From December 15th to January 15th at midnight, WIFVNE is holding an open Board member nomination period. The nominations, and voting are now open to all active member levels – including those on the Student Level*.  If you are not currently an active member, you can Join or Renew here.  

From January 16-18th, members will cast their votes via online ballot for all new board members. Election winners will be announced on January 19th and new board members will be welcomed at a Board orientation meeting on January 26th.  Board officer positions will be voted on at this meeting.  See below for a full list of Board Duties.

If you are interested in joining the WIFVNE board and maybe even running for one of the officer positions, please contact us immediately.  Or if you know of someone who would be a great candidate (and she/he is willing), please send us a nomination.

Send your nomination email to: juliet@womeninfilmvideo.org along with a few sentences on why you or your nominee would be a great asset to WIFVNE, and indicate if you or your nominee want to be considered for one of the officer positions. Please include a short bio and a current resume, along with a list of skills/experience.

* Any student who is enrolled in a post secondary school program in the film, television or digital media industry may join WIFVNE.  Students who are in their junior or senior year, or in graduate school, and matriculated at a university or college (in these related majors) may be nominated to serve on the WIFVNE board.

 

All Board Member Responsibilities

• Serve as Ambassador for WIFVNE, including attending “industry” events, recruiting members when possible, spreading the mission and purpose of WIFVNE, and establishing contacts with other community organizations and businesses to further solidify the goals and objectives of the organization.  
• With other board members, assume fiscal responsibility for the organization, including raising money.
• Attend monthly WIFVNE board meetings and committee meetings as needed.  Only two monthly board meetings per year may be missed.
• Serve as a contributing and working member of the board.  On average the time commitment outside of meetings is approximately two to four hours per week.  During times of events, etc. that figure could significantly rise.
• Work as a team member to accomplish goals and objectives of the full organization.
• Attend WIFVNE events whenever possible.

 

Additional Board Officer Responsibilities

PRESIDENT

• Presides over all board meetings and emcees at programs and events when appropriate.
• Schedules and presides over executive committee meetings
• Guides policy, program development and financial planning for the organization.
• Oversees administration of organization in cooperation with other board members.
• Consults regularly with executive officers and all board chairs
• Delegates the administration of development efforts to vice president.

 

VICE PRESIDENT

• Chairs the development committee (see development duties in description of that committee) and is responsible for overseeing financial development of the organization.
• Performs the duties and exercises the powers of the president in her absence.
• Presides over meetings in the absence of the president.
• Attends executive committee meetings as required.
• Works closely with the treasurer in drafting budgets.

 

SECRETARY

• Takes minutes at all board meetings.
• Provides minutes to all board members one week in advance of board meetings and files a copy to the WIFVNE online office archive.
• Works with other board officers to ensure that all important records of the organization are filed in the office for archival and tax purposes.

 

TREASURER

• Responsible for annual budget and flow of the funds of the organization in cooperation with president and board committee chairs.
• Works with vice president and development committee in establishing goals for fundraising.
• Formulates and supervises budgets for programs and special events.
• Writes or approves checks for organizational expenses.
• Enters and maintains accurate bookkeeping records.
• Prepares or coordinates preparation of organization’s tax returns.
• Fulfills responsibilities of WIFVNE’s 501(c)3 tax status.

WIFVNE in collaboration with Harvard Square Scriptwriters  presents:
AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU ASKED:  Legal Issues in Film, Television and Digital Media
Tuesday, December 1st 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Arts at the Armory Cafe.  191 Highland Ave, Somerville, Massachusetts 02143 $15.00 for WIFVNE and HSSW members.  Others $20.00.  Student rate $10.00

The Panel will address many of the hot (and often complex) topics that confront scriptwriters and filmmakers.  Featuring legal eagles — Matt Valentinas, Sandy Forman, and Lucy Lovrien.

Matthew Valentinas

MATT VALENTINAS

Matthew Valentinas is an entertainment lawyer and literary manager. Matthew has held various creative and business administrative positions in the entertainment industry working in both New York and Los Angeles since 1995.

Upon returning to his native city of Boston, Matthew founded The Law Office of Matthew Valentinas in 2009, primarily focused on transactional work related to film, television, and publishing.

Additionally, Matthew also established Mom’s Basement Management to manage writers, directors, producers, and television personalities. Mom’s Basement Management focuses on sourcing and exploiting life rights, non-fiction stories (including true crime and historical non-fiction) and undervalued or undiscovered intellectual property that may appeal to a broader commercial market. Currently, MBM is executive producing White Devil, written & directed by James Gray in development with Warner Bros. Pictures. The book, by the same name, penned by Bob Halloran and published by Ben Bella hits shelves in January, 2016, a true story about John Willis, the only white man to rise to the top of the Chinese mafia.

Matthew also packages and produces motion pictures, television shows, and documentaries with independent financing to be licensed and/or sold upon completion. Most recently he produced the documentary film An Open Secret about pedophilia in Hollywood.

Matthew received a BFA in Film and Television Production from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and his Juris Doctor in law from Suffolk University Law School.

Sandra Forman

SANDRA FORMAN

Boston-based attorney, Sandra Forman, has a diverse practice in the areas of entertainment and copyright law.  Her clients include film and television producers and directors, screenwriters, animators, book authors, talent, book publishers, distributors, and multi-media and educational software producers.  Over the past ten years, she has also served as project director and legal counsel on the re-release of Eyes on the Prize, the fourteen-hour, Emmy Award winning series on America’s Civil Rights Movement.  Ms Forman is on the Board of Directors of Filmmakers Collaborative, the Advisory Board of Women in Film and Video New England, and the Pro Bono Panel of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She is a frequent guest speaker at colleges, conferences, film festivals and media organizations.

Lucy Lovrien

LUCY LOVRIEN

Lucy Lovrien conducts a solo practice in Boston focusing on copyrights, trademarks, contracts/licensing, publishing agreements, business law, real estate, and related litigation.   Her clients include technology companies, authors, artists, nonprofits and other businesses.  Her website is: www.lovrienlaw.com

She is co-chair for the New England chapter of the Copyright Society of the USA, and organizes many of their programs.  She is a long-time board member of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston.  She is an active member and leader at the Boston Bar Association.

Attorney Lovrien recently taught Copyright Law as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School, for four semesters.   She frequently speaks to writers, artists, and other groups about copyright and/or trademark law.