72 hours of Wis-Kino

(cross-posted from dane101.com)

I've been participating in Wis-Kino's 48-hour "Kabarets" for quite a few years now, always enjoying the sense of urgency and rampant creativity involved in making a short film in just two days. I've liked it so much, in fact, that last year I volunteered to become one of the group's co-directors (along with Josh Klessig), taking over after founding directors Matt Sloan and Aaron Yonda decided to spend more time focused on their other filmmaking activities.

We've since streamlined things so that, instead of monthly screenings and Kabarets, Wis-Kino is just focusing on the big events. We're throwing three Kabarets each year (the one in May went spectacularly well), with the next one coming up this month. Only, we've got a little something special in store for this particular Kabaret. Instead of giving people the usual 48 hours in which to kill themselves making a movie, we've expanded it (one time only!) to run for three whole days.

The idea is that the added time will give filmmakers 1) time to make more than one film, or 2) more time to make just the one. It also means actors and other interested parties can potentially work on more than one person's film. Super cool! Or at least, we think so. And this is me, formally extending the invitation to come check things out if you haven't already.

Kabarets are great opportunities for both amaetuer and more experienced film lovers to test their mettle, get the creative juices flowing, and just have fun. Want to direct something but are lacking actors or technical help? Want to act in something or offer your sound/lighting/etc. expertise but lack a camera and a particular vision?

Whatever the case, show up to the Kabaret kick-off screening on Thursday, July 16th and we'll do our level best to get you connected with the people who can get you involved in a project. We'll provide a sign-up sheet where you can leave your name, contact info, and area of interest - and then others can look things over to see if you've got what they're looking for. We'll also use the kick-off screening to, well, screen some movies! We invite anyone who has a 5-minute or shorter film to bring it along to show, regardless of its theme (no porn, obviously--see submission guidelines here).

At the end of the screening, we'll have interested filmmakers pick their "secret ingredient" (a word, theme, or prop that must be incorporated into their movie in some way) and then set them all loose for the weekend! On Sunday, July 19th, we'll meet back up to view the fruits of everyone's labors.

What's even cooler? This all happens at the fabulously shiny Sundance Cinemas out at Hilldale Mall. The kick-off screening will be held in their North Lounge, and the final Kabaret showing will be in one of the big theatres. See your work on the silver screen! Both events start at 7:00p.m. - the first won't cost you a dime (we take donations, though), and the final screening just costs $5 (for both filmmakers and casual fans--no extra fee to make a movie!).

We're working on some very fine incentives for making films, as well as providing free, rental camera equipment and editing help for those who need it, so expect announcements about that soon.

In the meantime, I'd like to share a handful of past Kabaret films to whet your appetite. These were all made in just 48 hours! One for now, more to follow in the coming days....

(Film made by Craig Knitt and Tony Mayer for the Fall 2009 Kabaret)

Extremed

For those of you curious to see what we got up to this weekend as part of the Wis-Kino 48-Hour Kabaret, behold! Part 3 in our ongoing series about the character of Chapel, who, incidentally, is also the main character in my book, The Fix Up. Ah, sweet sweet tie-ins.

Fair warning: The movie has some strong language and a lot of fake blood. I wouldn't recommend watching it while at work (unless you're employed by Troma or something), or if that sort of thing isn't your cup of tea.



It was a lot of fun to make this, and I feel like it's the best of the series so far (the first two being "Complicated" and "Distracted"). That's definitely the result of having a really great team working on this particular installment. And bonus! No fake blood for me this time. I think I've dealt with my fair share for awhile.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made this Kabaret such a success! We showed something like 15 films, all made over the course of the weekend, and had a great crowd at the final screening on Sunday. See you for the next one in July!

Wis-Kino Spring Kabaret starts tonight

It's that time again! Madison's own chapter of the International Kino micro-cinema movement, Wis-Kino, is getting ready to throw their spring 48-hour filmmaking "Kabaret" - starting tonight!

These are always a blast, and a great opportunity for both budding and experienced filmmakers alike to flex their creative muscles. Even better? There's no hefty entrance fee. You just pay to come to the screenings themselves, and the film challenge is free!

Past participants have ranged from enthusiastic grade school kids to college students to working stiffs and even some industry professionals. And if you don't have your own camera, you should come anyway just to check out some great, short, local films. You can also get involved in other projects - filmmaker's often need actors, extras, location scouts, musicians, grips, and everything in between.

Details are as follows:
WHAT: Wis-Kino Spring Kabaret ‘09
WHEN: Kick-Off Screening on Friday, March 20 at 7:00p.m. - Final Screening on Sunday, March 22 at 7:00p.m.
WHERE: Sundance Cinemas, Hilldale Mall, 430 N. Midvale Blvd, Madison, WI
COST: Kick-Off Screening is just $2, Final Screening is $5 (for everyone, including filmmakers - no extra charge to participate).

Questions? Comments? Drop us a line at Wis.Kino.Films@gmail.com or read more about Kabarets at the link above.

(Full disclosure: Yes, I'm one of the co-directors of this group, but I promise it's lots of fun!)

To give you an idea of what's been done for Wis-Kino and the 48-hour challenges in the past, check out some of these short films:

• "Drill, Baby, Drill" - by Rob Matsushita
• "Change Your Order" - by Craig Knitt & Tony Mayer
• "Gutter Love" - by Shelby Floyd & Shelby Falk
• "Status Quo" - by Justin Sprecher
• "Seeds" - by Tona Williams
• Or watch any of the Wis-Kino associated films here.
  

Life is a Kabaret, old chum

Tonight is the kick-off for the Wis-Kino Fall Kabaret, a 48-hour short film making challenge that's open to anyone and everyone who has any interest whatsoever. It's also Wis-Kino's 5th year anniversary, which is a fairly mighty achievement for a loosely run collective of artists.

If you've never participated in a Kabaret, I highly recommend checking it out. Doesn't matter if you just want to watch the films that get made or if you want to help out but don't think you have any qualifications. Just by showing up at tonight's screening and letting it be known that you're interested in helping, there's a good chance that one of the various teams of film makers will pick you up. You can do anything from acting, editing, location scouting, making music, holding a boom mike or just doing grip work.

Tonight's screening is one of the group's regular monthly meetings at Escape Java Joint where anyone can bring in a short film (5 minutes or under) to show, with an optional theme of "Scary/Halloween." I happen to have the inside scoop on at least one of the films to be screened tonight: a full-length trailer for the upcoming independent horror-musical-comedy, "Massacre: The Musical." Sure, I was involved with the actual project, but I'm being totally objective when I say that it's completely awesome.

At the end of tonight's screening, a "secret ingredient" will be revealed which all film makers have to incorporate into their Kabaret submissions in some way. They then have until 7PM Saturday night to make those films, which will be shown on the big screen over at Westgate Art Cinemas.

I wrote a full preview article about the event over at TDP, and will be keeping a running account of the experience which will also be published there at week's end.

In another piece of very cool local arts news, a group of dancers called Crushin' All Forces, made up of students from all of the area's high schools (and one middle school) just took first place on BET's "106 & Park Wild-Out Wednesdays." It's a competition in hip-hop dancing that airs nationally, and now the Madison group gets to go on to compete in the finals early next year. Many congrats to the group and all their supporters both for creating something amazing and for showing the country a little of what Wisconsin has to offer.

Autumnal Bliss

Pumpkins [1]
Originally uploaded by Lost Albatross.

I took this photo last Saturday at the Dane County Farmers Market. It was bizarrely hot that day, but we still had a great time hunting for seasonal goodies. The outdoor market runs until November 3rd, so be sure to get out for it while the schedule and the (now much cooler) weather allows.

I was accompanied on this most recent trek by my sister and two of her friends, all of whom had come into town from Chicago for the weekend. They make a point of coming to the farmers market whenever they're here, a sort of pilgrimage for cheese curds, jam and honey. They also usually buy a few packs of New Glarus beer to take home with them, too. And who could blame them? Every time I travel out of state and go to get a beer, I'm faced with the harsh reality of Spotted Cow only being available in Wisconsin. Perhaps that's what adds to its appeal and mystique?

With the hot snap out of the way (hopefully), we can now get on with a proper autumn. According to the Wisconsin Tourism Board, the trees should be reaching the peak of their colors some time in the next two weeks. Pumpkins, squash and gourds are all in season at the various u-pick locations in the area. That one house on Spaight St. is well and thoroughly decked out with Halloween decorations, and a whole slew of parties, concerts and other events are planned for the week around the holiday (for a good rundown, check out dane101.com's "31 Days of Halloween").

Tomorrow, I'll be diving head-first into Wis-Kino's annual rite of film making passage, the 48-hour Kabaret, which lasts until the screening on Saturday night. If you've never been to one, it's definitely worth attending. Whether you're an aspiring film maker, a complete novice or just like watching movies, it's one hell of a good time.