Posted by Fetch Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:54:00 GMT
We admit that we’re biased about terraNOVA Collective since we’ve worked with them a number of times before but, regardless of that fact, we’d recommend Blue Before Morning anyway! Playing at the DR2 Theatre, this is a well-written, well-performed show. Go out and support this Off-Off Broadway play. For more information, go to: www.terranovacollective.org
Posted by Fetch Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:46:00 GMT
The below email was sent to the folks who ran the Williamstown Film Festival. It was written by writer/director Jeff Lycett who’s short film, Denim screened there as part of the festival’s shorts series.
Being a first time filmmaker, the world of festivals is very new to me. The people at Williamstown were very welcoming and supportive. Not only did they provide a great environment for the screening of my own film, they also gave me open access to other films and made it possible to commune with the other filmmakers. I can’t wait to have make another film and I hope they accept me over and over and over again.
many thanks, jeff lycett (writer/director- DENIM)
Posted by Fetch Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:40:00 GMT
Most days, I’m trapped inside, chained to my editing station trying to meet deadlines. But on a rare day, sometimes the stars align and we schedule a shoot outdoors. It’s always a gamble shooting outside – is it going to rain? Will we have to compete with screaming children, barking dogs, lawn mowers, planes or other audio issues? What about wind? Not all shoots are supposed to look like a Vogue cover shoot.
In New York City, permits are free. All you need is insurance and the will to file at the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (I always remember this office location because it’s right around the corner from Letterman). Going to the Mayor’s Office can be a daunting task, usually filled by PAs. Working through this position is like a right of passage. When you’re at the Mayor’s Office, you get the feeling that they’ve been asked every stupid question under the sun and you don’t want to ruin their day by being lucky number 1,000,000 on the stupid question list. However, if you’re polite and realize that these people hold the keys to the kingdom, the entire experience can be pleasant and over in the blink of an eye – well I guess in a giant’s eye ( there is a lot of waiting around at this office due to the shear volume of productions in the city).
After you get your permit, you’re free to go on your merry way and shoot. But how do you pick your location to begin with? Of course the script dictates where you should be filming, but our favorite exterior location has to be Central Park.
Central Park is truly one of the most beautiful locations in the city, and one of the most welcoming. As long as you stay off the lawns and can deal with the audio issues of planes flying over head, it’s a scenic and lovely place to shoot. Central Park is also one of the cheapest places to shoot – asking only for a donation. Other parks – Battery Park, Prospect Park, have very high location fees that aren’t cost effective for small or no-budget shoots. The other perk about Central Park – it’s right out our back door, and you can’t beat that!
So back to my point – a few weeks a go, Julie and I had the pleasure of venturing in the park on one of those perfect fall mornings. The air was crisp. The sun was warm. It was an ideal day to be shooting outside in NYC. Hopefully the stars will align again soon and I can venture back out there to film!
Posted by Fetch Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:11:00 GMT
As OTL expands so does our life on the web! Along with our web series, The In-Betweens of Holly Malone, The Sexually and In the Can Productions, we’ve also started separate blogs about the different facets of the company.
Check out our blogs on blogspot.com! We have created blogs about:
The company: visit ontheleesh.blogspot.com This blog will give you the latest and greatest news on the company itself – including press information, co-productions and major updates regarding the company.
Our short films: visit ontheleeshshortfilms.blogspot.com This blog will give you up to date information on all of our short films. This includes everything from preproduction and production information, festival information, any distribution deals and the actual films themselves!
The documentary Best Laid Plans bestlaidplansfilm.blogspot.com This blog includes journal entries about the film and will also include updates about the film itself – including editing information and movie updates.
Our webseries. Each of our three webseries now has their own blog where you can watch episodes or get the latest news on the happenings of each show. Check them out at:
Posted by Fetch Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:21:00 GMT
People ask us all the time how do we apply to film festivals? Is there an order to follow? The truth, it’s all a bit of a dance. There are certain film festivals that will only accept your film if it is the world premiere, and there are others that won’t screen your film if it has shown online. How do you keep track of all these rules, and ensure that you don’t miss out on a possibility to screen somewhere while you’re waiting to hear back from festivals.
Honestly, it’s a hard call, and therefore a personal call. What’s right for us might not be the right choice for you. . Just recently we were turned down from a festival because the festival was only seeking NY premieres and we had already screened in Coney Island. Here’s my strategy – for year one, aim big. Target the big festivals (Sundance, SXSW, Telluride, Tortonto, Cannes, etc) that you want to apply to and hold on your smaller ones. This will help to avoid any scheduling mis-steps. For year two, (you’re usually given a grace period of 2 years to apply to festivals), reach out to your smaller film festivals. Of course, you might know that your film will have a hard time getting into a bigger festival but might shine in a smaller festival. Plan accordingly. Mainly it’s about strategy and organization. You can save money by applying early to festivals rather than waiting for their extended deadlines. You can find out more information on most of the domestic film festivals at www.withoutabox.com.
Best of luck!
Posted by Fetch Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:21:00 GMT
People ask us all the time how do we apply to film festivals? Is there an order to follow? The truth, it’s all a bit of a dance. There are certain film festivals that will only accept your film if it is the world premiere, and there are others that won’t screen your film if it has shown online. How do you keep track of all these rules, and ensure that you don’t miss out on a possibility to screen somewhere while you’re waiting to hear back from festivals.
Honestly, it’s a hard call, and therefore a personal call. What’s right for us might not be the right choice for you. . Just recently we were turned down from a festival because the festival was only seeking NY premieres and we had already screened in Coney Island. Here’s my strategy – for year one, aim big. Target the big festivals (Sundance, SXSW, Telluride, Tortonto, Cannes, etc) that you want to apply to and hold on your smaller ones. This will help to avoid any scheduling mis-steps. For year two, (you’re usually given a grace period of 2 years to apply to festivals), reach out to your smaller film festivals. Of course, you might know that your film will have a hard time getting into a bigger festival but might shine in a smaller festival. Plan accordingly. Mainly it’s about strategy and organization. You can save money by applying early to festivals rather than waitin
g for their extended deadlines. You can find out more information on most of the domestic film festivals at www.withoutabox.com.
Best of luck!
Posted by Fetch Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:44:00 GMT
Whew! Its been awhile since any of you have heard from me. I wish I could say that it’s because I’ve been busy with the editing process, or because I was thrown into some adventure relating to the documentary, but alas, that would not be the case (and I am a terrible liar). So here we are in October and its been many weeks since I’ve last written. I think the reason is three-fold.
1. I found it difficult to so quickly review my day’s events during my time in Ghana. The week was so jam-packed with experiences that, I don’t know, I think I felt like I was inserting a tone onto the experience rather than waiting for some perspective on it. Does that even make sense?
2. Before leaving for the trip, I was under the assumption that when I returned from this supposedly life-changing experience, I would be, well, changed somehow. However, in actually experiencing my homecoming, I found that while I did feel amazingly accomplished in having seen this trip through, I discovered that I was still basically the same person, with the same feelings. Heartbroken? Check. Somewhat lost? Check. Excited and cautious of what’s to come? Check and check. The trip didn’t replace anything for me, it merely added a new feeling – albeit a positive one, but it was addition, not substitution.
3. Lastly, the third thing that took me away from writing about my experiences is quite a major event. I’ve lost my director of photography and editor. Sadly, Joe is no longer a part of Best Laid Plans. He did great work in Ghana but I am now having to go about the rest of this experience on my own.
This year has given new meaning to the term, best laid plans for me – in multiple aspects of my life. So, Alicia and I have decided to simply go with it. Originally, I was to experience this volunteer vacation and go to Africa as a way to invite the things that I’d have had to put off had my husband not walked out, and had I had children with him. I was to be part of a two person team. But my best laid (original) plans for the documentary hadn’t worked out. Now it’s just me. So, with Alicia’s expert guidance I’ve decided to shift things again. The documentary will not end with my plane landing in the US. Life goes on and so does Best Laid Plans. Stay tuned as more information is to come…
And yeah, I’ll continue the journal entries of my time there… You’ve all asked for it and I promise that next time I write, it’ll be about day 3!
Posted by Fetch Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:24:00 GMT
Our good friend Wayne Parillo (and “I’m Sorry Melissa” writer and creator) has done an interview! He’s officially a fancy, fancy man… Check it out at: www.news.tubefilter.tv
Posted by Fetch Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:22:00 GMT
We’ve just heard from our buddies at Koldcast television and they’ve told us that our webseries, In the Can Productions has been getting a lot of viewership as of late. So, we’re asking you to join in the fun and check out the show at www.koldcast.tv/index.php/show/in_the_can
Who wouldn’t like a show about an inept production company? Not you; so check it out!
Posted by Fetch Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:11:00 GMT
On the Leesh has the great pleasure of teaming up with Janet Humphrey a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist practicing in New York City. Janet has been practicing traditional Chinese Medicine for over twenty years, so we decided to team up on a series of podcasts and videos. These videos will feature Janet’s “Giving Nature” brand and will be available for purchase in time for the 2008 Holiday Season.
These videos are geared to teach the average american how to be more
pro-active about their own heath. Whether you are interested in
Western Medicine, Eastern Medicine or a fusion of the two, Janet will
provide you with the tools you need in order to get healthy and stay
healthy. For example, she has a 6 step guide to beating the common
cold. Who doesn’t want to learn that? If there’s anyone out there, I
dare them to answer the question again in February.
We’ll start posting our podcasts by late October, and we welcome your feedback. Your notes will help shape the DVD. We want to know what issues are most pressing for our viewers. Stress relief? Aide in reducing high blood pressure? Relief from chronic pain? These are just a few of the videos we plan on shooting over the coming months.
I’ve known Janet for six years, and in that time, she has helped me ward off many the common cold and insomniac nights as well as dealing with my chronic headaches. I was always curious about acupuncture but feared that it would hurt or that it wouldn’t be right for me. I realized that there was really nothing to fear.
If you’re interested in trying acupuncture, check out our podcasts for more information and for more information about Janet, please visit her website – www.givingnaturecenter.com
