NEW MEDIA EVENT SUMMARY
APRIL 29th
HDMG hosted MN WIFT members and friends for the New Media Educational event on April 29th. In addition to a great spread of food and fabulous tours of their facilities, they loaded content onto an Apple TV and mobile devices such as PSPs, iPods, and iPhones for us to see. What a great way to warm up for a New Media panel. MN WIFT Vice-President Aleshia Mueller moderated the four-person panel of Chuck Olsen, Cristina Cordova, Jenni Pinkley, and Julie Rappaport. They discussed how they got into New Media and they various ways they use it, including blogging and vlogging, experimenting with serial narratives, citizen journalism, twittering, news, and new business plans.

WIFTI Short Film Showcase
MARCH 8th, 2008

Short Films featuring pussycats and cakes make for purr-fect afternoon Cakes and kitties. This odd combo set the theme for MN WIFT's Short Film Showcase held March 8th at the Walker Art Center. The Pussycats by Jill Broadfoot and The Betty Mystique by Susan Marks were the two local submissions in the two-hour short film screening. Both Broadfoot and Marks are MN WIFT members. The MN WIFT Short film showcase was just one of several events included in the Walker's Women with Vision Festival. Now it its 15th year, the Women with Vision festival screens national and international films made by women. A raffle and reception were part of the MN WIFT program for the evening. Donated items included a massage, upscale office supplies, a Betty Crocker gift basket, a Tom Jones-themed gift basket, an in-studio visit at FM 107 with Radio host Kevyn Burger and a bag of goodies from Trader Joe's. Our thanks to Sheryl Mousley of the Walker, to General Mills, and to all MN WIFT members who volunteered to make this event a success. We hope to make it an annual tradition! Z Systems Event Description and photos

THE MARCH 2008 EDUCATIONAL EVENT AT Z SYSTEMS COVERED HD FROM "A TO Z"
MARCH 2008

Z Systems hosted the MN WIFT March educational event with a generous spread of food, wine and knowledge about high definition (HD) technology. Colin Threinen, Director of Photography for Black Ice Productions, explained how HD technology works and de-bunked myths about its affordability. Below, various MN WIFT members share some of the tips they learned:

• Range of Options! There are many types of HD cameras, ranging in price from $6K to $250K. The more expensive cameras are used for Hollywood films that include animations or substantial green screen elements.
• Beautiful Images! While choosing the right HD camera for your project may be a little confusing, you really can't make a bad choice. They are all exceptional cameras and they all bring something different to the project.
• Cost Comparison! Shooting HD is not as expensive as you might think! A 10-hour shoot day in Minnesota with DP, audio engineer, a large format HD camera such as DVCPro-HD, lighting and monitoring equipment will cost about $2500.
• Forget the Videotape! Some HD cameras capture the video images on a computer disk. Although pricey at about $1,200 apiece, these disks can be used over and over without losing picture quality or integrity.
• System Integrity If you choose to do a shoot on HD, make sure you spring the extra $100-$150 for a high definition monitor on set. Standard def monitors will not accurately portray what is being shot AND you won't be able to see any back focus issues on a standard def monitor.
• A Great Story Can Still Trump Technology! Oprah still uses standard def for field production. Colin's story of a recent video shoot was a good reminder that when you have a quality story sometimes that's what matters.
• HD is the Future! Consider HD for your next shoot especially if your elements may be archived for use in later projects.

MN WIFT & Walker Welcome Hollywood Legend Sherry Lansing –
NOVEMBER 5th, 2008

Teaming up with the Walker Art Center, MN WIFT
co-hosted a special evening for members that welcomed former Paramount Studios executive Sherry Lansing to our fair city on November 5. This legendary woman who broke through the glass ceiling of the Hollywood production boys club by the time she was in her mid-30s was scheduled as the keynote speaker for the 12th Annual Women Venture conference on November 6, but graced us with her presence the night before.

MNWIFT gathered for a pre-reception warm-up upstairs at the Walker for a jeopardy knock-off featuring question/answers involving films that were produced on Ms. Lansing’s watch. Classics like Forrest Gump, Titanic, Braveheart, and Fatal Attraction. Good guessers went home with prizes, including an overnight at the downtown Minneapolis Crowne Plaza. Members also heard from MN Film & TV Board executive director Lucinda Winter about the (encouraging) state of Minnesota’s film industry (witness the Coen brothers’ A Serious Man to be shot in 2008). We also learned where potential interns and film industry practitioners are coming from—Globe University, which has a good film/video program, as demonstrated by an impressive student reel.

WomenVenture with Sherry Lancing luncheon: (from left) Sheryl Mousley, Jillian Nodland, Heidi Schuster, Joanne Libeler, Alleshia Mueller, Meighan McGuire, Joanna Kohler

But the crux of the evening came at a reception outside the Walker cinema where MN WIFT, Walker and Women Venture folks met and mingled with Ms. Lansing. A brief program in the cinema, ably emceed by MN WIFT board member JoJo Liebeler, provided the official welcome and showcased a new reel of work submitted by MN WIFT members. All in all, an active and fun evening of meet, greet, wine and dessert.

MNWIFT Educational Event
Sept. 26, 2007
Insights helped members learn more about their personality and how they interact with others.

WIFTI International Conference recap
MN WIFT President Meighan McGuire – 
I had a great time attending the WIFTI summit this last July in Toronto.  Women in Film International include 40 chapters and 10,000 members worldwide.  And as a member of the Minnesota chapter you are a linked in with each and every one.  With many in attendance it was a week of learning, socializing and showcasing of work by women everywhere. 

WIFTI themselves have helped start many chapters in recent years including our own, and we are now part of a greater group that stretches around the globe. Coming together at the bi-annual summit helped us get a better understanding of how we do business for ourselves and with each other.  We sat in on sessions that were specific to chapter development, fundraising and general business of how to operate.

Along with developing our chapter further we had the opportunity to develop our own business skills.  Some of the seminars we attended include, marketing and distribution, financing, trends in television, film and documentaries.  We even attended such seminars that touched on specific niche topics such as how to produce a film for $1 million, product placement, and viral marketing.

I think I can say without a doubt it was a valuable event to attend.  The most valued thing I walked away with was the networking; there was something to attend at every corner.  Whether stepping out of a session to grab a cup of coffee or attend one of the breakfast or luncheon get togethers there was always someone new to meet.

I encourage you all to join me in two years time for the next one, but until then here is a link to an overview of the summit in Toronto so you can get a sense for what it was all about.  http://wift.insinc.com/

MN WIFT Social Event
JUNE 2007
Chambers Happy Hour

MNWIFT members met up for happy hour at the Chambers Hotel to connect and update eachother about the work of women in film and television in Minnesota.

MN WIFT Education Field Trip
JUNE 2007
Best Buy- Yellow Tag Event :

Drive on Highway 494 near Richfield and you can't miss the stunning architectural geometry that is Best Buy's corporate headquarters. What 's not so obvious behind all that glass is the deep creative pulse of its in-house production team, Yellow Tag Productions.

On June 21st, MN WIFT members and guests got an inside look at Yellow Tag's operations. A lean mean production machine of 13 staffers, Yellow Tag produces nearly 300 live and/or taped productions a year. Six talented women from Yellow Tag's production team gave brief presentations about department operations and showed clips from their projects. The breadth and scope of these projects range from documentary-style, pro-bono videos for non-profits, to high-energy parodies of pop culture programs for Tag TV - a communications vehicle for the retail stores.

Best Buy continues to grow and is expanding its presence overseas. This expansion means that more creative communication will be required. The sheer volume of that work translates into more opportunities for freelancers. According to Di Field, Director of Production and Business Affairs, Yellow Tag Productions is looking "to deepen its bench." Freelance Production Coordinators are encouraged to e-mail their resumes; Producers can send in their reels.

Our Recent Annual Fundraising Event!
Unnatural Selection: the Media's
(Ms)Management of the Female Image

Women accounted for 10% of writers and comprised only 7% of directors working on the top 250 films of 2006 *

It appears there continues to be a gender gap in Hollywood. And if behind-the-scenes gender discrimination isn't hard enough, try being an actress of a certain age (like 40+) and watch how quickly your career tanks. Enough to lose medical benefits in many cases.

"The lack of images of mature women in the media was the issue of the evening at MN WIFT's 2nd Annual Fundraising event held last Saturday. The fabulous Suburban World Theatre in Uptown was decked out with the red carpet, white linens & flickering candle light. The wine bar was loaded. The hors d'oeuvres and dessert spread seemed endless. The prizes were substantial, as was the meet and greet potential. But on a more serious note, attendees got the message of the documentary film Invisible Women, and sage comments from the informative and inspiring panel discussion that followed.

We heard from a distinguished group of panelists: Susan Davis (co-producer of Invisible Women), Kathy DiToro (Campbell Mithun EVP/Production Director), Lynn Blumenthal (casting director), Pat Hanlon (author and idea generator, Thinktopia®), Angel Rivera (SAG National Director of Affirmative Action and Diversity), and the lovely and lively moderator, Marcia Fluer. A sampling of discussion points:

• The bra burning boomers, who will make up America's largest demographic by the year 2010, are hardly to be found on television, commercials or in the movies, except maybe in the new Dove campaign
• The current lack of characters and story lines that truly reflect the dynamic roles women play in our society, sends a disconcerting message to the world Women control 80% of the purchases in this country-so why aren't mature women represented in advertising?
• Ageism stretches across all business sorry to say
• Don't limit yourself to one thing (i.e., acting)-develop skills in several areas to stay employable
• Baby boomers of both sexes are too many, too rich, and too powerful to ignore in any medium
• All of us can contribute to the writing, producing, directing & distributing of stories that represent women in their true light.
• Change also happens when we let networks and sponsors know what you will applaud and what you boo when it comes to images of women on their shows. (check out the www.mnwift.org for how and where).

MN WIFT board member Jillian Nodland spearheaded the event with able help from her board colleagues and volunteers who donated their time to make it happen. Generous financial support came from The Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation, Splice Here, Studio 1414, Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), Fredrikson & Byron, and the U of M Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. We'd also like to thank the Suburban World Theater, Big Event, Cinequipt, and Picture Factory for their support. And we couldn't have done it without our volunteers and other supporters who provided their time and resources which were all greatly appreciated.

For information about our other great events, which happen monthly all year long, check out our calendar of events at www.mnwift.org.

* From The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women on the Top 250 Films of 2006; by Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D., School of Communication, San Diego State University www.moviesbywomen.com/stats_celluloid_ceiling_2006.php

MN WIFT Education Field Trip
NOVEMBER 16th, 2006
TPT VISIT: Tour the facilities, examine the newest in equipment, and meet the women at TPT.

We hear from three TPT Executive Producers: Dianne Steinbach on Arts & Culture Large Remote Productions; from Naomi Boak on Current PBS Health Initiative Programming Trends; and Catherine Allan on Current Historical documentary efforts for PBS.

We also look at new HD developments like HD services in post, in the field, in closed- captioning/encoding, tape conversions, as well as 5.1 Surround Sweetening, and uplinking your production.

MN WIFT had our Quarterly Meeting.

MN WIFT Education Field Trip
MAY 18th, 2006
FOCUS ON PHOTOGRAPHY: HEAD SHOTS, PR AND MORE