DV Independent Film Symposium : Monday, October 2

Beyond Hollywood: Independent Storytelling
8:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M.
Penelope Spheeris
Ms. Spheeris's directing career has given her the chance to tell stories with millions of dollars and with almost no dollars. Hear what independence means to her and how it affects the stories she tells.

Choosing the Best Gear for Your Budget
9:00 A.M.-10:30 A.M.
Moderator: Josh Rosen, Outpost Film Center
Panel: TBA
Learn how to determine the cost of your independent project, how long it will take to shoot, and how to pay for the whole thing. Learn where DV gear can save you money and where it can't. A panel of experienced producers and directors reveal how they finished projects at different budgets.

Production and Post Strategies
10:45 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Moderator: Josh Rosen, Outpost Film Center
Panel: TBA
Hear how to keep your project both on schedule and on budget in the face of real-world shooting, editing, and finishing struggles. Discover how and when it makes sense to do things yourself and when it's wiser to hire others. Panelists share their war stories and tips for keeping a project moving forward. Discover how to ensure your low-budget production doesn't have cheap production values.

Special Guest: TBA
12:00 P.M.-1:30 P.M.

Film-Style Production with Digital Video
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Presenters: John Jackman and Adam Wilt
Video and film render the world in very different ways. Understanding these differences will help videomakers shoot for a film look on tape, or shoot tape for film transfer. And it will help traditional filmmakers exploit digital video to full advantage. John Jackman and Adam Wilt discuss frame rate differences, camera tweaks, lighting, labs, and filters to help you master video production for a film world.

Take Advantage of New Distribution : Options in the Age of Digital Video
2:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M..
Moderator: TBA
Panel: TBA
There are more means than ever before of distributing your project: The Web, DVD, cable, digital projection, festivals, and traditional broadcasters, to name a few. But how do you decide the best available means of distributing your project? Hear distributors discuss what they look for in a project, how much they pay, what support they offer, and what audience they reach.

The Pitch
4:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M.
Moderator: TBA
Panel: TBA
Pitch your project to a panel of experts, or just listen as other attendees pitch their projects. Hear honest feedback about the pitches' strengths, weaknesses, and likelihood of being accepted, or at least likelihood of resulting in further talks.

Fireside Chat
5:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
Moderator: Kimberly Reed, DV Magazine
Panel: TBA
Leading craftspeople discuss their projects, the art of storytelling, and how new means of production and distribution change, or don't change, their craft.

Film Festival
7:30 P.M.-9:00 P.M.
End the day with a big-screen presentation of independent work.