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Moondance News & Announcements
April, 2007 |
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2007 CALL FOR ENTRIES |
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Remember to submit your projects to the 2007 Moondance!
Applications are currently being accepted..
Info, guidelines & entry forms
are available on the website now!
You may also enter your project via our internationally popular
online submission service, Without a Box, at:
www.withoutabox.com
CHECK OUT THE 2007 COMPETITION CATEGORIES . . .
Feature & short films
Animation & documentary films
Feature & short screenplays
Stageplays, Libretti & Short Stories
Film Scores . . . and more!
2007 MOONDANCE SUBMISSION FINAL DEADLINE!
MAY 1, 2007 POSTMARK DEADLINE |
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 DON'T MISS MOONDANCE WEBSITE PAGES: |
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| PROJECT POSTINGS |
Now you can post your feature, short, doc, or animation film, screenplay, stageplay, libretto, TV pilot, TV episodic, short story or film title, logline and synopsis on the Moondance website!
Click Here for details . . .
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| Seek beauty, truth, harmony...the promise of the future and the blessings of today. Live well, laugh often, love much, gain the respect & the love of children; fill your niche, accomplish your tasks; leave the world better than you found it. Appreciate Earth's beauties & express it. Look for the best in others and give the best you have. |
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| MOONDANCE SPONSORS |
MERMAID7SEAS PRODUCTIONS, FILM, SCRIPT & STORY CONSULTATION:
Mermaid7seas Productions offers script & story reading services, critiques, full coverage, script notes, and edits to all filmmakers, and screenwriters. Focusing on the elements crucial to creating a compelling and readable film or script synopsis, title & logline, our helpful comments will allow you to concentrate on solving the problems that will make your material move toward receiving a CONSIDER or a RECOMMENDED from studio and prodco buyers and readers, and will assist in advancing your film or script up toward WINNER in competitions & festivals, and offers to agent, option or purchase your work. An advantage of this low-cost critique service is that we will help you prepare your film and/or screenplay before sending it to producers, agents, managers, distributors and others who may have requested it. Information, prices & application form available here: www.mermaid7seas.com. * Mermaid7seas Productions also produces the Moondance International Film Festival annually!
Long-time corporate sponsors of Moondance are: FINAL DRAFT, CELESTIAL SEASONINGS, WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA (West), and Francis Ford Coppola's ZOETROPE ALL-STORY literary magazine.
INKTIP.COM: You don't have to be in Hollywood to break into Hollywood! Showcase your scripts on www.InkTip.com, the only site where an average of 3 scripts are optioned a week! For details, see www.InkTip.com.
Subscribe now to the newest and brightest film industry magazine, MOVIESCOPE: www.moviescopemag.com
MOVIEBYTES.COM: The top online guide to film festivals for screenwriters:
www.moviebytes.com
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| ABOUT MOONDANCE |
THE MOVIE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!
Moondance International Film Festival's primary goal is to present films and scripts which have the power to raise awareness about vital social issues, educating writers and filmmakers, as well as our film festival audiences, and inspiring them to take positive action. Through meaningful films, we begin to realize that our routine perspectives can give way to new ways of seeing the world, ourselves and others. Moondance believes in the unique power of the world entertainment media to create great social and environmental change. Our goal is to deliver compelling entertainment that will inspire and encourage people to actively get involved in the issues that affect all of us.
THE FILM FESTIVAL: The Moondance International Film Festival, popularly known as the "American Cannes", is one of the premier venues for the exhibition and promotion of feature and short films in the US, and one of the leading indie film festivals in the world. Dedicated to celebrating and sharing with international audiences the absolute best in the world of films and screenplays, film scores, and some 25 other genres, the festival features special presentations, retrospectives, workshops, pitch panels, a gala awards reception and ceremony, and many of the world''s top indie film screenings.
MOONDANCE BENEFITS: Here''s what you can get by participating in the Moondance: promotion and exposure of your work on an international level; a forum in which to share your knowledge, experience and talents with your peers; an opportunity to network with professional movers and shakers from Hollywood; learn something new and valuable; and get some great pointers on advancing your own entertainment industry career, in this professional, world-class forum. Moondancers are part of an amazing community; a unique collaboration of multi-talented writers and filmmakers.
OUR OBJECTIVE for this competition and film festival is to promote and encourage independent filmmakers, screenwriters and playwrights, and the best work in films, screenplays, stageplays, TV scripts, radioplays, film scores, lyrics, librettos, musical videos, & short stories, and to preserve and promote excellence in filmmaking, writing, and to advance the proper recognition of the writer's unique contribution to the art of film and television.
INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY FORUM: Moondance provides a forum in which those creative, talented & dedicated artists can have the opportunity for their work to be viewed and accepted by the powers that be, within the international film and entertainment community. The Moondance film festival offers everyone a unique opportunity to come together with other writers, directors and producers to create new opportunities, develop tools for success and forge new alliances within the international film and entertainment industry.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS at the Moondance film festivals have come from Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Kitts/Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, and many other countries.
OUR MISSION: Moondance promotes, encourages, educates and rewards non-violent conflict resolution in writing, the theatre arts & film. Moondance also promises to raise awareness of the invaluable contributions of women to the entertainment community, and to encourage environmental conservation & protection.
OUR REPUTATION: We are eager to continue to be one of the most important film festivals in the world by being innovative, risk-taking, and open to new thinking, new concepts, new talent, and new ways of telling stories.
OUR VISION: The long-term vision of the Moondance International Film Festival is to preserve and revitalize our intangible heritage, cultivate creative diversity, develop an intercultural dialogue, and stimulate this creative resource in screenwriting and film. Our mission is to present a vibrant and growing collection of films, screenplays, short stories, stageplays and other writings, which are an ideal means for communication across perceived boundaries of race, culture, age and gender.
FIRST-LOOK OPPORTUNITIES: Many top-of-the-line film and television production companies, based in L.A. and internationally, ask to be notified of the Moondance winners and finalists each year, before the winners are publicly announced, to guarantee their companies get a first look at the scripts & films. Moondance gets calls from other important production companies throughout the year, and we make sure the winners' and finalists' work and contact information is available to all legitimate, interested parties.
FOREIGN-LANGUAGE SCREENPLAYS: If you would like to submit your screenplay in Italian, Dutch, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Africaans, or French to the Moondance competition, please contact Elizabeth English at: director@moondancefilmfestival.com, with MIFF FOREIGN LANGUAGE in the subject line, and you will receive special instructions for sending your Moondance screenplay submission to one of our professional readers. Foreign-language scripts are judged equally with English-language scripts and there is no extra fee for this service.
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| MOONDANCERS WRITE US |
I've waited to write you because I wanted to have a really positive statement to say to anyone and everyone (filmmakers & writers, alike) thinking of entering the Moondance Film Festival. My response is "DO IT and DO IT QUICKLY. Why do I say this? Because Moondance was the catalyst in the motion that got me to where I am today. In March of this year, one of my screenplays was optioned by a very successful firm in Beverly Hills. During negotiations, they heard about my television series. They are running with it as we speak.
Entering Moondance was unquestionably one of the best decisions I have ever made in my more than twenty-seven year trek of trying to get the industry to see that I have special projects for them. But it only took you one sitting for you to see the beauty of my feature film, 'Angel on Fire'.
Prospective entrants need to know what you did for me. First, you guided me through the process of creating a vibrant logline and synopsis. Then, it was you who suggested the changing the of name of my film to 'Angel on Fire'. That was sheer genius! Having 'Angel on Fire' open your 2005 Festival and winning the Moondance GAIA Award was the icing on the cake!
By winning the GAIA Award, I was able to sign with my agent, Terry Porter. Signing with an agent was the hardest aspect of gaining control of the Hollywood process. If you haven't had a script purchased, agents don't want to give you the time of day. But, you can't get Hollywood to look at you unless you have an agent. Talk about a Catch-22! Moondance eliminated the Catch-22 hanging over my head. Elizabeth, you changed my life.
Hopefully, my next letter to you will have all the details of my successful path in signing a Studio deal AND a television deal. Until then, thank you for you and for the Moondance Film Festival! I will see you this summer at the 2007 Moondance Film Festival! - Mick Mapelli
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Thank you so much for contacting me . . . I was surprised and impressed by hearing from you. As a filmmaker, too, you know how much it means. It actually makes me want to be a part of your festival even more! Good luck with the festival. I hope to see you there! - Tyler James Massey
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Moondance is an extremely important festival to me. It was the first festival that came to mind during the production of my film. I feel a personal connection with the Festival and everything it represents. I cannot imagine a film festival that would be a better fit for my film. - Sylvia Binsfeld
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I'm a young Colombian filmmaker and I am excited about the work you do and I appreciate your dedication in getting our work to the public. I am excited about the safe women's space you provide . . . - Kimberly Bautista
SPECIAL MOONDANCER ADVERTISEMENT:
University of Southern California faculty member provides script consultation for friends of MOONDANCE. A one-time opportunity to work with top film coach on your script. USC screenwriting coach and producer, Paula Brancato, will read and provide script consultation to all MOONDANCERS, at reduced rates. A published author, produced playwright and screenwriter, Brancato teaches the USC Screenwriting thesis class, as well as The Business of The Business: How to Get your Script Sold.
Script consultation fee: $395
SPECIAL DISCOUNT for MOONDANCERS: $345
FEEDBACK WITHIN TWO WEEKS!
Please mail script, $345 check, and your contact information to:
Paula Brancato
208 West 30th Street #901
New York, NY 10001
e-mail: BrancatoNY@aol.com
office: 212-608-2724 , cell: 310-429-5181
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| THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY |
- Whatever Nature has in store for us, unpleasant as it may be, we must accept, for ignorance is never better than knowledge. - Enrico Fermi
- Footfalls echo in the memory/down the passage which we did not take/toward the door we never opened/into the rose-garden. My words echo thus, in your mind. -T. S. Eliot
- A preoccupation with words for their own sake is fatal to good filmmaking. It's not what films are for. - Raymond Chandler
- You don't lead by pointing a finger and telling people where to go. You lead by going there yourself and making a case. - Ken Kesey
- Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light. - Joseph Pulitzer
- The greatest wealth is to live content with little, for there is never want where the mind is satisfied. - Lucretius
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Please forward this newsletter to friends & colleagues!
And, Come Join the Moondance!
Best regards,
Elizabeth English, Executive Director
Moondance International Film Festival
http://www.moondancefilmfestival.com
Moondance Film Festival, LLC | 970 9th Street | Boulder, Colorado 80302 | USA
Elizabeth English, Executive Director | T: 303-545-0202
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