Calling all Seattle documentary filmmakers: if you’ve ever wondered what this whole transmedia thing is about, this is the conference for you. On October 24-25, the Documentary Summit rolls into Seattle with a slew of great speakers and a focus on how storytelling is changing.

Lisa and I will be speaking on Friday afternoon. And we’re excited to learn more about transmedia. But most of all, the conference looks like a great place to connect with fellow filmmakers. Join us!

More about the conference, from their website:

All traditional forms of media and storytelling have been upended by the influences of digital technology, and the documentary storytelling experience is next.

And given that Seattle is a massive tech hub, we’re bringing in experts in transmedia to mix with traditional filmmaking pros to explore the opportunities and impacts of the always on, real time, participatory nature of the Internet on documentary storytelling.

This is an opportunity to build bridges between those who create the stories, and the foundations, non-profits and other groups that can use cause or purpose driven content in support of mission.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Documentary producers & directors
• Writers, editors, camera people and content creators
• Non-profit communications professionals
• Corporate social responsibilty professionals
• Traditional Media Journalists
• Transmedia professionals

Threaded throughout the panel discussions, presentations and case studies will be a strong emphasis on the interactive documentary’s potential to serve as an advocacy and public education platform for bringing about change.

http://www.documentarysummit.com/seattle-interactive-doc-summit/

I am thrilled to be DPing a short film later this month called The Last Light. My partner LIsa Cooper is producing the film, which is directed by Jennifer Cummins, whom we met because of the 48 Hour Film Challenge earlier this year. The screenplay was written by Persephone Vandegrift, a talented Seattle writer. Here’s the synopsis:

Karen is a hard-working single mother of two girls, Hanna, 14, and Becca, 6. When the unthinkable happens and Becca’s young life is tragically cut short, Karen faces her fears and searches Becca’s room for the redemption and forgiveness she desperately needs. If we have a light to guide us, we can always find our way home.

THE LAST LIGHT is a story about finding light in the darkest of moments. Grief is a natural emotion, but sometimes it lasts too long. Forgiving oneself and accepting what life delivers is the biggest step toward managing grief. THE LAST LIGHT will inspire not only those who are currently in pain, but also those with loved ones who need help.

This is a film made by women, who fill all but one of the key positions, leaving me as the token male. That’s intentional, because the film is aimed at the Women in Film competition in Vancouver, BC, which requires it. I’m honored to be included. Here’s more about the crew.

Jennifer Cummins (Director) has directed and produced documentaries for Sunsports, ABC News, KelbyTv.com, and KelbyTraining.com. Jennifer has also worked with companies such as Turner Broadcasting, Carnival Cruiselines and Kelby Media Group. Most recently, Jennifer jumped feet first into Seattle’s 48 Hour Film Project where she directed, produced and edited MAN AND A VAN. She is also an avid portrait photographer and founder of www.blueedgephoto.com. Inspired by Gandhi’s quote: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will,” Jennifer has a passion for telling stories of inner strength and overcoming hardships to inspire the soul.

Persephone Vandegrift (Writer) debuted her first mytho/supernatual play, TWO, back in 1996. Since then she’s written several plays that have been performed nationally. Her first feature, DEATH OF A MORTAL WOMAN, has won several screenwriting awards. Her award-winning short script turned film, ALL THINGS HIDDEN, is about to hit the festival circuit. Another feature, THE WATER KING, is currently in development. Check out Seph’s work: www.persephonevandegrift.webs.com.

Lisa Cooper (Producer) With a background in the visual arts, as well as her corporate experience at Amazon, Lisa has an uncompromising ability to deliver on budget and on time. She produced BEYOND NAKED, a recipient of the “Best Documentary” award at Seattle’s STIFF Festival 2013. She most recently wrote and directed a short film called MR FAMOUS, an Audience Choice award winner in the Seattle 48 Hour Film Project. She partners with Dan McComb at Visual Contact.

Dan McComb (Director of Photography) is an award-winning photojournalist, with publication credits including “Time” and “Newsweek.” This experience is the foundation of his current work as a documentary filmmaker. His first feature-length film, BEYOND NAKED, received the “Best Documentary” award at Seattle’s STIFF Festival in 2013. His short films THE COFFINMAKER and THE METALSMITH are recent Vimeo Staff Picks. He partners with Lisa Cooper at Visual Contact.

Catherine Grealish (Composer) is a composer for film, media and live performance who has experience in a wide range of music genres. A multi-instrumentalist, she is a classically and jazz trained singer, and also plays violin, piano, and guitar. Her piano piece Remember Me is featured in our video.

We’re raising money for this film with an IndieGoGo campaign, which launched yesterday. I can’t believe how fast this film has picked up support. It was 50 percent funded within a couple of hours of launch. I’ve never seen a campaign do that well right out of the gate. We still have a ways to go to get fully funded, of course, and for that we need your help. If you’ve ever been touched deeply by grief, please considering supporting this film.

Here’s a rare and refreshing perspective: a director willing to call bullshit on the rush to 4k. You tell ’em Ken! Story is still very much king. So how come all you hear about his the latest camera? I’m guilty of that too, certainly. And the reason has to have something to do with the fact that story is hard, and it means talking about individual projects, and, as is pointed out in Ken’s rant, there aren’t any large camera companies that have stories to promote – they have cameras to sell. The narrative of filmmaking tends to be dominated by companies with products to push. Happily, we have Ken’s reminder about what the real deal is: story.

I’m officially on board with an exciting new film project. It’s a short called We Make Seattle, which I’m going to DP for Scott Berkun. Bryan Zug and Adam Baggett of Bootstrapper Studios are producing it. We need to raise $28k to make this film. Here’s the pitch:

I’m thrilled to be lensing this film because entrepreneurship is near and dear to my heart. My very first short, Shine, was all about small business people chasing their dreams. But perhaps most exciting for me is the opportunity to make a film with Scott Berkun. Scott is an incredible writer and all around bright guy, whose work I’ve been reading and following for five years or more. His latest book, The Year Without Pants, chronicles his adventures working as a remote employee for WordPress.com for one year.

Scott has made no secret about his desire to try his hand at filmmaking, and I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with him on his first short. And, this is a film about my favorite city in the whole world. From the film’s website:

This short film is a celebration of what makes Seattle the best place in the world for entrepreneurs and creatives to live. It tells the story of the vibrant and supportive community we have for starting companies, betting on dreams, and chasing big ideas.

Despite being named the #1 tech city in America by The Atlantic, and consistent top rankings on the list of the world’s most livable city, we’re frequently overlooked as the place to go for people with big talents and ideas. This film will change that.

The film has three goals:

1. Celebrate the creative community. We have all personally benefited from the Seattle community, and the film will be a reflection back to the community itself on how many amazing companies, events, and projects are based here. In our daily lives we rarely step back to see the entire city, and We Make Seattle will inspire by telling the story of how many great things happen around us.

2. Help recruiters and entrepreneurs attract talent. NYC, LA and even Portland have produced short videos to help local companies tell the story of their city. Seattle has no such film, until now. The film will be the perfect one link to send to convince ambitious creatives, potential business partners, or top candidates from around the world to bring their passions to the northwest.

3. Have the community tell its own story. Everything about this project is built by the Seattle community itself, and led by well known leaders who have benefited from our creative city and want to give something back. We’ll be inviting people to contribute in various ways throughout the production of the film.

All funds beyond our budget will be used to promote the video, as PR and reaching a wide audience is as important as the video itself.

Some photos from our foray into narrative filmmaking last weekend, taken by keen eyed Kollin O’Dannel. Lisa and I teamed up with Sean McGrath and his crew to create an entry in the Seattle 48-Hour Film Project, with the help of some amazing volunteers and cast, who worked their hearts out all weekend. It was a blast! Lisa has been hankering to direct for a long time, and she seized on this opportunity to build a crew and shoot something. The result of her first narrative short: audience appreciation award in Category D! Congratulations, Lisa, and thank you to everyone on “Team Naked.”

Want to see it and the other winners? Join us on Aug. 7 at SIFF Cinema at Uptown 7pm at the Best Of 48-Hour screening.

Thank you, Vimeo. The short video that Lisa and I made, The Coffinmaker, was just named today’s Vimeo Staff Pick. It’s a big thrill to have the second film in our series make Staff Pick, because it ensures tens of thousands of people will see it. And I think Marcus Daly’s work deserves to be known far beyond Vashon Island, don’t you?

I also want to thank Jesse Solomon Clark for his original music, which really brings the piece home.

The only thing that sucks about having the last two films in this series be so well received, is that it sure puts the pressure on our next one! We are looking for people in Seattle area who make things by hand, so if you know someone who you think would be a good fit for this series, please drop me a line and suggest them.

Beyond Naked is now available to watch instantly. We picked Vimeo to be our first distribution partner, and that means you can now view it on any compatible device — including your TV in full HD via Apple TV, Samsung smart TVs, Roku, Xbox, and more.

Further, the film’s introductory price of $9.99 includes ability to download the file and watch it any time you like for as long as you like. After June 21, we will be removing the file download option, and it will be available for streaming only.

As a filmmaker, Vimeo is a compelling option. The quality blows doors off YouTube. All of the most common options you would want control over are at your fingertips. And the deal is impossible to beat: 90 percent of all sales go directly into the filmmaker’s paypal account.

Here’s my request to you, Beyond Naked fans: please rate and take the time to post a one or two sentence review of the film. This will go a long way toward helping the film rise toward visibility and help it find its audience. Thank you!

I’m thrilled to report that Beyond Naked has won Best Documentary Feature and the associated $1,000 jury prize at STIFF! We were traveling back from Ashford, Wa. where we had a screening of one of our shorts earlier in the day, when we got the news in a text from Jeff Hedgepeth, who represented us at the awards ceremony. But we did make it in time for the after party at Metropole.

I can’t say enough good things about STIFF and the organizers Tim Vernor and Willard Chase, as well as all the other volunteers who made the festival happen. Thank you STIFF for making our dream of screening Beyond Naked in front of a local audience come true.

Next up for the film: We will be launching the film on Vimeo on demand very soon.

I’m excited to be headed to Ashland, Washington, this weekend, where the Rainier Independent Film Festival is happening. The short I made about Seattle metalsmith Andy Cooperman will screen at the festival at 11am on Saturday. It’s Lisa and my first time at the festival, which is located very close to Mt. Rainier in a place that sounds perfect for hanging out with fellow filmmakers and watching a bunch of films. Can’t wait!

Just in time for the premiere tomorrow, the poster art has landed! I’m so excited to screen this film for a real audience. Both screenings are sold out!