Dear MFVA members and attendees of the Winter 2009 Meeting at the Maine Studios:

Our first meeting at the Maine Studios was quite a success.  In spite of the threat (and reality) of the first snow of the year, we had a good crowd of about 55+ friends.  The screenings of six films from this years’ 2009 48 Hour Film Project were pretty sensational—alternatively horrifying, bloody, sensitive, romantic, hysterical—terrific production value and very fresh and innovative storytelling.  It was evident that we were witnessing the work of both emerging and quite accomplished filmmakers; a super exercise in figuring out how to work fast, intuitively, and who you really want to team with.  We also heard some great advice for those who intend to participate in the upcoming 48 Hour Film Projects. 

Before I forget ... a big thanks to Flatbread Pizza, 72 Commercial Street, Portland
(207) 772-8777 who donated ten really delicious pies!  We encourage all of you to do business with them.

And a big kudos to John Seymore and the Maine Film Collaborative (dba the Maine Studios) for hosting the meeting at this exciting new studio.  There’s great potential there for not only film production, but commercials, audience-based TV shows, and even live events such as theater, film screenings, concerts.  A great future lies ahead at 235 Presumpscot St., Portland. 

Some background:  It was just a few short months ago that the Maine Film Collaborative was launched—and we really looked at it as a great opportunity.  Any time there’s new energy and activity in our industry it’s got to be good.  My second reaction was, so ... well ... how is what they’re going to do different from what we do?  So we began meeting, first time on October 1, 2009 at our MFVA Board meeting at the Camden International Film Festival, in Rockport at the Maine Media Workshops.  John Seymore met with our board and outlined his organization’s vision including: a Maine Film Fund, education and training for young filmmakers, an hour exchange program, a film appreciation society, and managing the Maine Studios—important and needed services for our industry.  And we defined the MFVA Mission to him: to promote professionalism through education, and programs and panels; to promote greater business opportunities for our members through advocating for positive legislative action to benefit our industry, through broadcast opportunities (WPME and MPBN) and screening series (beginning this summer 2010); and through networking opportunities at our member meetings and through our newly designed website.  We met again at the Studios on November 1st and began planning this first meeting.  And we met again just before the Member Meeting on December 5, 2009.  The whole process is serving to sharpen both our organizations’ focus to better serve members of the Maine film industry.

So it was a great process and culminated in a great meeting.  Keep your eyes open for our next meeting in which we will be soliciting works-in-progress to screen before the membership.  What an opportunity to get feedback for something you’re working on!
If you have an interest in participating in this program, send your work-in-progress to Louise Rosen, our vice-chair, who will be leading a panel of three directors talking about their works. 

And just a reminder. The Maine Film & Video Association is a membership organization and works with the help of all of you.  We are looking for people to help populate our website with news, articles, classifieds.  We need a Webmaster.  So if you have some website management and design skills and can lend a hand, please contact Mark Ireland, our website committee chair.  We also need people to write articles for the website and someone with real experience in publicity to write press releases and develop relationships with the press.  So let us know if you can help.  And please become a member.  The MFVA works for a stronger Maine film and video industry and creates greater opportunities for you to succeed.  Sign up on-line today.

I look forward to seeing you all at our next meeting. 

All my best,

Richard Kane, Chair
Maine Film & Video Association
Kane-Lewis Productions
189 Rope Ferry Road, Sedgwick, ME 04676
207-359-2320