WOYP update!

What's On Your Plate is screening as part of BAMcinemaFEST in conjunction with the AfroPunk Film Festival on  June 27th in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn FREE event! Music from 6pm Film screening at 8:30pm (With a special showing of the Celebrate What's On Your Plate music video with the amazing Nona Hendryx) click here for details on our website!   and as part of the AfroPunk Film Festival on July 7th at BAM, Brooklyn 6:45pm screening will be followed by a  panel of cast members and community leaders Click here for more info and to buy tickets! Please come and tell your friends!

Celtx Now at version 2.0.2

Celtx Open Source Screen writing software is a wonderful gift to the freeware community. I have not fully explored the (low-fee) Celtx Sudio services but hope to get a chance later this summer.

Celtx 2.0.2 Release Notes - June 17, 2009

Bug Fix

Updated the save process
Improved project recovery after unexpected OS shutdowns.

Version 2.0.1 updates listed below. Released April 30, 2009

Bug Fixes

Launch Bug - Notifier Feeds
The application no longer waits for the Notifier feeds to populate before opening.

Schedule Prefs
Changes made to the default settings for the Production Schedule now persist after a close.

Keyboard Beeps (Mac only)
Keyboard short cuts no longer cause a Beep!

Multiple Openings (Mac only)
Celtx no longer lets multiple instances of the same project from being opened at the same time.

Install Bug - Profile Upgrade Bug
An install bug that prevented Celtx from launching due to a Profile issue is squashed.

Form Tab - Closing on Deletion
Deleting an item in a Catalog will automatically close any corresponding open Tab.

Drag and Drop in Project Library
Improved drop behaviour ensures the item gets placed at the intended target in the Library.

Editor Cut and Paste Bug
Squashed a cut and paste bug that effected all the editors.

Install Bug - Missing Windows dll
Fixed an issue affecting Windows users who were missing a dll file.

Catalog - Print Preview (Windows only)
Print Preview now behaves properly in Catalogs.

Catalog - File -> Print
'Print' from the 'File' drop down no longer goes inactive.

Recent Projects Opening (Mac only)
The 'Recent Projects' list in the toolbar populates properly.

Auto Parenthetical
The Parenthetical feature now behaves properly across all editors.

Production Schedule Call Sheet Date Select
A bug has been resolved ensuring Call Sheets display the correct date.

Index Card Plot Renaming
Deleting the Plot Names no longer causes problems in the Index Cards.

The full release notes for version 2.0 can be found here.

House Smarts Spring Season Complete!

Today was a special day at RoofTop Edit, HouseSmarts, our Telly Award winning home/lifestyle improvement show has locked picture on Episode 82! Ep82 represents the 2009 Spring season's final new episode before summer reruns.

Congrats to everyone on the HouseSmarts cast and crew! I would like especially thank the post-production crew: Chris Russomanno, Audio Engineer and Danielle Pruent, Assistant Editor.

Ela Thier's Open Letter From A Female Director

I took a wonderful screenwriting seminar with Ela, who recently has begun her own expedition towards writing, directing and producing her own first feature film:

Dear writers and filmmakers,
The letter I'm attaching here is not the most important one i'll ever write, but it feels like the most important letter that I've written to date.

I spent many hours on it, and wrote as truthfully and personally as I could. With it in mind that this letter means so much to me, I ask you to please forgive the length and take a few moments to read it to the end.

I'm attaching it to this email, or you can view it at:
http://www.thierproductions.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/an_open_letter_from_a_female_director.pdf

If you are willing to share this letter with your circles: be it a shout-out to a

with love and appreciation,
Ela facegroup list/s, embedding the link in your page, or sending it to particular individuals that you think would appreciate the read and maybe even answer its call, I would be eternally grateful.

Pressure Cooker Opening Night

Sat in a wonderfully packed IFC theatre last night to watch the 7:45pm show of Pressure Cooker. Jen and Mark offered a Q&A session along with three of the principle subjects of the film. It was the first time I had seen the entire completed film and it was lovely to see the fruit of everyone's labours.

Opened NYC: 27 May @ IFC Center
Opens in LA: 5th of June @ Laemmle's Sunset 5
Opens Philly: 12th of June @ Landmark's Ritz at the Bourse

Not to sound too much like a plug but I honestly encourage everyone to go see this film. Michael Lerman of INDIEWIRE said it best: "It's hard to beat the humanity of ... Pressure Cooker " In the final scenes we sit watching, waiting, rooting and hoping for the hard working culinary students of Frankford High as they await the ever-important scholarship decisions. Even having already seen all the raw footage, I still found a knot in my stomach equal to that of any parent sitting in that room; thinking "please, please, please, please!"

After the screening and Q&A there was a fun get-together at the nearby "Cabrito" restaurant. Good times and strong Margiritias were enjoyed by all. So great to see everyone again!

Pressure Cooker: Check it out people!

PRESSURE COOKER PREMIERE @ IFC

PRESSURE COOKER will premiere at:

The IFC Center on

Wednesday, May 27th.

" Mark and I are really looking forward to it and hope you all will be able to make it. We're not sure of the screening times yet, but will send out an email when they go on sale, May 25th. I would buy tickets online in advance because we are hopeful that it will sell out, especially since Wilma, Fatoumata and possibly Dudley will be in attendance."
- Jennifer Grausman, co-director

A Transparent Mind: Update!

Paul Docherty and I met over the weekend and began construction our physical effects for our short film "A Transparent Mind."

Paul suggested to me that we use a type of insulation foam, and cut out the individual letters and eventually hang them on strings. A sort of puppeteer version of type-setting. Isn't that cool?

I selected a rounded bold font, one that Paul and I agreed would be easy to read as additional elements on screen, as well as something that was practical to build (i.e. Sans Serif!).
Paul printed large 6" letters, all matching a particular scale (this will most likely affect lens choice during the effect shoot).

We stenciled the letters by putting charcoal on the back of the print outs and outlining them atop the foam.

Then Paul, using the hotwire machine carved out the letters.



We created over 50 characters in this first step. Next will be the creation of additional characters to aid in completing words, followed by a light sanding and paint job.

Thanks for the hard work Paul!