To remain up-to-date on The Mile Ground Casting and Crew calls, refer to themilegroundmovie.com and The Mile Ground Movie Facebook page. Check out our Q3 newsletter if you haven’t already! https://t.co/hzEA60FXcv — WVFG (@wvfilmguild) October 12, 2017 Like Tweet Pin +1 in Hello, Industry Friends! What’s New with the Guild Our Website We’re excited to share that we will be launching a new and improved website later this year! The site will include a backend that allows members to connect with each other on projects, casting, and resource needs. Members will also have a dedicated page of their own to showcase their talents. Workshops and Training We’re excited to be holding our 3rd acting workshop with renowned industry actor Jw Myers in October. More details below. The Board is also in discussions with other local trainers to bring more film training to the state. We will share more as information and plans are solidified. Discussions with WV State Government As a result of the WV Film Office closing earlier this year, the Guild has been in discussions with the WV State Government in how to move forward with and continue some of the services the Film Office offered. We will keep you updated as things progress. Upcoming Workshops ACTING 101 WORKSHOP for Children and Adults: When: Oct. 21st Where: Morgantown, WV Lakeview Resort Time: Children (ages 9-14) – 9am to 11am ($65/child) Adults (age 15 and up) – 12pm to 6pm ($95/adult) Lunch will be provided. To learn more, see the video on our website! Member meeting to follow. About the Instructor Jw is a seasoned veteran of the independent film arena, with a broad depth of experience in nearly every production capacity. His skill set ranges from directing, producing, executive producing, writing, acting, teaching, editing, production coordination, office management, and production accounting. Next Member Meeting When: October 21 Where: Lakeview Resort, Morgantown, WV Time: Meeting: 6:30 – 7:30 Social Hour: 7:30 – 9:30 @ Legends (on location at Lakeview) Grants Update Current: 1. We will be applying for the 2017 Charles Naillor Foundation Grant within the next few months. Closed Out: 1. We received the Charles Naillor Foundation Grant in the amount of $3000. Grant Opportunities: We’ve also helped other projects receive grant funds, and we’d love to help you. If you have a grant of any sort that you believe you or your organization might qualify for, we are willing to help you complete and submit the grant. Contact [email protected] for more info. Board Update We look forward to introducing you to the members of our board and what we’re up to each quarter! RONDA SUDER, SECRETARY: Ronda comes to us with more than 20 years of industry experience an actress, writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker. Her experience includes work both in front of and behind the camera on feature and short films, commercials, web series, new media, television shows, improv comedy shows, and live events. As a “life-preneur,” she is also a business consultant, author, speaker, and Founder of Words You Need, an initiative offering content and writing services to businesses and individuals, and holds a Masters of Science in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, a Masters of Art in Film and Media Production (2018) with a heavy emphasis on Directing and Cinematography, a Directing and Producing Certification from The Hollywood Film Institute, and is a Certified Life Coach. With a purpose to support other industry professionals and to inspire, empower and entertain through relatable stories reflecting the human condition, she co-founded an actors support group in Houston, TX in 2015 and her own production and media services initiative in 2012. Ronda also has more than 15 years of corporate business, human resources, and management experience on her resume. In recent months, she’s worked as a lead and supporting actress in indie films shot in WV, was cast in a sitcom pilot shot in Los Angeles, and practices improv in Frostburg, MD. Casting and Crew Calls The Mile Ground ABOUT: The Mile Ground is scheduled to begin production in Morgantown, WV in late November 2017. The Mile Ground, inspired by real people and experiences, is an immersive visual story that sheds light on some of life’s complications from which we often run and hide. Auditions were recently held for The Mile Ground, though cast and crew needs can often change. To remain up-to-date on The Mile Ground Casting and Crew calls, refer to themilegroundmovie.com and The Mile Ground Movie Facebook page. Coming Soon ▪ More Industry Workshops ▪ New and Improved Website! ▪ More Industry Workshops ▪ New and Improved Website! Join the Guild! Pay Your Membership Dues Here! Yours truly, Your West Virginia Filmmaker’s Guild Board ©2017 West Virginia Filmmakers Guild | The West Virginia Filmmakers Guild Inc. P.O. Box 4323 Morgantown, WV 26504-4323
Film Acting 101 Workshop – October 21, 2017 – Morgantown, West Virginia
If you would like to join us for this amazing workshop: email us at: [email protected] we will send you a paypal invoice once invoice is paid, your spot will be reserved If you need a hotel room, Lakeview has offered a special rate. Simply tell them you are in the WVFG Acting Workshop. Hope to see you there. This is such a great workshop taught by JW Meyers, a Los Angeles acting coach with tons of knowledge and humor.
Film Acting 101 Workshop – Morgantown, West Virginia – August 26, 2017
If you would like to join us for this amazing workshop: email us at: [email protected] we will send you a paypal invoice once invoice is paid, your spot will be reserved If you need a hotel room, Lakeview has offered a special rate. Simply tell them you are in the WVFG Acting Workshop. Hope to see you there. This is such a great workshop taught by JW Meyers, a Los Angeles acting coach with tons of knowledge and humor.
Thank You #WVFilm Office
WVFG Members & Supporters We’d like to thank Pam Haynes, Lisa Wells, Lance Schrader, as well as former locations manager Jamie Cope of the West Virginia Film Office for their dedication and service these years building the very foundation of the film industry in the state of West Virginia. They invested a great deal of time and effort into promoting our state, educating our workforce, and helping those who chose West Virginia for their backdrop . On behalf of the West Virginia Filmmakers Guild, we thank you for your support through the years. We still wouldn’t be here without your support. We are grateful. Thank you. So what’s going on? Where are we at now? What’s the status? The WV Division of Tourism now handles all film office duties. We recently met with the commissioners this past week for clarity. It was a promising meeting. They understand the importance of a working film industry in West Virginia and support it’s growth. The staff face a serious challenge of integrating film office duties into their department. We encourage them through this transition. The current politics at play have been frustrating. Thanks to those who take the time to contact the legislature. Your voice makes a difference. Please continue to spread the benefits of filming in West Virginia with its natural beauty and unique geography. The current $5 million tax cap for 2017 has been topped. Productions will be occurring throughout the state in the coming months. We hope to gather any information and possibilities for crew and talent. Film tax incentives will be available for 2018. A production must have a minimum of $25,000 to be eligible. We enjoy sharing projects within the community, feel free to email us at [email protected] to share. The WVFG was created as a non-profit 501c3 corporation in 1982. This is the 35th year of operation. We will hold two more industry workshops for 2017 as well as help those at WV Tourism learn about our endeavors. Support us by joining the WVFG. It’s $25 for the year, a write-off, and helps us continue moving forward. “For a cup of coffee..” Hope you all have a great 4th of July. Thank you #WVFILM Office for paving the way. Justin Owcar WVFG President
How to Build a “World” for Your Script
By Guest Blogger and WV Filmmakers Guild Member, Paul Nandzik Advice on Worldbuilding There’s nothing particularly easy about writing a good script, but if there was anything easy about it, worldbuilding would definitely not be it! It’s easy to get overwhelmed with having to imagine up a whole world (or worlds, depending on the scope of your work) with various combinations of unique or otherwise distinguishing elements such as cultures and sub-cultures, sentient species, geography, architectural designs, city layouts, flora and fauna, mythology and folklore, histories, technology levels, and metaphysics. The primary goal of worldbuilding is to create an enriching, immersive, coherent, and consistent universe or “constructed world” that sets the contextual foundation for your story. This is important, sometimes, for tackling subject matter that might be taboo (e.g., using vampires to talk about the danger and consequences of STDs in a sexually repressed society). Step 1: Know Thy Story Know what your story is about (e.g., boy meets girl, redemption, man vs. self) and develop an outline of it so that you have an easy way to refer back to what is driving the plot and characters in your story. The original trilogy Star Wars films are stories about coming of age and redemption. It is not a story about intergalactic trade politics, planetary climate zones, lightsabers, or even the Force – these elements are merely incidental to the heart of the story. Likewise, Blade Runner is a story about transhumanism, identity, slavery, societal indoctrination, and societal decay. It is not a story about flying cars or space colonies even though we see and hear about these elements. Step 2: Build Thy World There are several methods of worldbuilding, including top-down, bottom-up, and inferred. With the top-down method, you create the world in broad strokes such as technology level, world history, sentient species, continents, and climate. From there, you drill down for more in-depth detail, such as local history, politics, celebrities, commerce, sub-culture, and so on. The bottom-up method is, as you might have guessed, the reverse of the top-down method, where you begin with the specific details of only the part of the world your story is taking place in, and then expand into broader strokes as is necessitated by the needs of your story. The ideal, really, is to start with the top-down method, then switch to the bottom-up method, which would yield the greatest overall consistency. However, doing so is literally double the effort and double the time. Of course, not every location or aspect can or will be explored. And so the inferred method requires you simply to provide enough detail about your constructed world that your audience can infer specific details about it that were not explicitly provided. A great example of inferred worldbuilding (which is also a great example of literally showing rather than telling) is in Blade Runner where we see both modern style cars as well as VTOL flying cars (“spinners”). Without addressing it in any direct way, the film shows that the police possess spinners, and the dregs possess modern cars. This inference is reinforced by Police Chief Bryant’s line of dialogue, “If you’re not cop, you’re little people.” And so we can infer that only the police or others with influence can enjoy the luxury of owning or operating a spinner. Another example is in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers when Frodo traverses the Dead Marshes. Although this location has a rich history within the constructed world, it is not the focus of the story at hand, though we can infer some of its morbid history by way of the (ghosts of the) dead soldiers trapped in it. If you’re working within a shared (read: pre-established) universe, some of the work is already done for you. Star Wars, Star Trek, and Harry Potter all have rules set forth about metaphysics/magic and technology, society, settings, and so on. So you wouldn’t necessarily need to explain lightsabers, teleporters, or patronises, let alone the conflicts between the Jedi and the Sith, the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, or why squibs look down their noses at muggles. Possessing a real understanding of your subject matter will make your original universe feel real. That is to say that if you’re writing about the first contact between humans and an alien species, read up on what happened in history when two different civilizations met. How did they deal with the language barrier? Or differing cultural values? If there was a significant difference in technology, how did that impact perceptions and relations? What were the goals and motivations of each civilization? If you’re writing about the advancement of technology, research the impact of technology on culture. For example, how did the advent of the locomotive impact warfare and agriculture? How has social media impacted commerce and security? If your story features aliens or monsters, you might research microbial or marine life to find inspiration in how they look or how their biological functions. And if you’re trying to come up with non-standard names, one of my favorite methods is combining two common names. For instance, Samandrea is a portmanteau of Andrea and Samantha, and Tirsef is a portmanteau of Timothy and Josef. This creates a sense of familiarity while still being different. And of course, if you think that Simundrea or Triseffin works better, then that’s fine too. This is just a guideline, after all. Another consideration is for symbolism. Mr. Spock in Star Trek symbolizes the otherness of being biracial, and the vampires in Underworld represent white slavers (with several scenes prominently depicting whips to punish the Lycans). Lightsabers in Star Wars represent honor, tradition, and a bygone warrior’s code. So whatever sci-fi or fantasy element you’re writing about, be sure to spend some time thinking about what value they might bring to exploring the human condition. Step 3: Write (And Remember) Thy Story A unique stumbling block of worldbuilding is overwhelming the audience with information
Newsletter Q2 – 2017
Like Tweet Pin +1 in Hello, Industry Friends! What’s New with the Guild Our Blog We’re excited to share our inaugural issue of the quarterly WVFG blog launching mid-June. Our goal is to share industry news and information, industry resources, and more with the help of our key editor and blogger, Ronda Suder, and guest bloggers from the Guild and industry. Paul Nandzik will be our first guest blogger (thank you Paul!). The blog is scheduled to launch by mid-June before our next member meeting. If you would like to contribute news, blogs, or share industry events, please email [email protected]. Acting 101 Workshop We’re excited to launch our acting workshop series with renowned industry actor Jw Myers next month. More details below. Upcoming Workshops About the Instructor Jw is a seasoned veteran of the independent film arena, with a broad depth of experience in nearly every production capacity. His skill set ranges from directing, producing, executive producing, writing, acting, teaching, editing, production coordination, office management, and production accounting. Next WVFG Member Meeting The next WVFG member meeting will be held in Charleston, WV following our Acting 101 workshop with Jw Myers. What: WV Filmmakers Guild Meeting Time: 6:00PM Where: WVSU EDU Address: 1506 Kanawha Blvd. W. Charleston, WV 25312 What: We will be networking, sharing updates, and have a meet and great with the board. We would love to see you there! Member Spotlight: Meet Paul Nandzik Based out of Pittsburgh, PA, Paul Nandzik is best known for his stunt work, having performed, choreographed, and coordinated stunts on over 25 projects over the last six years, while winning Best Fight Choreography awards for his work on several projects. Being a stunt professional requires him to mimic actors’ movements and mannerisms so that he can double them, use a multitude of weapons ranging from fully automatic machine guns to katanas to a rolled up newspaper, various forms of martial arts, falling down on the floor or down a flight of stairs or out a window, precision driving, working with fires and wires, and doing all of it safely. Paul keeps his skills sharp by working and training regularly, and attending workshops and intensives such as the Society of American Fight Directors’ Virginia Beach Bash and the United Stuntmen’s Association’s International Stunt School. He even founded his own stunt team: Steel Legion Stunts. Outside of the world of stunts, however, Paul’s also an accomplished writer, producer, and sometimes a director, which he does under the auspices of his own film production company, Dreaming Droids Productions. Paul will be a guest speaker at the 3 Rivers Screenwriters Conference at Point Park University on Friday, May 19, where he and Steel Legion Stunts team members will perform a live stunt demo, then talk about what it takes to write, perform, shoot, and edit action sequences for film and television. Some of Paul’s recent work includes writing and interviewing on the documentary, Attila’s Next Step, about a Pittsburgh paraplegic breaking the world record for hand cycling; choreographing, coordinating, and performing stunts for a trailer for the sci-fi action feature film Rogue by Cineworx, Dreaming Droids Productions, and Indieground Films. Paul is also pitching the pilot for his dramedy series, Forever Young, as well as a documentary-style reality series. Coming up, Paul is set to produce one of the three stories on the creature feature compilation, Cryptids, by Nevermore Productions (who brought us the 1980s slasher horror throwback The Barn). He’ll also be making a cameo as a stunt double for one gag. Being ambitious by nature, Paul has many other projects he’s working on, including several feature films, trailers or sizzle reels/proofs of concept (one of which will be animated), short films, a web series, and a really cool action/effects series of commercials. Paul has collaborated with several WVFG members on several projects, and will be collaborating with Reckless Amnesiac Media for Pittsburgh’s 48-Hour Film Project this July. Grants Update Current: 1. We are thrilled to share that in addition to the Charles Nailler Foundation Grant in the amount of $3000. Pending: 1. A portion of the WVFG $10,000 for the NEA FY 2017 Art Works II Grant for an Appalachia in the Media Documentary is likely to be awarded, though nothing is confirmed at this time. Closed Out: 1. Unfortunately, we were declined for the West Virginia Development Office Flex-e-Grant in the amount of $8500 with a match of $1500. However, information is now submitted, and they know who we are for the next time around! 2. The Hollywood Hillbilly Documentary project received $20,000 from the National Endowment of the Arts in 2015, of which the Guild received $2000. Grant Opportunities: We’ve also helped other projects receive grant funds, and we’d love to help you. If you have a grant of any sort that you believe you or your organization might qualify for, we are willing to help you complete and submit the grant. Contact [email protected] for more info. Board Update We look forward to introducing you to the members of our board and what we’re up to each quarter! STEVE KWIATKOWSKI, VICE PRESIDENT: Stephen “Steve” John Kwiatkowski II (born August 12th, 1974) is an American actor, filmmaker, producer, and director. He has worked on large and small projects in West Virginia, Pittsburgh, PA, Las Vegas, NV and Nashville, TN. He has acted on TV shows such as Banshee (Cinemax) and, The Outsiders (WGN) and the film Concussion (Sony). He has directed cameras for the unveiling of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games Torch and Cauldron. Kwiatkowski is also the Red Ribbon winner for his work on the Documentary “For the Living” filmed in West Virginia. He has directed TV Shows, Movies, public theater and student films, as well as live national TV. Kwiatkowski is currently the only person in West Virginia to achieve a Tech I & II Certification from Lucasfilms THX and has worked with two living Presidents of the United States for National Television. Some of his work has been featured
Acting Workshop in Charleston, WV
Join us on June 17, 2017 at the WVSU EDC and act! Flyer has the info. Spots limited, reserve by emailing us at [email protected] If you can’t make it to the workshop no worries. There will be more. Email us if you would also like to have this in your own town. Each workshop has a limit of 20 participants. JW is a seasoned veteran of the independent film arena, with a broad depth of experience in nearly every production capacity. His skill set ranges from directing, producing, executive producing, writing, acting, teaching, editing, production coordination, office management, and production accounting. He recently directed and produced the feature “A Christmas Tree Miracle” and “The Pledge” in Wheeling, WV. “The Pledge” is distributed by BMG and frequently runs on the Daystar Network, and “A Christmas Tree Miracle” currently completed its second successful holiday season airing frequently on the UP Network. He also co-founded AWEtism Productions, where he created an autism awareness DVD, “The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Approach Volume I: It Doesn’t Have to be This Hard.” He has over two decades of teaching under his belt. He has also taught at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and the Dee Wallace Stone Acting Studio in Los Angeles, in addition to directing and performing with several traveling improvisational groups, playing such venues as The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, and The Ice House. Currently, he serves as adjunct faculty at Frostburg State University. For his new company, The Movie Brewdio, he teaches weekend film acting workshops around the country for adults and children. He is the Director of the recently-founded improvisation school, “Improv With JW” in Frostburg, Maryland. He also produces and performs in several podcasts for The Movie Brewdio, including “The 11% Better Life with JW & Karl,” an improvisational comic send-up of the self help guru industry. JW holds a B.A. in Theatre from Frostburg State University in Maryland, and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica in California.
March 2017 WVFG Newsletter
Hello, Industry Friends! What’s New with the Guild Our Newsletter We’re excited to be sharing our inaugural issue of the quarterly WVFG newsletter. Our goal is to share industry news, casting and crew calls, highlight member news, and of course, share what’s going on with the Guild! If you would like to contribute news, blogs, or share industry events, please email [email protected]. New Website Design Check out our new website that’s been revamped with a new design layout and navigation options, including company sponsors, document database for members, and more. Visit wvfg.org to see the new site and navigate through the new options! Member Spotlight: Meet Zach Labin My name is Zach ‘of all trades’ Labin, and I’m a West Virginian filmmaker! I grew up here, work here, and currently reside here. I’m from Morgantown and live in Charleston. My first job in film was as a Production Assistant, and I loved it! It was a lot of hard work and long hours, but it was totally rewarding. You bust your hump to get the job done, and at the end of the day, you sleep soundly because you know you worked hard and gave it your all! I have worked on television network shows for the History Channel, CW, and Discovery, along with all genres of film projects. I have had the privilege of working with various actors including James Franco, Dean Cain, and Jay Leno. My short film, “Appalachian Memories,” won an award at the 2015 West Virginia FIlmmaker’s Festival. Recently, I’ve been working on a short film titled “Commando.” In the film, Joel and Claire meet at a laundry mat and have to solve the mystery of missing panties together! I fell in love with the script as soon as I read it, and if the rough cuts are any indication, it will be a laugh a minute. A great thing about this film is that it was written by, produced by, and stars ALL West Virginians. Joining the West Virginia Filmmakers Guild has given me the opportunity to network not just with other Mountain State filmmakers, but also with legends of the industry, like John Russo and Bob Tinnell. It has also allowed me to meet award winning special effects master, Brad Kalinoski, who was responsible for all those tiny feathers in “Black Swan.” How was the Guild able to bring in such high caliber talent? Because all of these people have a West Virginia connection! West Virginia may not be the first state you think about when you think about film. But that may change in a few years as the Guild continues to host workshops and seminars to help build the talent pool in the state. It is important to me, personally, to make sure the talent in rural Appalachia is brought into the spotlight, so I have been working on a podcast where I interview other creatives in the state. The podcast is part of a web project, “AFGT.” That stands for Achievers, Freaks, Geeks, and Techies. The site offers tips and tricks to creatives of all types. I hope to have the site live by June 2017. I look forward to continued success within the industry and I hope to meet more of you soon! Grants Update Current: The WVFG is thrilled to share that we were recently awarded the Charles Nailler Foundation Grant in the amount of $3000. Pending: We recently submitted for the West Virginia Development Office Flex-e-Grant in the amount of $8500 with a match of $1500. If received, the monies would go towards industry training in ARC-designated At-Risk or Transitional counties in West Virginia. We also submitted for the NEA FY 2017 Art Works II Grant for an Appalachia in the Media Documentary. If awarded, the Guild would receive up to $70,000. Closed Out: The Hollywood Hillbilly Documentary project received $20,000 from the National Endowment of the Arts in 2015. Grant Opportunities: We’ve also helped other projects receive grant funds, and we’d love to help you. If you have a grant of any sort that you believe you or your organization might qualify for, we are willing to help you complete and submit the grant. Contact [email protected] for more info. Board Update We look forward to introducing you to the members of our board and what we’re up to each quarter! JUSTIN OWCAR, PRESIDENT: Justin was the WVFG treasurer since 2014 until becoming president in June 2016. He has lived in and out of Morgantown, West Virginia for the past fourteen years as well as Los Angeles, Singapore, and Brazil to name a few. He attended WVU with a bachelor’s in Marketing and Los Angeles Film School for Directing, Editing, and Producing. Currently in the Master Screenwriting Class at ScreenwritingU. Justin’s created over twenty commercials for Comcast and has worked on multiple shorts and feature projects as director, camera, sound, lighting, editing, grip, and even acted for a few years. He has well-rounded experience in all phases of production. Over twenty years of experience in all facets of the Entertainment industry. Justin enjoys photography, art, and writing when he finds time. Industry News WVU Film Club president wins best director award at Sundance Film Festival Budget plan spotlights WV Film Office, tax credits The Guild is working with local organization to support retaining the Film Office and Film Tax Credits in WV. Please contact your local representatives to share your concern and desire for the film credits to stay in WV. Some facts about the WV Film Credits are below: * The WV Film Office and the film investment tax credit has had a major economic impact in WV. * From fiscal-year 2008, when it began, until 2014 (the most recent data available), the credit had generated $43 million dollars in direct expenditures within the state of West Virginia. Those expenditures include wages, hotels, restaurants, rental companies, props, etc. The aggregate amount of tax credits during this six-year period totaled $13-million. * Cutting the WV Film Office
Now is the time to show your support for the film industry here in West Virginia!
If you’ve been a part of our crew, either in front of or behind the camera, you need to tell our elected officials to find another answer! If you ax the WV Film office, and the tax credit, none of productions you see here would have happened. And this is hardly all of them! WHY would you cut an office and a credit that brings MILLIONS of dollars to our state? Where’s the logic?! Reach out to the finance chairs: Del. Eric Nelson: 304-340-3230 / [email protected] Sen. Mike Hall (304) 357-7901 / [email protected] The West Virginia Film Office has released a showreel highlighting selected film and TV productions that feature beautiful and versatile landscapes found in the Mountain State. How many have you seen? #GoToWV #wvfilm Posted by West Virginia Film Office on Thursday, July 28, 2016
Film Flow Chart
Here’s a quick reminder on who answers to who. Respect your boundaries and build your relationship with those that are important. You can get to the know the producer at the wrap party.
