Good news!!!! ....
Kari Ann Morgan of MicroFilmmaker Magazine recently wrote a great product review of Celtx and gave it a rating of 9.6 /10!!!
On behalf of the Celtx Team and our loyal community of users, we humbly Thank You!
Check out the review here. - Sheila
Hey Gang!
Check out this offer from our new friends at zzizzl.com
zzizzl is a new video download store for indie creators, started by Dennis Morrison a filmmaker who, like many other creative people, had difficulty getting his work seen by a wider audience and get paid!!
zzizzl showcases talented filmmakers, independent bands and other media creators to a worldwide audience - easy online submission coming soon! The difference is when you buy a zzizzl film or video we share the profits 50/50 with the rights holder - that's where creativity meets commerce!
For less than the price of a latte you can download fresh films or videos, transfer to your phone or mediaplayer and watch anytime anywhere - portable cinema in your pocket!
So head to zzizzl,com and give it a whirl, and be sure to follow the banner instructions below to get your Celtx discount (OFFER ENDS NOV.27/08)!!
And here's an update from Dennis regarding new additions to the site since zizzl's launch only 10 weeks ago....
Hi Sheila,
zzizzl has been going for 10 weeks. The feedback has been fantastic even with a few hiccups along the way. The signup process could have been easier for some people and we had a few film download issues. Our team have been actively working on fixing the bugs and we've received some great suggestions that have been implemented into the site.
Some of our new additions include: a quicker and easier joining process; a simplified credit system so now films cost 2 credits and there's a free download so people can taste the zzizzl experience.
zzizzl was set up for independent creators to have an avenue to get their work out to the public, with the ability to earn some money and for the public to be able to find and watch indie short films and videos anytime, anywhere.
So far everything you see has been completely self financed - we're not some large company with big backers behind us, we're a small team who passionately believe in everything we do and want to offer you more variety and choice that fits in with your lifestyle.
We're currently in discussions regarding additional financing for completion of Phase 1 and to start Phase 2, but this takes time. The problem is we don't have time especially in the current economic climate.
We need to show our potential investors that a sizable market for indie short films and videos exists. That's why we're turning to you and your friends to help us. We just need 5000 people to show their support for zzizzl by buying 10 or 20 credits each by Monday 24th November. That's just £5.99 or £9.99 ($9.99 or $15.99) each but we need it by next week.
If you all supported us by doing the following, we will raise enough to finance the final stage of Phase1.
So how can you help?
If you buy and get at least 10 of your friends to buy credits in the next week and get them to invite at least 2 of their friends to join and buy credits, we can do this.
Here's how:
Join us at http://zzizzl.com - it's free to sign up.
Email your friends from your personal email address and tell them to expect an email from you through zzizzl. You tell them to join and buy credits straight away. Remember credits are valid for 12 months so you don't need to spend it on films right now.
Once you have done this, log into the site, buy some credits yourself and go to your "spread the word" page in my zzizzl. Then do the following:
1) send invites to your friends by adding their email addresses. Each person is sent bcc so all email addresses are hidden
2) Each email sent includes your personal invite code
3) They paste your invite code when they join zzizzl
4) Their email address appears in your spread the word page
5) When they buy credits on their first purchase you receive a 1 credit gift
6) 2 of your friends join you have enough credits for a free film
7) You get your friends to do exactly the same thing and invite their friends
By inviting 10 of your friends you can receive 10 credits - enough for 5 film downloads.
If you really believe that content creators deserve to be paid for their work and this new form of distribution is a great way to do it, giving you access to some great indie content, you have to act now.
Help us to prove that indie creators make films and videos that people outside the industry want to watch and are prepared to pay for. Each film or video is cheaper than a latte!! The success of zzizzl could help change the status quo and also provide you with access to a growing catalogue of high quality indie films and videos.
Help us and be part of something amazing.
Thanks
Dennis
zzizzl team
http://www.zzizzl.com
Join us on facebook at http://facebook.com/zzizzl and http://groups.to/zzizzl
Built around CELTX open-source software, Motion Sketches is an online video series that explores contemporary approaches to media production development. From the big screen to the mobile screen, from live-action to the virtual camera - Motion Sketches presents a range of highly practical perspectives on developing a media project from concept to production - screenplay, design, story, development and delivery.
This month we're happy to bring you....
Episode 7 - The Art of Workflow
The planning and structuring of your production workflow is at the heart of creative thinking. This episode looks at the importance of planning your digital workflow and developing a creative assembly process that is flexible and matches your particular creative impulses. It also looks at practical ways of planning and organizing a workflow using Celtx to ensure that everything gets done when it needs to be done. (Among other things, be sure to check out Mike's innovative use of the Celtx index cards!)
As always, we extend BIG thanks to Mike Jones and Greg Dolgopolov of Bad Dad Productions for another informative and entertaining view in to different approaches for media production development.
Previous episodes include:
Episode 1 - So This is Cinema?
Episode 2 - There's No Such Thing as Good Writing
Episode 3 - Writing for Sound
Episode 4 - Writing for Actors - Part I
Episode 5 - Writing for Actors - Part II
Episode 6 - The Art of the Producer (more than finding the money)
Go here to view all.
Or go here to view Motion Sketches on your iPhone!!!
Enjoy!
Sheila
Hey Everybody!
The Celtx Team and judges at Against Malaria, are very pleased to announce that Andreas Delfin of Barcelona, Spain has been selected to receive special recognition for his entry, 'Salvemos Vidas' in the Celtx Users Against Malaria media challenge.
Andres will have the honor of determining the country of distribution of 5,000 malaria bed nets and will also receive a swag pack and a $1,000.(CDN) honorarium from Celtx to be put towards the production of the project.
On behalf of everyone at Celtx I'd like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to submit an entry to help inspire others to participate in the global fight against malaria.
Kudos to All!
ps - and your swag packs are in the mail!! - Sheila
Just received some great news from filmmaker, writer and Celtx user, Jeff Palmer of Dover, NH ...
"Hello Celtx,
I've been using Celtx for the past few years now and wanted to pass on some cool news. My script "The Sleeping Deep" took Top Prize at this year's H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival...Just wanted to THANK YOU for creating such a wonderfully intuitive and robust screenwriting program!"
Well, Congratulations Jeff! That's quite the accomplishment and we're glad we could be of assistance.
If any of you live in, or are handy to the Portland, OR area, this festival devoted to the works and fans of the late great Gothic horror writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft, takes place Oct. 3-5/08.
In the meantime, check out the press release and Jeff's letter from the HPFF Screenplay Committee informing him of his award... :) -Sheila
UPDATE!
Having returned recently from the Lovecraft Fest's red carpet with 'Best Screenplay' trophy in tow, Jeff Palmer reports back with a snapshot of a weekend adventure bespeckled with glamor and fame - Thanks Jeff! - S
Howdy folks,
I attended the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland, Oregon over the weekend of Oct. 3-5. Overall it was a really great time. I met some talented people, saw some fun films, attended a few informative panels, and grabbed my award for best screenplay which was a real treat.
Admittedly, I am not the best at making small talk and schmoozing with strangers – which is what the biz is all about, right? So I did find myself in your standard awkward moments (like weddings, office parties) where you should say something that you don’t, or vice versa, and the conversation kinda fizzles instead of sizzles. Oh well. That’s to be expected. No biggie.
I tried to make a connection with Mike Mignola, the creator of Hell Boy, but he was usually surrounded by several fans (comic nerds) or staff members so that made it tricky.
The audience was mostly comprised of Goth “kid” grown-ups who appear to have stepped out of a Marylin Manson video (or their mom's basement) and were getting prepped for a walk-on in a Tim Burton flick. I looked to be the odd fish in the barrel with jeans, a plain T-shirt and tattoo-free arms and pierced-free nose. Kinda funny.
A few movies stuck out from the heap. If you get the chance to see AM 1200 at a festival, check it out. Very well done. Shot on 35mm with Ray Wise (Twin Peaks) and directed by David Prior it won top prize for films at the festival. “Eel Girl” was another good one as well as “Casting Call for Cthulhu” a comedy that had people laughing. “The Dunwich Horror” was another good one starring Jeffrey Combs and Dean Stockwell. The animated The Amazing Screw-On Head by Mike Mignola was great time, too.
Oh, I did want to add this. When it comes to screening movies in a theater, DV is a hard sell. I know a lot of the films were low budget, but the “video look” turned me off. I think it was mostly because of the lack of saturation on the screen. Everything looked washed out with no contrast. So when AM 1200 was projected in 35mm – wow – what a difference. I’d like to see a RED ONE film projected sometime.
No big deals were made – no surprise there – but the festival director Andrew Migliore and his business partner Stephen Getman are going to put me in touch with a few folks “after the dust settles” from the weekend, which is nice of them. They really want my script to get produced as it would make a great addition to their festival when it does. I told them I was working on revisions and will certainly keep them posted with any progress I make.
In the end, the weekend was a blast. In addition to the festival we had some amazing food (sushi!), lots of good beer, and got in quite a bit of walking. After Portland, we drove up to Seattle on Monday and flew back to Dullsville, I mean Davis, on Tuesday night. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be back in a few years with a film in tow?
Later,
Jeff
Hey Gang!
We are pleased to announce the Against Malaria Foundation and Celtx have joined together in the fight against malaria. Get involved and participate in the Celtx Against Malaria Students Challenge, the new initiative challenging students to join the fight against malaria!
The PSA video below - created by New York based filmmaker / photographer, and long-time Celtx user, Zack Wilson - is guaranteed to move you ... and help 'you' make your media matter!
The Media Challenge
Help save lives by putting your creativity and talent to use! Create a video, film, TV ad, script, or any other type of media that will help educate the public about malaria and inspire others to donate $5 to the cause.
What Do I Get From It?
Most importantly, the satisfaction of knowing that your work is helping to save lives
How to Get Involved
Donations
Media Entries:
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:
Hey Gang!
Over the years we have received countless emails from Celtx users, new and old, offering to make a donation toward the development of the software. While we have graciously declined these offers in the past, we recently decided to accept your kind gestures, but with a bit of a twist....
Rather than put the money toward development, we'd like to direct your funds toward our new fundraising effort to help purchase bed nets for the Against Malaria Foundation. It's an important social cause we're sure you'll find worthy of your generosity.
If you'd like to join us in this fight to help save lives, we strongly encourage you to head to the Donate -Against Malaria page (located in the website's Download section) and follow the link to where you can truly make a difference in the world.
On behalf of the Celtx Development and Against Malaria Teams, we THANK YOU in advance for your generous contributions.
Sheila, Laurie, Steve, Tony, Greg, Chad, Mark, Rob and Andrew
Did you know ...
... that up to 3 million people die each year from Malaria?
... that 70% are children under 5?
... and that the single most effective means of prevention is a $5 mosquito bednet?
Well unfortunately it's all very true and the Celtx Development Team felt compelled to help do something about it. So,... we teamed up with the fine crowd who operate Against Malaria, a UK relief agency that was started by one man and his friends in 2004. Through word-of mouth and little publicity this initiative has since grown to become the world’s largest malaria advocacy group whose current goal is to empower 3 million people to take responsibility for eradicating malaria.
We'd like to show the world that the Celtx Community's creativity is matched only by its generosity and are therefore challenging Celtx users across the planet to get involved in the fight against malaria by creating media that will inspire others to donate, and by making a small but meaningful $5 personal donation to buy a malaria bednet.
And, to give you some more incentive, the creator of one selected project will be able to determine, liaising with Against Malaria, the country of distribution of 5,000 malaria bed nets, plus a $1000.(CDN) honorarium for project production from Celtx..
To get things started, each member of the Celtx Development Team has already made a personal $5 donation. So, come on Gang! We know you have it in you so please, check out the details and FAQs below, then jump in,... create,... and donate!! If you have any questions just email us at partners@celtx.com.
TO MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY, PLEASE GO HERE...
CELTX USERS AGAINST MALARIA - How Does It Work?
MAKING A DONATION:
We're asking as many Celtx users as we can to buy 1 bednet each - a small $5 contribution to help save a life. We've set up a dedicated Celtx donations page on Against Malaria in hope that thousands of Celtx users will get involved and do us all proud. And remember, for each $100 raised, 20 nets will end up over heads and beds and save 1 child's life.
To contribute visit: www.againstmalaria/CeltxNets
GENERAL FAQs
1. What Are We Doing?
We're calling on Celtx Media Creators around the world to get involved in the fight against malaria.
2. Why?
Because between 1 and 3 million people die each year from Malaria. Because 70% of those who will die are children under 5. And because the single most effective means of prevention is a mosquito bednet.
3. What Do We Want You To Do?
a) Create media that will bring attention to malaria bednets and promote others to visit againstmalaria.com to make a contribution.
b) Make a personal $5 donation to Against Malaria to buy a malaria bednet, and help save a life.
4. What's Your Incentive?
Feeling good for doing good, knowing that your actions will help save another's life.
5. What Type Of Media Do We Want You To Create?
Any type imaginable - videos, short movies, feature films, comic books, machinima, stageplays, music videos, podcasts - whatever you think will bring attention to malaria bednets and inspire others to make a donation. It can be of any length and you can create it in any language that you choose.
6. Submission Requirements
You can submit as many projects as you like, any length, and in any language that Celtx supports with the provision that you must include an English summary that explains your concept. Summaries can be created in the Text Editor.
7. What Happens To Your Media?
We're asking you to post it to the Celtx Project Central website for others to see. We hope some of you will be able to produce your ideas and seed them on the web or wherever is appropriate. One project creator will be selected to receive special recognition and a $1,000.(CDN) production honorarium. And some media may end up on the Against Malaria site to assist in the promotion of malaria bednets.
8. Why 'Against Malaria'?
Because 100% of the money raised goes to buy insecticidal mosquito nets. Every penny you donate goes to relief.
9. Where Can You Go To Learn More About Bednets?
- www.againstmalaria.com
10. Where Do You Go To Donate Your $5?
- http://www.againstmalaria.com/CeltxNets
POSTING A PROJECT ON PROJECT CENTRAL
To get a project posted to the dedicated Against Malaria page on Project Central requires 5 minutes and a few simple steps:
1. Use Celtx to write your Against Malaria project.
2. Click the 'Web Services' button in the top toolbar.
3. Click 'Upload Project' button to upload your project to the Celtx server.
4. Click 'Publish-->Configure Publishing'
5. Select 'Public-everyone can view the project' and tag your project 'againstmalaria'.
6. Click 'Update'.
Voila! Your project is published to the dedicated 'Against Malaria' page on Project Central. Now you can go and explore everything else Celtx and Project Central have to offer!
BadDads, Mike Jones and Greg Dolgopolov have rolled out another stellar episode for the Celtx Motion Sketches online video series. As with each episode, The Art of the Producer is sure to entertain and inform as you enjoy featured interviews with experts in the field, Susan MacKinnon, Executive Producer: '4'. Global Haywire, Eternity and with Film, Tv and Documentary Producer, Kingston Anderson.
Motion Sketches Episode 6
The Art of the Producer (more than finding the money)
What exactly does a Producer do? Are they just a means to finding the money? Or is the art of the producer something much more intrinsic to the creative development of a cinematic project? This episode of Motion Sketches explores the role of the producer in both creative and practical terms and delves into the nuts and bolts of production in the quickly evolving landscape of digital cinema.
ABOUT MOTION SKETCHES
Built around Celtx media pre-production software, Motion Sketches is an online video series that explores contemporary approaches to media production development. From the big screen to the mobile screen, from live-action to the virtual camera - Motion Sketches presents a range of highly practical perspectives on developing a media project from concept to production - screenplay, design, story, development and delivery.
Previous episodes include:
Episode 1 - So This is Cinema?
Episode 2 - There's No Such Thing as Good Writing
Episode 3 - Writing for Sound
Episode 4 - Writing for Actors - Part I
Episode 5 - Writing for Actors - Part II
Or go here to view Motion Sketches on your iPhone!!!
Enjoy!
Sheila
For those of you who have been looking for an excuse to get to Italy, here you go...
Announcing the 2008 Endas International Screenwriter Expo, produced by ENDAS, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering European sports and culture. Highlights of this Expo include:
1. ENDAS International Screenplay Competition
Entries will be accepted from February 1, 2008 through July 31, 2008.
Winners will be announced on the Endas website on Oct.15, followed by an Awards ceremony in Genoa (Italy) on November 9, 2008.
For prize and other details please go here.
2. Five-day Syd Field Writers Workshop - November 10-15, 2008 (English)
Internationally acclaimed Syd Field will be leading a five-day tour of screenwriting techniques, updating conventional storytelling conventions with a focus on new contemporary tools of the craft. This course will help writers create, prepare, write, rewrite and approach their screenplay with more control and creativity.
To see workshop schedule details, please go here.
To register go here.
3. Endas Italian Screenwriting Workshops
Fiction TV - June 14-15, 2008
How to write a good character - June 21-22, 2008
For more information on any of these events please contact:
ENDAS Direzione Regionale Liguria
Via Ricci, 3/6
16122 - Genova
Tel. 010-5958576
info@endasexpo.org
