The Celtx Blog

Celtx Motion Sketches - Episode 7 - The Art of Workflow

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

Tracey: Re-Fragmented - A Unique Online Editing Opp for Canadian Filmmakers

Here's a terrific filmmaking opportunity for the HOME crowd...

In an online contest launched last month called Tracey: Re-Fragmented, Canadian Director, Bruce McDonald released all the footage from his latest award-winning feature film, The Tracey Fragments under Creative Commons and is inviting aspiring filmmakers to mash it up as a re-cut, which any old way they like! The other bonus is this initiative makes the movie's score by Indie, Broken Social Scene available for use as well.

In explaining his inspiration for the project McDonald says:

“The Tracey Fragments is a film that fully embraces experimentation and teamwork. I wanted to find out if that experience exists on the Internet and give others the chance to experiment and play with some beautifully shot footage of a world class actress in a free form environment. I hope people make their own feature films, short films, rock videos, trailers, experimental films and personal manifestos out of The Tracey Fragments."

(see full Press Release)

The contest started October 29, 2007 and closes on Jan.31, 2008, so there's still lots of time to enter.
The winning Canadian submission will be chosen by Bruce McDonald and his editors and receive an Apple Final Cut Pro prize pack, in addition to a spot in the bonus features on the DVD release of The Tracey Fragments.

So Guys and Gals, get online and strut your stuff...... If anything, it could be a bit of fun :)
Instructions and contest details are available here.

Good Luck!

Sheila

Film Racing Grand Prix 2007 - Can you make a film in 100 hours?

Test your skills against filmmakers around the world in the Film Racing Grand Prix 2007. On Thursday, November 29th at 8PM EST, teams are e-mailed a theme and a surprise element for their film. The films must be no longer than 5 minutes and must be shipped by Monday, December 3rd at 11:59PM EST. The top 25 films will be featured on filmracing.com and all entries will compete for a special Audience Award on OurStage.com. Thousands in cash and prizes go to the winners and anyone can compete from anywhere, so get your team together and sign up today! To register or learn more, click here.

Sponsored in part by Celtx.

Special Discount for Celtx Users - Use the discount code PRIXGRAND for $10 off the entry fee.

4th Annual Screenwriter's Challenge - Presented by nycmidnight.com

Hey People... Listen up!

If you just finished Script Frenzy and are screaming for more, Charlie and the gang over at nycmidnight.com are inviting you to participate in their 4th Annual Screenwriter's Challenge.

Open to anyone, anywhere.... Writers from around the world compete to see who can produce the best short screenplay (15 pages max.) on an assigned genre and subject in one week. Winners are chosen from this First Round to advance to the Second Round and compete for over $13,000 in cash and prizes by writing a short script in just 24 hours.

Entry Fee is $45 (US) and the Final Entry Deadline is July 11, 2007.

That means ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER!!!! Space is limited too, so hurry, hurry.
And... There's a *SPECIAL DISCOUNT for CELTX USERS TOO!!

To Register and find out MORE on how it all works, please go here .

Thanks Charlie!! - S

Mark Your Calendar!
Final Entry Deadline
July 11, 2007

1st Round (1 Week)
July 13 - 21, 2007

2nd Round (24 Hours)
September 22, 2007

Overall Winners Announced
October 3, 2007

*Special Discount for celtx users – Use discount code CHALLENGE4 for $5 off the entry fee.

"Punch Up at A Wedding" wins the Celtx prize for "Best Local Film" at the Nickel Film Festival!

Congratulations to "Punch Up At a Wedding" for winning the "Celtx Award for Best Newfoundland Film" at the 2007 Nickel Film Festival

Justin Simms, the writer/director of this short film was on hand to accept the handmade trophy and $500 cash prize at the closing night party.

In "Punch Up at a Wedding", six people reflect upon past mistakes after a botched wedding toast ruins the perfect day. The story revolves around three scenes about a single event that we never actually see. The film exhibits wonderful performances by Newfoundland actors, Frank Barry, Lois Brown, Stephen Lush, Mark Power, Monica Walsh, Ed Tanasychuk with cinematography by Jamie Lewis.

Justin Simms, the NLAC’s Emerging Artist for 2007, made this award-winning short in 2006. Justin has been very busy for the past couple of years. He was the first time film mentor at NIFCO, has attended The Canadian Film Center and his film "Punch Up at a Wedding " has won several awards including the Best Atlantic Short, the Michael Weir Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Best Director at the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Justin is currently in production on his first feature film, an adaptation of Joel Hynes' novel "Down to the Dirt".

Congratulations Justin, We look forward to seeing your new film at next year's festival!

-Michelle

Celtx version 0.9.9.1 Now Available!!!

Hey Gang,
This Celtx point release fixes several bugs that hampered several users. Here are the list of fixes:

Mac OS X 10.3.9 and earlier
Celtx successfully opens schedule and calendar documents
Celtx shuts down cleanly

Text Selection in Editor
Performance of text selection in long documents has been improved

Proxy Server & Firewall Issue
Improved performance of registration wizard and project upload for
users behind proxy servers and firewalls.

Print Preview
Celtx successfully prints from print preview window

Can't Add Word to In-line Dictionary
In-line spell check successfully adds words to dictionary

Text Element
The text format element has been added back into the script editor

As always you can get the new version from our download page.

For the folks late to the party you can review the release notes for version 0.99 here.

A Cultural Anthropologist's vid explains why "Web 2.0... the Machine is Us/ing Us"

If you haven't seen this video already, I think you'll find it interesting...

In an effort to explain Web 2.0 and why it matters, Michael Wesch, an assistant Cultural Anthropology Prof at Kansas State University, created this video by mixing together a bunch of animations, text and screenshots.

So is the machine using you?
You might want to keep the kleenex handy ;)

And btw... I noticed our stats have recently indicated a lot of interest in Celtx from Kansas State University, so a hearty welcome to our new KSU users!

The Promiscuous Materials Project

If you are an advocate of Free Culture, and are familiar with the writings of critically acclaimed American author, Jonathan Lethem, then you'll be excited to learn that he has recently launched
"The Promiscuous Materials Project".

Lethem created the project as an opportunity to make an argument for Free Culture by offering up some of his own stories for remixing and adaptation. He says,

"...These stories are for filmmakers or dramatists to adapt. They're available non-exclusively -- meaning other people may be working from the same material -- and the cost is a dollar apiece...... There's a simple written agreement to sign, which imposes a couple of restrictions, and that's it -- once you've paid your dollar and signed the agreement, you're free to adapt or mutate the story as you please..."

So what do you think? Wanna make your mark in Free Culture history? If so, head on over here for more info.
Here are some examples of completed projects and other works in progress.

Enjoy!
-S

Celtx Review by Zamwi.com's Zach Wilt

Zach Wilt, Chief Architect of the technology blog, Zamwi.com loves Celtx so much, he was compelled to write a review so he could share it with others. So check it out.

And Thanks!! for sharing Zach. Your support is greatly appreciated.
- The C Team

"If you are looking for a way to write that Academy Award winning film I have found your solution. Writing scripts and planning films, videos, or plays is such a crazy task, and staying organized through the writing process is even crazier. Celtx is an application that manages your new media writing without even opening your wallet!..." (more)

iPhone home... About the Local Boy on 24

No... I'm not going to talk about Apple's new iPhone simply because everyone and their dog is barking about it.

Based on what I've read it looks and sounds rather impressive though, so I'd suggest if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one,..... why not call home and tell the folks the great news about how one of our local boys, comedian Shaun Majumdar gets to exchange ammo with fellow Canadian Keifer Sutherland on the upcoming season premiere of 24!