2012 Arkansas Student Filmmakers Symposium

The Student Film Symposium is full day of presentations by professional filmmakers on producing, casting, art direction, cinematography, lighting, audio and distribution. It will be a very inspirational day for young up-and-coming filmmakers

This year’s symposium is being hosted at one of the top studios in Arkansas. JM Associates in Little Rock has been producing television programs since the 1970’s. Starting with The Fishin’ Hole, which still ranks as the second longest running program on ESPN besides Sportscenter, the company has gone on to produce dozens of nationally broadcast and cablecast programs, including Bassmasters, ESPN Great Outdoor Games, Stihl Timbersports Series, Spanish Fly, Madfin Shark Series, Iditarod Sled Dog Race and many more for ESPN. JM has also produced programming for The National Geographic Channel, the Weather Channel and The Outdoor Channel.

JM is a full service facility with shooting, editing, graphics and distribution facilities, as well as web design and a fully equipped remote truck. The studio at JM Associates is a state of the art 70 by 90 foot soundstage and has hosted live and recorded programs for a host of clients, including a movie shoot during the past year for the motion picture, “The Last Ride”.

The symposium is free we just need to know that you are coming!

To register contact: Casey Sanders at csanders@aetn.org or 501-682-4190

2012 Arkansas Student Filmmakers Symposium Speakers

• Christopher Crane - Arkansas Film Commissioner

Christopher Crane, is a Little Rock native with over 20 years of experience in both production and acting, and now heads the Arkansas Film Commission, which oversees the filmmaking industry in the state.

 

•  Casey Sanders - Young Filmmaker Program Director - AETN and the Little Rock Film Festival

With over 20 years of experience in television and film production, Casey Sanders is the Arts & Culture Producer at the Arkansas Educational Television Network, which includes AETN’s yearly student film showcase Student Selects, now in its sixth year. In addition, she is the director of the Youth Film Program at the annual Little Rock Film Festival.

 

• Tim Schick - JM Associates/Life in the Fast Lane of Glam Outdoor Production

Tim Schick is a Coordinating Producer and Director at JM Associates in Little Rock, which has been producing television programs since the 1970’s. Starting with The Fishin’ Hole, which still ranks as the second longest running program on ESPN besides Sportscenter, the company has gone on to produce dozens of nationally broadcast and cablecast programs, including Bassmasters, ESPN Great Outdoor Games, Stihl Timbersports Series, Spanish Fly, Madfin Shark Series, Iditarod Sled Dog Race and many more for ESPN. JM has also produced programming for The National Geographic Channel, the Weather Channel and The Outdoor Channel.

JM is a full service facility with shooting, editing, graphics and distribution facilities, as well as web design and a fully equipped remote truck.

 

• Don Hager - Film Gear Rentals/ Feature Film Lighting and Grip Truck Demonstration

Don Hager transitioned into the film industry after a twenty year career in construction. After fulfilling a job on a film as a favor, he states that he felt he had found his true calling. He has now performed duties as electrician and grip on numerous film projects around the state, including the upcoming film "Mud." His currently working as a Best Boy electrician position with Dave Calhoun productions, as well as operating a grip truck. www.davecalhoundp.com, www.filmgearrentals.com, www.southerlightpictures.com

 

• Brian Stafford - Cue Incorporated/lndie Feature Film Photography

  Owner and operator of a hi-tech RED One camera system, Bryan brings years of experience in shooting, editing, and color grading on numerous award winning music videos, short films and television commercials. www.cueincorporated.com

   

• Chris Cranford - Jones Film Video/ALEXA/shoots for Arkansas Parks and Tourism

  Chris Cranford is a filmmaker living in Little Rock, Arkansas.  A graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in 1994, I have worked in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Little Rock as a director and editor for 15 years. He is currently Creative Director with Jones Film Video. www.jonesinc.com/chris-cranford

 

• Mark Maness - Gopher Broke Productions

  Gopher Broke Productions Inc. is an award-winning production company driven by the creative talents of Mark L. Maness, Producer/Director and Randal Files, Writer. Mark and Randal are experienced in feature production. Mark has produced the features “Tomorrow Never Comes”, for TNC Productions, “Top Cop”, for Crown International, and served as Director of Photography and Editor for the kids feature “Little Marines II”, by Magic hour Productions. www.birthritemovie.com

 

• Mitchell Crisp – Designer/Art Director/Scenic/Properties/Feature Film Art Direction

Mitchell Crisp started her career in the film and television industry in Northern California by working on projects for her friends who were in film school in the early 90's. After many short film projects, doing everything from costumes to props and sets, she began making props and designing sets for Advertising Agencies such as Foote Cone and Belding, and The J.Walter Thompson Agency. In 1998 she became the Art Department Coordinator on NBC television's Law and Order, and remained there until moving to Little Rock in 2002. Since living in Arkansas, she has Art Directed, Prop Mastered, Production Designed, and Costumed over 500 commercials for local and regional Ad Agencies, Murry's Dinner Playhouse, and 9 award winning short films. She is responsible for starting the Little Rock arm of the 48 hour Film Project here in Arkansas. Mitchell designed and Production Coordinated the Documentary "The Arkansas Rockefeller" in 2003. She was Art Department Buyer on the features "Come Early Morning" and "Mud", and was Prop Master on the feature, "The Last Ride", all filmed in Arkansas. She is currently in production on a Graphic Novel-turned-live-action feature titled, "Moderngrumble" being filmed in Fayetteville in March.

 

• Gabe Mayhan - Umbra Luminance - Feature Film Photography

An award winning cinematographer --- Over the last three years Gabe has shot over 15 narrative and documentary films. Namely, L7 - a short film directed by Ammon Abbasi - an official selection of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, screening at Critics Week; Pillow - a short film directed by The Miller Brothers - an official selection in over 25 film festival and winner of multiple awards including Best Cinematography at both Beverly Hills Film Festival and Rhode Island Film Festival. www.umbraluminance.com

 

• Joe Dull - Daringly Dull Productions - Location Audio

Joe Dull is a filmmaker, father, and professor with genetically bad hair (evidenced by every photograph ever taken of him) who’s been working in film for 15 years in California, New York, and now Arkansas. As well as “Table at Luigi’s,” Joe’s finishing up two short films: “Starring: Rachel Miller,” a combination documentary and original musical about a performer who, following an on stage accident, is a “walking paraplegic” who can sing, dance, and perform even though she can’t feel below her waist; and “The Proposal,” an aggressively short film about a man asking his girlfriend’s one-year old daughter for permission to marry her mommy. And, because he apparently doesn’t enjoy sleeping, Joe is also writing the screenplay for his next feature film based semi-autobiographically on a man who finds out his wife is pregnant and can’t stop his own morning sickness. Joe is an assistant professor and coordinator of undergraduate studies in the digital filmmaking program at the University of Central Arkansas. His goal is to make filmmaking available to anyone with the desire and discipline. www.daringlydullproductions

 

• Miles B. Miller and Joshua H. Miller - Independent Filmmakers

  Miles B. Miller and Joshua H. Miller are a Writing/Directing team from Little Rock, Arkansas, winners of multiple awards at various film festivals around the country, garnered from their short film “Pillow” released in 2011.

   

• Sarah Tackett and Yancey Prosser - The Agency - Casting on “Mud” (Arkansan Jeff Nichols' film starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey)

  The Agency President, Sarah Tackett, and assistant Yancey Prosser have been involved in casting feature films such as 21 Grams, Nothing But the Truth, Shotgun Stories, The Last Ride, War Eagle Arkansas, and the upcoming Mud. They have also worked with Arkansas filmmakers in casting award winning short films;The Orderly, Pillow, Foot Soldier, Antiquities Cosmic Legos.www.theagency.com