Cincinnati and the Summer of Movie Magic

What an incredible summer we are having here in Cincinnati, Ohio. No, I’m not talking about the recent record we tied here with 17 straight days with temperature over 90 degrees. But what’s really hot this summer are the four movies currently in production throughout the city starring major actors.

We haven’t seen anything like this in years. I’m sure the recently passed tax credit from the State of Ohio is a contributing factor for our newfound success. The truth is filmmaking is now taking place all over the country. Thanks to more people getting into low-budget filmmaking and the accessibility of new technology in digital filmmaking, Hollywood has become accessible to practically everyone.

Here’s a rundown on what’s happening this summer. JC Schroder has just wrapped up his thriller, Forever’s End. The story is about a young woman who’s on the verge of insanity years after a post apocalyptic event that apparently kills everyone on earth. Several scenes were shot in downtown Newport, KY, Corinth, KY and Eaton, OH. Schroder has returned to Los Angeles to start the postproduction phase of the project. Locally-based Rivercoast films in Montgomery, OH is onboard to handle distribution.

Billed as a thriller, Seven Below stars Val Kilmer (Tombstone and Heat), Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible and Pulp Fiction), and Luke Gross (Hell Boy II) is set to shoot later this month in Goshen Township. Producer Eric Fischer, a 1998 Moeller High School graduate (Cincinnati, Ohio), received a $335,000 film tax credit from the Ohio Film Office. The film is about a group of bus riders who find themselves stranded near a remote farm where a murder occurred over 100 years ago.

Measure, a crime thriller, is set to complete principle photography on August 11 in Norwood. The film stars Scott L. Schwartz (Ocean's 11 and sequels) as an aging Irish mob boss trying to keep control of his city. The film is directed by L. A based Director, DJay Brawner.

The final film is the highly anticipated A Strange Brand of Happy. After two years of development and delays, the project will start shooting on August 15. The producers recently announced the addition of the Academy Award winning actress Shirley Jones to the cast. Jones joins an already strong cast which includes Grammy Award winner Rebecca St. James (Left Behind), Venida Evans (The Adjustment Bureau), Joe Boyd (Hitting the Nuts) and 1996 Loveland high school graduate Ashley Palmer (Paranormal Activity). Appearing in a supporting role is Media Missionary School’s host, Bekka Pruitt, who recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.

A Strange of Brand of Happy is a romantic comedy told from a faith-based perspective. The producers are hoping to engage a mainstream audience while at the same time holding true to their values.

If you are interested in being an extra, there are plenty opportunities available. A Strange Brand of Happy has a site where you can sign up. You can find it at http://signupgenius.com/go/strange

Hopefully, the summer is only the beginning as many other projects are currently being discussed for the Queen City. Later this year, the action adventure, big-budget film the Avengers is also set to shoot in our area.

Terence Berry discusses the idea of Act One as a replacement or an enhancement to film school

Terence Berry discusses the idea of Act One as a replacement or an enhancement to film school from Media Missionary School on Vimeo.

Terence Berry talks about the mission of Act One

Terence Berry talks about the mission of Act One from Media Missionary School on Vimeo.

Maranatha Christian International Film Festival Debuts September 2011

By  Cheryl Wicker, Christian Movies Examiner

The Maranatha Christian International Film Festival is sure to be one of the world's most recognized film festival which provide family educational and faith based movies and documentaries. Premiering at the Cultural Life Center The MCIFF seeks to promote the most creative, innovative visually and technologically advanced Christ honoring filmmakers, and entertainment experiences in the world.

This September history will be made with the debut of this unique film festival in Rochester, New York. Some of the highlights of the festival are the addition of the recently retired Warner Brothers Studios VP of Music Administration. As a Christian with over 25 years experience in the film studio, Debi Streeter presents a wealth of knowledge of the Hollywood filmmaking system and desires only to share her knowledge with others.

Also included on the lineup is John David Ware who is the Founder & President of The 168 Hour Film Project based in Los Angeles, California. Past and present participants in the 168 include: Ralph Winter, Producer of the "X-Men" Films, "Fantastic Four," "Planet of the Apes." Gary Hall, VP of Post Production at 20th Century Fox TV, and Luke Schelhaas, Writer & Co-Producer on the TV series, "Smallville."

Read more at http://www.examiner.com/christian-movies-in-national/new-international-film-festival-kicks-off-september

Media Missionary School Acquires New Space for Media Training Center

Press Release
Site to be located in historical district near downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

Media Missionary School, a faith-based organizaiton that equips and trains future media missionaries, has acquired new space to launch their future media training center. The site will be open some time in the first quarter of 2012. The first phase of the project calls for office space, classrooms, a production studio, a kitchen, and future student housing.

Initially, production workshops and film camps will be offered in 2012. Also, Media Missionary School will launch a new program designed to help churches become visual storytellers and communicators. The Church Media 101 workshop will be designed to introduce both the technical and artisitic techniques which are needed to create media for both internal and outreach purposes. The new facility is located at 1530 Tremont Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the old Lunkenheimer building, which is currently under rennovation.

Media Missionary School is the brainchild of Harold Hay, an award-winning producer, director and author of The Red Pill, The Cure for Today’s Mass Media Culture. This has been Hay’s dream and vision for years to open a media and training center for the development of visual storytelling for global outreach by using visual media. Hay believes that Media Missionary School is primarily a mission’s organization. It’s purpose is to help, train, and support media missionaries on a practical, spiritual and emotional level. The ultimate goal is to not only support Christian film and media making but also to help Christians enter into mainstream media and entertainment as missionaries.

The new training center will be staffed by instructors, educators and trainers who work professionally in the media and film industry in both Los Angeles and Cincinnati.This will include Kurt Tuffendsam (The Job), Isaac Stambaugh (Hitting the Nuts and Strange Brand of Happy) and Brad Wise (Fenced Off).

Hay explains his vision for this new media training center and the ultimate purpose of Media Missionary School. “Our goal is to raise up, equip, train, and support future media missionaries entering the mainstream media and entertainment industries. Although for years we have been conducting film camps that have been highly successful, our new facility will allow us to take it to the next level. Our plans call for an extensive six-month, comprehensive training program. At the center, students will live, work, study and create media in a community environment. We certainly want to emphasize the hands-on approoach to media making. But we are primarily committed to the development of the messenger as well as the message because I’m convinced it’s the only way we can change and redeem culture. Our new program is based on an holistic approach, which means addressing the needs of the mind, body, soul, spirit, and heart. Obviously our primary goals are education and missions. Perhaps that’s what makes us a unique and pioneering effort.

“There are many ministries which help and support foreign missionaries. But who is there to support the young person who believes he or she has been called to the mainstream media and entertainment industry as a missionary. Well, that’s all about to change. If Hollywood and the broader entertainment industry is a mission field, then we need missionaries”.

Hay goes on to state that today’s cinema has often been called the new church, and our filmmakers are today’s new priests. Media Missionary School is designed to develop Christians who will become the new priests of our society and culture.”

Media Missionary School is currently online at mediamissionaryschool.com. At the site, you can find a variety of information and resources, including film reviews and other related material. For more information on the work of Media Missionary School, contact Harold Hay at harold_media@insightbb.com.

About Harold Hay:

Harold Hay is an award-winning writer, producer and director, who lives in Florence, Kentucky. He has produced numerous television shows, including 180 Videos and The Zone, which aired on over 200 stations in North America and 15 television networks worldwide. His programs have been honored by both the NRB and the GMA for best program of the year. He is the author of the recent book, The Red Pill, The Cure for Today’s Mass Media Culture, which is considered a difinitive work on the state of media and culture. He also has created a faith-based educational program for high school students, who are interested in pursuing a career in media, film or TV. Currently, he is the President of Flannelgraph Ministries and the Founder of Media Missionary School.

Keys to a Good Story - part 2

Seems like everyone who works in the media business has a theory on what a good story is. I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on script writing. However, as a moviegoer and someone who has been teaching media for years, here’s are the elements I want to see in a screenplay that ultimately have the potential to be a great movie.

5. Something has to be at stake. What does your protagonist need or want? But, more importantly, what happens to your character if he or she does not achieve the goal? Something has to be at risk. Who lives? Who dies? Who profits? Who loses? When you take this type of approach, you will care for the characters more. Classic examples of what’s at stake are Luke in Star Wars and Frodo in Lord of the Rings.

6. Character Arc. I want to see characters change and grow. If everybody stays the same, frankly, it’s boring. Maybe that’s why I love The Moral Premise because it requires the characters to change, and we visually see it in a physical state. Examples are Rain Man and True Grit.

7. Action. Obviously, something has to happen. Most movies do a good job in the first act and the third act. The stuff that happens in the middle is where the story falls apart. I’m not talking about explosions or car chases. There are other ways to create a sense of action. The point is something has to happen within that hour to hold your attention. Examples are Source Code and The Adjustment Bureau.

8. Dialogue. Sometimes I think dialogue is a lost art. I realize writing good dialogue is the most difficult thing in scriptwriting. Either you have the talent or you don’t. but when you hear good dialogue, it’s truly a delight. Some good examples would be Fargo and Juno.

9. Pacing. How many movies have you seen where you want to fall asleep or you’re struggling to understand what’s going on? This is a result of bad pacing. You need to give enough information to keep people engaged without overwhelming them. Examples of good pacing are Super 8 and Up.

10. A strong payoff. I can’t think of how many movies I have sat through where I was totally frustrated and felt betrayed because the ending simply fell off the cliff. No conclusion. No wrap-up or resolution. We all want some type of closure. I’m not asking that every detail be nicely and conveniently tied up. But, come on, there has to be some payoff at the end. The Book of Eli and Hoosiers have strong payoffs.

Conclusion. As I said, there’s probably no correct answer to what makes good story structure. Sure, you can read the books. But the best advice is to trust your gut. Draw from your inspiration and ask yourself is this going to entertain my audience? Have I taken them on a journey? Is this a movie people will be rewarded for investing two hours of their time.

Keys to a Good Story - part 1

Seems like everyone who works in the media business has a theory on which elements make up a good story. There certainly is no shortage of resources. A quick search on Google will reveal countess books, videos and seminars on script writing, story structure, and story concepts. You can find everything from the heroes journey to the moral premise. But who’s right?

Who offers the best advice on story structure? Is it Robert McKee and his book, Story? Or is it Christopher Vogler and his book, The Writer’s Journey? Or maybe Joseph Campbell and his book, The Power of Myth? You pick it. I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong answer.

To be honest, one of my personal favorites is The Moral Premise, harnessing virtue and vice for Hollywood success from Stanley D. Williams. His principle states that “some psychological vice leads to some psychological detriment”. But, some physical virtue leads to some physical betterment. He makes the case that whenever this principle is used, it results in substantially better box office results. In other words, it resonates with audiences.

I certainly don’t claim to be an expert on script writing. However, as a moviegoer and someone who has been teaching media for years, here’s are the elements I want to see in a screenplay that ultimately have the potential to be a great movie.

1. A killer concept. It all starts with a great idea. Is your idea big enough to fill the big screen for two hours and hold the audience captive? It must be compelling and filled with big themes. Now a great concept will not necessarily translate into a great movie. There are many other elements that have to be taken into consideration. However, it is essential in building a strong foundation. Examples of a killer concept are Inception and District 9.

2. Story Structure. I’m not talking about the three-act structure. The best way to describe it would be more like story design. It’s how you tell your story. Most screenplays start at the beginning in a linear fashion. But let’s make it interesting? What if we start at the end and move backwards or start in the middle? And it’s always important whose point-of-view the story is being told from. Some good examples are Pulp Fiction and One Hour Photo.

3. Strong visual elements. Obviously, movies are meant to be visual. If it’s not on the page, it’s certainly not going to be on the screen. Make it visual. Give your audience something to look at. Even good low-budget movies will find a way to make it visual. Examples of small stories that make it visually interesting are Get Low and Northfork.

4. Conflict. Hey, I realize this is a given. There isn’t one book or seminar that doesn’t preach the merits of conflict. If there’s no conflict, there’s no story. Even the Bible is based on the stories of conflict.