About Michael Korican

A long-time media artist, Michael’s filmmaking stretches back to 1978. Michael graduated from York University film school with Special Honours, winning the Famous Players Scholarship in his final year. The Rolling Stone Book of Rock Video called Michael's first feature 'Recorded: Live!' "the first film about rock video". Michael served on the board of L.I.F.T. when he lived in Toronto during the eighties and managed the Bloor Cinema for Tom and Jerry. He has been prolific over his past eight years in Victoria, having made over thirty-five shorts, won numerous awards, produced two works for BravoFACT! and received development funding for 'Begbie’s Ghost' through the CIFVF and BC Film.

Hot Docs named Academy Award Qualifying Festival

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Michael Korican

With Hot Docs unspooling later this month in Toronto, I want to emphasize it’s now an Academy Award® qualifying festival.

From the media release:

“Hot Docs is thrilled to announced that it has been chosen as an Academy Award® qualifying festival for short documentaries (documentaries no longer than 40 minutes). Recipients of Hot Docs’ Best Short Documentary award will qualify for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.”

I admit I have a soft spot for Hot Docs. Not only do I love good docs, I’m very happy they’ve taken over the Bloor Cinema; I used to manage the place in the mid-eighties for Tom and Jerry.

My take: Another great reason to support documentary films in Canada.

How to Classify Movies

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Michael Korican

Flavorwire has proposed new classifications for independent film.

“If ‘independent film’ is just a label to begin with, then why not expand it, and get a little more specific? Every film isn’t either indie or studio — let’s break it down, so we know exactly what we’re getting when we go to the cinema.”

Their categories are:

Underground
Indie-ground
Malick-wood
Indie
Indie-wood
Foreign-wood
Holly-pendent
Studio
Studio-plus
Explosion-ganza!

Read the full article here.

My take: I also want to know if the film is less than two hours long and if the ending is upbeat.

YouTube announces the YouTube Collection on April 1, 2013

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Michael Korican

Bucking the online trend, YouTube has announced The YouTube Collection.

Watch their short video explaining the concept.

Then order online. Choose a category, shipping options, gift options, and alternate formats, including videocassette, laser disc and betamax tape.

My take: This may officially mark the demise of the DVD. We can now hold that connectivity is a necessity, as much as water service, sewer connections and electricity. (The jury is still out on whether the telephone is still on that list.)

Bite TV comedy web series deadline: April 15, 2013

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Michael Korican

Toronto’s Bite TV is looking for the next hit web series and has launched the Bite TV Comedy Web Series Competition.

“If you are a comedy creator, digital content developer, producer or just someone with a great idea we want to hear from you! This is your chance to get a development deal to produce a comedy web series pilot for Bite.ca.”

Up to 100 lucky people can upload a 5-minute video pitch for their comedy web series idea. Three finalists will be invited to pitch in person in May.

Your pitch should answer these questions:

Who are you?
Who is your audience?
Have you already established an audience/fan base?
Where did the idea come from?
Why should Bite pick you?

The deadline is Monday, April 15, 2013. See Bite.ca for the application form.

My take: Here’s another example of the expanding mediascape. No longer are development deals only for movies and TV. If you’ve got a comedy thing happening, read the legal details and consider this.

CBC’s Short Film Face Off Deadline: March 27, 2013

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Michael Korican

The CBC is returning with the third instalment of its short film reality TV competition: the Short Film Face Off.

“To be eligible for consideration, films must be under 12 minutes in length, must have been completed in the past two years, and must not have been broadcast previously on network television. We are looking for comedies and dramas. Music videos and documentaries are not eligible.”

Selected filmmakers will be invited to Halifax for tapings in mid-May in front of a live studio audience.

The Grand Prize is $30,000 from Telefilm and $10,000 in equipment rentals from PS Production Services.

See all the details here.

My take: If you like reality TV, you make short films, you’re personable and you have a thick skin, why not submit one of your masterpieces? Besides the national exposure, the prize is not too shabby.

Congratulations to the first finalists of Telefilm’s Micro-Budget Production Program

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Michael Korican

Finally Telefilm is trying something new.

Recognizing that the current system is tilted against up-and-coming talent, last year they announced the Micro-Budget Production Program.

Each of 25 partners across the country nominated one of their recent students or new members for funding to produce their first features.

Eight finalists have just been announced.

“Telefilm will contribute $120,000 in funding per project. Finalists must use this contribution to produce, distribute and promote a feature-length film for release to the general public within 15 months of signature of the Telefilm contract, via one or more distribution platforms, with special emphasis on digital media.”

Congratulations to all and especially to Maureen Bradley of Victoria. In 2008, I worked with Maureen on an application to the NSI’s Features First program for her project Dry.

You can see all the winners here.

My take: I’m extremely excited by this development. I’m looking forward to at least one of these projects becoming a runaway success. Wouldn’t that upset the apple cart!

CineCoup goes public and why you should care

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Michael Korican

CineCoup just went live and you should care.

I blogged about CineCoup.com last November and last week it opened to the public with 90 projects, each vying for $1,000,000 and guaranteed screenings at Cineplex.

CineCoup is applying the tech accelerator model to film-making in Canada. Over the next three months, they’ll be challenging the teams to complete a number of ‘missions’ which the public will then rate.

That’s right — you’ll decide the fate of the filmmakers.

This is a fresh model for film financing in Canada. Other than direct crowd-funding, I don’t know of anything else here that shifts the power from industry insiders to the general public. After all, why not ask the audience directly what it wants to see, rather than leaving that decision to committee after committee?

My take: Sign up! Visit CineCoup often. Watch and rate the trailers. Add projects to your watch lists. Follow along for the next few months. Get involved.

Disclosure: I’m providing some production management services to Transmission by Tyler Moore and Clay Bartel.

A shining example of collaborative filmmaking

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Michael Korican

Today is Pink Shirt Day. We wear pink to show we stand up to bullying.

“…on February 27, 2013 we encourage all of you to wear something pink to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere.”

Giant Ant Studios of Vancouver teamed up with spoken word poet Shane Koyczan and almost 90 animators to create something special.

“86 animators and motion artists donated their time and brought their unique styles to 20 second segments that we threaded into one fluid voice. This collaborative volunteer effort demonstrates what a community of caring individuals are capable of when they come together.”

Please watch on Vimeo or Youtube and share.

My take: This is a shining example of collaborative filmmaking.

How to get your short to Cannes

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Michael Korican

Telefilm Canada is currently accepting submissions for Not Short on Talent.

Not Short on Talent will showcase Canadian short films in the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

See the Eligibility, Submission Guidelines and Selection Process. The deadline is March 1, 2013.

“The selection of shorts will be done by Danny Lennon, a well-known programmer on the festival circuit and founder of Prends ça court!, who will look for quality and diversity, as well as an appropriate regional balance. Priority will be given to films that have never been presented in public (world premieres).”

My take: Go for it! Danny Lennon is extremely well regarded and Cannes is Cannes!

Short Circuit Deadline Extended to Friday, February 22, 2013

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Michael Korican

CineVic has extended the deadline for submissions to the Second Annual Short Circuit Short Film Festival to Friday, February 22, 2013.

Short Circuit will unspool in Victoria, British Columbia in the beautiful VIC Theatre on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20.

“Filmmakers from British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon are invited to submit narrative, experimental, or documentary short films (under 20 minutes) that have been completed after January 1, 2011 to the second annual Short Circuit Festival. Submissions must be sent as DVD screeners or password protected online sites. If accepted, presentation copies must be sent to Short Circuit as HDCam, 16mm, 8mm, or a ProRes 422 file. Filmmakers may also pay their fees using Paypal sending $15 to director@cinevic.ca“

My take: What are you waiting for? If you’re a Pacific Northwest filmmaker, submit your work ASAP!

Disclaimer: I sit on the CineVic Board of Directors and the Short Circuit Jury.

Michael Korican Thinks

Thoughts on Independent Filmmaking and the Emerging Economic System

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