Author Archives: Michael Korican

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.

Ted Hope on Independent Film and Culture

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Ted Hope keeps the provocative ideas coming!!!

First he lists 17 Things About The Film Biz That Should Significantly Influence Your Behavior; his insider view of the state of show business.

Then he follows that up with 19 Things Regarding Our Current Culture That Should Completely Alter Your Creative & Entrepreneurial Practice; his insight into the zeitgeist.

Stay tuned for his conclusion next week!

My take: ever since 2004, when video first became widely available on the Internet, I’ve held that we’re witnessing the walls tumbling down, one brick at a time. The old economic model is crumbling and it remains to be seen if a new one will replace it.

Get ready for 8K!

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On the heels of the massive 4K consumer television released by Sony, the Japanese have done it again.

NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, will screen the first 8K film in Cannes later this month.

“8K Super Hi-Vision was developed by NHK and delivers a resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels – four times the resolution of 4K and 16 times that of HD – as well as featuring 22.2 multichannel sound.”

Film theatres are just finishing their transition to digital projectors capable of 4K.

My take: I think technology is about to surpass biology; going to see a film in a movie theatre might one day be a sharper and clearer experience than anything you could see in real life. We may never go outside again!

Telefilm feature film development opens May 7, 2013

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Telefilm has announced that they will start accepting applications for feature film development beginning on May 7, 2013.

But don’t contact them directly.

Instead get your query letters ready and start contacting successful Canadian producers who have a track record.

If you can convince them, they will ‘mentor’ you and pocket a $25,000 fee.

By the way, Telefilm lawyers (but not executives apparently) insist that projects be squeaky clean. Projects may “not contain any element that is an offence under the Criminal Code, is libellous or in any other way unlawful.” This is much more broadly restrictive language than in the past.

My take: if you’ve got a feature script ready to go, start contacting the production companies. Which companies, you say? How about this easily searchable list?

The Future of Digital Cameras, According to Filmmaker Magazine

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David Leitner of Filmmaker Magazine has published the future of digital cameras, as he sees it.

“A motion picture camera used to be a light-sealed box with a strip of film running through it…. Today’s cameras are exponentially more complex. They are literal bundles of separate technologies, each lurching forward at a different rate. To understand today’s cameras, you must understand the parts to understand the whole.”

He looks at:

  • Pixel Count (4K is here)
  • Sensors (Super 35 with incredible ISO ratings)
  • Lenses (18-200mm with zoom servos)
  • Media (Solid state)
  • Frame Rates (120 to 240 to 480 to 960 for slow motion)
  • Compression and Latitude (H.265 and RAW)
  • Camera Design and Control (bonded cellular, anyone?)
  • Workflow and Post (64-bit and the free DaVinci Resolve Lite)
  • New Cameras in 2013 (including the For-A FT-ONE with 4K capture at 900 fps)

Well worth the long read.

My take: film is dead!

Hot Docs named Academy Award Qualifying Festival

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!