Next Sit-Ins

[Jason Butler]

You may have noticed that there wasn't a Sit-In (FilmmakersNetwork.ie's monthly meeting) for July. This was because we decided to have a look at what was good and working with the Sit-Ins and what wasn't.

A small action group was formed by volunteers and we worked / are working on a plan to relaunch the Sit-In.

Roughly here's what we came up with:

• Keep them on the first free Monday night of each month in Filmbase.
• Give better notice of upcoming Sit-Ins.

  Forthcoming Sit-Ins will be on the following dates:
  13th August
  3rd Sept
  1st Oct
  5th Nov
  3rd Dec
  In FilmBase, Dublin - Training room 3 - which I think is the one up the lift with the screen & projector.

• Alternatively theme the nights into the following categories:
  • Guest speaker with film screenings
  • Member's films screenings
  • Deadline session for submission of projects into funding schemes
  • Development session for development of your feature film pitch, synopsis, etc...
  • Equipment hands-on
• "What are you working on?" discussion to happen every month to help promote and develop our own projects and provide for greater interactivity between members.

More details about each of these will appear in their own threads.

We also discussed lots of issues from simple things like the arrangement of seating and need for someone to chair the meeting, maybe a new name for the Sit-In to coincide with the re-launch and also many other events and activities most of which we decided fell outside of the Sit-In event.

Committee / action group consisted of the following members:
Paudie
Brian
Aaron
John Murphy
Johanna Budzilowicz
& myself

Each person took on organising one of each of the categories/themed nights.
I just want to say thanks to all of them for their time and effort in this. Hopefully you should see some threads regarding each Sit-In soon.

If you have any thoughts on this or anything you can think of to improve the Sit-Ins please post below.

Just a few suggestions for stuff you could do at the Sit-ins..

- Run a Speedating evening so that crew can meet each other.
- Get a different equipment demo going every other meeting (talk to apple, sony, Kodak, arri , panavision, whatever)
- With enough interest you could vote for a classic movie on FMN (a poll yay!) and then rent out a cinema and go see it/ have beers after.
- Industry guest speakers give mini masterclasses (i know thats been suggested already)

I wonder could you run an event that would generate a couple of grand, like a big table quiz or something, and use the profits generated from the quiz to fund an FMN'ers 3 minute short film?
So everyone pays into the quiz, has a good night on the night; simultaniously the FMN has been running a quiz online for submissions for a 3 minute short. The voted winner gets the takings from the table quiz. Im sure if it were setup as an official FMN thing you might even be able to secure a sponsership package from some of the rental and post companies as well to help strecth the cash prize. The winner would then need to keep an online diary on the fmn of the films production etc. Could become a regular thing - silly idea?

[Brian]

Looking at the calendar, looks like January 7th is the first Monday of the new year, but perhaps we would get a better response for the 14th.

We could do a collaboration session, basically, people post messages of what they would like to work on and come along, so if you want to direct but don't have a script a writer who has a script but not a director can meet you.

[Jason Butler]

Haven't booked any space for the next Sit In but was thinking of having a special Network meeting to discuss and plan FmN.ie's activities including the rest of the Sit Ins for 2008.

[Brian]

Cool.

[Brian]

Shall we round up a committee again? we can vote for a chairman and a secretary. Personally I felt the last committee wasn't half as corrupt as I was hoping for.

[Paudie Baggott]

I've been dabbling in undeclared housing investment and Japanese whaling since last time so I could suitably sully up the committee. Bring the standard down, y'know!

[Brian]

I've been training guerillas in South America and am being paid in undeclared fair trade coffee beans and free-range eggs from the now (thanks to me) extinct brontornis - which make a delicious soufflé.

[Paudie Baggott]

Most excellent work Sgt. Burko. I say "Corrupteers assemble!"

[John Murphy]

Yeah I agree with Brian. If there is to be a sit-in in January then people will probably respond quicker to Jan 14th.

[Paudie Baggott]

A most productive 2008 to everybody. Hope you all had a great New Years.

Just wondering when the next Sit-In is gonna be? The 7th or the 14th?

[Brian]

Did I miss the sit-in yesterday?

[Jason Butler]

Think I missed it too.

[Jason Butler]

Actually would like to meet up to plan the 2008 Sit-In programme and book the space in Filmbase etc...

Also want to have a meeting to plan the running of FilmmakersNetwork in general. A meeting to form maybe a board or committee. A call to arms, get involved type meeting. Might be too short notice to do this next week though.

[Kid Kelly]

whens the next sit in?

[Clearlight]

[Brian]

Who's up for a Sit-in on Monday 7th April?

Anyone got some videos to show? If so, we can arrange a room in Filmbase (hopefully), alternatively a general meeting in a local public house could work just to ease us back into the monthly meets.

[Paudie Baggott]

Yes, I would be up for a Sit In. Might be able to get a few heads from college interested and see if they have anything to show.

[paddy]

Yeah I'm up for it, nothing to show and I'll be A bit late though.

[SuolasfilmS]

Originally Posted by Brian

Who's up for a Sit-in on Monday 7th April?

Anyone got some videos to show? If so, we can arrange a room in Filmbase (hopefully), alternatively a general meeting in a local public house could work just to ease us back into the monthly meets.

Is Mon 7th Apr set? Do I mark in my calendar?