*updated: the internets devoured a previous version of this. everything should be fixed now.*
LoRes Fest 3.0 is happening over the weekend of July 25-27, 2008.
How To: Register, pick up video equipment, learn to use camera (if necessary), shoot film, return equipment, wait (other stuff happens at this point, but you would be able to just sit back with a martini {of your own making} while others did the dirty work), and then watch the results.
In a conversation with Helder Mira, one of the founding members of the Capitol Cinema Collective, I learned that the LoRes Fest was essentially created to (1) build interest in the Hartford International Film Festival and (2) sort of try to address or dissolve a climate of Hartford-bashing through a fun activity.
Anybody who can come up with the $50 registration fee ($60 after July 18th) can participate. That may seem a little steep, but the fee covers the cost of the camera and development; participants will also get a copy of the 2008 LoRes Fest DVD. For people who do not have access to high tech film equipment, the LoRes Fest might be their one shot at creative experimentation of this nature, and it’s certainly cheaper than taking a class in film production. This project of the Capitol Cinema Collective is paid for all out of pocket– there’s no grant funding or anything of that nature. Any profits from this are applied to the Hartford International Film Festival.
Because this is open to beginners, participants will be provided with a user’s manual, additional instruction if needed, and Mira will be “on call” to help try to resolve any problems that may arise. One of the “rules” is that all participants use the cameras provided. Mira described this as a way of “democratizing media,” by making it so that everyone begins on a level technical playing field. Creativity or prior experience will set material apart afterwards, but there will not be disparities in the quality of the product because of someone’s fancy thousand dollar piece of equipment.
In past years, one of the requirements was that participants include shots of certain things in their films. One year, they had to get at least one street sign; another year, it was time pieces. This year’s theme will be revealed to participants when they pick up their cameras. These requirements are reminders to keep the majority of the filming in the City of Hartford.
After picking up their cameras, participants have 24 hours to create their films. They will return their equipment along with production notes (which they’ll be instructed on how to make) to the Capitol Cinema Collective, who will do the unglamorous work of editing. I know from doing audio editing that this part of the process can be quite time-consuming. I imagine that for video, it’s even more so.
The short films will be edited to create a single regular length/longer film to be shown at the Red Rock Tavern in August 2008.
Check out some of these projects created in previous years:
