Use the special holiday bonus coupon: BADWEST – and get a $5.00 limited limited discount.  

Thanks for coming to the BADWest Holiday Mixer for 2011. We will see you next year with lots of new things to show you.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

The St. Clair Bourne Fourth Mondays Free Documentary Series presents

EVERYDAY SUNSHINE: THE STORY OF FISHBONE

by Lev Anderson & Chris Metzler 

January 23rd, 2012 7:00 PM at the Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum, Culver City

The Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers-West presents January’s  St. Clair Bourne Fourth Mondays Documentary Series free screening of EVERYDAY SUNSHINE: THE STORY OF FISHBONE, directed and produced by Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler.  The film is about the band Fishbone, musical pioneers who have been rocking on the margins of pop culture for the past 25 years. From the streets of South Central, Los Angeles and the competitive Hollywood music scene of the 1980′s, the band rose to prominence, only to fall apart when on the verge of “making it.”

Narrated by Laurence Fishburne, EVERYDAY SUNSHINE: THE STORY OF FISHBONE is an entertaining cinematic journey into the personal lives of this unique Black rock band, an untold story of fiercely individual artists in their quest to reclaim their musical legacy while debunking the myths of young Black men from urban America.  Highlighting the parallel journeys of a band and their city, the film explores the personal and cultural forces that gave rise to California’s legendary Black punk sons, while continuing to defy categories and expectations.  The film premiered at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival and screened at SXSW.

The screening will begin at 7:00 pm, followed by a Q&A with the audience and the film’s Co-Director/ Producer, Lev Anderson.

St. Clair Bourne’s Fourth Monday Documentary Film Series, named after the late founder of BADWest,  is a monthly gathering for arts enthusiasts and artists actively working in film, television and theater. Its purpose is to stimulate discussion on culture, political principles, creative techniques and the exchange of ideas that can help us all make the most powerful work possible to help create a culture of resistance in these important times.

The Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum is located at 4130 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA  90230  http://www.claytonmuseum.org/

Read more: http://www.fishbonedocumentary.com

View the EVERYDAY SUNSHINE trailer : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChXk4R0mGNw

“Like” EVERYDAY SUNSHINE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Everyday-Sunshine-The-Story-of-Fishbone/120839111267849

Follow EVERYDAY SUNSHINE on Twitter:  @FishboneFilm

“Like” BADWest on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/BADWestFacebook

BADWest

Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers-West

14431 Ventura Blvd PMB 115

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

(213) 534-6635

- Bridging The Divide: Tom Bradley and the Politics of Race http://mayortombradley.com

- The Documentary Channel www.documebntarychannel.com

- International Documentary Association www.documentary.org

- Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum www.claytonmuseum.org

BLACK ASSOCIATION OF DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS WEST PRESENTS

6th ANNUAL “DAY OF BLACK DOCS”

SATURDAY, NOV. 5^TH AT AFI

(LOS ANGELES, CA) October 11, 2011 – Four outstanding documentaries will be presented at the Black Assn. Of Documentary Filmmakers’ DAY OF BLACK DOCS on November 5^th,

1:00 – 6:00 pm at the American Film Institute, Mark Goodson Theater, 2021 Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Highlighting the day:

SING YOUR SONG, Susanne Rostock’s inspiring and biographical documentary of the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte. From his rise to fame as a singer, inspired by Paul Robeson, and his experiences touring a segregated country, to his provocative crossover into Hollywood, Belafonte’s groundbreaking career personifies the American civil rights movement and impacted many other social-justice movements.

SERVING LIFE, narrated and executive produced by Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, takes viewers inside Louisiana’s maximum security prison at Angola, where the average sentence is more than 90 years. The film documents an extraordinary hospice program where hardened criminals care for their dying fellow inmates, and embark on a journey that may end in personal rehabilitation. “Serving Life” reveals the humanity that exists inside each and every one of us,” said Whitaker.

THUNDER SOUL, executive-produced by Jamie Foxx,  introduces band leader Conrad O. Johnson and the students he touched during his decades on the job. It follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old “Prof,” their beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.  .

DOUBLE VICTORY, produced by Lucas Films and narrated by Cuba Gooding, is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, recounting the trials and tribulations the airmen faced when confronted with racism and discrimination in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and how they were instrumental in the United States’ efforts during combat.  “Double Victory” combines photographs, newspaper articles, National Archive footage, interviews, audio clips, and maps to recount this story.

Formed in 2003, BAD West is a collective of documentary filmmakers of African descent that advocate the recognition and professional advancement of Black documentary filmmakers. Their previous DAY OF BLACK DOCS have featured the Oscar-winning “Music by Prudence,” Emmy-nominees “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America” and Stanley Nelson’s “Freedom Riders,” plus many more.

Day of Black Docs is co-sponsored by the International Documentary Association and the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators.

Admission to the Day of Black Docs screening is $15.00.  Tickets can be purchased on November 5^th at AFI or in advance at DAYOFBLACKDOCS.ORG.

For additional information about the event, please call Queen Publicity at (310) 849-3820 or e-mail Allison Queen at allisonqueen@sbcglobal.net.

Saturday, November 5th Schedule:

***

Next meeting for BADWest will be on Wednesday November 2, 2011 at  the Writers Guild of America West 7000 Third St.  (Corner of Fairfax),  2^nd floor – Los Angeles 90048

Cost: Free Admission & FREE Underground Parking at the back of the building.

Then after the meeting we get ready for our Day of Black Docs event on Saturday the 5th get your tickets today!

Is there anything you’d like us to talk about?
We become better when you make comments.

So help us help you.

So call  BADWest (213) 534-6635  to leave your name and number.

So what do you have for us?

” BADWest has a “Show 10 – Talk 10″ session, running from 7- 9 pm,  where filmmakers can show up to 10 minutes of their work-in-progress, then talk on it for ten minutes.  This is an opportunity for those wishing to get constructive feedback and advice in developing their work.

This is an opportunity for you the Documentary maker to show us your doc, and you get ten minutes to talk about it with BADWest.

Now, this can be a work-in-progress or a finished piece. We’ll leave that up to you. Bring your documentary on a Video DVD, not DVD-Rom, as we will not be using a computer to show it, but a DVD player attached to a monitor.

All you have to do is come to our monthly meetings at the Writers Guild of America West in Los Angeles on the day when we’re offering the “Show 10 – Talk 10″ discussion. One of the best ways to know when it’s occurring is to get on our Email-Newsletter list. It’s a great list that won’t be sold to anybody.

You’ll get information about documentary filmmaking, and what’s coming up for BADWest when they meet. With all the events planned, 2010 looks like a great year for all things documentary.

“Show 10 -  Talk 10″ will be held during the BADWest selected monthly meeting at:

Writers Guild of America West

7000 Third St.  (near Fairfax)

2^nd floor

Los Angeles

If you’re interested in participating in this “Show 10 – Talk 10″ session, call  BADWest (213) 534-6635  to leave your name and number. Be prepared to show your work on the dvd format.

Location: WGA 7000 West 3rd St (at Fairfax) Los Angeles, CA 90048

Cost: Free Admission & Free Underground Parking at the back of the building.

Is there anything you’d like us to talk about?
We become better when you make comments. So help us help you.

There were the days of “Pitman or Gregg,” not documentary makers, but transcribing styles that secretaries used heavily back in the day. Ask your Mom. Today, if you have a couple of bucks to go with making a documentary, then you could be okay. All you have to do is send a copy of your footage to transcribers and pay the rate by word, by line, by paragraph, by page, or by job.

If you are funded or are working for a company, then that is all part of their budget. But, if you are working from your own pocket or your parents’ pockets, then what can you do? You can do it yourself and do your own homework.

I recently introduced a friend of mine to a DVD stand-alone recorder. What that means is that it is not attached to the computer, but next to the television. The DVD recorder is now taking the place of the VCR deck.  So it stands alone next to the television, but not in my house, because it has 8 cousins around it (tuner, cassette player etc.)

Let’s say you shoot a 45 minute interview, and you are using tape. (If you use a tapeless camera, then it is a different flow.) You may have your own editing equipment and come home and capture it and watch it being captured like I do after a shoot. Sometimes I don’t; sometimes I do a spot check. Now you have the opportunity to watch it over and over from your computer, in your computer chair. The time code is there.

Now suppose you don’t own the camera and you have to take it back the next day. Or if you don’t have editing equipment of your own and you are looking for somebody to do that for you. It is a good idea to use an editor. (See “Finding an Editor” article on Badwest.org.) They have the expertise that you may need.

The assumption here is that you have no editing system, and no camera. So the thing that I like to do is plug the camera’s video outputs to the DVD video inputs and the DVD output to the input of the television. Put the television on the right channel; tell the DVD that there is a signal coming into it through input #1 or #2. That is the easy part.

Documentation is a Must

As for the camera, you have to go into the menu most of the time — well, all of the time today with the new cameras. You look for the video section in the menu. (I can’t help you here; menus are all over the place.) You should have the manual with you. Never rent or borrow a camera without the manual or other documentation in the bag. That can be a life-saver if the person before you tweaked and tinkered with the menu inputs. Sometimes you have to find the reset button, and send everything back to the factory settings.

Now that you have found the right menu button for sending the video signal to the DVD/television, remember the television is seeing what the DVD is recording. You have an opportunity here to send the camera’s screen display with the running time code to the television. That may require a little fiddling about in the menu video area. But once you get it, then you are ready to go.

If you record the time code from the tape in the camera onto the DVD, then you will know where everything on the tape is in terms of time. She/he says this at; 23:07 and ends at 24:35. Now you will be able to tell your editor what is where and where is what. Not bad.

When everything is working, you will see the display on the television. The tape in the camera has been rewound to the beginning, and you have a disk in the DVD recorder Then hit record on the DVD, let it run for five seconds, and hit play on the camera. So when you reach the end of the interview press the stop button. Don’t forget to finalize the DVD or you can’t play it anywhere else except in the same style DVD recorder. Label your DVD to match what is on your interview tape.

Pencil and Paper vs. Laptop

What I like to do is get my “legal pad,” and my favorite beverage. Some of you will be using your laptops, I guess. I pop in the DVD and stretch out on the couch and hit play. The idea is to write down what the person you interviewed is saying, (Or describe b-roll) (what is b-roll?) for time’s sake. You don’t have to write your questions down unless you want to.

I always try to write down word-for-word, but most of the time I will “paraphrase” what they are saying. I will be the only to one see this transcription, as I edited my own productions. I have it like that. On the left hand side of my legal pad I put the time code that is on the screen, so that everything matches. (On some cameras you can minimize what’s on the display.) If I miss something, I just pause and go back. So once I’m done, I will come back on another day, watch it all over again to check my time code and when they speak, and to get the gist of what is being said in this DVD of the tape. Learn your footage

This could be the poor man’s (or woman’s) version of doing this. If you are working for somebody, you will have to be more precise in wording and time coding, because of time limits and exactly how long something (a statement) is going to be. Or if you are lucky, it will go out to a transcriber and you will get it printed out for you. Sweet!

The nice thing about transcribed work is that you can cut out the parts you want and lay them end-to-end and you got your documentary coming to life right in front of you. This is a time-saver when you are in an editing room; you and your editor have a map to sort of work with, and things can go a lot faster. This is because you did your homework.

Need a transcriber email us.

That is all.

Andre Campbell

139 West Productions

For those of you who are unfamiliar with BADWest Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West, feel free to visit the About page and read our mission statement.

For BADWest members as well as people with an interest in documentary film making in general, and BADWest in particular, we hope that this site will become a useful resource, news and information center for your film endeavors. With that in mind, know that this site is made for the membership by the membership and we strongly encourage your participation and contributions.

The First Step Is To Register

It’s really easy and once approved, you will be able to join in the discussions and perhaps post your contributions as well.

CLICK HERE to register.

Mini Blogging Beginners Tutorial Soon To Come..

We’ll soon have a page or post up giving you the bare basics about WordPress blogging and how to post on this blog. We’ll link to it from here.

Is there anything you’d like us to talk about?
We become better when you make comments. So help us help you.

Film Style Look

The question I always ask my students is, are you taking your video camera and filming (you don’t have film in a video camera), or are you videotaping?

It seems that the term “filming” is now the generic term for shooting with a non-film camera. It is kind of like the number “zero.” I watched a commercial the other day and the phone number to call was laced across the bottom of the screen with two zeros in it.  The voiceover announcer used the letter “O” to describe the numeral zero. It is actually easier to say; it’s only one syllable.

So today, things that were once tried and true are now open to new interpretation.

Today you can make a film with a video camera. There are so many out there today that that it makes it easy to get one. In 2010, if you look on Craigslist, people looking for videographers are asking them to show up with  HD cameras, and asking what experience you have as of last Thursday.

Light it Like a Film Shoot

Now back to the subject at hand. You should all know that when a videographer brings a high end HD camera to shoot, he brings a light with it. When you bring your low end Pro-sumer camera to shoot, why won’t you bring a light with it? That is the first step in trying to make your video look like film, or look less like video.

The best lighting for you to think about is using three lights and making a four-point lighting scheme. Ah, how do you get to four from three? Use a bounce, and that is your fourth source of light. Now, when you are on a budget, you may only have one light. If that is what you have, then so be it. Having a light on your subject will always enhance the look of your interview, and there should not be any tip-off that this is a low quality production. Remember, a film shoot may not do this style of lighting; this is for interviewing.

24p

A film camera shoots in 24 frames per-second and this is what a lot of us have grown up watching in the movies and on television. This is what are our eyes are used to seeing. Video is shot at 30 frames (actually 29.97 frames) per-second and I guess you know that. So today even low end cameras will allow you to shoot at 24 frames, progressive. That is like one solid frame of picture, similar to one on a strip of film.

Video Like Film

Filters

These are round glass-like items that you physically screw on to the front of your lens, according to its size. Think of them like shades for your eyes, where the light that comes into your eyes is altered. These are to help you get your film look even more like film. You should have a plain glass one to protect your camera lens;. if something flies at your lens, it is protected. Replacing the filter is a lot cheaper than replacing the lens. Tiffen has a “film look” kit of filters that you can use. There are others, but that one comes to mind.

Shutter Speed 1/48

Your camera has a shutter speed dial. This is when you need to read your camera manual. If you set up your dial on the camera or make adjustments in the menu to 1/48, then you may be on your way to getting that film-style look for your shoot. Experiment with settings if you want. If you are going to shoot action stuff or moving fast stuff, then you need to watch out for “Judder.” Check out YouTube or Google for more instructions on this topic; just search for “make your video look like film.”

Adapters

You can buy film adapters for your video lens to help give you that out-of-focus look behind the person like a close-up in the movies. These can be a little costly.

Another cheap way is to go on a “long lens.” That is a term one hears working around movie sets. The idea is to take your video camera and tripod (you will need a tripod) and get as far away from your subject as possible and then zoom in to them. Be careful about camera movements. Practice, practice, practice, and if you’re lucky, you may notice that the background is out of focus. Neat huh?

Post Productions

In the editing room with your edited footage you have another chance at adding another type of filter to your video. This is a digital filter.

You can get software that you add to your editing software, that will help you achieve the “Film Look.” You can get 30 filters or more to give you different film looks, as each filter may emulate the look of certain film stock that people make movies with. Some will pull out certain colors from your video, or give it that old film look with the scratches, or highlight a certain color so you get that same look of your favorite film.

Remember that if you apply a filter to just 30 seconds of video in your editing program, it can take up to five minutes or more to render it out for you. The longer the video, the longer it will take. The faster computer you have, the better.

There’s a lot of information out there to search for, if you need more clarification on any of the topics above. This is just to give you a sense of items available to you. I hope you enjoy this brief entry into making your video look like film. If you have any questions, just drop me a line.

Andre Campbell

139 West Prods.

Here is a sample of a newsletter:

Try it out today. – BADWest Newsletter 2011

Contributions are due by the 19th of every month.

Please email kyrwriter@gmail.com to have your item considered.
Newsletter Staff – http://www.badwest.org/wp-login.php?action=logout&_wpnonce=21b63156ca

“Show 10/Talk 10”

“Show 10/Talk 10” is meant to give filmmakers constructive comments and help with their
works-in-progress. The rules are simple: filmmakers show 10 minutes of a piece, members offer
written feedback in categories such as story, cinematography and production value; then the
members discuss the work seen for 10 minutes. Feedback is clear, concise and constructive and
you don’t have to be a member to show your work. If you are interested in screening your film,
please call BADWest at (213) 534-6635 and leave a message. Films must be in DVD format.

The meeting of the Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers – West will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 pm at the Writers Guild of America, 7000 W. 3rd Street, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

FREE Parking in rear of building!

BADWest is pleased to bring back “St. Clair Bourne’s Fourth Monday,” a
free film series held the fourth Monday of every month. Named in honor of
our late founder, this program screens political and issue-oriented films
having significance to the African diaspora. Just as St. Clair had envisioned it
during his tenure as the head of BADWest, we see it as a gathering for artists
actively working in media arts to stimulate discussion on culture, political
principles, and creative techniques. Ultimately, it’s the exchange of ideas that
can help us make the most powerful work possible to help create a culture of
resistance in these important times – something that St. Clair believed
strongly. The St. Clair Bourne Fourth Monday Series will be presented at the
new Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum (MCLM) facility in Culver
City with the first screening happening on May 24, 2011. This is the
beginning of fruitful collaboration between MCLM and BADWest. Watch
for next month’s newsletter to reveal the exciting news around the film we’ve
selected for screening!

On Monday May 23rd will start the new season! And will start our new location.

The BLACK ASSOCIATION OF DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS – WEST, brings to you, the ST. CLAIR BOURNE 4th MONDAYS DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING SERIES. They would like to present to you; I’M NOT BLACK I’M COLOURED

Mark off your calendar for, Monday, May 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m at
The Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum located at 4130 Overland Avenue in Culver City CA, the brand new venue for the Series.

***********************************************

Filmed on location in Cape Town, South Africa, I’m Not Black,
I’m Coloured examines the legacy of Apartheid from the viewpoint of Cape Town’s
Coloured citizens, the majority population in the
Western Cape Province who are considered
neither white nor black racially. In 1994 South
Africa’s Coloured community embraced Bishop
Desmond Tutu’s concept of the all encompassing
“rainbow nation,” but soon realized that freedom,
privilege, economic growth and equal
representation would not include them in the new
South Africa.
Director, Kiersten Chace focuses her lens on the
Cape Coloured community’s plight, and informs us
of a vibrant, yet struggling, people adrift without a
cohesive, collective voice. The film delves into the
history of the Cape Coloureds and South Africa’s
unique Apartheid history. First hand accounts of
life under Apartheid and the present day ANC
government that promised to bring hope to all
South Africans are expressed by local elders,
community leaders, political figures, clergy,
educators, and college students within the film.
The film running time is 78-minutes. Immediately
following the film will be a discussion with
filmmaker and producer, Kiersten Chace, Dr.
Michael Adams, actress, Lesley Ann Brandt,
Pastor, Raymond LeFleur, and Pastor,Edgar
Michaels. Panelists will participate in the discussion
live, via Skype from New York, NY, Cape Town,
South Africa and Minneapolis, MN.
The St. Clair Bourne’s 4th Mondays Documentary
Film Screening Series is named in honor of the late
founder of the Black Association of Documentary
Filmmakers – West (BAD West), St. Clair Bourne.
The Series is a traditional monthly gathering for
artists and scholars actively working in film,
television and theater to stimulate discussion on
culture, political principles, and creative techniques.
The Series is held on the 4th Monday of the month
at the Mayme A. Clayton Library & Museum.

To sign up just go here. (copy and past)  – www.BadWest.org/Mail

See you at the next meeting.

BADWest Staff

Ms. Goldfarb will screen a portion of her new project about Mayor Tom Bradley, the first African American mayor of a major city. Mayor Bradley, the son of a sharecropper and grandson of slaves, held office for an unprecedented twenty years, and transformed Los Angeles into one of the most important cities on the Pacific Rim. He ran twice for Governor of California, losing by the smallest of margins. “Bridging the Divide” is the story of the challenges which face our cities and nation, the paradox of race, and the complexities of coalitions.

This all happens at the Writer’s Guild, West!

7000 Third St. (at Farifax)

2nd floor, Los Angles – FREE parking.

For more information contact BADWest’s voice-mail @: (213) 534-6635

See you there for this great presentation.