Film Production in the District, December 5, 2011

Film Production in the District, December 5, 2011

An update from DCIFF, 

Film DC, on Facebook  pushed out news Friday (December 2) that Mayor Gray met with film producers in New York to encourage filming in the District, as he has in Los Angeles.  As locales from Seattle to New Orleans vie for productions which bring jobs and public relations manna, DC has a unique "something" that brings big production here. Argo (Warner Brothers),  Marcher (Universal and fourth in the 'Bourne Identity'/Ludlum features) and HBO series Veep, are all filmed in DC.  While the large, top-tier productions sustain a viable film industry, our constant concern is the environment for the independent filmmaker and we hope this will have a positive impact on the independent film world too.  Two innovative local indie film productions to keep an eye on are the DC-based web series Anacostia the web series  (2nd. season, 80% shot in DMV area) and  Different Daze, shot by Howard University students. 

 Location and permissions costs are always a challenge, but the DC Film Office's  Crystal Palmer is a supporter of independent filmmakers having their due and being able to film freely in DC.  Production costs and taxes always seem to be central to the focus of the Independent Film "On the Hill" event that DCIFF hosts every year during the festival: March 1st, 2012. Watch this space.

DCIFF Alumni Spotlight - Evan Marshall and Jim Nabti

Winner of the audience award for Best Documentary at last year's DCIFF, Jim Nabti and Evan Marshall's Late Rounders followed its standing room only screening at DCIFF (which also earned director Evan Marshall the New Filmmaker Award) with a successful run at the Atlanta Film Festival and honors at the LA International Film Festival. Evan and Jim are currently transforming their award-winning documentary - which follows three college football stars and their agents while their last chance for their dreams to come true unfolds during the final round of the NFL draft - into a reality television series. The duo are making sure to keep their entire production team together so that the flavor of the original film translates to the small screen. Additionally, the team have a "super secret documentary" in the works. For more information on the film, the filmmakers, or players and agents featured in the movie, make sure to visit www.laterounders.com.

An Evening with the Late Rounders

On Friday November 18th, DCIFF and Bloombars offered festival fans an encore screening of DCIFF 2011's hit documentary, Late Rounders--The Long Hard Road to the NFL. This inspiring film follows three graduating college football players (and their dedicated agents) on NFL draft day as they wait and hope to be offered a spot on a team's 53-man roster.

The film, which won both the audience award for best documentary and the best local director award at the 2011 festival, is anticipated to reappear on the small screen as a reality show featuring its original production team - director Evan Marshall, Editor Steve Kobren and Producer Jim Nabti - all of whom attended Friday's event.

After the screening, the trio led a lively panel discussion which progressed into a series of informal chats with fans and industry professionals at a reception in Bloombars' exhibition gallery. We look forward to seeing more of these talented filmmakers' creations on both the big and small screens in the very near future. For more information on DCIFF, Bloombars, or Late Rounders please visit www.dciff.org.