Topic - Jedo (547)

Inaugural Interlochen Cinema Collective film scores top prizes at prestigious film festivals (News Articles 626593)

melissa.birdsey — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:58:32 +0000

Inaugural Interlochen Cinema Collective film scores top prizes at prestigious film festivals (News Articles 626593) melissa.birdsey Wed, 07/03/2024 - 10:58 Inaugural Interlochen Cinema Collective film scores top prizes at prestigious film festivalsWritten by Interlochen alumna Sara Nimeh and produced by a crew of Interlochen-affiliated collaborators, “Jedo’s Dead” has received accolades at SXSW, Palm Springs International Shortfest, and other noted festivals. July 3, 2024

“Jedo’s Dead,” the inaugural production of the Interlochen Cinema Collective, has scored top prizes at several of the nation’s most prestigious film festivals.

Written and directed by Interlochen Arts Academy alumna Sara Nimeh (IAC 00-06, IAA 06-08) and produced in April 2023 by a team of Interlochen-affiliated collaborators, “Jedo’s Dead” made its world premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas this March. During the festival, the 11-minute short film was selected as the winner of the Texas Shorts Jury Award.

Since its success at SXSW, “Jedo’s Dead” has screened at numerous other film festivals across the United States and earned additional accolades. The film made its California premiere at Palm Springs International Shortfest—an Academy Award qualifying event—where it was selected as Best U.S. Short Special Mention. “Jedo’s Dead” also won Best Short at the Minnesota Film Festival.

Other festival appearances include the Atlanta Film Festival, Dead Center Film Festival, Hill Country Film Festival, and Maryland Film Festival, among others. The film is also scheduled to screen at the Academy Award-qualifying Indy Shorts International Festival as part of “The Unexpected” program on Saturday, July 27. Additional appearances are pending.

Established in 2020, the Interlochen Cinema Collective unites Interlochen alumni, students, faculty, staff, and visiting artists to develop original visual stories. The Collective offers opportunities for young filmmakers to be mentored by professionals working in many facets of the film industry and gain hands-on experience on a professional film set. The Collective’s second project, a feature-length documentary on regenerative agriculture, is currently in production.

Film & New Media students attend SXSW Film & TV Festival for world premiere of ‘Jedo’s Dead’ (Stories 626042)

melissa.birdsey — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:19:22 +0000

Film & New Media students attend SXSW Film & TV Festival for world premiere of ‘Jedo’s Dead’ (Stories 626042) melissa.birdsey Mon, 04/29/2024 - 12:19 Film & New Media students attend SXSW Film & TV Festival for world premiere of ‘Jedo’s Dead’Eight young filmmakers visited the prestigious festival to see new films, mingle with industry professionals, and celebrate the success of the Interlochen Cinema Collective’s inaugural project.

Film & New Media students Sarah Wang (left), Ellen Denzin (center) and Meredith Farnsley (right) at SXSW.

April 29, 2024

In March, eight Interlochen Arts Academy Film & New Media students traveled to Austin, Texas for the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

The trip was catalyzed by the success of the Interlochen Cinema Collective’s inaugural film, “Jedo’s Dead,” which made its world premiere as part of the festival’s Texas Shorts program. All eight students who attended SXSW served as production assistants for the film.

“When we started the Cinema Collective meetings, the ‘win’ was just that faculty and alumni could workshop screenplays and pitch new story ideas with one another,” said Interlochen Center for the Arts Director of Film & New Media Michael Mittelstaedt. “More amazing was being able to develop production—let alone that the film we produced was accepted to SXSW.”

Celebrating “Jedo’s Dead”

Attendees gather outside the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center before the Texas Shorts Program on Friday, March 8.

The Interlochen cohort kicked off their SXSW experience by attending the world premiere of “Jedo’s Dead” at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center on Friday, March 8.

“It was a full house—sold out,” Mittelstaedt said. “We were one of the very few narrative projects in our category, so it was really cool to see our work in the midst of a number of documentaries, experimental shorts, and a few other narratives.”

For Mittelstaedt and the young filmmakers, the screening was an opportunity to see “Jedo’s Dead” through fresh eyes.

“We had a live audience of people who have no connection to Interlochen, so they were giving us authentic responses to the dramatic moments,” Mittelstaedt said. “There were also some unexpected responses. There were times when there were some laughs, which I think is because the themes inside of that film are so heavy that in the moments that were lighter, there was some relief.”

Following the premiere, the students had the chance to stand and be acknowledged for their contributions to the film.

“Our students were an unusual demographic at the festival, because there were really no other films in which high school students participated as crew members,” Mittelstaedt said. “They got to be recognized for that, which was a beautiful thing.”

A ‘candy store’ for filmmakers

Beyond the premiere, the Academy students were able to explore a wide selection of the festival’s programming.

“It was like a candy store,” Mittelstaedt said. “Because of the passes our students had, they could go to panels and see premieres, and they really did it up well. A good portion of them were seeing two world premieres each night. They also had the chance to sit in the old Paramount Theatre—which seats like 1,200 people—and to have that feeling of community that we don’t have as often anymore when we go to the movies.”

In addition to seeing new films, students were also able to gain perspectives from working television and film professionals.

“We went to a couple of panels together, including one with some of the showrunners for Reservation Dogs and a really interesting conversation with NBC Universal’s comedy vice presidents,” Mittelstaedt said. “Our students got to ask questions of people they admire. It was just phenomenal.”

Some students, such as senior Lindsey Levine, were even able to meet one-on-one with industry leaders.

“Lindsey ended up getting into a mentor session as a standby, and had—and I don’t think this is an exaggeration—a good 15 to 20 minutes with one of the vice presidents of Universal Comedy,” Mittelstaedt said. “Whether or not that leads to something tangible, just having that conversation and that access to someone to talk about her ideas, her pilots, and the shows she likes is remarkable.”

An unexpected success

Michael Mittelstaedt (left) and “Jedo’s Dead” director/writer Sara Nimeh (right) attend the second screening of the Texas Short Program on March 11.

Mittelstaedt and the Arts Academy students closed their time at the festival by attending the second screening of “Jedo’s Dead” on Monday, March 11—this time joined by several of the film’s professional collaborators, including director of photography Shane Bagwell (IAA 15-17), gaffer Zach Clark; and assistant director Ariel Ortiz.

Although the group departed on Tuesday, the excitement of SXSW wasn’t quite over.

“On Wednesday morning, our director, Sara [Nimeh] (IAC 00-06, IAA 06-08), wrote to me and said, ‘We’re thinking of going back up because it’s awards night. What do you think?’” Mittelstaedt recalled. “I said, ‘It can’t hurt. Who knows what will happen, and it will be nice to be in that space to support the other filmmakers.’ That night, I’m sitting on my couch at home and someone sends me a live feed of Sara up on stage at the Paramount Theater accepting the jury award for our short.”

Mittelstaedt describes the film’s remarkable success as “a series of unexpected events.”

“We made a really great short film, but at no point did we expect this out of ‘Jedo’s Dead’,” Mittelstaedt said. “I imagined the film going to regional film festivals and getting some exposure—but I never expected it to premiere and win an award at one of the largest and most notable film festivals in the U.S.”

“Jedo’s Dead” has since appeared at other film festivals—including the Atlanta Film Festival, the Maryland Film Festival, and the Minnesota Film Festival (where it won Best Narrative Short), and the Palm Springs International Shortfest (where it was selected as Best U.S. Short Special Mention), among others. The film is scheduled to screen at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival as part of "The Unexpected" program on Saturday, July 27. Additional festival screenings are pending.

“This film has developed a bit of a life of its own,” Mittelstaedt said. “It’s amazing to get to share it with people we hadn’t anticipated being able to share it with.”

OnHappenings

Interlochen Cinema Collective film ‘Jedo’s Dead’ to make its world premiere at 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival (News Articles 625712)

melissa.birdsey — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:01:42 +0000

Interlochen Cinema Collective film ‘Jedo’s Dead’ to make its world premiere at 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival (News Articles 625712) melissa.birdsey Wed, 01/10/2024 - 12:01 Interlochen Cinema Collective film ‘Jedo’s Dead’ to make its world premiere at 2024 SXSW Film & TV FestivalThe Collective’s inaugural film was produced by a team of alumni, faculty, staff, student, and guest collaborators. January 10, 2024

”Jedo’s Dead,” an original short film produced by a cohort of Interlochen-affiliated filmmakers, will make its world premiere this March at the 31st annual SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas.

Written by Interlochen alumna Sara Nimeh (IAC 00-06, IAA 06-08) and produced in April 2023, “Jedo’s Dead” is the inaugural production of the Interlochen Cinema Collective—a group of Interlochen alumni, faculty, students, and visiting artists dedicated to creating fully realized, professional-caliber films.

The film’s crew included Director of Film & New Media Michael Mittelstaedt as executive producer; Nimeh as director; Shane Bagwell (IAA 15-17) as director of photography; Dylanger Bates (IAC 07, IAA 07-09) as production designer and props master; Ellyn Church (IAA 06-07; IAC St 07, 09, 11) as producer; F. Hudson Miller (IAA 72-76, IAC St 76-78) as sound designer; and Lesley Alicia Tye (IAA 90-93, IAA Fac 02-present) as costume supervisor. Twelve Arts Academy Film & New Media students served as production assistants.

“The Cinema Collective is an idea that I have been discussing with our Film & New Media faculty and alumni for over ten years,” Mittelstaedt said. “To have our first film showcased by a prestigious festival like SXSW is an affirmation of the valuable opportunity the Collective provides—especially to our students. The Cinema Collective makes good on our promise to prepare current students as future collaborators by working together to foster a community of filmmakers who are generous, kind, human, and committed to the process of telling good stories.”

Founded in 1994, the SXSW Film & TV Festival unites film students, creators, and fans from around the world for nine days of screenings, networking events, red carpets, conference programming, and more. The event culminates in the annual SXSW Film & TV Awards, which honor the superlative creativity demonstrated during the festival. SXSW is also a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards Short Film competition, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards (Oscars), and BAFTA awards.

Want to be a part of other amazing opportunities for young filmmakers? Join the Film & New Media program at Interlochen Arts Academy. Start your application today.

Cinema Collective unites alumni, faculty, students, and guests to develop original visual stories (Stories 624854)

melissa.birdsey — Tue, 16 May 2023 12:57:58 +0000

Cinema Collective unites alumni, faculty, students, and guests to develop original visual stories (Stories 624854) melissa.birdsey Tue, 05/16/2023 - 08:57 Cinema Collective unites alumni, faculty, students, and guests to develop original visual storiesThe Collective facilitates opportunities for alumni engagement, professional development, mentorship, and hands-on learning by producing fully realized professional film projects on Interlochen’s campus. May 24, 2023

When Michael Mittelstaedt arrived at Interlochen in 2005 to lead the institution’s new Film & New Media division, he was already envisioning an era in which Interlochen-trained filmmakers would return to campus to work with the next generation of film students.

“When I was hired, my goal for the Film & New Media curriculum was to share visual storytelling in a way that would build a generation of community-minded filmmakers who would want to come together as future collaborators,” Mittelstaedt said. “I wanted to instill values, skills, and stories in these young filmmakers so that when we invited them back to Interlochen as industry professionals, it would be a gift to collaborate with them.”

This April, Mittelstaedt’s vision came to fruition with the inaugural production of the Interlochen Cinema Collective, a group of alumni, faculty, and guest artists dedicated to the creation of fully realized professional film productions. For four days, Film & New Media students worked side-by-side with members of the Collective to complete principal photography for Jedo’s Dead, a short film written by alumna Sara Nimeh (IAC 00-06, IAA 06-08).

The Cinema Collective has two primary objectives: To develop original visual stories, and to mobilize nearly a century of Interlochen alumni as collaborators and mentors. Through the Cinema Collective, faculty, alumni, and resident artists working in many facets of the film and television industry will convene at Interlochen to produce short and feature-length films and work with Interlochen’s Film & New Media students.

“The Collective has been a long time coming,” Mittelstaedt said. “It really pushes the boundaries of what Interlochen is capable of doing.”

The beta project: Chasing Daylight

In 2015, Mittelstaedt reached out to several Film & New Media alumni about the possibility of collaborating on his original film, Chasing Daylight.

“I knew that we were coming to a time in the history of the Film & New Media division when many of our alumni were beginning their professional careers,” he said. “I realized they were going to be incredible collaborators on this project.”

Over the course of the next year, Mittelstaedt and a core group of alumni—including Chad Engel (IAA 07-09), Dylanger Bates (IAC 07, IAA 07-09), and Nimeh—discussed plans for shooting the film. Mittelstaedt was awarded a sabbatical, and in 2016, Chasing Daylight began production on location near Palmdale, California. The production provided an ideal environment for testing the Cinema Collective concept.

“Working on Chasing Daylight renewed my energy and inspired me to keep thinking about what the Cinema Collective might be,” Mittelstaedt said. “Collaborating with my former students showed me that what I had anticipated in terms of the sentiment and the ability of the alumni was true. We could get together and create things that had a high standard without the crazy budgets and time crunches.”

The inaugural season: Jedo’s Dead

Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Mittelstaedt secured the funding needed to make the Cinema Collective a reality. Although the pandemic stalled efforts to bring alumni and guests to campus, Mittelstaedt moved forward, officially launching the Collective in 2020.

About a year ago, Mittelstaedt and a small group of Film & New Media alumni began meeting weekly to incubate screenplays for future Cinema Collective projects.

“During that time, we were thinking about screenplays, talking about stories, and giving each other feedback,” he said.

Eventually, Nimeh’s script, Jedo’s Dead, was selected as the Collective’s inaugural project.

“Sara’s screenplay arose out of our discussions based not only on the quality of the story, but also because it takes place in a single location with just three characters,” Mittelstaedt said. “It’s a story that is ambitious, yet is reasonable for us to achieve in a short amount of time.”

With the script selected, Mittelstaedt, with the help of Collective members, put out a call to alumni, inviting them to take part in the project.

“I got a great deal of response, and although not all those who responded were able to be involved right away, it was heartening to see the support that people were sharing and the suggestions of how they might become involved later,” Mittelstaedt said.

In April, a small team of alumni and visiting filmmakers convened at Interlochen to shoot Jedo’s Dead. The crew featured, among others, Mittelstaedt as executive producer, Nimeh as director, Shane Bagwell (IAA 15-17) as director of photography, Ellyn Church (IAA 06-07; IAC St 07, 09, 11) as producer, and Bates as production designer and props master. Twelve Film & New Media students served as production assistants.

“Although ‘production assistant’ sounds like a low-level position, the students were very well-ingrained production assistants,” Mittelstaedt said. “They were able to get hands-on learning with lighting, camera, production, design, set decoration—all manner of roles on set. During the four days we shot, as well as the two or three days prior, they were doing all of the prep work on location. They were very close to the action.”

The future of farming and filmmaking: The Greenacres documentary

Students will also be heavily involved in the Collective’s next project: A collaboration with the Ohio-based Greenacres Foundation. Through the partnership, Interlochen Arts Academy students and faculty members will create a documentary about regenerative agriculture practices.

“The Greenacres project is going to be a longer-format project, a feature that will take a couple of years to complete,” Mittelstaedt said. “We’ll be learning about how we can take care of the earth and how taking care of the earth takes care of us. My pitch for the documentary is that the earth is the only story we all share.”

“Making this concept accessible is the key—it’s a matter of finding the story inside to make sure our audiences understand the importance of what we’re trying to share.”

The documentary will begin production in Fall 2023. The Film & New Media division will welcome several new instructors to assist with the film’s creation.

“We are hiring a new faculty member who will be teaching within their expertise while also thinking about creative direction for the documentary,” Mittelstaedt said. “We’ll also be hiring a producer and a cinematographer. These faculty will not only be teaching classes for Film & New Media students, but also working in development on the Greenacres project. It’s a slightly different design from other Cinema Collective projects, but it still follows the idea of students and faculty working side-by-side to create new work.”

As a documentary, the Greenacres project will also follow a different life cycle than a typical Cinema Collective project.

“It’s a bit of an inverted process in that the filmmakers will be looking for the story instead of writing it,” Mittelstaedt said. “It’s a gift for our students to be able to learn how to create both narrative fiction work and documentaries.”

Once completed, the Greenacres documentary will be shared with the public via streaming platforms and community screenings. Mittelstaedt also hopes to showcase the film at national film festivals.

Looking ahead

Through Chasing Daylight and Jedo’s Dead, Mittelstaedt has refined his aspirations for the Cinema Collective.

“What I learned is that we need more time, more preparation, and a little bit more diversifying of voices,” Mittelstaedt said.

While this season’s crew was in residence for only a few days, Mittelstaedt hopes future Cinema Collective guests will serve longer-term commitments.

“It’s crucial to the Collective that crew members come back to campus with enough time to work with students,” he said. “This year, Cinema Collective members worked with 12 of our 28 Film & New Media students on set. While there were some conversations off set, I’d like the front-end crew to come in early enough that all students in the department get to hear from these alumni and learn what they’re doing in their work. Eventually, the hope would be that anybody working in development on a project would come for several weeks to a semester and would act as a mentor and resident artist.”

As resident artists, Cinema Collective guests will teach arts electives in their area of expertise. These electives, which will be open to students of all majors, will enable the Film & New Media division to supplement its existing curriculum with courses in subjects such as editing, sound recording, cinematography, producing, and arts business/finance.

Mittelstaedt also plans to recruit larger, more diverse production teams for future projects by leveraging Interlochen’s extensive alumni network.

“My hope is that these productions will be crewed and casted primarily by Interlochen or Interlochen-affiliated collaborators,” Mittelstaedt said. “The Film & New Media program has been here 18 years, and we have a lot of alumni we can count on. But prior to those 18 years, there were thousands of actors, musicians, and all kinds of artists who trained at Interlochen. I think we can spread the net a little wider and find out who else is acting, performing, designing, and casting. In this upcoming season, we want to put out a call for crew members, designers, and other collaborators much earlier.”

Collaborating across generations

By putting out a wider call, Mittelstaedt can achieve another goal: Creating a team that includes artists of all ages.

“My intention is for the Cinema Collective to be an intergenerational creative collision,” Mittelstaedt said. “This season, my youngest student on set was 14; my oldest crew member was 58; my oldest actor was around 70; and our youngest actor was seven. The Cinema Collective is not just about teenagers and young adults making movies, it’s a community for all kinds of members: teenagers and young children and elderly people.”

“This is an endeavor that is compassionate. We can be many ages, and live in many places, but we’re all coming together to tell a story.”

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