Celebrate the Bliss of
Asheville's Movie Industry and Film Festivals.
Over 700 feature films have been shot in North Carolina, plus countless short films and commercials. More than $6 billion in production revenue has been produced since 1980.... making North Carolina the 3rd most revenue producing state in the country.
"...Since its earliest days filmmakers have flocked to Asheville and
Western North Carolina. Thomas Edison filmed shorts in Asheville in
1911. In 1921 the feature film “Conquest of Canaan” was shot entirely on location in Asheville. Since then many features have been filmed in Asheville including “Thunder Road” in 1958, starring Robert Mitchum, 1979’s “Being There” with Shirley McLaine and Peter Sellers, epics like “The Last of the Mohicans,” comedies like “My Fellow Americans” starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner, thrillers like the Silence of the Lambs sequel “Hannibal”, and most recently “The Clearing”, starring Robert Redford, Willem Dafoe and Helen Mirren. These days Asheville is one of Hollywood’s best kept secrets.... " CLICK HERE for more information from the Asheville Film Festival
Blue Ridge Motion Pictures
"...To be the production location of choice for the motion picture, television,
and sound recording industries by providing unrivaled studio and editorial
facilities, equipment, education and support..."
Bonesteel Films
"... full-service production company with over fifteen years of experienceproviding complete direction and turnkey production management of television commercials, documentaries, promotional and corporate identity media and non-profit capital campaign films...."
Filmmakers, Inc.
"...a high-quality, film and video production company that will help your company meet its media needs.
By working with Filmmakers, Inc., your project will be managed by professionals with decades of quality service...."
Western North Carolina Film Commission "Western North Carolina: a Filmmaker's Paradise... Reflection of the Past, Gently Molded With the Present Refined, yet rugged. Old world, yet modern. A place where time seemingly stands still, while silently forging new frontiers. A place filled with heritage and charm from days gone by. The mountains of Western North Carolina, a woven tapestry of natural beauty, modern amenities, and a culture rich with generations of art, history, and pride."
Explore the Bliss of the Movie Industry ... and Screen Writing
Film Junkie's Guide to North Carolina "... For most of the last 20 years, North Carolina has ranked third in the nation, behind California and New York, in U.S. film production. North Carolina also boasts more production studios and sound stages than any state except California.
"The 160-plus entries in this travel guide are arranged geographically and include information about what movies and television series were filmed at each site. The guide also provides information about how to find the locations. The reader will especially enjoy the "Star Tracks" sections, which provide gossipy tidbits about where stars ate and stayed while making their films.
"Whether it's Annie Savoy's (Susan Sarandon's) house in Bull Durham, the apartment building where Blue Lady Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) lived in Blue Velvet, or the outflow dam where Dr. Richard Kimball (Harrison Ford) escaped from United States marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) in The Fugitive, this combination travel guide and film history can provide all the details needed to satisfy the most discerning film buff's lust for trivia."
Cinematic Wilmington : Making Movies on the Cape Fear Coast
"...a fascinating collection of interviews and recollections by a wide variety of local industry insiders, visiting actors, celebrities, filmmakers..." Deb Daniel, Reel Carolina Journal of Film and Video
"From first to last it makes fascinating reading, as ... skilled professionals recount how they fell into the business..." Nicki Leone, Encore Magazine
I Wake up Screening: What to Do Once You've Made That Movie "...The explosion of independent cinema over the past fifteen years has
created thousands of would-be filmmakers, all dreaming of becoming the
next Quentin Tarantino or Steven Soderbergh—and all working away like beavers, making thousands of independent films. But what do they do once the movie is made? In I Wake Up Screening, powerhouse authors John Anderson and Laura Kim tell emerging filmmakers how to (and how not to) get their movies talked about, written about, sold, and seen...."
Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made It to a Theater Near You--for Better or Worse "... Tracing the fortunes of twenty-five films, including Troy, Erin Brockovich, Lost in Translation, and The Aviator, Cohen offers insider access to back lots and boardrooms, to studio heads, directors, and to the over-caffeinated screenwriters themselves...."
Asheville Film Festivals
THREE ASHEVILLE FILM FESTIVAL FILMS
RECEIVE ACADEMY NODS
ASHEVILLE FILM FESTIVAL,
NOVEMBER 6-9, 2008
Asheville, NC – Two feature films and a documentary showcased at the 5th Annual Asheville Film Festival this past November have been nominated for numerous awards by the Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts. “The Savages”, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”, and “War/Dance” have all been tapped for Oscars in various categories for 2007.
“The Savages” starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Oscar favorite, Laura Linney, received two nominations to include Best Actress for Linney and Best Original Screenplay for Tamara Johnson. The film is a beautifully written, compassionate story about family responsibility and was featured as the opening film at the 2007 Asheville Film Festival.
After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival and snagging the Best Director Award, followed by strong showings on the festival circuit, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’s” acclaimed director, Julian Schnabel has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. The film also received nods for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” screened as the closing film at the Asheville Film Festival for a nearly sold-out crowd. The third film, “War/Dance”, received rave revues from festival attendees and snagged Best Documentary and Audience Favorite at the festival. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, this film has gained immense momentum on the film festival circuit.
An estimated 8,000 people attended the 2007 Asheville Film Festival that drew considerable attention from both casual film buffs and film industry professionals.
The festival’s fifth year was noted for its acclaimed entries, Career Achievement Award honoree Tess Harper, and sensational galas.
The 6th annual Asheville Film Festival will be held November 6-9, 2008.
The Asheville Film Festival is produced by the Festivals Division of the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Asheville Film Commission and the Asheville Film Festival Advisory Committee.
Funds LImited? Enjoy the Camaraderie of Fellow Film Buffs? Volunteer for the Asheville Film Festival and Get Free Tickets and Meet Fellow Film Aficionados.
Twin Rivers Multimedia Festival
"... We accept media in the Animation/Graphic, Feature, Narrative, Drama/Short, Experimental/ Visual, Documentary, Commerial/Promotional, Outdoor and Soundtrack categories. Scriptwriting awards are announced in September of each year." The award winners will be shown at the Courtyard Gallery and other Asheville venues in May
The 48 Hour Film Project
"... will return to Asheville in 2008, probably around July. Filmmakers from all over the Asheville area will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world for the title 'Best 48 Hour Film of 2008'....."
48 Hour Film Project 2007 Asheville, NC - Team Blank Slate - Genre: Fantasy - "Three Doors"- Shot at Blue Ridge Motion Pictures utilizing 30 foot cranes and expansive sound stages. Written, shot, edited and scored in only 48 hours.
Van (Dammit) The Musical: Award winning film made for the 48 Hour Film Festival in Asheville, NC, 2007
Film Acting Workshop with Timothy Carhart ".... offers a unique opportunity to study film acting technique with a seasoned veteran of the film industry.... every student who completes the program will be shot with a real film crew (with them as the star!) and receive a beautifully produced DVD of their performance...."
Asheville Resident Andie MacDowell Talks About Getting into Acting During a Panel Discussion at the Asheville Film Festival
Below "... The only known video footage from soldier training during the making of Last of the Mohicans in Asheville, NC during the summer of 1991..."
"... This footage is not edited...The gentleman in the beret is Capt. Dale Dye, who is the most famous military technical advisor of all time. The second part in the video is a brief look at preparing the hair of some soldiers before the day's shoot. I can't remember where this was taken, but it probably occurred during the scenes at "Fort William Henry," which were shot on Lake James, NC. The third segment is when Kay (she worked as a wig dresser on the film) leaves the production and returns home to England. She's leaving her boyfriend who was working on the movie as well. Sad. The final segment takes place on the last day of production. Here, we see Soldier #1 and Soldier #2 relaxing (with a few others-G.M., S.H.) in their luxurious and well-lit trailer. The voices on the walkie-talkie are those of the production crew as they scramble to finish shooting the film...."
Discover the Bliss of Independent Movie Making
through These Books
Rebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood Player "... Not because he's a great writer or director, but because with every
single project he makes me feel like I can DO this. I can make good
movies that people will enjoy watching. And you can, too.
This is one of the most inspiring books on filmmaking I've ever read--it depicts, in detail, all the ups and downs that went into making and selling EL MARIACHI, the $7000 sensation that opened doors for Rodriguez...."
".. The book details the hugh support network Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino had in putting out their "Grindhouse" experience. There are tons of interviews and many full page pictures detailing how certain things were accomplished in the back to back movies, "Planet Terror" and "Death Proof." Tarantino has a great introduction to the grindhouse movie theaters (drive ins were mentioned as well) experiences in the 70s and early 80s..."
"... This is more than a great book--it's a public service. The
authors share insights from their decades of legal and
entertainment production experience, in essence offering
thousands of dollars of free legal advice to aspiring
independent producers. Beyond offering a roadmap of business-
planning steps, the book includes templates of numerous legal
forms that an independent producer might need. Meanwhile, in
clear and artful prose, they alternate between You're-Not-God
straight talk and You-Can-Do-It encouragement..."
"Concise and complete, book is a how-to, how-not-to, where-to-find, where-to-go and what-to-do on filmmaking. A must for novices." - Variety
"A "must-have" for anyone seriously considering producing a film for the first time..." - Bookwatch
"...practical, accessible and essential reference for novice filmmakers, and is highly recommended resource for even the more experienced movie producer." - Bookwatch
Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide "... The recent boom in independent filmmaking has been both a boon and an added challenge for aspiring directors. While the chic status of festivals like Sundance makes it easier for a few hot new directors to find major distributors, other worthy films risk being lost amid a sudden flood of contenders. Chris Gore, editor of Film Threat magazine, has written the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide to help the aspiring auteur rise above the tide. The book is chock-full of practical down-and-dirty advice.
Every aspect of submitting to and attending film festivals is covered, from an exhaustive listing of festivals and their entry deadlines (the Turku, Finland, Lesbian and Gay Film Festival deadline is in July, so get cracking) to what to wear to the industry party you'll be crashing (big pants with big pockets, the better to stash giveaways and whip out business cards). You can even find a listing for the best bar in the Ukraine (Eric's in Kyiv) and a sidebar of handy tips that will keep you on your projectionist's good side.
Perhaps most helpful is Gore's inclusion of interviews with actual filmmakers who have experienced wildly varying degrees of success; the directors are remarkably candid and very generously try to help others avoid their own mistakes. Those who are still struggling not only illustrate the ongoing process of learning to play industry games, they show an artist's remarkable ability to keep the spirit alive. Filmmaker Joal Ryan memorably describes taking inspiration from the career of Pauly Shore: "The world tells him he's not funny; he says he is--and keeps working." Whether you want to be a filmmaker or just party like one, The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide will help you operate like a true industry player. --Ali Davis..."
