SXSW Blogging About Film Panel
Today, I participated on the SXSW Blogging About Film Panel. As I had written earlier, I was definitely the small dog on the block. There were some real heavy hitters on the panel. It was, however, great to finally meet some of the people I've been reading and following for all these years. Normally, I would have taken a zillion notes and posted them for your reading pleasure but I was otherwise occupied. The panel included:
ME! Cyndi Greening, Senior Editor of Independent Film for Cinema Minima and Karina Longworth Editor, Cinematical. Dressed in a bright red-orange dress with matching sunglasses, Karina was fun to listen to. She's the quintessential blogging success story. She worked in a pasta factory for "real" money so she could type her blog entries in her spare time (and her pajamas). Part of the WeblogsInc consortium that was acquired by AOL, Karina is rumored to be moving beyond Cinematical to manage a new web adventure. She's so young but she breezes into the room with an air of authority and confidence that is decades beyond her years. After the panel, the crowd rushed her ... a common occurrence for her, I believe.
Another of the panelists that was mobbed at the end of the panel was David Poland Publisher/Editor, Movie City News. He said he'd been blogging for over 13 years (or some such number) as a web journalist. Everything he said pointed to his deep, lifelong commitment to film. Years ago, he was the alternative film journalist but now has become a member of the mainstream media. Like Cinematical, Cinema Minima and indieWIRE, Movie City News features a whole stable of reporters and writers covering more topics than I could cover in a year. It's good reading. Read Poland's The Hot Button.
I was really looking forward to meeting David Hudson Editor, GreenCine. I'd emailed Dave in years past to compliment him on his site. I was surprised to hear that lives in Berlin (for some reason I'd always thought he was in the San Francisco Bay area). He explained that in years past he would search for things to write about BUT with the advent of RSS, he now is inundated with stories and must cull together the choice bits. Unlike Poland and Longworth, Hudson uses his blog as an advertising vehicle to support his video rental (and, soon, video streaming business).
Likewise, panel moderator Scott Kirsner Editor, CinemaTech does not use his blog to generate revenue. Before the panel, we were talking about how his blog serves a niche market that other publications and periodicals do not have the time or inclination to cover. No one addresses his topic in the detail to which he enjoys covering it. I've linked to CinemaTECH quite a few times in the past. While it may not be much of a money making adventure, I sure am glad that he's out there.
Two directors were included on the panel. It was great to have their perspective on blogging. It also made me want to see both of their films. Joe Swanberg Director of LOL shared that he'd made his film for $3000 and that he had been posting all of his production secrets from the beginning on his blog. He's got a robust film site.
Doug Block Director of 51 Birch Street talked about how he had used feedback from people (via his weblog) to shape his film. Readers posted comments that inspired him to continue his film and make it more personal. It's a method I couldn't imagine but one that worked very well for him. Dave Hudson had good things to say about his film so I'm hoping to catch it, too. I think it's funny how making a personal connection with a filmmaker makes one want to connect with his/her film. I want to see them both.
