First Festival

My first film festival is now behind me.  There were four films shown over two days.  Since this was the first Earth Charter Film Festival presented by Citizens For Peaceful Resolutions in Ventura, it is not surprising that they started small.  But I went to both nights so I could see all the films and listen to everything that was said.

It goes without saying that I was honored to have shown at this festival.  Certainly no other festival I have submitted to has been all that interested in screening my film.  And when I saw the quality of films shown at this festival I was again honored because some of these films were pretty high end pieces of film art.  Mine was made thanks to our local Ventura public access station.

But this is what I really want to share about screening my film, "Voices of the Homeless" last night at the film festival ~

On my way out, I saw that someone had anonymously left me a note.  It said all the nice stuff: beautiful film, relevant film, and all that.  But what got me and what reminded me that if you can help just one person you've done your job was this:

"I could write a book (non-fiction) about the last 3 years of my existence but for now I will just say ...  thank you and bless you."  Below that, the person drew a heart with a peace symbol inside.

And that's when I began to cry.

Earth Charter Film Festival

Here are more specifics about the Earth Charter Film Festival and the screening of my documentary, Voices of the Homeless:

Friday
October 11th
7pm
MCW 113 Lecture Hall
Ventura College
Ventura, California


Admission is free


The festival runs Thursday Oct. 10th and Friday Oct. 11th with two films showing each night and filmmaker discussions after each screening.

The Cappies

Note the lower case.  The awards ceremony tonight was fine.  The food was good.  Well, I'm on a diet, but at least the food looked good.  Very good, as a matter of fact.  But I digress.

I want to say "I lost" because I didn't win.  It feels more dramatic if I lost.  But I'll just say I didn't win because I didn't.  The award went to a film that I couldn't resonate with at all.  I would have felt better if at least the film and the filmmaker I admire would have won.  But he didn't win either.  A rap music video won.

I hate that it meant so much to me.  I hate that I attached to it.

But I did.

And now I can stop blogging and feel thankful that I only have three followers because this is something I don't want a lot of people to know:  that I cared about winning, that I felt somewhat robbed, that I put my heart and soul into this documentary about jazz musicians trying to help the homeless and that is going to have to be enough for tonight.

Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions Film Festival

More news on CPR's (Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions) first film festival.  It will be October 11th and 12th.  My documentary, Voices of the Homeless, will screen on Friday October 11th and I will be there for the Q&A after the screening.  It will be held at Ventura College.  I don't have times yet, just the date and the place so far.

More to come . . .

THE CAPPIE AWARDS

They're called the CAPPIE's.  Community Access Partners (CAPS-TV), our public access station here in Ventura, California, has an awards ceremony every year for the films that are made at the station.  I hate to admit how excited I am about this year.  The ceremony is tomorrow night and I hope I win one.  Voices of the Homeless was made thanks to CAPS-TV.  I spent two years making the documentary and I could not have done it without the classes and mentoring of the professionals there.  This year I have submitted Voices of the Homeless because I missed the deadline last year by a hair.  I just finished editing and the submission deadline had already come and gone.  So this year is it.  I don't want to post on Facebook or tweet on Twitter because I know I'll be so embarrassed if I lose.  But here I can say that, deep in my heart, I hope I win a CAPPIE.  I love that station and I love my documentary.

My FIRST FILM FESTIVAL!

Finally -- and just like I was told it would happen:

I was ASKED to show my film in a festival.  A festival that I did not submit to.  I've heard that submitting to festivals can be very iffy because of competition and festivals with particulars that may not vibe with your film.  But now I have been asked.  I am in my first festival!

I can't wait to advertize this.  The festival will be a part of Citizens For Peaceful Resolutions' Earth Charter Day event that happens once a year.  This is the group that gave me an award last year after someone from their organization came to the downtown library in Ventura to see the film.  They then gave me an Earth Charter & The Arts award.

The festival will be in October and I will be blogging about it again soon.

Thanks for reading.
Toni

VIMEO, VIMEO, How Art Thou VIMEO?

Well, July certainly flew by in an evil rush.  I'm grateful for all the gigs I played but once again I did much less with Voices of the Homeless than I meant to.

I Meant To upload it to VIMEO.  Instead, I submitted it for an award to our local public access station, CAPS-TV Ventura, who told me THEY were going to upload all the entries to VIMEO in September.  That gave me a little financial breathing room since my documentary is larger than the site comes, when it comes for free.

So here we are in August and I'm waiting for September for CAPS-TV Ventura to upload my doc for me.  I know.  I know.  What a cheapskate she is.  But at the moment, that's my best option until I get a little more "flush."

Thank you CAPS-TV Ventura for uploading everybody's project.  As soon as it goes up, I will post a link so that anybody interested in seeing the entire documentary, will be able to.

And thank YOU -- all three of you, my subscribers -- for reading what I blog, maybe even on the same day I blog it, and for your support for this project which stays near and dear to my heart.  Three is a mighty number.  And who knows when that number may suddenly grow and surprise all four of us!

Toni

Back At It

I've certainly been off the radar in the last few months.  When I was making my documentary, "Voices of the Homeless," I really missed my own music.  I knew I had to get back to it.  But I never knew I'd get so many gigs as I have this year.  From the Ventura County Democratic Party's Inaugural Gala this last January to clubs around the corner here in the city, all year long I have been busy.  And I am very grateful.

However, all this musical activity pulled me away from promoting my documentary.  Or I should say, it pulled me away from promoting the idea that this documentary suggests:  using the improvisational skills of jazzers as a healing tool for those unfortunate enough to be living on the street without means.

I thought last year when I finished my documentary that the best way to find a larger audience than the County of Ventura, California, was to enter film festivals.  However, I've come to realize that, with all my beginner mistakes, i.e., sound issues, most film festivals are too competitive for what I have to offer at this point.  It is not that I will never submit to a film festival again but I will be far more selective than I first was. 

In the meantime, since my goal was not to become a famous filmmaker, but to promote an idea and raise people's awareness, I've decided to upload the entire documentary to Vimeo.  This 4th of July weekend I will finally get that going.

Perhaps the best way to "get it out there" is to find a platform where a film like mine can live, breathe, and be seen.

As soon as "Voices of the Homeless" is up on Vimeo, I will blog, tweet, and post my brains out.

Till then, I wish all my followers (I believe right now there are 3 of you) a Happy and Safe 4th of July.

And I'll see you soon,
Toni

Tonight April 27, 2013 @8PM

Here's is the link to the BOX CITY 2013 event, that will screen my documentary:

https://www.facebook.com/events/546558505396849/

The film will start around dusk, approximately 8pm.  I will be there for Q&A afterward, in the hopes some people will have questions.  There will be other speakers as well.

BOX CITY 2013 is the fundraising event to aide The Samaritan Center of Simi Valley, a day shelter for the homeless.

Thank you.

Tomorrow night

I'm getting excited about tomorrow night's screening of "Voices of the Homeless" at BOX CITY 2013's event to raise funds for The Samaritan Center of Simi Valley, a day shelter for the homeless.  But even so, I looked into more festivals to promote this documentary and to my relief I didn't fit into any of the recently advertised festivals via Withoutabox.  Relieved because I am cash poor right now and each submission comes with a fee of anywhere between $30 to $60.  Additionally, even when I do submit, I am  competing with high quality filmmakers who, oddly enough, are NOT jazz singers with day jobs.

But helping the homeless and feeling the need to reach out doesn't evaporate just because you are feeling cash poor or even when you feel you may soon run out of ideas.  Helping the homeless as an artist is something you just keep doing . . . and hoping your efforts are making a difference . . . especially when you are lucky enough to have so much.

BOX CITY 2013
8pm or dusk
at
United Methodist Church of Simi Valley
2394 Erringer Road
Simi Valley, California

Be there, or be square.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

I am honored once again that my documentary will be featured in a fundraiser to help a day shelter for the homeless in Simi Valley, The Samaritan Center.  The event is called BOX CITY 2013.  It is an all day outdoor event, however my documentary will screen at 8p.m. at dusk.

Those wishing to attend the screening and not the all day event may make a $10 (or more) donation at the door.

Here are the particulars:
BOX CITY 2013
Simi Valley United Methodist Church
2394 Erringer Road, Simi Valley
https://www.facebook.com/events/546558505396849/

Thank you,
Toni Jannotta
www.tonijannotta.com

If you would like to view a 5-minute trailer, please go to:
http://www.tonijannotta.com/voth.html

Ojai Film Festival

Now here's a festival I've been waiting for.  The Ojai Film Festival is just inland of the City of Ventura where the Voices of the Homeless live concert was presented and where the documentary was made.  I just submitted online and the 2 DVD submission copies go out in the mail tomorrow.

It would be so very, very nice to have a well respected, local festival accept my documentary since it all happened here.

Wish me luck!

Box City 2013

"Would you give up your bed for just one night to benefit the homeless?"

That's the promotion for a unique event called Box City, designed to raise money for The Samaritan Center of Simi Valley, a day shelter for the homeless in Simi Valley.  "Voices of the Homeless" will screen that night as part of the overnight fundraiser.  I'll be there for the screening and a Q&A afterward.

I'm honored.

Getting It Out There

OK, I'll admit it.  No film festivals yet.  Good stuff.  The ACLU, fundraisers for homeless shelters.  The film is getting screenings and the screenings are educating and helping others.  Wish it made it to a film festival already but, no.  However, I just found out today that the bassist in the film (well his super supportive wife) has been giving out the DVD to fellow musicians, including a guy from the TONIGHT show band.  That's not chump change.  Who knows where it can go when your fellow musicians take an interest in how Music can Help the Homeless.

VFS

The Ventura Film Society is "interested" in screening my film.  This will mark my first acceptance into any type of film society or festival.  I've been turned down by about five so far.  (sob)

But on the plus side, the Samaritan Center of Simi Valley, a drop-in center for Simi Valley's homeless, is having a fundraiser in April and they want to screen my documentary for the fundraiser.  This is the best use of the documentary so far -- using it to help raise money for organizations who help the homeless.

I'll take it!

More Screenings!

Three more requests to screen my documentary have come in just in the last two weeks.  One from a fellow artist/singer in Pittsburgh, PA, who might want to host a screening there.  Another from a local shelter in Simi Valley, CA, for a fundraiser in April.  And today, while serving lunches with Family to Family, a Sister from St. Catherine's in Ventura, CA, who has already seen the documentary, asked for a copy so she can show it to all the nuns at their parish.

I'm very happy about all of this!

But I'm also running late because I have a gig tonight:
Toni Jannotta Jazz Duo with Nigel Taylor at Squashed Grapes in Ventura
Downbeat is at 7pm and tonight we're having a guest violinist sit in with us!

"Voices of the Homeless" documentary is about a performance piece where Jazz improvisers helped the homeless tell their own stories.

DOCUTAH

And the beat goes on.  I just submitted my documentary to the Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival -- DOCUTAH.  Wish me luck!

And another very nice surprise came today.  See, this coming Tuesday I am screening "Voices of the Homeless" for the Ventura County Chapter ACLU.  The President of the chapter is a huge jazz fan.  Well, her cousin in Philadelphia is now interested in hosting a screening.  If that happens, though I don't know yet who her cousin is or what organization she represents, if that happens, then "Voices of the Homeless" will have made it's way OUT of Ventura County.  And that right there is exciting.

How does this idea of Jazz improvisers helping the homeless reach the public unless the idea gets out there?

Thank you Robin Lee, President of the Ventura ACLU for your support.  And thank you to all the film festivals who may or may not be interested in a screening and to the amazing press I've received so far.

The Red Carpet

I was recently invited to walk the red carpet for a new movie.  The invitation came from a wonderful PR man who is trying to help me with my documentary.  He has a soft spot for the homeless and I am very grateful to him.  I must say though that I am not the red carpet type and I dreaded the idea of worrying about what to wear and schmoozing.

I shouldn't have worried.  The red carpet turned out to be a square of red astro turf with a back drop that had sponsors names, or perhaps it was the name of the movie premiering, on it.  I went to the sign-in table and gave my name.  Then I was asked my company name.  I said I didn't have one and that I had been invited because I had just made a documentary.  The guy then wrote my name on an 8X10 piece of paper with "documentary filmmaker" underneath it.  This is when I felt like a phony.

So I waited in line with the cameras flashing and the boob jobs posing and tried to be as positive as I could remembering to keep my focus on the opportunity to talk about "Voices of the Homeless."

I was grateful for the evening.  I will never be worried about a Hollywood premiere again.  And since it was a slasher film I figured it would be OK if I skipped the after party.

California Int'l Shorts Festival

And this is how I spend MY Sunday night.  Submitting to more festivals.  This one caters to shorts of all kinds.  And the shorts do not have to be under a half hour so I qualify.  That is, I qualify to submit.  To spend more submission money.  To kiss the envelope and the DVD goodbye with some postage and send it on it's merry way.

Man I sure hope I get this doc in a festival this year!

I think I'm tired.
G'night.

Examiner.com

To my utter amazement this morning I found a post on Facebook with a link attached to an article about my documentary.  It was written based on the trailer alone.  I am so thrilled I've been reeling all day.  The writer, George McQuade III, covers the Downtown Film Festival - Los Angeles, and when he read my post on Facebook that I had submitted the film to that festival, he contacted me.  But I had no idea he would immediately write an article.

And what an article it is:
http://www.examiner.com/review/homeless-stories-produce-real-music-to-jazz-artists-ears

Thank you George McQuade III for your help.  Thank you.

Downtown Film Festival - Los Angeles

Guess I haven't given up yet.  I just submitted to the Downtown Film Festival - Los Angeles.  Sounds like I would have at least a shot at this one, since they like shorts, they LOVE music, and they are close to the Grammy Museum.  Hey, it's worth a try.  And I'm still tryin'.

ACLU Screening

Read about the next screening and see photo stills from the live event for which the documentary was made here on my Facebook event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/352784001496212/permalink/352790091495603/?notif_t=like

ACLU Screening

It's turning out to be a busy year already.  I'm lucky.  I'm getting gigs AND I'm being asked to screen my documentary. 

This next screening coming up is particularly special to me because it is for the Ventura Chapter of the ACLU.  The subject of the evening will be helping our homeless veterans and my film will screen first.  I have feelings about homeless veterans because I am a child of the 60's and we did not treat our vets when they came home from Nam the way we are treating returning vets today.  SO many Vietnam veterans are homeless and that's as wrong in my mind as I believe war, any war, is.  I hope my film can help some vets left out there on the street today.

I will blog more about this as the time nears but for now, here are the particulars for the ACLU screening:

February 5th
6PM
Grant T. Brimhall Library, Large Conference Room
1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA
(805) 449-2660

"Voices of the Homeless" tells the story of a JAZZ inspired event where improvisational musicians helped the homeless tell their own stories in concert.  It is a story of how music heals and how special the homeless as well as the jazz improvisers are.

Thanks for reading.

AFI

I did it.  I got up my courage and connected with a friend of mine whose grandson works for AFI.  I've heard in order to crack into a film festival it takes more then just blindly sending off your screener.  So I will contact the grandson at AFI and try to not plead too hard for him to watch my documentary, Voices of the Homeless.  It might work.  I serve with his grandmother up here in Ventura, CA, feeding the homeless every Wednesday.  The group is called Family to Family.  And his grandmother is an incredible lady.  Fingers crossed that he will take the time and watch the doc.  It's only a 1/2 hour.  Fingers crossed.

Happy New Year

Man was I lazy over the holidays.  I was tired of living in front of my computer trying to find festivals to submit my documentary to.  So far I am aware that three out of the seven festivals I submitted to last year are not interested.  This is because they sent me their line-ups.

I'm beginning to see that this festival submission thing is like a shot in the dark.  I want to get the message out there, that we can find creative ways to help the homeless and helped further jazz music at the same time, but it is difficult to imagine another year of spending 40-60 bucks a shot at festival submissions.

But I have made one New Year's resolution, and that is to not give up.  I have a contact at AFI who I am going to send the film to and I am going to send it out to other festivals as well.  One more year of trying to promote it . . . and then I think I'll be spent.

It will reach the audience it is supposed to reach.