Another Success For ITVFest! Winners, Panels and More
TechZulu had the pleasure of being part of the fifth annual Independent Television Festival (ITVFest). Held from July 30, 2010 to August 5, 2010 at Laemmie Sunset 5, attendees had the opportunity to view independent television series and web series, panel discussions from industry experts, and mixers galore for the duration of the event.
According to AJ Tesler the Executive Director of ITVFest:
“ITVFest will allow people who have previously had little or no access to television decision makers the forum for which they have tirelessly strived.”
Being in attendance, AJ’s quote rang true throughout the event. With the amount of networking possibilities, if you had an awesome idea I could almost guarantee you would have found someone to either help you bring your idea to fruition, or if already fully developed a chance to setup a meeting with a network executive.
For those who may have missed out this year and are in the New Media or independent film making space, I would definitely recommend you to jot down ITVFest into your schedule for next year.
Below are a few of the panels captured from ITVFest. I will update this post as more of them become available. Also, if you did not catch the winners of ITVFest I’ve listed all of them along with their trailer and a description.
ITVFest Panel’s
The Studio System
Studios exist for a very good reason. They help finance and sell projects. But what else do they do. Why would I want to go through a studio to get my show on air? How can The Studio System help me and what does any of it even mean. A detailed discussion on what the studio system is and how you get in “The System”.
Panel:
Nancy Hower, Executive Producer, 10 Items or Less
Whitney Timmons, Lionsgate
John Lehr, Executive Producer, 10 Items Or Less
Caitlin Foito, Fox TV Studios
Let’s Do Coffee with New Media
Whether this is your first or your biggest new media project to date, the medium and therefore the rules are changing so quickly, that without a little guidance, you can get lost in the lurch. Come to this coffee discussion and get informed before it’s too late.
Panel:
Mark Gantt and Jesse Warren, Bannen Way
Dana Block, MPRM
Maria Timpani, SAG
Radical Disruption Part 2 Programming Innovation
Digital is a done deal. Now producers of all stripes expect to deliver their content to a multitude of platforms. Moreover, viewers embrace interactivity, intensifying programmers’ relationships with advertisers. And all parties–networks,independents and brands–expect “user-generated” content to be included in a program’s overall experience. We explore brand integration, leveraging digital distribution, mixing linear and interactive elements and critical aspects of producing to profit from 21st century television.
Panel:
Hardie Tankersley, VP Online Content, Fox
Tom Hoffman, Manager, Digital Production & Development, FreMantle
Joerg Bachmaier, SVP/GM Americas, Endemol
Ben and Rafi Fine, Writers/Producers
Allison Dollar, Interactive TV Alliance
ITVFest List of Winners
Best Acting: “La Manzana” Paula Roman
Five Latin women wind up living in the same building in Spanish Harlem. As they struggle to survive in the city,they not only live the best adventures of their lives but also find the most important bond, a family outside their homes.
Executive producers: Paula Roman, Lee Friedlander, Ian Schuler, Douglas Smith, James Salomon
Written by: Paula Roman, Paula Roman and Lee Friedlander (Created by)
Directed by: Lee Friedlander
Starring: Paula Roman, Celia Freijeiro, Julia DeCastro, Sunilda Caraballo, Greta Quispe
Best Writing: “Odd Jobs” Jeremy Redleaf
Nate is a neurotic, recently laid-off investment banker. Joe is his unemployed, morally questionable, hustler roommate. Unable to find gainful employment (or pay for his impending wedding), Nate secretly tags along on Joe’s work-for-hire Craigslist adventures. Each episode follows the pair as they blaze a trail through a world in economic crisis, trying on new hats (and hamburger costumes) as they learn the rules of survival.
executive producer: Jeremy Redleaf, Ashley Albert
written by: Jeremy Redleaf
directed by: Jeremy Redleaf
starring: Devin Ratray, Alexandra Daddario, Jeremy Redleaf, Megan Tusing
Best Directing: “15 Minutes” Bobby Salomon
A half-hour dramedy centering around two publicists – the sexy and savvy Karen James, a failed actress/writer from the Midwest, and Brett Sloan, the silver-tongued jaded trust fund kid from Beverly Hills. Together they struggle to maintain their integrity in the high-stakes, sometimes-unscrupulous and often-ridiculous world of celebrity PR.
Executive producer: Bobby Salomon
Written by: Bobby Salomon
Directed by: Bobby Salomon
Starring: Tara Summers, Sam Page, Elaine Tan, John Larroquette, Spencer Garrett, Johana Urb, Julianna Guill, Alison La Placa, Matt Angel, Sam Littlefield, Sean Marble
MobiFest Winner: “Mother Approved: Phobias” Brandon Walter and Kasi Brown
People are afraid of many bizarre and varied things in the world. In the real life ‘Phobia’ series, ‘Mother Approved’ sketch comedy explores these phobias and tries to imagine how these people deal with and overcome them.
Executive producer: Kasi Brown, Brandon Walter
Written by: Kasi Brown, Brandon Walter
Directed by: Kasi Brown, Brandon Walter
starring: Richie Beanan, Kasi Brown, Codi Fischer, Matt Lowe, Tiffany O’Hara, Josetta Rose, Brandon Walter
Best Animation: “Time Traveling Finger”
A girl has the ability to send things back in time with her magical finger.
Executive producer: Stephen Leonard
Written by: Stephen Leonard
Directed by: Stephen Leonard
Starring: Stephen Leonard, Ariel Lazarus, Liz Vining, Vincent Donadio, Neil Berkovits, Anna Lux, Jaclyn Friedlander, Al Thompson
Best Alternative: “Going to Pot” Leo Simone, Scott Perlman
Vicodin, Ambien, Marijuana? The whole state of California is going to pot because it’s now legal to use the once illicit drug medically. The lives of progressive patients and avant-guard employees are explored at a southern California dispensary during this revolutionary time on a groundbreaking new show. With the expertise of professionals such as the Online suboxone from recovery delivered, recovering from addiction is now convenient.
executive producer: Jamie Kennedy
directed by: Leo Simone, Scott Perlman
starring: Aaron Sandusky, Daniel Forman, Johnny Nuckolls II, Jenny Ekizian
Best Drama: “the_source” Marc D’Agostino
Two years after a global catastrophe and economic collapse, a group of survivors struggle to develop community amid a harsh world emptied of material resources and rife with conflicts – both new and old. As they struggle with the elements and with one another they realize that one of them may be the final hope for humanity’s survival.
Executive producer: Marc D’Agostino
Written by: Marc D’Agostino
Directed by: Marc D’Agostino
Starring: Paul Maginnis, Carlos Candelario, Matt Pyle, Harold Williams, Marc D’Agostino
Best Comedy: “Octane Pistols of Fury” Greg Stees, Chris Prine
Mr. Johnson wants it. He’s sent Vinny and Rufus to get it. Fat Ronnie and Dallas are trying to beat them to it. Where is the Porcelain Buddha? Octane Pistols of Fury is a new crime comedy that follows rival gangsters as they bumble through the New York City underworld
executive producer: Chris Prine, Greg Stees
written by: Chris Prine, Greg Stees
directed by: Chris Prine, Greg Stees
starring: Chris Prine, Greg Stees, Andrew Pifko, Aldous Davidson, Michael Lee Rautins, Mitch Magee, Trevor Williams
Best TV: “Going to Pot” Leo Simone, Scott Perlman
Vicodin, Ambien, Marijuana like toronto cannabis seeds? The whole state of California is going to pot because it’s now legal to use the once illicit drug medically. The lives of progressive patients and avant-guard employees are explored at a southern California dispensary during this revolutionary time on a groundbreaking new show.
executive producer: Jamie Kennedy
directed by: Leo Simone, Scott Perlman
starring: Aaron Sandusky, Daniel Forman, Johnny Nuckolls II, Jenny Ekizian
Best Web: “Octane Pistols of Fury” Greg Stees, Chris Prine
Mr. Johnson wants it. He’s sent Vinny and Rufus to get it. Fat Ronnie and Dallas are trying to beat them to it. Where is the Porcelain Buddha? Octane Pistols of Fury is a new crime comedy that follows rival gangsters as they bumble through the New York City underworld
executive producer: Chris Prine, Greg Stees
written by: Chris Prine, Greg Stees
directed by: Chris Prine, Greg Stees
starring: Chris Prine, Greg Stees, Andrew Pifko, Aldous Davidson, Michael Lee Rautins, Mitch Magee, Trevor Williams
Audience Award Winner: “The Super Man” Mike Friedman, Bryan Beasley
The Super Man is a character-driven comedy centered on Mikey an aspiring boxer who takes a job as a building super in a seedy part of Hollywood for free rent…seems like a great idea until he meets his tenants.
executive producer: John Macdonald and Michael Friedman
written by: Michael Friedman, Gregory Konow and Brendan Connor
directed by: Bryan Beasley
starring: Brendan Connor, Michael Friedman, Gregory Konow, Vanessa Liguori, Jon Polito, Larry Hankin, Renee Victor
