In a sentence

(mission statement perhaps)

Project LightStand is a community of film makers seeking to develop ideas into scripts with a message that can be produced into festival bound short films right now; and then do it.

In a paragraph

Project LightStand is a SuperHouse initiative focused on building a community of purposeful film makers from the ground up.  Each project sparks with someone's idea and completes with our commitment to see it realized into a festival bound short video.  The writing process is where we begin.  Anyone can enter in with their idea, treatment, or a completed script.  We meet regularly to review each others material and provide accountability and feedback through the writing process.  Once we have about 10 participants in a writers group they break off for a 2 month session of writing and revisions to develop their material into a production ready script.  Two scripts from this group will be selected for production.  From there the writing process continues in the background while the rest of the Project LightStand contributors gear up for producing the chosen script.  We draw on our community of independent film makers and artists to bring the script to life and capture it on video.  We then work with the post production team to edit the footage, add effects, music, and otherwise create a final product ready to be premiered.  From here the completed video project will be entered into festivals for screenings and awards.  Who knows what will come of it after that!

Vision

LightStand seeks to find people with a story or idea that they are personally committed to and believe would be best communicated with others through the language of film.  Project LightStand seeks to develop a community of film makers entering into all phases of the film production process in a cycle of 3 concurrent sessions per year.  Each of these sessions would start with a formal script candidacy process and end with the final product going to festivals.  This community would harness all of our talents, equipment, and resources into an available, on going, self sustaining, and thriving community of film production.  This community would be open to the involvement and leadership of anyone who believed in our basic tenants; make a film with a message and engage the film community in a meaningful and respectful way.  This process would not only allow for the creation of film projects, but also mentoring relationships, partnerships, and otherwise networking opportunities that would not be possible without working along side someone on a common project.

Session Phases

Each session of a LightStand Project is divided up into the following phases of progress.  In reality all of the phases overlap each other in responsibility and timing.  These phase represent the general flow of the project from beginning to end.

• Writing (or development)
• Pre-Production (or planning)
• Production (shooting)
• Post Production (editing and effects)
• Premiere (event)
• Festivals (packaging and delivery)

Writing

  If you don't have a good story you don't have much of anything, so that is where we start with each project.  In the script writing phase each session focuses on the development, revising, and format of their script.  Here you will learn how to develop an idea, treatment, and script along side fellow writers.  The writing phase will also give you an opportunity to "pitch" your script to the rest of the group and gain some practice explaining your creative vision and selling your idea to producers.  Each session will have a formal writing revision phase in which the scripts will be intensively work shopped into ready to produce and properly formatted screenplays.  One script will be chosen from each session to go into production.  If your script is not chosen, you are welcome to continue the revisioning process into the next phase of writing.

Pre Production

The pre-production phase gives all the producers a chance to organize the production crew into a structured team.  At this phase we recruit crew mentors and members and team them together to ensure the production phase is a learning opportunity for all.  The producers will organize a formal casting call to find the appropriate talent for the chosen script. The location manager will secure a location for each of the shoots.  A shooting schedule will be developed around the availability of the cast, crew, and locations.  There will be tons of details to tend to for every project, and these two months serve as a head start into the production phase.

Production

  In the production phase the director works with his cast to bring the script into reality all the while the crew works to capture the story on video as it unfolds.  The crew will be organized into teams based upon several disciplines.  Pick a section of expertise or try your hand at several, there is a lot to do with every shoot.  Lighting, sound, camera, logging, props, wardrobe, visual fx, catering, documentary, and publicity are just a few of the roles available.

Post Production

  The post production phase is responsible for taking the captured content of the production crew, mixing it in with freshly created music, sound, and visual fx, into a final video product ready to be viewed at the premiere.  The editor will begin taking in footage as the project is in the production phase and show the director rough cuts of his material each week.  This will give the musicians, foley, and visual effects artists source material to work with.  The editor will then incorporate all of their new creations into the final product.

Premiere

  The premiere is our opportunity to share the final short film with our immediate community and share the story of how it was created with our friends and family.  The publicity team will arrange for a premiere venue to hold the final celebration.  Promotional materials will be generated for the press and the public.  An archival DVD with the appropriate printed materials will be generated for cast, crew, and purchase by the public.

Festivals and Beyond

Every project that comes out of LightStand is festival bound with a life of its own.  The next step in the life of a short film very well may be the festival circuit where the project can be viewed and appreciated by our peers.  If it wins awards here there is no telling what may come if it.  At this final step we will put together a package of promotional materials ready for festivals, target a couple of worthy entries and send it off... then it all begins again!