Indelible Winter

Official Selection | Austin Spotlight Film Festival | January 24, 2018

Palpitations of Dust

 Official Selection | Logcinema Art Films | Jan 13-14, 2018

Semi-Finalist | German United Film Festival | January 1, 2018

Honorary Mention (Experimental) | Los Angeles Film Awards | December 2017

Pre-Selection | Singapore International Film Festival | December 2017

Official Selection (Experimental) | Near Nazareth Festival | December 13-17, 2017

Pre-Selection | Rome Film Awards | October 18, 2017

Winner (Experimental) | Laughlin International Film Festival | October 12-15, 2017

Official Selection | San Pedro Film Festival | October 8, 2017

Semi-Finalist | Madrid Art Film Festival | September 29-30, 2017

Semi-Finalist | Cinema London | September 22, 2017

Official Selection | Festival Angelica | September 18-24, 2017

Best Experimental Project Nomination | Action on Film Festival | August 24-26, 2017

Best Sound Design (Short) Nomination, Best Supporting Actor (Short) Nomination | Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival | August 24-26, 2017

Semi-Finalist | Malta Film Festival | August 24-25, 2017

Best Experimental Short Film | Prince of Prestige Academy Award | July 29, 2017

Best Director (Short Film) Nomination, Best Actor Nomination, Best Director Nomination | World Music & Independent Film Festival | July 22-30, 2017

Official Selection (Narrative) | Synimatica Short Film Festival | July 15-30, 2017

Official Selection | California Women’s Film Festival | July 14-16, 2017

Talented New Filmmaker Nomination | Nice International Film Festival | May 18, 2017

Official Selection (Autumn Session) | Auckland International Film Festival | Autumn 2017

Nomination | Taste Awards | February 20, 2017

Official Selection | Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival | February 17, 2017

Best Experimental Film | Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood | January 11, 2017

Official Selection (Short Film) | 5th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival | December 21, 2016

Best Experimental Film | Los Angeles Film & Script Festival | November 5, 2016

Winner of Award of Recognition (Experimental) | IndieFEST | October 11, 2016

About Ann Huang

Ann Huang is a filmmaker based in Newport Beach, Southern California. Huang was born in Mainland China and raised in Mexico and the US. World literature and theatrical performances became dominating forces during her linguistic training at various educational institutions. Huang possesses a unique global perspective on the past, present and future of Latin America, the United States and China. She is an MFA candidate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has authored one chapbook and two poetry collections. Huang’s debut experimental short film “PALPITATIONS OF DUST” won the Best Experimental Film in 2017 PAECA (Prince of Prestige Academy Award), Best Award in Los Angeles Film & Script Festival, and Best Experimental Film in LA Cinema Festival of Hollywood. For more information, visit http://annhuang.com.

Independent Filmmaker Ann Huang to Attend 2017 American Film Market

Ann Huang Filmmaker

Contact
Ann Huang
Independent Filmmaker
Phone: (949) 280-5290
huang.yuwei.ann@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Filmmaker Ann Huang to Attend 2017 American Film Market

Ann Huang from Saffron Splash Media, writer and director of experimental short films Palpitations of Dust and Indelible Winter, will be attending the 2017 American Film Market. This year’s conference will be held from November 1st through November 8th in Santa Monica, California. 

American Film Market is Hollywood’s largest international conference and cultivates tremendous insight and knowledge among fellow independent filmmakers, global thought leaders, and other industry professionals. The conference hosts producers, writers, directors, production houses, and film enthusiasts from 80 countries for a week of networking, workshops, roundtables, and speakers.  

To view trailers for Palpitations of Dust and Indelible Winter, click the movie posters below.

Ann Huang’s film Palpitations of Dust won Best Experimental Work at the 6th annual Laughlin International Film Festival (LIFF) which took place on October 12-15th in Laughlin, Nevada. The festival provides a platform for international filmmakers to showcase their work and screens over 100 independent films each year including short, feature length, documentaries, youth films, and music videos. More information about LIFF can be found here.

 

Additionally, Palpitations of Dust received Honorable Mention at the Global Shorts’ 2017 international short film competition in September. The Los Angeles-based awards competition recognizes short films with a runtime of 50 minutes or less featuring original storytelling. More information about Global Shorts can be viewed here.

About Ann Huang

Ann Huang is a filmmaker based in Newport Beach, Southern California. Huang was born in Mainland China and raised in Mexico and the US. World literature and theatrical performances became dominating forces during her linguistic training at various educational institutions. Huang possesses a unique global perspective on the past, present and future of Latin America, the United States and China. She is an MFA candidate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has authored one chapbook and two poetry collections. Huang’s debut experimental short film “PALPITATIONS OF DUST” won the Best Experimental Film in 2017 PAECA (Prince of Prestige Academy Award), Best Award in Los Angeles Film & Script Festival, and Best Experimental Film in LA Cinema Festival of Hollywood. For more information, visit http://annhuang.com.

“Palpitations of Dust” is Selected for Festival Angaelica, Preselected for Rome Film Awards & Madrid Art Film Festival, & on the Short List for Cinema London Film Festival

Ann Huang Filmmaker

Contact
Ann Huang
Independent Filmmaker
Phone: (949) 280-5290
huang.yuwei.ann@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Palpitations of Dust is Selected for Festival Angaelica, Preselected for Rome Film Awards & Madrid Art Film Festival, & on the Short List for Cinema London Film Festival

September 2017: Ann Huang’s film Palpitations of Dust has been officially selected for this year’s Festival Angaelica, which will take place at Big Bear Lake in California from September 18th through September 24th.

Angaelica is a non-profit organization with roots in ecology and art that believes in the power of storytelling. The festival helps artists and collaborators connect through film and other projects. More information about the festival can be viewed here.

Festival-Angaelica-2017-Official-Selection-White-Background copy

 

Palpitations of Dust has also been preselected for the 2017 Rome Film Awards (RFA) which will take place from October 28th through 29th in Rome, Italy at Detour Cinema.

The festival highlights the best films of Italy, Europe, and the rest of the world. More information about the RFA can be found here.

rome film awards preselected 2017

 

Additionally, Palpitations of Dust is in the short list for the 2nd annual Cinema London Film Festival which will be held on September 22nd in London. The festival aims to increase diversity in European countries and promote the art of cinema all around the world. Cinema London screens self-financed films by a diverse group of filmmakers from several different countries. More information about the festival can be found here.

Semifinalist

 

Lastly, Ann Huang’s film has been preselected for the 2nd annual Madrid Art Film Festival which will take place on September 29th and September 30th, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.

The festival offers multiple award categories including best screenplay, best cinematography, best director, and best narrative short and celebrates art and film from around the world. More information about the the Madrid Art Film Festival can be viewed here.

Semi-finalist

About Ann Huang

Ann Huang is a filmmaker based in Newport Beach, Southern California. Huang was born in Mainland China and raised in Mexico and the US. World literature and theatrical performances became dominating forces during her linguistic training at various educational institutions. Huang possesses a unique global perspective on the past, present and future of Latin America, the United States and China. She is an MFA candidate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has authored one chapbook and two poetry collections. Huang’s debut experimental short film “PALPITATIONS OF DUST” won the Best Experimental Film in 2017 PAECA (Prince of Prestige Academy Award), Best Award in Los Angeles Film & Script Festival, and Best Experimental Film in LA Cinema Festival of Hollywood. For more information, visit http://annhuang.com.

“Palpitations of Dust” Wins Best Experimental Film for Prince of Prestige Academy Award, & is Selected for Screening at Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival, Action on Film Festival, & Near Nazareth Festival

Ann Huang Filmmaker

Contact
Ann Huang
Independent Filmmaker
Phone: (949) 280-5290
huang.yuwei.ann@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Palpitations of Dust Wins Best Experimental Short Film for Prince of Prestige Academy Award, & is Selected for Screening at Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival, Action on Film Festival, & Near Nazareth Festival

August 2017: Ann Huang’s film Palpitations of Dust won Best Experimental Film for the Prince of Prestige Academy Award for 2017! 

Huang says that her debut film is solely based on her pure lyrical poems. That her biggest challenge of adapting her poetry from page to big screen was to render a narrative arc from non-lineal surrealistic poems. “Chance, happenstance, and energy of synchronicity are the centerpiece of this project, interweaving and juxtaposing frail humane emotions such as love, longing, and belonging.”

Films submitted to the Prince of Prestige Academy Award were nominated through a selection committee. The top scorers were reviewed by the festival jury and winners were announced on Saturday, July 29, 2017. More information about the Prince of Prestige Academy Award as well as other film categories and nominees can be viewed on the PAECA website as well as on IMDB

photo copy 4

Palpitations of Dust has also been officially accepted to be screened at the the Hollywood Dreamz International Film Festival (HDIFF) and Action on Film Festival (AOFFEST). Both events will run concurrently and will host black tie award celebrations from August 24th through August 26th, 2017 at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

HDIFF is an international film festival that brings together talented experts and newcomers from film, entertainment, and writing. More information about the festival can be found here. The Action on Film Festival is an annual event that features films from all genres including features, shorts, experimental, animation, music videos, and action sequences. Learn more about AOFFEST here.

Action on Film 2017 Acceptance Laurels

Palpitations of Dust is also a semi-finalist for the 2nd annual Malta Film Festival this year. The festival will take place on August 24th and 25th, 2017 at Eden Cinemas, located in St Julian’s, Malta. The Malta Film festival features a selection of diverse films from Europe, South America, as well as the rest of the world. More information can be found here.

Malta Semifinalist

Additionally, Palpitations of Dust has been selected for the Near Nazareth Festival in the Experimental Category for Winter 2017. The film showcases five surrealist poems and will be screened at the festival which will take place in Afula, Israel from December 13th through December 17th, 2017.

The Near Nazareth Festival has been ranked as one of the 100 Best Reviewed Festivals on FilmFreeway and features work by filmmakers from 70 different countries. The Experimental category for the Near Nazareth Festival can be viewed here.

2017_Participant (1)

About Ann Huang

Ann Huang was born and raised in Mainland China and her passion for words dates back to her childhood. World literature and theatrical performances became dominating forces during her linguistic training at various educational institutions. As a first generation Chinese American, Huang possesses a unique global perspective on the past, present and future of Latin America, the United States and China. She is an MFA candidate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has authored two poetry collections. For more information, visit http://annhuang.com.

2017 Nice Independent Filmmaker & Auckland International Film Festivals Nominate & Screen “Palpitations of Dust”

Ann Huang FilmmakerContact
Ann Huang
Independent Filmmaker
Phone: (949) 280-5290
huang.yuwei.ann@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 2017 Nice Independent Filmmaker & Auckland International Film Festivals Nominate & Screen “Palpitations of Dust”

June 2017: The 2017 Nice International Filmmaker Festival nominated Ann Huang for their Talented New Filmmaker Award. In addition, her film “Palpitations of Dust” was nominated for Best Cinematography in a Short Film. The film was screened on May 18, 2017 in Nice, France.

View the screening schedule: http://filmfestinternational.com/may-18th-room-1-nice-iff-2017/

Since 2006 the festival has given Indie Filmmakers a platform to showcase their work. From humble beginnings in Tenerife, they now host events in some of Europe’s most renowned cities, including Nice, London, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin, and Milan.

The festival is a week-long showcasing of films that concludes with an awards ceremony gala dinner, where winners from each of category receive a prestigious trophy in recognizing their talents and achievements.

The renowned festivals also include workshops, guest speakers, film premieres, director Q&As, networking events, and much more. The events support filmmakers around the world by establishing and connecting a profoundly rich community of like-minded individuals.

Learn more about the festival in Nice as well as upcoming festivals in other cities by visiting http://filmfestinternational.com/

The Auckland International Filmmaker Festival jury selected Ann Huang’s film, “Palpitations of Dust,” for their autumn session awards.

The acclaimed Auckland Film Festival provides support to independent film-makers through reviewing, judging, marketing, and networking. In addition, the festival aids filmmakers in overcoming any obstacles which potentially hinder the artist’s ability to create.

Official_Selection_Autumn_2017_Color

Visit http://www.aiff.co.nz/ to learn more.

About Ann Huang

Ann Huang was born and raised in Mainland China and her passion for words dates back to her childhood. World literature and theatrical performances became dominating forces during her linguistic training at various educational institutions. As a first generation Chinese American, Huang possesses a unique global perspective on the past, present and future of Latin America, the United States and China. She is an MFA candidate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has authored two poetry collections. For more information, visit http://annhuang.com.

Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren

Poetry & Film Fuse in the Works of Maya Deren

Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren

One of the most influential filmmakers in American cinema and a pioneer in dance films, Maya Deren (1917-1961) believed the function of film was to offer a viewer an experience that would evoke new conclusions. As with her poetry, Deren’s focus continually evolved and remained dynamic as she combined her interests in subjective psychology, dance and Haitian culture in her short films. Deren’s best-known and most influential experimental film, Meshes of the Afternoon (1943), beautifully combines poetic elements with cinematic devices. In 2015, the BBC hailed it as one of the top 100 greatest American films. Deren’s popular cinematic works also include At Land, Ritual in Transfigured Time, Meditation in Violence, and A Study in Choreography for Camera.

Maya Deren best expressed her view of the freedoms of independent cinema when she said, “Artistic freedom means that the amateur filmmaker is never forced to sacrifice visual drama and beauty to a stream of words…to the relentless activity and explanations of a plot…nor is the amateur production expected to return profit on a huge investment by holding the attention of a massive and motley audience for 90 minutes…Instead of trying to invent a plot that moves, use the movement of wind, or water, children, people, elevators, balls, etc. as a poem might celebrate these. And use your freedom to experiment with visual ideas; your mistakes will not get you fired.”

‘Meshes of the Afternoon’ and its Influence

Using a second-hand Bolex camera, Deren and husband Alexander Hammid created Meshes of the Afternoon. It was the first narrative work in avant-garde American film, establishing the New American Cinema. The editing and filming techniques used in the short have a deep sense of rhythm and create a sense of continued motion through discontinued space, conveying a deeper meaning of discomfort and distrust. The abandoning of the concepts of space and time in the film, the juxtaposition of shots, and multiple views of “self” convey a stream of consciousness that breaks viewer expectations.

Compelling themes throughout Deren’s work include reflection, dreaming, vision, ritual, identity and rhythm. Meshes of the Afternoon directly inspired David Lynch, John Coney, Su Friedrich, Stan Brakhage, Kenneth Anger and other major traditional and experimental filmmakers.

Deren on the Freedoms of Independent Cinema

When discussing the liberties of independent cinema, Deren was opposed to Hollywood’s practices and standards. She felt that artistic freedom meant never sacrificing visual beauty and drama to spoken lines and explanations of plot. Deren took advantage of movements that happened naturally—the wind blowing, balls bouncing, water running—rather than invent plots. She stated that when an artist uses his or her freedom to experiment with visual ideas, mistakes are forgiven.

At the 1953 Poetry and Film Symposium, Deren stated that poetry “is an approach to experience.” She explained that a poem’s structure makes it distinct. Its construct is the result of a situation’s vertical investigation, as it looks into a moment’s implications, qualities and depth. Deren stated that the result is poetry that doesn’t focus on what’s happening, but on how a situation feels or means.

Filmmaker and Poet, Ann Huang, has long been inspired by the Deren’s works. Cinematic and poetic visions influenced her first film, Palpitations of Dust. Reviews received from a film festival’s screening committee further support that Huang’s work reflects the freedom ideas promoted by Maya Deren:

“Interesting juxtaposition of the actors and artwork with the poems.”

“Loved the dichotomy of the Renaissance art with the visuals of the film.”

Surrealists suggest that art is a part of life. Therefore, it is vital that filmmaking be viewed as pure and keen as automatic writing or poetry writing. Poetry, filmmaking and other forms of art make the invisible, undocumented moments in an individual’s life tangible. For example, these moments are eloquent yet mysterious, wise yet innocent, and charismatic yet elusive. The portion of existence that survives without an audience must be preserved for an artist to remain whole.

poetry translation

How Culture and Literature Intertwine During Poetry Translation

poetry translationIn the United States, a trainer is an individual who teaches skills. In Great Britain, it is an athletic shoe. A bog in the U.S. is a swamp. In Great Britain, it’s a toilet. In Oregon, a buggy is an old-fashioned term for a stroller, horse carriage or car. In North Carolina, it’s a modern term for a shopping cart.

Even when nations speak the same language, the cultures within it greatly influence what different words mean. When translating poetry, an individual must take a broad idea that can be interpreted in many different ways and translate it into a recognizable, familiar idea that remains true to the original text. The skill is a subject activity and multi-faceted process tangled with linguistic and cultural restraints that lends itself to new interpretations that the original poet may have never imagined.

Cultural Considerations When Translating Poetry

Literary and Cultural Understanding and Bias

One of the most challenging tasks when translating poetry is communicating culture-specific ideas because a translation isn’t just affected by the poet’s culture, but also the translator’s understanding of and biases toward the poet’s and target’s culture. Ancient Romans understood this during their conquests. To introduce Romans to Greek culture, for example, Roman translators carefully imitated Grecian stylistic elements to keep the literature as faithful to the original literature as possible. After conquering Greece, however, Roman translators did not feel the need to pay as much attention to preserving the integrity of the original texts. Instead, they adapted the texts as a way of demonstrating Roman literary achievements. As a result, the translations didn’t serve as an imitation or interpretation; they were the competition. The translations accommodated Roman views of Grecian society. This was not the first culture to do this, nor will it be the last.

Metaphors

Metaphors are one of the most important elements of figurative language and are often ripe with culture-specific undertones. They contain the core of a poet’s message and serve as a source of enrichment for the target audience. Because metaphors often relate to a culture’s customs and history, they may create unique difficulties in translations.

Metaphors born of traditions, religious beliefs, geographical surroundings, environment and historical events are sometimes difficult to translate. In English, for instance, the word dog is relatively neutral. An individual might say a lottery winner is a lucky dog. In Chinese, the word dog may have a derogatory connotation and be a word used to describe someone who is snobby or mean. When a metaphor in the original language does not make sense in the target language, an individual might have to translate metaphors using similes to retain the original idea or image.

Allusions

Allusions in poetry can be just as difficult, if not more difficult, to translate if the cultures in question did not share the same history or texts. When an Arab poet alludes to Qu’ranic texts, for example, a Western reader might not understand the scriptural origins. In such instances, a translator might have to provide a reader with footnotes, glossary or other notes to explain the context of the idea.

Translating the nuances found in poetry is a complicated yet vital task. When a translator sees culture as a collection of experiences that give daily life its form, the individual links more than just words; she links worlds.

Award Nominated “Palpitations of Dust” Announces Additional Screening

Contact
Ann Huang
Filmmaker

Phone: (949) 280-5290
huang.yuwei.ann@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The 8th Annual Taste Awards : Praise Continues for “Palpitations of Dust”

Ann Huang

February 21, 2017: This star-studded event acknowledged outstanding excellence in video, film, mobile and interactive content focused on food, drink, fashion, design, travel, health and lifestyle. Nominated film “Palpitations of Dust” was described as one of the most innovative and exciting festival discoveries. Click to learn more about the film from the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and view more event photos.

Award Nominated “Palpitations of Dust” Announces Additional Screening

 

February 2017: A new screening of Ann Huang’s film “Palpitations of Dust” has been scheduled at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film festival on Monday, February 20, 2017 in Regal Cinema LA LIVE. The film, written and adapted by Ann Huang, explores the lives of three friends, which become complicated when facing choices of love, friendship, need and reciprocity. Learn more about the festival and purchase tickets at http://hollywoodreelindependentfilmfestival.com/.

Ann Huang’s film has also been nominated for a Taste Award. The Taste Awards are original awards for the Lifestyle Entertainment Industry and the highest awards for creators, producers, hosts, and directors. The Award recognizes and acknowledges outstanding excellence in video, film, and more.

The Taste Awards Reception/Ceremony takes place on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 in Beverly Hills where the winner will be announced.

VIP red carpet reception includes presentation ceremony and announcement, gift bags and more. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.thetasteawards.com/events/.

 

About Ann Huang

Ann Huang was born and raised in Mainland China and her passion for words dates back to her childhood. World literature and theatrical performances became dominating forces during her linguistic training at various educational institutions. As a first generation Chinese American, Huang possesses a unique global perspective on the past, present and future of Latin America, the United States and China. She is an MFA candidate from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has authored two poetry collections. For more information, visit https://www.annhuangpoetry.com/blog/.

brown film spiral

Transmedia Storytelling: How to Promote Your Poetry or Experimental Film (Part II)

brown film spiral
Last month, I introduced you to my experimental film Palpitations of Dust (https://vimeo.com/180268104), which has won recognition at film festivals. When you’re ready to release your film, it isn’t enough to premier it in a theater if you want it to draw attention. You must take steps to promote it and make it appealing to your audience. Therefore, what you do after completing an experimental film is just as important as the film itself. By knowing marketing basics, you can turn your passion into a profitable venture.

Marketing Your Experimental Film

If you are serious about filmmaking, you must treat your craft like a business. You cannot make a film and hope that it will do well in the theater and make sales online. You must take steps to showcase your unique vision and create a buzz. Those steps depend on information, such as your audience’s:

  • Age
  • Geographic location
  • Preferred movie genres
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Gender
  • How they consume information
  • Preferred social media platforms

In today’s technological age, you will find that your audience consumes information from a number of sources because they also want to feel as if they have a role in what you offer. This is where transmedia storytelling comes into play. The marketing technique helps set your film apart from the other noise on the Internet by using multiple media platforms to transport your message into your audience’s daily life. By using transmedia storytelling, you transition from telling a story to making one with your audience.

With Palpitations of Dust, I used poems that I wrote in the past, film festivals, video-on-demand and social media to make the story come together. Ideas that others use to market their own films include:

  • Creating a film festival strategy
  • Entering a film for an award
  • Showing teasers and trailers on social media platforms just prior to releasing the film to create a sense of excitement
  • Hanging posters and handing out fliers in the community where you plan to premier the film
  • Creating a website and social media pages dedicated to the film
  • Using social media before and after a screening to connect with your audience and keep the conversation going
  • Submitting the film to VOD services and television networks
  • Hosting special screening events
  • Email marketing and flyer for promotion purposes
  • Submitting press releases to local newspapers and news websites, such this one (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/11/prweb13821729.htm) for Palpitations of Dust

Do You Need an Agent or Publicist?

The answer to this question depends on your needs. An agent is an individual who takes care of the business aspects of your endeavor so you can focus on the creative aspects. These professionals negotiate contracts, give guidance, and provide creative feedback. They learn about your goals and devise a plan to help you meet them. They can also connect you to other professionals that you might need for a film, such as producers. If filmmaking is a hobby, you might not need an agent. If it is a serious career, an agent can prove invaluable.

Hiring a publicist is a good idea if a major film festival screens your experimental film. This individual can help you develop strong publicity materials, get you in touch with the right press contacts, manage festival publicity and marketing campaigns, raise your film’s media profile, arrange interviews, and maximize the exposure your film receives.

The only thing more exciting than writing poetry or making a film is sharing your talents with others. Strategic transmedia storytelling will help get the ball rolling by expanding the narrative that you create into the lives of your audience, making your fans your greatest evangelists and assets.

spiral film strip from movie

Where to Promote Your Poetry or Experimental Film (Part I)

spiral film strip from movieTransmedia storytelling is a popular trend that you may have experienced without knowing it. It encompasses dispersing a work or parts of a work across multiple platforms to provide an audience with a unified, coordinated experience. The Hunger Games is a great example in which Lionsgate and Campfire used billboards, social media, videos, fan challenges, websites and cinemas to tell the complete story about the universe in which the movie characters live. If you are a writer or filmmaker, you don’t need to collaborate with a major film studio to promote your own work. In 2016, I released the experimental film Palpitations of Dust (https://vimeo.com/180268104). By using outlets available to the public, I successfully promoted my film and engaged its audience.

Transmedia Storytelling Basics

In transmedia storytelling, the platforms used to promote your works contribute to its unfolding story. In Palpitations of Dust, I narrated poems that I published in the past to give viewers an enhanced and more immersive experience. Because I used different platforms to promote the film, I gave my audience different points of entry to experience it, as well as an invitation and incentive to immerse themselves in the world that I created.

The Best Poets to Pitch Your Experimental Film

Many experimental films combine different types of art in a manner that might seem unconventional. Along with using actors and paintings in Palpitations of Dust, I narrated poems that I wrote. Many filmmakers use poems written by other artists. Often, the best poets or poetry laureates to pitch your film to are individuals you know. The poet laureate I worked with was Jean Valentine who has been my mentor in New York, and Ralph Angel who has been my teacher for the last two years, based in Los Angeles.

Promoting Your Experimental Film

Theaters

Good theaters to premier your films in are those that routinely show experimental films, such as community theaters and art houses, because they already have an audience that’s interested in your genre. Some of these theaters are part of or have a relationship with college campuses with active film programs.

Film Festivals

Film festivals are great for showing your work to the world because they have an audience that wants to see it. Festival screenings are also ideal because they naturally create buzz about films and the talents behind them. Below are some of the popular festivals for short films in the United States and around the world:

I recently had the honor of winning the Best Experimental Film award at the 2016 Los Angeles Film and Script Festival for Palpitations of Dust, as well as an Award of Recognition in the experimental film category at IndieFEST. The film is also nominated for Official Selection: Best Mini Film or Documentary at the TASTE AWARDS, which will announce the winner in February 2017.

Palpitations of Dust is pre-selected for the first annual Pacific Coast Premier and the Near Nazareth Festival. I also screened the film at the Oasis Short Film Festival, which showcases the emerging talent of the next generation filmmakers who don’t necessarily have big budgets or industry-filmmaker connections to be recognized.

Raindance, iFilmfest and the Underground Film Journal are great resources that list several festivals for screening experimental films.

Online Streaming Video Services

Video-on-demand, or VOD, services are great ways to give your audience a way to view a film from any device with an Internet connection. The most popular platforms include:

Sonnyboo lists media outlets that seek short films. PBS also lists popular digital self-distribution options that do not have a curation process.

Visit my blog next month to learn more about transmedia storytelling and how to promote your experimental film.