SIFF FLY FILMS 2014!

Get ready for the SIFF Fly Films!

This year for Fly Films, SIFF is inviting Seattle media production companies to create short films 6 to 8 minutes in length on the theme “I Love Seattle,” rather than choosing directors and providing production help. The accepted media production companies will then use their own resources to produce the films on a much longer timeline, starting at the end of January with a deadline target of April 15th.

This year, the Seattle Composers Alliance will provide a portfolio of composers to the production companies in the form of a web page with musical samples, a short biography, a link to the composers’ website, and email address. This is different and much earlier than in years past! It is hoped that these local production companies will be impressed with the musical samples and will engage SCA composers (they are at this point under no obligation to do so, but may choose to engage their own associates) with the hope of forming strong professional relationships not only with the production crew but with the companies themselves.

Composers MUST be available during the post-production period, which will likely be in late-March to mid-April. The schedule hasn’t been finalized yet, but it will be very tight and participating SCA members will be expected to meet deadlines promptly and professionally. Composers must be able to provide high-quality mixed tracks, so you need to have a high caliber DAW setup, sample libraries and mixing environment. Remember, you are representing the SCA so please don’t volunteer unless you’re prepared to meet this challenge in a professional manner.

Composer Selection Process

Based on this new information, we are modifying the process. Interested composers will submit a musical demo of no more than 60 seconds, a short biography of up to 100 words detailing their musical accomplishments, and an email address, by 5 pm on Monday, January 13th, 2014. From those applicants, a pool of 12 composers will be chosen. Full members get first priority, and if any slots are remaining they will be filled by associate members.  If more than 12 full members are interested (or more associate members are interested than there are slots remaining), the final pool will be chosen by random drawing on January 14th (or earlier as noted below). Selected composers’ demos will be presented to the directors on a password protected, SCA hosted web page. Each director will be able to listen and choose their top three picks.

As in the past, SCA Members who participated last year will not be eligible this year.

Each composer selected for a Fly Film team will need to sign a standard composer agreement with the director of the film (to be provided by SIFF via the SCA Board upon selection). This is required to participate on a Fly Film team.

Submission Deadlines

The due date for submitting your name and demo for the drawing is Monday January 13th by 5pm PST (though the sooner we get all demos in hand, the faster we can get the process rolling!)  The SCA board reserves the right to close the entry process by 5pm Saturday, January 11th or later if we get all 12 complete submissions or more.

Demo Requirements

• Up to 60 seconds in length. Anything longer will be rejected.
• WAV or AIFF file format, 16 bits, 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz

The Schedule (as it sits today)

• Members submit their demo no later than 5pm Monday, January 13th.
• Composers will be selected sometime later (probably by mid February) by the directors.
• Shooting starts on the schedule of the production company.
• Editing follows after that.  The schedule is not yet firm on this phase.
• Mixing will take place at Bad Animals or at individual production houses.  Note that their schedule is TBD and may change on short notice!  This may impact composer’s schedules, so please be aware of this potential variable.  They expect finished music mixes to be complete and submitted before the final mixing occurs for each film.
• Ultimate deadline for finished films is currently targeted between April 15th and April 20th.

Some Fly Film Background

For those of you unfamiliar with the Fly Filmmaking Challenge, it is an event put on by the Seattle International Film Festival and Washington Film Works in which directors are given short film scripts and a limited amount of time to shoot, edit and mix the resulting film. The Seattle Composers Alliance provides one composer per film. This is a great opportunity to hone your craft and connect with up-and-coming filmmakers in the area.

Regarding Eligibility

If you are not currently a Full Member, and you would like to be, please email membership@seattlecomposers.org. The board will be reviewing submissions based on the standard criteria for Full Membership eligibility. Please read more about that here: http://www.seattlecomposers.org/about/bylaws/  under 2.2. Qualifications for Full Membership.

SCA Membership Status

If you have questions about your membership status, dues or related questions, please email membership@seattlecomposers.org and we will be happy to help you sort this stuff out.

I’m Ready for Fly Films! Sign Me Up!

Please email us if you would like to be considered.  We will be gathering interested members up through 5pm PST on Jan 13 (or sooner as outlined above.)  Please send your audio demo to the above email, as per the requirements listed above. If you are not sure about your eligibility, then please email membership@seattlecomposers.org and we will be happy to help. If you are an associate member we will include your name in a secondary pool.

Happy composing!