Past Events
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IOWA CITY MICROCINEMA AND CREATIVE CINEMA UNIT PRESENT “WEEKEND OF VIDEOBLOGGING” October 13-15, 2006
Co-sponsored by The Bijou Theater and UISG
Screening of “Blogumentary” with filmmaker and videoblogger Chuck Olsen in person
Friday, October 13th at 7pm (view a trailer at Blogumentary.org)
The Bijou Theater, University of Iowa’s Iowa Memorial Union (map)
FREE
Adventures in Videoblogging
A presentation by videobloggers Chuck Olsen (Blogumentary, Minnesota Stories) and Chris Weagel (Human Dog Productions)
Saturday, October 14th at 1pm
Pappajohn Building S207 on the University of Iowa campus (map)
FREE
Videoblogging 101 Workshop
Learn how to create your own videoblog with Iowa City videobloggers Jennifer Proctor and Aaron Valdez
Sunday, October 15th, 1-5pm
Unversity of Iowa’s Information Arcade, Main Library (map)
Free; REGISTRATION REQUIRED–space is limited to 24 participants
For more information and to register, click here.
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From October 13-15, 2006, Iowa City Microcinema and Creative Cinema Unit are pleased to present visiting filmmakers and videobloggers Chuck Olsen (Minneapolis) and Chris Weagel (St. Clair Shores, MI) for a weekend of activities devoted to videoblogging. Videoblogging–the practice of posting videos to a blog–is a rapidly growing form of personal expression and user-generated media, and Olsen and Weagel are at the forefront of this cutting-edge wave of mediamaking.
The public is invited to three free events over the weekend. On Friday, October 13th, Chuck Olsen will present a screening of his film ” Blogumentary,” a playful exploration of the way blogs are influencing our media, our politics, and our relationships.
On Saturday, October 14th, Olsen and fellow videoblogger Chris Weagel will showcase samples from their own videoblogs and discuss the exciting emergence of personal video on the web.
Then, on Sunday, October 15th, Iowa City videobloggers Jennifer Proctor and Aaron Valdez will present a workshop on creating your own videoblog using free services available to the public. Participants will create a videoblog during the workshop that they can continue to use on their own afterwards.
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About the presenters:
Chuck Olsen is the founder of Minnesota Stories (mnstories.com), called one of the best videoblogs by the New York Times. He is the producer-director of “Blogumentary,” the first documentary film about the rise of political and personal blogs. His work has screened at the Walker Art Center, Harvard University, and on renegade laptops all around the world. He is the Minneapolis correspondent for Rocketboom and is a web production specialist for Clockwork Active Media Systems. Chuck’s personal blog (blogumentary.typepad.com) was nominated for Best Weblog at South By Southwest Interactive Festival in 2004.
Chris Weagel is a videoblogger, video shooter, and editor. He is the founder of Human Dog Laboraties (human-dog.com/labs), a videoblog that explores all areas of the televisual realm ranging from comedy, documentary, to reports on his hometown of St. Clair Shores, behind the scenes of Human Dog, and, controversially, kitties. He is also a contributor to the acclaimed daily group videoblog The Pan (thepan.org) and the recipient of the first Have Money Will Vlog funding initiative for his videoblog series “American King” (americanking.net).
Jennifer Proctor and Aaron Valdez are filmmakers, videobloggers, and co-founders of Iowa City Microcinema. Proctor is an MFA Candidate in Film and Video Production at the University of Iowa and instructor for the Fall 2006 course in videoblogging. Valdez is Operations Manager at Public Access Television in Iowa City. In addition to managing the IC Microcinema website, Proctor and Valdez maintain their own videoblogs, Nanoramas (jenniferproctor.com), Aaron Valdez Film and Video (aaronvaldez.com/vlog) and Valdezatron Industries (valdezatron.com), respectively.
Presented by the Creative Cinema Unit, Iowa City Microcinema, and the Bijou Theater. Sponsored by UISG.
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THE PIECE OF CRAP FILM FESTIVAL September 6, 2006.
If you are interested in watching this program in its entirety from the confines of your own home we have dvd-r’s for sale for $10. A night of scenes from the worst films ever made chosen by you! This is an open submission screening so send us your ideas. We’re looking for, at most, the worst three-minutes from your choice of the worst film ever. Be Creative! A few titles already selected include: Troll 2, Turkish Star Wars, Silent Night Deadly Night 2, Invasion USA, Cobra, From Justin to Kelly, and Mac & Me.
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A/V GEEKS PRESENTS “THE MODERN HOUSEWIFE” April 29, 2006
a screening of classic educational films from the ’50s and ’60s With A/V Geek Skip Elsheimer in person!
Saturday, April 29th at 7pm
Terrace Room, Iowa Memorial Union, University of Iowa
FREE and open to the public
Presented by Creative Cinema Unit, IC Microcinema, and the Bijou Theatre
In glorious 16mm!
Direct from Raleigh, North Carolina, film collector, curator, and mad scientist Skip Elsheimer will visit Iowa City to present “The Modern Housewife,” a screening of classic 1960s educational films about today’s–well, actually, yesterday’s–modern housewife. Carefully selected from Elsheimer’s A/V Geeks Educational Film Archive, films in the program include Goodbye to Garbage, Home is What You Make it, Soft as a Cloud, Joy of Living with Fragrance and Freeze-In. The program promises to be informational, fascinating, and downright hilarious.
The screening will feature a bake sale and door prizes, and anyone who attends the event in full housewife or salesman attire will receive a complimentary potholder!
Presented by the Creative Cinema Unit, Iowa City Microcinema, and the Bijou Theatre.
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SECOND ANNUAL DOCUMENTARY VIDEO RACE April 7th, 2006
WHO: All Eastern Iowa residents with a video camera
WHAT: SHOOT YOUR OWN ADVENTURE–THE DOCUMENTARY VIDEO RACE
STARTING LINE: April 7th, 2006 at 5pm at www.icmicrocinema.com
FINISH LINE: April 15th at noon at the Iowa Memorial Union lobby, UI Campus in Iowa City
VIDEO SHOWCASE: April 15th at 4pm, Englert Theater in Iowa City
COST: FREE!
PRESENTED BY: IC MICROCINEMA in conjunction with the
IOWA CITY INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
Participants must register by emailing icmicrocinema@yahoo.com by April 6th. Complete rules are here. Download the entry form here.
In conjunction with the Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival, IC MICROCINEMA invites Eastern Iowa film and videomakers to take part in the second annual Shoot Your Own Adventure–The Documentary Video Race! Participating filmmakers will hit the pavement the week of April 7-15 to create a four-minute documentary on any subject of their choosing. Everything from serious community issues to goofy stories about your neighbor’s pet dog to poetic musings on rural life are fair game, as long as they stay within the realm of nonfiction.
But there’s a catch: participants must include four special documentary elements in their movie, which will not be revealed until 5pm on Friday, April 7th.
Here’s how it works:
On April 7th at 5pm, we’ll announce the list of four documentary elements right here on our website. Elements could include a camera technique, a location, an object that must appear somewhere in the video, or some other mysterious filmmaking feature. Participants then have one week to plan, shoot, and edit a four-minute documentary that somehow incorporates those elements.
Completed videos are due on Saturday, April 15th at 12 noon, and all works will be shown that day at 4pm as part of the final day of screenings at the Iowa City Documentary Festival.
All area residents with access to a video camera are eligible. Beginning and experienced filmmakers are welcome to participate, and collaborative groups are highly encouraged.
Official Rules
1. All Eastern Iowa residents with access to a video camera are eligible.
2. Entry is FREE
3. Participants must register by April 6th by emailing icmicrocinema@yahoo.com.
4. Videos must be accompanied by an entry form, available here.
5. All videos must be 4 minutes in length or shorter.
6. Accepted formats are mini-DV and VHS (preferred). DVD is acceptable, but we recommend bringing a mini-DV or VHS copy as a backup in case of incompatibility issues. Please LABEL your video with its title, filmmaker(s) name, and run time.
7. Participants under 18 must have parent or guardian permission to participate.
8. Yes, editing is allowed and encouraged!
9. Videos turned in after the April 15th, noon deadline may not be included in the final screening. Having problems meeting the deadline? Email us in advance at icmicrocinema@yahoo.com.
10. Have fun!
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IOWA LOOK AND LISTEN (ILL) March 23, 2006
Iowa Look and Listen a night of short films accompanied by live music benefiting IC MICROCINEMA, CREATIVE CINEMA UNIT and IOWA CITY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL Thursday, March 23rd, 2006 at 8pm Old Brick, Iowa City (corner of Clinton and Market) Admission: $3-5, sliding scale
Come out for this showcase of innovative, breathtaking, and sometimes disturbing short films set to live music from local bands, classical musicians, noise ensembles, and solo artists. It’s two great tastes that taste great together, and all proceeds support IC Microcinema, Creative Cinema Unit, and the Iowa City Documentary Film Festival.
The lineup includes:
Mighty Good Leader by Tad Davis with music by Tad Davis
Court by Casey Swoyer with music by Casey Swoyer
Time; Misstated by Alex Skitolsky with music by Emily Ashenfelter and Joe Klapper
Ballet Mecanique Remix by Shannon Silva & Jennifer Proctor with music by Joe Klapper and Jennifer Fleeger
Matt Wagner is The Town Crier in It’s a Cold Cold Play by Matt Wagner with music Ian McKinney
Untitled by Greg Eggebeen with music by LWA
Art Opening II (Better Than the Alternative) by Louis-Georges Schwartz, Leighton Pierce, and Siroos Shirazi with music by Ian McKinney
sombras/regen by Jamal River with music by Jamal River, Jake Gontero, & Brian Lenth
Falling Asleep at the Wheel by Charlotte Taylor with music by Charlotte Taylor
Plus sing-along remixes by Aaron Valdez throughout the night!
The show is open to the public, though some material may not be appropriate for children. This is a smoke and alcohol free show.
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2ND ANNUAL 24-HR VIDEO RACE, September 23-24, 2005
It’s that time again Eastern Iowa! Dust off your running shoes, duct tape your camera up, and fire up your bootlegged editing software because the 24-Hour Video Race is back and more dangerous than ever.
For you rookies here’s how it works:
On Saturday, September 23rd between 12pm and 1pm Super Video Racers (that’s you) will converge on the South-side, 2nd floor of the Iowa Memorial Union (University of Iowa) to bear witness to the Holy Prop. Each Super Video Racer will receive a Holy Prop that must appear somewhere or be used somehow in your Video Race video. You will have exactly 24 Hours to shoot, edit, put to tape, and deliver your 3-minute or less masterpiece back to us at the South-side, 2nd floor of the IMU on Sunday, September 24th between 12pm and 1pm.
Ha! Ha! Easy you say? We imagine half the people who plan on making a video fail to get up by noon on a Saturday to even pick up the Holy Prop. So if you think you’re up to the challenge we’ll see you at the starting line.
The final videos will be screened Sunday, September 24th at 5pm at 105 Adler Journalism Building, University of Iowa campus (map).
Complete Rules:
1. All Eastern Iowa residents (and beyond) are eligible.
2. Entry is FREE.
3. Accepted formats are mini-DV and VHS; DVD is accepted, but because DVDs don’t always play in all players, please have a backup tape as well.
4. Videos must be three minutes in length or shorter. Editing is allowed.
5. Your video must include the mystery prop in some way–image or sound.
6. Groups and collaborations are allowed and encouraged.
7. Include an entry form with your entry–available at the Starting Line or downloadable here.
8. Label your tape ON THE TAPE ITSELF with your name, the title of the video, and the running time.
9. Prizes to be at Bingo at the final screening.
10. Beginners and veterans alike are encouraged to participate. No experience necessary!
11. Questions? Concerns? Email us at icmicrocinema(at)yahoo(dot)com!
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2004-2005 Visiting filmmakers Matt McCormick and Roger Beebe, the 1st Annual 24-hour Video Race and Documentary Video Race, and a touring program from The Bearded Child Film Festival.