The pressure is on my film friends! Today is July 27th, which means that there are only 5 days left to get your films submitted to the Skyline Indie Film Fest!

Personally, I think deadlines are amazing devices. They put the pressure on. They are the creator of “all-nighters” and the best friend of coffee. Sometimes you need a deadline that sneaks up on you to really get your creative juices flowing. Here are some quotes about the importance of deadlines:

“We need to distinguish between stress and stimulation. Having deadlines, setting goals, and pushing yourself to perform at capacity are stimulating. Stress is when you’re anxious, upset, or frustrated, which dramatically reduce your ability to perform.”
-Andrew Bernstein

“Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things”
-Val Kilmer

“I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines, nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation.”
-Harry Shearer

“Also, I need deadlines, just like everybody else, especially coming from magazines, newspapers, and stuff like that. I need daily or weekly deadlines to get stuff done, or I continue to do things and not go off on a year of unproductivity.”
-Dave Eggers

So, I hope these quotes inspire you to polish off that editing, shoot that last scene, or come up with a memorable title for your film! Submit at http://skylineindiefilmfest.org/submit/ by August 1st. We can’t wait to see your films and watch how you foster your indie spirit.

I think one of the best things about Bright Box is its name. Bright. Something bright is exactly what Winchester needs. A new light, a new space…something unique. Bright Box is completely that, and a little something more.

Its location is perfect. It resides in the middle of the downtown-walking mall in Winchester, VA. The famous walking mall was renovated earlier this year, making it more striking than ever. Fountains, trees, new sidewalks, and new entrances make this location not only populated by locals, but also picturesque.

Bright Box has just signed on to be one of Skyline’s locations! We are so excited about this. This location is progressive and ultimately perfect for this event. So why Bright Box, you ask? It holds a space predominantly used for performances that can hold up to 230 people. It also has remarkable acoustics. Bright Box also has a lounge area that can be used for people to relax before and after film screenings. It is a beautiful space that reflects art and performance, which are two themes Skyline is all about.

I spoke with Josh Huff, Head of Booking and Events for Bright Box last week about Bright Box and Skyline Indie Film Festival. He said, “ Here at Bright Box, we pride ourselves in hosting a variety of innovative and high-quality performances aimed at enhancing and promoting life and the arts in Winchester. The Skyline Indie Film Festival is one notable example of this ongoing enhancement. Bright Box and the Winchester Book Gallery are delighted to support such an important contribution to the Winchester community. The Skyline Indie Film Festival specifically promotes a locally underserved artistic medium and showcases many incredibly talented artists, including the directors, screenwriters, and actors to be highlighted this September. We can’t wait to see you there.”

Josh’s enthusiasm and appreciation of local events is one of the main reasons that Skyline is going to be such a success. Bright Box and all of our locations are helping to bring the community together to honor the arts, enjoy film, and foster the indie spirit.

Learn more about Bright Box at http://brightboxwinchester.com/.

Film, to me, has always been something more than just pictures on a television screen. I have always had an emotional connection (borderline obsession) with movies. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been the nerd who researched the movie before seeing it, read all about it on numerous film blogs, and immediately bought the most expensive DVD just to watch the special features. Film commentaries, behind the scenes, and the blooper reel have always been prominent in my life. It might sound silly, but it has always been a passion of mine.

While promoting the Skyline Indie Film Festival, I wanted to ask people one simple question, “Why do you love film?” The answers I received were pretty incredible.

“Movies allow you to escape into another person’s life and experience situations you wouldn’t normally experience.” –Thomas, Winchester

“As someone who routinely goes on Lord of the Rings (extended editions) binges, I think it’s fair to say that I love movies. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why I love film. One big factor that is underrated and often trivialized is escapism. Sometimes a movie comes along that creates such a realistic world that I just want to escape into it over and over. Epic settings and great characters to fill them are a key factor for me, and contribute to the escapism (ex. The Shire in Lord of the Rings, Gotham City in the Dark Knight trilogy, or the dream world in Inception).” –Matt, Gainesville

“Film by its nature is communicative. It is a storytelling medium that has this unique blend of narrative and technological elements. It is at its strongest when it captures the smallest moments of our humanity, in my humble view. Sure it can be bombastic and loud and there’s a place for that too because at the end of the day, we filmmakers are all storytellers out here saying ‘this is my take’ on something. From my experience though, it is in the quiet moments where film strikes best; in the nuances of a single shot. Indie films are really community building exercises. Telling stories in this medium is a collaborative enterprise and usually the ones made on the cheap are more honest and spiritually rewarding experience both to produce and view. “ –Joey, Baton Rouge

“There is nowhere better to lose yourself than in film. You can be a character in any country in any time period. For two hours you can forget who you are and be who you dream.” –Alex, Baltimore

“I watch films for the subtle moments that, though often fleeting, offer the most telling glimpses into the human condition.” –Jake, Winchester

Now, it’s my turn. If I really think about it, the reason I love film isn’t tangible, it’s the way it makes me feel. Its like when you read a great book, you enter a world that is separate from where you are, but you relate to the characters and get lost in the pages. It makes you happy or sad. It makes you laugh and also cry. Movies do that, but more directly. A good film resonates with you and doesn’t leave your system right away. I’ve always said, “I know I’ve seen a good movie when I’m still talking about it the next week.” Some of the greatest films I’ve seen have never left my heart and soul, and I hope they never do.

So if you love film and care about it as deeply as we do, come out and support independent filmmakers at the Skyline Indie Film Festival September 13-15!

Have you gotten addicted to Vine yet? Well, I have and I must say, its such a fun toy for any film fan. Its quirky, short, and hilarious. Six seconds doesn’t really seem like enough time to tell a story or even complete a sentence, but Vine somehow does it.

Vine has exploded. This Twitter owned phenomenon just continues to grow and become more popular. News outlets, celebrities, and just the average funny guy are downloading and actively posting on every social media outlet. It’s a way for people to express themselves and in addition Vine accomplishes something that other social media sites lack. Its clever. To make a great Vine takes a certain type of mind. You have to be quick about it, as stated previously your limit is a sparse six seconds.

It is a humorous way to be informed and to respect the art of film. Now, you might be thinking, “how is 6 seconds a film?” This question is answered once you watch a great Vine video. It leaves you waiting, but then it starts over again. It is a circle in which the audience can always watch its favorite part again. Infinite.

So, how does this relate to the Skyline Indie Film Fest? Vine users obviously love social media and all things film related. Indie films tend to be off the beaten path, and that’s the sort of crowd that Vine embraces. Clever, quirky and eager to discover.

So I urge you to download Vine. If you aren’t feeling confident in your own Vine video yet, never fear. Watching Vines are just as entertaining. And while we do not have a Vine category, come out and support Indie films at the Skyline Indie Film Festival for inspiration and wonder.

Filmmakers bring life, culture, and art to our eager eyes, and as the audience we have a very important job. To respond. To spread the word. To gush and talk about our emotions that surfaced during the film.

As a complete movie freak, I am a proud audience member. The audience, in fact is the most important element, especially for indie and perhaps not “mainstream” films. The mainstream films, well most of them, are great. Crowd pleasers and tear jerkers. But film festivals bring out the best aspects about film. In a film festival, boundaries are broken and the rawness of film comes out.

We are showcasing a wide range of films throughout this festival. At first it was centered on short films, but that didn’t last long. Once features, animated films, and every genre started to pile up, we decided to make it a broader spectrum. This is not only a positive for the festival, its incredible news for our audience. Now we can branch out and focus on gathering all types of movie lovers.

So, how to branch out? The fundamental question seems to have an obvious answer, but its not that simple. Reaching out to “movie-lovers” isn’t the only area to focus on, especially in an area like Winchester, Virginia. Winchester is known for its local and “small-town” atmosphere. Winchester is a place where people tend to stay, due to family ties, its natural southern beauty, and the closeness of Washington D.C. It becomes a getaway from the noisy and traffic filled Northern Virginia. But why would this community be interested in a Film Festival?

There are many answers to this unapologetic question, the first starting with the word “local.” As a person who was born and raised in Winchester, Virginia I know as well as anyone how much of a small town it is. People love participating in the local festivals, the shows, and the night-life. So that’s our first target audience member; the local Winchester supporter.

The next audience member centers on the word, “artsy.” Shenandoah University has blossomed over the past 10 years bringing in international artists, new students, and creating more and more riveting live performances. The students and faculty of Shenandoah University understand the arts and therefore understand the importance of a film festival.

The final audience member is a little complicated. The final audience member is someone who doesn’t necessarily like film, or rather doesn’t know anything about it. The last audience member is the one we have to convince. Maybe they’ve been to a couple movies at the Alamo, but never experienced true film. They feel like they need inspiration and don’t exactly know where to find it. When trying to work on programming you need to also think about programming the public. This simply means that programming directly influences the frame of the audience.

A film festival takes work, but the outcome is not only beautiful, but groundbreaking for the audience. Has a film ever brought you to tears, made you laugh until your ribs hurts, or seriously made you think about things you may have been hiding away in your consciousness? If so, please join us at the Skyline Indie Film Festival and help us foster the indie spirit.