Upcoming Catalyst Events at St. Scholastica

Catalyst Director Philip Gilpin at the
Greysolon Ballroom Awards Ceremony.

There are two kinds of people at a football game: those who are part of the game on the field in one way or another, and the spectators. The same differentiation takes place on television game shows like Jeopardy or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

When the Disney film Iron Will was produced here in 1993 I was able to see first-hand how many people get involved in making a production like that. And actually, when you consider the football analogy or Jeopardy analogy, the same holds true. There are lots of behind the scenes roles being played, from building sets to conveying information to the camera crews.

In part, that was one of the objectives of the Catalyst Content Festival that came to town last fall, to show the full scope of what's involved in producing content, whether series television or podcasts.

This past October Duluth hosted its first Catalyst Content Festival. This was the 14th year for the fest but first here in the Northland. The buzz was terrific as makers and creators gathered with industry execs and media veterans.

The larger vision for Catalyst goes beyond an  annual convention of sorts. There's a training institute aspect of this deal, hence the partnership with the College of St. Scholastica (CSS).

Here's a current schedule of upcoming events at CSS related to Catalyst. More details to come.

How the TV industry works?
January 28, 7-8 p.m. at Mitchell Auditorium - FREE lecture
Speaker: Philip Gilpin, Executive Director of Catalyst Content

Description: This lecture will focus on the structure of the TV industry and demystify the way the industry works by showing how all the pieces connect: TV networks, agencies, studios, producers, actors, writers, directors, etc.

Building Your Story World
February XX, 7-8 p.m. at Mitchell Auditorium - FREE lecture
Speaker: Industry guest speaker

Description: This lecture will focus on the creative process of developing an entire storyworld using only your imagination.

How to Produce Shows That Make It
March XX, 7-8 p.m. at Mitchell Auditorium - FREE lecture
Speaker: Industry guest speaker

Description: This lecture will provide an in-depth look at physical production and how to take the idea from your script and put it into reality.

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Related Links
ITV Fest Rebranded as Catalyst
Catalyst 2019: Summing Up
Catalyst Storieroad Path & Registration

A Visit with Award-Winning Film Maker Cy Dodson, Creator of Beneath the Ink

Many people are probably unaware of the scale of the Catalyst Content Festival, now in its 14th year, that took place in Duluth in mid-October. To give an idea of how big the event is, festival director Philip Gilpin said there were more than 800 films submitted for consideration from 25 countries this year. Nearly 90 films were screened and 26 scripts read during the five-day event.

One of the films I saw was an extremely powerful documentary called Beneath the Ink. It came as no surprise to me when it won Best Documentary. Even better  was hearing the news that Director Cy Dodson was signed by the Abrams Agency, a major sponsor of the festival.

What did surprise me--but shouldn't have--was discovering that Dodson and I both graduated from Ohio, University in Athens.

EN: How did you come to choose Ohio U in Athens and what was the focus of your studies?

Cy Dodson: I grew up in Zanesville, Ohio which is about an hour drive to OU. A lot of my high school friends went there. It's in the hills, nice location for a school. I was undecided for a while in college. I took a variety of classes, a lot of engineering and music classes. I ended up getting a communications degree with an emphasis on audio production. Not a whole lot of jobs for audio/music recording. I ended up working for my home town television station. I was in the news business for the next 8 years as a journalist, ended up moving to Minnesota in 2000, working for KSTP.

EN: How long have you been making films?

CD: I'm sort of a late bloomer. I made my first documentary My Last Breath in 2015, The Ragman in 2017, and Beneath the Ink in 2018. All short films. Short films are typically the entry point for first time filmmakers, so I've screened with filmmakers at festivals that are probably half my age. I wish I would have started 20 years ago, but times were different back then. You had to take out a second mortgage to be able to buy a camera and editing system.

EN: How did you come to take an interest in film? Did you grow up with a camera in your hand?

Billy, the central character in Beneath the Ink.

CD: I thought I wanted to have a career in music, that was about the only thing that I thought I was halfway decent at. So that was my path in college. I didn't pick up a camera until I started my first job after I graduated. It wasn't my first love, but eventually became my profession.

EN: Beneath the Ink is a powerful story. How long did you work on this project? Can you share how it came about?

Hiding a swastika beneath another design.

CD: My first two films were a process. It's like anything else, you have to a do it a few times, gain experience and learn what works. Beneath the Ink was filmed in less than a week’s time, mostly over a weekend with a couple pick up shots. More so than anything with the film, it was the subject matter and story. The story sold this. I didn't have a crew, the production value is good but it's not epic, but it's timely and it's redemption angle resonates with people.

EN: What’s the key to successfully telling a story in film?

CD: It's really all about the story. Is it universal, timely, and thought provoking? If the answer is yes to those questions, it would be worth pursuing. I see many filmmakers putting so much time and effort into films that really have no chance at success because the story isn't there. It's so hard to find unique stories that have a complete package, including surprises, layers, and emotion. There have been stories told on tattoo artists that cover up racists tattoos, I haven't seen any documentary films.

EN: Congrats on your Best Documentary award at Catalyst. There was a lot of competition. Now you’ve been selected to be represented by the Abrams Agency. Can you share how that came about and what’s next?

CD: Catalyst was a great experience. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I went to one of their intro meetings in Minneapolis to hear their spiel. At the time, I didn't know I would be pitching a series. I noticed something on social media about deadlines for submissions and 15 dollars, hit the submit button. I've spent a lot more for a lot less at festivals before. We won Best Documentary, met with several networks, and signed on the dotted line for representation with Abrams. That 15-dollar submission went a long way for us with Catalyst. I would recommend learning more about Catalyst, even if you don't have anything to pitch.

EN: Anything you’d like to say to future creators?

CD: Be bold, take chances, and learn from mistakes. The competition is fierce, there are more content creators now than there's ever been. I had a great run and still got a pile of rejections from festivals with each starting, "we had a record number of submissions this year." Even if your film doesn't win awards and get a distribution offer, that doesn't mean you failed. Build on what you learn from each project.

Covering a Klansman with an American Eagle.

The End Is Near: Catalyst Content Festival 2019 In Duluth--By the Numbers

It's been quite a week. Today's agenda is a bit shorter, culminating in the Red Carpet Awards Gala beginning at three. (It wouldn't be Hollywood without a red carpet, right?) Will we see any Ruby Slippers? Judy Garland was from near here, so it wouldn't be totally out of place.

I was feeling a bit laid back this morning and decided to assemble some numbers for my Medium blog post today. The catalyst for that idea came from an interview I had with Darryl "King Rick" Farmer of the Black Panthers of Milwaukee, who was featured in a documentary by Dogsnose Productions.

After posting that it seemed worthwhile to share some of the Catalyst numbers to accompany the photos I've been taking. I've always been fascinated by numbers, with one of my favorite features from Harper's magazine over the years being the Harper's Index.

Number of seasons experienced in Duluth this week: 3

This particular list does not include things like number of volunteers who participated, or even how many people were here, but I'm certain some of that will emerge once all the tallying has taken place.

Catalyst
By the Numbers

Number of people who watched movies in the Zinema
theaters: A lot.

4--Number of times the letter A appears in the title sponsors name. (Abrams Artist Agency)
5--Number of days in the Catalyst Story Institute & Content Festival.
14--Number of years the Festival has been in existence.
800--Number of entries into the competition. (Actually more than that.)
25--Number of countries from which entries came.
23--Number of panels and presentations.
113--Number of stories, shows, scripts.
6--Number of Documentaries
4--Number of Animated Stories
6--Number of Reality shows
32--Number of Dramas
33--Number of Comedies
6--Number of Podcasts
13--Number of Comedy Scripts
13--Number of Drama Scripts
98--Number of Executives, Panelists and Speakers listed in the Festival Program.
7--Number of these whose picture was not in the program.
29--Number of Sponsors listed in the Festival Program, the top five being Abrams Artist Agency, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, HBO, SAG-AFTRA and the Television Academy.
87--Number of times I heard someone comment on the weather. (No, I made that up.)

The Zeitgeist, where I served as a volunteer Saturday, was continuously buzzing with staff, content creators, execs and attendees. I saw no evidence that our snow had any dampening effect on enthusiasm.

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Jaki has been a trooper coordinating volunteers.

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Ingeborg Von Agassiz entertained patrons in the cafe.

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One of the panel discussions that took place in the Teatro Zuccone

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Creators drew attention to their work with colorful handbills and promo items.

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Service with a smile from Jessie and the other Zeitgeist staff made the long days easier.
Special thanks to Tony Cuneo for all he does in support of the local arts scene.

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Volunteer Carolyn Nelson Kavajecz is no rookie when it comes to hospitality.

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Samuel T Weston, head wizard and film maker. Glahon &the Knaves of Industry.

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Kudos to all the Creators who had work accepted and shared, or had an opportunity to meet industry players.

Related Links
Catalyst Panel on Reading the Room (Networking for Success)
Catalyst Day Three
A Few Eye Opening Numbers That May Surprise You

Day Three: Waxing Poetic @ Catalyst

Friday afternoon I had an opportunity to be a volunteer again for the Catalyst Festival that is taking place this week October 9-13. Friday was my second day at Fitger's, having attended the panel discussion Reading the Room yesterday. Today I was a greeter, smiling and helping direct people to the sessions there, standing by a chair on the stairs, pointing them away from a door and encouraging them to climb another half flight.

"When you reach the top make a right."

I had my pen and notepad with. Being a writer, it's something I'm seldom without. Between sessions, when there were occasional lapses of activity, I scratched a few notes on my pad, penned a few haiku, captured poetic phrases and described the scene that lay before me, which was essentially walls, rails, stairs and the pattern of tiles on the floor.

The stairs especially noodled my imagination. I waltzed down various dead end streets in my mind--wondering what kind of wood the beams were, what color stain was used--but also found a connection between our role as volunteers and these stairs the people had been climbing all day. Here's what emerged.

THE STAIRS
(A Metaphor for the Volunteers)

Stained and polished 
awaiting to fulfill their function
uncomplaining
stepped on all day long 
while helping others ascend.
"We're here to take you higher."

Catalyst Swag Bag for VIPs

Let me add that the "we're stepped on all day long" only refers to the stairs, not us volunteers. In reality, the volunteers have been having a very special experience. Neuroscience has now revealed that when we smile at one another and make eye contact, we get a dopamine rush. So, all afternoon Friday it was like one of those IV bags of fluid they put you on in the hospital dispensing timed release morphine droplets. Not exactly that, but you get the picture. That poem, in too rough draft condition to share here, was titled The Dopamine Effect.

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At one point a creator and an executive were talking animatedly and I overheard these words: "You need a story. You need an amazing story." Which served as a catalyst for the following poem.

Sound Advice
(FOR CREATORS)

Step it up.
Then step it up another notch.
Take that first idea and amp it.
Zap it!
Make it move.
   Make it come alive.

Strike it with lightning!
   Now teach it to dance.
Add a dose of romance
    and maybe…
The magic will happen.

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If you get a chance to volunteer this weekend, the festival could use your help. And there might be magic for you, too.

TO VOLUNTEER visit CatalystContent.org/Volunteer

Catalyst Ratchets Up to a Higher Gear: Notes from a Panel Discussion on Reading the Room

The rains fell hard on the boulevard during the night, but we've cleared the skies a little to begin Day 3 of the Catalyst Content Festival here in Duluth. Dozens of films were screened in various locations including the Norshor, the Zeitgeist Zinemas and other venues. Documentaries, drama, comedy, reality shows, animation, podcasts and more were on display.

At the Old City Hall orchestrated meetings between content creators and executives took place all day and will continue into the weekend. And peppered throughout the week are nearly two dozen panel discussions and workshops to help learn the craft or advance their networking skills. The region's army of volunteers is helping bring it all together for the countless guests who have come to Duluth for the festival. 

Kudos to the Catalyst staff for their flexibility and efforts to ameliorate the vicissitudes of weather and the self-evident construction complication. 

Late Thursday afternoon I attended a panel discussion in the Spirit of the North Theater called Reading the Room, a.k.a. How to Make Contacts, Capitalize on Relationships, and Leverage Your Content Project into Future Work. There was a treasure trove of useful advice and what follows are notes I was able to scribble down during the lively discussion that ensued.

READING THE ROOM

Panel

Vinca Jarrett FilmPro president and attorney from Boston
Steve Adams Head guy at Buffalo 8
Sofie Monroe Founder of Daymaker Productions
Erica Kraus Producer
Jessie Albert President, Xpansive Media
Mike Rotman Writer/Producer/Director

Right from the start you could sense the energy from this panel with oodles of experience and a desire to share, help others. There was a lot of great advice shared and shared with authority. You could tell these were veterans who have experienced the thick of it. From the moment they took their seats the discussion took off like horse bursting from the gate at Churchill Downs.

The first bit of advice related to maximizing our experiences here at the festival. “It’s better to build relationships than pitch. To pitch too soon is like going on a date to get to know someone and talking about marriage.”

This got a laugh but was a totally apt illustration.

Mike Rotman went so far as to say, “Everything I’ve done comes out of a meet and greet. Get to know people, not pitch pitch pitch.”

Someone else said, “Always know who you’re meeting with. And always have something in your back pocket.” (Should that be on the inside or outside of my wallet? Or was this a metaphor? What if it ends up in the wash?)

This session was well attended, and rewarding.

Several times one or another of the panelists mentioned the word rejection. Freelance writers learn early on that rejection letters are part of the game. These veterans wanted to underscore that rejection is a common occurrence in Hollywood as well. “We are all slammed. Don’t take rejection personally,” Sofia said.

On the positive side, Vinca reminded us, “Festivals exist for meeting people.”

An informal poll was taken and we learned that about half the audience was from Minnesota, a quarter from L.A. and the rest from elsewhere. I personally spoke with people from Asia, Atlanta and Germany in the first half day.

Each member of the panel had a microphone and for the first half hour it was non-stop advice and industry stories. Every comment seemed to light up another panelist who had an add-on insight. Eventually there was a Q&A.

“How do I get a meeting with a producer?”

A: “No cold calls.” Agents mediate for the purpose of efficiency to avoid wasting peoples’ time.

Someone else suggested hiring an entertainment lawyer to help you reach the right agent of manager. “No one will read scripts if you have no history or body of work.”

Mike noted that he personally has only had one project due to an agent. “The path is slow. Your job is to prove to the agent that you can make them money.”

Jesse stated, “You’re not ready until you’ve written 10 scripts.” I’m sure a few hearts dropped at that, but it reminded me of some advice I was given as a young artist. “It takes a thousand bad drawings to make a good drawing.”

A Hollywood life isn’t glamorous. You work all day and read 5 scripts at night before you go to bed.

Another downer piece of advice was the suggestion to hire a casting agent for 5-10K. In other words, this game is not for the faint of heart.

Erica noted that it requires persistence and perseverance. “If you’re scared of hearing no, you might as well not start. You’re going to hear many nos.”

This actually was quite refreshing to me, though. Too often wanna-be writers are told they can be millionaire bestselling authors or bloggers. Just follow this formula (that I will sell you for $29.95.) Hucksters take advantage of ignorant people telling them how easy it is to turn $2000 into two million in penny stocks. As PT Barnum said, “A sucker is born every minute.”

This panel, however, wasn’t selling. They were telling us how the game is played. It was a variation of tough love, and they were earnestly helping us to get realistic, managing expectations while still nurturing dreams.

Right through to the end of the hour the panelists flung pearls into the audience. We left with pockets and purses full of them. Here are a few more quick ones to take to heart.

“Don’t burn bridges.”

“Be dependable.”

“Technology has changed things. There’s been a paradigm shift.”

“It’s very hard to get money for your project.”

One attendee said afterwards, "One of the best hours I’ve spent in a long time, with three more days to go."

Today I will be volunteering this afternoon. If you see me, say hello.
And if you're from out of town, welcome!

Related Links
A Rejection Letter Inspired by Paul McCartney's "Paperback Writer"
Catalyst Content Festival Home Page

Catalyst Content Festival: Day One Is Done and It Was Fun

You could not have asked for nicer weather for Duluth in October. We know there's less friendly weather greeting us soon, but Wednesday it was all smiles on the streets and into the balmy evening here.

It was great to see the small army of volunteers rallying to pitch in. Many hands make light work, and you are greatly appreciated, I am sure. If you'd like to help out, the Fest could use more volunteers Saturday and maybe Sunday. Here's the page where you can throw your hat in the ring: https://www.catalystcontent.org/volunteer

Rather than write descriptions of all that is happening I will just let pictures tell the story. I took lots and this was only the first hours of the event. (You'll find a full schedule of events on the Catalyst website.

If you see me, say hello.

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The countdown was underway. And now we're on.

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This is why everyone is bouncing off the walls. 

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Volunteers welcome meeting, training and prep. 

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Volunteer coordinator Jaki Velez. "We still have slots to fill. Thanks for pitching in."

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Grafitti, Hollywood style.

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"Get your wrist bands here." Zeitgeist ticket office. Service with a smile.

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Making a movie that involves construction? We have the equipment you need.

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Thank you to the City of Duluth.

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There are impromptu meetings everywhere. 

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These are the building blocks of success. It's coming together. 

Red is the color theme, if you didn't notice.

Even the sky was red this morning.

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Related Links
See Christa Lawler's DNT story after Day One of the Fest
The Trib also featured Catalyst in today's Best Bets

Getting Ready for Catalyst: A Visit With Paul Lemenager of Dogsnose Media

Brian Leighton, "American Buskers"

I heard a rumor last month that there were no local films accepted to be part of  next week's international content festival. Ironically, the very next day I was posting an interview with two local women, Megan McGarvey and Katie Lindow, about their documentary Outsourced, a film about a UWS incident that is being featured at Catalyst.

Next, I discovered a short documentary on painter Jeffrey T. Larson, co-founder of the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art, after which I stumbled upon another local connection. Local writer Jean Sramek had a script accepted for a different aspect of the five-day festival.

When I called Lance Parthe (Parthe Film & Video Productions) to inquire if he was involved in any way, I learned that his team had two documentaries in the festival. You can see the sizzle reel here for American Buskers. Lance suggested I reach out to Producer Paul Lemenager and I called to set up a meeting.

We met in the studio offices and flipped through a series of topics. I've been working with Parthe Productions for more than 30 years as a client, for a range of projects including training videos and television commercials.  (See: The Changing Face of Post-Production for Movie Makers) So, I am well acquainted with the Parthe team.

The two videos accepted by Catalyst are actually products of Dogsnose Media. Dogsnose is a subsidiary or side-project of Parthe comprised of Lance, Paul, Nick Kapanke and Matt Wiechmann whom Paul referred to as Mega-Matt. Each member of the team brings a set of gifts to the whole and a long history of exceptional work. (Paul also performs as a jazz singer, but this is not relevant for the purposes of this story, so I won't elaborate.)

Mega-Matt works out of Mankato as a nationally acclaimed DJ, putting on foam parties with smoke-filled bubbles. He gets hired for special occasions like weddings, school parties, Vikings training camp, big family gatherings. His parents are professors.

Nick is a 25 year veteran in the film & video world who got sucked into the Parthe Vortex at some point. He's a key part of the team as a director and chief creative officer for Parthe when Lance is not involved. I personally worked with Nick on several extreme sports TV spots 20 years ago.

We began by talking about Dogsnose Media in general. "Our first project was called Hopping the Pond," Lemenager said. "It involved a boxer named Kell Brook. His brother Billy the Hard Man makes videos, and is a brilliant comedic talent. When Billy turned out to be unavailable, we found a replacement, Neil Hurst, who is an accomplished actor."

American Buskers, one of two Catalyst-selected videos Dogsnose produced, came about when nationally recognized Twin Cities artist GB Leighton came in to Duluth for a concert at the Beacon Inn. "A group of us went up to watch him and before the concert he started working the crowd. He came to our table, asked questions and learned our names. He proceeded to circulate and learned everyone’s names, which he endeavored to work into his act. It was highly entertaining," Lemenager said, adding, "I enjoy music and come from a musical family and especially appreciated it."

Nick and Paul love music, so they wanted to produce a documentary around the fringe musicians of the busker scene. As they were brainstorming who to have as MC, it was a no-brainer. Brian Leighton. Gaelynn Lea and Joe Anderson also appear in this video.

"No Justice, No Peace"

Another big project, also accepted by Catalyst, is No Justice No Peace:The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee. (Watch the Trailer.)

This show came together thru viral videos. Lemenager’s nephew asked if he had heard of them. Darryl Farmer, a.k.a King Rick, grew up as a cub in the Panthers. He taught high school, was a basketball coach, and was a bodyguard for some of the original Black Panthers. "He’s an interesting guy. His bodyguard is Quodo." Lemenager admitted. "This is one of the more interesting projects I’ve been involved with in my life."

Historically, after the activism of half century ago the Black Panthers broke into two divisions. One group remained militant, the other became community minded. No guns. Don’t beat people up. Use your influence to make things right.

Today King Rick is head general of Black Panthers of Milwaukee which are in resurgence nationally. There is a lot of civil strife in Milwaukee. "Milwaukee is not a city of inclusion," King Rick says. "Milwaukee is a city of illusion."

The Dogsnose Media team visited their headquarters, as well as local businesses, the Milwaukee mayor's offices and the Governor Walker's office in Madison. Several month's later King Rick and company came to Duluth to continue filming. In addition he was made available to speak at local schools of which Proctor, where a majority of the kids are Caucasian, was the only one who accepted his offer.

“I got to be a Black Panther for a day," some of the kids said afterwards.

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The Catalyst Content Festival begins a week from tomorrow. Follow this link to check out the schedule of events, films and other activities. Festival Schedule

And if you're a serious screenwriter, the Jacob Krueger Studio Masterclass looks like something that I can't help but imagine would be useful.

Catalyst Documentary Features Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art Founder Jeffrey Larson

Great Lakes Academy--Main hall.

The Catalyst Content Festival is approaching fast, now under three weeks away. In addition to meetings, training workshops and networking, a central feature of events of this type is the screening of films, or in this case, films and podcasts, scripts and pitches. Everything from drama series, short film, documentary and comedy will be showcased.

As I looked through the offerings I noticed there's a short documentary about Jeffrey T. Larson, the artist who with his son co-founded the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art. (GLAFA) The school has now entered its fourth year and its students have been producing phenomenal work. (Here is link to their third Student/Instructor Exhibition last spring.)

Painting by Larson

The short film is titled, simply Jeffrey T. Larson. You can watch the trailer here.

I believe I first met Jeffrey Larson when he gave a talk at the Tweed Museum of Art the summer before the GLAFA was opened. In retrospect it seemed clearly designed to raise awareness that something big was emerging on the West Hillside here in Duluth. At the end of their first year they held an open house weekend in which their first year students were showcased. This practice has continued each spring.

Detail from larger piece.

Detail from painting "Heidi"

In similar fashion, artist Jeffrey T. Larson has reproduced a passion for painting in his son Brock and together they have undertaken an enterprise that goes far beyond making art. After much deliberation they have undertaken to start a world-class art school here in the Twin Ports on Duluth's West Central Hillside.

The photos on the page feature Larson's painting, the school and students at work. Between the GLAFA, the Homegrown Music Festival, Duluth Dylan Fest, DuSu Film Festival, Grandma's Marathon, Blues Fest, and now the Catalyst Content Festival--not to mention the exceptional beauty of our lake and region--we've got some seriously great foundations being laid to make Duluth a premiere cultural center of sorts.

Thank you to all of the artists and people who have worked to make these things possible. We, the community, are the beneficiaries. How cool is that?

Larson is fascinated with objects....

* * * *

Detail

...and Light, and People.

Related Links
Megan McGarvey and Katie Lindow Discuss Outsourced, Their Documentary Film About a Decision at UWS
The Changing Face of Post-Production for Movie Makers
Catalyst Content Documentary Selections
Catalyst Festival Home Page
Jeffrey T Larson Documentary Trailer