Keynote

by Haley Stepp

Guest blogger Haley Stepp is a 14-year-old sophomore at California State University who recently covered Silverdocs (the noted documentary film festival) for Lady DaVinci.com

Ted Leonsis spoke about filmanthropy today in his Keynote session. It was an intriguing view on the goal of filmmaking; many filmmakers seem either to want to make money, or to want to change the world—but Leonsis’s view stood out because it allowed for the simultaneous application of both approaches.

Of course, Leonsis explained, profit is important. If you take to a producer an idea that will bring your company into debt, you’ll (naturally) be fired. However, he continued, it is very hard to make a profit from documentaries. Instead of focusing entirely on business, filmmakers should ask themselves whether their films make a difference. In other words, they should try to change the world while not forgetting about profit. Leonsis believes filmmakers can awaken thoughts and ideas in other people while creating a sense of fulfillment in themselves.

Referred to as a "pioneer of the new media industry," Leonsis is known for his philanthropy, so it is no surprise to hear him stress that filmmaking should give people happiness. If a career or line of work doesn’t give people happiness, he proposed in his address—be it the worker or those enjoying their products—then there’s no reason to continue with that career. And Leonsis realizes that happiness does not come from wealth.

Leonsis’s thoughtful approach to profit is worth pondering. Though he insisted that profit is not everything, he sees the advantage of profit through the internet: as the internet grows more and more prevalent, it becomes more possible to reach a larger audience with film. And it is true—the the world is becoming an increasingly online one; as a college student, I spend much of my time on the computer doing research for papers, looking for media, and creating media of my own. My attention could well be caught and held by an interesting “online documentary.” Filmmakers should not neglect the internet as they pursue theatres. The possibility exists to reach a much larger audience, and gain a greater opportunity to change the world. And—not forgetting about profit—to make more money than ever before.

Notes From the Future

Guest blogger Haley Stepp is a 14-year-old sophomore at California State University who recently covered Silverdocs (the noted documentary film festival) for Lady DaVinci.


The “Notes From the Future” panel on June 13 provided some interesting insights into the future of filmmaking, as well as several filmmakers’ responses to this possible future. I find this quite an intriguing topic, as we live in a rapidly changing world, altered by growing knowledge and technology. Since this world is strongly affected by media, changes in the media will affect the world.

The conclusion of the panel left that the internet will continue to change film, but that the model of filmmaking will stay the same. According to G.J. Echternkamp, the producer of Frank and Cindy, people will always prefer watching movies on a television or theatre screen, and will always appreciate well-made, high-budget films. The internet, he thinks, will not become much more than a promotional place for video. The other panelists shared similar opinions.

I partially agree with his view. Though I have watched films on the internet, it is more exciting to watch them on a television or theatre screen; most of the people I know feel the same. I have high confidence, therefore, that well-made theatre films will remain an integral part of the film experience. However, I do believe that an increasing number of people will extend that experience to the internet, as well. Already there are web sites on which one can watch full-length movies when programmed media conflicts with one’s schedule. There are online rental sites, as well, that allow downloading. This online film experience will most likely continue to expand, but people will also continue to pay for the majority of their films.

From a college student's point of view, today's panel discussion covered some interesting material, although it was presented in a somewhat disorganized fashion. The panelists spent a lot of time expressing their dissatisfaction with internet media and their hopes that the internet will not impact the film industry negatively; this brought attention away from possible developments for the future, which was the purported topic. Instead the focus got stuck on those things the panelists don’t like about the current effects of internet on film, and strayed to the future only when discussing the negative: things they hope the future will not bring. However, there were several good insights on the part of the panelists, which illuminated some interesting possibilities for the future of film.