ReelPlan

09/30/2024

How did we get here? A history of Film Festivals

This month, Jon & Bart discuss the history of film festivals, and where the industry is today, with Sky Sitney, the co-founder and festival director of DC/DOX, and the former festival director of AFI Docs (previously known as Silverdocs), and a professor at Georgetown University, and Mark Rabinowitz, co-founder of indieWIRE, producer, acquisitions executive, programmer, and a member of the Louisville Film Commission.

We also talk about the big move ahead for Sundance, and honestly answer questions from filmmakers about festivals and filmmaking.

If you only listen to one filmmaking podcast — this is the one.

To understand where we are today, we have to look to our past.

09/16/2024

Just finished recording Episode 2 of our poscast, "Frankly Festivals" with DC DOX Festival creator Sky Sitney, and Mark Rabinowitz, fil,m journalist and programmer. Will be released in early October. franklyfestivals.com

09/04/2024

Listen to the premiere episode of FRANKLY FESTIVALS -- the podcast about film festivals for festival folks and filmmakers.

EPISODE 1: The inherent divide between the interests of festivals and filmmakers. Hosted by Bart Weiss and ME, and featuring Lela Meadow-Conner and Geoff Marslett.

Available at http://www.franklyfestivals.com or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Welcome to Frankly Festivals, a new podcast that explores the ecosystem of film events and filmmakers, in an attempt to demystify each others’ pressures and interests, in order to foster greater cooperation, understanding, and a stronger industry.EPISODE 1The inherent divide between the interests ...

07/08/2024

Many have asked how to watch the Karen Carpenter Doc I helped with. Now is your chance to stream at home. Rent or buy -- both inexpensive options.

In the 1970s, the Carpenters were on

03/06/2024

I am producing a documentary film about JACOB KAINEN, a prolific but often overlooked artist of 20th Century America. From his immigrant upbringing to his rebellious artistic journey in NYC, his leftist ideologies and eventual impact on the D.C. art scene, Kainen’s story is one of perseverance and passion. As you can imagine, this is an expensive endeavor -- any support will help us film more experts, access the Smithsonian's archives, and bring Jacob's incredible story to more people. Please consider a donation at https://jacobkainen.com/donate/

01/22/2024

This sucks. "Fiddler," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Moonstruck" are among my favorite movies. We lost a true genius.

Norman Jewison, the Oscar-nominated director behind "In the Heat of the Night," "Moonstruck," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," has died.

10/26/2021

Come see a free screening and discussion of the short documentary "Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color" on Saturday, November 6 in the gorgeous new auditorium at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (DC).

Film Screening & Discussion

06/03/2021

“She succeeded outrageously by just being herself.” Learn more about , a Black woman artist who broke color barriers — on and off the canvas. See the film at San Francisco IndieFest's DocFest starting today. More information at https://sfdocfest2021.eventive.org/films/60901dcfbf2c9c00459afbed and missalmathomas.com

Alma W. Thomas lived a life of firsts: the first Fine Arts graduate of Howard University (1924), the first Black woman to mount a retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art (1972), and the first Black woman to have her paintings exhibited in the White House (2009). Yet she did not receive n...

10/27/2020

10/27/2020

Reel Plan is producing a short documentary film about the incredible life of artist Alma Thomas. Please read more about the project at

Exploring the incredible life of Alma W. Thomas Help us portray and preserve the story of this groundbreaking woman  First student to graduate from Howard University with a fine arts degreeFirst Black woman to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of ArtFirst Black woman to exhibit artwork in the ...

01/30/2018

So you made a film and want to enter a bunch of film festivals. Great -- but do you know what programmers are REALLY thinking? Get insights from 16 programmers around the globe, and understand what Film Festivals are really about. Available now at behindthescreensbook.com