Friday, August 31, 2007

IF3 International Freeski Film Festival


International Crew of Freeskiing’s Top Filmakers and Athletes to Gather in Montreal

(Montreal, Quebec) – AUGUST 20th, 2007, Bula, Liberty ski and DNA are pleased to present the first ever IF3 International Freeski Film Festival, September 13-15, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec. Freeskiing is one of the fastest growing and most skillful snow disciplines today, and has quickly developed an impressive community of dedicated filmmakers working to chronicle the sports evolution and talent through film. The IF3 will feature the world premiers of eleven of the top professional, and five amateur Freeski films, drawing athletes and adrenaline addicts from all over the world. The film showcase and its surrounding events will take place all weekend at l’Imperial, Centre Sandra & Leo Kolber Salle Lucie et AndrĂ© Chagnon, in Montreal. Scheduling and festival information can be found at www.IF3.ca and tickets are now available through www.ticketpro.ca.

“The expressive and revolutionary nature of Freesking as a sport has created incredible opportunities for film makers to capture - these films appeal not only to athletes bit to anyone who can appreciate skill, risk and snow!,” said Felix Rioux, IF3 president and co-founder. “We are incredibly honored to partner with our sponsors to bring the entire world of Freeskiing together for three days and give the community a chance to see the talent that our community has been fostering over the last few years”.

No doubt festival highlights will include appearances by some of freeskiing’s top riders including Tanner Hall, JF Cusson, TJ Schiller, Pep Fujas, Sammy Carlson, JP Auclair, Simont Dumont, Charles Gagnier, Henrik Winstedt, Sean Petit, Andy Mahre, Lyndsey Dyer, Michelle Parker, Phil Belanger, JF Houle, Phil Larose and legendary Glenn Plake. IF3 is supported by Bula, Newschoolers.com, Red Bull, Liberty Ski, DNA, K2, Orage, Blind Five, Boxfresh, Movement Ski, Peak Performance, Moment ski, Ski Press, Freeskier, SBC Skier, Moose mag, 33mag, Musique Plus and Crux magazine.

“The IF3 sets an exciting precedent for the future of freeski, and the festival’s format and mission to further the sport for all is representative of the Bula lifestyle,” said JF DuRocher, Bula's director of marketing and IF3 co-founder. “It’s time these filmmakers and the Freeski community have a proper festival forum to kick off the season and show this body of work, and celebrating talent and turning the world on to our undiscovered talent is what we’re all about.”

In addition to the loaded film schedule, the IF3’s activities will include daily autograph signings sessions, Thursday night Red Bull activities, Friday night K2 party and Saturday night Newschoolers Award with a performance of Kid Koala presented by Boxfresh.

Steamboat Mountain Film Festival

NossaTV is proud to sponsor the 5th Annual Steamboat Mountain Film Festival (SMFF). NossaTV will be the sole method of online viewing and voting for the "Reel People" contest, the online viewer's choice portion of the festival.

And this just in, festival organizer Mike Martin has announced a $500 first place prize and pair of Liberty Skis to the Reel People winner.

By rating the entries in the new SMFF Channel, NossaTV users will determine the winners of the “Reel People” portion of the festival. Beginning September 17th, fans can download 3-5 minute clips from NossaTV, watch them, and then rate them from one to five stars. These teasers will have tags on the preview page indicating which categories they are entered for, including: People’s Choice (e.g. Best Overall), Best Powder, and Best Line/Performance.

The festival itself will take place October 11th to 13th with screenings of the winners from the Reel People portion, as well as feature length adventure films from the Reel Steamboat Awards.

The festival is organized by Mike Martin, a local filmmaker who is also the creator and producer of WZ-TV. Segments from festival winners will be incorporated into future episodes of WZ-TV on NossaTV.

For more information and to download the entry guidelines and form, visit the SMFF website. To enter the Reel People contest, visit the NossaTV site. The deadline for submissions is Friday, September 14th.

FM Opportunity: Search Engine Optimization

Updated: 12/21/2007

Great, a boring blog post about SEO?

Yep, but I'll keep it short. Go search "snowboarding videos." nossaTV is consistently in the top three.

Now go search for any of our sponsored filmmakers, using the exact name of their channel on nossaTV. Averages page rank around five.

How do we do it? Search Engine Optimization. We've invested heavily in this. We're even extending our efforts to this blog. So you should subscribe to this blog and include us on press releases. We can and will embed the flash preview player for any relevant nossaTV Blog posts.
To subscribe via e-mail: Click here
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Send releases and news to: mailto:%20msharp@nossatv.com
Here at NossaTV, we live in the world between acquiring content, and acquiring fans to watch the content. It's in our own best interest to publicize each and every video that is uploaded to the site. We've created a full spectrum of publicity tools to maximize the exposure for your feature length videos that we host. Here's a quick summary of why what we do to help you with publicity:
  • Sending press releases out to the Action Sports Industry (ASI) through our contact database and partnerships with SIA and BRA
  • Posting news and video previews on our blog so they are available as an RSS feed or e-mail subscription
  • Replicating those posts via dozens of community sites and forums
  • Investing heavily in search engine optimization (SEO) for the preview pages on NossaTV
The "end-to-end publicity" we provide for your video is second to none. Partner with nossaTV today!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

TGR: Shack Therapy


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Shack Therapy
Length: 40:06

Film By: Teton Gravity Research

Channel: Recently Added

Athletes: Andy Irons Jamie Obrien Pancho Sullivan Ian Walsh Benji Weatherly Brian Conely Ola Eleogram Raoni Montiero Darren Orafferty Kieren Perrow Tony Ray Clint Kimmins Mikala Jones Peter Hayes

Locations: South Africa Hawaii Norway Mexico Caroline Islands West Australia

Description: Shack up around the world as the crew explores South Africa, Hawaii, Norway, Mexico, Caroline Islands, and West Oz. Travel in Brian Conley's Hurricane Hunter to desolate Baja breaks...watch Weatherly and Walsh surf the icey waters of Norways hidden gems...score endless barrels with the Rip Curl team in the South Pacific's Caroline Islands...witness the mayhem of a giant day at Peahi and do a little soul sesh Down Under with a trip to West Australia's untapped coast line.

TGR: The Big One


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The Big One
Length: 67:34

Film By: Teton Gravity Research

Channel: Recently Added

Locations: Jackson Hole

Description: Jackson Hole is one of the rowdiest ski resorts in North America and has been a catalyst for some of the most progressive freeskiing and snowboarding in the world. Teton Gravity Research presents a 16mm film, THE BIG ONE. This film is a compilation of 10 years of TGR's most epic ski and snowboard moments at their world famous home laboratory in Jackson Hole, WY. From Paul McCollister's vision of North America's largest tram, TGR's inception in 1996, and the 10 years of off the hook action that followed, this is THE BIG ONE. Check out some of TGR's earliest stars as they reflect on the most memorable segments. "Sick" Rick Armstrong talks about the all-time huckfest during the filming of the Continuum. Micah Black sheds light on the 30-year record snowfall at Jackson Hole -- possibly our deepest footage ever. TGR co-founder Todd Jones talks about ducking ropes and poaching lines while filming the Realm. See the story, be the ball.

A film about the Red Box, an orange truck, and 10 years of TGR in Jackson Hole.

"Ski hard, apres hard, eat dinner, chase women, go crazy, lay it down, get up, huck it up, boom, and it went around and around and around and around. It was really cool, the whole thing was bigger than us, the thing took its own shape." - Micah Black

Scenes:
1. The Red Box
2. The Continuum (1996)
3. The Continuum
4. The Harvest (1997)
5. Uprising (1998)
6. The Realm (1999)
7. Further (2000)
8. Mind the Addiction (2001)
9. Prophecy (2002) and High Life (2003)
10. Soul Purpose (2004) and The Tangerine Dream (2005)

With commentary by and interviews of:
Micah Black - International Ski Guy
Tommy Moe - Olympic Gold Medalist
Jerry Blann - President, JHMR
Connie Kemmerer - Owner, JHMR
Travis Rice - XGames Gold Medalist
Bryan Iguchi - snowboard legend
Rick Armstrong - big mountain pioneer
Dirk Collins
Steve Jones
Todd Jones
Jeremy Jones
Corey Gavitt
Any many of the athletes from over the years...

Athletes:
Micah Black, Tommy Moe, Travis Rice, Bryan Iguchi, Rick Armstrong, Dirk Collins, Corey Gavitt, Steve Jones, Todd Jones, Jeremy Jones, Kevin Brazell, Cam Eddy, Doug Coombs, Julie Zell, Jason Tattersal, Kent Kreitler, Reese Edwards, Johnny Recchio, Todd Johnson, Dean Conway, Dave Swanwick, Jim Conway, Jeff McKittrick, Jeremy Nobis, Jason Prigge, Don Clarke, Shannon Schad, Rex Wehrman, Dave Richards, Dan Treadway, Chris Collins, Brian Rudder, Andy Woods, Will Burks, Taylor Hood, Schroder Baker, Jon Klaczkiewicz, Kina Pickett, Erik Roner, Dana Flahr

Executive Producers:
Dirk Collins
Todd Jones
Steve Jones
Corey Gavitt
Frank Slaughter

Producer: Marni Walsh
Editor: Arden Oksanen

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

WZ-TV Channel on NossaTV







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WZ-TV NOW SHOWING ON NOSSATV.COM

Local show from Steamboat Springs has own channel with video on demand site

August 14, 2007 – Michael Martin Productions and NossaTV are proud to announce the launch of the WZ-TV Channel on NossaTV.

WZ-TV broadcasts the best independent films from Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley. Showcasing up and coming local talent, mixed with professionals, this show documents all types of film genres. The first episode takes a look at Michael Martin's “About a Skier.” Episode 2 covers Bernd Zangerl's “Memento - A Boulder Life Line.”

“My inspiration for WZ-TV came from Greg Stump's World of Extremes,” says Martin. Stump’s TV series from the early 90's grew out of the fictitious Ski TV in his film “Dr. Strangeglove.”

This half-hour long show will air Monday and Wednesday nights at 7PM on Steamboat's RSN Channel 18. The show will feature local filmmakers and their works with interviews to highlight their story. WZ-TV will ramp up this fall for additional episodes covering life in the Boat.

WZ-TV is the first syndicated show on NossaTV. Episodes 1 and 2 are already on the site. New episodes will air shortly after their TV debut in Steamboat. WZ-TV enjoys placement on the top-level navigation menu alongside the original channels of Snowboarding, Skiing, Skateboarding, and Surfing.

Click the WZ-TV logo to go to the WZ-TV Channel on NossaTV. From there, click either the Episode 1 or Episode 2 icon for a streaming preview, athletes, locations, and description. For more information about each episode, check the NossaTV Blog:
Episode 1
Episode 2

About Michael Martin Productions:

Martin also produces the Steamboat Mountain Film Festival. This year’s festival will add a people’s choice category, with online voting to be held on NossaTV.com. More information is available at www.steamboatfilmfestival.com.

About NossaTV:

NossaTV’s patent pending technology delivers free, DVD-quality, full screen video downloads to rabid action sports fans. By providing integrated distribution, content management and CRM tools NossaTV connects action sports fans, companies and athletes through video. NossaTV provides free, unlimited access to the best feature length action sports films to anyone with a computer and high-speed connection.

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WZ-TV Episode 2 - Michael Martin Productions


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WZ-TV Episode 2
(26:33)

Film By: Michael Martin Productions

Channel: WZ-TV

Athletes: Bernd, Barbara Zangerl

Locations: Magic Wood Ticinio Silvertta Austria

Description: Stylistic and self-conscious at times, Bernd Zangerl's Memento - A Boulder Life Line is a riveting journey into the intense world of high-ball bouldering and low water soloing. The perspective of Zangerl makes this film stand out with consistent design and climbing prowess. Film lovers and climber alike will find inspiration in this fantastic, adventurous film.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Interview: Thrillhead Creations


Thrillhead Creations was one of the first filmmakers on NossaTV, as an entry in The Beating Film Festival that NossaTV sponsored in December of 2006. We first heard about them when their Schralptown tour rolled through Utah last fall. Now, Thrillhead is our first sponsored filmmaker. Mike S. interviewed Ellis Smith, co-founder of Thrillhead, about the new movie, the nationwide tour, and something called an "adventure farm."

NossaTV: Where are you guys from and what got you into filmmaking?

Ellis: As a film company, we’re based out of Ft Collins. I grew up in Mobile, Alabama, and my partner Jessie is from Spencer, Mass.

NTV: How did you guys end in Colorado?

I did an Outward Bound when I was 21 years old and got exposed to mountaineering in general and wanted to pursue a career in climbing. I was supposed to go to school at Western State. But I moved to Ft. Collins to get residency, decided I wanted to stay there and go to CSU instead.

Both Jessie and I were college athletes: I played soccer and he played baseball. He came out to take a 90-day NOLS semester. He decided to move west and finish school out here. Parallel to me in a sense, we met in the same major as CSU, Natural Resources, Recreation, and Tourism. Basically we were showing up late to class and realized we were both skiing the same slopes before coming to class.

NTV: Where did the name ‘Thrillhead Creations’ come from?

My brother has been calling me a ‘thrillhead’ for years. I was just this good old boy from Alabama. That kinda stuck with me for a while. I always wanted to create a company around thrillhead, something I’d call a “sustainable adventure farm.”

NTV: How did Thrillhead get started?

So Jesse and I met in school and did a lot of backcountry touring around northern Colorado and I would always carry my camcorder with us and shoot everybody. We always talked about making a film that was different from what we had been seeing in the industry. So this idea was born to separate ourselves from the rest of the pack by focusing on the backcountry, avalanche awareness, and environmental stewardship. So we started to cut the footage we were compiling and people really enjoyed what they saw and really encouraged us to pursue it further. So with a trailer in the works we began writing proposals, creating our logo, and we produced our first movie 16 months later and the rest is history.

NTV: Can you elaborate on the adventure farm?

I have this idea of living on a farm that is 100% sustainable. We grow all of our own veggies year round, hunt and fish for meat, and live in a home that is net zero or requires little or no outside power source. We would run this adventure based outfitter type bed and breakfast/ranch where we take guests out to do different activities. While they are hiking, fishing, climbing, or whatever the activity, they will learn about the flora and fauna, the ecology and geology of the surrounding area, helping them gain a stronger appreciation for their surroundings. We will also educate our guest about how we live self sustained off of our farm such as growing our veggies year round (permaculture) to harvesting eggs from the chickens, to how to live in a net zero home. We want our guest to leave with a great understanding that they too can live a similar lifestyle just by learning how to do it.

NTV: What are your thoughts on “environmental stewardship?”

Honestly, I grew up hunting and fishing my whole life. I grew up on the Gulf Coast and my dad always had me outside. The outdoors had a big impression on me and I have always had a strong connection to it. Coming to CSU really helped mold my views of the environment. That’s where it developed even more. I was exposed to all these ideas. It really helped instill environmental stewardship in me.

We live in a community that is very progressive as far as environmental activism goes. The values we gained at CSU really help mold the way we run a business and the companies we choose to work with as sponsors. As our mission, we strive to work with like minded businesses that view our environment the same way we do. So, I have had this issue with trying to label or identify with the kind of green work that we do and believe in. Tree hugger and granola head just don’t fit well for today’s politically correct, so I have begun to coin the term “Green Collar” businesses or eco-conscience businesses. In this wave of greening going on all around us, it is only appropriate to be able identify us in a positive sense.

NTV: I can’t remember if I told you about The Beating film festival, or that’s how we found about you.

That’s how you found out about us. We heard about it going on in Silverton and you contacted me afterwards. We weren’t there but you remembered seeing a flyer in the Salt Lake REI or something, were bummed you had missed our Utah shows.

NTV: So what’s your opinion on film festivals? Are they gaining in popularity?

Yes, I think so tremendously. Ever since I moved to Colorado I’ve tried to go to every film festival from Denver to Silverton. They are a great tool for artists who are tying to get their work out there. I think we entered 15 or 16 film festivals last season.

(Film festivals play) a huge role because we do spend a lot of time and effort promoting the tour we do on our own. Festivals make it easier for us. So for us it’s great.

NTV: What kind of cameras do you use for filming?

We shoot 2 Canon GL2’s. We shoot one Sony VX2100. We shoot two Panasonic PVGS. Those are all 3 CCD. We shoot about three different helmet cams. I personally own a Viosport helmet cam.

NTV: What is your editing suite?

Avid Express Pro, PC version. Very finicky, a million options, you have to make sure everything is set right.

NTV: Where do you get your information from?

For festival updates Withoutabox.com is a great source, that’s how we found all the film festivals to enter.

NTV: What has been the toughest part of making and selling ski movies?

The toughest part is getting the funding to make one. Then, being a nobody trying to sell ski and snowboard movies to people who have no idea who you are. It’s pretty difficult to break into a new market.

NTV: What’s been the best part?

Man! Getting to call this a job (laughs). Getting to splitboard for a living! I love being in the mountains. Getting to share these experiences. To me that’s the best part. Our movies are realistic, and anybody in our audience can relate to (what we do). It isn’t something that only stunt men can do.

NTV: What do you think about downloadable video?

It is the wave of the future. I don’t just make ski movies, I do real estate videos, as well. It makes it easier to upload and share your work.

NTV: How is NossaTV helping you?

It’s helping me be exposed to new markets I wouldn’t try to tackle. You have such a wide array to what we’re doing. We’re trying to find any avenue to reach new markets.

NTV: Tell us about Return to Schralptown.

It’s the same idea as (the original) Schralptown. Except now we’ve got better athletes, locations, imagery. The skiing and snowboarding, unique twists as far as the environmental aspects that are going into it . . . helps get this message across.

NTV: Any other current projects?

We’ve got a kayaking project going on. It’s been a lot of fun changing it up from skiing to kayaking; it’s been a fun crossover. Also the “To Cross the Moon” segment of the new movie. 2XTM (the kiteboarding guys) transformed the tour for us, (gave us the idea to) offset the carbon footprint (and put) a big sign up showing what our carbon footprint is. Giving money to trees, water, people. Really inspiring as far as being eco-adventurists. Really inspired us to “green’ our tour as much as we can.

NTV: Tell us about the tour.

So yeah, basically, our tour is going to very unique. We’re going to drive a bio diesel car to every one of our shows, based out of Fort Collins. (At) each one of our events we’ve invited community members that have some sort of environment connection. It will be like a 4th grade science fair, learn what these people are doing to Keep Winter White. We’re calling it the KW2 Tour. Educate people about what’s going on in their community and get them involved. Do something completely new, outside the box!

We are traveling across the country this year for our 40 show Keep Winter White “Return to Schralptown” movie tour. We will travel to all of our shows in a veggie run diesel with fuel provided by our sponsor Blue Sun Biodiesel. Each show will educate our viewers about the impact caused from making this movie and traveling across the country for our tour and how we will ask for support to offset our carbon footprint thru donations. We want to change the way snowsports movies are seen while influencing our audience to question themselves about the impacts they are causing in their lives.

NTV: Any shout outs?

All the people that have believed in this from the get go. Loki has been huge, really supportive. Family and friends. Backcountry Magazine. Blue Sun Biodiesel, and all our other sponsors.

NTV: Thanks Ellis!

Watch for the trailer for "Return to Schralptown" on NossaTV any day now. In the meantime, check out the preview for "Schralptown" below, or by following this link to NossaTV.com where you can download the whole movie with our media player, and watch it full screen.

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