Five questions for Milwaukee Film’s Jonathan Jackson

Who: Jonathan Jackson
What: Artistic Director for Milwaukee Film
Where: http:/www.milwaukee-film.org

When VITAL Source was a print magazine we ran a monthly feature called 5Q, where we asked a local notable or up-and-comer five questions about their craft, career or passion. Now, in our super-deluxe web format, it’s easy for YOU to ask the questions. And you have. Welcome to the return of 5Q and our premiere subject, Jonathan Jackson. Please enjoy the first installment and be sure to send us suggestions for future 5Q subjects. Thanks, Jon Anne

1. How does your organization help local filmmakers gain exposure during the Milwaukee Film Fest?

Milwaukee Film inaugurated its organization with “The Milwaukee Show” last October, an independently-judged program of shorts that exclusively featured local filmmakers. That was no accident. We believe in the talent in the film community in Milwaukee and are dedicated to supporting it. At the festival this fall, “The Milwaukee Show” will return, where we expect it to draw more than 500 people. Once again, we are inviting Milwaukee filmmakers to submit for free to the program (do it here). In addition, we will showcase select local feature films in the film festival.

During the film festival we will be bringing filmmakers and film industry professionals from around the world to Milwaukee for screenings, panels and workshops. It is our intention to create as many opportunities as possible for local filmmakers to network, work with and learn from the visiting talent brought to the festival.

Yes, they certainly have an impact, but it is one that would be felt over the course of several years. That will only happen if the modified version of the incentives, which is more Wisconsin-oriented, is included in the final state budget this year.

I believe the incentive’s primary positive impact on the production of quality films is two-fold, and not necessarily generated by the films that receive the tax credits. First, by increasing the number of paying jobs in the Wisconsin film industry, more filmmakers and film industry professionals will continue to live here. Every year filmmakers move from Milwaukee to Chicago, New York City or Los Angeles in order to get regular work in the film industry. This is a devastating talent drain that will not be stopped until there is more consistent film work available. Secondly, any production that would shoot here from out of state would bring in production professionals that will then be at least partially integrated with local crew members. By having local talent working with out-of-state crew members, a natural education, development and networking process would take place. I also believe that some of the professionals who would come from out of state to shoot here would become so enamored with our city that they would choose to live here, as I did eleven years ago.

3. How do films get selected for your festival? Are they all submitted, or do the festival organizers pick some of them?

Festival selection is broken down by two main categories, local and non-local work, but the general idea is that no one person makes all the selections for the festival. For local work we facilitate independent juries that rotate members every year, while trying our best to avoid conflicts of interest. These juries are comprised of industry members, teachers, film lovers and cultural enthusiasts. For local work we rely exclusively on film submissions.

For international work we have program committees that review the cream of the crop of international film festival favorites and they make recommendations on which films we should screen at the festival. I make the final international selections for the festival based on the program committee recommendations. I also consider costs, film availability and the need for a diverse roster of selections.

The festival programming staff and volunteers put tremendous effort into researching and soliciting possible international festival selections to ensure the highest quality film festival possible. I am confident that someday the up-and-coming, the greatest, the most innovative, the most entertaining international filmmakers from around the world will be dying to have their film screened at the Milwaukee Film Festival. But right now, being that it is our first year, we have to rely almost 100% on research and solicitation to build a festival line-up of high enough caliber to warrant our existence.

4. Do volunteers get to attend films and events for free?

Yes. We expect to reward each volunteer shift during the film festival with a free ticket voucher for a screening or event. The Milwaukee Film Festival this year will require upwards of 2,500 volunteer hours to smoothly run and operate. This does not even include year-round operations that also rely heavily on volunteers. Without the work of our dedicated volunteers the festival would simply not exist. From a dedicated board member down to a festival ticket taker, every volunteer counts and is an essential part of the film festival.

5. When will Milwaukee Film finally stand on its own two feet instead of constantly reminding everyone that it’s the fallout from the Milwaukee International Film Festival?

See you at the first Milwaukee Film Festival, September 24 – October 4, 2009.