In the wake of film grants aiming for gender parity, Jack Manson, a film producer and self proclaimed philanthropist,  offered a new pocket of funding for male filmmakers only. "M.O.F.F.", the Male Only Film Fund, was to give young male filmmakers a chance in this new, growing female-dominated industry. The 30,000 CND funding prize was made available for men ages 18-35.   

A filmmaker named "Joe", who applied to the fund, offered his thoughts. "It's been a tough year for us (men) as we used to have access to so much funding and now, just because of our sex, our access to funds have been cut in half! Add to that, all the focus and headlines are about women in film, so where does that leave us? With every month that passes, more of the spotlight is put on female filmmakers. It wouldn't surprise me if they get ALL the funding. I'm gonna seriously think about leaving the business if that happens."

Grant applicants can typically wait months before learning if they were successful at receiving funding.
In Canada, there are federal, provincial and municipal funding options for filmmakers but typically, one funding body does not grant enough to complete a project, so one must apply to several streams to complete a budget, on paper at least. There are no guarantees that you will be successful but it is said that it is more likely that one funding body will grant you funds if another has already come on board. 
The difficult part for filmmakers is getting that first grant secured so that you can, hopefully, get the second approved.

The industry has recently identified the lack of diversity amongst those who receive grants, and is responding accordingly by aiming for gender parity. Not everyone is pleased by this. 

Another applicant who responded to our interview request, ask to remain anonymous. "Maybe they (women) don't want to make films and now, just because there is money they might be like -- "Hey, I wanna try this!" -- which isn't fair to us guys who have been studying movies all our lives. There might be a few women that like movies but no way are there 50%. No way!" - anonymous

When M.O.F.F. was announced, the site experienced several crashes due to the volume of applicants. Over 12,000 applications were filled out in the first week. The site immediately closed to any new applications. Since then, several human rights groups, filmmaker groups , and an online petition, have successfully put an end to this controversial fund. 

The fund's creator, Jack Manson,  made a brief statement on his twitter account.  "Clearly this was needed or there wouldn't be so many applications. I really thought I had a chance to put some men upfront but now, I'm not so sure they can make it in this business." The account has since been deleted. 

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​Quiet On The Set! is a monthly blog post about happenings in the indie film world. Any resemblance to any persons living, or dead, or in limbo, or who identifies as being alive, or dead, or in limbo, is purely coincidental. 

#QuietOnTheSet #HamFilmFest #IndieFilm #Comedy #HappyStuff

photo credit: www.istockphoto.com/ca/portfolio/AaronAmat​

Toronto, Ontario - On the set of the indie film 'Nice Guys Don't Wear Purple'

When script-supervisor Diandra Gould showed up to the craft service table after a long morning on set, she was offended by what she saw.  "I saw these extras, who were clearly not Vegan, eating all the Vegan options!" It's completely un-acceptable as it leaves us (vegans) with no options!", said Diandra. 

When asked how she could identify a non-vegan she quipped that they each had "the look".

Mario DiTescetty, an extra who is new to the film industry, had this to say. "I already had some pizza and, you know, the Veggie stuff looked good and I thought, now is a good time to try it, in case I don't like it. Turns out that it was pretty good so I kept eating it. Before you knew it, we were all eating  it. I feel pretty good too. No one told me not to eat it so hey, who's at fault here? I wouldn't be mad if she ate all the pizza!"

​A Production Assistant (PA), who asked to remain anonymous, said that Craft Services clearly announced and identified the Vegan options but Mario was busy instagramming himself on the set.  Diandra, with nothing left to eat, grabbed a few remaining carrots and went to stand near the water cooler. Mario reportedly felt bad and brought her a plate of cheese to nibble on.

The PA, confirmed this encounter. "I knew she wouldn't eat the cheese but I warned her that he licked his fingers each time he put a new piece on the plate. Diandra tossed her carrots into the compost right away."  

Food selection at a craft service table has increasingly become a hot-button issue as several cast / crew members each have their own dietary preferences. Some have suggested that an all-vegan menu satisfies everyone, and offends no one,  while others crave options from the meat and dairy menu. When Ontario's 2019 food guide was released earlier this year, many noticed the lack of meat and dairy present on the imagery. ​

When Mario was questioned if he know what Vegan meant, he snapped back "I know what vegan means! They don't eat meat or fish!"

Mario wasn't on the call sheet the following day.

Nice Guys Don't Wear Purple is set to be released on VOD in the Fall of 2019. 

​#QuietOnTheSet #HamFilmFest #IndieFilm #Comedy #HappyStuff

Quiet On The Set! is a monthly blog post about happenings in the indie film world. This article is farce and meant for comedy purpose only. Any resemblance to any persons living, or dead, or in limbo, or who identifies as being alive, or dead, or in limbo, is purely coincidental. 

photo: istockphoto.com/motortion

Tues Aug 1st, 2017
Air Canada Centre (ACC)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Your first thought might be "Why would a film composer perform in a hockey arena?" The answer is,  there is no better venue suited for this type of show. Lets start with the sound. When I have attended film scores performed live in the past, the performances have been incredible but they dont sound like they do in a movie theatre. Loud. The Hans Zimmer show was loud, and then some!  I felt like I was inside an Imax movie! The incredible sub-bass (and I can't imagine what massive sub-bass would do to a concert hall) hit you right in the heart and stayed there for some time. I heard gasps from the audience at one point where I swore the subs hit the "brown note". This was rock-concert sub! From my seat (6th row centre) the sound mix was perfect. At times I could have sworn I was listening to a recording but the active 50-piece orchestra convinced me otherwise.  While a portion must have been samples and/or loops (I could see the monitor with punches and streamers, and video elements were in sync) the performing musicians stole the show.

On stage were some of the worlds best musicians, along with some very special guests. A highlight was definitely an appearance from the original Lion King choral arranger / vocalist Lebo M. "The original Lion King.", said Hans. Hans told the story about Lebo's daughter's birth at the time of the Lion King recording sessions and what could be considered a "Circle of Life" moment, she joined them on stage with her powerful vocals during a Lion King medley that could have easily closed the show. But this was just the first half.

Throughout the show you could here elements of Georgio Morodor, Harold Faltermeyer and Danny Elfman...but this was somehow all Hans. While you don't get the rousing, catchy melodies you experience in a John Wiliams score, you get a slow, layered, build with dense harmonies weaving in and out of keys,  and heart pounding percussions with occasional sound effects created by the musicians themselves, playing their instruments in atypical ways like the distorted electric Cello with a bouncing bow performed by  superstar Cellist Tina Guo (she could easily do a concert on her own), or the pounding on the body of a bass guitar (Hans with a Rickenbacker).

This wasn't your usually sheet-music focused orchestra, and not that there is anything wrong with that, as we were treated to drum solos during Crimson Tide, a guitar quintet during Gladiator, loads of incredible guitar solos and an almost complete frontline, musical attack, of female musicians during the Superman vs. Batman Wonder Woman piece. Some of these musicians know the music intimately having played on the actual soundtrack recordings. Most of the musicians in front didn't use sheet music as they wandered the stage like rock stars and never missed a single cue. Not sure they could have seen the music if they wanted to as strobes, spotlights and smoke added to the spectacle with a simple but effective lighting grid and semi-circle video screen behind the orchestra.

"No musician left behind" could have been the motto of the night. From the 16 part  choir in the back to the superstar players and guests. Hans credited them all with much gratitude (and self-deprecation) with some great stories to boot! My favourite was a funny anecdote about a long-time band mate encouraging him to leave one window-less job (composing in a studio) only to show up in another (The Air Canada Centre).  

There were a few touching moments where he dedicated pieces to the peoples current struggles in Venezuela, the victims of the Colorado shooting during the Batman premiere, and Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, all with the underlying message that music unites. And unite they did!

Some pieces were introduced and others needed no introduction. The brass blasts of Inception were paired with spotlight-stabs scanning the audience which felt like we were part of an alien abduction, Pirates of the Caribbean medley needed no introduction but incase you didn't know, the accordion player had a toy parrot on his shoulder the whole time. Hans & Co. took us on a musical journey through some of Hollywood's biggest films including Driving Miss Daisy, Sherlock Holmes, Crimson Tide, Gladiator, The Lion King, Madagascar 2, Da Vinci Code, True Romance, Thema and Louise, Rain Man, Man of Steel, Batman vs. Superman, Thin Red Line, Amazing Spiderman 2, The Dark Knight, Interstellar and Inception. (Thank you Setlist.fm) 

Not as progressive as a Goblin show and not as 80s rock as a Trans Siberian Orchestra show, Hans Zimmer Live has its own brand of bringing instrumental music to the live masses. From slow building art-house pieces to the heavy driving riffs worthy of a Marilyn Manson intro, this was a rare opportunity to see film score music presented the way I think it should be presented. Big and loud!

I recently took the Hans Zimmer online Master Class. Once you pay the fee, you get access to watch about 23 pre-recorded videos where Hans sits inside his studio and gives you his take on music and  musical choices. I do love listening to his approach and philosophies.  (Take the class and you will know why Batman can only have two notes!). Soon after I finished all the videos I heard about the tour. Knowing this really would be a rare treat , I bought myself a 6th row floor seat, grabbed a bag of popcorn and a Coke (just like the movies), and picked up more merch than I did at an Iron Maiden concert, which ended the exact same way...a loud speaker recording of "Always look on the briiiight side of life."  

Nathan Fleet is a film composer, filmmaker, guitarist and runs the Hamilton Film Festival. 
The theme of the 2017, 12th Annual Hamilton Film Festival is music.