Media Release: WMass Film and Media Exchange October 23

DATELINE: October 1, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Laura Gratz

Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative 

413-528-4223

laura@berkshirefilm.org

Mark G. Auerbach

Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations

413-744-7094 or 413-427-7352 mgauerbach@gmail.com

BERKSHIRE FILM AND MEDIA COLLABORATIVE’S 2ND ANNUAL WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS FILM AND MEDIA EXCHANGE TO BE HELD OCTOBER 23 IN HOLYOKE, MA.

(Pittsfield, MA) The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) is pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Western Massachusetts Film and Media Exchange will take place on Friday, October 23rd from 9:30am – 5:30pm at the Baystate Health’s Whitney Avenue Conference Center in Holyoke, MA. This daylong conference includes workshops, seminars, demonstrations and networking opportunities for film and video professionals as well as businesses who are looking to use film and video in their marketing, branding and social media efforts. 

As the only business-to-business film and media event of its kind in the region, The Exchange expects to draw attendees – including filmmakers, actors, production and post-production professionals, marketing and PR executives and local business owners – from Western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, Connecticut, as well as the Albany and Boston areas.   

BFMC Executive Director, Diane Pearlman, is particularly excited about producing the Exchange again. “The Exchange is an incredible opportunity for filmmakers to learn how to run their businesses and projects more effectively. One panel will look at all of the legal aspects involved in a getting a film done. For businesses, workshops will demystify the basics of making a video including production costs and how to use video effectively in branding and marketing.” As Pearlman explains, “In today’s marketplace, it is important to tell your story visually - whether in a commercial, an in-house presentation, a promotional video or on the web.”

Cynthia Wade, the Academy Award-winning Berkshires-based filmmaker will be keynote speaker. Wade won the Oscar for her short documentary “Freeheld”, the story of a New Jersey police officer who was diagnosed with cancer and wanted to give her benefits to her same-sex partner. The documentary has been turned into a motion picture of the same name, starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, which opens nationally on October 16th. Wade is producer of that venture. She also won an Oscar nomination for her documentary “Mondays at Racine”, the stories of women undergoing chemotherapy. For information on Cynthia Wade: http://www.cynthiawade.com/

The Exchange will feature a full Exhibit Hall with many of the latest technologies (cameras, lights, and drones!), as well as local production and media companies.

 “This is going to be an exciting and informative event for an industry that is growing in our region,” says Pearlman. “The Exchange is place where filmmakers and businesses can meet and make connections. We have incredible talent in our region and we are able to produce high-level content for much less than if you went to New York or Los Angeles. We are all about keeping production dollars staying here in our State. For those in the business and those who want to know more about it - you can’t afford to miss The Exchange.”

Tickets for the Exchange are $55 in advance and $65 at the door.  Admission includes full access to all Exhibits, workshops/panels and demos, along with breakfast, lunch and a networking cocktail party to conclude the conference.  For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, go to BFMC’s website: www.berkshirefilm.com or call their office 413.528.4223. 

Sponsors to date include Baystate Health, The Massachusetts Cultural Council, WGBY Public Television for Western New England, New England Public Radio, The Westfield News Group, Mark G Auerbach Public Relations, IMAGINE Magazine, AJA Video Systems, Anzovin Studios, Hunt’s Photo, Jx2 Productions, Vitec Videocom, Gogel and Gogel, Maureen Sullivan Media Group, and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) is a creative economic engine that supports production and workforce development in Western Massachusetts. BFMC develops educational and workforce enrichment courses, offers networking events for industry professionals, acts as a resource for visiting productions, creates jobs within our communities in the film industry and provides an on- line production guide and locations database as a resource for filmmakers. BFMC was formed in 2009, and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 

-30-