Read more about what it's like to be part of our events:
October 2007: Minute-by-minute at the Wis-Kino Fall 2007 Kabaret: Life in the midst of a continuous weekend of filmmaking, By Emily Mills, Isthmus Daily Page
Get all the details about the Fall 2008 48-Hour Kabaret!
Test your
filmmaking mettle! Make a film
in mere days (or hours) at a Wis-kino Kabaret. Kabarets are a Kino
tradition, and about twice a year, Wis-kino holds a Kabaret: You will have
a short period of time to complete a film, under 5 minutes long, that somehow
includes the secret ingredient we all come up with. Some of our Kabarets
last for 48 hours, others are week-long marathons. It all depends on what
we decide to do each time. Also, Kabarets are a popular form of international
bonding within Kino. Usually we have visiting Kino filmmakers who add their
energy to the creative mix, and when we can, we travel to other Kino cells
to participate in their Kabarets .... kind of like an exchange program for
filmmakers!
How
does the Wis-Kino Kabaret work? We meet on the first
day and have a regular screening full of new Wis-Kino and Kino International
films. Filmmakers are free to submit pieces as they would for a regular
screening, but there will also be a curated part of the program. At the
end of the screening, we decide on the secret ingredient (a theme or object)
that everyone must use in their film, in whatever way they wish. Then the
crews get together and we make some plans. Two days later (but sometimes
longer, depending on the Kabaret) we all reconvene to see what everyone
came up with. It's a fantastic challenge, and it'll expand your filmic horizons.
Preplanning:
Although the films are produced within the 48-hour period, we encourage
participants to assemble teams and materials ahead of time and scout potential
locations and scenarios for the films. Use our discussion forum to coordinate
these things! Also, before each kabaret we schedule a couple of informal
get-togethers, where anyone who wants to participate in the kabaret can
attend and talk to other people who might collaborate with them. These pre-kabaret
meetings will be announced on the discussion
forum.
The Kino
Lab: The filmmaking process is all about collaboration and, to help
that along and make things more fun, we have a Kino Lab during the kabaret.
The Kino Lab is a public place where everyone participating in the kabaret
is invited to bring their equipment, work on their film, and help other
filmmakers with their films. It is a secure location, so you can set your
equipment up in advance and leave it there during the course of the 48-hour
event. Our Fall 2005 Kino Lab is at the WYOU
Community Television station (609 E. Washington Ave., Madison). If you
would like to use their production and editing equipment during the course
of the Kabaret, be sure to join (the membership fee is modest, but only
members can use WYOU resources).
(1) The filmmaker(s) must register each planned kabaret film on the opening night of the kabaret, so that we can plan the screening based on the number of films that will be shown. One person will be designated as the primary director.
(2) Kabaret films must be made within the period of the kabaret.
(3) Films must incorporate the secret ingredient for the kabaret. This will be announced on the opening night and posted on the website.
(4) Films must be no longer than 5 minutes.
(5) Completed film must be mini-DV or DVD format. (Remember to check the sound on your final tape!)
(6) Filmmakers must check in, completed film(s) in hand, 15 minutes before the beginning of the kabaret screening.
(7) Film must include the Wis-Kino logo (or word 'Wis-Kino') and current year, in the end credits. Download our logo here or visit our downloads page.
What if you
don't have your own equipment? Come anyway. Ask around, and you'll
probably be able to join a crew that does. Filmmaking is all about networking,
after all. If you are a member of WYOU,
you may be able to borrow some of their equipment.
What if you're
a beginner? Great! Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience,
age, or focus. This is a great way to play with new ideas and learn on the
fly. So don't obsess about it; just do something!
What if you
haven't made a film but you want to come to the screening? Fantastic.
Just show up! We need our audience; we crave our audience; we LOVE our audience.
Why do we
spell "kabaret" so funny? Don't we know how to spell it?
It's French. We defer to the French Canadians because they started Kino.
Some of us are even learning French BECAUSE of Kino. How's that for commitment?
See
the press releases from past Kabarets and
other events. The photos to the left are from some of the films made at
the Fall 2003 48-hour kabaret.