by Marc Halperin The Sundance Film Festival is in full swing, some  films are being bought and others are not. Understanding the reasons for these decisions is critical for independent filmmakers.  Film Independent recently produced a round table that focused on indie distribution. It’s an offshoot from their Filmmaker Forum, which was held over an entire weekend in early October. This discussion looked at the economics of distribution; traditional, DIY, and digital stra...

Despite some gloomy talk about this year's economic climate, the '09 Expo - held this past Aug. 10-13 at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City-managed to outdraw the 2008 show by 8-percent (4,700). While the square footage of the show's exhibits was down a smidge from last year, the Expo actually attracted more exhibiting companies by a dozen. Presented by DJ Times magazine and its publisher Testa Communications, the Expo offered four days of educational seminars, three day...

It is back to Las Vegas for me, at the present time. I am busting my backside to get this film underway. I have a part for Wayne Newton , as a crew member from my past! I do not want him to sing any of his hits. I really want him to act, in a way I personally believe, he can! I will continually update Fest21 members and guests on the movie's progress. I am still waiting for Premier Sports to get back to us on Laila Ali. It has only been one week, and I know she has a new baby. I hope she and h...