In The News
Lincoln Academy Students Produce Feature-Length Film Entitled: Getting Along
A group of students from Lincoln Academy in the Midcoast town of Newcastle, Maine put their creative talents to the test by producing a feature film entitled: Getting Along.
Shot is just 32 days, this film focuses on life’s daily challenges for students and members of the faculty and staff of a secondary school in rural Maine. Much of the story is focused on two friends with different levels of academic achievement and social status coming to terms with the challenges they face when they run against one another for student council president, and questioning what the future holds for them.
Watch the film, Getting Along, here: https://vimeo.com/960528489
Something big is happening in Waterville, Maine
The energy, excitement, and street buzz in Waterville is palpable. This former mill town set on the Kennebec River, and home to Colby College, is getting a massive makeover, re-inventing itself as the artsy hotspot of northern New England. The renaissance is the result of a unique collaboration between community, philanthropists, and businesses, spearheaded by Colby College, and driven by a passion for the arts.
We visited this often-overlooked city and were pleasantly surprised. There’s a lot happening here.
Directors Guild and Hollywood studios reach tentative deal while writers strike
The Directors Guild deal arrives on the 33rd day of the writers Guild strike.
The Directors Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have agreed to a tentative deal on a new three-year contract. This deal includes wage increases and “a 76% increase in foreign residuals for the largest platforms,” according to the DGA. It also addresses AI concerns.
WGA and Other Unions Call on Studios to Reach ‘Fair Contract’ With DGA
In a statement, the unions said that such a contract would benefit “every worker” in the industry.
“A fair contract for directors does not benefit just a select few; it uplifts every worker in the film and television industry and acknowledges the interconnected nature of our work,” said the statement issued by the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and the Hollywood Basic Crafts. “We call on the AMPTP to immediately negotiate a fair agreement that addresses the Directors Guild of America’s unique priorities in good faith.”
Indie Film: Midcoast filmmaker turns family’s hunting camp into set for new thriller
In Lucas McNelly’s thriller feature “Up Country,” three young men set out for a hike in the Northern Maine woods. Their taciturn, clearly unimpressed guide winds up stranding them there, leading to an increasingly intense fight for survival in an environment they don’t understand – and that seemingly has it in for people “from away.”
For Waldoboro native and Damariscotta resident McNelly, this crisp and nasty indie drama is a love letter to his hometown, even if “Up Country” suggests that unwary visitors to his home turf need to watch themselves. “I’ve always had this idealized dream of continuing to make movies of this size in Midcoast and various other Maine places and straight-up premiere them in my hometown theater,” says McNelly.
