In The News

Henry Spritz ’23 has been making movies since middle school. His most recent project explores themes that are depressingly familiar to many who have grown up in small-town America.

“For many years I had wanted to make a movie that touches on the opioid epidemic, particularly here in Maine, where I have lived my whole life,” said Spritz, who grew up in Portland and Belfast. “Initially I didn’t know how that project would take shape, but I knew I would have to approach it with the utmost care. As a freshman two years ago, I finally felt I was in a place where I had a story, a longer-form project that I could start working on.”

The film’s other major theme, said Spritz, is something that many people growing up in places like Maine will be familiar with—the love-hate dynamic you have with the place you’re from. “

Maine’s small but vibrant creative economy also means there are many networking opportunities for young artists like Spritz. Throughout his short career, he said, he has had the opportunity to connect with the filmmaking community across the entire state. “There’s such freedom to create here if you have the passion and the commitment.

Decentralized film making inches closer to taking control from the Hollywood elite. Tarantino, Blockbusters, and now FF3 are looking to revolutionize the industry.

FF3 wants to give filmmakers a platform to finance movies with NFTs. This follows on from famous film producer Niels Juul who has been planning to fund the first Hollywood movie entirely by NFTs. Last year, news had hit the wires of Niels setting up a production company called NFT Studios for the sole purpose of funding movies with NFTs.

Today, news hits the wires of a new platform FF3 launching to allow the industry to fund their movies through the sale of NFTs. As is the case with NFT studios, investors can also get a share of film revenues. Revenues would be in addition to owning collectible NFTs that could fetch a tidy sum in the NFT marketplace.

Now celebrating its 30th year, the Roy W. Dean Film Grants fund independent feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films with budgets of $500,000 or less that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made.  Students are welcome to apply.

Winners of the Roy W. Dean Film Grants receive a cash award as well as goods and discounted services offered by film industry companies and professionals who care about getting good films produced.   See each grant below for specific information on awards for individual grants.

The SPRING Grant Deadline is March 31st.

For any questions, please email info@fromtheheartproductions.com or call 805-984-0098. 

Grant guidelines and deadlines for interested artists will be made available in January and February by SPACE.

SPACE, the multidisciplinary arts nonprofit, will receive the funding through the National Endowment for the Arts award. In turn the monies will be regranted to artist projects throughout the state of Maine. This sub-grantmaking program was announced as part of the $20 million distributed by the NEA through the American Rescue Plan to assist cultural communities nationwide through the pandemic. SPACE is among 66 local arts agencies recognized as playing a central role in increasing public access to the arts, supporting artists and enhancing the quality of life in their communities. 

“The NEA’s significant investment in local arts agencies, including SPACE is a key element in helping the arts and culture sector recover and reopen, while ensuring that the American Rescue Plan funding is distributed equitably,” said Ann Eilers, NEA’s acting chair. “These grants recognize the vital role of local arts organizations and will allow them to help rebuild local economies and contribute to the well-being of our communities.”

The animated TV series “Big Nate,” based on the long-running comic strip by Lincoln Peirce of Portland, will debut Feb. 17 on Paramount Plus, the streaming service announced Tuesday.

Nickelodeon, which is producing the series, first announced its plans to make a “big Nate” series in February 2020. Peirce said Tuesday he’s excited that the strip he began 31 years ago – and which runs in 400 newspapers – will finally make it to TV.

Like the comic strip, the series will focus on an 11-year-old sixth-grader named Nate, along with his family and friends. The Paramount Plus news release describes Nate as “a sixth-grade kid who has a never-ending need to prove his awesomeness to the world.” The first eight episodes of the show will be available for streaming Feb. 17 on Paramount Plus, with more episodes to be announced at a later date.