President’s Message

Proud to be Part of a Community

by Bill Coughlan, TIVA President

Photo by Roland Johnson

As another year comes to a close, I am reminded once again how fortunate we are — both as individuals and as a collective organization — to be part of such a supportive and collaborative community, one where we all work to better the industry as a whole, and pass along our knowledge so that others can elevate their individual skills (and hopefully help us elevate our own in turn).

And while TIVA is a critical part of that collective ecosystem, we are far from the only group working to make sure that the mid-Atlantic continues to produce the most creative, innovative and technically proficient work possible. Over the past year, we have worked to highlight not only our own initiatives, but also those that showcase extraordinary skill and provide opportunities to those of us working in the field, newcomer and seasoned professional alike.

That includes innovative showcases such as the DC Independent Film Festival, where TIVA hosted a special filmmaking panel; the Wheaton Film Festival, where we were able to provide information on TIVA and our offerings to several up-and-coming filmmakers; and the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival, where we were proud to help promote critical stories of investigative journalism at its finest.

It also includes supporting creative events, such as Make a Movie in a Month, which helps connects teams of filmmakers to kick-start creativity among students and other production newcomers.

We also ensured that we had a seat at the table for vital industry gatherings, such as the Virginia Production Alliance’s “State of the Industry” event, where we not only had a table with information on TIVA, but spoke to the assembled group about the critical work being done in the region (and provided interviews to local media about the event itself and other industry news developments).

And we worked with specialized groups to cosponsor events, such as with Team Jabberwocky for the Stonehenge Auditions, or with an array of groups from the VPA to the DMV Gear Exchange, Hurlbut Academy, and Barbizon Lighting for the DMV Mega Tech Gear Sale/Exchange — expanding our traditional Yard Sale event to a scale we would not have been able to accomplish in years past.

And, of course, we continue to coordinate with other groups to produce specialty events. Our partnership with DC Camera allowed us to provide a hands-on showcase of some of the best camera and support gear available. Working with Mind & Media, we were able to assemble a panel discussion and demonstration of cutting-edge gamification techniques and equipment. And by returning once again to Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, we were able to provide some cutting-edge insight into the up-and-coming world of podcasting — not to mention hosting our “Voice of God” auditions for the upcoming 23rd Annual Peer Awards.

And the year’s not over yet! At The Video Show 2019, TIVA will not only be live-steaming interviews from our booth, but will be hosting not one but two panels on video streaming — “Best Practices for Incorporating Streaming Media in Your Small Business Marketing Plan” and “Best Practices for Selecting a Streaming Media Partner to Enhance Corporate Communications” — as well as participating in a panel for independent filmmakers in the DMV — “D.C. Indie Community: Resources for Getting Your Dream Project Made.”

And, of course, we will also be delivering our showcase recognition of excellence in our community — the aforementioned TIVA Peer Awards — in the spring.

This really is a fantastic time to be working in our industry, and I could not be prouder to be a part of the tapestry of support this community provides.