TriFilm social at LoneRider Brewery in 2011.
TriFilm, which stands for Triangle Filmmakers, was something I started in January 2010. I was working on my first feature-length film, Abandoned Allies, and I wanted to introduce people working on the project to one another. But instead of making it a private meeting, I invited anyone interested in talking about filmmaking to join us (via Facebook and Twitter). A few new folks joined that evening, and a good time was had.
So I did hosted another social. And more people joined us.
The feedback was great. Folks enjoyed talking about their projects, meeting new people, and getting away from work to enjoy the camaraderie of making films. Then a few friends started helping with event planning, A/V management, and announcements. Local businesses were kind enough to host the events. The feedback continued to be awesome, so I kept setting a date and letting things fall into place–all while finishing my first feature-length film and working full-time.
Now that my film is finished, I see this little thing called TriFilm has grown up a bit. It’s really exciting. We just partnered with filmSPARK and about 75 people registered to attend the social / screening. The feedback from that event was great, too. (Related post here.)
There are so many great groups already in existence–and they’re doing some really fun stuff. The goal of TriFilm isn’t replacing those efforts, but to continue strengthening the existing community. I hope it can help unite the film community statewide, since we have so many great things happening in the industry here.
TriFilm is a way we can unite, mobilize, and collaborate. It is a way to encourage, empower, and enlighten one another–to keep pushing our work to the next level, so we’re constantly getting better at our craft. It’s a way to celebrate what we’ve accomplished by sharing our work.
I get so excited when I think of what’s taking shape here. North Carolina’s film community is growing even stronger. I look forward to sharing more as TriFilm continues to grow. Until then, keep at it, y’all. I look forward to seeing your work!