(via Digg) Wired has an article posing the question "Can the Internet save Indie film?" While some don't think indie film NEEDS saving, others disagree strongly. What do you think?

After many years of development, the free, open-source, cross-platform screenwriting and pre-production application Celtx has finally been released in its 1.0 version. Available in numerous languages for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows, the new release contains many improvements from earlier test versions. Congratulations to the Celtx team on reaching this important milestone!

Fresh out of film school, Greg Marcks made the trek to Los Angeles as so many other aspiring filmmakers do. At the time, he had no idea that his little student film, “Lector,” was going to win a student Oscar and that doing so would afford him the opportunity to write and direct his critically-acclaimed, first feature film, “11:14.” Now, with a second feature, “The Gift,” under his belt, he's fast becoming a filmmaker with whom to be reckoned.

On a beautiful, southern California day, Filmmaker.com sat down with Greg to discuss all things film. What strikes you most about him is his intellect, his passion for movies, and his uncompromising honesty – the marks of a consummate artist and professional.

FM.C: Where are you originally from?

While actors, directors, writers, and producers often get the limelight, the film world is full of unsung heroes and heroines: the workers of the camera, grip, electric, costuming, sound, art, and other "below-the-line" departments. You only have to look at the end credits of a movie to see how integral they are to production. Watching a good crew in action is like watching a well-made clock. Timely, steady, and dependable. Without them, films could not get made-- plain and simple.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Jennifer Lai has worked with the camera department on such films as “Me, You, and Everyone We Know,” “Walk Hard,” and “My Blueberry Nights.” She's also been involved with so many commercials and television shows there's not enough space to go over them all. Filmmaker.com was lucky enough to catch her on a day off, sit down with her, and pick her brain.

FM.C: What inspired you to get involved in film?

MacNN is reporting that Apple has updated Final Cut Pro and Compressor to new versions in anticipation of the NAB conference in Las Vegas.

The release notes are here.

Moviola Digital Education Center in Los Angeles has created a  Free Resource Center, where they've posted tutorials, tips & tricks and articles for Final Cut Studio and Avid Media Composer / Xpress Pro. In addition to FCS and Avid specific information, they've compiled a good deal of useful information related to video and post production which they put into their "Knowledge Zone." And stay tuned, because they'll be updating and adding information to all these sections in the coming months.

In a recent interview, Moby talks about licensing some of his music free for non-commercial use in indie films:

MOBY: Well, when I went to university, I was a philosophy major, but because I'm not very bright I chose to study philosophy at a performing arts school, maybe because the philosophy program there wasn't too rigorous or challenging. And at school I made a lot of friends in the independent film world. They have always complained to me that the most difficult part of making a film is actually licensing the music because they have to deal with record companies and publishing companies who don't want to return their calls. It's also expensive and onerous and time-consuming.

So I started this Web site, mobygratis.com, which very simply gives away free music to indie filmmakers, nonprofit filmmakers and experimental filmmakers. Right now I've got about 70 pieces of music up, and any filmmaker can go there and download the music and use it in their film.

Today the Richard Rolland Foundation announced a $10 mil filmmaking grant promoting the theme of "We're No Strangers To Love." When asked about the submission deadline, a spokesman replied, "you know the rules, and so do I." Submissions must be under five minutes length and no longer. "A full commitment's what I'm thinking of," added the red-haired spokesman. "You wouldn't get this [offer] from any other guy."

Filmmakers are asked to strive for emotional realism and "to tell you how I'm feeling. Gotta make you understand." More information on the grant is on their site.

Today editing software company Avid has made a major announcement of "new thinking" regarding the pricing and delivery of its editing software.

Among the key points-- cheaper software (prices cut by 50%), a consolidated product line, and a more "modern" approach to building a modern, glistening Web 2.0-ish online community in this age of youtube and blogging and RSS.

Is this an exciting new start for Avid? Or the final gasp of a company desperate to re-invent itself? Myself, I'm interested in looking more at this "new thinking" before drawing any conclusions...

Writers-- check out this short article by Mystery Man", which takes screenplay pages from four films and discusses how the writing style is cinematic. (Another great source for such practical screenwriting advice is John August's blog.)