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Scary Cow Productions
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Cinema Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Education Adult Education Cinema, Performing Arts, Adult Education [Edit]
584 Castro StSte 670
(between 18th St & 19th St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighborhood: Castro
(415) 287-3456
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
Guy W. said: "An excellent service. Effective teachers. 5 stars." read more »
17 reviews for Scary Cow Productions
17 reviews in English
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Review from Kira T.
El Sobrante, CA
11/19/2011
This organization has changed my life. I've spent years dreaming about the possibilities of becoming a filmmaker, but it wasn't until I ran into Scary Cow that it became a reality.
SC is like the real world, except everyone is invited, provided they pay their dues. Beyond that, there is some ladder climbing to do, but as a creative individual I have not had trouble gaining popularity and my first short won a member award last round (#15). If you're not so much on the writer/producer/director front, that's great too - you make your way by being dedicated, punctual and friendly. You don't even have to know what you're doing because there are dozens of people around you who will help you do your job well. After a few shoots you'll be a pro.
Anyone who is thinking about wanting to become a filmmaker but who doesn't have a lot of money to spend or the ability to go to school (or even if you have both of these things) I recommend to start here. I am a single mom living off school loans and government assistance, and my SC dues are first priority. They are high but well worth it. They make the the organization as professional as it can be.
FYI I just lobbied for interns to be exempt from dues, and it's been approved that students 22 and under can intern on SC shoots for free. Woohoo! -
Review from Drew S.
Daly City, CA
11/19/2011
What started as simple words on paper, became an award-winning film screening to thousands of people from cost-to-coast in just a few short months. How? Scary Cow, that's how.
I've been a member of Scary Cow since nearly the beginning (2007). During that time, I have worked on dozens of film projects, learning new techniques along the way. Yes, you might find a few people who rub you the wrong way (and vice-versa), but that's true of life, right? Personally, I have found the vast majority to be extremely friendly and supportive through the years. Whatever aspect of filmmaking you want to learn, Scary Cow is like having a private mentor for everything. And in my case, I've made some dear friends along the way too.
And when you're ready to make your film, the possibilities are endless. I've produced/directed two already, and they have both won budget awards and then been featured in film festivals. In the last film, I was able to promote the little-seen work of a playwright friend, and then launch a full production through the resources of Scary Cow. Our film has now been screened 8 times, and been featured in international film festivals with red carpets, Q&A, media interviews - the whole mind-blowing deal.
The real joy is that we've been able to share our simple but much-loved story with audiences across the USA. This would not have been possible without Scary Cow.
So if you have a story to tell, be scary... make movies. -
Review from ilena f.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
Scary Cow is a great community to be in if you want to learn about and make films.
Over all it is a very welcoming group. As a new person, you have to be willing to just jump in, help out in whatever capacity is needed; you will make a lot of connections and those same people will in turn help you out when you have a project. The amount of experience and talent available is incredible. Additionally, there is a commitment to mentorship of members new to the field, or maybe just learning certain aspects of production.
Beyond the hands-on experience, there are classes, get-togethers and on-line discussions that are very valuable towards your overall film making knowledge.
I totally recommend Scary Cow to anyone wanting to get some real world experience in indie film. -
Review from Samantha S.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/30/2008
I have been a member with Scary Cow since it started. I had no idea what role I could play in film when I started but quickly learned that there were many roles that worked for me and that they were all highly addictive. I have worked in various capacities on more than a dozen film projects in this last year. Of the dozen films, I have seen six up on the big screen with more coming! If you really want to make films it is totally possible. Check out the Scary Cow!
warning: making films can be habit forming. -
Review from Dan D.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2008
Scary Cow is a very unique and awesome concept!! Community based movie/dream/film making by people of all degrees of experience. If you have always dreamed of making a film or wanted to be a part of one but really had no experience, Scary Cow is where you come to get involved!
The way it works is every 4 months, 6 - 10 minute short films are created by teams of people. At the end of the 4 months, there is a screening held at a big theatre in SF and the films are voted upon. The teams/films that win, get funding from Scary Cow to produce the next film to essentially learn from their past experience, work with a team that they are familiar with and make a better film!
**EVEN** if you are not a member of Scary Cow (which I currently am not a member but am considering becoming one), I recommend coming out to see the films that are made!!! It's amazing to see all the creativity and effort that are put into these films. Just sign up for the email list as I did and come out to the screenings to vote on these films!! I attended the last 2 rounds of screenings and I am definitely going to continue going back!!
The people of Scary Cow have built such a great core of talent that it just keeps getting better and better. Keep up the great work Scary Cow! -
Review from Alexandra M.
Brooklyn, NY
10/15/2009
There are many reasons not to leave Bablyon by th bay. For example, Great food, mild weather, amazing hiking opportunities, all those pretty ass buildings....but for me, some of that stuff is just a trap (ok sans the hiking), and the real reason I stay in this city, at least for now, is entirely due to the awesome things I'm doing with Scary Cow Productions.
Now what is Scary Cow Productions? It's a society oranized around preserving creative individuals from flakes and making their dreams come true. With a monthly membership fee, you are motivated to keep working on films. No one is going to hold your hand necessarily so the membership fee is your real kicker to get your booty moving as well as a great incentive for your team members not to flake on you when its your project. Once you sign up, there is a pitch meeting with all members of the co-op. You either pitch or join a team. Once that's done your team has about 4 months to complete your project. Your completed project will then be screened at the Victoria, AND if people like your movie..you could win budget and make an even better one.
So that's what it is, and here's why I like it. I started with Scary Cow about a year ago, and have gone from a Production Assistant to an Art Director and then a Director in this time. Throughout my experience the deadlines pushed us to work quickly and efficiently, and with dedication.
Making my first big movie - which everyone told me was shot well, it was also shot on shotwell street funny enough - was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life and Scary Cow made the whole process so much easier to organize. Not to mention, I made some pretty amazing friends as a result.
So am I leaving SF right now? As far as Scary Cow is around, it's going to be hard. -
Review from Robert H.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/23/2010
Scary Cow is a great place to make movies, meet people with a passion for filmmaking, and see up and coming new films. I joined in June 2010 and have been involved in the making of a half a dozen independent film projects, including my own short film Destiny's Lance, which premieres at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on October 10, 2010.
As a writer, producer, and development executive who worked for years in Los Angeles waiting for the studio heads to make decisions, I am glad to now be a part of this dynamic group of Bay Area filmmakers who are actually making movies on a regular basis. -
Review from sf f.
San Francisco, CA
6/14/2011
SC is very good for finding a crew and getting things done. Several of their films have won awards. One was seen on PBS.
Where SC fails is in its clique mentality. Its demoralizing for a person with plenty of talent, to be turned away or ignored. SC is a lot like high school, but this time, its the AV and theater geeks who are the top of cool and you are just not hip enough to be in their group, regardless of your skills.
Also, the dues are a bit much. There are no sliding scales for poor, seniors or students. No way to work off your dues by volunteering to help run things. -
Review from ben G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/21/2008
just joined last round.
Great!!
You get your films screened and if you dont make your own, you can join someone's team and learn skills to pay bills. (maybe)
Join up and have fun. -
Review from Marty R.
San Francisco, CA
10/12/2009
Just another example of altruism and community in San Francisco, Scary Cow Productions is about as creative and fun as you can get.
I joined the Scary Cow co-op of creative folks earlier this year in what is now it's third year of "business." And the business is show business. Jager and his gang of helpers aren't in this for the money. It's all about the great experiment of community film-making.
The money we pay as our monthly dues helps to fund the film-makers awards and pay for administrative costs of renting theaters, halls, classroom space and for printing dvds of our work and all the stacks of forms and marketing materials needed to move the co-op along.
We are provided a forum and a structure for accumulating time, equipment, skills, experience and talent into a film production of our own making. Small projects, if well done, can turn into big ones. Along the way we gain more skills, more resources and hopefully, more talent. I've added the work I've done as transferable skills on my resume and it's spiced up the interest hiring managers have in me. We certainly gain a lot of friends and working relationships with great people we would otherwise never meet.
I'm having a blast and in just 6 months have worked on a documentary, a romantic comedy and a relationship film and am about to start on my fourth project with others waiting in the wings. I've attended classes about film production taught by people actually working in the business and will be attending a screen-writing class soon.
It is very cool to see your name up in lights at the screening, which is held in a movie theater so your friends and family can see it on the big screen...what a hoot. Can't recommend Scary Cow enough to someone who wants to stretch and grow into a more creative lifestyle!Listed in: Lifestyle & Enrichment, Entertainment
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Review from Brian D.
Oakland, CA
5/29/2008
This is the kick in the butt I needed to crank out a film every 4 months. Sometimes I do my own, sometimes I work on someone else's. Join us; it's good.
Listed in: Filmmakers Resource
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Review from Marc S.
San Ramon, CA
1/30/2008
This is something special. No one is doing anything like this. It provides an environment for the novice and experienced alike to make movies and to help each other out. Feels like the start of something big.
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Review from Chris W.
San Francisco, CA
10/14/2009
I joined two years ago, having a lifelong interest in making films and absolutely zero experience or action toward that goal. Since then I've worked on numerous films and had the chance to be a screenwriter, producer, production assistant, script supervisor, costuming and set manager and even Best Boy, and now I'm directing my first project. You really can go from 0 to 60 here, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Besides being full of the most fun, creative and supportive people, it's also a marvel of organization. Join- it won't be lame and you will have a chance to do things you've always dreamed of!
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Review from Christina M.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2010 1 photo
what an amazing group! i was cast in a sexy fun film for this group and was surprised by how professional and talented the entire crew was! great creative people and a very amazing final product! i am so happy to have the film "Grand Delusions" on my reel!
actress and local SF native,
christina marie -
Review from Stan N.
Fremont, CA
11/30/2009
Simple idea. A bunch of people get together, then split up into teams and create short films. Some productions are run very loosely--a couple of guys running around with a guerilla camera--others are run like a Hollywood style film set, with gaffers, DP's, continuity, grips, AD's and directors actors and boom operators plying their trades. Somehow, equipment emerges from the members, most of the time top quality stuff.
At the end of a 4-month cycle, they show your 10-minute opus at the Victoria Theater, and then the cycle starts all over again.
The kicker? NO EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED. I didn't know what a DP, gaffer, grip, PA or AD were when I joined Scary Cow. I joined on a lark. I nodded dumbly the first time I heard the term "master scene", terrified someone would realize I was clueless about what that meant. You learn by doing, and by watching others who presumably know what they are doing. Whether watching or doing, it's a blast. -
Review from A W.
Berkeley, CA
1/30/2008
a great network of passionate people working together to make films and learn from the experience. good for anyone with enthusiasm -- no experience required!
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Review from holden h.
San Francisco, CA
10/11/2009
Great organization for getting some good films made
