Craig Brewer adds another project

Chris Herrington in the Flyer reports on Craig Brewer's latest venture as mentioned in Variety:

... Paramount Vantage, the studio that produced Brewer's last film, Black Snake Moan, has optioned the rights to Columbia University professor Sudhir Venkatesh's book Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets, with Brewer attached to direct.

Sopranos writer Michael Caleo has been tabbed to handle the script, with Stephanie Allain, Brewer's partner in his Southern Cross the Dog production company, set to produce. ...

Go here for the full story.

On Location: Memphis starts tomorrow

From On Location: Memphis international film festival:

This year's ON LOCATION: MEMPHIS international film fest promises to be one of the most talked about events in Memphis this year! From filmmakers and producers to celebrities and musicians, everyone's coming to Memphis for a great selection of film and music! More than 90 films representing 20 countries and most of all the US will be screened starting this Thursday, March 27, 7:30 pm at the Paradiso with a sneak peek at the new blues doc, DELTA RISING, filmed at Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, MS.

If you have a Film Fest pass or purchase a membership, you can join us for the after party and get a sneak peek at Freeman's not-yet-open-to-the-public Ground Zero Blues Club Memphis! Fest passes are just $60 and are on sale NOW on-line at www.onlocationmemphis.org - after tomorrow the price goes up! So get your fest pass now! Don't wait, don't hesitate, don't stand in line! Get it now! Memberships will be available at the door on Thursday night for just $20!

www.OnLocationMemphis.org

Extras needed tonight

Attn: all actors, and agents: For everyone!

Needed: Caucasian only for tonight

If you want to be an extra tonight or have people that want to be in Soul Men, email Lisa Lax (actlink@aol.com) with your name and she will give it to the casting director and you can work tonight. Then once you've done that you call this number:

1-318-673-4567 to get all your info-call time tonight/wardrobe and parking details. Does pay
You do not leave your name on voice mail you just listen to it for your info.

Must be done quickly-pls be aware this is an all night shoot. Probably running around 5pm-5am.

Doc screening at On Location next Sunday

From the producer:

My name is Teresa Hagen, and I recently completed a documentary film, "To Touch the Soul," which follows Brazilian-born California State University, Long Beach Professor of Art Education Carlos Silveira and 27 students, among them several Cambodian Americans, who traveled to Cambodia to create art projects with children impacted by HIV/AIDS. The film is scheduled to screen on Sunday, March 30, 1:10 p.m., Malco Studio on the Square, as part of the On Location: Memphis International Film Festival.

Cambodia's HIV/AIDS rate among it's 14 million population is the highest in Southeast Asia, and the dire circumstances of the country's poor children leave them the most vulnerable to this unforgiving disease. 15,000 children are infected with HIV/AIDS or have lost their parents to the disease (77,000, a number which is expected to increase an additional 108,700 over the next five years.) But there is hope.

Our film team was privileged to follow Dr. Silveira and his students as they worked with two groups of children who are reaping the benefits of care and medicine provided by non-governmental organizations, in this case, Maryknoll Mission’s Little Sprouts and Little Folks. Seeing these children happy and joyous despite their or their parents’ HIV status was wondrous to behold, and our story became more about how these children, some abandoned by their families and all by society, taught the Americans about life, love and happiness. They became the mentors who empowered the Americans to turn outward from themselves and realize a global need for their energy, passion and new ideas.

Because of this focus, the story is told primarily through voiceover diary entries, written by the students themselves, as well as interviews and interaction with the children as Silveira and the students create art projects with them, forming an emotional bond.

You may wish to visit www.totouchthesoul.com. The film has already won seven awards including Best Documentary at the Wild Rose Independent Film Festival in Des Moines, Iowa, an Accolade Competition Best of Show award and, most recently, an Honorable Mention at the Byron Bay (Australia) Film Festival.

I will be arriving very late Friday night, the 28th, for the festival to attend the screening.

Workshops/panel discussions

ON LOCATION: MEMPHIS
FREE WORKSHOPS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS
WITH HOLLYWOOD MOVIE INSIDERS
AFTER PARTIES OFFER MORE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITES

MEMPHIS, TN (March 17, 2008) – In conjunction with the 9th annual Memphis International Film Fest, On Location: Memphis will present a series of free workshops and panels discussions with Hollywood insiders and industry professionals. On Friday, March 28th and Saturday, March 29th , these workshops and panel discussions will take place at the French Quarter Suites Hotel located at 2144 Madison Avenue in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee. On Friday, 6 pm, join Special Effects expert Brent Heyning as he discussions the nuances and special tricks of the trade of animation and special FX. Heyning, a native Memphian and graduate of the University of Memphis, serves as the principal of Toyshoppe Productions. With nearly two decades experience in live and theatrical production design and construction, his most recent projects include DIE HARD 4, RESIDENT EVIL 3, STARSHIP TROOPERS 3, TRANSFORMERS, XMEN3, MATRIX 2&3, TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE and STAR WARS 2. Brent is currently building high end effects and props for a film named G-Force while designing three major productions with the AMO Studio team.

On Saturday, March 29th , two special panel discussions will take place featuring Memphians who have made their way in Hollywood and Hollywood Professionals who have made their projects in Tennessee. Titled MAKING IT IN HOLLYWOOD (10 am) and MAKING IT IN TENNESSEE (11:30 am), these discussions will feature industry professionals such as Ren′ee O’Connor (XENA: THE WARRIOR PRINCESS), Jeff Clanagan (CEO/President, CODE BLACK ENTERTAINMENT, films include THE BOX, DIRTY LAUNDRY, WHY WE LAUGH), and James Spies (Executive Producer, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH). These experts along with Memphis and Shelby County Film & Television Commissioner Linn Sitler; Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commissioner Perry Gibson, Actor and Judge D’Army Bailey, and screenwriter Dawn Higginbotham will discuss how to make your way in Hollywood and the benefits of bringing your film project to Tennessee.
-more-
Page 2, On Location: Memphis
Later on Saturday at 2 pm, Mike McCarthy, the Godfather of Memphis underground cinema, will present MAKING IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS (AND NO MONEY) - a discussion with director McCarthy and fellow collaborators as they discuss just what it's like to work in McCarthy's 'Elvis meets Warhol' world.
Festival Passes are now on sale on-line at www.onlocationmemphis.org. Festival Passholders receive admission to all films and parties and advance seating at all screenings. Each night of the festival, parties are planned to showcase Memphis music and offer more networking opportunities.
FESTIVAL PARTIES:
Thursday, March 27 – Opening Night Party at Ground Zero Blues Club Memphis featuring the Queen of Beale Street, Ms. Ruby Wilson. Showtime, 9 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance only (free with festival pass) – call 901.626.9685 to purchase or purchase at the opening night film screening of DELTA RISING at Malco’s Paradiso, 7:30 pm.

Friday, March 28 – Rock ‘N Roll Blood Bath at Earnestine and Hazel’s. Step into the world of Mike McCarthy – a full interactive music/video show! 9 pm til ? $7 cover at the door – free with festival pass!

Saturday, March 29 – Big Bubba Bash at BRIDGES, 9 pm til Midnight featuring The Mudflap Kings. $20 at the door or free with festival pass.

Festival Passes are a great deal at $60 per person/$30 for students and on sale on-line only www.onlocationmemphis.org until midnight March 26th. After that, you can only purchase a pass at the door and the price goes up to an additional $10! Individual screenings are $8.50 each; tickets will be on sale at www.malco.com the week before the fest and at the Paradiso and Studio On The Square box offices. Approximately 100 filmmakers, directors, producers and actors are scheduled to attend this year fest which will also include a trade show featuring products and services from around the country.

On Location: Memphis is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of education, economic development, and cultural diversity through the cinema arts.

www.OnLocationMemphis.org

Two films in town

Here's an excerpt from John Beifuss' story in today's CA:

Memphians may see stars this week as dueling road movies starring Justin Timberlake, Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac and Jeff Bridges roll into the Bluff City for a few days of filming.

Jackson and Mac play estranged Stax-style rhythm-and-blues veterans heading to Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater for a tribute to their late lead singer in the cantankerous buddy comedy "Soul Men," directed by Malcolm D. Lee (cousin of Spike), whose latest film, the Martin Lawrence family comedy "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins," is now in theaters.

Bridges and Timberlake are an estranged (there's that word again) father and son making a pilgrimage to the bedside of a dying woman played by Mary Steenburgen in "The Open Road," a modestly budgeted independent production from writer-director Michael Meredith, son of football great "Dandy" Don Meredith. Kate Mara ("Brokeback Mountain") comes along for the ride as Timberlake's girlfriend.

"The Open Road" is scheduled to shoot here today and Wednesday, while "Soul Men" shoots Wednesday and Thursday and next Monday and Tuesday, after a break for the Easter weekend.

Unfortunately for the local economy and local film crew members, both movies are based primarily in Louisiana, to take advantage of that state's generous and well-publicized financial incentives for film production.

Tennessee recently enacted similar tax breaks, but film companies remain more familiar with Louisiana, which has provided a base for low-cost filmmaking for years. Said Sitler: "Now that we have our first 'poster child movie' for our incentives, 'Nothing But the Truth,' we hope to be able to capture these film companies on their next movies." (Set mostly in the Washington area, "Nothing But the Truth" was shot in Memphis last fall with Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon and Alan Alda.)

Open casting call for Soul Men

OPEN CASTING CALL FOR MAJOR FEATURE FILM

“Soul Men,” a feature film scheduled to shoot mid-March in Memphis, is hosting the Mid-South’s only OPEN CASTING CALL on Saturday, March 15th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Directed by Malcolm Lee, “Soul Men” stars Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Legend.

Actors and Extras interested in participating in the movie should grab their photos and come out and meet the Casting Directors!

The open call will be held at:

THE PEABODY HOTEL ---GRAND SALON “E” (Mezzanine Level; Go to Breezeway)

149 Union Avenue --- Downtown Memphis

Those unable to attend should go to: www.Myhollywoodconnect.com and sign up for a free account and to submit your photo.

For further information, contact: Casting Hot Line: (318)-673-4568

Free listiings in Film/TV directory -- deadline is Friday

OnLocation Memphis: International Film Fest

On Location: Memphis

When:
Thursday Mar 27, 2008
at 7:30 PM

Where::
Paradiso and Studio on the Square
584 S. Mendenhall; 2105 Court Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
United States
View Map

International Film Festival MARCH 27-30

RSVP not required

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ON LOCATION: MEMPHIS - international film fest - March 27-30, 2008

Opening Night Film Screening - 7:30 p.m. at Malco’s Paradiso

Thursday Night After Party at Ground Zero

Friday Film Screenings at Malco’s Studio On The Square - 1 pm - 10:45 pm; Special Effects Workshop with Brent Heyning at 6 pm at French Quarter Suites

Friday Night After Party at The Blue Monkey on Madison Avenue

Saturday Film Screenings at Malco’s Studio On The Square - 10 am - 10 pm; Life and Liberty Film Series at Brooks Museum - 1:15 -6:30 pm

Saturday Workshops and Panel Discussions at French Quarter Suites: Making It In Hollywood, 10 am
Making It In Tennessee, 11:30 am, Workshop with JMM - John Michael McCarthy, 2 pm

Saturday Night Festival Party and Awards Ceremony - 9 pm til? - TBA

Sunday Film Screenings at Malco’s Studio On the Square - 1 pm - 10:30 pm; Life and Liberty Film Series at the Brooks Museum - Noon - 7:30 pm

Tickets will be on sale on the MALCO website and are currently on sale at www.onlocationmemphis.org

On Location: Memphis Intl Film Fest needs volunteers

This year's On Location: Memphis International Film Festival is going to be bigger than ever!!! With 85 films from 20 countries and 63 film makers en route to Memphis - we are going to need your help!!!

If you are interested in volunteering for the upcoming festival do not hesitate!!! The festival is March 27-30th and this year we are in 2 venues. Great films, good times, and great people make our festival a destination!

If you are interested in helping out for a few hours, or a few days, contact Shandra Blackwell, Volunteer Coordinator for the On Location: Memphis International Film Festival at shandra@shea-noel.com You may also visit www.onlocationmemphis.org for more information on screening times, volunteering, purchasing festival passes, festival parties, and OLM swag!

Deadline for volunteer registration is March 10th.

On Location: Memphis international film festival

Festival Passes are now on sale for On Location: Memphis, the 9th annual international film fest. A Festival Pass is the best way to get full advantage of all the fest has to offer. Four days of films and music, educational opportunities, interaction with industry insiders and parties! A Festival Pass offers entry to all events at one low price and offers exclusive access to meet & greet filmmaker receptions and parties, as well as all 83 films from 20 countries, 2 workshops, 2 panel discussions and after parties every night of the fest! This year the pass also includes admission to our special 2-day Civil Rights film series at the Brooks Museum of Art on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30. For those only interested in attending this special series, a Liberty & Justice pass is available for $30. A student pass is available for any student with a valid high school or college ID for $30 but does not include the parties.

Festival Passes are a great deal at $60 per person/$30 for students and on sale on-line only www.onlocationmemphis.org until midnight March 26th. After that, you can only purchase a pass at the door and the price goes up to an additional $10! Individual screenings are $8.50 each; tickets will be on sale at www.malco.com the week before the fest and at the Paradiso and Studio On The Square box offices. Approximately 100 filmmakers, directors, producers and actors are scheduled to attend this year fest which will also include a trade show featuring products and services from around the country.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE!
New this year is SENIOR CITIZEN DAY, Friday, March 28 – all films from 1 pm to the 4:30 pm screenings are just $5 per session for adults 60 years of age and older. Tickets may only be purchased at the Studio On The Square Box office.
FROM THE 50 YARDLINE – a special documentary screening offered FREE for area middle school and high school students on Thursday, March 27 at 9:30 am. Reservations must be made by calling 901.626.9685 no later than March 15, 2008.

Actors needed -- paying job

The University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center will be holding
final exams for its first and second-years students in March and April.

If you have a few days open, you can earn $12.00 per hour acting as
if you were a patient with a minor illness. You'll be given a persona
and scenario to follow, be working in an examining room where the
almost-doctors will perform routine physical examinations -- pulse,
blood pressure, eye-ear-nose exam and such -- and take an oral
history. Adults only -- no children -- with age unimportant.

Training day and rehearsal (paid hourly) Thursday 13 March 10a-4p
Exam days M-T-W March 17,18,19... 8a-4p

Trainin day and rehearsal (paid hourly) Thursday 3 April 10a-4p
Exam days T-W-T April 8, 9, 10 8a-4p

Passs the word to your fellow starving actors; it's easy work in a
nice environment, the coffee pot is always on, breakfast snacks and
an afternoon snack are provided (lunch is on you), and there's lots
of bottled water and soft drinks in the small refrigerator.

Contact Jennifer Ware : jware@utmem.edu

Sign up before the roster is full. She only needs 24 actors, and has a
dozen regulars already booked. You can sign up for either of the
sessions -- or for both.

Colors is looking ....

We are looking for someone who does metal work - fabrication, blacksmithing, welding, etc.
It could even be someone who has a "heavy metal music" look (slightly crazed!) and looks like they can work with a torch for a TV Show.

Also:

men & women co-hosts, people who look like they could get secrets out of someone,
naturally curious types.

Those who fit the descriptions should send an email with a headshot and resume and any
reels to Stephanie@colorsagency.com