Newsletter from SAG

FilmNashville Bulletin 3/2/06

FILM /TV INCENTIVES LEGISLATION ­ PROGRESS REPORT
FILM FUNDING FOR DOCUMENTARIES WORKSHOP
NASHVILLE FILMMAKERS SECTION AT BELCOURT
HGTV NEEDS HOMES FOR NEW TV SHOW
TWO GUYS INTERVIEW W/ BELCOURT EXECUTIVE DIREC TOR / OSCAR NIGHT
CHILLER CINEMA WINS RONDO AWARD

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FILM/TV INCENTIVES LEGISLATION ­ PROGRESS REPORT

Eight [8] bills have been filed in the Senate and House for
legislation to create more film and television production activity
in the state of Tennessee. The bill language is based upon [and
would not be possible without] the Film and Television Production
Study done by the Tennessee Film Entertainment and Music Commission.
In essence, there is actually one primary bill with eleven sections,
and there is a duplicate of that bill in both the House and Senate
[i.e., 2 of the 8 bills]. Then there are essentially three other
bills which break out specific sections of the primary bill, and
there are duplicates of those bills in both House and Senate [i.e.,
the remaining 6 of the 8 bills]. No matter how you slice it, the 11
sections currently deal with:

1] Proposed name of the bill ­ The Visual Content Act of 2006
2] Film production permits to be filed with the Tennessee Film
Entertainment and Music Commission
3] Sales tax rebate for any out-of-state or in-state production
spending at least $500,000 in Tennessee
4] and 5] Breaks on purchase of film production and post-production
equipment
6] Very significant tax breaks for incentivizing major out-of-state
productions
7] Development of technical film production training in order to
deepen Tennessee production crew base
8] A formal study to bring more video game industry to Tennessee
9], 10] and 11] Generic language pertaining to passage of any
legislation.

A coalition including the city film offices of Memphis, Nashville,
Knoxville and Chattanooga, along with IA 492, Teamsters, business
leaders, TIPTOE [East Tennessee film org] and FilmNashville have
come together to lobby legislators at two critical junctures in the
legislative process:

A] The bills will go to the Ways and Means Committee of both the
Senate and the House, where all sections cited above will be vetted
and analyzed for financial impact;

B] If the bills make it out of committee, meaning they are approved
by a majority of committee members, they will be brought up for a
vote in both the Senate and House.

It will be during both A] and B] above that the legislation will
need the strong support of all film businesses, individuals,
organizations, and ancillary business leaders, where that support
will need to be conveyed through positive e-mails, letters and phone
calls.

IMPORTANT: Since the language of the bills is still currently being
defined and in some areas corrected, it is premature to contact
anyone in Tennessee government about the bills. The language needs
to be perfect and locked before massive support is shown, otherwise
legislators will become confused as to what is actually being
supported. We will advise as to specific legislators to communicate
with at junctures A] and B], and will provide all relevant contact
info for those legislators at those times.

Stay tuned.

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NASHVILLE FILMMAKERS SECTION AT BELCOURT

FilmNashville and the Belcourt Theatre are joining forces to create
a section at the Belcourt Theatre that will sell videos and DVDs of
features, shorts, documentaries, and television programming made by
Nashville filmmakers. Revenues will be split by the filmmakers and
the Belcourt, with majority of profits going to the filmmakers.

As a non-profit community center for many film screenings and
events, including the 48 Hour Film Project and Awards Ceremony, the
Belcourt will be a natural gathering place to display and sell
locally made indie films. If you are a filmmaker interested in
selling your work at the Nashville Filmmakers section at the
Belcourt Theatre, contact Toby Leonard at toby@belcourt.org

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FILM FUNDING FOR DOCUMENTARIES WORKSHOP

On March 25, 2006 FilmNashville Director of Development, Bobbie
Gallup, will lead an all-day workshop at the Watkins Film School on
fundraising and grantwriting for documentaries, including the
realities of what one is up against when going after funding, and
how to successfully navigate those waters. Ms. Gallup has raised
several million dollars in grant monies in her career for various
non-profit endeavors, and is a wealth of knowledge in the process.
Stay tuned for further details on the event.

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HGTV NEEDS HOMES FOR NEW TV SHOW

Home and Garden Television's (HGTV's), "ReZoned", will begin
shooting new season immediately.

HGTV's new show "ReZoned" is looking for homeowners that had the
vision and creativity to convert a non-residence into a residence.
ONLY HOMEOWNERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE ORIGINAL CONVERSION WILL
BE CONSIDERED. We consider structures such as boathouses,firehouses,
banks, drug stores or just about anything else you can imagine.

Ideal candidates will include the following:

Remarkable Transformations: We're looking for interesting and
inspiring transformations that are COMPLETE or nearly completed. It
is important that some elements from the original purpose remain or
are incorporated. For example, one show featured a church that was
transformed into a single family home complete with furniture
constructed from the original pews.

Enthusiastic Homeowners: Homeowners should be passionate about their
home and the possibility of sharing it with our audience. We focus
on their PERSONAL stories of design, renovation and life in the new
home.

Before Photos, Videos or Documents: Because the renovations we
feature are complete, we would like to show the building before and
hopefully during the transformation. Home videos, archival photos,
simple snap shots and supporting documents are all welcome.
The goal for this series is to tell the story of the building, the
renovation, the homeowner and how they are all related.

Please take a look at the show online at:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hzred/

Contact:
Heather Pikas
"Rezoned"
Home & Garden Television
office: 303-712-3162
fax: 303-484-6198
Hpikas@highnoonentertainment.com

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TWO GUYS INTERVIEW W/ BELCOURT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / OSCAR NIGHT

"2 Guys Who Don't Know Crap About Movies" is proud to present a
special one-hour show with Steve Small from the Belcourt Theatre.
Steve will join co-hosts J.D. Hart and Glen Weiss in a tribute to
the 2006 Academy Awards Show being telecast from the historic
Belcourt Theatre in widescreen High Def complete with red carpet and
celebrities and food and alcohol. This is one of the year's hottest
tickets and an event you won't want to miss. Tickets are still
available at www.belcourt.org. Tune in this week and get all the
details. Also on the show will be respected Nashville Scene film
critic Jim Ridley and his filmmaker brother Read Ridley making a
rare television appearance together. Jim and Read will give their
predictions for the winner of this year's Oscar for Best Film of
theYear. If you've never seen these two guys together you won't want
to miss this episode of "2 Guys Who Don't Know Crap About Movies"
Friday night, March 3 at 11

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CHILLER CINEMA WINS RONDO AWARD

Congrats to our local scarey dudes at Chiller Cinema, who won a
Rondo Award for Classic Horror Excellence for Best Website of 2005.
Go check out the website and see what all the frightfulness is about
at www.drgangrene.com

***Support your state film legislation.***

Casting assistant

Needed expirenced on set casting assistant for Southern Comfort.
Please contact Lisa Lax at 818.644.3976

Acting class with Molli Benson

There is a serious, intensive acting class coming to Memphis April 21-23. It's taught by Molli Benson who has a reputation for being tough and effective. For more info, go to her Web site.

The fee is $250 due by March 31. A deposit may be required. Credit cards and checks preferred but not required.

All applicants must contact Molli personally by March 21, but sooner is better since there are only 20 spots. You need to also contact JDancy23@aol.

You must attend all days of class -- there are no refunds. You must be at least 18 years old. You must be dedicated and serious about learning and acting. And the standard warning: This class is NOT for the faint of heart.

Last day

Today's the final day for the run of local award-winning and critically acclaimed indie "Act One" at Malco Studio on the Square. Showtimes are 1:25, 4:40, 7:25, 9:45. All of you procrastinators can join me at the 7:25 showing or go whenever, but do it today.

Casting for PSAs for Homeland Security

We are looking for ethnically diverse actors. If you are interested, please contact me and we will get back to you as quickly as possible to set up meetings.

This is a very positive series of Public Service Announcements. Certain parts will of course be more prominent than others, with some spoken lines.

If you have a headshot or even just a picture of yourself, please include it in the email.

LOOKING FOR

African American Woman (mid to late 20s)

African American girl (10)

Asian woman (40 - 50)

Hispanic couple (around 30)

Middle Eastern man (25 - 40)

Caucasian male (40)

Caucasian female (20s)

More casting info to come.

John Moore

Producer, Churchill Studios

901-751-6675

'Southern Comfort' extras/day players

Lisa Lax is in urgent need of headshots and resumes to be considered for extra work and/or possible day player roles for the TV pilot "Southern Comfort" -- to be filmed in Memphis.

There is a special need for experienced stand-ins.

Also needed are males and females for some high school debutante scenes. Teens as well as those who are over 18 but can play younger are encouraged to submit. Please include your age on your resume.

ALL types and ages are needed so please submit ASAP!

Please mail headshots and resumes to :

Lisa Lax
c/o "Southern Comfort"
315 S. Hollywood
Memphis, TN 38104

NO PHONE CALLS!

'Walk the Line' out on DVD

For the many Mid-Southerners who had a minute, or a nanosecond, in "Walk the Line," you can go out today and add that clip to your demo reel. The DVD is being released today (2/28). Here's part of a review by Washington Post columnist Jen Chaney:

In keeping with the now-standard practice of offering consumers more choices than they probably need, Fox has issued "Walk the Line" in two versions: A single disc ($29.99) with 10 deleted scenes and a commentary by writer-director James Mangold, and a two-disc collector's edition ($39.99) with music videos and three featurettes not included on the less expensive version. Staunch fans of Cash may feel compelled to purchase the collector's set, if only because the cover art looks infinitely cooler than the movie still on the regular box. But given the limited quantity of extras on both DVDs, it may be wise to hold off in case Fox puts out something more substantial in the near future. (Did we mention that Cash -- who died in 2004 -- would have celebrated his 75th birthday in 2007?)

Awards show junkies eager to see "Walk the Line" before the Big Oscar Dance won't be disappointed if they rent or purchase the basic DVD. But lifelong devotees of Cash, the man who finally gave the jailbirds at Folsom Prison the freedom to sing, deserve a collection as vast and enduring as the legend himself.

Weirdest Bonus Point: A couple of the deleted scenes -- including one featuring Cash's son, John Carter Cash -- are fun to watch. But most were clearly excised with good reason, including a particularly hokey moment when a drug-addled Cash sees the face of his first wife, Vivian (played by Jennifer Goodwin), morph into the visage of June Carter. The only thing that could have made it stranger? If Vivian/June had broken into a version of "It Ain't Me, Babe."

Bonus Point That Requires the Most Patience: James Mangold deserves some credit for trying to provide insight into his filmmaking choices during the audio commentary. But while some of his anecdotes are fascinating (Johnny Cash's favorite movie was "Frankenstein"?), his repeated references to Joaquin Phoenix as "Joaq" may unintentionally elicit cravings for guacamole among hungry viewers. Worth a listen, but only in controlled, small doses.

Three 6 at the Oscars

From Reuters News Service:

In a departure from past Oscar shows featuring syrupy Disney tunes and soundtrack ballads, this year's telecast will give audiences country music, alternative rock and a super-sanitized version of a racy rap song.

The song, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," is from the movie "Hustle & Flow," the story of a pimp who aspires to a singing career. In the Oscars' first performance by a rap group, the group Three 6 Mafia will perform the song, one of three nominated in the best original song category, at the March 5 Academy Awards ceremony.

"The Academy (of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences) is really to be commended," said Aaron Rosenberg, lawyer for Three 6 Mafia. "It's admirable that voters are recognizing the hip-hop generation and its influence on American culture."

With decency concerns in high gear in the aftermath of the notorious baring of Janet Jackson's breast during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, Three 6 Mafia worked to make their lyrics meet ABC's broadcast standards.

"We took out all the cuss words and made it squeaky clean," rapper Paul "DJ Paul" Beauregard, who co-wrote the song with Jordan "Juicy J" Houston and Cedric "Frayser Boy" Coleman, said in a telephone interview.

The writers substituted new lyrics where necessary in the song, which portrays the life of a hustler in the inner city of their hometown, Memphis, Tennessee.

For instance, Beauregard said they substituted "It's messed up where I live but that's just how it is," for the lyrics: "It's f---ed up where I live but that's just how it is."

"The song will be FCC friendly," Rosenberg said.

Just in case, ABC is also expected to use a five-second delay to aid network censors.

While Beauregard is thrilled with the chance to perform during the Oscars, he sees a double standard in the media.

"Some stuff should definitely not be heard by younger kids but what they're able to watch on television, like people stealing cars, is sometimes a lot worse than what we're singing about," he said.

Live From Memphis Lil' Film Festival

Above is the flyer for my lil' submis- sion for the Live From Memphis Lil' Film Fest. Entry deadline is Tuesday, but you've still got a weekend to work on it. Films may be no longer than five minutes and must include footage of the Baptist Hospital implosion -- and that footage, if you don't have it, is available for download here.

It's a delicious opportunity to get creative and keep the local indie community vital. And you get to work with the best people in the cosmos. Pictured on top (from left) are Michael Travis Stone, Joseph B. Smith, Markus Seaberry and Nancy Ellen Mills. Above right is Jen Morris and I remain much indebted to Forrest Pruett for making it possible and keeping it sane. (Yeah, the title used to be "Escort Service" but that just didn't work for me. Gawd I love making films.)

March 25 is the Lil' Film Fest, 2 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op. Lock it in.

Tell our legislators how you stand on incentives

TO: THE MEMPHIS/MID-SOUTH FILM & TV COMMUNITY

FROM: THE MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY FILM AND TELEVISION COMMISSION

RE: SUPPORT NEEDED FOR PRODUCTION INCENTIVES LEGISLATION

DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2006

As you are likely aware, since January, 2004, The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission has been a strong, vocal advocate to our state legislators re: the continuing, urgent need to pass competitive production incentive legislation.

We now have well-researched and well-considered recommendations for such legislation ---thanks to a report recently prepared by the Film Production Advisory Committee (FPAC) of which Linn Sitler was an ex-officio member. The report is available at The Commission's website at www.memphisfilmcomm.org

Recently, our Board voted unanimously to endorse the recommendations in this report. As you'll see upon reading the report, the incentives proposed by FPAC encourage both out-of-state production companies working in Tennessee and also indigenous production companies shooting in the state.

You, as members of the Memphis/Mid-South production community have everything to gain --- and everything to lose --- by the fate of the legislation containing these recommendations.

In the weeks to come, we'll keep you informed of the progress of the legislation filed -- and what you can do to enhance the cause.
Right now, we are asking you to email a short message of support asap for The Film Production Advisory Committee's Report on Tennessee's Urgent Need for Competitive Production Incentive Legislation to:

phil.bredesen@state.tn.us (Governor Bredesen)
cc: dave.cooley@state.tn.us (Deputy Governor Cooley)
david.j.bennett@state.tn.us (TN Film Commissioner)
linn@memphisfilmcomm.org (Memphis/Shelby Co. Commissioner)

Additionally,we are asking for the support of the innumerable businesses and hotels in our community which benefit so greatly from production. Let's stay "in touch and together" in the weeks to come in order to see our state come from behind to pass competitive incentive legislation THANKS!

Linn Sitler, Film Commissioner
Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission
(901) 527-8300 x3
linn@memphisfilmcomm.org

Memphis International Film Fest: volunteers needed

The 2006 Memphis International Film Festival will be presented by the Memphis Film Forum March 23rd through March 26th.

This 7th installment of this festival promises to be even more exciting. This year Reel Soul Memphis will partner with the Film Forum for a special Saturday night presentation.

Thanks to all of you who volunteered for previous festivals. If you would like to volunteer this year, or know of someone who would, please contact me by email: naseeralewis@... with your availability and contact information.

I look forward to seeing you all at this year's festival!

Best Regards,

Naseera Lewis
Volunteer Recruitment

www.memphisfilmforum.org

Energetic and enthusiastic

From Leah at Colors Agency:

I have been contacted by Conrad at the Redbirds Stadium. They are having an audition tomorrow, 2/24/06, at the Redbirds stadium from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. They are looking to book people for the Cellular South Zone Patrol. The zone patrol is made up of a group of people that are at every Redbirds home game. They are looking for very energetic, enthusiastic people to interact with fans and perform skits, etc. If interested make sure you take a headshot and resume to the audition. You can call Conrad at 722-0230 if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Leah


Leah Bruce
Colors Agency, Inc.
http://www.colorsagency.com

'Act One' extended

From Old School Pictures:

Malco has decided to extend the run for "Act One." Despite the nasty weather this past weekend, our film managed to snag the #1 spot at the Studio on the Square box office! We certainly owe this distinction to all of you who braved the cold and made it out to support our film. Now those of you who seemingly missed your chance will have a brand new week to make up for it. We've been getting an enormous amount of positive feedback from our audience members, and it's been quite an overwhelming experience to say the least.

So if you haven't been yet, then blast on over to Studio and check out "Act One." No ice = No excuse. The showtimes shall remain the same:

"Act One"
Malco Studio on the Square
1:25 * 4:40 * 7:25 * 9:45

Also, keep your eyes peeled for "Act One" commercials on cable channels to be playing over the next few days, and be sure to listen to Brad's radio interview from Q107.5.

Casting opportunities

Thanks to Vince Moore for sending us this info. The actor/writer/filmmaker also has a blog you should check out.

We have began preproduction on the independent film "Drug Related" to be shot in Memphis late spring/summer. There are several "speaking" roles that need to be filled. We will also need lots of background actors as well.

"Drug Related" is a fast-paced cop genre film that tells the story of a team of undercover narcotics officers and their quest to bring to justice those responsible for the death of one of their fellow officers. It also deals with the interpersonal relationships of the unit, and how the work affects them and their relationships.

We will have two casting calls in March, stay tuned for the exact date. It will be announced on this site, as well as the news, and the site of the TN film commission. Stay tuned for the announcement of the casting call. for further information feel free to email me at moorefinancial@hotmail.com.

Keenon Nikita's 'Just the Two of Us'

Keenon Nikita's film "Just the Two of Us" is one of the most anticipated local indie projects that's been in production this past year. It's autobiographical, telling a compelling story about Nikita and his daughter.

This is a passionate effort using some exceptional local talent and crew and now we can all breathe a big sigh of relief: The premiere is scheduled for Thursday, March 16 at the Muvico. The 7:30 p.m. screening will be followed by a party at Isaac Hayes in Peabody Place, with live band and food.

Mark your calendars and we'll see you there.

'Act One': Read all about it -- and then go see it

"Act One" by filmmaker Brad Ellis of Old School Pictures was named Best Narrative Feature in the "Hometowner" category of the Indie Memphis Film Festival in October and it opens today for a special weeklong run at Malco's Studio on the Square.

Here's John Beifuss' review and a feature story in the CA today and Chris Herrington's story and review in the Flyer.

It's quality local filmmaking, so you have a duty -- although it's a pleasant one -- to go see it.

NaFF

From a NaFF press release:

The dates for the 37th Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) are set for April 20 through April 26. The Festival returns to Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in Nashville, TN, with four state-of-the-art theaters and plenty of parking.

NaFF is one of the best-known arts events in Tennessee and is the biggest film festival in the mid-South with a world-known emphasis on music in film. Notable guests like Oprah Winfrey, Al Gore, Billy Ray Cyrus, Paul Reiser, Robert Redford, Susan Surandon, Béla Fleck, Matthew McConaughey, Peter Falk, Michael Moore, Rick Wakeman, Rick Schroder, Patrick Swayze and John Waters are just a few that have come out to support the film Festival.

“I can feel the excitement build as we are prescreening films, meeting with our Festival team members and planning fabulous parties. The celebrity guest list is growing,” Sallie Mayne, Managing Director of the festival, remarks. “This is truly a community event with dedicated sponsors and volunteers returning each year to help us make this happen”

NaFF is pleased to have Current TV as a sponsor for the second year, presenting the Reel Current Award for the documentary that provides the most extraordinary insight into a contemporary or social global issue. The winning documentary will be selected by Current TV and former Vice President Al Gore, who will present the award on Thursday afternoon, April 20. The Reel Current Award winner will be selected from five documentaries screening at the Festival, which will be announced in mid-March. The 2005 0winner was Taggart Siegel’s The Real Dirt on Farmer John.

In 2005, the Festival was picked as “One of 20 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine; and “Best Film Festival Prizes” for its DREAMMAKER AWARD by Film Festival Today. With an increase of 14% in 2005 attendance and 2006 submissions up to 1644, this year’s festival promises an eclectic international array of features, documentaries, shorts, animations, experimentals, music videos and young filmmakers (18 and under) films.

Artistic Director Brian Gordon said, “From the films submitted and the scouting we’ve done at other Festivals, as well as the increased awareness of the Festival in the film community, it has become both easier and more exciting to put together a high-quality, diverse selection of films, guests, panels and live music for our enthusiastic audiences. Every year gets better, and the 2006 edition will be no exception.”

With the festival located in “Music City,” NaFF offers two unique music awards: Best Music in a Feature Award for the feature film with the best score composition or music supervision; and Impact of Music Award for the film that best exemplifies the importance of music in our everyday lives. Tickets go on sale in March online at nashvillefilmfestival.org

Lil' Film Fest

Sarah Fleming announces that footage of the BMH implosion is now available for download at the
following link (just scroll to the bottom, and remember its a large file so only attempt download if you have broadband): http://www.livefrommemphis.com/info/more_info?copyID=69

Footage is also available at our studio downtown... just give us a call (523.9763) and then swing by to burn your copy.

If you guys have any other questions regarding the festival, feel free to call or email us, or check out the link above.... Can't wait to see all your creativeness in action!!!

www.livefrommemphis.com
EMAIL: info@livefrommemphis.com

(Note: Deadline for entries is Feb. 28, so get to it).

Southern Comfort

Pilot to be shot in Memphis in mid-March. Here's John Beifuss' story in the CA.

Chicago area film festival

From a press release:

Action! The Future Filmmakers Festival is calling on talented young filmmakers nationwide to submit their original films for a chance to be recognized by industry professionals and fellow peers. Prizes will total $1,200. The entry deadline has been extended to Feb. 28, 2006 to identify the best, brightest and innovative in youth filmmaking.

“Designed to celebrate exploration, style and personal expression, the Future Filmmakers Festival is calling on today's youth to share their talents," said Naomi Walker, festival director. "We've had a great response to date from entrants around the country. By extending the deadline, we are able to accommodate those who haven't yet completed their work and are still exploring the endless possibilities of filmmaking."

The Future Filmmakers Festival, which is presented by Cinema/Chicago, the producers of the Chicago International Film Festival, is seeking submissions for films and videos of any genre from filmmakers who are 20 years old or younger. In addition to the general public, filmmakers accepted into the festival will be invited to attend a three-day festival at The Film Row Cinema on the Columbia College Campus of Chicago, Ill. At the festival, filmmakers will watch their film with an audience as well as attend exciting workshops, meet film industry professionals, and network with young filmmakers from all over the country. The festival will award over $1,000 in prize money along with multiple non-cash prizes to films screened at the festival.

More information, including general guidelines and submission forms can be found online at www.futurefilmmakersfestival.com. The postmark deadline for entering the Festival is Feb. 28, 2006. The festival will take place June 16 through June 18, 2006.

Sponsors for the 2006 Festival include founding sponsor, Chicago Classroom Television (CCTV) and Columbia College Chicago.


©2006 For more information contact: (312) 658-0600 or e-mail us at info@newswireone.com

"Act One" brings Memphis Indie scene together

From Old School Pictures:

We have a full week of "Act One" screenings at Malco Studio on the Square starting this Friday, February 17! That's right, 4 shows a day for a total of 28 screenings! Malco Theatres has decided to co-sponsor the film and you can find tickets available on their website (http://www.malco.com) or at the Studio on the Square box office. We will also be listed in the newspaper's movie ads starting with this Friday's Playbook alongside the slate of first-run Hollywood titles. Here are the showtimes for the film (and note that these times will be consistent throughout the week):

"Act One"
Malco Studio on the Square
Friday, February 17 - Thursday, February 23
1:25 * 4:40 * 7:25 * 9:45

This weeklong event was created with the intention of giving the general public an opportunity to see "Act One" in a theatrical setting. Many of you attended our screening at the Indie Memphis Film Festival last fall, where we were fortunate enough to take Best Narrative Feature in the Hometowner category. This became the big premiere event for "Act One," but we realize that seating was quite limited and many people were simply unable to attend. Well, now is definitely the time to act - and you've got 28 shows to choose from.

We'd like to stress that the Friday night 7:25 showing will be a unique "mini-premiere," where you'll have the opportunity to meet members of the cast and crew. We also plan on having an after party at Bosco's (which is basically in the parking lot of the theater), and we encourage you to join us there to round out the night.

Of course, if the week is better for you, then by all means go to Studio and fill up those seats! We really want to demonstrate that providing an outlet for local filmmakers to exhibit their work can be a truly successful venture. If our threatical run goes well, Malco will surely be open to sponsoring future events of this kind, which will be a tremendous bonus to the Memphis film community. Speaking of which, we are also going to be featuring samples of work from others in the local film community, namely Grade One Entertainment, Corduroy Wednesday, Rusted Sun Films, and Live From Memphis. Their trailers will be presented at the beginning of our screening, along with our extremely grateful thank-you's to the sponsors of this event. Malco Theatres, of course, as well as Churchill Studios High Definition & Post, Cornerstone Media, Gardo Design Group, and Time Warner Cable are the gracious businesses that have supported us in making this event happen.

Time Warner will be airing "Act One" television commercials starting Wednesday, February 15, so definitely keep an eye out for our 30 second spots on the national cable channels. You may have also seen our posters plastered all over town to advertise the big event. It's coming on fast, so please secure those tickets as soon as you can.

From all of us at Old School, we send our thanks out to all of you who have helped us along the way, and we hope to see you during this exciting upcoming week!

- Old School Pictures
http://www.oldschoolpictures.net

Curbside Confessions: audition update

From Arnold Edwards II:

We will be tentatively holding a second audition on Saturday February 25th to accommodate the many people unable to attend the audition last Saturday due to snow. Once we secure a location we will be sending an update on the location and time. The tentative location at the moment will be in the Bartlett area.

On the same date and location we will be having call backs later in the day. Again we will be updating the location and time soon.

If you were unable to attend the audition this weekend and would like to attend the following audition please contact us via email (cowboyupproductions@gmail.com) informing us of your intent to audition. This will not be an open call. We will be giving everyone scheduled times for the audition. If we have not heard from you we will not be able to accommodate your needs.

If you do not attend an audition you will not be held in consideration for the project. We feel that casting someone for a role that has not auditioned would be disrespectful to the many that have/will audition.

There will be a few hour gap between the last audition and the first scheduled call back. If anyone will be coming from out of town to attend the audition please remind us so that we may schedule you towards the end of the auditions and beginning of the call backs, in order to limit your down time in between.

If you are not asked to attend a call back please do NOT assume this means we will not be working with you and/or you will not be receiving a worthy role. Thankfully due to the nature of the project we will be able to accommodate many actors.

If anyone who has auditioned would like to request an additional audition let us know. The probability of being able to do so will weigh upon the number of actors who will be auditioning for the first time on the 25th. If we have time to fit second auditions in we will do so.

If you have not filled out one of our audition bios please let us know.


Arnold Edwards II
Cowboy Up Productions

Start your own lobbying campaign ... now

Jan Falk is on the ball, writing to Gov. Phil Bredesen to work up support for legislative incentives now before the General Assembly. Here's her letter and the message to all of you is to write your own and let him know how you feel:



Governor’s Office
Governor Phil Bredesen
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001

Re: Tennessee Filming Incentive

Dear Governor Bredesen,

I am writing to you once more, regarding putting forth a progressive TN Film Tax Incentive. Being an actress whom resides in the Memphis area and works in the commercial and film industry, (nationally, regionally and locally) I am concerned and voicing my opinion once more with the hopes that you will consider and present to our great state an attractive economic incentive plan for film production.

Tennessee is a feasible, economic place for film production and it would provide the state with a magnificent boost of civic pride! A TN Film Tax Incentive Plan could ultimately pump millions into the local as well as state-wide economy! Tennessee actors, Tennessee technicians and Tennessee craftspeople will ALL benefit as jobs are created!

With our treasure chest of wonderful locations through-out the state, the history, the landmarks, the oak-lined streets graced with quaint southern neighborhoods, scenic lakes and riverfronts that meander beneath a canopy of city high rises and communities, cotton fields to southern mansions….from Memphis to Nashville and from Knoxville to Chattanooga, Tennessee provides an eloquent backdrop for any film production.

My hope is that it will soon be a reality, that Tennessee will be a financially desirable location for film production.


“LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN IN TENNESSEE”


Sincerely,


Jan Falk
Actress

Memo to: Tennessee General Assembly

Good for Canada, but why not Tennessee? Read more here.

"Even though Canada has spectacular settings, it's not the production values that film producers go there to find. The lure is, in a single word, money."

Casting call

I need several actors for a medical industrial being shot here in Memphis on February 21-22. The payment depends on which part is cast and whether the part is an actor's or extra. Both are paid and require one day's shooting. Please email a vitae and head shot to: david@memphisinternational.com or call 276-6661 during office hours for an address to drop one off in midtown. Please post this.

The actors needed are:

African American male, mid fifties to play a patient. He's a former vietnam vet so he is somewhat fit but not necessarily buff.

Male to play a doctor. no particular age or ethnicity required.

Female to play a nurse. no particular age or ethnicity required.

older white male to play a patient.In his seventies

Mid fifties woman to play a patient. She has had chemo so her head will be covered with a scarf. Doesn't have to be thin because chemo has not necessarily effected her weigh.

Mid fities woman's husband should be close to same age or early fifteis. Should look like they fit together.

Additional actors needed to be determined on Monday.

The extras needed are:

Wife of mid fifties african american actor. Should be close to same age and look like she fits with that actor.

Teen or young 20s male to play the grandson or older white male.

Actors must be able to read and memorize lines while extra's do not have speaking parts.

David Less

Confessions of Black Men

Showcase of more Memphis Indie films next Saturday at the Complex at 7 p.m. Thanks, Markus for sending this on.

Works of Heart Saturday

One of the Memphis Child Advocacy Center's signature events is this Saturday, Feb. 11 from 7-9:30 pm at Memphis College of Art. You can bid to purchase your very own "Works of Heart" and enjoy a glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres from Fratelli's.

Works of Heart offers a silent auction of unique heart-themed artwork. Memphis' finest artists create the works of art for the Works of Heart valentine auction. More than 100 artists representing the most imaginative minds from Memphis and the Mid-South are offered a plain piece of wood in the shape of a heart as inspiration to create an auction piece. Most take this plain wooden heart while others use their own medium of choice. All create something spectacular.

Memphis Cool touts this particular non-movie event because his wife annually creates something amazing (pictured here is the one from 2005) and because this year he wrote a sonnet that is incorporated into her work. So go and bid already.

You can preview Works of Heart at MCA today and Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to place an initial bid.

Ticket Info: $35 and may be purchased in advance by calling 901-888-4341 or at www.memphiscac.org/tickets. If still available, tickets will be sold at the door. Please contact Caroline Johnson for more information: 901-888-4341 or cjohnson@memphiscac.org

The Memphis Child Advocacy Center is a safe, supportive place where children and families receive services following a report of sexual abuse. At the Center, a team of law enforcement officers, child protection caseworkers, therapists, investigators, and prosecutors work together to ensure the best possible outcome for victimized children. This team reviewed 2,384 reports of abuse last year. Nearly 800 children visited our Center for services. Therapy and crisis intervention help these young children overcome the trauma of abuse, and the Center's community education program provides children and adults with critical information to prevent such abuse.

Acting for the Camera

Red West teaches acting class tonight. As Forrest Pruett puts it: Red brings his experience as a working actor in film, TV & commercials to the acting classes he has taught for more than 12 years in the Memphis area. Red's strengths as an actor’s coach lie in his strong motivational and disciplined acting technique, including some improvisation, nurturing the actor to reach within himself to achieve his/her own personal best in bringing the character on the scripted page to life.

Call (901) 384-6464. Classes held Thursday evenings 7:30-10 p.m.

Scene study and maybe some casting...

From Lisa Lax: Scene Study this Sunday, Feb. 12 from 4-6 p.m. at Southwest Tennessee Community College's Fulton Auditorium. Bring headshots: Looks like I may be casting a big project! And I'm up for 3 different ones! Yeah!

Hispanic and Asian kids ages 9-12

From Leah at Colors:

We are in search of Hispanic and Asian kids between the ages of 9-12 years old for an upcoming training video. The video is shooting between March 27-31. It is imperative that the kids are fluent in English. Any acting experience would be great but not necessary. Preferably outgoing kids. If anyone is interested please call Colors Agency and ask for Megan Bennett or Leah Bruce. We will need to see pictures today or tomorrow. You can email pictures or call us to set up a time to run your child down so that we may take a picture. There will be an audition this Saturday, 2/11/06.
Thank you,
Colors Agency, Inc.
901-726-9300

An explanation and a tease

So something happened to part of this blog and several links were inad- vertently deleted. I'll be restoring them soon, so please bear with me. I'm sure it was the Blogger server, because it couldn't have been me. I don't make mistakes, but I do make movies and ...
(CUT TO:)
... the latest is the Memphis Cool production "Escort Service," an entry in the Lil' Film Festival being put on by LiveFromMemphis.com. Here is the sublimely fine cast and crew that put up with cold weather and barking dogs and an occasionally absent-minded director last Sunday to do their art. Thanks to (from left): Joseph B. Smith, Jen Morris, Forrest Pruett, Michael Travis Stone, Markus Seaberry and Nancy Ellen Mills. You make life -- and movies -- good.

MicroCinema Club tonight

The Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club (IMMCC) is a monthly program featuring short films from around the world. Tonight at 7:30, IMMCC presents:

KULTURE MACHINE Night

Featuring five films from the KULTURE MACHINE stable. Kulture Machine was founded by four filmmakers from Columbia University‚s School of the Arts Graduate Film Program, and is designed to build upon the interdisciplinary approach to filmmaking. (more info at www.kulturemachine.com):

JESUS HENRY CHRIST by Dennis Lee, 17 min
SEIBUTSU by Joe Turner Lin, 19 min
ST PAUL by Francisco Ordonez, 20 min
CELAMY by Julie Ann Meerschwam, 19 min
GOD IS GOOD by Caryn Waechter, 22min

These films have won numerous awards and represent a solid lineup through and through.

Admission is always free, so is the popcorn!

Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson, between Main & Front Streets in the South Main Arts District

Screenwriting workshop at Vanderbilt

Act One, Inc., a nonprofit organization that trains Christians for careers in mainstream film and television, is coming to Nashville this summer. Act One (not to be confused with the movie "Act One" in a post below --ed.) will hold its much-lauded Writing Program at Vanderbilt University May 16-June 10. The Writing Program is a four-week intensive course on writing for TV and film, taught by Hollywood professionals. It will also be held in Los Angeles, at the Oakwood Toluca Hills, from July 7-Aug. 5.

Act One Writing Program Director Chris Riley notes: “The goal of the Act One Writing Program is not to produce religious scripts, but rather writers whose work is truthful, artistically excellent, and reflects a deep respect for the audience. We’re looking for gifted writers who love movies and television, writers who want to enter the mainstream Hollywood marketplace well-equipped to compete with the best writers in the world, telling the most powerful and entertaining stories in the world. Beyond that, we encourage our writers to take their Christian faith seriously, integrating their faith with their art as they seek a creative approach that welcomes the inspiration of the Holy Spirit into everything they write.”

The Writing Program is more than just classes, fostering in students a respect for the audience and an awareness of the need for entertainment that will improve our lives and our culture. Our impressive faculty is made up of over fifty working writers and producers, including Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose), Ralph Winter (X2:X-Men United, Fantastic Four), Barbara Hall (Joan of Arcadia), David McFadzean (Home Improvement, What Women Want), and many more.

Act One students are finding success in many levels of the entertainment industry’s creative community, finding representation at Endeavor, CAA, and other top agencies, and landing writing and producing jobs at DreamWorks, Imagine, CBS, HBO, PAX, MS-NBC, and FOX, among others. Alumni David Hansen claims “the amount of scholarship, the degree of professionalism and the keen wisdom of the Act One Writing Program is simply an unparalleled gift to burgeoning script writers. I can hardly believe it exists." Featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly, Details, and Premiere, Act One has been hailed by industry veteran Ron Austin (Mission: Impossible) as playing “an indispensable role in bringing young Christians into the mainstream of Hollywood."

Act One can only accept thirty students into each program. The application process is very competitive, so interested writers are encouraged to begin the process as early as possible. “The Writing Program is by far the most thorough, most inspiring, intensive screenwriting program I've seen anywhere,” notes screenwriter and faculty member Janet Batchler. “You can waste years of time tiptoeing around the edges of the entertainment industry, or you can come to Act One and learn what you need to know in four weeks.” Applications are due by March 1.

For more information about Act One, visit our website at www.actoneprogram.com, or contact Becca Bennett, Program Coordinator, at 323-464-0815 or becca@actoneprogram.com. To interview Act One founder Barbara Nicolosi, contact Drew Stanfield at 323-464-0815 or drew@actoneprogram.com.

Also in 2006, Act One will hold a training program for entertainment executives. For details, see our website or contact Rob Kirbyson at 323-464-0815.

Auditions Saturday

Cowboy-Up Productions will be holding auditions for the full length feature film titled Curbside Confessions at the Media Co-Op Saturday Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. till noon.

Tagline: There are no good people. There are no bad people. There are the decisions people make.

Curbside Confession revolves around four unrelated stories that come together on one night, confronting issues such as prejudice, violence, and drugs, but that is not what Curbside Confessions is truly about. It's about how ordinary people prevail over such issues. It's about redemption, love, loyalty, reunion, morality, doing the right thing no matter the cost, overcoming prejudice, and humanity.

For additional information:
WWW.Cowboy-UpProductions.com

For bios and sides please contact us at: CowboyUpProductions@gmail.com

We at Cowboy Up would like to thank the Media Co-Op and all of it coordinators for all the hard work and dedication they put forth for the Memphis film making community. They are truly amazing and I am grateful for all they do!!!


Arnold Edwards II
Cowboy-Up Prod.

Award-winning 'Act One' at Malco

The feature film "Act One," the Best Narrative Feature in the hometowner category at 2005’s Indie Memphis Film Festival, will screen in regular engagement at Malco’s Studio on the Square Theater. The film will show four times daily between Feb. 17, 2006 and Feb. 23, 2006. "Act One" is the latest award-winning film from Old School Pictures, a Memphis filmmaking collective that has been making movies since 1998.

The romantic comedy-drama stars Allen Gardner and Bettina Adger of Los Angeles, as well as Casey Cannon and Joey Watson of Memphis. The film also features a cameo by local character actor and stage director Jerry '21 Grams' Chipman.
"Act One" was written by Allen Gardner, who also plays the lead. The film was directed and produced by Brad Ellis, who, along with co-producing partners Mark Norris and Matt Weatherly of Old School Pictures, previously won the Hometown Narrative Feature category at the 2002 Indie Memphis Film Festival with their thriller, "The Path of Fear." Featuring more than 50 speaking roles and using locations all in Memphis, "Act One" is a light-hearted yet moving story about young Kevin Hansen and his journey into adulthood. The title character is a successful first time screenwriter whose work had been produced by a big Hollywood studio. Charged with writing another hit, Kevin explores his own life for “inspiration,” but discovers so much more. "Act One" was budgeted around $15,000 and shot on the Panasonic AG-DVX100A, a camera that captures 24 frames per second for a simulated film look. Additional equipment highlights new to Old School Pictures included an ARRI light kit and a custom-built dolly to enhance the overall production value of the film. The filmmakers are ecstatic to announce the weeklong engagement of Act One at Malco’s Studio on the Square Feb. 17-23. Public promotion of this event, which will premiere with an opening-night kick-off on Feb. 17, is underway. More information on Act One or the cast and crew of Old School Pictures can be found at www.oldschoolpictures.net, or by calling (901) 229-0753.

Hey, baby

Amax Talent in Nashville is looking for baby girls 6 months to 24 months that wear clothing b/w 6-24 months. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who may have a baby girl ... We need photos, DOB and sizes ASAP.

Contact AmaxTalent
Nashville, TN
booking@amaxtalent.com

Extras for music video

Looking for female models interested in working on a music video. The job is not paying, but will give you great experience working with some of the leading professionals in the business from Memphis and the Mid-South area.

The video is for a signed soul band "Ty Brown." The music video will be directed by Waheed AlQawasmi. Visit his website to see his work.

Model Specifications:
Height: between 5' and 5'10"
Color: Caucasian
Body Type: Slim
Date/Time: Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: 704 Madison Ave. (The Complex)

For more information, email Burt@wafilms.com

Get a copy of the report

I have a copy of the report by the governor's Film Production Advisory Committee that was submitted to the General Assembly today. I'll post it when I can but if anyone needs a copy sooner, I'll send you a pdf file. Let me know: jonwsparks@gmail.com

Documentary by John Michael McCarthy

Mike sez:
There's a Cooper Young association meeting 6 p.m. Thursday at the First Congo church. Please show up in support of Libertyland and be part of my documentary to save the Zippin Pippin.

For more info on the effort to save Libertyland, go here.

Got jobs?

Today is when your future begins. Get ready for the next several weeks and months to watch what the General Assembly does on this -- and be prepared to write your state representatives and senators.

Click here to see John Beifuss' story in today's CA.

Today, a Tennessee film committee delivers a report intended to ensure feature film and television production in the state doesn't fade away despite the Oscar glow surrounding such Memphis products as "Walk the Line" and "Hustle & Flow." The 32-page report by the governor's Film Production Advisory Committee, to be delivered to Gov. Phil Bredesen and the General Assembly, condemns the state's "obsolete" film production incentives and recommends that Tennessee lawmakers enact specific financial lures that would match, and in some cases surpass, those now offered to filmmakers by competing states such as Louisiana and Georgia.

Oscar nominees list

1. Best Picture: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Munich."

2. Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"; Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow"; Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"; Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line"; David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

3. Actress: Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"; Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"; Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice"; Charlize Theron, "North Country"; Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line."

4. Supporting Actor: George Clooney, "Syriana"; Matt Dillon, "Crash"; Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man"; Jake Gyllenhaal, "Brokeback Mountain"; William Hurt, "A History of Violence."

5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, "Junebug"; Catherine Keener, "Capote"; Frances McDormand, "North Country"; Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener"; Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain."

6. Director: Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain"; Bennett Miller, "Capote"; Paul Haggis, "Crash"; George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck."; Steven Spielberg, "Munich."

7. Foreign Film: "Don't Tell," Italy; "Joyeux Noel," France; "Paradise Now," Palestine; "Sophie Scholl - The Final Days," Germany; "Tsotsi," South Africa.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana, "Brokeback Mountain"; Dan Futterman, "Capote"; Jeffrey Caine, "The Constant Gardener"; Josh Olson, "A History of Violence"; Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, "Munich."

9. Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco, "Crash"; George Clooney & Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck."; Woody Allen, "Match Point"; Noah Baumbach, "The Squid and the Whale"; Stephen Gaghan, "Syriana."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Howl's Moving Castle"; "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride"; "Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit."

11. Art Direction: "Good Night, and Good Luck.," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Pride & Prejudice."

12. Cinematography: "Batman Begins," "Brokeback Mountain," "Good Night, and Good Luck.," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "The New World."

13. Sound Mixing: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Walk the Line," "War of the Worlds."

14. Sound Editing: "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "War of the Worlds."

15. Original Score: "Brokeback Mountain," Gustavo Santaolalla; "The Constant Gardener," Alberto Iglesias; "Memoirs of a Geisha," John Williams; "Munich," John Williams; "Pride & Prejudice," Dario Marianelli.

16. Original Song: "In the Deep" from "Crash," Kathleen "Bird" York and Michael Becker; "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow," Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard; "Travelin' Thru" from "Transamerica," Dolly Parton.

17. Costume: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "Pride & Prejudice," "Walk the Line."

18. Documentary Feature: "Darwin's Nightmare," "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "March of the Penguins," "Murderball," "Street Fight."

19. Documentary (short subject): "The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club," "God Sleeps in Rwanda," "The Mushroom Club," "A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin."

20. Film Editing: "Cinderella Man," "The Constant Gardener," "Crash," "Munich," "Walk the Line."

21. Makeup: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Cinderella Man," "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith."

22. Animated Short Film: "Badgered," "The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation," "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello," "9," "One Man Band."

23. Live Action Short Film: "Ausreisser (The Runaway)," "Cashback," "The Last Farm," "Our Time Is Up," "Six Shooter."

24. Visual Effects: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "King Kong," "War of the Worlds."

___

Academy Award winners previously announced this year:

Honorary Award (Oscar statuette): Robert Altman.

The Gordon E. Sawyer award (Oscar statuette): Gary Demos.

___

On the Net: http://www.oscar.com

(From AP)

Upcoming at the MeDiA Co-op

MeDiA Co-op February News
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: TUESDAY NIGHT WORKSHOPS NO LONGER EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT
After nearly four years of hosting free workshops every Tuesday night at the co-op, we have decided to limit the Tuesday night workshops to the FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH. This will allow us to host other workshop formats, and programs that are more intensive and diverse. We are developing a couple of intensive, multi-week workshops that will have limited enrollment. We will send out a notice on the progression of these programs as they are developed. Thanks to those of you who've attended the workshops over the years, your committment has been very valuable. We look forward to what the co-op will evolve into over time with the continued support of the local community.

Events this month:

* Thursday, Feb 2nd @ 7pm : Music On Film Workshop . $25(gen admission), $15(students), FREE to Recording Academy members.

The Memphis Chapter of The Recording Academy® and The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing (P&E Wing) presents a special Music On Film Workshop featuring panelist Karyn Rachtman and moderator Ralph Sutton.
Featured guests:
Karyn Rachtman has been a musical supervisor and producer for a multitude of motion pictures, including Boogie Nights, Bulworth, North Country, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and Reality Bites.
Ralph Sutton has a well-established background in the music industry as a recording engineer and record producer. Over his more than twenty years of experience, he's worked with music industry elite, from Stevie Wonder to Prince, and Motley Crue to Marvin Gaye.

Seating is limited. Attendees must R.S.V.P. to reserve their space to courtneyb@grammy.com or 901.525.1340.

* Saturday Feb 4th @ 10am-2pm: Open Casting Call

Oddly Buoyant Productions, makers of 2004 Indie Memphis award winner "Automusik Can Do No Wrong", are seeking actors for their new movie "Eat." All sizes, shapes, races, and sexes needed. Real-life experience in a restaurant is a plus.
For more information, email mail@oddlybuoyant.com.

* Tuesday Feb 7th @ 7:30pm: Forum/Workshop

An open-call to the local film community to discuss the FIRST ANNUAL MID-SOUTH INDPENDENT FILMMAKERS CONFERENCE. We are looking to get input from all directors, actors, writers, crew, etc from around the Mid-South about ideas for the Conference. Everyone is invited to this planning session.

ALSO THIS MONTH:

Family and Friends Magazine is sponsoring a SGL Film Festival the 24th or 25th of February, and The Peace and Justice Center is sponsoring a film screening on Sunday, FEB 19th @ 6pm of a 9-11 related documentary. Another casting call for a local film will take place on Sat, FEB 11th from 9am-12pm organized by Arnold Edwards. Email: kugar13@gmail.com for more info.

More info on these and other events at the Co-op will be posted soon at www.mediaco-op.org

Acting for the Camera with Red West

I'm a regular at Red's classes and it's good for honing the craft and good for networking.

Here's an exhortation from Red's No. 1 disciple, Forrest Pruett, who tells it like it is:

Have you ever wished that you had an acting professor or acting coach who would just tell it like it is? No bullshit, no over-hyped jargon: just the truth about acting and the life of a performer? Meet Red West.

Red brings his experience as a working actor in film, TV & commercials to the acting classes he has taught for more than 12 years in the Memphis area. Red's strengths as an actor’s coach lie in his strong motivational and disciplined acting technique, including some improvisation, nurturing the actor to reach within himself to achieve his/her own personal best in bringing the character on the scripted page to life

Selected credits include the feature films "Roadhouse," "The Rainmaker," Cookie's Fortune," I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Forty Shades of Blue." His latest triumph is "Glory Road."

Four decades as a paid performer is an amazing achievement for anybody.

Call 384-6464. Classes are held Thursdays from 7:30-10 p.m.

Talent needed for Fox pilot

This from Craigslist. Note that Aquamatrix is a referral service. If you have an agent, check with him or her first.

Seeking all New Talent for Roles on the Fox Pilot "Southern Comfort": Male- Early to late 30's, any ethnicity, hard, tough, cool, attractive, dangerous Female- 17-22, any ethnicity, budding beauty Female- Mid 20's to early 30's, african american, detective type Male- 18-24, any ethnicity, gorgeous, good body To apply please go to: http://aquamatrix.net/casting.asp?
Job location is Memphis
Compensation: $625.00 per day
no -- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
no -- Please, no phone calls about this job!
no -- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
yes -- Reposting this message elsewhere is OK.

Documentary

Free show, Friday, Feb. 3 at The Bridge (3570 Canada RD, Lakeland), show starts at 7 p.m. with bands The Opening Night (formerly The Fews), Hey Heidi-Rae, Arma Secreta, and This Side of Summer. In between Hey Heidi-Rae and Arma Secreta, the documentary "Invisible Children" will be screened. For more information, go here.

The documentary will also be shown Saturday, Feb. 4 on the University of Memphis campus, William Faulkner Lounge at the University Center, 7 p.m.

The purpose of these events is to raise awareness of what is happening to the children in Uganda in the face of the rebellion. Go here for more info.

Thanks to LiveFromMemphis

Getting your music into film and TV

7 PM Thursday Feb 2nd at The Media Co-Op 1000 Cooper in Midtown Memphis.

Sponsored By The Recording Academy

KARYN RACHTMAN - Music Superviser to films including, The Basketball Diariesm, Resevoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Clueless, Reality Bites, Boogie Nights, Bulworth, Holes, The Rugrats Movie.

Karyn will be giving a talk on Music in Film and TV Moderated by famed recording engineer Ralph Sutton(Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Motley Crue).

Student Admission: $10
General Admission: $20
NARAS Members: Free

(Thanks to the always sublime Rachel and the City).

Hairspray wants you

NEW LINE LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE CASTING SEARCH FOR MUSICAL FILM VERSION OF HAIRSPRAY

Auditions To Fill Three Main Roles Hit Three Cities In February

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 25, 2006) – New Line Cinema has launched a nationwide casting search to fill three roles, including the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, in its upcoming feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, it was announced today by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, producers of Hairspray and the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago.

The casting search will begin on Feb. 4 with an open call audition in Atlanta on the campus of Georgia State University. On Feb. 11, casting agents will hold an open call in New York at the Hilton Theatre Rehearsal Studios and the search will come to Chicago on Feb. 18th at the Chicago Academy of Arts. Complete details of the auditions are available at www.hairspraymovie.com.

In addition to the open calls, interested actors can fill out an audition application by mail or email through www.hairspraymovie.com as well.

“One of the most exciting things to do as producers is be able to offer life-changing roles to new actors and Hairspray has presented us with an amazing opportunity to create new stars,” said Zadan and Meron.

The roles that are currently being cast include:

- TRACY TURNBLAD: (Starring Role) Female, Caucasian, age 16-21 to play age 16. Overweight girl with a pretty face, infectious grin and indomitable spirit. Must be a “triple threat” talent -- singer/dancer/actress with a powerful Broadway-caliber singing voice.

- SEAWEED: African American male, age 16-21 to play 18. Charming, handsome, excellent singer and dancer. Dynamic.

- LI’L INEZ: African American female, age 10-13. Seaweed’s younger sister. Smart, strong, and the kind of girl who stands up for herself. She is one of the best dancers and singers around and she knows it.



Hairspray, which is being directed by Adam Shankman and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago, is originally based on Waters’ 1988 comedy about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. The new version of the film will be based on New Line’s hit Broadway adaptation of the film which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director.



Many of the key contributors to the Broadway show will also be involved in the feature film adaptation. Marc Shaiman (music and co-lyricist) will serve as the film’s music supervisor who will compose the score for the film as well as produce its songs. Co-lyricist Scott Wittman and Shaiman will also be the film’s executive producers. The play’s book writers, Thomas Meehan & Mark O’Donnell, are set to adapt the screenplay.



New Line Production President Toby Emmerich is overseeing the project along with New Line’s Senior VP Mark Kaufman, and Creative Executive Michael Disco.

Improv tonight

Keep your chops in tune tonight from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

This workshop is an introduction to improv. Basic skills are taught including focus, listening, reacting quickly, teamwork, scene work and trust. This class is excellent for actors or for those looking to be more comfortable onstage or in public speaking situations. The pace is determined by the skill level of the participants. Supportive, creative and fun!

This class provides students with an in-depth examination of storytelling. Students are challenged to explore more complicated elements of their individual performance skills. Everyone works together to fine tune all aspects of improvisation, with coaching.

Coaches include:
Forrest Pruett - SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter ("Forty Shades of Blue")
Michael Travis Stone - SAG actor ("Ray")
Arnold Edwards II - Indie director
Jon W. Sparks - writer/actor

For more info contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

We will have a guard to watch everyone's cars.

Casting call

Oddly Buoyant Productions, makers of 2004 Indie Memphis award winner "Automusik Can Do No Wrong", is casting its new movie. All sizes, shapes, races and sexes needed. Saturday Feb. 4,
10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op. 1000 S. Cooper. mail@oddlybuoyant.com

Scene study with Lisa Lax

Lisa says: We are definately having class Sunday the 29th from 4-6 p.m.
Southwest Tennessee Community College, Macon Cove off of Sycamore View at Fulton Auditorium-this is a new space for us. Please confirm your space! Special is $85 per month (4 classes) or $25 per class. Contact her at actlink@aol.com.

Halftime gig

The Grizzlies are looking for someone to play a crazed fan for some half-time fun. There is no money, but they are offering some great seats to a future game, and a gift pack of Grizzlies gear. This one-time bit with the crazed fan requires attendance at the game on Saturday where a bit of entertainment will be improv'd, and also available for a video shoot later this week that will be part of the entertainment. If you can commit to this, contact Cori Stevenson at 849-3781.

Casting call for an Arnold Edwards II pic

Cowboy Up Productions will be holding a casting call at the Media Co-op February 11th from 9 a.m. till 12 noon for the full length feature film titled Curbside Confessions. We are looking for a diverse group of actors from any ethnic background ranging from 18 years of age and up (no cap on age). More info to come...

Arnold Edwards II, Cowboy Up Productions, 491-8860

Furnace production in Nashville needs crew

THE FURNACE is an independent, low budget feature shooting in Nashville at the Tennessee State Prison from February 6-25, 2006. The rates are really low but there will be great food and a lot of cool, fun people. The producers and director are in from North Carolina and Los Angeles so this could lead to future work.

Please email resumes to furnacethemovie@yahoo.com.

Specifically looking for:
1st AC
2nd AC
2nd AD
Best Boy Electric
Boom Operator
Craft Service
Electric
Extras
Extras Casting Director
Grip
Hair & Make-Up Intern
Script Supervisor
Security Guards
Set Medic
Sound Mixer
Steadicam Operator
Video Assist
Wardrobe PA

Son of Improv Workshop

The second offering of this improv workshop is happening Wednesday. The first one got great reviews, so shake it out and come on over.

'Eyes of a Blue Dog'

"Eyes of a Blue Dog" screening is Saturday, Jan. 28, 8:30 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op, 1000 S. Cooper. The 11-minute movie is by local filmmaker Amy Frazier.

(Thanks, Sarah)

Nashville Samurai Film Festival

Check out this sharp genre's 7 films and 3 directors from Jan. 27-Feb. 7 (no films February 3rd)
Info is here.

Atlanta Film Festival

The 30th Annual Atlanta Film Festival Scheduled for June 9 –17, 2006 in Atlanta. Entries must be received by Friday, February 3, 2006. International submissions must include English subtitles and/or audio.

Applicants may submit their films online and receive a $5 discount through http://www.withoutabox.com/ or, an entry form can be downloaded at http://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/. Applicants may submit films in the animation, narrative, documentary, student film, teen screen and experimental categories.

(Thanks, Johnny)

Mississippi movies info

The Tupelo Film Festival is May 18-21. It's accepting entries now; deadline for entries is Tuesday, February 28, 2006. Go here for more information or to register.

Also:

Barefoot Workshops will be conducting a four-week documentary workshop documenting the Mississippi Delta Feb. 5-Mar. 4 in Clarksdale. For more information, contact Chandler Griffin at 917.385.9343, or email him at chandler@barefootworkshops.com.

(Thanks, Johnny)

Extras

Extras needed for Denzel Washington film in NOLA. You can still send in your info. (Thanks, Forrest).

Improv workshops

Practice your improv skills with students from Red West's Acting for the Camera classes and other interested actors. Red is starring in Glory Road, opening today, so his classes are on hiatus for a few weeks. You can keep your chops in tune at these two classes on Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

This workshop is an introduction to improv. Basic skills are taught including focus, listening, reacting quickly, teamwork, scene work and trust. This class is excellent for actors or for those looking to be more comfortable onstage or in public speaking situations. The pace is determined by the skill level of the participants. Supportive, creative and fun!

This class provides students with an in-depth examination of storytelling. Students are challenged to explore more complicated elements of their individual performance skills. Everyone works together to fine tune all aspects of improvisation, with coaching

Coaches include:
Forrest Pruett, - SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter ("Forty Shades of Blue")
Michael Travis Stone - SAG actor ("Ray"),
Arnold Edwards II - Indie director
Jon W. Sparks. - writer/actor

Go here for more info or contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

Profile of Red West

And here's a profile of Red West by CA sportswriter Ron Higgins:

"I've worked on a lot of stuff, some things I've forgotten about," said West, 69, a Memphian who was a bodyguard for Elvis Presley in what seems a lifetime ago. "But there's something about this movie that was special. It was the best shoot I've ever been involved in."

Review of 'Glory Road'

Here's John Beifuss' review of "Glory Road" in the CA:

See the film and you'll wonder why Red West isn't working all the time, in the types of character parts that usually go to the likes of Brian Dennehy, M. Emmet Walsh and even Robert Duvall.

Amy LaVere

An adoring CA story on the multitalented Amy LaVere, musician, actress and creative force to be reckoned with:

Amy LaVere is not a rockabilly queen. You can tell by the trail of rockabilly fans lost on the path behind her. A path that looks a little country, a little rock, but at the end of the road, she is more of a will o' the wisp, taking people on a musical journey a little different than what they expected.

Lately, nearly everybody in her inner circle of musicians has been playing the definition game: "What is Amy LaVere?" Their cause to wonder is her first album This World Is Not My Home, which she'll turn over to fans on Sunday at the Midtown restaurant Tsunami.

Model needed for music video

Looking for a female model interested in working on a music video. The job is not paying, but will give you great experience working with some of the leading professionals in the business from Memphis and the Mid-South area. You'll also get a DVD of the video for your resume.

The video is for the local band "The Central Standards" (see centralstandards.com). The music video will be directed by WAHEED ALQAWASMI. Visit his website at WAFILMS.COM to see more of his work.

Model Specifications:
Height: between 5'6" and 5'10"
Color: Caucasian
Body Type: Slim
Hair: Prefer long hair

Days of Shooting: January 28-29. About an hour on the 28th and a full day on the 29th. You will be driven to and from the different sets.

Send your headshots to WAHEED@WAFILMS.COM.

For more information, email WAHEED@WAFILMS.COM

LiveFromMemphis party

Live From Memphis 5-year Birthday Party!!!
WHO: Live From Memphis
WHAT: 5 year Birthday Party
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 9pm - till
WHERE: 1 South Main Street, Downtown, Memphis (Corner of Madison and Main)

Casting

WB reality show looking for energetic 21-and-up people for "the last spring break hoorah." Details on Craigslist.

Auditions for annual Gridiron Show

Reposting this from the eCallboard:

The Memphis Gridiron Show is a political spoof to be staged March 31 and April 1.
Auditions will be held at the Variety Club, 1648 Sycamore View, at 11 a.m. Saturday Jan. 21.
For more info, call Terry Reeves at 722-4886 or Gail Mathewson at 818.9774, 652.8050 or 652.8010.

H&F DVD, Hallelujah!

Read John Beifuss' CA story on today's DVD release of "Hustle & Flow." Looks like it has some good extras.

Also see Beifuss' article on the made-in-Memphis-in-1929 milestone movie "Hallelujah." And here's more info on the historic all-black cast musical.

Blockbuster buster?

Another must-read in the series on Hollywood economics from Slate:

By 2003, the studios were taking in three times as much money from DVDs as they were from VHS videos (click here for the actual numbers). In this reversal of fortune, Wal-Mart replaced Blockbuster as the studios' single largest source of revenue.

"Glory Road" is glorious

Red West called in and reported on the Hollywood premiere of "Glory Road," chronicling the 1966 story of Texas Western coach Don Haskins who put together the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team and took it to the NCAA national championship. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced film stars Josh Lucas as Haskins, Red as assistant coach Ross Moore and Jon Voight as opposing coach Adolph Rupp. "The way it was edited, it didn't slow down for a minute," said Red, who attended the premiere at LA's Pantages Theatre with his wife Pat. The theater, he said, was packed and that's one of those old huge cinema palaces of days gone by.

Director James Gartner was thrilled and "Glory Road" gives him a nice feature debut to brag about. Before this, he directed commercials. Red said "he did a heckuva job for his first outing" and told one of Gartner's directing partners that the success meant the helmsman wouldn't be doing many more commercials.

The buzz is vivid on this movie and it's obviously reached Memphis -- press and sneak previews here have been at capacity. Three of us tried to go last night and there were only two tickets left at the Paradiso.

Men don't listen to women enough...

Here's an interesting year-end appreciation of "Forty Shades of Blue" from Jeremiah Kipp at filmcritic.com:

I had a delayed reaction to this one. Writer-director Ira Sachs blew me away with his previous film, The Delta, and my expectations were high for Forty Shades of Blue. But I absolutely could not connect with the central character, Laura (Dina Korzun), a Russian trophy wife of legendary Memphis music producer Alan (Rip Torn). She seemed like a character who placed an emotional wall between herself and the world, and when Alan’s son comes to town, her cold, illicit affair with him leads her to self-knowledge, not about her affair (which is essentially meaningless to her) but about her very life and the lack of living within it. I found her actions inscrutable. Weeks later, I was walking down the street and thunderstruck by the fact that, like Alan, I was choosing not to listen to her, to look into her depth, and to attempt to understand her. Torn gives a raging good performance as the music producer, but what Korzun does is absolutely indelible — she creates a performance where you have to plug into her instead of allowing her to wash over you. Men don’t listen to women enough, I guess, and when a movie comes along asking us to keep up, it is perhaps alienating at first — but ultimately rewarding and rich. The final shot of Laura walking away from a glaring pair of headlights is either an awakening or an imprisonment, depending on whether you see that glass of water as half-full or half-empty. Look deeper and you’ll see this movie has soul to spare.

Improve your improv

Practice your improv skills with students from Red West's Acting for the Camera classes and other interested actors. Red is starring in "Glory Road," opening officially on Jan. 13 and whipping up lots of buzz, so his classes are on hiatus for a few weeks. You can keep your chops in tune at these two classes on Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

Coaches include:
SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter Forrest Pruett ("Forty Shades of Blue"); SAG actor Michael Travis Stone ("Ray"); Indie director Arnold Edwards II and writer/actor Jon W. Sparks.

For more info, contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

A shot at stardom Sunday morning...

The makers of "Divine Manipulation of the Threads" are doing a musical scene and need people. No singing required, but you'll be dancing. It's 10:30 a.m. this Sunday at the fountains on the Main Street Mall by City Hall. You can park at Washington and Second.

From the producers: "This will be in 3-D so it is going to be very cool. If you were in the movie already trying wearing something we have already shot you in. Others wear casual clothes ... no heavy coats. It will be warm--Tim Simpson promises 62 degree weather. Please call 490-1965 or email christineconnolly@yahoo.com if you want to participate."

Director Jack Sholder at Rhodes

Film director, writer and editor Jack Sholder will discuss the film "King: From Montgomery to Memphis" on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Rhodes College. Free and open to the public, the event includes a screening of the film and begins at 7 p.m. in Frazier-Jelke.

An Emmy Award winner, Sholder has directed "A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge," "Arachnid," "Renegades," and "The Hidden." He was an editor on the 1970's "King: From Montgomery to Memphis," nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary. The film documents the life and work of the civil rights leader from early days in Montgomery, Alabama to his assassination in Memphis.

The screening and visit by Sholder is part of the Rhodes' Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Week January 16-21. The celebration's theme is "In the Spirit of Unity and Service – Remember! Celebrate! Act!"

Those with more specific inquiries about the film screening can contact Dwaun Warmack at 901-843-3628.

Test screening

A free test screening of the not-quite-finished feature "The Importance of Being Russell" will be Wed., Jan. 11 at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. at Malco's Studio on the Square. Director is Sean Plemmons, cinematographer is Jeff Hassen, writer/lead is John Pickle and producer is Jeff Bryant.

Casting for Mississippi film

The independent film, BALLAST, will be holding additional auditions for two lead roles on Friday, January 6th. The film is seeking an African American male, age 10 - 13 and a white male, age 58 - 68. Acting experience is not a requirement. Non-actors are encouraged to audition. If you are interested in auditioning, call 601.859.4449, ext.1, for an appointment.
BALLAST, a low-budget feature length film, will be filmed entirely in Canton and Yazoo City. The story involves an African-American man dealing with the unexpected loss of his twin brother. Filming will begin in late January. The film company is looking to cast a Mississippian in every role. Those cast in speaking roles will be paid.

Mississippi Film Office
601.359.3297
601.359.5048 fax
www.visitmississippi.org/film

Scene study with Lisa Lax

Lisa Lax (actlink@aol.com) sends this:

Scene Study with Lisa Lax resumes Jan. 9, Monday night at 7 p.m. at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Pay by the month or week. $85 for the month or $25 per class.