Tell a filmmaker what to do...

A message from Duane:

Hey horror / film fans, your vote can decide what I film next!

I'm serious. Until January 23, 2009, I am running several polls worldwide - most notably via my myspace page www. myspace. com/gnomeguy3 - and of the four concepts available to choose from, the winning concept absolutely gets filmed beginning as early as March. I will cast from the Memphis, TN / Mid-South area most definitely. I can't wait to hear from you.

much appreciation,

Duane P. Craig

Films in Focus -- local movie alert service

Erik at Indie Memphis has kicked off "Films in Focus," which gives us a heads-up on independent and limited release films coming to town. His introductory note is below. Check out the first alert here where you can also subscribe.




Happy Holidays from Indie Memphis!

We often seem to miss films playing in town either because we don't know enough about them, or we just don't notice that they opened here. We're guessing that has happened to you too, so -- with lots of great films opening this weekend -- we're launching a new email newsletter called "Films in Focus" which will highlight independent and limited release films playing in Memphis. The format of the email will evolve over time, so if you have any suggestions please let us know by sending an email to festival@indiememphis.com.

PLEASE NOTE: Aside from this inaugural issue, "Films in Focus" will be separate from our general Indie Memphis newsletter, so that we don't clutter your mailbox with info you may not want it.

NBTT - coming to Memphis, we hope...

It looks like "Nothing But the Truth" will have a screening in Memphis in late January, maybe. But other than opening this weekend in NY and LA, it may not get national distribution in theaters. Here's an excerpt from John Beifuss' story in the CA:

"Nothing But the Truth" -- the Washington-set political drama with an all-star cast that was shot in Memphis -- begins with an assassination attempt.

Now, the movie itself is fighting for its life -- at least as a theatrical release.

"Nothing But the Truth" was supposed to demonstrate Memphis' potential as a viable location for all types of movies.

But the film -- which opened this week in three theaters in New York and Los Angeles to qualify for the Oscars -- is being pulled from distribution, thanks to the bankruptcy of its production company, writer-director Rod Lurie said Friday.

However, Lurie and Linn Sitler, Memphis and Shelby County film & television commissioner, are planning a special screening of "Nothing But the Truth" in Memphis, probably in late January.

Read the full story here.

Actress needed

J. Lazarus Hawk ("The Morning Ritual") has a project scheduled to shoot in January and he needs an actress. The role is non-speaking and requires some nudity. It would be a one evening shoot (tentatively Jan. 23 or 24). What's needed is a 21-26 year old white female with long brunette hair and a slender to athletic build. Tattoos and piercings are not a problem. He would also need a photograph of the same girl at the age of 16-17 that appears more "wholesome" or "innocent."

Contact Lazarus at myspace.com/jlazarushawk

Power House film Wednesday

presented in collaboration with the Sierra Club Chickasaw Group

PLAGUES & PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA
7:30pm Wednesday, December 17th
@ Power House Memphis
Admission is free!
Refreshments will be available, including Beer, Wine, Sodas, and Popcorn.
Your donations are appreciated.

While PLAGUES & PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA covers the historical, economic, political, and environmental issues that face the sea, it more importantly offers up an offbeat portrait of the eccentric and individualistic people who populate its shores. It is an epic western tale of fantastic real estate ventures and failed boomtowns, inner-city gangs fleeing to white small town America, and the subjective notion of success and failure amidst the ruins of the past. Hair-raising and hilarious, part history lesson, part cautionary tale and part portrait of one of the strangest communities you've ever seen, this is the American Dream gone as stinky as a dead carp.

Apparently the hotties preferred to move away from me.

When you're about town, grab a copy of the latest VIP magazine in which Linn Sitler gives an account of the "Nothing But the Truth" world premiere in Toronto in September. We were both there and what she reports is true. My version would have included the afterparty's "Brigitte" with an accent dripping with French dressing, and my chat with Alan Alda during which he had no idea what I was talking about, Vera Farmiga's husband mock-berating me (I'm pretty sure) and Kate Beckinsale giving me a good review. And some random guy who thought I was funny (or that I looked funny) and wanted to get a picture with me. Here's the excerpt from Linn's article:

... Shot in Memphis in the Fall of 2007 and starring Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, Matt Dillon and Vera Farmiga, the festival audience rewarded the film's world premiere with a standing ovation!
Attending the premiere with Memphis's Jon Sparks -- veteran journalist and, lately, filmmaker and actor of note -- I snagged a couple of invitations to the 'Cast Dinner' and cabbed it to a hip Toronto club where Rod Lurie, Kate Beckinsale and a very pregnant Vera Farmiga awaited us. (Not really, but they at least let us in.) There, Jon happily basked in the attention of the five female American Movie Channel executives at our dinner table. Not only was Sparks looking glamorous as the only man who'd obeyed the invitation's instructions to wear a tux -- he also quickly let slip that he had an important cameo in the movie! At the after-party, I protected the very-married Sparks from the overtures of a dirty-dancing Nashville party girl. (!) Having an extra invitation, I'd also called Dr. Robert Bernasconi, himself in Toronto that weekend, but for much more cerebral affairs: an international philosophy conference. However, Bernasconi, holder of the Chair of Excellence in the U of M's Philosophy Department, is also known as the bon vivante of academics. He quickly joined the party, and then I had to protect two men from the party girl from the Music City. (She also wanted to dirty dance with me!)

Me and random guy

Linn and Dr. Robert

Micro Cinema - Wednesday

Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club #46
Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 7:30pm
@ Power House Memphis

NO PLACE (2008)

A compilation of international video, documentary, and animation about utopia and other places that may or may not exist.

This screening is a joint venture between Greg Pond of Nashville's Fugitive Projects and the Irish group Human Resources, headed by Emma Houlihan, an artist and curator from Dublin.


Admission is free!

Refreshments will be available, including Beer, Wine, Sodas, and Popcorn.
Your donations are appreciated

Kudos for films with regional connections

John Beifuss has a story on films with local influences that are getting attention. The full story is here. Here's the short version:

Memphis-born filmmaker Courtney Hunt and her debut feature, "Frozen River," won much recognition this week as the movie industry's "awards season" -- which ends with the 81st annual Academy Awards on Feb. 22 -- kicked off in earnest.

On Thursday, Hunt was honored in the "Directorial Debut" category of the annual film awards of the National Board of Review.

Hunt, 44, also received recognition Tuesday when nominees for the 24th annual Independent Spirit Awards were announced in Los Angeles.

Hunt was nominated for Best Director and her film was nominated for Best Feature. "Frozen River" received another four nominations: Female Lead (Melissa Leo), Supporting Female (Misty Upham), Supporting Male (Charlie McDermott) and First Screenplay (Hunt).

Also earning six nominations were Jonathan Demme's "Rachel Getting Married" and a movie with regional connections, "Ballast."

Written and directed by a Californian, Lance Hammer, and cast mainly with amateur actors from the Mississippi Delta, "Ballast" was shot in and around such locations as Greenwood, Canton, Camden, Midnight, Tchula and Yazoo City, Miss. (Also Tuesday, Hammer received the Gotham award for "Breakthrough Director.")

Nothing But the Truth: poster and story

Here's the poster for Nothing But the Truth, which opens in NY/LA on Dec. 19 but probably won't come to Memphis until January or February.

The New Y0rk Times has a story on the issues raised by the film here.

Open call

Talent Agency Open Call
Actors Models Singers Dancers

Upcoming opportunities for:
‐Local and regional commercials and films (all ages)
‐Promotional talent (18+)
‐Local and national print jobs (5yrs +)
‐Vocalist for working local bands (21+)
‐Male and female background and go‐go dancers (21+)

Saturday December 6, 2008
10am‐2pm
Callbacks‐Sunday December 7, 2008.
Times will be assigned

House of Talent
714 N Germantown Pkwy #101
Cordova, TN 38018

For the audition please prepare:

Actors‐one monologue no more than 1 min., headshot, and resume

Models‐runway walk, modeling portfolio, and resume

Singers‐16 bars, headshot, and resume

Dancers‐ free style dance for multiple music genres, headshot, and resume (dance attire)

For more information please contact info@elzemeyertalentagency.com or 901‐527‐9263

'Nothing But the Truth' trailer

Story on True South Studios

Here's an excerpt from John Beifuss' story on a local production company:

"We put our funding toward production instead of bricks and mortar," said Bob Compton, 52, the Germantown millionaire who is the guiding force behind True South Studios, a new multimedia company that is poised to be one of Memphis' most active filmmaking houses.

Incorporated earlier this year, True South Studios recently opened an office Downtown in the EmergeMemphis facility at 516 Tennessee.

The partners in this production and distribution company are chief executive officer Compton, who made his fortune as a venture capitalist specializing in startup technology companies; vice president of operations Les Edwards, 52, a financial consultant and accountant (he handled the payroll for Craig Brewer's recent "$5 Cover" production) and longtime organizer of the Indie Memphis Film Festival; and creative director Dan Treharne, a young Memphis moviemaker who this year wraps up his graduate film studies at the University of Southern California.

Read the entire story here.

Variety reports on Tennessee incentives

From Variety.com: a look at Tennessee's pursuit of Hollywood....

In the increasingly competitive market of film-hungry states maneuvering to host Hollywood productions, the fertile region of Tennessee is making a pronounced bid for the showbiz green.

The Volunteer State has long been the filming locale for John Grisham epics, and Memphis native Craig Brewer's "Hustle & Flow" and "Black Snake Moan" were local productions, as was Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line."

But, thanks to dual incentive programs courtesy of the Tennessee Film Commission and the Dept. of Revenue that were enacted a year and a half ago, 2008 has seen efforts such as Disney's upcoming "Hannah Montana: The Movie," director Rod Lurie's "Nothing but the Truth" and indie Billy Graham biopic "Billy: The Early Years" hunkered down in Tennessee.

The incentive package was fostered by competition, says film commission project manager Bob Raines. "Tennessee was falling behind other states that were rolling out incentive programs, some of which are not as conservative as ours, but we're trying to build something that is long term and sustainable."

The dual program offers up to 17% refund from the Film Commission with an additional 15% distributed by the Dept. of Revenue. Productions coming to Tennessee get an immediate 13% rebate with 2% added for Tennessee music acquisition, and another 2% can be had if at least 25% of the production's crew is hired locally.

"It's important to know that these are cash rebates," Raines stresses. "Louisiana offers tax credits, where you lose money up front. With us, productions get a check straight from the government."

From the state side, 15% "is for film companies that establish a permanent headquarters in Tennessee and incur a minimum of $1 million in qualified Tennessee expenses," explains Dept. of Revenue spokesperson Sara Jo Houghland. "If a production company doesn't have a headquarters in state but spends $1 million, then a company's investor can receive the refund, as long as they're headquartered here. Also, other states require you to submit all of your receipts, where we'll look at a spreadsheet and take a statistical sample, which gets the rebate check into the producers' hands quicker."

And, while the Film Commission currently has $20 million to spend, the Dept. of Revenue's incentive budget is unlimited due to a law pushed through by Gov. Phil Bredesen. The state's low cost of living and lack of state income tax are also major pluses for visiting productions.

Terra firma attractions are "the three distinct topographies," Raines explains. "We're mountainous in the east with the Appalachians, middle Tennessee has urban Nashville and the rolling-hills look, and then there's Memphis, which is delta."

Knoxville is a savvy, multibillion-dollar cable hub, home to Scripps, River Media and Jupiter Entertainment, an area well versed in low-budget, high-quality HD, reality and musicvideo creation.

Tennessee projects slated for '09 include a music-based Paramount effort, an unnamed Screen Gems feature and a Nashville-based Craig Brewer film.

"Our goal is not to be a Michigan or a Louisiana with 80 productions happening," clarifies Raines of his state, which currently can crew two and a half deep. "We want to have five or six productions, and we want them to be perfect. And having a studio here in the state will make us more competitive. It's a great thing that we look forward to."

The wait may not be long, thanks to the proposed Browns Creek Media Village: a multiuse studio complex, retail space, hotel, 5,000-seat entertainment venue and film school potentially located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, a 117-acre site in Nashville.

For the rest of the Variety story, go here.

Indie Memphis screening Wednesday

“Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea,” plays Wednesday night in a one-time-only free screening at Malco’s Studio on the Square. Read John Beifuss' take on it here.

Talent sought for Web project (adroit and cocksure)

Actors, thespians, and starlets, leading ladies and lads, even the hams for the cams...

Corduroy Wednesday Films is seeking talent of the acting variety for an uber top-secret web series.

Okay, it's not so secret, it's called "The Conversion" and follows the downfall and post-apocalyptic world after the digital TV conversion on February 17th, 2009 goes horribly awry.

These "webisodes" will hit the internets from December 08 to February 09. We pay in fun, good times and tasty snack foods. Most roles will take a day. We need all makes and models but here's a few lead roles we need:

White Male 30's: Best described as Ryan Seacrest(ish)...

African-American Male 50's, 60's with a deep, soulful, radio DJ voice.

Female, any race, late teens to early 20's. A lonelygirl15 type gal.

Contact us at corduroywednesday@gmail.com with resumes, pics, availability, likes, dislikes, and just to let us know how you're doing today.

We'll also get a few things posted up on our website: www.cwfilms.net & www.myspace.com/corduroywednesday

For those who we've yet to meet in the fine Memphis community, Corduroy Wednesday Films is a band of adroit and cocksure individuals who enjoy the fine art of independent filmmaking.

Recent works on our resume:

L'Hippopotame Vert FTW! (Winner Li'l Film Fest 8, screened @ Indie Memphis 2008)

Grim Sweeper (Premiered at Indie Memphis 2006)

And a few other cinematic samples are swimming about in cyberspace...

See ya on the www,

CW Films

'Nothing But the Truth' clip

With Kate Beckinsale and Vera Farmiga, candidates for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in my objective opinion.

Filmmakers Showcase Nov. 17

House needed for shoot

Tim Rappel is shooting a short film November 14th, 15th, and maybe 16th and the house the production was going to use has become unavailable.

If you have one like this and can spare it for the shoot, please contact him at 859-4622.

It should look "lived in". It's about an older couple, the wife having Alzheimer disease. James Buchanan is the cinematographer and the actors are Don Meyers, Helen Bowman and Larry Bonds plays the son.

Acting Classes

Acting Classes

Performance Fundamentals
Instructor: Slade Kyle
*This week's class Audition Prep.
Performance Fundamentals incorporates the basics of Acting, Movement and Voice.
Aspects of each topic will be studied, with the main focus being how each of these areas work together to create a well rounded performer. The class will contain a lot of exploration activities that teach young actors to test their limitations and grow more comfortable with their talents. In addition, the class will cover audition preparation, professional conduct and other topics geared toward helping children become the best performers they can and ultimately land more of the work they audition for.

Ages 6-10 Sunday 2:30-3:30
Ages 11-16 Sunday 3:45-4:45
$30/class *4 class pre payment $100

After work Adult Scene Study: Ages 16+
Instructor: Abby Elzemeyer
Join ETA Tuesdays after work for an adult scene study class. Join other actors to strengthen acting skills and network with others in your field.
Scene Study is your best opportunity to flex your acting muscles and refine your craft on a consistent basis. It is a weekly workout where actors test performance abilities in a safe and playful environment. Through working on scenes of various genres, actors discover their strengths and weaknesses with the help of a trained eye.

Tuesday 5:30-6:30pm
$35/class *4 class pre payment $120

Classes at the ETA studio
149 Monroe Ave
Memphis TN, 38103
Phone 901-527-9263

*If interested in attending please notify ETA at least a day before.

Instructors:
Slade Kyle
-Received BFA Theatre from UM
-Has taught at POTS and UM
-Specializes in Vocals, Movement (clowning, Mask, and Mime), and musical theater

Abby Elzemeyer
-Attended Interlochen Arts Academy, NYU Tisch, and University of Alabama as a theater and film production major.
-Worked in the education department at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
-Has worked as a talent agent for 2.5 years

Old pickup truck for photo shoot

Need a 60s or 70s Truck:

For a photo shoot next week, Thursday or Friday during the day for a
couple of hours, will pay $ for usage.

Needs to be in good shape. Please send me snapshots of the front, side and rear.

film.ronin@gmail.com or film_ronin@yahoo.com