'Nobody' meets Dr. Phil

Local filmmakers/documentarians Alan Spearman and Lance Murphey screened their amazing doc "Nobody" last year at the Indie Memphis Film Festival where it won Best Documentary and the Kodak Tennessee Filmmaker's Award.

They share more news:

We have several exciting updates about our film Nobody.

You can now visit our updated website www.nobodythefilm.com and purchase the Nobody DVD using your credit card and PayPal. One dollar from every DVD sold will go to the Memphis First Presbyterian Church Soup Kitchen.

Also on Thursday September 27^th Jerry Bell, the subject of Nobody, will be featured on the Dr. Phil Show in an effort to patch up his relationship with his daughter. For the show time in your area go to http://www.drphil.com/shows/listing/. As Dr. Phil says, “Don’t miss this intense family reunion.”

We are reserving judgment about the show until we see it. Jerry’s daughter Kayla has some very intense emotions and opinions about our film, but has not seen it. She has even stronger emotions about her father. If you feel strongly about the film feel free to enter the discussion which will ensue Thursday on the Dr. Phil message board at http://www.drphil.com/ .

Please understand that this film is self-financed and distributed and we would really appreciate your help spreading the word about it to as many people as possible. Our new My Space page is located at http://www.myspace.com/nobodythefilm .

Li'l Film Fest 7 this Saturday

The Li'l Film Fest (this is the 7th one) is this Saturday (22nd) at 2 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op, 1000 South Cooper.

Theme: Rhymes With Pelvis
Duration: each film is 5 minutes or less
Prizes: Jury Award ($200)
Audience Choice Award ($200)

The theme of Li'l Film Fest 7 rhymes with Pelvis Wesley. Do NOT use ANY songs or recordings by said theme. Do NOT use ANY actual images of said theme. NO COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THIS FESTIVAL!!!

Curled lips, rhinestones, blue suede shoes, hound dogs, pink Cadilacs, hip shakin' and gyrating are all allowed. NO COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THIS FESTIVAL!!!

It was bound to happen eventually. We do live in Memphis. So have fun with it. Did I mention NO COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THIS FESTIVAL?!!

Li'l Film Fest is a quarterly, theme-based film festival, focusing on highlighting our local talent while showcasing interesting happenings around town. Our goal is to encourage and inspire Memphis filmmakers while engaging a local audience in order to strengthen our artistic community.

Be there, houn' dogs.

Muck Sticky = Weeds on Showtime

Muck has developed an excellent opening for the hit Showtime series using its theme. Go here to vote for his creation. Hilarious...

Cooper Young Festival

20th YEAR!!!!!
2007 Festival date: Sept 15th
Rain Date: Sept 16th
Hours: 9-7pm

The Cooper-Young Festival, hosted by the Cooper-Young Business Association (CYBA), is Memphis' most anticipated outdoor celebration. Held in Memphis' largest historic district, the Cooper-Young Festival is scheduled for September 15th.

In its 20th year, this event has grown tremendously and is one of Memphis' most highly attended Festivals. This year over 60,000 guests will enjoy an appealing mix of art, music and crafts presented by over 370 artisans from around the country. This Festival is a true celebration of the arts, people, culture and Memphis heritage.

*PLEASE NOTE: NO PETS

Volunteer opportunites are available for this year's festival, please contact Lyn Myers, Festival Director - email cyba@bellsouth.net or call 901-276-7222.

Festival hotline - 901-274-4000

http://www.cooperyoungfestival.com/index.php

Drew Smith's dark comedy "The Book of Noah" has its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Oct. 17. Details of the screening are at http://fliff.com/lineup.asp. It's locally done, the buzz is good, and I'm in it. Thankfully, briefly. Kudos to Drew.

The greatest invention ever, maybe.

You'd best get to it, bubba. "The Importance of Being Russell" is in its last day at Malco's Studio on the Square. Performances are at 1:20, 4:35, 7:25, 9:45.

LTTM for September

We have a terrific line-up for the month of September including two '90's era films and a premiere for LTTM. Our host for this month is the girl with two first names, Jennifer Jill, the star of several local independent films.

The Films:

Blown - produced by Fine Grind Films originally shot in 1997 on Super8 film, Blown tells the story of Joe, a guy who is into "fast guns, cool cars, hot chicks, and Memphis rock-n-roll."
Blown Again - follows the continuing action-filled life of Joe, the rock-and-roll modern-day gangster. In this installment, Joe attempts to recover a briefcase full of money from a new gang - and this time the hot chicks aren't all on Joe's side. This film has more karate kicks, car chases and gun play than you could imagine can be squeezed into a quick 10 minutes.

The directors- Rick Venable, Michael Cruickshank, Kaleo Quenzer, and Will O'Loughlen

Last Gamble - started out as a University of Memphis student film and quickly escalated to an indie short during the summer of '95. At the time it was the most ambitious project of its kind. It was all shot on film and took three weekends to complete.

The directors- David Stotts and Tim Doyle

Music for Ending Credits:

Lost Highway performed by Nancy Apple and Leon Payne from the "River Road or Rail" album.

Bonus Film:

The Remarkable C.P.S. - directed by Ralph Lorenz.

This is a monthly schedule that begins tonight at 10:30 on WYPL TV-18. Check our site for the weekly line-up - www.LastTraintoMemphis.com

That big movie production

Well, you've all heard about it by now but I'm still getting some calls since I got back to town. So here are the essentials culled from John Beifuss' story in the CA last week:


Big-time moviemaking returns to Memphis in October, when Matt Dillon, Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, David Schwimmer and Vera Farmiga come to town to shoot "Nothing But the Truth," a political thriller from Los Angeles-based writer-director Rod Lurie.

Lurie and his producers were lured here in part by recently passed state and local financial incentives for filmmakers. "For the first time, we're really competitive with other states," Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commissioner Linn Sitler said.

"Our current plan is to shoot the whole thing in Memphis," Lurie said. He said shooting is scheduled to begin in mid-October and will continue for seven weeks.

"That is the true test of a city's marketability as a filming site, when it can double for somewhere else," Sitler said.

Lurie described "Nothing But the Truth" as "a local production" that will hire numerous Memphis-area residents as crew members, extras and supporting actors. "I'm honestly convinced that much of my talent will be found not just within Tennessee but within Memphis," he said. "We will cast many parts out of Memphis, including a lot of speaking parts and some strong supporting parts."

He said he's not sure yet whether the film will host a public casting call.

Inspired in part by the "CIA leak case" involving outed agent Valerie Plame and New York Times reporter Judith Miller, "Nothing But the Truth" features the acclaimed Farmiga ("The Departed") as a CIA agent and Beckinsale ("Underworld") as a reporter who is jailed for refusing to give up her source.

Dillon plays a special prosecutor, and Alda is an attorney who specializes in First Amendment cases.

Perry Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Film & Music Commission, said South Carolina was poised to beat out Tennessee for "Nothing But the Truth" until Lurie and producer James Spies, a resident of Nashville, were recruited for a Memphis location visit.

"The incentives are what bring 'em in, but what gets 'em is the location, and how welcoming the people are, and how exciting the city is," Gibson said. "They saw that the talent -- the stars -- could be entertained and have a great time there."

"Many states have incentives, but few states have such dogmatic and hardworking film commissioners," Lurie said. "Linn is like a ball of fire."

Even so, the production company has established a Department of Revenue-approved, Tennessee-based headquarters in order to take advantage of the financial incentives established by the state legislature in 2006, which include combined rebates of up to 32 percent for "qualified spending" within the state.

The local production offices will be on Beale Street, in free space provided by district landlord John Elkington.

The production also will be the first to take advantage of a new program in which Memphis and Shelby County government will pay half the salaries of local residents who work on the film as trainees, in hopes of increasing the local crew base for future productions.

Pickle = Russell = Hilarity

The uproarious local indie feature, "The Important of Being Russell" has a one week exclusive run at the Studio on the Square starting this Friday, Sept. 7th.

If you haven't seen this movie, directed by Sean Plemmons and starring the indefatigable John Pickle in the title role, then you're only half a human. Here's a description from IMDB:

What has thrills, chills, and rednecks saving the world? THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RUSSELL! Where can you find a comedy, a love story, and a science-fiction/time travelling/fantasy? THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RUSSELL! Watch as Russell Hawker and his wife Sissy battle Patricia Van de Meer and her 'citified' minions over the fate of the world....and their ten year marriage! Can Russell, Harlan, and Jamon withstand the perils of Big City....and a really stinky thumb? Or will they succumb to the dark forces behind Cranium Concepts Global Corporation and it's scheme to 'citify' the world? To answer these questions and discover for yourself the importance of being Russell....you must watch THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RUSSELL!

Flix @ the Brooks

Indie Memphis & the Brooks Present Local Films in the Month of August
All films are scheduled to screen at 7:30 pm
$5 for members, $7 for non-members
Purchase your tickets online | Purchase by phone: 544.6208

This Thursday, August 23
Best of Indie Memphis Shorts: Part II

(total running time 81 minutes)

The second part of the award-winning shorts series will feature:

Resolutions of the Complacent Man directed by Craig Brewer
Doppelganger directed by Ognian Bozikov
Central Garden directed by Kaleo Quenzer
The Morning Ritual directed by J. Lazarus
Elvis Meets the Beatles by John Michael McCarthy

Next Thursday, August 30
“Auteur from Arkansas”
A Selection of Films by Phil Chambliss
(total running time 56 minutes)

Join us for an evening of three folk-art films by the internationally celebrated,
self-taught Arkansas auteur Phil Chambliss. Shadows of the Hatchet Man,
The Devil’s Helper, and The Mr. Visit Show will be screened.

If you've never seen his work before, you don't want to miss this!



Thinking Dinner and a Movie? Dine at the Brushmark
Weekly specials by Chef Wally Joe
Reservations recommended. Seating from 6-9 pm.
Please call 901.544.6225.

Exhibitions on view include:
Perspectives: Regional Contemporary Art
Soul Food: African American Cooking and Creativity
Thomas Hart Benton:Train Wrecks and Hillbilly Songs
Elvis is in the Building

From Kentucker Audley

My previous short film, 'Bright Sunny South' is playing this Thursday, August 16th at 7:30 at the Brooks museum in Memphis as part of 'The Best of Indie Memphis Shorts' series. Tickets are $7 for non-members, $5 for members. Also screening: 'This Must be my Lucky Day" by Tommy Foster, and '17 Inch Cobras' by Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury. Come check them out and see real people in person, like me.

Filled bikinis needed!

Sarah Fleming and Christopher Reyes (Live From Memphis) are shooting a short film this Sunday for Li'l Film Fest 7!

We are looking for 2 Females:

Ages 18-30.

Must be in excellent shape and willing to wear a bikini.

Must be available this Sunday (Aug. 12) from 1-6p.

(No, its NOT pornographic)

Please email full body photo and resume to us at:

info@livefrommemphis.com

Thanks!!!

Li'l Film Fest official site

Delta Axis this month

Please join us for our contemporary art and film programs this month.

Wednesday, August 8
Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club #32
7:30 p.m.
Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson, between Main & Front Streets
Admission is free, donations are recommended

hi/lo film festival 2006 touring program
Originally organized in 1997 by the San Francisco production company and comedy collective Killing my Lobster the hi/lo film festival (high concept, low budget) has evolved into a major West Coat showcase for independent low-budget filmmakers. The hi/lo film festival continues to prove that big imaginations are more important than fat wallets.

The program features:
Pretty Things “Straight for a Minute” - Michael Lucid
For those times when gay guys need to go under cover it’s handy to have this instructional music video. 3 min.
Backseat Bingo - Liz Blazer
This illustrated documentary throws the spotlight on an array of aging horn dogs grappling with the crisis of mortality. 6 min.
Bartholomew's Song - Allison Welch, Lowell Frank and Destin Cretton
In a low-rent dystopia life has been reduced to the mindless stamping out of luxury items of the most useless sort. But in the spirit of Brazil and a Brave New World one automaton begins to sing his own song to heart breaking, if predictable, effect. 11min.
Honeycut “Tough Kid” – Arno Salters
Cardboard cityscapes and really dizzy rockers go for a spin in this revolutionary music video. 2 min. music video
A Bad Hair Day - Meesoo Lee
Echoing the Fresh Prince's pronouncement that parents just don't understand, a filmmaker visits his parents in Seoul for a week and fights a perennial battle pitting his own scruffy-doo against his father's perm. 7 min.
Lift Off - Terri Timely
An interstellar flipbook adventure takes off and travels the universe without ever leaving a restaurant counter. 50 seconds.
Fumi and the Bad Luck Foot – David Chai
A crash course in how to make lemonade out of lemons, or in this case, how to repurpose clumsiness for good and not evil. 7 min. animation
Let's Start Again - Charlie Tweed
If the Unabomber had a British sense of humor he might look like this...of course he'd also have to be about 16 and a lot more creative. Animals of the forests beware! 7 min.
Sprout and the Bean – Terri Timley
By matching the infectious and mercurial sounds made entirely from Ns. Newsom's voice and her harp to swirling and stunningly imaginative imagery the Terri Timely crews have done for Nevada City’s Joanna Newsom what Chris Cunningham had done for Bjork, (with a much smaller budget of course!). 3 min. music video
Tales of mere existence – Lev
San Francisco cartoonist and satirist Lev returns to hilo with 2 new episodes in his life-long chronicle of the socially awkward, the perpetually uncoordinated, and the sympathetically perplexed. 7 min. animation
Snakeman – John Inglis
A grizzly Australian snake-owner and the world’s sissiest cameraman square off in what could be the world’s worst idea for a short film. This is the film the folks at Animal Planet don’t want you to even think about. 7 min.
Under The Roller Coaster – Lila Place
Documentaries are successful because of a compelling character and the brassy, beer-swilling, chain-smoking woman at the center of this one is as riveting as they come. The fact that she lived most of her life in a house underneath a Coney Island rollercoaster is just gravy. 16 min.
The V Party – Michelle Dean
The nation’s foremost political consultants Warren Dinkly and Suzanne Agby present their can’t miss pitch to get apathetic voters pumped and ready for the party. 5 min.

Due to the variety of subject matter, which sometimes includes adult themes, some works may not be suitable for children; consequently, parents are asked to use their own discretion. For more information on the hi/lo film festival please visit www.hilofilmfestival.com.


Saturday, August 18
Agents of Timbre
Closing reception 6-9 p.m.
Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts, 639 Marshall Avenue
Exhibition Dates: June 29-August 18, 2007
Gallery Hours: Saturdays 1-5 p.m. or by appointment
494-6543 or 679-6837


The mission of Delta Axis is to present contemporary art and film and link Memphis with global artistic communities.
Delta Axis receives generous support for Indie Memphis programs from the Greater Memphis Arts Council, Tennessee Arts Commission, the Memphis/Shelby County Film & Television Commission, the Tennessee Film Commission, the Goshorn Fund, and the Hohenberg Foundation.

Support for Power House and Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Hyde Family Foundations, Greater Memphis Arts Council, and Tennessee Arts Commission

Support Delta Axis – become a member!
Members receive free admission to our monthly Artist Studio Visit, a free ticket to a screening at the 10th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival in 2007, and invitations to special parties and events. Membership is $50 for individuals and $75 for couples. For more information call 901.494.6543 or email info@deltaaxis.org.
--
Presenting contemporary art and film to link Memphis with global artistic communities.

Support Delta Axis - become a member!

Tracy Lauritzen Wright
Executive Director
Delta Axis
P.O. Box 11527
Memphis, TN 38111
901.494.6543
901.525.0805 fax
www.deltaaxis.org
www.indiememphis.com

Video art

Who do you know in the region that works in this discipline? Not filmmaking so much, although the line is not always easily drawn. But art using video as the medium. Let me know.

Casting for local indie

I had written about doing a series a while back and we are getting ready to film a short to get some more interest (money) behind it.

However, there are only three speaking parts available and we will know about extras as we story board. I need to let you know this on the front end. This is not a paying gig and the tape will be used in everything from a couple of contests as well to show investors to put up the money. You will get your own custom set of vampire fangs and something for your reel out of it (Except fangs for the yuppie). If the pitch is successful, then there might be a longer-term part out of it. This is not a full pilot episode, but may result in one.

Character: Roman
Ages: 35-45
Ethnicity/Race/ Gender: White Male
Size: Medium
Notes: Would prefer someone with darker hair and must have a really good
speaking voice as there are some voiceovers.

Character: Yuppie
Ages: 25-35
Ethnicity/Race/ Gender: Doesn’t Matter, you will be the victim.
Size: Doesn’t matter
Notes: This is a fodder part.

Character: Adam
Ages: 18-22
Ethnicity/Race/ Gender: White Male
Size: Slender
Notes: Need to know if you are allergic to any makeup.

Character: Beck
Ages: 25-35
Ethnicity/Race/ Gender: White Male
Size: Large/Overweight
Notes: Overweight is a must

Primary time of shoots: Night in mid to late August, Dates TBD

We will also need to know if you are allergic to water-based lubricant, food coloring, corn syrup, makeup, any adhesives, and latex. If you are interested, please e-mail me back at cbyerly@sbcglobal.net with your contact information, a headshot, and a reel if you have one. Please use “The Dead of Night” as the subject line, if not it will go to my spam box. There will
be a call back for a screen test.

Sorry, but we are not accepting any children’s information at this time. I know this one seems like slim pickings, but the full ensemble will be more diverse if this gets off the ground.

Rockett's acting workshop

The workshop is at Germantown Community Theatre Aug 13(Mon), 14(Tues), 15(Wed).
Space is available for adults and kids. Details are here.

G. Rockett Phillips
www.arizonaactingacademy.com

LTTM for August (hosted by Joseph B. Smith)

Episode 15 of LTTM's Shorts Fest on WYPL TV-18. Our host for this month is Joe Smith a.k.a. "Pooch".

The Films:

The Live From Memphis Collection- several short films from various themes of the Li'l Film Fest:

Wilacious Jackson- directed by Tammy Marqueerious.

What's Brewin' Craig?- directed by Donald Meyers.

Why Baptist Moved East- directed by Ken Armstrong

Dream One: The Box- directed by Sarah Fleming.

Plus a behind the scenes documentary look at Rusted Sun Film's feature film, Divine Manipulation of the Threads. The cast and crew describe the trials and tribulations of making a no budget feature film.

Music for ending credits:

"All I Want Is You" performed by Scott Sudbury from the Get the Picture album.

Bonus Film:

A Bloodthirsty Lovers music video by Live From Memphis- The Mods Go Mad


The Times:

Sunday- midnight
Thursday- 2a.m.
Thursday- 10:30 PM
Saturday- 1:30a.m.
Saturday- 11pm


For more info or to enter a film, go to www.LastTraintoMemphis.com
Check with the Library Channel website or our website for scheduling info. This is a weekly schedule that will begin August 1st!

Justin Gullett -- go, man, go

In today's CA:

Justin Gullett, 26, of Germantown has been chosen as one of the nine finalists for the online "Movie Making Challenge," part of the Fox TV show "On the Lot." The American Idol-esque reality show, produced by three-time Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg and reality TV pioneer Mark Burnett, is in the midst of its first season. The show, which airs Tuesdays on WHBQ-TV Channel 13 at 7 p.m., features a dwindling group of filmmakers competing for a development deal.

Gullet is not a contestant on the TV show; rather, he is participating in the at-home competition that allowed anyone to enter his or her own videos online through TheLot.com.

His short film, "Distortion," won week five -- horror week -- of the online challenge in which anyone could submit a two- to three-minute film for that week's genre or theme.

'Divine Manipulation ...' -- a review

It's nice to get a review, even if the reviewer didn't quite get it....

Excerpt:
"... this film is oddly endearing. ... It's a lot like neurosurgery. I don't know how it works, but I know it does."

Of course, if you want to be a reviewer, you should know how it works. That aside, it's an overall positive review.

Hey kids, let's make a movie...

Indie Memphis is looking for filmmakers 18 and younger to participate in its Southern Film Festival Youth Showcase.

Films should be 20 minutes or less and must have been completed in the past two years. There's no application fee.

Selected films will be shown at Studio on the Square during the Southern Film Festival, Indie Memphis' annual event highlighting movies with a distinct Southern flavor. The festival is October 19th-25th.

Deadline for submissions for the Youth Showcase is September 15th.

For more information, go to IndieMemphis.com.