Streaming Media East, Billboard Music Awards, Casual Connect Asia, Chicago Underground Film, are highlights in May’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 05-09-2012
The Avengers Movie

The Avengers set new records for the overseas and U.S. North American box office recording $200.3 million for a 3-day U.S. opening weekend and $641.8 million overall in its first 12 days globally.

NARM opens its 2012 Convention in Los Angeles. As a trade association that serves the music and entertainment content delivery community, the Convention will field roundtables and panels that include: International Music Registry, Music Distribution, Music and TV, Internet and Independent Labels, Commerce vs. Royalties, and so many more areas. NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music and entertainment by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. On the evening of May 8 a Digital Music LA Meetup, designed to help digital music industry professionals uncover new business opportunities, follows a cocktail sip. On closing evening, there is the Red Carpet Arrivals and Awards Dinner Party.

The annual CTIA Wireless Convention launches this year in New Orleans through May 10. As an industry trade group that represents all sectors of the international wireless communications industry, CTIA hosts two shows a year: one in the spring, for a full representation of all things wireless, plus another show in the fall that focuses more on the usage and implementation of wireless in the enterprise. With the new convention dates starting in May and a new location in New Orleans, other updates to the convention itinerary include: afternoon keynote sessions, the Solutions Showcase, a VIP hospitality tent, CTIA World – interactive displays on the show floor, the Executive Conference Center, CTIA Unplugged and more events that round out a new agenda for 2012. CTIA (Cellular Telephone Industries Association) members include international cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio providers and suppliers, and providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. President Bill Clinton will give the show’s final keynote on the afternoon of May 10.

Now in its 15th year, and with more than 100 speakers across 30 sessions, Streaming Media East running May 14-16 in New York City, is a place to see, learn, and discuss what is taking place with all forms of online video business models and technology. Content owners, viral video creators, online marketers, enterprise corporations, broadcast professionals, ad agencies, educators, and others all come to Streaming Media East to see and hear the latest online video technology and to discuss the business models that are coming of age. Industry instructors will conduct 20 “how-to” sessions on the various technical aspects of the industry – encoding, videoplayers, webcasting productions, and more. During the opening keynote with Matt Frost, Senior Business Product Manager, Google Chrome, keynote attendees will have a chance to win one of twelve Google Chromebooks.

In Cannes, the Third Annual International Film Finance Forum hosts financiers, investment advisers, filmmakers, studio executives, finance and sales agents, distributors, attorneys, accountants, insurance and completion bond providers, film commissioners, and new entrants to film financing from all over the world. This year’s speaking faculty will address how to get movies financed, made, and sold in an ever-changing marketplace. The forum will open up with the state of the industry overview by Randall Emmett, Co-Chair/Producer of Emmett/Furla Films. Emmett. During the closing conversation, actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover will address the importance of documentaries, creative financing strategies for this genre, and ways to market and sell these types of films. The Forum is one day only on May 18.

For the second straight year in a row, the Billboard Music Awards goes live from Las Vegas, May 20, following a hiatus that lasted from 2007 to 2011. The awards will reflect Billboard’s chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring as well as streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, Youtube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. This year, U.K. performer Adele takes the lead as a finalist in 18 award categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist. Expected performers already announced for this year’s show include: Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood, LMFAO and The Wanted are the first performers announced with others to come. The “2012 Billboard Music Awards” is co-executive produced by Richard D. Beckman, CEO Prometheus Global Media and Don Mischer Productions. The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and hosted by Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell. The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound.

RadioTV Forum opens for a two day run on May 22 in Rome. The Aeranti-Corallo RadioTV Forum is organized by RadioTv srl and is a focal point for the radio and television industry in Italy. It consists of a program of meetings, technical seminars and workshops as well as an exhibition. The “Workshop Day” event, is a day of technical workshops and seminars focusing upon the Italian transition to digital terrestrial TV, that began at the “Casa dell’Energia” conference center. RADIOTV FORUM is an event promoted by AERANTI-CORALLO, the association of local, satellite and Internet radio and television companies, and organized by RADIOTV srl. It represents around 1,000 companies, including local radio and television broadcasters, satellite and Internet stations, local broadcaster groups, broadcast news agencies, cable radio businesses, and radio and television advertising sales houses.

Casual Connect Asia 2012 is set to run May 22-24 in Suntec City. Developed for the general public and families, casual games are video games that are fun and easy to learn and play and are found on many devices including personal computers, video game consoles, mobile phones and handheld devises. Casual Connect is the place to learn more about this industry which entertains an approximate 300 million people each month. Learn all about iPhone, Social, Android, Flash, Browser MMO and Download Games. The Innovation Showcase, is set up as an “art-gallery” style exhibition that displays twelve games considered to be innovative. Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to come and interact (play) with the games for Web and iOS platform, and maybe offer feedback leading to great games ideas. The Official Casual Connect Parties are: May 22 at IDA Singapore, and May 23 at CoCoon Bar in The Forbidden City. Founded in 2005, the Casual Games Association is a professional international trade organization providing educational resources and community support for those involved in creating games for the mass market consumer.

Belgian Broadcast Days is a networking event for manufacturers and dealers, rental and facility companies, new media, ICT and mobile television, happening in Brussels, May 23-24. On day one after an opening keynote address by Dominique Vosters, director of the Cabinet of Minister Mrs Fadila Laanan, Philippe Bekaert-IBBT explores surround video based novel television production concepts and viewing experiences in the home and on the road. Other presentations follow and day one ends with a Walking Dinner and networking party. Starting day two, Jo Caudron discusses How digital innovation will impact the television business, Jelle-Jan Bruinsma presents on Opportunities for TV Broadcasters on YouTube – a short overview of YouTube’s partnership programme for TV Broadcasters, and other talks continue through the day. Workshops on Legal aid, employment and financial incentives will be held, and a networking session ends the last day.

The inaugural New York International Short Film Festival, NY Shorts Fest kicks off May 29 down in the Lower East Side of New York City. Created by the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival – LA Shorts Fest – which is now in it’s 16th year, NY Shorts Fest events provides a showcase for international short-form cinema and includes receptions as well as workshops and master classes with industry experts and top filmmaking professionals sharing their practical advice to attending filmmakers. The festival closes May 31.

Korea International Broadcast Audio and Lighting Equipment Show (KOBA 2012) is an exhibition of broadcasting, audio, video and lighting industries opening in Seoul May 29 running until June 1. Drawing on resources from the Korean Broadcasting Engineer & Technicians Association, it offers the opportunity for engineers, producers, studio and other large scale performance professionals to get the latest information about this field. The show draws professionals related to the field of Radio and TV Equipment, Audio and Video studios equipment, Terrestrial, cable and Satelite TV, Multimedia for Broadcasting, Computer Graphics, Audio and Video Telecommunications, Audio and Video on the Internet, Video projection, profesional sound, Show Lighting, Equipment Rental, Audiovisual Interactiveness, Audiovisual Operators, Media Asset Management.

As an official program of IFP/Chicago, The Chicago Underground Film Festival has forged a certain niche for itself by presenting an accessible, user-friendly showcase for avant-garde and cult cinema. Opening May 31 to run up to June 7, CUFF showcases a wide range of work exploring the many definitions and interpretations of the concept of “underground”. This year’s festival will offer a complementary mix of independent features, shorts, documentaries and experimental films augmented by nightly parties and concerts. Panels and workshops further add to the programming that encompases alternative music films, political agitprop, high camp and formal experimentation.

A singers search and open mic produced by the long-running showbiz team of Billy Shepard and Judi Jourdan is held every Monday night at “The Iguana” just around the corner from the David Letterman Show TV taping in the Broadway show district of New York City. Talented newcomers and experienced singers are all welcome. Just come in, sign up and sing. A pianist is resident or bring your background tracks or CDs. The pianist transposes instantly in any key for you. Open to the public, all ages and all styles are welcome. Participants will be singing with the opportunity to be booked as a featured singer in a future Shepard & Jourdan television Showcase: “How to Succeed in Show Business By Really Trying”, shown on Time Warner Cable television every Wednesday at 11:30 pm on channel 57.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely read languages. And a new initiative has begun to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols, as well as other means. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… Cine Gear Expo 2012 will be in Hollywood. Los Angeles Indie Music/Film International Summit 2012, will be in Los Angeles. IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, will be in Balchik. Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival will be in Cannes. Social Media Film Festival – showcasing films mostly about social media, social change and technology – will be in Las Vegas. The British Animation Film Festival 2012 will be in London.

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Sonoma Film Fest, London Indie Film Fest, Coachella Music Festival, NAB 2012, Tribeca Film Fest, are highlights in April’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 04-06-2012

Media Entertainment abril de Noticias de la Industria *** في ابريل نيسان أخبار صناعة وسائط الإعلام، ترفيه *** April-Media-Entertainment Industry News *** 4月のメディア·エンターテイメント業界ニュース *** D’avril Nouvelles de l’industrie des médias-divertissement *** Медиа-индустрия развлечений апрельскихновостей *** Aprile Media-Spettacolo Industry News *** 四月的媒体娱乐行业新闻

 

The TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) global conferences, owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, was founded in 1984 to disseminate “ideas worth spreading”. It has licensed a new initiative called TEDx – a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers form the program to foster substantive discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = an independently organized TED event. At the April 7 TEDxCoimbatore, in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, slated speakers include: Melinda Gates, Co-chair Bill-Melinda Gates Foundation, ranked #40 in Forbes magazine list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in 2008. Jayen Varma, Indian Slap Bass Guitarist, who has evolved his unique style by applying Tabla/Mridangam finger technique to his craft, and is completing the recording of a CD with his band Khayal Groove, is a featured participant as well.

Coachella Music Festival

The Coachella Music Festival happens in the desert setting of the Coachella Valley for two consecutive weekends - April 13-15 and April 20-22.

The Sonoma International Film Festival is a celebration of independent filmmaking and the art of cinema, set against a backdrop of fine food, the  wines of Sonoma Valley and the visual appeal of Sonoma, California. In one of the special scheduled events, the festival opening April 11-15 hosts the U.S. premiere of ‘Sir Billi’, the first full-length animated feature produced entirely in Scotland. Retired film legend Sir Sean Connery (who served as executive producer) voices the title role in a story about a skateboarding grandfather and veterinarian trying to save the last beaver in Scotland with the help of his goat Gordon, voiced by Alan Cumming. Sir Billi will screen at the 1930s era Renaissance-style Sebastiani Theatre on April 13. In another special evening at the Sonoma Veteran’s Memorial Building on April 14, American filmmaker John Waters presents his one-man “vaudeville” show, ‘This Filthy World’, that celebrates the film career and obsessional tastes of the writer William Burroughs, once called “The Pope of Trash.”

NALIP is a national membership organization that addresses the professional needs of Latino/Latina independent film, television, documentary and media makers. As NALIP 2012 convention unfolds from Universal City, April 12-15, it will include panels and workshops for documentary and narrative filmmakers, feature film directors and aspiring reality TV writer/producers. This year, Robert Rodriguez is the Keynote Lunch Speaker and entertainment legend Rita Moreno is the NALIP Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. NALIP will host a Welcome Reception at Infusion Lounge on CityWalk on April 14. There is also the annual Achievement and Estela Awards Gala Ceremony. Actors can attend the Latino edition of Back Stage’s Actorfest on April 12. This all-day event at the Wizards Theater on CityWalk includes workshops like “Breaking Into Hosting,” “Demystifying the Audition Process” and “How to Create, Produce and Star in Your Own Webisodes.”

Chicago International Movies and Music Festival brings together movies about music, movies for music, movies of music, and movies capturing music as it is made. The entries, coming from all countries and cultures and ranging from documentaries to fiction to concert films to shorts to music videos, have to be about music and/or use music in a creative, integral way. The live performances are inspired by film or feature visual accompaniment. CIMMfest, which runs April 12-15, will consist of four days of movie screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and other programs bringing together professionals and devotees from across the globe to entertain and educate. Premieres by new and established film and video directors, as well as retrospectives, classic films and videos that will screen during the day, and genre-bending musical performances to rule the night at participating venues around the great music town that is Chicago.

The London Independent Film Festival which happens April 12-23 is a festival focused on micro-budget and no-budget films in the UK. LIFF was started eight years ago when a group of first time UK directors looking for a new kind of festival experience, started one outside of the standard festival channels. Today, LIFF has expanded into a supportive system for new filmmakers, and has including a screenplay competition and filmmaker training workshops. LIFF hosts a full programme of workshops and seminars where new filmmakers can learn from experienced filmmakers. There is at least one lecture by a distinguished filmmaker, several panel discussions on such topics as fundraising and post-production marketing of independent films, and workshops run by working filmmakers on the nuts and bolts of the UK industry.

Organized by Goldenvoice, The Coachella Music Festival happens in the desert setting of the Coachella Valley over two consecutive weekends – April 13-15 and April 20-22. Coachella features many genres of music including rock, indie, Hip Hop and electronic music, and there is large sculptural art as well. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the camp grounds, each playing live music continuously. Festial maps are available online, on concert grounds and stores close by to serve as an activity guide. A partial listing of scheduled acts over the two weekends include: Black Keys, Swedish House Mafia, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Afrojack, Sky, M83, Jimmy Cliff, Tim Armstrong, Radiohead, Bon Iver, the Skins, David Guetta, Kaskade, Miike Snow, Jeff Mangum, Sebastian Ingrosso, Andrew Bird, Feist, fIREHOSE, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, SBTRKT, Manchester Orchestra, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, At The Drive-In, Justice, Florence, Machine, AVICII, Beirut, the Weeknd, Calvin Harris, the Hives, DJ Shadow, Nero, Wild Flag, Modeselektor, Dada Life, Santigold, Doctor P. ZIA Record Exchange will be the Official Music Retailer and Artist/Band signing tent at this year’s Coachella. Venue gates open at 11 am each day. A portion collected from the passes benefits the City of Indio and other local charities.

Working on behalf of its radio and television membership, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) provides members with advocacy efforts, legal expertise and timely communications and opportunities for career growth, professional development and networking with other broadcasters. This year the annual NAB Conention in Las Vegas holds its “Career Day” event April 18, giving an opportunity for media companies to network with experienced professionals, college students and entry-level job seekers interested in a career in the broadcast industry. New to the convention this year, which runs April 14-19, Content Market serves as the new spot for programming executives and media platforms surrounding digital distribution and monetization to meet and discuss collaboration opportunities. Content Theater, an attendee favorite every year as well as the Content Lounge is nearby for relaxing and networking. NAB Official Afterparties include: NAB Show Exhibitor Party on April 14 at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian; NAB Show Opening Party, April 16 at Marquee Nightclub; NAB Show Closing Party, April 19 at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian.

The 11th Annual Florida Music Festival will host more than 150 bands on 10 stages over three nights in its live music showcase. Each night, from April 18-21, a national headliner takes the mainstage at Wall Street Plaza in the center of Downtown Orlando. This year opens with The Dirty Heads. On the conference end, Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman is confirmed as this year’s Keynote Interview. The 2012 Florida Music Festival and Conference is an experience in live music, film, visual arts and the cultural community. At the VIP level, parties include open bar and catering each night and there is a Brunch on April 21 before the conference seminars.

As the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival program unfolds from April 18-29, the program contains a variety of independent films including documentaries, narrative features and shorts, as well as a program of family-friendly films. The New York City Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase artists. Some of the free events open for the public to attend without charge includes: Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” on April 19; “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” hosted by Barnes and Noble Union Square, and others all happening April 20-24. Kids will have opportunities to participate in the Youth Soccer Showcase — with skills, drills, pointers and competitions supervised by professional coaches on April 21.

The Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, set to run April 23-26 in Miami will be of interest to the artists, and other music industry professionals keenly following the developments in the Latin music industry. A conference opening event on April 23 includes SAM Broadcaster In collaboration with Musical Rhythms Promotions, presenting “MAS Y MAS MÚSICA” Showcase to honor “El Caballo Mayor” Johnny Ventura on his 55 year musical career. There will be an after-party following this celebration at Club 90 Degrees. On the evening of April 24, there will be a Poolside Cocktail Reception, featuring La Salsa Vive/Salsa Lives, hosted by Nu Life Entertainment. In one conference session titled “Regional Mexican,” the new generation of regional Mexican acts discuss genre trends, violence and marketing and promoting online. The conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards at BankUnited Center, honoring achievement from artists on today’s Latin Billboard charts.

In its primary function as a provider in games industry news, covering daily developments on their news site and producing the annual Games and Mobile Forum in New York City, Digital Media Wire will on April 24 begin hosting a special event in Los Angeles – LA Games Conference – focused on business, finance and creative developments in the games industry. Emphasis for the new endeavor includes mobile, online and console markets and the increasing intersection of Madison Avenue and Hollywood with the industry. Double Down Interactive President, Glenn Walcott is to be featured in a special case study session of IGT’s $500 Million acquisition of the company with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP’s Stuart Campbell. An official Expo After-Party at the Tropicana Bar by poolside is to be co-hosted by PayPal, Openbucks and Tagged.

The NYC Downtown Short Film Festival is a program of DMAC-Duo Multicultural Arts Center, a (501 c3) non-profit organization in New York City’s East Village. The mission of DMAC is to create, promote and celebrate multicultural arts through theater, music, dance, art and film. The Festival goes from April 26 though May 7, overlapping with the earlier calendar start of Tribeca Film Festival, a time in New York City when New Yorkers and visitors are geared up to attend film festivals. The DMAC theater space has a rich and colorful history when it was previously known as The Astoria. Among other distinguishments, in the early 1970s Francis Ford Coppola rented the theater and shot the famous operetta scene from Godfather 2 on location.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely read languages. A new initiative has begun to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols, as well as other means. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… American International Film Festival will be in Skokie. New York Festivals International Advertising Awards, honoring advertising in all media from over 70 countries, will be in New York City. The New York Los Angeles International Film Festival, a biannual event taking place in both cities only days apart screens in both cities. The Fifth Annual Film Production and Finance Summit will be in Los Angeles. And Streaming Media East 2012 comes to New York City. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

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SXSW 2012, Martial Arts Film Festival, Variety and Academy TV Summit, Khayal Groove: East meets West, are highlights in March’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 03-07-2012

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The Byron Bay International Film Festival in New South Wales is strong on supporting independent filmmakers at all stages of their careers. Situated in a sub-tropical enclave with nearby world class beaches, the festival running until March 11, will likely stick to the blueprint of last year’s agenda that featured 35 public screenings in Byron Bay with introductions and Q & A sessions by attending filmmakers, free workshops and panels, industry networking functions, school screenings, family-friendly films, free showcases of experimental films and audio-visual experimental film performances. There is a balcony bar for the audience to mix with filmmakers, and extra public sessions held in neighbouring Lismore. 206 films were screened from 35 countries of which 72 were Australian films at last year’s festival. The Gala Red Carpet Opening and Closing Nights affairs are always highly anticipated with catered parties that attract full houses.

Khayal Groove Band

Khayal Groove is Aparna Panshikar on Vocals and Jayen Varma on Bass Guitar in collaboration with various artistes and bands across the world.

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival will have many special events for its festival goers to take part in when it opens March 7-11. And it will actually utilize San Luis Obispo’s Hearst Castle to relive Hollywood heydays of the 1920s and ’30s for one night at the “Hollywood to Hearst Castle” event on March 9. Photographer Timothy White, the SLOIFF’s recipient of the inaugural Spotlight Award, will start off the evening’s festivities by flying onto Hearst Ranch’s private airfield just as William Randolph Hearst’s high-profile Hollywood friends once did. This year, there is a focus on women filmmakers and issues. And there is a “Hollywood and Vines” series, pairing great classics with local wine and food. Next, be prepared to join the sing-along while enjoying the 1958 musical classic, ‘South Pacific’ on the big screen at the Galaxy Theatres for another special event. Wear a costume and compete for prizes at the reception in the VIP Lounge (age 21+) or just come for the film which will be screened in the VIP and regular theatres (all ages welcome).

The Third Guangzhou International Theater and Cinema Facilities Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, March 9-11, is a full presentation platform for the theater and cinema facility industry that includes – but is not limited to – the categories: Cinema Playing Equipment, Theater and Cinema Furniture and Decoration Materials, Theater and Cinema Lighting and Sound Equipment, Cinema services, Film Production and Shooting.

In Austin, the much anticipated SXSW 2012 gets underway this year opening March 9 running through March 18. New festival offerings from last year that won praise will be given greater visibility this year, such as the combined SXSW Trade Show for the Creative Industries, which draws from all the events – Interactive, Film and Music. Other show features like the SXSW Block Party is modeled after a traditional pub crawl. Instead of bars, SXSW Registrants move between participating exhibitors for complementary refreshments and networking. SXsaloon plays host to the Trade Show Happy Hour is at 5 pm daily, and is generally used as a place to get a drink, meet friends, plan a schedule, and just recharge before hitting the trade show floor again. Next Stage is the destination for entertainment on the first floor. Like a variety show, this stage hosts panelists, filmmakers, comedians, and musicians that delivers a sample of all that is happening during SXSWeek. To enhance the networking experience, SXSW created a dedicated meeting space in the business epicenter of SXSW, the Trade Show Meet Up Pavilion. A First-timers Guide to the SXSW Experience is available online for download.

The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) will be held March 17 in Paris, showcasing films that explore the martial practice, philosophy, aesthetic and spirituality. The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) encourages an emerging generation of filmmakers whose films treat various aspects of the field of the martial arts; those of the arts of combat and the arts of health. The purpose being to collect and to protect the collective memory, to educate the public, to share and to pass on the knowledge. Short demonstrations of: Wushu, Aikido, Tai Chi, and other forms, will take place between each projection. At the end of the screenings, all viewers can vote for the People’s Choice Award. An evening cocktail reception will close the festival.

Hollywood Shorts Film Festival is a monthly screening program that celebrates the outstanding achievements in short filmmaking and animation from both U.S. and international directors and their creative teams. This month screenings run in Hollywood from March 18-20. Over 300 short and animated films are programmed year round, and submissions are accepted year round. Hollywood Shorts began on October 9, 1998 at a popular live music venue in Los Angeles called “the Joint”. The overflowing crowd packed the house, and filled the sidewalk outside watching films by David Fickas and Mark Kelly, Frank Tota, and animation by Joe Pearson. The annual Spotlight Screenings began as part of our monthly series. These events include: African American ShortsFest at The American Cinematheque in February, Women Filmmakers Shortsfest in Spring, Animation Shortsfest in the Fall.

Interested parties can join Variety and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation in an exploration of how tradiitional television revenue models are beng forced to adapt to the new disruptive technologies, and then to identify ways to continue to produce quality content and adjust financially to the new reality. Attending the 2012 TV Summit which will only be for one day on March 20 in Los Angeles will also benefit the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s wide range of educational activities. Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation is behind such programs as the Archive of American Television, the Student Internship Program, the College Television Awards, the Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship and the TV Faculty Seminar. An evening cocktail and networking reception closes the day’s activities.

Bloomberg BNA | CITE, formed specifically to educate U.S. and foreign multinationals and companies engaged in international business on the tax, legal and accounting aspects of doing business overseas, presents the International Film and TV Finance Summit in Los Angeles, March 22-23. The Summit focuses on obtaining finance and tax incentives to get independent and studio films made, distributed and marketed in today’s market place. In brief, the Summit agenda will: explain ways to generate financial support for films utilizing brand integration and product placement. Reveal how sales agents and distributors can generate the domestic and foreign distribution needed to make a film a success. The role of banks and specialized finance companies in providing financing for film production, and other industry related topics.

An innovator of Indian Slap Bass style, who is currently recording the first album with his band Khayal Groove featuring classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar, Jayen Varma (http://www.jayenvarma.net/) will have a series of engagements throughout March including song composing, recording sessions, master class workshops, and a major recital at Kochi’s largest performing arts venue, JT Performing Arts Center in Kochi-Kerala, March 24. In the Slap Bass style, Jayen Varma has applied Tabla/Mridangam finger technique on Bass Guitar. In 2008 The Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared him the world’s Fastest percussive bassist.

The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) celebrates its 10th Anniversary edition showcasing international women directors from around the globe when it launches its festival in Toronto, from March 28 through April 1. The FeFF selectively presents a few short films co-directed by a male/female team annually. The Script Development Program is open to female and male writers with the provision that the script features a female protagonist. All panel discussions, script readings, industry events, receptions and the Closing Awards will take place at the Novotel Toronto Centre.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely read languages. Also this month is a new undertaking to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols among other means. Gazing ahead into the next month March, be aware that… The epicurean oriented Sonoma International Film Festival blending the pleasures of fine food, film and award winning wines will be in Sonoma. The Palm Beach International Film Festival comes to Palm Beach. Fantastic Planet: Sydney International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival, will be in Sydney. London Independent Film Festival for micro-budget and no-budget films launches in London. NAB 2012 will be in Las Vegas. And 2012 International Independent Filmmaker Expo will be in Miami, just to run through some events drawing close to be aware of. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

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MusiCARES Tribute, Brit Awards, Grammys, Country Radio Seminar, 84th Academy Awards, are highlights in February’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 02-05-2012

The Victoria Film Festival wants to expose youth and adults to a broad range of cultural, artistic

Aside from outings featuring cocktail tastings and savory appetizer treats, the Victoria Film Festival boasts a screening of William Friedkin's 'The Exorcist' and an up-close session with the film's star, Linda Blair.

Aside from outings featuring cocktail tastings and savory appetizer treats, the Victoria Film Festival boasts a screening of William Friedkin's 'The Exorcist' and an up-close session with the film's star, Linda Blair.

and philosophical ideas and lifestyles through the presentation of film, video, new media and inter-activities while keeping it very relevant to the local community in Victoria. This year the Festival, which runs through February 12, shines a spotlight on Linda Blair for two days beginning with a screening of Director William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’, followed by a meet and greet with actress Linda Blair hosted by Bon Rouge the following day. At a Sips ‘N’ Cinema festival event, a trip to the film house for a screening of, ‘House of Pleasure’, is followed with a seating at the Veneto Tapa Lounge for a sampling of appetizers, and where well regarded bar master Simon ogden will lead a cocktail tasting. After the tasting, Festival Programmer Donovan Aikman will open up discussion of the film just presented.

During Grammy Week, the 22nd Annual MusiCARES “Person of the Year” award ceremony is set to honor 14-time GRAMMY winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Award recipient, Sir Paul McCartney, who will also perform along with other artists in attendance. The event is set for February 10 in Los Angeles. MusiCares Foundation — founded in 1989 by the Academy — provides a safety net of critical assistance for music professionals in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, allowing affected musical artists to continue with dignity. The evening begins with: Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction, followed by the Gala Dinner, then the Concert and Award Presentation.

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards is on February 12 in Los Angeles. It will air live on the CBS TV network at 8 pm EST / 5 pm PST. The show will also be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com, CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys. Following last year’s 2011 ceremony, NARAS — the parent organization of the awards ceremony — overhauled many Grammy Award categories for 2012. And for the first time in seven years, the Grammy Awards is doing away with its no-host format and has enlisted  rapper-turned-actor, LL Cool J, who has served as host of the Grammy nominations concert for the last four years. Announced performers for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards include current GRAMMY nominees Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Coldplay, Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift.

At this year’s Sedona International Film Festival, February 18-26, Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne returns with his favorite classic films; Academy Award-winning producer, artist and costume designer Kathleen Glynn (Bowling for Columbine, Farenheit 911) will moderate and host this year’s workshops, one of which, “Composing Music for Film,” will be led by Oscar-winning lyricist and five-time nominee Don Black (Born Free); Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Moresco (Crash) will be in attendance as will actress Lea Thompson. Workshops happen every morning from Tuesday through Saturday during Festival week when the 145 full-length features, shorts, documentaries, animated films, foreign films and student films have screenings. This year a special midweek jazz concert in partnership with the Arizona Music Festival features the Brubeck Brothers and screening of new biographical film, ‘In Good Time, The Piano Jazz of Marian McPartland’ takes place on February 22 at the Sedona High School Performing Arts Center.

The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry’s annual pop music awards. On February 21, the BRIT Awards will be broadcast live in London on ITV1 network starting from 8 pm. Founded in 1973, BPI is the representative trade organisation of the UK recorded music industry, which includes the UK’s four major record labels and hundreds of independent music companies. BPI also organizes the annual BRIT Awards show as well as a Classical BRIT Awards show. Featured artists in this year’s award show include: James Blake, Lady Antebellum, Chase and Status, Ebow, Kasabian, Muse, Empire of the Sun, others. Previous BRITs winner who was a 2011 nominee, Mark Ronson, will be hosting the War Child post BRITs party at Indigo2 immediately after the main show. War Child is an official charity partner of the BRIT Awards this year. Actor/writer James Corden will host the actual Brit Awards ceremony.

Country Radio Seminar is an annual convention designed to educate and promote the exchange of ideas and business practices in the Country music industry with specific emphasis on issues relevant to Country radio. MTV co-founder/Clear Channel executive Bob Pittman, noted futurist David Houle, CMT’s Stephen Linn, and “Twitter For Dummies” book co-author Laura Fitton are keynote speakers in addition to others that are schedued over the course of the convention. All events take place for three days starting February 22 in Nashville. Singer-songwriter Alan Jackson is confirmed for a Capitol/EMI Records Nashville luncheon performance on February 23 in the Convention Center. On the Wednesday and Thursday night of the seminar, radio personality Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley will be open for after-hours acoustic entertainment. The Acoustic Alley venue will showcase performances from some of Nashville’s top songwriters. The conference’s 2012 Career Achievement Award will be given to legendary artist, now on a farewell tour, Glen Campbell. Across the Atlantic (ocean), in an unrelated Country music event, the CMA (Country Music Association) and music rights organization, BMI, will present a Country Music series with four successful songwriters from Nashville, who will take the stage, and with guitar in-hand take turns telling the stories behind their hit songs while performing them. The series is February 22-25, and tours London, Dublin and Belfast.

The Carnival of eCreativity (CeC) is an annual event for free spirited creatives, and the brainchild of Academy of Electronic Arts of New Delhi. It brings together experimental and generally creative practitioners from around the world and India. The sixth annual Carnival of e-Creativity happens February 24-26, from within the compound of the landmark Sattal Mission Estate and Methodist Ashram. The location is situated just above Bhimtal, near Nainital, in the Lower Kumaon of the Himalayan Indian state of Uttarakhand. The agenda is a varied array of experimental creative pursuits executed through performances, presentations and screenings. Performers from around the world will bring a distinctive set of styles, experience and expertise in arts, sciences, performance, technology, and Global Video Art and Short Creative Videoworks screened non-repetitively in a separate section. Master and innovator of Indian Slap Bass, Jayen Varma of Kochi-Kerala, performs with his band Khayal Groove with Indian classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar. He will also engage in a performance with an experimental vocalist from Germany.

The 84th Academy Awards will be held in Hollywood, and televised live by the ABC Television Network (7 ET/4 PT). Brian Grazer and Don Mischer are producers for this years show. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide. The show is presented by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry. AMPAS was originally conceived by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer as a professional honorary organization to help improve the film industry’s image and help mediate labor disputes. In this award year the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences has launched “Celebrate the Movies,” a digital exhibition spotlighting iconic moments from 84 films. The exhibition appeared on digital billboards in Los Angeles, and on ABC’s digital “SuperSign,” an electronic landmark in New York’s Times Square. It is also showcased on an online gallery reachable at  Oscar.com, and extended to youtube.com/Oscars, where fans can share their most memorable movie-going experiences through video or text. Billy Crystal will host the 2012 Oscars.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. Also this month is a new undertaking to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols among other means. Gazing ahead into the next month March, be aware that… The Intl Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival of Athens, the ONECLOUDFEST, based in Sweden, where Audience Award winners in each category is determined by the number of Facebook “likes” received, the 4th Annual Film Finance Forum West, is in Los Angeles, The 3rd Guangzhou International Theater & Cinema Fest, is in Guangzhou, SXSW 2012, will be in Austin, and the 2012 LA Film + Music Weekend, is in Los Angeles, just to run through some events getting close and to be aware of. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

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Golden Globe Awards, NAMM Show, Sundance Festival, NATPE, MIDEM, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 01-06-2012

The Palm Springs International Film Festival, held in the Coachella Valley at the base of Mt. San Jacinto in Southern California, screens a majority of the official international submissions to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Foreign Language Film. While screening over 200 films from more than 60 countries to an audience of over 120,000, the programming also includes a large selection of short films. The festival which runs until January 16, also features cultural events, filmmaker tributes, industry seminars and an annual black-tie gala award presentation. One of the planned Black Tie Awards Galas happens January 7 with cocktails, dinner and awards show.

Lando Van Herzog of Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, conveys his support for the OCCUPY movement by producing a new music video, 'Egomania'.

Mega artist, Lando Van Herzog of Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, conveys his support for the OCCUPY movement by producing a new music video, 'Egomania'.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the trade association promoting growth in the $190 billion USA consumer electronics industry. CEA owns and produces the International CES, the annual consumer technology trade show taking place in Las Vegas. This year, from January 10-13, more than 2,500 exhibitors are expected to travel to Vegas to show off their latest innovations in 30 product categories and the content that supports them. CES is not open to the general public, so to attend, you must be affiliated professionally with the CE industry. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer delivers a keynote address the day before the official opening, at The Venetian, Palazzo Ballroom. This year, mobile apps producers will have two minutes to demo their app, and an applause-o-meter will measure audience enthusiasm to determine the winners at the planned Mobile Apps Showdown. And try not to miss the parties (http://mashbash.eventbrite.com/) at 1OAK Nightclub during CES to celebrate the best of digital, and experience a potent night of networking, dancing and more in “Mashable style”. The Official CES Closing Party happens at The Venetian, TAO Nightclub.

Music rights organization BMI will salute gospel leaders Kirk Franklin and Pastor Hezekiah Walker at its 13th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon taking place January 13 in Nashville. The invitation-only event will honor Kirk Franklin, the best-selling contemporary gospel artist in SoundScan history, and Pastor Hezekiah Walker, a Grammy-winner and leader of the Love Fellowship Choir. Then in a follow-up to the luncheon, gospel music’s Stellar Awards show, honoring gospel music artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry goes live January 14. The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, and a national air date is set for March 5, 7 pm EST, over the Gospel Music Channel.

The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place in Beverly Hills with a live telecast airing on NBC starting at 5 pm (WST). Founded in the 1940’s during World War II, parent organization HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of Los Angeles based overseas journalists. Each year, the organization holds what has become the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe® Awards, which has enabled the organization to donate more than $12 million to entertainment related charities and scholarship programs. Actor Morgan Freeman is set to receive this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award. This year’s awards ceremony is hosted again by British comedian Ricky Gervais.

Graphation Film Into Comics Festival is a Los Angeles festival built around short films that can then be made into graphic novels and comic books. Winning films and scripts will be taken and passed off to the Graphation stable of artists, a group made up of both established professionals and talented amateurs, and comic books will be created of those films. Graphation Film Productions already has several short projects in the works, both animated and live action, and is also hosting a free monthly movie night at Hive Gallery where the festival will be held from January 15-17

The New York City located Ticket Summit® is a conference and trade show focused on the ticketing and live entertainment industry. The three-day event which begins January 18 features a trade show, industry seminars, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. There will be a special Networking Cocktail Party on the evening of opening conference day, and “After Dark” events are slated as well.

The twice yearly held NAMM show (at least in the USA) serves buyers looking to find new state-of-the-art music products, and the exhibitors that are given an opportunity to connect with customers that comprise their target audience. Taking place in Anaheim, January 19-22, attendees benefit from sessions like, ”Doing Business in a New Key: Recreational and Community Music Making” at the RMM Coalition Meeting on January 20. Learning sessions also reveal techniques on how to drive more participation during in store activities, connect with community music activities and become the music-making hub in your community. NAMM 2012 will also host the 2nd Annual NAMM YP Gutterball (bowling) Invitational. Activities include drinks, food and bowling while networking with attending peers and industry mentors. Concerts and live performances happen every day of the festival schedule.

Annual Sundance Film Festival opens its season January 19-29 in Park City. Organizer and festival owner, Sundance Institute, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences for film. Originally founded by actor Robert Redford in the mountains of Sundance, Utah, the Institute seeks to discover, support, and inspire independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work through the annual festival and other cultural programs it runs. Again this year the Festival presents the Sundance ASCAP Music Café, a showcase for live performances by emerging and established artists, including solo acts and major bands.

Competing head on with Sundance as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging independent artists, Slamdance Film Festival happens at just about the same time (dates are January 20-26) and in the same vicinity as Sundance Festival. The festival accepts films in every genre and any topic from every country around the world. But unlike Sundance, Slamdance will show far fewer feature films while showing about the same number of shorts. The organization now consists of the Film Festival, Screenplay and Teleplay Competition and Slamdance Studios.

Opening its first year at a new Miami Beach venue after operating from the west coast for many years, the annual National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Conference and Market is the much anticipated program market serving the worldwide television community. For anyone that will buy, sell, develop, finance, advertise, market or license content, implement technology, exploit rights, or leverage media assets, this annual conference and exhibition taking place January 23-25 is a forum offering solutions and guidance. The “Content First” segment of the conference happens for all three days of the conference, and helps define the focus of NATPE as the destination for buyers and sellers to meet and do business. The NATPE 2012 Kick-off Party is a day before the official conference start, on January 22, but cocktail parties usually end every day of the busy conference schedule including the 9th Annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award gathering on the conference’s second day.

At the Driven Music Conference in Hollywood, January 27-29, AP Magazine and AP Tour CEO and Founder, Mike Shea, along with major label A&R and producers, are Featured to take part in a planned panel. Anyone planning to attend can sign-up with the Recording Academy, Florida Chapter, on January 28 at the informational booth. Chapter staff will mingle with the conference attendees to provide membership and other information about The Recording Academy. The VIP Meet and Greet Friday Kick Off Party will include featured panelists and conference sponsors. Showcase performances by selected artists happen January 27-28, and are open and free to conference attendees as well as the general public.

As this year’s MIDEM opens in Cannes on January 28, Music Pitch Sessions are an opportunity for anyone to present their tracks before music supervisors from worldwide advertising agencies searching for tunes to place in their projects. midemlab showcases the latest digital innovations that help music executives, artists, and brands to engage and monetise audiences. The showcase is the result of finalists of the startups and app developers competition. The second MIDEM hack day assembles 30 developers from around the globe who are given 48 hours to conceptualize, collaborate, and build a new generation of applications. This year MIDEM attendees can attend three nights of live performances featuring established performers and up-and-coming artists at the first-ever MIDEM festival. A classical music night will be held January 30, organized by MIDEM in partnership with the project management agency Harrison Parrott. The conference closes January 31.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. In this month’s story page photo is Germany’s mega-artist, Lando Van Herzog (www.lando-van-herzog.com), who conveys his support for the Occupy Wall Street movement through a new music video, ‘Egomania’. And in a look ahead into February event dates, there is the Editor’s Retreat, in Austin, the Victoria Film Festival, in British Columbia, a Marketing Your Books Workshop, in Jacksonville, Big Easy International Film and Music Festival, in Arcadia, Amelia Island Film Festival, on Fernandina Beach, just to run through some dates to give you something to look forward to. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

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International Film Festival Summit, 2nd Street Jazz, Jingle Mingle Holiday Party, Monaco International Film Festival, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 12-02-2011

The annual Bahamas International Film Festival, held on Nassau & Paradise Island, runs through December 4 this year. BIFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local island community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world that might not otherwise be seen there. At the festival, BIFF features educational programs and forums for exploring the future of cinema. Panels and master classes will include: acting; directing; discussion on producing, fundraising and distribution, covering emerging trends and financing options. During the Festival, there will be a Rising Star Tribute to Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny Kravitz). The opening night reception features live music by emerging Bahamian artists, including 4ever1 Band, and the closing night reception will promote a Bollywood theme requesting attendees to wear Indian style attire, and will feature live music and entertainment by Bollywood dancers.

Galileo Studio and the Azusa Pacific University Department of Theater, Film, and Television are hosting a conference on the art, craft and business of the short film, taking place in Azusa, from December 2-3. Titled “Much More than a Little Feature: The Splendor of the Short Film”, day one will be presented as a short film movie night, while day two will be presented as a short film conference. Collaborating organizations for the event include the Angelus Student Film Festival,

jazz jam at Matsumoto's 2nd Street Jazz

Musicians and singers perform at the intimate lounge that is Matsumoto's 2nd Street Jazz in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles.

the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, and Act One: Training for Hollywood. A partial list of speakers include: Luke Matheny, Writer/Director, 2011 Academy Award® Winner for Best Short Film, Live Action “God of Love”; Randy Haberkamp, Director of Special Projects at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Bobette Buster, Story Consultant for Pixar, 20th Century Fox, Disney Animation, and Sony Animation and others.

Set in the noted entertainment capital of Las Vegas, with only a three and a half hour drive from Hollywood, the Nevada Film Festival hosts several world premieres, galas and parties during its run through December 3. This year’s festival line-up includes both award-winning and world premiere feature films, documentaries, short films, foreign films, animations, music videos, experimental films, a screenplay competition, and an actor’s showcase. Films of many genres will be screened including drama, comedy, action, horror, family and more. The festival also features panel discussions with the filmmakers where audiences have the opportunity to interact. Panel discussions include a range of topics and disciplines such as writing, directing, and producing. Priority access is available for all films, panels, Opening Night Party, Filmmaker Reception, Festival Awards Ceremony, and VIP reserved seating.

Sandra Lord who conducts the long-running Hollywood Networking Breakfast (usually held on the last Thursday of every month) conducts another seminar for this month in West Los Angeles on December 3 — “Taking Charge of Your Career or Business Direction in 2012″. Areas for investigation focus on strategies for guidance and a fresh perspective for the next step of your career planning, resolving common issues of having representation but with career advancement and aspirations still lagging, strategies for those who lack connections or don’t know how to effectively use the ones they have, and more. Although admission is free, reservations are required through an RSVP to the organization’s email address and by providing the requested details in the email note.

As an annual event, the International Film Festival Summit Conference in downtown Austin generally attracts over 300 music and film festival executive directors that are the decision-makers in the music and film festival industry. Examples of attendees include SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Summerfest, Telluride Film Festival, Moviemaker Magazine, IFC, Bonnaroo, AFI Fest, Atlanta Film Festival, Starz Denver Film Festival, Savannah Music Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, River Run International Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and other institutions that are in attendance for the festival, this year running from December 4-6. For 2011, award-winning actor, Matthew Modine, will provide an actor’s point of view on film festivals and what attracts above-the-line players to film festivals.

Within the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, eclectic Matsumoto’s 2nd Street Jazz weekly event showcase presents Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Rock n’ Roll, Soul and R & B artists, as well as open mic opportunities and DJ turntable battles. The doors usually open at 7:30 pm nightly and live entertainment starts at 9 or 10 pm. In addition to its original purpose as a jazz club for which it was begun six or seven years ago by one time trumpet player and entrepreneur Kohei Matsumoto, 2nd Street Jazz explores music which ranges from rock to electronic to hip-hop and of course, jazz. Monday nights is a NYC styled jazz jam with any musicians with instruments invited up to the stage to play and singers to sing. Hip Hop and MC beat battles happen on Thursdays. The club features a full bar and late night food from their kitchen.

Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, running December 6-11 in Hollywood is committed to assisting the promotion and distribution of films made outside the major studio system. The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival celebrates independent and international filmmaking and is a sister project to the long running Independent Filmmakers Showcase series of monthly events designed to bring awareness to new and independent filmmakers of merit. The Hollywood Reel Independent Film festival will screen its 35mm film wnners with special screenings at the New Beverly Cinema, owned by landlord Quentin Tarintino and home to his Grindhouse Film Festival. Films screenings include Q & A with directors and are hosted by comedian Don Takano.

Join Central Florida’s media and entertainment associations for Holiday “Mingling”, networking and fun at the Annual Jingle Mingle Holiday Party in Winter Park this December 8. There will be entertainment, food, cash bar, silent auction and much more. The event is hosted by Women in Film & Television-Florida, and co-hosted by Digital Media Alliance Florida (DMAF), the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association (FMPTA) and Film Florida. Following on just several days later, Film Florida Legislative, Marketing and Board Meetings holds the quarterly business meeting of state’s trade associations for film, TV, digital media and commercial production, December 12 and 13 in Cocoa Beach. Its purpose is to offer to businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism in the state.

The Angel Film Awards, also known as the Monaco International Film Festival, is a celebration of peace, love, harmony, positive energy and non-violence in film and this year will add to the festival program non-violent shorts and features, when it runs December 8-11 from the seaside resort area at Monte Carlo — part of the tiny, prosperous principality of Monaco, famous in part for its posh, high-dollar casino and the annual Formula One Grand Prix. Special screenings of 2D and CGI Animation from across the globe are added to the program this year. Since its creation in 2003, the Festival has received wide coverage from global media and is known for its glamour, prestige, and networking industry party events. Venues include Hotel Hermitage, Salle Belle Époque, Monte-Carlo Bay Resort, Salle Empire at Hotel de Paris and the Pacific Lounge. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre and Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo. Built on the site of the old Radio Monte Carlo building, the Novotel provides state of the art projection facilities to view the festival program.

Four journalism professionals based in Colorado — Steve Outing, Vanessa Martinez, Sandra Fish, Mike Lewis — will form a panel that will discuss hyperlocal journalism and its various forms: free vs. paid content, innovative tools and online applications, and the roles of social media in journalism, on December 13 in Boulder. Whether your interest lies in journalism, blogging, social media, or other digital content creation, this discussion will attempt to makes its case through examples, case studies, ideas, and anecdotes on the state of journalism and its ever-evolving role in people’s daily lives. Admission to the event is free but registration is required to attend.

The Second Annual San Diego Christian Film Festival, happening December 27-30, showcases creative, high-caliber films, supports emerging filmmakers, and inspires audiences through the power of visual storytelling. The city-wide event in San Diego will also include  performing artists, workshops and networking opportunities that will make up its program.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. In a look ahead into January event dates, there is the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs, the Victoria Independent Film Festival, in Sebastapol, Games Summit at CES, in Las Vegas, the very seminal Graphation film festival, combining the worlds of comic books, graphic novels and film with a unique perspective on adaptation, in Los Angeles, the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, the SlamDance Film Festival in Los Angeles, the NATPE 2012 Market and Conference, in Miami. These and more are slated for the month ahead. Seasons greetings to all and all the best for the holiday period from The Actor’s Checklist!

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AFM/AFI, Leeds Film Festival, Billboard’s FutureSound Conference, Alpha Night on Broadway, are highlights in November’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 11-08-2011

AFM is the anticipated, annual film event that’s not quite festival, not quite conference, but mostly business opportunity — the business of independent motion picture production and distribution — set oceanside against Santa Monica beach. Generally, 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, networking and parties, right up till November 9. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press, and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. Separate from the conference schedule, the AFM Industry Conversations are interactive and informative discussions led by Hollywood thought leaders, decision makers, trendsetters and experts, and are free to anyone with an AFM Badge.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards. And AFI FEST holds the FIAPF accreditation (FIAPF.org), assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community. The festival opens with the Clint Eastwood directed, ‘J. Edgar’, with Leonardo

Pictures of American Film Market and Mandalay Bay Hotel

American Film Market is headquartered in Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas is the site for the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas and Judi Dench. Individual tickets became available to the general public from October 27. Tickets will be released the day before each screening at AFI.com and the day of each screening at the AT&T Box Office at Hollywood & Highland Center. The American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, is the market partner of AFI FEST.

Leeds International Film Festival will be held in West Yorkshire through November 20. It primarily supports the work of fresh talent in fiction and documentary filmmaking (both features and shorts), and importantly, work from existing talent that has not received some exposure yet in the UK. Every section of Leeds is structured as a film festival in itself. Cherry Kino is the forum for “wondermental” cinema at the festival. Cinema Versa is the home of documentaries inspired by the underground festival aesthetic, running two major themes: Music on Film and Underground Voices, incorporating live special events and collaborations. Fanomenon is the genre section of the film festival offering a mix of fantasy cinema experiences, light and dark. To celebrate its fifth birthday, this year’s Thought Bubble festival programme will be extended over seven days taking place at venues across the city. Thought Bubble 2011 will include free workshops for all ages, a three day academic conference, talks and masterclasses led by industry professionals, a giant free book crossing and giveaway, and a programme of film and documentary screenings.

Canadian-born composer Trevor Morris has earned multiple Emmy and Gemini Nominations and Awards for his work on Showtime’s The Tudors, The Borgias, and Starz Entertainment’s The Pillars of the Earth. For a November 8 evening event in Los Angeles, he and the Grammy Museum’s Executive Director, Bob Santelli, discuss his career and the process of writing scores for films and television. Along with the discussion, Morris will take questions from the audience, instruct a live composing demonstration, and audience members will be among the first to see clips from upcoming 3D action adventure feature, Immortals, which he has contributed to.

Every November, the Lone Star Film Society presents the Lone Star International Film Festival bringing top selections in cinema to the City of Fort Worth. Along with celebrating emerging visions, the festival also pays homage to the masters of the medium throughout five days of screenings, panels, and parties. The focus of the 2011 Lone Star International Film Festival, opening for a five day run starting November 9, will be to examine new models of film distribution and marketing with the objective of contributing to the creation of industry best practices for filmmakers and other professionals working within this transitioning environment. The LSIFF Feature Film Competition Program focuses on new works from emerging talents made with modest budgets. The LSFS rationalizes this as the best way to identify new visions that are strong enough to see through barriers such as limited resources.

The Sixth Annual HPA Awards Show Gala is held to recognize the very best in Post Production, and will be held in Los Angeles on November 10. The Hollywood Post Alliance®, also known as HPA®, is the trade association serving the Southern California-based professional community of businesses and individuals who provide expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media content. Cocktail attire is suggested for this event, and a champagne and dessert reception immediately follows the show.

The Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival is an official cultural event of the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, happening November 12-19. Quality film submissions of any length are welcome from all genres from anywhere in the world. A strong emphasis of the Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival is to contribute to the economic and creative vitality of the city of Oaxaca and expand the audience for independent film. Opening night after party at Bar Txalaparta, and closing night after party at Bar Desestresse.

Billboard’s FutureSound conference will bring together musical artists, entrepreneurs, investors and meaningful rights-holders for focused conversations about next-generation opportunities in music over two days in San Francisco from November 17. These ideas will be presented and discussed on-site to produce a Billboard publication cover story detailing best practices and ideas. During a scheduled Friday panel, Steve Jang, Founder/CEO, SoundTracking, Ryan Sarver, Head of Platform, Twitter, take part in a panel moderated by Joe Marchese, SVP Marketing & Digital, FUSE, on “Twitter and The Socialization of Music”. In addition to the conference, Billboard will also be featuring installations of next generation platforms and music products to create a backdrop for the day’s discussions.

Established and recognized magazine on the film circuit, Independent Film Quarterly presents its Film & New Media Festival in New York City, November 17-24. The festival provides a platform where filmmakers can showcase their work (features, shorts, new media, animation, music videos and documentaries), increase opportunities for producers and maximize potential for distribution, press and industry recognition. The Festival will exhibit a selection of short- and long-form works that exhibit strong personal visions combined with the high standards of artistic merit and technical achievement consistent with, and reflective of Independent Film Quarterly.

At the Music In Media Industry Professionals Mixer running from November 18-19, attendees can get up close and personal with top industry movers and shakers who will be on hand to connect and meet Hollywood Music In Media (HMMA) artists and members. The Hollywood based event officially known as MIMIpro™, features groovin’ music, tasty appetizers and a full bar that will be used to create an ambiance for networking while award winners, industry luminaries and personalities deliver candid and revealing interviews live in the hotel’s mid-century styled lounge. All HMMA members, guests, friends and awards attendees are welcome to this complimentary two day experience. Live broadcast is carried via www.stageit.com both nights beginning at 8 pm PST. A post event celebration follows.

Held during the official proclamation of “Animation Week” in Burbank, the CTN animation eXpo which runs three days starting on November 20, is an assemblage of presentations, workshops, screenings, networking, recruiting, to mutually benefit the animation artist, games, education, film and video communities and the individuals in those communities. In one planned conference panel, “The Media is the Message!”, panel participants explore the topic of developing content in new media such as web-based, iPad apps, PDA oriented content, streaming content, multi-platform content linked with gaming, apps, feature films and more. Since its inception in 2004 The Creative Talent Network® stands as the organized community for the top creators of both traditional and digital animated films, and hosts of the CTN animation eXpo.

Our Gang Productions joins with Rho Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the producers of the Broadway play, Stick Fly, for one night, November 20, to divert a portion of the evening’s box office into a fundraiser for the Rho Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, leading up to a 2012 Historic Black college and university tour and College Boot Camp that underprivileged urban youth will take part in. The evening begins with a pre-reception at B. Smith’s Restaurant on Restaurant Row of Hell’s Kitchen, then onto the Broadway play, Stick Fly, followed by a Q&A panel discussion moderated by Dion Michael Ashman (www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1314212335) of Get Ready for Primetime Radio. Stick Fly is written by Lydia R. Diamond, directed by Kenny Leon, and executive produced by Grammy winner, Alicia Keys, who composed an original score for the production.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. In a look ahead into December event dates, there is the anticipated Bahamas International Film Festival in Nassau & Paradise Island, the 2011 International Film Festival Summit in  Las Vegas, Monaco International Film Festival in Monte Carlo, the Metropolitan Film Festival of New York in New York City, and Queer Fruits Film Festival in Lismore, to give a small sample of the upcoming events in the month ahead. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor’s Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

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Ghent Film Festival, Americana Music Festival, Toronto After Dark Film Fest, Hollywood Reporter/ Billboard Conference, are highlights in October’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 10-06-2011

It’s an event which is held twice annually — once in Colorado and again in Santa Barbara, California wine country. The Durango Songwriter’s Expo gives artists and songwriters the opportunity to network with music supervisors, record labels, music publishers, and have music critiqued in listening sessions, sit in on industry panels and perform musical creations during the evening showcases. At this year’s expo in Broomfield, October 6-8, each attendee gets three listening sessions, showcase or open mic opportunities, and full access to workshops and panels. The “Write With The Hitmaker” song contest will run again this year. Sticking with custom, registration is always limited to 200 attedees.

The Chicago International Film Festival, which will be staged October 6-20, is now in its 47th year. The Festival was started in 1964 by filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza to provide an alternative to the commercial Hollywood movies that dominated the city’s theaters. The Festival opened in 1965 at the Carnegie Theater, where King Vidor, Bette Davis, and Stanley Kramer were honored for their contributions to American cinema. Since then, the Festival has grown to become an  annual event. The Festival is dedicated to fostering better understanding between cultures and to making a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image.

The FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival in Orlando is an international horror genre film festival and screenplay competition featuring entries in independent horror from around the world. Filmmakers compete for the “FREAKY Award” in nine different categories. The FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival is part of SPOOKY EMPIRE’S Ultimate Horror Weekend. A Spooky Empire tradition, the Zombie Walk is the official Friday event that kicks off the weekend long convention, from October 7-9, with make-up artists on hand starting at 10 am to apply paint, make-up, prosthetics, and plenty of fake blood. The Screamin’ Ink Tattoo room will again operate this year during the festival. The Annual Costume Contest will be held October 9, with cash prizes awarded. Live bands will perform between 7 pm and 12 midnight every night of the Festival run.

New York City based Black and Latino Filmmaker’s Coalition, a career resource for filmmakers and actors, hosts a series of one-day workshops structured to challenge, empower and motivate. There will be two more sessions left in this month: the “Mastering On Camera Performances Workshop” on October 9, and “Making A Living As Actor Workshop” on October 16, which will close out the current workshop cycle. The workshop cycle which will start again is structured to guide individuals to perform complex scenes by demanding exercises in efforts to master five crucial disciplines: Rehearsal, Audition, Live Performance, Recorded Performance and Making a Living. BLFC also operates a: Film Assist Grant Program, an Indepedent Film Theater in Brooklyn, the BLFC Institute which hosts the classrooms and workshops. The website also lists upcoming castings and auditions.

Poetry in Film Festival, or PIFF 2011, is based primarily in Melbourne, but will conduct screenings in other districts of Australia as well. The festival is Australia wide, running October 9 through November 9, accepting entrants from every state and territory in the country, and around the world. Entrants in the festival are given a piece of modern poetry. From there they are free to interpret the poem in the form of a 4-7 min short film as they envision it. The best films will be screened at the PIFF Awards Night, where the awards ceremony will take place, with an after party to follow. The best films will also be shown as a part of the festival circuit in other locations, after the awards ceremony throughout Victoria and Australia.

Sports Video Group (SVG) will hold TranSPORT 2011 in New York on October 11, a sport industry event focused upon the needs of the sports professional whose job duties include transport and distribution of video and audio content via TV, the Internet, and other electronic distribution means. The half-day event that starts past noon will provide an overview of the most recent developments as industry experts and service providers discuss the current and future state of this market segment. The Sports Video Group was formed in 2006 to support the professional community that relies on video, audio, and broadband technologies to produce and distribute sports content. The day ends with a networking cocktail reception.

With its origins as a student festival, and its present focus on film music, the Ghent Film Festival occupies a certain niche among international festivals. Every year the festival organizes film music concerts giving composers of film scores a platform to present their works. Since 2001, the Ghent Film Festival has also organized the World Soundtrack Awards. Each year, the best soundtrack composers are honored and receiving recognition for their work. In addition to the screenings, the Ghent Film Festival also organizes film-related exhibitions. To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of U2′s classic album “Achtung Baby”, the Ghent Film Festival treats its guests to the European premiere of “From the Sky Down”, an in-depth documentary about the Irish super band. The 11th edition of the World Soundtrack Awards & Concert will be held October 22, at which Oscar winners Elliot Goldenthal, Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer will be the distinguished guests for the closing ceremony of the 38th Ghent Film Festival at the Kuipke in Ghent, October 11-22.

Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music. In 2007, the Grammys added Americana to their Contemporary Folk Award. The Americana Music Festival & Conference goes up October 12-15 in Nashville. In a planned conference session, “Working the Festival Circuit: Making a Living Touring Festivals,” a panel will explore the positives and negatives of sharing a weekend with multiple acts and detail the business side of how to set up such a tour. Many other panels are slated. Evening showcases are held at five notable downtown music venues including historic Ryman Auditorium, home of the Americana Honors & Awards, Lower Broad honkytonks, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Dedicated to film education and exploration, the Bel-Air Film Festival offers its filmmakers access to a series of film panels, music performances, and networking opportunities with industry professionals when it launches October 12 to run through October 17. As a community centered event, screenings are held throughout the Bel-Air community as well as the greater Los Angeles area. Film screenings include Documentaries, Animation, Short Films, Student Film and Comedy. There will be opening and closing night galas, an education series of film panels, a special red carpet event night recognizing British film hosted by Brits in LA, special red carpet film and comedy night, screenings in private estates, music performances, and a good deal of networking taking place.

The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to celebrate Independent film — long, short, fiction and documentary — and to introduce a varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to its audiences. The Festival, which this year runs October 13-17 from East Hampton, is committed to exhibiting films that express fresh voices and differing global perspectives, with the hope that these programs enlighten audiences and provide invaluable exposure to the filmmakers. In addition to short films (for which they are an Academy-qualifying festival), documentaries and narratives, the Festival offers special events such as: a Breakthrough Performers program, which showcases up-and-coming acting talent (past participants include Rooney Mara, Emmy Rossum, Emily Blunt, and Blake Lively).

The 31st Annual Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) in Honolulu, October 13-20, marks the festival’s 30th anniversary with presentations of contemporary Asian cinema, beach screenings, a sixth Student Showcase for filmmakers under 18. HIFF is focused on discovering features, documentaries and shorts from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawaiian filmmakers that present Hawaii in a culturally accurate way. Film selection places an emphasis on feature films, documentaries, short films, Hawaiian-themed films and music videos. One of the scheduled roundtables titled, “Search Party”, brings together composers, music supervisors and studio execs to discuss what goes into taking an idea into a full-fledged score. HIFF is an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America, and is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG).

The Ninth Annual Giants of Broadcasting Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in New York City on October 14, honors those individuals who have played a pivotal role in creating and advancing the electronic arts. This year’s honorees include Brian Williams, Christiane Amanpour, C-SPAN’s Brian Lamb, Fred Pierce, BMI’s Frances Preston, John Dille — the architect behind CBS Sunday Morning (Charles Osgood, Rand Morrison, Charles Kuralt and Robert “Shad” Northshield), posthumously Gunsmoke’s James Arness, Dawson B. “Tack” Nail. Bill Baker will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The luncheon is the Library of American Broadcasting’s largest fundraising event, providing the resources to maintain an extensive broadcasting archive and collection of oral histories. A preceding cocktail reception begins at 11:30 am and the awards ceremony begins at noon.

The two day Sexy International Paris Film Festival, opening October 14, looks to discover, promote and screen the best films from around the world that explore the themes of “Sexy” — sexuality, sex and the erotic — from a filmmaker’s cultural, personal, life and/or cinematographic perspective. The Paris based festival aims to enlighten, educate, create discussion and debate, as well as allow audience interaction in relation to various projects within SIPFF. Festival goals are to discover, promote and screen the best films from around the world. Though international in scope emphasis will be placed on Francophone content with a competition programme to determine the best Francophone short and international short film of the festival. The Festival has announced it will premiere for the first time in France the Berlinale International Film Festival’s German Perspective 2010 Closing night Film, “Bedways” by RP Kahl who will be in attendance.

CMJ Film Festival presents a cross section of major studio premieres alongside independent productions from emerging filmmakers. Held annually in New York City, this year from October 18-22, the festival’s goal is to present an audience of 18-34 year old, media and culturally savvy, globally-minded tastemakers with sophisticated film programming and opportunities for direct engagement with filmmakers and film industry. A partial list of some panels planned for the festival include: A&R Philosophy, Alternative Film Marketing and Distribution, Connecting Bands with Fans: Mobile Social Discovery, Producing Killer Videos on a YouTube Budget. CMJ Events produces the CMJ Music Marathon in addition to live events and tours across the USA. Parent company, CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with new music through interactive media, live events and print, and CMJ.com offers a digital music discovery service, information resources and community to new music fans, professionals and artists.

Toronto After Dark Film Festival is a showcases of new horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action, animation and cult cinema. Last year’s festival was attended by 9,000 film fans and over 100 members of press and industry. The initial lineup includes a number of unique genre movies including the Opening Gala Film, Monster Brawl, a horror action comedy about an outrageous sporting event that sees fan favorites dueling it out to see who is the greatest monster of all. Audiences and fans will also be delighted to hear that horror industry stalwart Troma Entertainment’s Father’s Day, a cult exploitation film about a group of misfits trying to hunt down a twisted serial killer, will hold its World Premiere at the festival which will be running October 20-27 in Toronto.

Every year the Celluloid Screams: Sheffield Horror Film Festival showcases contemporary and classic horror cinema, from new horror features and genre discoveries to short films from the “fearmakers” of the future. Founded in 2009, the festival has premiered such notable films as: Paranormal Activity, Neighbor, I Sell The Dead, Subconscious, Grace and The Revenant (just to name but a few), and has an ongoing commitment to showcase emerging genre talent. Celluloid Screams has negotiated a special festival rate that includes breakfast at their recommended hotel, Jurys Inn Sheffield, during the festival run from October 21-23.

Hollywood Reporter and Billboard join forces to deliver a two-day seminar on the role of music in film and television, taking place in Hollywood, October 24 and 25. Now in its tenth year, this Conference offers attendees an opportunity to learn from, network with, and get the ear of attending music supervisors, composers, directors, music editors, songwriters and producers active in the business. Topic areas slated for exploration include: Songwriters and Musicians Working in Film & TV, Music Supervisors Provide Real Time Critiques, Composers Dissect How a Score Evolves, Writing for Teens, ‘Tweens and Tots, Roundtables, Speed Networking, more.There will be a Closing Network Happy Hour on the Pool Terrace, then following will be the Official Closing Night Party at The Highlands Hollywood.

The Annual Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame October 26 New York City ceremony is regarded as an industry event honoring the pioneers, innovators and stars of the electronic arts. The evening’s formal dinner ceremonies will be hosted by Piers Morgan of CNN, and Nancy O’Dell of Entertainment Tonight. Event organizer and producer NewBay Media’s market brands are directed toward five vertical markets — Pro Audio, Broadcast and Video, Musical Instruments, AV / Consumer Electronics and K-12 Education. NewBay publishes and produces over 40 publications and show dailies, 50 websites, 30 daily and weekly E-Newsletters, 3 expos and over 50 custom publishing efforts annually.

At an October 27 Media and Entertainment Investing Conference in Miami’s Coral Gables district, panels for the day include: Early-Stage Media Investing and how to meet investors, pitch them, and what it really takes to get them to write you a check, and Growing Your Media Entertainment Business: Protecting and Selling Your Intellectual Property. The conference, sponsored by The Launch Pad at the University of Miami, will appeal to Media and Entertainment entrepreneurs raising capital, as well as Media Investors (VCs, Angels & Corporate). Additionally, all companies can attend the Pitching Workshop Breakfast from 8-10 am, as well as the Networking Lunch, and Cocktail Party.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. In a look ahead into November event dates, there is the anticipated American Film Market set oceanside in Santa Monica, the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in  Las Vegas, Billboard Touring Conference in New York, the Government Video Expo in Washington, DC, and AFI Fest in Hollywood, to give a small sample of the upcoming events in the month ahead. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor’s Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

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Malibu Film Festival, Independent Film Week (IFP), NYTVF, POP Montreal, are highlights in September’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 09-06-2011

New York’s Harlem community hosts a film festival through September 11 that showcases features, documentaries, shorts, youth films and animated works from around the world. Other events include night life, panel discussions, the Brownstone Awards and the Renaissance Awards gala. In addition to showcasing films from around the world, the Festival also features the Harlem Spotlight, which highlights films produced or directed by Harlem residents, films shot in Harlem, or films about Harlem and its history.

A Miami Hitmakers Panel set for September 8, has been structured to help educate the up and coming music community in Miami. Panelists will discuss topics such as their background, the state of the music industry today, advice for aspiring producers, songwriters, artists and executives, and other related areas. They will also participate in a Q&A with the audience near the end. ASCAP’s Vice President of Rhythm & Soul Membership, Nicole George, will moderate the panel. Attendance requires an RSVP that will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. To RSVP, please contact Michael Wells at mwells@ascap.com. This panel is free and open to the public.

The Sydney Underground Film Festival seeks filmmakers that veer from the norm. The festival, held in Marrickville, Sydney and running September 8-10, seeks to support filmmakers who operate outside established film industry infrastructures, by providing a platform for exhibition, exposure and critical discussion. The festival program’s selection screens independent, experimental, art-house, provocative and daring films from around the world. There will be a fifth birthday celebration at the Opening NIght film and party with fun films, a special live performance, DJs, complimentary food and beverages including organic wine, organic beer, and freshly baked pizza onsite.

In 1997, Malibu Film Foundation was founded by writer/producer/director, David Katz, to produce the Malibu Film Festival. The Malibu Film Festival is set to make a run this year from September 9-15 in the renowned beachfront community that is its home. With a focus on new filmmakers, Malibu Film Festival screens films in all genres, on any topic, from every country around the world. The mission is to showcase the most talented emerging filmmakers, bringing attention to their work to the film industry. A Tory Burch Fashion Show will be presented during the festival run, and there will be a Closing Night Awards Party.

The Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival is open to US and International films in five categories: full length features, shorts, documentaries, animation and student films. The music competition component of TVIFF is designed to showcase the music vision and artistry of musicians representing all genres of music – from rock to pop, jazz to R&B, Folk to Hip Hop, Country to Latin, Reggae, etc. The festival starts September 14 with an Opening Night red carpet welcome of 300 filmmakers and music artists participants, followed by nightly filmmaker/musician receptions, capped by a Black Tie Awards Gala to close on September 18. Independent record producer Jason Brawner leads the workshop, “Pitch It, Pitch It Good!” where he conducts one-on-one mentoring sessions, and JDS Actors Studio conducts a workshop that focuses on the Audition process for Actors at every level. The two-day MusicFest, Friday and Saturday, is free to the public.

In a combined effort, ASCAP and GRAMMY U present a September 15 networking mixer in San Antonio geared to college students and featuring food, drinks, and a panel presented by ASCAP titled: “The Importance of Music In Film and Television 101″. Students can network with fellow college students, Recording Academy Texas Chapter Board members, and start the school year with GRAMMY U. Panelists include: Jeff Jernigan, ASCAP Associate Director of Film and TV Music, Yocel Alonso, Entertainment Attorney, Janet Vasquez, San Antonio Film Commission, Rick Garcia, ASCAP Film Songwriter, Brian Black, Music Supervisor, Veronica R. Hernandez, NALIP, Carl Thiel, Music Producer/Composer/Film Scorer.

Taking place during the 33rd annual Independent Film Week (formerly IFP Market), IFP’s five-day Filmmaker Conference: The Future of Film is now in its new home in New York City at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s new facility. New this year, are in-depth master classes on topics ranging from financing the narrative feature to audience building and outreach. Created in 1979, IFP is one the nation’s oldest organizations of independent filmmakers, and during this time has supported the production of 7,000 films and provided resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers through programs and guidance that include: Independent Film Week, Independent Filmmaker Labs, Industry Connects, Fiscal Sponsorship, the Independent Film Conference and many others. IFP also publishes Filmmaker magazine.

The New York Television Festival (NYTVF), founded in 2005 as the face of the “independent television” movement, has been striving ever since to provide artists with needed access to decision makers, innovative paths of program development, and opportunities to showcase their work. The NYTVF’s Independent Pilot Competition has established a pipeline allowing producers, writers, and directors to showcase their original TV pilots directly to decision-makers of the industry. For the first time, an international group of writers, directors, and producers, selected from a grassroots search, will be given the opportunity to showcase pilot programs directly to network and cable executives in a forum. There will be a cocktail party welcoming the 2011 Official Artists and celebrating the opening of the Independent Pilot Competition on September 20, and on September 21 join the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for a party celebrating the City’s thriving television production community, both events in the Varick Room at Tribeca Cinema.

Unicomm in association with Variety will host the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit in Hollywood, September 20-21, which is all about connecting the ecosystem among digital assets, original content and mobile platforms to reach consumers in today’s multi-screen environment. It will bring forth some of the top minds in mobile technology, interactive media and entertainment to examine how content and rapidly evolving technology is dramatically changing the entertainment marketplace. The two-day conference includes keynotes, one-on-one interviews, panels, technology demonstrations, a networking luncheon and evening cocktail reception as well as table top displays and interactive showcases. It will run concurrent with the 3D Entertainment and 3D Gaming Summits operating from the same space.

POP Montreal International Music Festival, running September 21-25, is an annual not-for-profit curated cultural event championing the international music scene vital to indie oriented communities of musicians and artists, fans, curators, critics, and record labels. The festival includes symposium discussions, artisan and visual art exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings, and nightly parties. The Festival is designated by these sections: Pop Montreal, ArtPop, FilmPop, KidsPop, PucesPop, Symposium. In a slated “Music Supervision Workshop” Jon Bartlett (Megaphono/Kelp Records), Andrea von Foerster (Firestarter Music), Michael Hill and Russell Ziecker (Lionsgate Entertainment) analyze the process to create new soundtracks to a 30-second film clip.

Across the Canadian divide in Ottawa, the The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) rolls out the Ottawa International Animation Festival from September 21-25. The CFI is focused on promoting and presenting regular public programmes of contemporary, historical, and international cinema in the National Capital region. During the week of the Festival, there are 92 screenings and 46 professional development events at six venues across downtown Ottawa. In addition to the main Festival – the OIAF runs a number of outreach events and activities such as: free NFB workshops for families and teens, the Adobe Toon Apprentice Pass, Animation Celebration (a free screening for elementary classes), Toon Apprentice high school lecture series, and more. Aside from nightly parties, the festival also has the annual picnic located in Strathcona Park, Ottawa’s picturesque green spot on the Rideau River.

The Fantastic Film and Arcade Game Fest, happening in Austin, September 22-29, was created to offer exposure to genre films in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action, which can be overlooked by the traditional festival circuit. The Festival strives to offer acquisition and media and exhibition opportunities for undistributed films as well as to spotlight upcoming genre theatrical releases and repertory genre classics. The Fantastic Arcade will showcase a curated selection of brand new independent games as well as a larger sampling of important independent games from the last couple of years.The festival will also make available special badges for access to: the arcade  open for game play and tournaments, Fantastic Arcade happy hour and tournament finals, Fantastic Arcade VIP Party. Festival venue The Alamo Drafthouse was named the best cinema in America by Entertainment Weekly and features food and drink served to your seat without any disruption of the movie experience.

The mission of the upcoming Coney Island Film Festival is to raise funds for the non-profit arts organization Coney Island USA while presenting an engaging program of films including “made in Coney Island” productions. The September 23 opening night celebrations pay tribute to Coney Island’s renown carnival history with live performances by sideshow freaks, sword swallowers, fire eaters and stars of the New York City burlesque scene. Coney Island’s amusement parks and aquarium are scheduled to be open weather permitting. The festival runs through September 25.

Miami’s DocMiami International Film Festival will kick off with Opening Night Cocktails and a Screening on Thursday at Romano’s Macaroni Grill. The festival officially opens September 23-25. In some of the speaker sessions, Funding and Development of Your Document, will be addressed by former 20th Century Fox Scriptwriter, Alyn Darnay; and Brenda Nieborsky, VP Operations for Openfilm.com is a featured speaker on the topic of On-Line Distribution. Speaker Ece Karayalcin, Filmmaker/ Professor at the Department of Film and Television, School of Entertainment and Design Technologies, takes on issues of Legalities, Footage & Music Rights. Performing artists including Javier Batiz “The Godfather of Mexican Blues” and Tito Puente, Jr. contribute their talents in scheduled concerts for the benefit of the children of Tanzania at DocMiami 2011.

The annual conference for the film, video, and digital media industry known as Cine Gear NY, includes: exhibits, premiere and master class seminars, film series competition and finalist screenings, 3D symposium and technology salon, content conference, new product announcements, demonstrations, VIP awards ceremony, special events and more. The conference which runs in New York City, September 24-25, offers artists and technicians the opportunity to discover the latest technology and techniques, get hands-on training, gain knowledge and skills from industry leaders, obtain the newest equipment, hear breaking industry news and network with peers and industry leaders.

The Annual CULTURE&CULTURES Intercultural International Film Festival (C&CIIFF), staged in Lempaut Tarn and opening September 29 until October 2, is created by the non-profit association “Culture&Cultures” and presents a selection of international films, both documentary and fiction, with a platform committed to intercultural exchange and dialogue. After each screening, the audience will vote for their favorite film and the Director of either the fiction or the documentary film which obtains the highest votes will be the winner of the 1000 Euros prize.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into October event dates will help you prepare for:  Billboard & The Hollywood Reporter Film & TV and Music Conference, in Los Angeles, Durango Songwriters Expo, in Boulder, the New Orleans Horror Film Festival, in Theodore, New York City ShowBiz Expo, in New York City, 2011 Content & Communications World, in New York City, to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor’s Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

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Lollapalooza, Siggraph 2011, Sunset Strip Music Festival, INTEGRATE 2011, are Highlights in August’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 :: Posted by admin on 08-06-2011

Delou Africa Inc. hosts the African Diaspora Dance and Drum Festival of Florida that is open to the public and educates the community about African and Caribbean dance, drum and musical styles and traditions. The festival features a host of activities for the entire family including a symposium, a children’s village that includes rites of passage, drumming, music and dance workshops, Yoga, cultural vendor marketplace, health/wellness screenings and a grand performance concert showcasing guest artists and the Delou Africa Dance Ensemble, everything happens through August 7 in Miami.

In Chicago, the line up for this year’s Lollapalooza Outdoor Music Extravaganza includes: Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, DEADMAU5, The Cars, Arctic Monkeys, Cee Lo, and many others. On a visit to the festival site, watch real-time video feeds from multiple stages around the festival. Catch the official YouTube Live Cast on the Festival’s Video Wall and use the devices to capture and share any outrageous costume clad photos and video of you and your friends. With the Festival now in its 20th season, re-live the past at Lollapalooza’s 20th Anniversary Lounge and view original videos, photos and one-of-a-kind outfits from some of its early performers. Stop by the Lounge, relax, have a drink and create your own bit of Lolla history by retelling personal stories, past and present. Also make sure to take in the 20th Anniversary Time Capsule. Indulge your gaming side at the PlayStation Loft, an interactive social getaway with the newest PlayStation Move games and hourly giveaways for stage viewing passes for the PlayStation Stage. Be sure to visit the f.y.e Tent for each day’s schedule of artist autograph sessions. The f.y.e. Tent is also where you can pick up the latest CDs, DVDs, and vinyl from your favorite Lolla acts. You can catch all the action Lollapalooza has to offer through August 7.

At the UNF Writers Conference in Jacksonville, through August 7, explore the craft of writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry and screenplays. Sharpen marketing skills and mingle with best-selling authors and produced screenwriters. There will be a “How I Got My Agent Panel” to attend. New this year will be critique workshops that include poetry, romance, sci-fi/fantasy and a special workshop just for teen fiction writers. Conference participants can have their work critiqued by faculty and fellow writers in a supportive workshop environment. Additionally, during the conference, the Writers Pitch Book event submits anyone’s written pitches/loglines to agents, book editors and film producers in the form of a pitch book for these attending representatives to evaluate for possible submission. There is a wine and cheese reception and book signing party on opening day.

Siggraph 2011 is the annual conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques through international collaboration of individuals: artists, scientists, engineers, and producers, all of whom contribute to the evolving computer graphics community. Run this year out of Vancouver, August 7-11, Siggraph 2011 presents a one-day business summit focusing on the industries that come out of the Siggraph community through discussion-based sessions and presentations. Dessert and cocktails is included at a networking reception the evening of August 8 at the West Building, Ballroom. Job Fair Exhibitors will be posting their jobs on the CreativeHeads.net and ACM SIGGRAPH job boards a month prior to the conference.

A meeting of the San Francisco Chapter’s Producers & Engineers Wing assembles members and other visiting guest participants together for an evening, August 10, listening to songs mixed by the evening’s guests. Share songs and listening experiences with other area engineers while engaging in discussion about ideas, techniques, perceptions and insights. This will be the first in a series of listening workshops designed to spark growth and creativity by learning from fellow participants how to achieve the best sound reproduction possible. Attendees are asked to bring a song to share with the group. It may be a current work in progress, or just any song to share for feedback.

Sandestin Music Festival this year unveils a cross-section of country and rock music songwriters and performers for two day opening August 12. A listing of some featured performers includes: Jeffrey Steele, Thomas Rhett, Lari White, James Slater, Kree Harrison, Jon Pardi, The Pernikoff Brothers, and Joanna Cotton. A selection of venues will showcase numerous musicians throughout the weekend. Saturday, the weekend’s main headline acts will be showcased at the Village Events Plaza in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Sandestin Music Festival supports the Wounded Warrior Foundation, whose mission is “To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in this nation’s history.” Entry to the Sandestin Music Festival is free for the public with a printed ticket from the festival website.

More outdoor music can be heard at the Sunset Strip Music Festival. The street festival is located in the 9000 – 8900 block range of Sunset Boulevard (between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard) in West Hollywood. From August 18-20, venues within the closure will host free shows for ticketed attendees during the day and after the street fest closes. Entrance is first-come, first-served. The street festival will include two outdoor stages on The Sunset Strip between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard from 1-10 pm as well as performances in the music venues within the closure – Cat Club, Key Club, The Roxy Theatre and Whisky A Go-Go – throughout the day and into the night. The street fest will also include food and merchandise vendors, beer garden, rooftop VIP lounge, and interactive experiences. Last year businesses hosted parties throughout the week as well as comedy showcases, whiskey tastings, live in-store performances, photo exhibits and exclusive deals for SSMF ticket and passholders.

Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival of Miami is a competitive screening festival, with short and feature films competing for the Crystal Lens, the largest festival prize solely dedicated to Brazilian films produced abroad. The Tribute Screenings will be held at the Miami Beach Cinematheque. Additionally, there is the festival MarketPlace that includes debates and panels focusing on distribution, co-production and commercialization, paneled with professionals from the Brazilian and International film industry.

Seattle-based, cause-rock band, The People Now will host an all ages benefit show for MusiCares® August 20 in Seattle. The music line-up will feature the band, Nine50Nine; an incarnation of Seattle alumni, featuring; Ty Willman (formerly of Green Apple Quick Step), Dave Krusen (formerly of Pearl Jam), Alan Hunt, Cameron Brownfield and guests. Also scheduled to perform is the show’s host, The People Now, a Seattle-based, cause-oriented band and organization with a depth of music and message, striving to make a difference in their community, both locally and globally. Ticket sales can be made through Ticketmaster. MusiCares provides resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues of health and welfare to those in need in the music community.

Snoop Dogg will be saluted as a BMI Icon at its 11th Annual Urban Awards ceremony, August 26 in Hollywood.  BMI President and CEO Del Bryant will share hosting duties with Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta. This invitation-only event will also honor the world’s premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers of the past year’s top urban music, and include an all-star musical tribute to Snoop Dogg, as well as the presentation of the Urban Songwriter, Song, Producer and Publisher of the Year crystals.

Integrate will join forces with InfoComm to present a broad range of seminars, workshops and special events, focused directly toward the professional sound, light and vision industries. Over 500 brands and exhibitors will be on display when INTEGRATE 2011 launches August 30 through  September 1 in the Moore Park district of Sydney. With a strong focus on education, seminar and conference programs taking place during the show, key areas to be addressed include: Unified Communications, Digital Signage, Staging and Production, Education Technology, Audio Technology, Lighting and more.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into September event dates will help you prepare for:  Boston Film Festival, in Boston, Ottawa International Animation Festival, in Ottawa, Clearwater Film & Music Festival, in Clearwater Beach, NY International Film & TV Finance Summit, in New York, ICG’s Emerging Cinematographer Awards, in Hollywood, to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor’s Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

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