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WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT NEW MEDIA

March 9th, 2010

SAG Armadillo Day Poster

SAG Armadillo Day Poster


I’ll be moderating the panel at the event below on Saturday. Please join us and find out how you – Actor, Director, Producer can work with SAG in the rapidly emerging new media arena.

@ THE CROSSROADS OF NEW MEDIA

Saturday: March 13, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue: 219 West
219 West 4th Street
Austin, Texas

Join new media gurus Mike Prasad, Co-Founder and CEO of GirlGamer.com; Mark Friedlander, SAG National Director of New Media; and Will Marshall, SAG iActor online casting coordinator for a compelling look at the phenomenal growth in new media production and distribution.

FREE and open to the public.

Seating is limited: RSVP to Sheila Cooper at  sheila.cooper at sag.org or (800) 724-0767, option 7 or (972) 361-8185 by March 10.

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Posted in Austin Film, Filmmaking, Gamers, IActor, Indie Film, Producers, SAG, SXSW, Tommy G. Kendrick

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THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS LANDS DISTRIBUTION

February 6th, 2010

THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS was one of my favorite films from this past year’s SXSW film festival. Co-written and directed by Austin filmmaker John E. Bryant, THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS is finally getting its chance to be seen by a much wider audience. Starting Februrary 17th, THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS will be available through IFC Films ON DEMAND. In the Austin area, IFC ON DEMAND is only available on Time Warner. Check it out.

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Posted in Actors, Austin Film, Film Distribution, Indie Film, John Bryant, Texas Filmmakers, Texas film, The Overbrook Brothers, Tommy G. Kendrick

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Demo Reels, Pictures and Resumes – Getting Your Act Together

January 22nd, 2010

The AUSTIN ACTORS CONSERVATORY PRESENTS

“GETTING YOUR ACT TOGETHER”
Demo Reels, Pictures, and Resumes

JANUARY 24, 2010 – Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
St. Edward’s University, 3001 S. Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Ragsdale Center, Mabee Ballroom on 3rd Floor

Join the Austin Actors Conservatory for a candid discussion of what works and what doesn’t and learn how to market yourself in today’s climate.

COST: Members of the AAC: Attend for FREE. Please bring your SAG/AFTRA card for admittance (as a reminder all members of AAC must be paid up and in good standing with their unions). FREE for St. Edward’s students (must show student ID for admission) * Fans of the AAC: $20.00 *All others: $25.00.

Please RSVP for this EVENT:  AustinActorsConservatory at gmail.com

Moderated by Tommy G. Kendrick

Our Panelists Include:

Pictures and Resumes:

DAMON WILLIAMS – Former Casting Director for Ricki G. Maslar Casting; Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting – in Los Angeles, Damon is a recent transplant from Los Angeles, currently casting: “Twisted Proverbs”, “The Everyday Sun Tzu”. Past projects include: “The God Project”, “Going Postal”, “Manfest”,”The Year That Trembled”, “Black Hole”, “My Best Friend’s Wife”, Speechless”, “XCU: Extreme Close-up”, “Always Greener”. Damon is also a SAG actor, AAC Committee Member and 2010 Script to Screen Chair.

Demo Reels and Other Marketing Tools:

PAMELA WEAVER – Actress, Filmmaker, Film Editor. Another transplant from Los Angeles, Pamela has been performing on stage and screen since the age of 6 years old, touring with the “Weaver Sisters” at USO shows, private clubs, aboard ship, army camps. She has performed in over 100 stage plays on both the east and west coasts, 15 films and 6 television shows. In 2006 she went behind the camera learning film editing, shot her first documentary which is currently in post and creates demo reels for actors. Her first paid gig as a film editor and DP was working for ESPN in 2007. Between acting gigs and chairing the Austin Actors Conservatory, she films and edits virtual auditions and demo reels for actors, internet advertising.

JONATHAN GRUBBS – Film editor, motion graphics designer and published writer, Jonathan has spent the last 5 years editing at a boutique post production facility in Los Angeles where he worked on trailers and television spots for major studio film releases. He now freelance edits and designs motion graphics for television commercials for markets across the nation. His current plans are to expand into visual effects, feature title design and feature editorial in the near future. Past clients have included Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, major pharmaceutical industry firms, a rock band, documentary and a local Austin independent comedy.

What the Professionals That Hire You Are Looking For – How to Get Their Attention!

MARK LANE — Producer, Capitol Motion Pictures — In 2000, Executive Producer Mark Lane produced the independent Film, The Cure for Boredom, starring Judd Nelson, Seymour Cassel and the late Joe Vitterelli. Fusing all his talent and abilities, Mark went on to form Capitol Motion Pictures, focusing on the production of quality feature films. His feature, the comedy “Checking Out” starring Peter Falk, Laura San Giacomo, David Paymer & Judge Reinhold, was released in September, 2006. Mark’s present position in the film industry culminates years of expertise both behind and in front of the camera. Mark started out as an actor in New York, eventually producing and acting in over twenty off-Broadway plays. Following the path of numerous talented New Yorkers, Mark headed west to Hollywood where he quickly gained recognition working as an actor on such network television shows and feature films such as Hill Street Blues, McGyver, Capitol, Miss Lonely Hearts, Chud 2, Friday the 13th, Fire in the Night, Mass Appeal, Sex & Bullets. Desiring to expand his creativity, Mark began working behind the camera on numerous projects for the three major networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC; as well as for several motion picture studios, including: Paramount Pictures, Universal, Warner Brothers and Lion’s Gate, to name a few. Quickly, Mark rose to Producer, heading up three feature shorts for HBO/Showtime: When Angels Cry, Galatea’s Wish, and Hope’s Creek. He also produced and directed the nominated documentary, Our Father the Bank Robber. Mark studied acting in New York City under the tutelage of Lee Strassberg, Warren Robertson, Uta Hagen & Herbert Berghoff and Alan Rich in Los Angeles. The completion of two films this year ”Bittersweet” won highest honors this years at World fest 2009 Houston starring James Brolin & Kip Pardue and “Shadows” starring William Hurt & Cary Elwes are slated for release this year. The Tribeca Film festival has requested Shadows to have our world premiere for their festival this April 2010.

GARY CHASON, Director, virtually grew up in the theater. He and his two sisters, from the moment they could walk and talk, put on shows for family and friends. He studied classical ballet at Houston Ballet’s academy as well as vocal music, singing in the chorus of the Houston Grand Opera’s production of Tales of Hoffman. He took up directing at the University of Texas and set his sights on becoming an avant garde, experimental writer/director. He created Houston Laboratory Theatre in 1970 and directed an innovative Romeo and Juliet that received excellent notices. He produced and directed one of the most controversial stage productions in Houston during the Seventies: The Beard, an erotic one-act staged at an art gallery in the Montrose District. He also directed two of his original plays at the Equinox Theater: Charlie’s Ear and Denizens. He has had a distinguished career in motion pictures as a Casting Director and Dialogue/Dialect Coach. His casting credits include: The Last Picture Show; Paper Moon; The Getaway; Pretty Baby; and Paris, Texas. He has worked closely with directors Robert Altman, Peter Bogdanovich, Sam Peckinpah, Michael Ritchie, Louis Malle, and Wim Wenders. As a Dialogue/Dialect Coach he has tutored Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Cloris Leachman, Brooke Shields, Tatum O’Neal, C. Thomas Howell, and Ann-Margret. His first feature film as a Writer-Director, Charlie’s Ear, won the Critics’ Prize at Mannheim and all the top awards – Best Film, Actor, Director, and Cinematography – at the IMAGFIC festival in Madrid. He produced The Trust, an award-winning feature film starring Karen Black and Sam Bottoms, and has produced, directed, and/or written numerous shorts: Mama Icy’s House; From Nowheresville; Ink on Paper; Little Beauties; A Few Letters Off; More Than Two Dollars, and My Name Is Jeffrey and I’m a Serial Killer. In the field of Corporate Training Videos his clients include Service Corporation International, Shell Oil, The American Bar Association, The Texas Young Lawyers Association, Liveris Digital Productions, Hoefler Associates, and The Escape School. His first book, Acting for the Real World: Notes on Television and Motion Picture Acting, will be published soon by FSE Publishing and his screenplays, Succubus Crystal, My Princess, and Faces of Stone, won, respectively, gold, silver, and bronze awards at WorldFest Houston. As an actor, he has appeared as a supporting player in the feature films Brewster McCloud, Zombies of Sugar Hill, Burger Wars, and My Best Friend is a Vampire. His first starring role as “Dusty” in the indie feature Dear Pillow has earned rave reviews in Variety, The Orlando Weekly, Film Threat, Indie Slate Magazine, and Playback St. Louis. He produced and directed Everything or Nothing, an HD feature starring Natasha Melnick in ’04, which was finished in ‘06. It was written by Sue Rock. God Thinks You’re a Loser, an HD feature he wrote and directed, was completed in 2008.

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Posted in Acting, Actors, Auditions, Austin Actors, Austin Conservatory, Austin Film, Demo Reels, Headshots, Indie Film, Self Promotion, Texas film

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Dirty Bomb Diaries -Interview with the Creators

November 8th, 2009

Still from Web.Files interview with creators of BMB: Dirty Bomb Diaries

Still from Web.Files interview with creators of BMB: Dirty Bomb Diaries

Web Files’ host, Kristyn Burtt, interviews Sean Hinchey and Eric Tozzi, whose web series, Dirty Bomb Diaries, has gone where few series have gone before—into the millions-of-hits category. Like open books, they reveal the secrets to their success..
rai_1_TR

We’re at the beginning of a new age of ‘television’ and ‘film’ production and distribution. Some of the old models of content delivery are getting some competition and some are likely to fade altogether. For actors and all creatives this new model offers some great opportunities. No longer will it be absolutely necessary to live in one of the major markets in order to work in and hopefully, make a living in, ‘the business’. Take a look at this interview, check out some of the episodes of this and other web series on strike.tv or your favorite distribution channel.

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Posted in Actors, Film Distribution, Filmmaking, Indie Film, NOW MEDIA, New Media, SAG, SAGIndie, Streaming Video, Tommy G. Kendrick, WEBISODES, Writers

DOES YOUR CASTING NOTICE SUCK?

September 23rd, 2009

RANT ON

For the professional or wanna be film actor, casting notices are easily found on the internet.

They’re in my email on a daily basis. They’re on Actors Access, they’re on Now Casting and they’re on Short Film Texas, to name but a few sources. ShortFilmTexas.com is a site I check daily because they have a LOT of casting information for Texas productions that is presented in a clear, attractive, accessible format.

What is the single most common mistake I see from the mostly low budget filmmakers who are posting casting notices online?

The mistake that potentially costs producers the better actors they want and need to cast for their projects?

The mistake that makes it harder for the producers to cull out the winners among all those who submit pictures and resumes for their projects?

Let’s use an object lesson by comparing two recent, real online casting notices:

What’s wrong with the following casting notice?

Casting Call For SAG Modified Low Budget HD Feature Film in Dallas, Texas ” XXXXXX” – PAID

Project Title: XXXX!
Project Type: Independent HD Feature
Union / Non-Union: SAG Modified Low Budget
Production Company: XXXX Entertainment, Inc.
Location: Dallas, TX and Waxahachie, TX
Start Date:XXXX
Producer(s): XXXX
Director:XXXX
Production Coordinator: XXXX
Publicist: XXXX

Casting:

* All Roles (paid)
* Extras (unpaid)

Paid / Non-Paid: Paid and Unpaid
Meals / Transportation: Meals

Contact:
CAST – please email headshots/resumes to  XXXX at gmail.com

The text above is from a real casting notice for a SAG signatory film. Names deleted to protect the guilty. Have you figured out why the above casting notice is a complete waste of time? If not, read on.

Check out the next casting notice:

Production Title: Fighting Devils
Studio/Independent/Student: Independent
Production Company: Silent Run Pictures
Union/Non-Union: Non-Union
Project Type: Short Film
Project Format: HD, MiniDV
Production Location: Austin, Texas
Production Start Date: October 24, 2009
Shooting Schedule: 3-4 days over a couple weeks
Production Wrap Date: November 25, 2009

Producer: Jacob Walinski
Writer: Boyd Yates and Jacob Walinski
Director: Boyd Yates
Additional Attached Cast/Crew: Andrew Medina and Jerry Early

Synopsis:

We are going to make a short movie that we wrote a few years back. It will be about a priest and the devil playing basketball for a soul. I know its a concept that has been done before. But not the way or with the style we envision. The whole thing will be in camera effects driven. Some of the things we plan on doing include the devil changing forms behind a pole, passing to himself and even turning into an ashtray. Its going to be a fun one to make.

Character Breakdowns:

* Devil – Tall 5′8 to 6′5 male with dark hair. Has to be able to at least pretend to play basketball. The devil will be sneaky with plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Sly and cunning.
* Devil form 2 – Female has to be ok with running up and down the court with a baseball tee and towel shorts. we prefer darker hair for this person but we will consider anyone.
* Devil form 3 – Tall Tall Tall. Im talking like at least 6′3 to 7. and built. We want this man to tower over the priest.
* Priest – we need an athletic mid 20’s to mid 30’s male. He is a man of the cloth but he does not put up with the devils trickery. He plays fair but good.
* Band member – Young guy. Punk rock/ heavy metal type. They are going to be fighting fro this persons soul.

And if anyone knows a good local band that would be willing to let us in where ever they practice that would be great. We want to showcase there band a little. And maybe us a song or two.

Audition Details:
October 03, 2009
Location – Email me first. Then I will give out location of the audition and any other info that you need.

Paid/Non-Paid: Non-Paid
Other/Additional Compensation: Film Credit, DVD Copy
Meals/Lodging/Transportation Provided: Meals Snacks and Beverages

*Email Your Casting Submissions To:
Please email headshots / resume to  Jacobwalinski at gmail.com

*Film/Production Company Website: www.Silentrunpictures.com

Note that the second casting notice is for a non-union film that pays nothing.

Which notice seems the more professional? More informative? To which notice would you be more likely to respond?

What’s wrong with the first casting notice?

Answer: It doesn’t tell potentially interested actors anything about the story or the characters to be cast.

The first example is bad not only for the actors but for the producers as well. Who is going to respond to the first notice?

This is purportedly a SAG signatory production. How many SAG actors are going to respond to what amounts to a complete shot in the dark?

Why bother to be a SAG signatory production and then withhold all details about what kind of cast you’re looking for? Why set yourself up for a mailbox full of headshots and resumes from people who are absolutely WRONG for your project?

If you’re looking for 2 six year old girls, please say so. That way us 50something old farts won’t waste our time or yours by submitting to your project. You’ll hopefully have a more targeted group of submissions to wade through.

Not to pick on the first post. It is one of many that I see daily that are a complete waste of time for everyone concerned.

Come on indie producers, THINK! If you’re not organized enough to post a casting notice that lets the acting community know what kind of characters you need for your project, are you really organized enough to actually produce a movie?

A final thought:
What is the first thing casting notice 1 tells you? It tells me they don’t have an experienced casting director, if they have one at all. That’s the first thing. This is a big mistake, IMO. If you’re a low budget filmmaker and you don’t think you can afford an established CD, approach one of their assistants. If your project has attractive elements, you never know who might want to come on board. A casting person with even a little bit of experience is going to save you a lot of time. And remember…time is money.

RANT OFF

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Posted in Actors, Auditions, Indie Film

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Free Seminar: Texas Incentives – How To Get A Piece Of The Pie

June 30th, 2009

AUSTIN CONSERVATORY PRESENTS a free seminar featuring Texas Film Commission head, Bob Hudgins and friends. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear first hand what Hudgins has to say about the new law, about the positive impact on Texas film production and maybe even yet another explanation of the ‘Waco’ brouhaha.

TEXAS INCENTIVES—HOW TO GET A PIECE OF THE PIE!

Discover the ins & outs of the TX Moving Image Industry Incentive Program & building the biz in Texas.

Join this open forum for producers, directors, actors and crew. Learn about the new incentives for growing work in Film, Commercial Advertising, Corporate Film, Video Gaming, & New Media. Find out how the new incentives have impacted Texas production, who’s using the incentives, and how home grown creativity can benefit from the new program.

When: Sunday, July 12, 2009

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: Congregation Beth Israel

3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.

Austin, TX 78756

(512) 454-6806

Panel includes:

· Bob Hudgins—Director, Texas Film Commission

· Linda Dowell—Regional Branch Division Exec Director, SAG

· TJ Jones— Texas Regional Director, AFTRA

· Craig Berlin—Business Manager, Pro-Tape Systems

· Ken Rector—Business Manager, IATSE Local 484

· Tom Booker—Moderator, Austin Conservatory

Cost: FREE

Please RSVP to Sheila Cooper at: (972)361-8185 OR (800) 724-0767, option 7 or  sheila.cooper at sag.org

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Posted in Austin Film, Bob Hudgins, IATSE, Indie Film, Ken Rector, Linda Dowell, Louisiana Film Production, New Mexico Film Production, Right to Work, SAG, SAG Eligible, SAG Membership, TXMPA, Tax Incentives, Texas Actors, Texas Film Scene, Texas Filmmakers, Texas film, Tom Booker, Tommy G. Kendrick

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Tax Incentives Pass, A New SAG Contract is Ratified – Time To Get Busy

June 9th, 2009

Screen Actors Guild LogoAFTRA LOGOAfter months of acrimonious negotiations between SAG and the AMPTP and cross guild combat between SAG and AFTRA, a new contract has been ratified. For better or worse, and I personally hope we don’t look back on passage of this contract as the beginning of the end for both SAG and AFTRA, the SAG membership has spoken and we have a ‘deal’. The fact that this deal has the potential to eviscerate actors’ residual income was not enough to keep the membership from giving the agreement its overwhelming approval by a vote of 78% to 22%.

Here is a press release sent to the membership tonight ( 6/9/09):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Screen Actors Guild Members Overwhelmingly Ratify TV/Theatrical Agreements

Los Angeles, (June 9, 2009) – Screen Actors Guild announced today that members have voted overwhelmingly to approve its TV/Theatrical contracts by a vote of 78 percent to 22 percent.

The two-year successor agreement covers film and digital television programs, motion pictures and new media productions. The pact becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. June 10, 2009 and expires June 30, 2011.

The contracts provide more than $105 million in wages, increased pension contributions, and other gains and establishes a template for SAG coverage of new media formats.

Approximately 110,000 SAG members received ballots of which 35.26 percent returned them – a return that is above average compared with typical referenda on Screen Actors Guild contracts. Integrity Voting Systems of Everett, WA, provided election services and tonight certified the final vote tally upon completion of the tabulation.

The vote count in the Hollywood Division was 70.70 percent to 29.30 percent in favor. In the New York Division, the vote count was 85.74 percent to 14.26 percent in favor. And in the Regional Branch Division, the vote count was 89.06 percent to 10.94 percent in favor.

Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg said, “The membership has spoken and has decided to work under the terms of this contract that many of us, who have been involved in these negotiations from the beginning, believe to be devastatingly unsatisfactory. Tomorrow morning I will be contacting the elected leadership of the other talent unions with the hope of beginning a series of pre-negotiation summit meetings in preparation for 2011. I call upon all SAG members to begin to ready themselves for the battle ahead,” Rosenberg added.

Screen Actors Guild Interim National Executive Director David White said, “This decisive vote gets our members back to work with immediate pay raises and puts SAG in a strong position for the future. Preparation for the next round of negotiations begins now. Our members can expect more positive changes in the coming months as we organize new work opportunities, repair and reinvigorate our relationships with our sister unions and industry partners, and continue to improve the Guild’s operations.”

Screen Actors Guild Chief Negotiator John McGuire said, “I want to thank the SAG members and staff who dedicated their time to the negotiations process. We emerged with a solid deal that the members have now voted up. The negotiating team worked tirelessly, building on the work of the first negotiating committee, to deliver these improvements to members.”

Screen Actors Guild began talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on April 15, 2008. Guild Chief Negotiator John McGuire, Interim National Executive Director David White, and Deputy National Executive Director for Contracts Ray Rodriguez, working with a 10-person negotiating task force comprised of Screen Actors Guild board members and officers representing the three divisions, reached the tentative agreement on April 16, 2009 after 12 months of periodic negotiations with the motion picture studios and television networks.

In what should be a ‘perfect storm’ of events that could, and MUST help stimulate a substantial increase in SAG theatrical contract film production in Texas, ratification of the new SAG / AMPTP agreement was preceded by passage and more importantly, full funding of the requested $62 Million Texas film incentive legislation.

Texas Film IncentivesFrom TXMPA President, Don Stokes:

It is my extreme pleasure to report a very successful legislative session for the moving image industry. TXMPA has played an integral roll in the passage of HB 873 which created our enhanced and flexible incentive program as well as HB 2521 which creates guidelines for preferred vendor status for Texas based companies in producing media-related services for the State and SB 1929 which creates media production development zones which encourages the creation and development of production infrastructure like sound stages.

Of equal importance, our full funding request of $62 million dollars for HB 873 was passed by both the House and Senate. Congratulations to all of you who assisted in these achievements. None of this would have been possible without our industry coming together and speaking with a singular voice. Thanks again to all of you who participated in Lobby Day and spoke as witnesses in the various committee hearings. We also owe thanks to our friends at HillCo Partners who lobbied tirelessly to make sure our message was heard and that legislators understood that we only wanted what benefited both our industry and the State. And finally I want to express our gratitude to the Texas Film Commission for all of work and efforts they put forth on our behalf. Our success was truly a team effort. Take a moment to bask in our successes, but only a moment…

FILM & TELEVISION PROJECTS

* Feature Films
* Documentaries
* Episodic Television Series
* Television Episodes
* Television Movies
* Miniseries
* Reality Television
* Interstitial Television Programming
* Nationally Syndicated Talk Show

Program Overview

* Tiered incentive payments of 5-15% based on level of Texas spending.*
* Option to choose incentive calculation based on total in-state spending or wages paid to Texas residents.*
* Possible bonus of 2.5% if 25% of production completed in underutilized area.
* Texas spending can include eligible pre-production, production and post-production expenditures.
* No cap on incentive amount.

Minimum Qualifications

* $250,000 in Texas spending.
* 60% of shooting days completed in Texas.
* 70% of paid crew must be Texas residents.
* 70% of paid cast (including extras) must be Texas residents.*

* except reality television and talk shows.

Below is the latest list of possible SAG signatory productions for south region states, Louisiana and Texas. This list is assumed to be the last such list to be published before the new Texas film tax incentive program has a chance to impact production in Texas and possibly in states such as Louisiana and New Mexico.

Louisiana

“Dead Whisper” - #00231285
Dead Whisper Productions – Theatrical
Location: New Orleans, LA; Big Bear, CA
Start Date: To be determined

“Hurting Kind, The” - #00244310
TNC Shreveport, LLC – Low Budget Modified
Location: Shreveport, LA
Start Date: July 26, 2009

“Jaws of the Mississippi” - #00225090
Jaws Productions, LLC – Low Budget Modified
Location: Lafayette, LA
Start Date: July 6, 2009

“Untitled Alphi Phi Alpha Doc” - #00241154
Omnipotent One, Inc – Theatrical
Location: New Orleans, LA
Start Date: July 9, 2009

Texas

“Beyond the Whispers” – #00244882
Broken Camera Productions – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Boerne, TX
Start Date: To be determined

“Broken Promise, A South Texas Story” – #00210652
Que Tal Productions, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Brownsville/Mercedes, TX
Start Date: To be determined

“Carried Away” - #00238361
Carried Away, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Start Date: To be determined
Casting: James Johnston 817-915-4565

“Imago” - #00244751
Upstart Filmworks, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: August 1, 2009

“Iron Horses” - #00237421
Curveball Films, LLC – Low Budget
Location: Austin, TX
Start Date: August 1, 2009

“Last Thanksgiving, The” – #00243410

TLT Productions – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Donna, TX
Start Date: To be determined
Casting: Pedro Garcia

“Letter H, The” – #00233247
GCP Film, LLC – Theatrical
Location: Houston/El Paso, TX
Start Date: September 3, 2009

“Matter of Honor, A: The Assassination of Sam Giancana”Distraught Sound and
Film Works in Association with Tommy Fadd and Good Boy Films
Location: Austin, TX
Start Date: To be determined

“Maybe, Maybe No” – #00239585
Red Raider Films, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Start Date: 6/12/09 – Wrap Date: 7/26/09
Location: Wylie, TX
Casting: Ryan Paige 310-424-5256

“Mongolian Death Worm” – #00244759
Sweet Tater, LLC – Low Budget
Location: Dallas, TX
Start Date: June 22, 2009

“Red, White and Blue” - #00244689
RWB Films, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Austin, TX
Start Date: June 14, 2009
Casting: Karen Halford of Casting Works L.A.

“Secret Dark, A” – 00241474
30 Days, LLC – Low Budget
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: June 15, 2009

“One Moon in Luck aka Shoot Out of Luck” – #00244805
Liz Destro – Theatrical
Location: Austin, TX
Start Date: October 1, 2009

“Untitled Ana Zims Romantic Comedy” – #00244038
Ana Zims – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Texas (unspecified), CA
Start Date: June 14, 2009

“Walk Away Joe” - #00242161
WAJ Productions, LLC – Theatrical
Location: Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA
Start Date: To be determined

“Where’s the Dan? The Search for Dan Schneider” – #00242803
Cosby Siringi – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Huntsville/Conroe, TX
Start Date: To be determined

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Posted in AMPTP, Actors, Alan Rosenberg, Austin Actors, Austin Conservatory, Austin Film, Big Media, Bob Hudgins, Don Stokes, Indie Film, Louisiana Film Production, New Mexico Film Production, Tax Incentives, Texas Actors, Texas Film Production Fund, Texas film, Tommy G. Kendrick

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A Rare Chance to see THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH

May 21st, 2009

The Whole Shootin MatchThe Whole Shootin’ Match

This is a rare opportunity to see a truly landmark independent film in venue other than PBS. Check it out and you won’t be sorry!

Screen Door Film, THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH
WHEN: Fri May 22, 7 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
WHERE: Jones Auditorium, St. Edward’s University (3001 S. Congress Ave)
COST: FREE
INFO: www.screendoorfilm.com

A landmark of American independent film from 1978, THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH is a rapturous rediscovery. Eagle Pennell’s first feature details the tragi-comic struggles of two small-time schemers, Loyd (Lou Perryman) and Frank (Sonny Carl Davis), desperate to land their big break. Through its anecdotal narrative and fresh, honest observation of its characters, the film intimately captures a time and place (Austin, Texas, 1977) with its atmospheric photography and rough-hewn charm, making it an inspiration for filmmakers everywhere since its release. A panel following the film will discuss THE WHOLE SHOOTIN’ MATCH and it’s place in American independent cinema.

EaglelPinnell 1978
Categories: Narrative Feature
Pictures 1 picture
Run time: 108 min. | USA | Language: English

No wonder this is the film that prompted Robert Redford to start the Sundance Institute. The film has been missing in action for close to 25 years.

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Posted in Actors, Austin Film, Directors, Filmmakers, Indie Film, Lou Perryman, THE WHOLE SHOOTIN MATCH, Texas Actors, Texas Film Production Fund, Texas Filmmakers, Texas film, Tommy G. Kendrick

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Two-week Turnaround Tour coming to Austin May 15th

May 6th, 2009

Two-week Turnaround Tour LogoI received an email a couple of days ago and forgot to post this information. Sorry Jamie. Check out the Two-week Turnaround Tour web site at the link below. This looks like something that the Austin filmmaking community will embrace:

My name is Jamie Blankenship. I am working on a community filmmaking project called the Two-week Turnaround Tour, or T3. Thousands of aspiring and professional filmmakers will come together in 14 US cities over 7 months to write, shoot, and screen a short film in the span of two weeks in each city.

We’re coming to Austin next and would love it if you could help us spread the word. All levels of experience are welcome. We believe everyone has something to offer the collaborative art of filmmaking! Austin will be our 4th city! We will be kicking off T3 Austin May 15th. For more information, you can visit our site at http://filmblazer.com/t3 and feel free to contact me anytime at  Jamie at filmblazer.com

Sincerely,

Jamie Blankenship

Here’s some info I copied from the really cool T3 site. This is just a tease…there’s lot’s more to see on the T3 site, so please check it out. Looks like fun to me.

What is the Two-week Turnaround tour?
The Two-week turnaround tour or T3 is a community filmmaking project. Filmblazer will visit 14 cites over 7 months. We will write, shoot, and screen a short film in each city in just two-weeks.

How does it all work?
Josh and Jamie get in an RV with all their Film equipment. We show up to a city and are greeted by our City Leader. We then have a kick off event, bringing together everyone who wants to help with the film. We work together to write a sweet film, shoot it, edit it, export it. We take a nap. We premiere the film, broadcasting live. We get in RV and drive to the next city. Repeat 14 time.
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What is a City Leader?
The city leader is the local liaison for each city and will be our go-to person throughout production. The city leader needs to be a motivated, organized, film enthusiast that will help us build the city teams, scout locations, plan the premiere event, and basically be responsible for making sure Josh and Jamie get to keep their sanity. If you are interested in being a city leader please contact us!
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What can I do to help make a short film?
This is a wide open question. Do you have access to a coffee shop? Do you have a ton of junk aka props? Can you make costumes? Are you really good with makeup? Do you like feeding people? We want everyone to bring something to the film because everyone has something to offer. Join a city and tell us what you can do. Plus we welcome people that can write, edit, act, light, you know normal film stuff :-)

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Posted in Actors, Austin Actors, Austin Film, Creating characters, Film Crew, Filmmakers, Filmmaking, Indie Film, Jamie Blankenship, Joshua J. Mills, Texas Actors, Texas Film Scene, Texas Filmmakers, Texas film, Tommy G. Kendrick

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UTFI Reading Series – TERRY by Brian Schwarz

May 2nd, 2009

I’ll be reading the role of Tom, Terry’s dad in TERRY by Brian Schwarz this coming Friday, 5/8/09 at the Austin Film Society Studio.

Here’s some more information on the series and on this reading:

All readings free and open to the public. Discussion to follow readings.

UTFI READING SERIES: Spring 2009
Co-sponsored by The Michener Center for Writers

Fri, 5/8, 6 pm: TERRY by Brian Schwarz (RTF MFA in Production)

Fresh out of prison and eager to start his life anew, Terry returns to his hometown and is forced to serve as the caretaker to the person who ratted him out 5 years ago – his dad.

Moderator: Bryan Poyser * Drama

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Posted in Acting, Filmmakers, Filmmaking, Indie Film, Texas Actors, Texas Film Production Fund, Texas Filmmakers, Texas film, Tommy G. Kendrick, UTFI Reading Series

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