After 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 [...]

Okay….so I’m working on a new demo for play on the internet. Each clip is kept brief in an effort limit the total file size and to maximize the quality after all the video compression takes place. It’s still a work in progress but here’s where I am today. This version was uploaded to YouTube [...]

The 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. [...]

It hasn’t taken long for the poop to hit the fan over the new entertainment tax incentive program recently passed by the Texas legislature. As you may have read or heard, a film production company named Entertainment 7 has been at the Cannes Film Festival touting their upcoming production about the Branch Davidian debacle. That [...]

I 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 [...]

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 [...]

On Thursday at Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Gov. Rick Perry signed HB873 into law. This law, a dramatic improvement on the existing film incentive package passed in the previous legislative session, is designed to put Texas back into play as a first tier location filming destination. The package also boosts incentives for commercial production and [...]

SAG and AMPTP settle…bad contract but at least we get to vote on it now…it will pass… Is this the contract we want and need? No. However, after a year of on and off negotiations, this is the contract we’re stuck with and, given the overall economic climate, this contract will pass. At least we [...]

Sometimes you get blindsided by the news. Such was the case when I learned that actor Lou Perryman was the victim of a homicide in Austin on Thursday. From KeyeTV.com: Thursday officers found the body of a man in a home on the 1100 block of Darvone Circle. That is south of William Cannon Dr. between [...]

The recently formed AUSTIN CONSERVATORY is picking up steam in its quest to help all actors, particularly SAG and AFTRA actors hone their craft. Following the highly successful Script to Screen event this past Monday, the Conservatory is following up with a forum designed to assist actors and indie filmmakers in moving their careers forward. [...]