If you’re not a member of TXMPA, join today. TXMPA is at the forefront of the success of the current Texas Film Incentive program which has helped generate $610 Million in new in-state spending.

Given the current budget shortfall that is in the news practically every day, the film incentive program will likely face a serious test in the upcomming legislative session. Hopefully, the powers that be will see the benefit of $610 Million dollars flowing through our economy and the fact that the program has accounted for 55,000 jobs for Texans over the past two years.

Here’s the missive from TXMPA:

CHASE – 8pm Mondays on NBC
THE GOOD GUYS – 7pm Fridays on FOX

While we mourn the untimely loss of FOX’s LONE STAR (shot in Dallas) and ABC’s MY GENERATION (shot in Austin) earlier this Fall, and also say a fond farewell to FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (airing its final season now on DirecTV, and this spring on NBC), we’re proud to still have two Texas shows in primetime every week, and look forward to more on the horizon.

Currently, Lifetime is prepping a pilot for MEET JANE in Austin, and TNT is developing a remake of DALLAS. Meanwhile, CBS and CSI creator Anthony Zuiker are developing a new crime drama called DESPERADO set in San Antonio. Thanks to the incentives and our top flight crews, the word is out that Texas is one of the best places to shoot series television.

TV is great for Texas – the Dallas Morning News reports that even short-lived LONE STAR “pumped about $7 million into the local economy”. And it’s not just the big cities that benefit – read about how CHASE filmed at Trinidad ISD in Henderson County:

“This was a way to generate some good, positive things for Trinidad,” said TISD Superintendent David Atkeisson. “Obviously our focus is on books, but we also want to expose our students to experiences that might spur them on to future endeavors. The thing I was most impressed with was the professionalism and patience of the cast and crew working with our kids. It was a great experience.”

It’s Friday. I’m a little tired from a long week but I’m looking forward to next week. I’ll be working on an indie film called DADGUM, TEXAS, playing Deputy John Scooter Smoot. It’s a funny script and a funny couple of scenes. If I can snag some iphone shots next week, I’ll share.

The following is a list of POSSIBLE SAG signatory productions that are either already shooting or are considering production in Texas. Keep in mind that some productions begin the signatory process but don’t follow through, so before agreeing to participate in any film production, verify its signatory status with SAG. Check www.sag.org for online verification or to locate the appropriate phone contact number.

The start dates as listed below are not set in stone. For instance, the ULB (Ultra Low Budget) film, NATURAL SELECTION, has pushed back their start date to at least March 22, apparently due to the availability of their lead actress. Actual start dates of other productions may likely vary from the stated dates as well.

If you see something you’re interested in pursuing, be smart. The best method is to work through your agent. If you don’t have an agent or for some other reason don’t want to work through your present agent, be very careful about contacting production sources. Always be professional and to the point in any emails. Avoid phone calls to the production office, if the number is listed. Don’t get yourself put on someone’s ‘always ignore’ list.

This list is being published as a service to the Texas actors community. Use the information below wisely.

The list:

“Benavides Born” – 00257737
SDB, LLC – Low Budget
Location: San Diego/Benavides, TX
Start Date: March 15, 2010
Casting: Toni Cobb Brock/Sally Allen

“Beyond the Farthest Star” – 00233502
Pathlight Entertainment, LLC – Low Budget Modified
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Start Date: March 15, 2010
Casting: Karen Armstrong

“Cash’n In” – 00256261
Lisa Norcia – Low Budget
Location: Dallas/Waco, TX
Start Date: To be determined

“Cherry Bomb” – 00246793
Strike Anywhere Productions, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Austin, TX
Start Date: To be determined
Casting: Garrett Hargrove at  contact at cherrybombfilm.com

“Cowgirl Chicks, The” – 00248526
Rodeo Films, LLC – Low Budget Modified
Location: Ft. Worth, TX
Start Date: March 2010
Casting: Judy Belshe-Toernblom, Los Angeles

“Friday Night Lights” – 00246956
NBC Studios, Inc.
Start Date: September 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Casting: Beth Sepko at  info at bethsepkocasting.com

“Limited Engagement” – 00252416
Rodeo Pictures, LLC – Low Budget
Start Date: Late April, 2010
Location: Tyler/Dallas, TX

“Mortal Vampire, The” – 00256260
E. W. Bradfute – Low Budget
Start Date: To be determined
Location: San Antonio, TX

“Natural Selection” – 00228417
Windar Productions, LLC – Ultra Low Budget
Location: Smithville, TX
Start Date: March 15, 2010
Casting: Karen Halford (TX), Meg Morman/Sunny Boling (L.A.)

“September Morning” – 00254521
Doki-Doki Productions, LLC – Low Budget Modified
Location: Texas and California, unspecified
Start Date: To be determined
Casting: Jacqueline Rush Rivera at  submit at chriseska.com

“Ten Days in County” – 00252746
Real Men Productions – Theatrical
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: To be determined

“Theory” – 00258132
Aqua Foxx Productions, LLC – Internet/New Media
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: March 23, 2010
Casting:  TheoryPilot at gmail.com

“True Grit” – 00257202
DW Studios Productions, LLC – Theatrical
Location: Austin, TX., Santa Fe, NM
Start date: March 15, 2010
Casting: Debbie DeLisi at  texascasting2010 at gmail.com

“Under the Western Sun”
Zobest Pictures
Start Date: April 13, 2010
Location: Austin/Smithville, TX

“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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We could use your support in attending our next script to screen this
Sunday. As an experiment this time around, we are using audio and visual
cues:

SAG Script to Screen Team presents Returning Champion Film Script

TV Writers Michele Gendelman and Ursula Ziegler test the film waters

The Austin Script to Screen Team presents a LIVE film script reading
event with Michele Gendelman and Ursula Ziegler’s Returning Champion.

The general public is invited to join actors, writers, producers,
directors, and film aficionados at 4 p.m. Sunday, August 30, at St.
Edwards University Jones Hall, 3001 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.

Admission is free.

Returning Champion is an off the wall comedy about a college freshman
who is booted out of school and has to move back home to his has-been
game-show host parents. The only way out of answering relentless trivia
questions and guessing which door breakfast is behind is to get his
out-of work parents back on the air.

An ever-growing independent film market has enticed these two TV writing
pros to submit Returning Champion to area investors, directors and
producers.

Michele Gendelman has written for TV shows: Newhart and
Facts of Life and is the author of What the Other Mothers Know
published by HarperCollins and contributor to What Was I Thinking? -
Bad Boyfriend Stories from St. Martin’s Press.

Ursula Ziegler has written and produced TV’s Empty Nest and also written for Head of the
Class, Sister-Sister, and Larroquette. She has developed TV pilots
for CBS, Fox and Castle Rock when not appearing as a contestant on TV
game shows.

Where: Jones Hall in the Ragsdale Center, St. Edwards University

When: Sunday, August 30 – 4 p.m.

How Much: Free

Texas

“Beyond the Farthest Star” – 00233502

Pathlight Entertainment, LLC – Low Budget

Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

Start Date: October 1, 2009

“Breaking the Press” - #00246726

Pumpkin Seed, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Dallas, TX

Start Date: August 3, 2009

“Cherry Bomb” – 00246793

Strike Anywhere Productions, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: September 16, 2009

Casting: Garrett Hargrove;  contact at cherrybombfilm.com

“Cowboy and Lucky” – 00247361

Red C Entertainment – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Waco, TX

Start Date: To be determined

Casting:  info at redctelevision.com

Epic – Low Budget

Start Date: September 2009

Location: Texas, Mexico (city not specified)

Casting:  epicmotionpicture at gmail.com

“Friday Night Lights” - #00246956

NBC Studios, Inc.

Start Date: 9/2/09

Location: Austin, TX

Casting: Beth Sepko  info at bethsepkocasting.com

“God Save the Red, Black and Blonde” – #00246098

Ordered Productions – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: To be determined

Casting: Dan Jimenez;  daj5757 at gmail.com

“Imago” – #00244751

Upstart Filmworks, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Houston, TX

Start Date: August 1, 2009

“Jacob’s Edge” - #00246799

Long Distance Freestyle, LLC – Theatrical

Location: Dallas, TX; L.A. CA; Georgia

Start Date: September 15, 2009

Casting: Nick Anderson 310-422-5856

“Letter H, The” – #00233247

GCP Film, LLC – Theatrical

Location: Houston/El Paso, TX

Start Date: September 3, 2009

Casting: Rodney Acevedo  racevedo at gutcheckproductions.com

“Machete” - #00246735

Machete’s Chop Shop, Inc – Theatrical

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: July 29, 2009

Casting: Sonny Solomon  distraughtsound at wmconnect.com

“Minority Western” - #220674

FAD Productions – Ultra Low Budget

Locations: AZ & Dallas, TX

Start Date: December 2009

Casting Hernandez Agency 213-440-6288

“One Moon in Luck” aka “Shoot Out of Luck” – #00244805

Liz Destro – Theatrical

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: October 1, 2009

“Player’s School” – #00238898

Nexus Entertainment and Greg Carter – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Houston, TX

Start Date: To be determined

“Pros and Cons” – #00246100

Going Bats Entertainment – Ultra Low Budget

Start Date: September 1, 2009

Casting: Scott Ross 972-877-6757

 stross at goingbats.com

“Rising Stars” – 00245871

Modern Verge, LLC – Ultra Low Budget

Location: Fort Forth, TX

Start Date: August 10, 2009

“Sodom: The Armageddon Prophecy” – #00246974

Trinity Films, LLC – Low Budget Modified

Location: Austin, TX

Start Date: To be determined

Casting: Michelle Millette;  douglasthemovie at yahoo.com

“Under the Influence – #00238358

Just Make it Happen – LLC

Location: Little Rock, AK;

Start Date: August 24, 2009

“Up & Down” – 00236412

Potion Pictures – Ultra Low Budget

Start Date: 8/28/09

Location: Houston, TX

Casting: Johnette Duff  johnetteduff at aol.com

“Wilderness” – #00247393
Wilderness LLC – Modified Low Budget

Location: Central Texas

Start Date: August 17, 2009

Casting: Javier Bonafont –  WildernessFilm at gmail.com

Louisiana

“Battle Los Angeles” – 002458852

Battle Productions, LLC

Location: Louisiana

Start Date: September 10, 2009

Casting: Fincannon Casting

“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: To be determined

“Snatched” – 00247070

Film Flam Productions, LLC

Location: New Orleans, LA

Start Date: To be determined

“Somnambulist” – #00247071

TST Productions, LLC – Low Budget Modified

Location: New Orleans, LA

Start Date: To be determined

“Straw Dogs” – #00247196

Straw Dog Louisiana, LLC – Theatrical

Location: Shreveport, LA

Start Date: August 17, 2009

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

Below is the list of candidates for the six (6) open At-Large positions on TXMPA’s Board. Please take some time before voting begins to review this list and become familiar with the candidates. An e-mail with pictures of the candidates, their bios, and endorsements for these candidates will be placed on the TXMPA website  www.txmpa.org), and distributed to the general membership on Thursday, June 18; if you would like to have your endorsement included, please e-mail TXMPA at  info at txmpa.org no later than Wednesday, June 17.

1) Craig Berlin
2) Garry Potts
3) Jeanette Scott
4) Jeff Horny
5) J. Schuh
6) Justin Muller
7) Larry Cashion
Linda Alcazar Jurado
9) Michael Druck
10) Rick Olmos
11) Robert Curlin
12) Ron Bush
13) Will Raymond

Online voting for these positions will begin at 12:01 AM on Monday, June 22 and will continue until 11:59 PM on Thursday, June 25. Just a reminder: online voting will be handled by Ballot Bin  www.ballotbin.com); as a precaution, please “whitelist” Ballot Bin. This is simply done by adding their e-mail address ( notices at ballotbin.com) to your contact list, so that when voting begins, their e-mail will come directly to your inbox and not to your spam folder.

To be eligible to vote for At-Large members, you must be a paid-up member of TXMPA (at the full or supporting level) by 5:00 PM, Friday, June 19. If you are unsure of your current membership status, please contact your Regional Representative for clarification [or send an e-mail to  membership at txmpa.org]. You may find more information about your Region, and contact information for your Regional Representative, at TXMPA’s website.

Results of online voting, along with the three (3) newly elected Regional Representatives and their respective Alternates, will be announced at our Statewide Annual Meeting, to be held at Texas State University in San Marcos on Saturday, June 27. For more information on the meeting, please visit our website.

As always, thank you for all you do for the moving image industry here in Texas, and we’ll see you on the 27th!