Industry News & Announcements
TO THE TOPOct 30, 2008 - Mary-Margaret Network Announces Job Fair Day at The Independent Game Conference in Austin |
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USTIN, TEXAS (Oct. 9, 2008) - Mary-Margaret Network will host a day-long job fair at the Independent Game Conference (IGC) Thursday, Nov. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30p.m. at theWyndham Garden Hotel, Austin. The job fair provides an opportunity for industry talent and hiring companies to engage and network at the IGC. "The IGC is developing the next generation of industry leading studios, so it's the perfect place to bring together great companies and incredible talent for serious networking," said Mary-Margaret Walker, CEO of Mary-Margaret Network. "We're pleased to be working with IGC as we launch our new host of networking services." The two-day, IGC event includes seminars on raising money to invest in a game studio, emerging development platforms, development for the iPhone, game politics, IP protection, game audio design and recruiting vs. outsourcing. The conference also boasts the hugely successful Game Demo Night featuring developers showcasing their latest games for their peers. "We're excited to be adding the job fair to this year's IGC program offerings," said Mark Chuberka, director of the IGC. "Partnering with Mary-Margaret Network-a long-trusted resource in our industry-will bring the best results for all who attend." IGC registration is $170 including admission to the job fair. Admission to the job fair only is $50. Hotel rooms have been secured at a group rate of $99. Companies interested in becoming an exhibitor should visit the sponsorship page at the IGC website: http://www.independentgameconference.com. Mary-Margaret Network: The destination for recruitment, staffing, career and consulting services in the global interactive entertainment industry. Mary-Margaret Network offers valuable resources to help companies and individuals stay apprised of industry trends. We place outstanding candidates, from C-level executives to individual contributors, in every department and profession. Since 1996, our focus on superior service to employers and candidates has earned us an unsurpassed reputation for recruitment management and career development. |
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TO THE TOPOct 13, 2008 - In Case You Missed It: CNN - U.S. Space Tourist Blasts Off in Russian Rocket |
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BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) -- A Soyuz spacecraft with two Americans and a Russian on board lifted off from Kazakhstan on Sunday for the international space station. The Soyuz TMA-13 capsule carrying American computer game millionaire Richard Garriott soared into a clear sky atop a Russian rocket as the latest paying space traveler's family watched from a viewing platform. Also aboard were U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov. The rocket lifted off on schedule at 1:01 p.m. (3:01 a.m. EDT), sending an orange flare behind it as it streaked upward. The craft entered orbit about 10 minutes later. "I'm elated, elated," said Richard Garriott's father, Owen, a former U.S. astronaut who is the first American to see his child follow in his footsteps and reach space. "They're in orbit, that's good." Garriott's mother Eve and his girlfriend, Kelly Miller, shed tears of joy and relief at the successful launch. "This is cool, this is cool," Miller said. The Soyuz is to dock Tuesday with the international space station, where Garriott will spend about 10 days conducting experiments -- including some whose sponsors helped fund his trip -- and photographing Earth to measure changes since his father snapped pictures from the U.S. station Skylab in 1973. He is to return to Earth in a Soyuz capsule with cosmonaut Segei Volkov, whose father also traveled to space -- making him the first second-generation space traveler. Garriott, a Texan who made his fortune designing computer fantasy games, dreamed of space as a child but learned as a youth that he could not become a NASA astronaut because of his poor eyesight. He paid a reported US$30 million for his voyage. "I'm really happy for him. It's one of the things he's wanted to do most in his life. I spent a lot of time listening to him about when he goes up in space," Miller said. "He's like a kid in a candy shop," she said. "And I already want him to come back." Garriott, 47, is a board member and investor in Space Adventures Ltd., a U.S.-based company that has organized flights aboard Russian craft for five other millionaires including the first paying space tourist, California businessman Dennis Tito, in 2001. The most recent paying traveler, billionaire American software engineer Charles Simonyi, also watched the launch and drank champagne with Garriott's family after the craft reached orbit. Also on hand was Yi So-yeon, a bioengineer who became South Korea's first astronaut when she traveled to the space station last spring. Yi and two crew mates had a rough ride back to Earth when their capsule failed to separate on time, sending it into a steep trajectory and subjecting them to powerful gravitational forces in a so-called "ballistic" descent -- the second straight and the third since 2003. The chief of Russia's space agency Roskosmos, Anatoly Perminov, pledged Saturday that a ballistic landing would not be repeated, and Yi played down any concerns. "We already had a lot of training for ballistic re-entry, so it's not a big deal," she said, adding that she felt "lucky" to be one of the few people who have had the experience. "I guess if he also has a ballistic landing, he will feel lucky because he will also be a member of the ballistic landing club," she said. Perminov said Saturday that increasingly strained ties between Moscow and Washington will not stand in the way of further space exploration. Soyuz rockets and capsules will be the only way to put people on the space station after the U.S. space shuttle fleet is retired in 2010. Perminov said recent U.S. congressional decisions on future collaboration and the presence of U.S. astronauts at the launch site in Kazakhstan showed that politics would not block cooperation. Congress earlier this month gave NASA permission to purchase seats on Soyuz capsules after 2010. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/10/12/space.tourist.ap/index.html |
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TO THE TOPOct 06, 2008 - KJJM-TV 34, a new Broadcast TV Station in Dallas, is Seeking Independent Programming |
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Contact: Dean Thomisee, General Sales Manager Dallas, TX - Oct. 6, 2088 Television broadcasters will agree that the most important element to drive a station's market share is programming. "The switch to digital broadcasting may surely level the playing field for smaller stations in larger markets", exclaims Lee Sherrell/ General Manager at KJJM-TV 34, "and that's why we need to embrace the independent filmmaker, budding video entrepreneur and all of the Texas film and tape professionals who have needed a venue for their work. We do have a responsibility to first seek out quality programming that is entertaining, family oriented and serves our community. Paid sponsors are surely welcome to our station and viewers, but we still need more viewers to be valuable and one way to get them is by airing engaging programming that they can't get from other big-station broadcasters", said Mr. Sherrell. After switching to digital broadcasting, local TV stations will have sub-channels to either sell or program. Some stations may have as many as seven (7) sub-channels and will simply need more programming to accommodate the new format and additional channels. KJJM-TV 34 has been live for over three (3) weeks and is averaging 1000 phone calls per week. KJJM-TV 34 is dedicated to offering quality programming, responsible advertising opportunities and a new voice to match the new look of Television broadcasting. "We have not seen such a significant change in our industry to date. It will be exhilarating to see our pristine, digital signal deliver new programming and sponsors to the community." said Mr. Sherrell. |
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TO THE TOPSep 22, 2008 - Pangea Software’s “Enigmo” Wins Best iPhone Game at Worldwide Developers Conference ‘08 |
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The Apple Design Awards, held at Moscone West during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, recognize technical excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievement in software development. With new categories for iPhone development, this year's Apple Design Awards will be more exciting than ever. |
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TO THE TOPSep 22, 2008 - In Case You Missed It: Gamasutra - 2008 IGF Showcase Winners @ Austin GDC Announced |
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Gamasutra: 2008 IGF Showcase Winners @ Austin GDC Announced The organizers of the Independent Games Festival have announced the nine winners of the Austin GDC IGF Showcase, picking the very best examples of 'local flavor' in terms of indie games from Austin and the Southern U.S. to be exhibited at the Austin Game Developers Conference from September 15th to 17th. Some of the top local titles span the gamut from one-man teams through tightly focused console indies, including Texas-honed games such as physics-heavy iPhone puzzler Enigmo, CosMind's evocative art-game Glum Buster, Red Fly Studios' Wii/DS quirky Mushroom Men duo, knockabout Guildhall @ SMU student title ToyBox Heroes, and user-generated game website Mockingbird. The Showcase winners receive complimentary passes and get to showcase their titles in a special IGF Pavilion at the Austin event, which this year features learning tracks including Online, Audio, Writing, Worlds In Motion and Game Career Seminar, and is hosting a local Independent Games Festival Showcase for the first time. More information about the 2008 Austin Game Developers Conference - for which the early registration deadline is July 31st - is available at the official event website. The full list of the honored Austin GDC IGF Showcase winners is as follows: |
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TO THE TOPSep 22, 2008 - Texans Named in Edge Magazine’s Hot 100 Game Developers List |
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Edge Magazine recently released its list of the Hot 100 Game Developers in the World, and Texans were well represented! Below is the list of our local developers included. Congratulations to all who made the list! Mark Nau Mark Randel Graeme Devine Randy Pitchford Michael Kelbaugh Complete list here: www.edge-online.com/features/the-hot-100-game-developers-2008?page=0%2C0 |
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TO THE TOPSep 18, 2008 - Thin Line Film Fest Announces 2008 Program & Schedule |
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DENTON, TX - Thin Line Film Fest, held September 24th - 28th, is pleased to announce the 2008 program and schedule. This year, we are thrilled to have a total of thirty-six (36) documentaries from seven countries; twenty-one features and fifteen shorts. Screenings begin Wednesday night September 24th and continue through Sunday September 28th. For a complete listing of films, descriptions, runtimes, special events, as well as a complete festival schedule, please visit www.thinlinefilmfest.com. Thin Line Film Fest is thrilled to once again bring world-class documentaries to North Texas. This year we are featuring three World Premieres, two US Premieres, seventeen Texas Premieres, and six North Texas Premieres. Also this year is the 2008 Between the Lines Industry Conference, presented by the Dallas Producers Association. The conference features nineteen workshops, panels, and discussions on a range of production topics including: Producing, Lighting, HD Camera Workflow, Post Audio, Sound Design, Art Department, Distribution, and much more. Passes/Tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, September 24th at 1pm at the Festival Box Office (Campus Theater - 214 W Hickory, Denton). All-Access Passes are $125 ($75 for students) and are good toward admission to all festival events. Conference Passes are $75 ($45 for students) and are good toward admission to all conference events. Movie Passes are $60 or ($36 for students) and are good toward admission to any screening. For more information, contact: Festival Director - Joshua Butler 214-727-3567 |
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TO THE TOPSep 18, 2008 - 21st Annual Dallas Video Festival |
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NOVEMBER 6-9, 2008 The Dallas Video Festival returns for its 21st year November 6-9, 2008 at the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station, 5321 East Mockingbird. As usual, the Dallas Video Festival will showcase cutting-edge, fiercely independent work by local, regional, national and international video artists. The Dallas Video Festival has showcased pioneering efforts in the video world since 1986 and will continue to push some buttons by showing that video is more than a medium – it is a voice when put in the hands of media activists, a glimpse of the sublime in the hands of artists, and a tool for social change in the hands of documentary makers. Programs range from imaginative 30-second television commercials to mesmerizing video art, compelling documentaries, surrealistic animation, innovative digital features, and narrative shorts that surprise, inspire and entertain. Patrons may purchase day passes or All-Festival passes making this Festival the best deal in town (no per film tickets). Visit http://www.videofest.org for more information or call 214-428-8700. 21st Annual Dallas Video Festival will include:
ABOUT THE DALLAS VIDEO FESTIVAL ABOUT VIDEO ASSOCIATION of DALLAS The Video Association of Dallas (VAD) is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated on April 25, 1989. It began in 1986 a weekend event, “Video As A Creative Medium”, presented at the Dallas Museum of Art by independent curators Barton Weiss and John Held. That first event, which included two nights of video by selected local and national video artists, was a great popular success, which led to the founding of the Dallas Video Festival (DVF) in 1987. Video Association of Dallas presents the 24 Hour Video Race and other programs throughout the year. For press information, please contact Lisa Taylor at 214-943-1099 or email . |
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TO THE TOPSep 08, 2008 - Thin Line Film Fest Announces Opening Night Film |
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DENTON, TX – Thin Line Film Fest, held September 24th – 28th, is pleased to announce the 2008 opening night festivities. Beginning Wednesday, September 24th, Thin Line Film Fest will bring world-class documentaries to North Texas. The 2008 festival kicks off with a screening of two films (one short and one feature) at 6:30pm at the main festival venue, the Campus Theater presented by Denton Municipal Electric. Following the screening is the opening night reception held on the patio of Hannah’s Restaurant and Wine Bar. The festival begins with the Texas Premiere of “What I See When I Close My Eyes,” by Leslie Hope; a 30-minute short film which explores the hopes and dreams of young children in Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the World. Leslie will be in attendance for the screening. Then we travel to Columbia to experience the intense competition of the Annual Bogota Women’s Prison Beauty Pageant in the film, “La Corona” by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega. “La Corona” was nominated for an Oscar in 2008 in the Documentary Short category and is the latest in a long line of successful documentaries by the pair. Thin Line Film Fest is thrilled to open our 2008 event with these great films. Tickets for the opening night screening will be available at the venue box office. Festival passes and tickets will be available online beginning September 10th. For more information, contact: Festival Director – Joshua Butler 214-727-3567 |
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TO THE TOPSep 03, 2008 - The Lone Star International Film Festival Announces 2008 Dates and Venues |
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MARTIN SHEEN WILL RETURN TO PRESENT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BOBBIE WYGANT NAMED HONORARY FESTIVAL CHAIR FORT. WORTH, TX, August 26, 2008 – The Lone Star International Film Festival, Fort Worth, in Sundance Square, today announced the dates and venues for its second annual festival, as well as delivering the news that Martin Sheen, last year’s Life Achievement Award honoree will be back for an encore appearance. LSIFF also announced that Fort Worth luminary, Entertainment Reporter and Film Critic, Bobbie Wygant has been appointed Honorary Festival Chair for 2008. The five-day festival will take place November 12-16, 2008 and feature a selection of narrative, documentary, feature and short films from around the world. Venues will include the AMC Palace Theatre, the Four Day Weekend Theater, and the Scott Theatre, as well as the Norris Conference Center, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Kimbell Art Museum, with additional venues to be announced soon. Sponsored by the Lone Star Film Society, the festival promotes the work of emerging international filmmakers through competition and showcases, providing resources for distribution and cutting edge technology. The goal of the festival is to cultivate global cultural awareness through the art of the moving image, while featuring Fort Worth, Texas, as an international destination for both artistic and professional resources. Sheen, the recipient of the inaugural LSIFF Lifetime Achievement Award has remained an ardent supporter of the festival and has agreed to return to Fort Worth to present the award to the 2008 recipient. Sheen will also participate in the selection of the honoree, in a process the festival’s organizers hope to continue as an ongoing LSIFF tradition. Wygant, a broadcasting legend and beloved television presence for more than 50 years on NBC 5 KXAS-TV was appointed Honorary Festival Chair for the 2008 edition of the festival. The first woman to host and produce a general interest television program in the southwestern United States, she has been recognized as one of the top women in broadcasting in the U.S. In 2004 Wygant was presented with an Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, as she was elected into its Gold Circle for over 50 years of outstanding achievement in broadcasting. Wygant was the first person in Texas to receive this Emmy and only the 16th in the United States. Wygant continues to serve as the station’s Entertainment Reporter and Critic. She is known and respected throughout the film communities in Hollywood and New York for her incisive interviews and film reviews. Wygant said, “I feel like this is the beginning of something wonderful. The Lone Star International Film Festival is the fastest-growing cultural event in Fort Worth - a film festival that is going to grow and become not only ‘Lone Star famous,’ but world famous. I am happy and honored to lend my support.” LSIFF will begin on Wednesday, November 12 with Focus Fort Worth: A Day in the City that will feature various events celebrating the city’s rich cultural heritage as well as screenings for local special interest organizations, including Fort Worth Imagination Celebration, Fort Worth YMCA, the Lena Pope Home, TCU’s Starpoint School, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth, and the Arc of Greater Tarrant County. Thursday, November 13 will feature the Opening Night Gala at the AMC Palace Theater in Sundance Square. “Last year’s festival was a great beginning to our pursuit of creating a truly original film festival. This year’s Lone Star International Film Festival, Fort Worth, in Sundance Square is on track to present a program unlike anything the city has experienced. Showcasing the history, culture and charm of Fort Worth through the city’s venues, LSIFF 2008 will be an event that is unique among festivals worldwide. Privileged with Martin Sheen’s return participation this year, we are also thrilled to announce celebrated Entertainment Reporter and Critic, Bobbie Wygant’s position as Honorary Chair,” said Festival Director, Dennis Bishop. The festival’s debut in 2007 brought 156 films to Fort Worth, with attendance totaling more than 5,000 people. LSIFF featured 16 interactive panels and numerous Q&A sessions with prominent filmmakers, industry professionals and students from TCU and UTA. Bill Paxton chaired the advisory board and showcased films from his body of work. Paxton and Sheen were joined by prominent film notables such as Robert Rodriguez, Keith Carradine, Jason Ritter Patrick Fugit, Paul Soter, Jay Chandrasekhar, Donal Logue, and Harry Dean Stanton. Last year’s festival also featured a number of outstanding musicians such as T. Bone Burnett, Stanton, and Johnny Reno who performed at some of the city’s marquee venues downtown and on the historic North Side. Rodriguez even honored festival-goers with a rare concert performance with his band, The Rumblers, and followed the concert with a flashback screening of his acclaimed ROADRACERS at a midnight showing at the Ridgemar Rave Theater. In addition, the festival featured special showcases devoted to Texas cinema, international films programmed by Fort Worth’s Sister Cities International, and Mumblecore, an emerging film style that embodies the artistic direction of some of today’s most promising young independent filmmakers. In another programming highlight, the Festival hosted Cine Latino at the city’s historic Rose Marine Theatre. The series was organized by Julio Cesar Cedillo, one of Fort Worth’s gifted filmmakers, and included the work of some of the best Hispanic filmmakers’ working today such as Enrique Renteria. Festival Passes will be available for sale on September 8. For sales and more information, please visit www.lsiff.com. About The Lone Star Film Society About Sundance Square About Bumbershoot Productions About Universal Cinema Services Additional Sponsors PRESS CONTACTS FOR LSIFF: John Wildman Dennis Bishop |
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TO THE TOPSep 02, 2008 - Recipients Announced for 2008 Texas Film & Video Grants |
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DENTON, TX – Texas Filmmakers, a 501(c)(3) arts organization, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Texas Film & Video Grants (TFVG). With more than double the number of applicants, this year’s grant committee decided to spread the fund between as many recipients as possible. The 2008 total cash disbursement is one thousand three hundred and seventy-five dollars ($1,375) split among four filmmakers. Anthony Lyle (Aubrey, TX) will receive two hundred dollars ($200) toward a sound package for his upcoming short film, “Crushed.” Jennifer Clary (Leander, TX) will receive two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) toward a Nikon Macro Lens for her upcoming animated short film, “The Corn Goblin.” This is the first animated video to receive a grant from the Texas Film & Video Grants. Carolyn Macartney (Dallas, TX) will receive three hundred and seventy-five dollars ($375) toward 16mm film processing for her upcoming feature-length documentary, “Wanda the Wonderful.” Bryan Poyser will receive five hundred and fifty dollars ($550) toward production insurance for his upcoming short film, “The Crane House.” TFVG provides financial assistance to independent and emerging filmmakers who live in the State of Texas. Grants are awarded to artists whose work shows potential, skill, and creativity. Awards are distributed on a per-project basis; at a maximum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per project. Each filmmaker may be contacted using the following numbers. Anthony Lyle – 940-595-0604 Texas Filmmakers would like to congratulate this year’s grant recipients. We wish them success with their upcoming films. For more information, contact Texas Filmmakers at (940) 435-0333 or on the web at www.texasfilmmakers.org. |
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TO THE TOPAug 28, 2008 - Texas Film Commission Launches Initiative to Discover, Share and Preserve Texas Film History |
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AUSTIN – The Texas Film Commission within the Office of the Governor, today announced the launch of the Texas Moving Image Archive Program in partnership with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI). The program will support the discovery, preservation, digitization and dissemination of seldom-seen images of Texas such as home movies, educational films, training videos and locally-produced film and television. |
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TO THE TOPAug 25, 2008 - Citizen Schools Needs Animation or Film Professionals to Teach Afterschool Programs |
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Do you work in animation or film production? Citizen Schools is looking for talented, creative, tech-minded people to work with our middle school students! Citizen Schools is an after-school program that invites local professionals to share their passions and talents with kids. During our ten-week program, volunteer teachers spend 90-minutes a week working with students to develop an exciting creative project. Apprenticeships are designed around the talents and passions of our volunteer teachers. Do you work in clay animation? Lead an apprenticeship where students create a short clay-mation film. Love movies? Lead an apprenticeship that teaches students to write, film, & produce their own film. Past projects have included kids’ horror flicks, an introduction to middle school by middle schoolers, and a dramatic nightmare about homework! Volunteers teach for just 90-minutes a week—no previous teaching experience is necessary. As a volunteer teacher, you’ll be partnered with a trained Citizen Schools educator who will help you craft your lessons and manage your classroom. All materials are provided by Citizen Schools. As a volunteer teacher, all you need is a passion for your subject matter and a commitment to your students. Days and Times Classes begin soon! To register for an opportunity to teach, check out our website (www.citizenschools.org/volunteer) or contact Emily Schneider-Krzys, Senior Campus Director, at (512) 476-1639 or . |
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TO THE TOPAug 20, 2008 - Thin Line Film Fest Announces Four Official Sponsors |
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DENTON, TX - Thin Line Film Fest, held September 24th-28th, is pleased to announce four Official Sponsors for the 2008 Thin Line Film Fest: Denton Municipal Electric, Panavision, Hot Pixel Action, and Eagle Press. Each sponsor will present a unique portion of the 2008 Thin Line Film Fest. Thin Line Film Fest has the industry and community support to deliver another exciting Thin Line Experience. Denton Municipal Electric is the Official Sponsor for the Thin Line Film Fest main screening venue, the Campus Theater, located at 114 West Hickory St. Denton Municipal Electric is a customer owned electric utility providing full electrical service to more than 43,247 electric meters. Since 1905, Denton Municipal Electric has provided safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity and also features the GreenSense program. GreenSense Renewable Energy is a new green energy program that allows Denton Municipal Electric customers the chance to support cleaner renewable energy sources on the state's power grid. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, wind, and water. This is Denton Municipal electric's second year to support Thin Line Film Fest. Panavision is the Official Sponsor of the Thin Line Best Documentary Award. The Thin Line jury will select one feature documentary and one short documentary to receive the Thin Line Best Documentary Award presented by Panavision. Award recipients will receive a Panavision package worth twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500). Panavision is the leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of high precision camera systems for the motion picture, television series and television commercial markets in North America. This is Panavision's second year to support Thin Line Film Fest. Hot Pixel Action is the Official Sponsor of the Filmmaker / VIP Lounge. Available to All-Access festival pass holders, the Filmmaker / VIP Lounge is the perfect place to take break during the intense festival schedule. Hot Pixel Action is a premiere boutique creative agency based in Houston, TX. With a combined total of over 60 years of experience in production all over the world, Hot Pixel Action is uniquely qualified to design media solutions from initial concept to audience applause. Eagle Press is the Official Thin Line Printer and the Official Sponsor for the Thin Line Film Fest screening venue, the Fine Arts Theater, located at 115 N Elm St. Eagle Press is Denton's premiere printer; from books to business cards to posters, Eagle Press offers exceptional products and services. This is Eagle Press's second year to support Thin Line Film Fest. For more information, contact: Festival Director - Joshua Butler 214-727-3567 |
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TO THE TOPAug 19, 2008 - Austin Film Society Announces New Travel Grant Program for Texas Filmmakers |
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(Austin, TX) - The Austin Film Society is proud to announce the new Texas Filmmakers' Travel Grant (TFTG) initiative, a program that will continue AFS's ongoing commitment to support emerging Texas filmmakers. Launching on Sept. 1st, the program will help offset travel costs for Texans whose films are invited to prestigious film festivals and events around the world, with small travel stipends given out on a rolling, year-round basis. "Each year, more and more Texas filmmakers are showing their work at major film festivals like Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, and many others." said AFS Executive Director Rebecca Campbell. "But, these invitations usually come when filmmakers have exhausted their finances just getting their films finished. We hope the new travel grant will help relieve the financial burden of this crucial phase of the process - where the film finally finds its audience." The Austin Film Society will set aside $10,000 annually from the funds raised for AFS's long-running grant program, the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund (TFPF), to establish the travel grant program. Travel stipends will be given out in amounts of $500 for a festival or event within the US and $1,000 for an international festival or event to eligible filmmakers. Guidelines for applying for the grant can be found on the AFS website, www.austinfilm.org. Since 1996, the TFPF has awarded $820,000 in cash, goods and services to 243 independent film and video projects. In addition to offering the travel grant year-round, TFPF will continue to make annual cash grants of up to $25,000 for production, post-production and distribution during its traditional grant cycle - deadline in late Spring, funding decisions made in late Summer. The 2008 TFPF recipients will be announced on Aug. 24th. Funded through revenues from AFS's annual Texas Film Hall of Fame, benefit film premieres, private and corporate donations, and the Texas Commission on the Arts, TFPF is an effort to redress the loss of public funds for filmmakers. Austin Film Society promotes the appreciation of film and supports creative filmmaking by screening rarely seen films, giving grants and other support to emerging filmmakers, and providing access and education about film to youth and the public. Through Austin Studios, which AFS opened in 2000 in partnership with the City of Austin, AFS helps attract film development and production to Austin and Texas. Gala film premieres and the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards raise funds as well as awareness of the impact of film on economy and community. The Austin Film Society is ranked among the top film centers in the country and recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and Directors Guild of America.\ For more information on Austin Film Society, visit www.austinfilm.org. |
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TO THE TOPAug 19, 2008 - FilmmakingFrenzy.com Announces Fantastic Fest 2008 Filmmaking Competitions |
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Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX Fantastic Fest, September 18-25, 2008 Contact: Based in Austin, Texas, and sponsored by The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Filmmakingfrenzy.com hosts free, online filmmaking competitions for amateurs, professionals and anybody else. Two new 'Frenzies' have been announced that are in association with Austin's Fantastic Fest. THE FANTASTIC FEST 2008 FRENZY The ONLY rules for this Frenzy are that each film has to feature a child under the age of 18 in some way, shape, or manner, the film must have some "fantastic" element (genres such as horror, sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, crime, action) and finally, the last line of the video must end with the word, "fantastic." Other than that, it's up to you. Want to make a 30 second spot about throwing a baby off a skyscraper? Awesome. Want to make a video about a junior high school kid who controls clouds with his mind and uses them as weapons against bullies? Sounds ambitious for a thirty second spot, but we'd love to see it. And we'd love to show it to the crowd at Fantastic Fest 2008. Fantastic Fest runs from September 18 through September 25, and because we need time to build DVDs of our preshow reel, Fantastic Frenzy films are all due no later than Friday, September 1. Anything we get after that can't be guaranteed to play during the festival and won't be eligible for any prizes. BLOODSHOTS 2008 We will assign each team a subgenre along the lines of Torture Porn, Ghost Story, Backwoods, Revenge Fantasy, or something like that. Then we will assign a weapon (ie Chainsaw, a Vehicle, Piano Wire, Bolt of Lightning) and a line of dialog that must be in the film. Using those prompts for inspiration, filmmakers will have EXACTLY 48 hours to make the most bad ass film possible. Filming will take place starting at 7pm on Friday, September 5, and completed films will need to be turned in and uploaded to the Filmmaking Frenzy website no later than 7pm on Sunday, September 7. All completed films will be screened at the Alamo Drafthouse in the weeks leading up to Fantastic Fest, and the Best Of and Awards Ceremony will be a featured screening during Fantastic Fest. Registration for filmmaking teams is now open at FilmmakingFrenzy.com for both of these competitions, and it's completely free to sign up. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL |
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TO THE TOPAug 16, 2008 - Ciao! Talent Agency is now known as TAG Talent |
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Ciao! Talent Agency first opened its doors 15 years ago. Together with our agency in Los Angeles, we are rockin', and we don't mean Granny-style! We represent some of the most talented and respected artists in all segments of the entertainment industry including Motion Pictures, Television, and Voice Over! Always forward thinking, while continuing to provide incomparable services and opportunities for our clients, we are changing our name to: The Atherton Group And the good news doesn't end there . . . We are also expanding to 6 divisions! We now have three divisions serving Los Angeles: TAG Theatrical, TAG Commercial and TAG Voice Over, a division dedicated to serving TAG Louisiana, and, of course, we still have our TAG Texas division. We are also launching a new division called "TAG Graffiti", an agency for "Real People" and "Stunt Performers". . . We're STOKED!! www.TAGTalent.com |
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TO THE TOPAug 11, 2008 - Second Wave of Fantastic Fest Content Announced |
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Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008 PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Subject: Second Wave of Fantastic Fest content announced Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX Fantastic Fest, September 18-25, 2008 Contact: We are proud to announce the second wave of our feature film programming for the 2008 edition of Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. For the past 9 months, we have been scouring the globe for the strangest, the most heart-pounding and the most challenging new genre films. With over 100 films representing over 30 countries, Fantastic Fest is the largest festival of its kind in the United States. We are proud to announce our second announcement of 15 confirmed feature films as well as our first announcement of official short film selections and details on special "fantastic-fest-themed" Alamo signature events. Round 2: Fantastic Features: Santos SEVENTH MOON Acolytes Chocolate Deadgirl Fear(s) of the Dark Feast 2 JCVD La Crème (THE Creme) Not Quite Hollywood Rule of Three Surveillance Tokyo! Wicked lake Zombie Girl SIGNATURE ALAMO EVENTS When we're not producing Fantastic Fest, the Alamo programming team works year-round on a variety of screenings and events at the flagship downtown Alamo Ritz Theater. Recently remodeled in 2007, the historic Ritz Theater is home to all of the Alamo Signature shows. For the first time at Fantastic Fest, your badge grants you access to a sampling of this patented Austin-exclusive programming: Weird Wednesday, Terror Thursday, Sing-Alongs, Quote-Alongs and Master Pancake Theater. Evil Dead 2 Quote-Along Master Pancake: Friday the 13th Michael Jackson: Thrill the World TERROR THURSDAY AND WEIRD WEDNESDAY The 2008 Fantastic Shorts Below are the summary descriptions of the Fantastic Shorts currently selected for Fantastic Fest 2008. The final shorts lineup and schedule will be announced in the weeks to come. Animated Shorts A schizophrenically entertaining 90 minute compilation of the best of the best in worldwide genre animated shorts. Short Fuse Shorts Program L'ACCOUCHEMENT DE WENDY AUBURN HILLS BREAKDOWN BERNIE'S DOLL BLOOD WILL TELL BUTCHERS HILL BREACH CAM2CAM CITY WASP COSITA LINDA DOG EEL GIRL ELECTRIC FENCE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MR HOLLOW, THE FANTAISIE IN BUBBLEWRAP FILM NOIR FISH GAME OVER GREEN HARDCORE HEIST, THE KARAOKE SHOW KINGZ LIMONCELLO MUTO OBJECT, THE OUTHOUSE, THE OUTSOURCE ROAD ROJO RED SENOR PUPPE, EL SNIP SOME OF AN EQUATION SPANDEX MAN SQUIRREL NEXT DOOR, THE TAP, THE TIFFANY PROBLEM, THE TREEVENGE VINCENT, LE MAGNIFIQUE VIOLETA WELL-FOUNDED CONCERNS YOU BETTER WATCH OUT IMPORTANT FESTIVAL DATES
For more information about Fantastic Fest, please visit our official website: http://www.fantasticfest.com ABOUT THE FESTIVAL |
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TO THE TOPJul 23, 2008 - Marfa Film Festival 2008 Wrap Up |
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(to see this wrap up in a beautiful new interface and gallery on our site go to marfafilmfestival.org and click on MARFA 08!) "The best little festival I've ever attended." The Marfa Film Festival in only its first year proved itself to be an important destination on the festival circuit for years to come. This was a transformative film experience I won't soon forget." "I spent three days at the very first Marfa Film Festival, plus two days in transit -- more than 1,000 hard miles of driving -- and it was worth every effort to get there." "Marfa completes a Texas-fest triangle. There's something in that sun-cracked soil that feeds art and mystery." "An opportunity to go off-the-beaten path and experience great cinema and amazing landscapes in a non-competitive, very low-key environment where celebrity means nothing." "If you are spontaneous and have some extra rope, jump on a plane and rent a horse to get yourself out to Marfa for a wild and weird filmophile adventure." "The festival kicked off in surreal glory on the wind-eroded set of There Will Be Blood, 10 minutes outside Marfa, where P.T. Anderson's Oscar-winning story played on a giant screen as twilight rose from the rocks." "Marfa's otherworldly hamlet vibe is more than a little conducive to story-spinning." "Marfa film festival has officially been added to the list of things I must do every year ." The first ever Marfa Film Festival happened May 1-5 2008 in Marfa, Texas. Film-lovers from all over the world came to witness the birth of a unique new cinema celebration, far off the beaten path. The festival debuted eight miles south of Marfa on the Macguire ranch with an outdoor screening of the Oscar-winning film There Will Be Blood on the set where it was made. Sul Ross University donated shuttles to take festival-goers to "Little Boston" where attendees explored the amazing location before the screening (with the help of Patron Tequila and Alamo Beer and a little homemade Bar-B-Que). The reception was a generous gift from the Texas Association of Film Commissions and their Texas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston offices who were all in attendance, uniting to support our inaugural launch. As the sun set and the film's score played, over three hundred awestruck people sat back to watch the massive Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow screen rise from the desert. Many of the attendees at this screening were actors and crew who had never seen There Will Be Blood (much less themselves) on a big screen. Director P.T Anderson was kind enough to arrange for a brand new 35mm print of the film to be shown at the event. An opening night party followed at Marfa's historic Bldg 98, featuring the talents of a very special collection of artists, musicians and filmmakers called The Masses. The night's musical group, the new and already legendary Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros (opener: Victoria) purchased a Greyhound bus in California and loaded it up with their 11 piece band (along with 20 other artists, filmmakers and friends) to make the trek to the festival. As the days progressed, the program, audience and environment seemed to gel into a perfect moment in time, and a wonderful buzz of satisfaction filled the air. Attendees fell under the spell of Marfa's unique beauty and atmosphere and were entranced by the fifty wonderful films (so many, so great, please read about them at: http://marfa.bside.com/2008/films;jsessionid=0962B72FB637B376430925F17FB55701) of all genres that screened at the festival.Thank you so much to all the filmmakers whose films we screened, and thanks especially to those who made the trip. We'd also like to thank all of the filmmakers who submitted their work to the first Marfa Film Festival, we couldn't have done this without you. The great Night of the Hunter with Robert Mitchum screened on 35mm at night under a blanket of stars. So did Deborah Kerr in The Innocents. Saturday night it was David Byrne's True Stories followed by a premiere of one of The Masses music videos directed by the late Heath Ledger who was a member and dear friend of the collective. A second impromptu concert by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (opener: Mia Doi Todd) capped the night, and by all accounts it was one which will live in legend, ablaze as all were with the music and spirit of the show, dancing and singing and screaming until the early morning when the band had to board its bus and make back to California (follow links at bottom for this week's LA Weekly Cover Story on their trip and a video they made about it). Also and throughout the week, an eclectic and talented group of young woman artists, including Becky Stark, Maximilla Lukacs, Cat Solen, and Alia Raza,with the help of Jessica Hundley and Draw Pictures held The Marfa Tea Party, where anyone who came by the historic Masonic Lodge in downtown Marfa got to experience their hospitality and work. West Coast DJs, Small Town Talk, kept things lively there and everywhere else their beats were needed, including the Cinco De Mayo celebration at the courthouse on Sunday where turtle races, chicken%$# bingo, belly dancers and other attractions made the annual party one of the highlights of the festival. More than half of the filmmakers and artist featured in the program were in attendance at the festival. And they seemed genuinely thrilled to be in Marfa and screening their films at the very unique Goode-Crowley Theater, a former feed store with exposed beams and brick, built in the late 1930's. The consensus declared Marfa a unique festival experience without the chaos and pressure of other festivals, a place where filmmakers and film lovers could meet, and talk and enjoy real people who love movies. Our closing night was also a very special evening, albeit somewhat ironically. Dennis Hopper was to come screen his The Last Movie, but he was forced to cancel after having tried for weeks to find a solve a scheduling problem. Feeling terrible, he wrote an apology Op Ed piece in the Big Bend Sentinel and sent a video to introduce the film which included great stories about he and James Dean buying bottles of liquor in nearby Alpine and shooting rabbits in the prairie in the middle of the night. It was a generous gesture by the actor/director that festival-goers appreciated very much, but we all still secretly hoped he'd show. Good thing he didn't. We would never have screened the movie. Just as we were all set to show his 35mm print, outside under the stars, a cloud-bank covered the stars and a tremendous lightning storm came rolling in. Everyone stood huddled under the municipal golf course porch to watch the greatest show on Earth -- the first rain in months in the form of an epic electrical storm sweeping over the great Marfa Plateau! Afterward the storm settled we went back to watch random Wholpin shorts in the Goode-Crowley Theater, and then later to the Rock Hudson suite at Paisano Hotel. All agreed (including Mr. Hopper when he was informed) that it was the most magical way to end such a magical week. Those are just a few details. We were so busy making it happen we didn't hear half of the strange and wonderful stories until after the festival was over. It's so gratifying to know everyone had such a great time. Thank you to all of you who supported and attended the first year of the Marfa Film Festival. It was an amazing experience and we're already hard at work to make our second year an even better one. The dates for 2009 are April 29th – May 3rd, so mark your calendars! We are now accepting submissions (check the site for information on deadlines). Best to you all! Robin and Cory MFF Staff |
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TO THE TOPJul 17, 2008 - First Wave of Fantastic Fest Content Announced |
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Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008 PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX Fantastic Fest, September 18-25, 2008 Contact: We are proud to announce the first wave of our feature film programming for the 2008 edition of Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. For the past 9 months, we have been scouring the globe for the strangest, the most heart-pounding and the most challenging new genre films. With over 100 films representing over 30 countries, Fantastic Fest is the largest festival of its kind in the United States. We are proud to announce our first slate of 22 confirmed feature films. Also included is information about our signature Fantastic Fest special events and parties. FEATURE FILMS Cargo 200 (2007, Russia, director: Aleksei Balabanov) Dark Floors (2008, Finland, director: Pete Riski) Doctor Infierno (2008, Spain, director: Paco Limon) Donkey Punch (2008, United Kingdom, director: Oliver Blackburn) Eagle Eye (2008, USA, director: D.J. Caruso) Estomago (2007, Brazil, director: Marcos Jorge) Ex Drummer (2007, Belgium, director: Koen Mortier) Fighter (2008, Denmark, director: Natasha Arthy) Gachi Boy: Wrestling with a Memory (2008, Japan, director: Norihiro Koizumi) How to Get Rid of the Others (2007, Denmark, director: Anders Rønnow Klarlund) I Think We're Alone Now (2007, USA, director: Sean Donnelly) Jack Brooks Monster Slayer (2007, Canada, director: Jon Knautz) Let the Right One In (2008, Sweden, director: Tomas Alfredson) Muay Thai Chaiya (2007, Thailand, director: Kongkiat Khomsiri) The Short Films of Nacho Vigalondo (various, Spain, director: Nacho Vigalondo) South of Heaven (2007, USA, director: Jonathan Vara) Spine Tingler - the William Castle Story (2007, USA, director: Jeffrey Schwarz) Substitute, The (2007, Denmark, director: Ole Bornedal) Terra (2008, Canada, director: Aristomenis Tsirbas) Tingler, The (1959, USA, director: William Castle) Tokyo Gore Police (2008, Japan, director: Yoshihiro Nishimura) In addition to the features above, we are proud to announce more details about our Fantastic Fest parties and special events: Opening Night Party: Air Sex World Finals Closing Night Party: "Get Lit" Fantastic Feud and All-Night Karaoke Party | |