AuditionInside Guest Article on audition faux pas… and… Asia Television Forum, Mixed Messages, Sync Summit, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Guest article from AuditionInside
5 Ways to Not Get the Part…
By Zachary Miller — Auditioninside

Every person has something that pisses them off. There’s always that one little thing that someone else does that throws you, wait… hurls you… off the edge! Lucky for you, we have interviewed some stage managers and grilled them about what really ticks them off! Lucky for me… I am not the one getting hired!

In this article, I will look at 5 ways to send your next potential stage manager over the edge at the audition.  Don’t want to get the part? Then do these 5 things and you surely will have no problem getting cut for a random “type out.” Hah!

1) Put no effort or thought into your resume, and I mean absolutely no stinking thought at all!  When a stage manager glances over your resume, he or she is getting a first impression of you. Don’t ruin the impression because you hand wrote your special skills in the margin or forgot to change the name of the person you copied the resume from!

2) Audition for something that you don’t want. Guess what?! Not wanting it shows clearly, even on the best liar’s face. Stage managers don’t want their time wasted just as much as you don’t want yours wasted! If you don’t want it, don’t audition.

3) Come to an audition that you know you can’t fill the requirements for! “Hey, even though the breakdown explicitly indicates ‘10 pull-ups required at the audition,’ I’m going to go even though I can’t.” Or…”I know this is an audition for a tap solo, but maybe they will look past the fact that I don’t tap and hire me for my jazz skill.” No…No…No. Again, refer to the second bullet point, don’t waste their time!

4) Don’t follow simple directions. Doing a backflip when they asked to see a back roll doesn’t impress anyone. It just shows you SUCK at following directions and should NOT be hired.

5) Use your phone at the audition. In fact, why not just talk on your phone in the waiting room, text when they are speaking to the group, and let the phone ring when the stage manager is calling your number. They really love that! I don’t believe any extra explanation is necessary here. Don’t use your phone AT ALL!

And there you go… 5 ways to not get the part… OR, really piss off your direct boss for your next year contract. Good luck with that!

All 5 ways to throw your stage manager over the edge were collected from actual stage managers. You wouldn’t believe the stories they had! AuditionInside wants to hear from you! Have you done anything extremely dumb in an audition? Have you seen anything in an audition that really irked the stage manager? Let us know at contact@auditioninside.com!

About the Author
This article was written by Zachary Miller, the founder of www.AuditionInside.com. Zachary spent his performance career as an acrobat, performing with cirque companies around the United States. Most notably, Zachary performed alongside Debbie Gibson in Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Walt Disney World. After experiencing the struggle to find consistent work during his performance career, Zachary decided to give back to the artist community. AuditionInside.com is a website designed for performance artists to find auditions, access artist resources and read performance news and advice. For more articles like the one you just read, visit http://www.AuditionInside.com/articles.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<@@@>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Every Tuesday evening in New York City, right in the heart of Broadway, around the corner from The David Letterman Show, a singers open mic takes place. No call or appointment is needed to perform in front of the mic for Gotta Sing!. Aspiring singers are welcome to come in, sign up and sing! A pianist will be provided or singers are welcome to bring their own accompanist, tracks or be self-accompanied. From Broadway to Pop to Jazz to Country to Gospel to Opera to R&B to Singer Songwriters, this open mic welcomes all styles of musical performance, talented newcomers and experienced singers are all welcome. They will have an opportunity to gain experience and exposure in a nurturing environment. Judi Jourdan and Billy Shepard, who have operated Gotta Sing! since early 1980s, have put in their time in the industry as artists, directors and producers, nurturing new talent – referring to the performers as “our singing family” – and providing essential feedback drawn from their extensive wisdom and knowledge on how the industry works, which is over 25 years worth.

And that’s not all there is to this singers showcase. Selected performers from Tuesday night will be handed an opportunity to be booked as a featured singer in a future Shepard and Jourdan Showcase for half an hour taking place on a Saturday night. Lately, the showcase has been looking to pass along the opportunity for young talented singers from Performing Arts Schools in Metro New York to take advantage of this opportunity to perform on stage in an open mic night and opportunity for booking their own show. Seeking singers from LaGuardia, Performing Arts School, Professional Children’s School, Frank Sinatra School, AMDA, Juilliard, etc. Regardless of this latest endeavor, the GottaSing showcase remains open to all levels that wish to share a song and showcase their talents.

From Singapore, Asia Television Forum will be conducted as a forum to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce, across all platforms, making the case for Asia’s TV and Film market and how they’re changing. ATF will be co-located this year with ScreenSingapore. Together, ScreenSingapore and ATF facilitates trading possibilities through a Film and TV market, conferences, networking opportunities, and gala film premieres. MIPAcademy, produced by Reed MIDEM, will present a one-day Master Class event focused on the ‘How To’ and targeting producers and executives from across the entertainment industry who want to learn from international industry professionals.

Activities get started with a pre-market conference on December 3. An opening keynote will be delivered by Sunny Xiangyang Zhu, Chief Content Officer, Youku Tudou Inc. on “Changing the Future of TV Content…” and then will tackle other areas: “The Future of Kids’ TV in Asia Pacific”, “New Media Strategy – Business Model and Monetising Opportunities”. And there will be the launch of ATF’s first Animation Lab, a three-day matchmaking platform dedicated to Asian animation producers who seek co-production and funding opportunities.

In another Forum highlight set for December 5, the Village Roadshow Entertainment Group Asia sets up a dialogue among film industry professionals who are engaged in the development, financing, production and marketing and distribution of Chinese films for the Mainland China market and beyond. Topics covered will be project selection and script development; financing and production management; and marketing and distribution. As the Forum winds down to its last day, December 6, a Dealmaking and Distribution panel will share insights on “How to sell your entertainment properties around the world.”

Receptions and parties happening during Asia Television Forum include a Taiwan Pavilion Networking Reception, UK Indies Networking Drinks and Cocktails and Sushi Party on December 4. The French Cocktail session will be held in conjunction with the Singapore Hour and the Animation Lab Networking Session on December 5, then culminating with a Red Carpet Film Premiere.

Varied events and screenings happen in December with showcase events from the New School’s Media Studies division as well as student achievements in media production and scholarship. Kinoscope, a December 3 screening series sponsored by the New York City located School of Media Studies, presents a screening of genius filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s Ikuru (1952), considered by some to be the iconic director’s greatest achievement. It will be introduced by Kenji Fujishima, In Review Online editor-in-chief and Slant Magazine film critic. A discussion and reception with food and beverages follows the screening. Kinoscope’s mission is to enhance the awareness and understanding of the film and filmmaking process by screening a wide variety of national and international films.

Mixed Messages is an annual exhibition of curated works of film, video, sound, and other media created by graduate students of the School of Media Studies. Selected by a panel of jurors, the projects displayed in the gallery show range from installations and web-based projects to works on paper. There is an accompanying gallery exhibition starting with the December 4 opening, then running through December 18, at the IMC Lab + Gallery, where there will also be a reception on December 6.

The Media Studies program is also holding a Ruff Cuts III screening for New School students to attend, exhibit and discuss their media works while they are still in progress. All events are free, no tickets or reservations required but seating is first-come, first-served. Marshall McLuhan’s colleague, John Culkin, brought his Center for Understanding Media to The New School in 1975 and The New School began offering the Master of Arts degree in media studies, one of the first graduate programs of its kind.

Sync Summit in Hollywood is meant to be a high-level, focused networking event where music supervisors, heads of music in visual and interactive media (TV, film, video games, advertising, the internet and mobile), label executives, publishers, music libraries, composers, artists, technologists, legal, accounting, brand managers and service providers gather for two days of discussion, networking and dealmaking beginning December 4. The goals for Sync Summit are organized to produce productive networking opportunities, presenting case studies of how music is discovered and used, point out evolving business models in the music and media market as well as creative and promotional considerations.

Summit sessions will be presented as a panel or Q&A chat format determinedly set this way to encourage dialog between attendees and speakers. Speakers delivering keynotes will include: Steve Lindsey of Warner/Chappell, Terry McBride, CEO, Nettwerk Music Group, Robert Kraft, Kraftbox, Mike Knobloch, President, Film Music and Publishing, Universal Pictures, Mathew Knowles, CEO, Music World Entertainment, Russell Ziecker, Head of Television Music and A&R, Lionsgate, Lori Silfen, SVP, Music, MGM. Day one of the two day summit concludes with the Sync Summit Reception and Party.

In one such planned session a panel consisting of rights holders and music supervisors from across the globe discuss the challenges and opportunities in doing business internationally. Then there will be a conversation between top directors, producers, music supervisors, composers, labels and publishers discussing the creative, thematic and practical roles of music in film. Topics covered include the integration of music in film throughout the creative process, best practices in clearance, collaboration and placement, discovery of music for a particular project, and how much music enhances the overall message and quality of the branding and story.

BMI, along with Hope Town Harbour Lodge, presents the First Annual Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival on Abaco Islands. Hosted by GAC’s Storme Warren, the festival which runs December 5-9 includes free performances from BMI affiliated songwriters and artists, including Jon Pardi, Dallas Davidson, Blair Daly, Kree Harrison, Native Run, Chris Farren, Ashley Gorley, Johnnie and Joe, Chris DeStefano, Rodney Clawson and Nicolle Galyon, at different venues across the island. The Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival will raise awareness and collect proceeds benefitting the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Every Child Counts, an alternative education program for children with learning, developmental or physical disabilities.

Combustion Records has collaborated with a score of country musicians such as Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Thompson Square, Dustin Lynch, Rascal Flats, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Martina McBride, and many others. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the largest non-profit music rights organization in the United States, represents over 600,000 country, jazz, and blues songwriters, composers, and publishers, and totals over 7.5 million works collectively.

Combustion Music first opened its doors in 2001 as an independent publishing/production company, first as a partnership with Windswept Pacific in L.A., and most recently partnering with Warner Chappell Music. Presently, as a Nashville independent publishing company, Combustion Music’s successes include: 2009 GRAMMY Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance, and Record of The Year “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon; 2009 ASCAP Country Song of The Year “You’re Gonna Miss This;” 2009 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley; and additional GRAMMY nominations in the following categories Song of The Year, Best Rock Album, Best Country Collaboration, Best R&B Song, Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month includes guest blogger Zachary Miller, founder of web resource AuditionInside.com with a contributed excerpt on auditioning tips. This month’s picture placement is drawn from  Warner Bros. Picture’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, opening December 13 in North American movie theaters. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month’s events, be aware that: NMX – New Media Expo 2014 will be in Las Vegas, photo technology show, PMA International Convention And Trade Show, will also be held in Las Vegas, Florida Media Market Conference will be in Miami, London Short Film Festival, a UK-only showcase, will be in London, Asia Television Forum will happen in Singapore, culture and events fair, International Kulturborse Freiburg, happens in Freiburg, Sundance Film Festival returns to Park City, Grammy weekend in Los Angeles leads up to the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Media Days Gothenburg, SXSW 2013, FILMART, Film and TV Finance Summit, are highlights in March’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Argo was the winner at the 2013 Academy Awards for Best Picture.

The Miami International Film Festival presents world cinema from Cuba, Spain, Israel, Argentina, Brazil, United Kingdom, China and other regions of the world. MIFF typically presents 100 films from over 40 countries, including several international prizewinners, 11 World Premieres, five International Premieres, nine North American Premieres and 11 US Premieres. This year’s festival puts a spotlight on China with screenings of films from mainland China and Hong Kong — part of a three day International Symposium hosted by Miami Dade College’s Confucius Institute happening March 7-9. Headquartered in the heart of Miami Beach, the Festival has hosted accomplished filmmakers and talent, including Pedro Almodóvar, Abel Ferrara, Spike Lee, Andy Garcia, Alfonso Cuaron, Kate Hudson, Jonathan Demme, Liv Ullman, Luc Besson, and others.

The Festival offers accreditation for VeoMiami — an area of the festival to discover, discuss, and develop the art and business of Ibero-American cinema. VeoMiami consists of a dedicated group of industry players, with access to Master Class Seminars, Industry/Filmmaker invite only events, catalogue and material distribution to attending delegates and concierge meeting set-up with other delegates, access to the online library of films available from March 1 – including VeoMiami Digital Market – and ending two weeks after the close of the Festival which is March 10. And especially suited to the Miami Beach area, there are nightly Happy Hours and networking opportunities. Celebrate the year’s accomplishments at the Pyrat Awards Night Party, March 9. The gala evening will feature a wide variety of culinary delights, wine and spirits, and plenty of entertainment.

Future Shorts Festival in London is a quarterly global film festival uniting audiences across the world. Since November 2011, festival screenings have taken place in over 285 cities and 90 countries with a showcase of short films, often alongside live music, performance, DJs and art. From London to Tokyo, Cairo to Kabul, screenings have taken place across a network of music halls, cinemas, theatres, galleries, clubs, bars and warehouses. Every three months, Future Shorts HQ in London puts together a feature-length programme of selected classic, cult and award-winning short films from around the world. The festival programme lasting through March 29 is then made available to a global network of film enthusiasts, promoters, entrepreneurs and adventurers who book, organize and host local screening events.

The following are screenings in various (mostly) European cities: London, March 2; Barcelona and Vilanova, March 3; Brno and Latvia, March 7; Tampere, March 8; Baku, March 9; Bialystok, March 11; Zamora, March 14; Arcata, Bricko and Przemysl, March 15; Blackburn, March 20; Elblag, March 21; London, March 22; Lodz and Paris, March 24; Lublin, March 25; Tbilisi. Additionally, Future Shorts maintains a distribution arm offering a range of distribution services representing an extensive and varied catalogue of original and independent international films. Original content creation is undertaken drawing from a pool of available creative talent on the Future Shorts roster and strategic development and production with various broadcast partners, including: Arte/ZDF, Canal+, HBO, SBS Australia and SVT, YouTube, Babelgum, Sony Computer Entertainment, Samsung and others.

The two-day Meg expo, more formally known as Media Days Gothenburg, is focused on professionals dealing with the different technology related to media production and development. The Gothenburg based expo theme this year is “parallel realities” and the program opening March 7 reviews topics from popular music to satire, investigative journalism to interactive design. Meg13 starts out from five different seminar topics: Fiction, Fact, Trust, Market and Innovation. Together, they accentuate this year’s theme: “Parallel realities”. Keynote speakers in the parallel realities program include: Internet researcher Evgeny Morozov, born in Belarus, now living in the US, who gave a previous TED talk titled “Is the Internet what Orwell Feared?” Also, Sofia Svantesson, designer, innovator and founder of design bureau Ocean Observations is featured.

Another of the highlights of this year’s program is the establishment and presentation of the newly instituted MegAward which will be given to a person or an organization that has achieved innovation in the media sector. The winning innovation may be of an administrative, technological, or organizational nature, in the fields of journalism or design. The MegAward will reward work demonstrating broad thoughtfulness and curiosity, regardless of whether the winner operates within the confines of traditional journalism or in the world of blogging, podcasts, advertising or technology development. It can be awarded to a Swedish or an international person or organization. The MegAward is an open nomination process. The Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre is one of the biggest hotels in Scandinavia joining the Gothia Towers and popular restaurants. It is also home to the largest office hotel in Scandinavia, the World Trade Center. A new tower and the extension is slated to be ready in the end of 2014.

Since 1987, SXSW (South By South West) in Austin has produced its well regarded Music and Media Conference and Festival. Although it is perceived as one seamless event week, emphasis will be given to Interactive, March 8-12; Film, March 8-16; Music, March 12-17. The event celebrates the organizations that define the ever-evolving relationship between media, technology, creators and consumers. A special highlight for SXSW this year will be its “Maker” movement in education with a Makerspace that will showcase a number of exhibits from makers, creators and DIYers, March 4-7.

New for 2013, SXSW Film introduces the “Come and Capture” Film Factory, that allows participants to explore and interact with the newest tools for capturing and creating moving images. Each day begins with panel discussions, workshops and demos, and leads up to the opportunity for registrants to tinker with featured products. Registrants can not only sample a range of filmmaking products but go out each day and capture their experiences of SXSW to then share the finished work with the SXSW community through SXSW’s online channels and on the official festival website. “Come and Capture” takes place from March 9-12 (advance badge registration needed) at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Capital Ballroom.

Themed parties seem to dot the daily/hourly event schedule of the Expo, including: The Morning After party, Trade Show Block Party, SXSW Film Intermission Party presented by IMAX, Warner Bros. Television Group, BBC America Roadhouse, SXSW Film Late Night Saloon, @PBS Party featuring Peter Sagal, Berlin Calling, #VegasTech SXSW Party, New Zealand @ SXSW, SXSW Film + Interactive Fusion Party presented by Fandango, Music From Ireland / Full Irish Breakfast, The Aussie BBQ, and so many more not listed.

Online resource SXsocial (http://social.sxsw.com/auth/sxsw) is available to SXSW registrants to search for and message other conference attendees. Upload a photo and bio to establish a presence and connect with new colleagues and friends before during and after SXSW 2013. The 27th annual South By Southwest Closing Barbecue and Softball Tournament, the traditional closing social event of the SXSW week, happens on March 17 and is free for all SXSW Music and Platinum registrants.

CABSAT Broadcast Conference in Dubai is a trade platform for digital media and satellite sectors across the Middle East, Africa, and the Southern Asian region. There are two conference sessions that are free to attend: CABSAT Broadcast Conference and GVF MENASAT Summit. The CABSAT Academy brings together the two sides of the show into one expanded and multi-stream knowledge exchange platform held in centrally-located networking areas. The dedicated Broadcast and GVF organised Satellite Conference streams are complemented by Workshops and Vendor Presentations. New to the three-day conference for 2013 which opens March 12 is a dedicated ‘Africa in Focus’ trade visitors session, gathering key ICT decision makers from emerging African markets, and use of satellite communications earth station equipment that has been tested and approved in co-ordination with the industry-endorsed GVF Product Quality Framework.

The Atlanta Film Festival, now in its fourth decade, is one of the small number of Academy Award® qualifying festivals in the U.S. ATLFF365 presents a diverse slate of year-round offerings for film-lovers, filmmakers, and established and emerging industry professionals. Atlanta Film Festival 365 (ATLFF365) is a membership-based 501(c)(3) arts non-profit with a mission to lead the community in creative and cultural discovery through film/video display. Throughout the year, ATLFF365 offers a range of workshops on screenwriting, directing, production, getting into the film business and more.

This year’s fest opens with MUD from writer/director Jeff Nichol’s (Take Shelter). Debuting at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in competition for the Palme d’Or, and starring Matthew McConaughey, MUD has been likened as a film, echoing Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Closing the fest will be THE SPECTACULAR NOW directed by Athen’s native and 2008 ATLFF Screenplay Competition winner James Ponsoldt. Written by (500) DAYS OF SUMMER (ATLFF09) writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, and featuring performances from leads Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller, SPECTACULAR won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

The Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART) is an annual film market organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). A central objective of the FILMART convention is to promote Hong Kong as a regional hub for distribution and production of film, TV programs and entertainment-related products in Asia-Pacific while assisting cross-media, cross-businesses partnerships. The event is restricted to trade only. The four day event opens March 18 with the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2013 Kick-Off Ceremony on conference opening day. Later that day is the Taiwan Party hosted by the Taipei Film Commission. On day two, conference organizer, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), presents “Opportunities in Asia: Book-to-Screen Projects in Today’s Box-Office hits”. Also on that day are Exhibitors’ Organized Events, including the 6th Asia VFX and Digital Cinema Summit. Among the planned Digital Movie and Cinema Symposium events, the “Digital Movie and Cinema Symposium” is hosted  by 23 Magic Limited, he “6th Asia VFX and Digital Cinema Summit” is hosted by Digital Magic, “Shooting in Italy: High Quality, Low Budget” is hosted by Italian Trade Commission, “Promoting And Protecting The Screen Community In The Cloud Era” is hosted by Movie Producers & Distributors Associations of Hong Kong Limited, “Universe Entertainment 2013-2014 Production Line-up Presentation” is hosted by Universe Films Distribution Company Ltd.

Within the Greater Los Angeles area, two separately organized television industry summits will open the same day on March 21 for nearly concurrent runs. Variety and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation present the one-day The Universal Summit. The Summit will explore how to recognize new business opportunity and leverage it from changes and transformations to the industry caused by splintered audiences with choices between new web and mobile platforms. Leaders from the broadcast/cable channels, emerging original content hubs, TV service providers and technology partners will explore what it means to develop, market and distribute successful programming. Topic areas that will be examined include: State of the TV Business, The Worldwide TV Boom, Transformative TV: Next Generation Networks Turn Now, The Growing Power of Hispanic TV, TV that Makes a Difference – The Social Revolution, The New TV Everywhere: The Game-Changing Business of SVOD and Second Screen, Showrunners (perennially popular shows) SuperSession. The day ends with a Networking Reception.

Over two days, the International Film and TV Finance Summit organized by Bloomberg BNA addresses obtaining finance and tax incentives to get independent and studio films made, distributed and marketed in today’s market place. This will also include discussion on: Understand how to utilize new digital platforms for distributing media content into the home and onto hand held devices; Ways to generate financial support for films utilizing brand integration and product placement; Access to and information from the most senior players in the industry at the top of their professions; Presented case studies how medium to low budget films are made, financed and distributed; There will be an expanded session on the U.S. state, federal and international tax credits and incentives for film and TV production. Also a case study in financing an independent feature film, presented before conference close. There will be planned networking opportunities, as well as, Continental breakfasts, lunches, refreshment breaks.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s photo placement highlights the 55th Grammy Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: NAB Show 2013, and all its offshoot programs, is in Las Vegas, Florida Film Festival is in Maitland, Bermuda International Film Festival opens in Hamilton, 5th Annual Film Finance Forum East in association with Variety comes to New York City, The Madrid International Film Festival comes to London, the Tribeca Film Festival will customarily be in downtown Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, The Mexico International Film Festival opens in Rosarito.

Asia Television Forum, Bahamas International Film Fest, Art Basel Miami, Monaco International Film Fest, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

“A Portrait of America” curated by Ramses Granados continues its run at the Joy Wai Gallery in Chelsea, NYC.

The Joy Wai Gallery in New York City opens a group show curated by Ramses Granados presenting images of America in 2008 with works in various genres including: abstract, figurative, expressionistic, realistic, modern and photography. The opening reception for “A Portrait of America – Experience the 2008 Presidential Campaign in 2012”, took place at Angel Orensanz Foundation In Manhattan’s Lower East Side, hosted by television anchor and hostess, Sofia Samrad. After the opening reception the exhibition continues at the Joy Wai Gallery in Chelsea. Regardless of when the works were created they will serve as a retrospective of 2008 and particularly of a historic presidential campaign that marked a milestone in the country’s history. The Joy Wai Gallery is a basement art salon that presents contemporary art with a strong focus in fine art photography. With an educational program in the works — including guest lecturers drawn from artists, critics, curators and professors — the Gallery envisions itself as a platform for exchanges within the art community.

Asia Television Forum in Singapore is a content market organized by Reed Exhibitions Pte Limited to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce across all entertainment platforms, with conference topics that will include: “Focus on Korean Format: Running Man”, “Format Distribution: The China Deal Marker”, “The Future of TV: The New TV Player”, “Focus On China’s Film Business”, “Future of TV: Going Global, Helping TV Shows Find Their Audience”, “Euro-Zone: How to Get Your Movie Made in Europe”, 360TV: Generating Revenue in the Digital Age”. The opening keynote delivered by Sanford Panitch, President Fox International Productions USA, addresses the topic: “Creativity Beyond Borders: Asia and the Global Market – What The Future Holds?”

ATF is held in conjunction with ScreenSingapore, to present trading possibilities through a seamless TV and Film market, conference, networking opportunities, and gala film premiere. Opening party by RSVP only at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark. A CBS Studios International Cocktail Party, by invitation only, is in Marina Bay Sands, Level 1, on December 5. A “Creative Malaysia Networking Luncheon” is scheduled for December 6 on Level 3 of the Sands. There will be an “International Emmy Award Showcase of the 2012 Nominated Programs From Asia” later that day in the Cassia Ballroom. A cocktail party follows at the Japan Pavilion. Still later, is a Closing Red Carpet Premiere, and Closing Party for Screensingapre, by RSVP only, at Golden Village. Last conference day, December 7, closes with Screensingapore Board Lunch (by invitation only) and “Singapre Hour” at the Singapore Pavilion.

The FlipsideTV Film Festival — an open genre, open form film festival and market — maintains the sole intention of giving independent producers, screenplay writers, and directors a means to get in front of buyers, distributors, agents, financiers and other industry professionals, as well as a film watching audience. The Huntington Beach located organization runs this online film festival twice yearly, with this year’s festival going to December 31. Movies play to an established subscriber base and are also exposed to potential acquisition and distribution agents. All official selections play to this audience for a one-month period and finalists are offered distribution and winners may get additional awards including theatrical exhibition to get the projects screened.

The Bahamas International Film Festival in Nassau is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and International visitors with a varied presentation of films from around the world. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the Bahamas, BIFF schedules educational programs, and forums for exploring the future of cinema. Immediately following it’s ninth annual festival which runs through December 9, the Bahamas International Film Festival will travel to Eleuthera for a continuation of this year’s celebration to be known as The Best of the Fest Eleuthera. During its visit to Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour, a full program of films and festivities will be offered for the enjoyment of visiting Filmmakers, guests and local residents. The schedule of events to be held December 10-14, includes Opening Night Film and Welcome Reception at Coral Sands Resort, daily film screening at Seagrapes, Harbour Island and the Globe Princess Theater in Governor’s Harbour, and Closing Night Film and Farewell Party at Tippy’s, hosted by Odyssey. An Opening Night Party will be at Carrousel Yacht, and Closing Night Gala Party at Ocean Club Estates, Paradise Island.

From December 6-9 at various venues about Miami Beach, more than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa will take part in the 11th edition of Art Basel, showcasing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Special exhibition sections feature young galleries, performance art, public art projects and video art. Angaelica, a non profit organization rooted in the arts and ecology, curates gallery events during Art Basel Miami, with these community events supporting and encouraging artists and filmmakers. Art Basel is an international contemporary art fair held each June in Basel, Switzerland. Similar to the Venice Biennale, it has been called “the Olympics of the art world”. Since 2002, a sister exhibition, Art Basel Miami has been held in the USA in Miami, Florida.

DocMiami International Film Festival is a Non-Profit 501c3 organization dedicated to providing a documentary film festival to promote the art form of up and coming documentary filmmakers and students’ from grades 6-12, at a local, national and international level. The festival, operating from North Miami Beach, format showcases three days of documentary filmmaking and three nights of music concerts, December 6-9. DocMiami’s music concerts benefit the non-profit, Brick by Brick for Tanzania. An Opening Night Cocktails and Dinner event feature the screening of ‘Concert’ by Richard Warren Rappaport. Festivities close with an Awards Gala featuring performances by: Tito Puente, Jr. (a member of the festival board), Kiki Sanchez and Eloy “Rali”.

Since its creation in 2003 the Angel Film Awards at Monaco International Film Festival – MIFF is held in the Principality of Monaco. It is a non-profit, independent film festival and art house event celebrating peace, love and movies. The Angel Film Awards team strives to help worthy productions gain the publicity and recognition they deserve with some AFA winners having gained distribution deals and secured financing through the festival. The Festival mandate stresses the importance of no gratuitous violence in film/entertainment, and also includes the submission of environmental, cultural and peace-promoting themes in films. The Festival’s emphasis is on promoting aesthetics in talent and filmmaker, and for films with a unique story. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre and Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo. Built on the site of the old Radio Monte Carlo building, the Monaco Gala premiere screening of ‘Dream Awake’, a feature drama (USA, 105 mins) will be followed by the Gala Evening Party with Red Carpet Champagne Reception at the Hermitage Hotel. The entire festival will be filmed for television broadcast.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has pages translated into 10 of the most widely used international languages that can be accessed from the blog page. This month’s photo placement highlighted art exhibit opening at Lower East Side’s Angel Orensanz Foundation of “A Portrait of America” which continues its run at the Joy Wai Gallery in Chelsea, NYC. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link (http://bit.ly/SyPjjX). Looking ahead into the next month that will open the new year of 2013, The Palm Springs International Film Festival will be based in the Coachella Valley at the base of Mt. San Jacinto. The Summer School (Australian summer) in Film making of the University of Melbourne’s Cinema Studies Program launches. TAP!2013, training conference in digital content creation, publishing, marketing and monetizing, will be in Orlando. The second annual Games Summit at 2013 International CES, produced by Digital Media Wire, is in Las Vegas. The Sundance Institute launches the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City. The Florida Media Market (FMM) created to fortify the Media industry in South Florida opens in Miami.

James Bond Turns 50, also, American Film Market, Billboard FutureSound, Siggraph Asia, are highlights in November’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Bond through the years: (From left) Sean Connery as James Bond in “From Russia With Love” (1963). David Niven as James Bond in Bond spoof based loosely on Ian Flemming’s story, “Casino Royale” (1967). Roger Moore as James Bond in “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977). George Lazenby as James Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969). Timothy Dalton as James bond in “Licence to Kill” (1989). Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in “Golden Eye” (1995). Daniel Craig as James Bond in “Casino Royale.” (2006). Photo credits: United Artists; MGM; Sony

At 50: Bond… James Bond

In 1952, an English author, journalist and former naval intelligence officer named Ian Lancaster Fleming sat down at his Jamaican retreat which he was vacationing at and started to pen a story that would become ‘Casino Royale’, the first of 14 novels and short stories featuring the fictional commander in the Royal Naval Reserve and British secret agent of secret intelligence service MI6, James Bond. The resulting work was a success with three print runs to answer demand and marked the start of a series that has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Fleming also wrote the children’s story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and two works of non-fiction and received acknowledgement from London based The Times as one of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”. In 1954 CBS commissioned Ian Fleming to adapt his novel ‘Casino Royale’ into a one-hour television adventure as part of its Climax! series. The episode aired live in October 1954 and starred Barry Nelson as “Card Sense” James ‘Jimmy’ Bond and Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre.

The first Bond film (set in Jamaica, W.I.), ‘Dr No’, would be released in 1962 with Sean Connery (a Scotsman) setting the standard for the Bond character, and marking the start of one of the most successful franchises in movie making history. EON Productions has produced the majority of the Bond series. The 1967 Bond spoof, ‘Casino Royale’, starring David Niven and the 1983 ‘Never Say Never Again’, with Sean Connery in a return performance after leaving the series, were not made by EON who produce the official Bond movies. Barbara Broccoli, the daughter of the late Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the producer who brought Bond to the screen in 1962, maintains active control along with half-brother, Michael Wilson, in the productions of all Bond films right up to Skyfall, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the franchise. Incidentally, David Niven was the only James Bond actor mentioned by name in the text of Fleming’s novels. In ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, Bond visits an exclusive ski resort in Switzerland where he is told that David Niven is a frequent visitor and in ‘You Only Live Twice’, David Niven is referred to as the only real gentleman in Hollywood.

++++++<@@@>++++++

American Film Market, the annual, anticipated film event that’s not quite festival, not quite conference, but mostly business opportunity — the business of independent motion picture production and distribution — set oceanside against Santa Monica beach. Generally 8,000 industry professionals converge in Santa Monica for the deal-making, screenings, seminars, networking and parties that continue through November 7. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. Separate from the conference schedule, the AFM Industry Conversations are interactive and informative discussions led by Hollywood thought leaders, decision makers, trendsetters and experts, and are free to anyone with an AFM Badge. This year AFM and AFI FEST that normally runs concurrent to AFM in Hollywood will join forces and introduce a new AFI FEST screening program. Three AFI FEST films seeking international sales representation will be screened at AFM on Tuesday, November 6. A total of 27 films screening at AFI FEST will also be represented at this year’s AFM. AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide.

The Hollywood based American Film Institute Festival holds a well regarded FIAPF accreditation assuring a high standard for the films it screens in its festival. ‘Hitchcock’, with Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock, Academy Award® winner Helen Mirren as his wife, Alma Reville, Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh, Jessica Biel as Vera Miles and James D’Arcy as Anthony Perkins, will have its World Premiere on the Opening Night Gala of AFI FEST 2012. Tickets will be released the day before each screening at AFI.com and the day of each screening at the AT&T Box Office at Hollywood and Highland Center. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is the official host hotel where you can find the Cinema Lounge, Audi Sky Lounge, Media Center and other various reception/event spaces. The Festival closes November 8.

Starz Denver Film Festival showcases more than 200 new films from around the world with over 175 international filmmakers, directors, actors and other film artists participating. The annual celebration of film running through November 11 provides a prominent showcase for world cinema, a platform for international film artists, and promotes dialogue between participating filmmakers and the public. Panels slated for discussion include: “The Talent You Don’t See”, “Women + Film”, “Zombie Town Hall Meeting”. During the Argonaut Wine and Film Series, seven films have been specially paired with wines from the respective countries of production and tastings will either precede or follow the screenings. Another festival special event, Animation Station, will feature an Animation Station Competition at Open Media Foundation, Animation Station workshop, and Animation Station Screening.

Leeds International Film Festival, founded in 1987 and hosted in the main city of the UK’s Yorkshire region, features programme sections including: the competitions of the Official Selection; Fanomenon, the UK’s largest genre event; Short Film City; documentary strand Cinema Versa; Cherry Kino for artist film and video; and the Thought Bubble Comic Convention. LIFF is organised by Leeds Film, part of Leeds City Council, a local authority in the Yorkshire region of the UK. There are a number of free films and events at this year’s festival which runs until November 18, including ‘Unchosen Presents Ghosts’ with Nick Broomfield and The Golem + Live Organ Accompaniment.

Createasphere’s Entertainment Technology Expo in Burbank is a two-day gathering beginning November 7 for content creator professionals involved in production, post and delivery. Co-located with the Entertainment Technology Expo is Gear Alley where attendees can get to handle the production gear and participate in shoulder-to-shoulder demonstrations with active professionals. On the second day of ETE is the Post Production Master Class. This is an session focused on the trends, technologies, and the business of post production. Soon to be announced, Createasphere will launch the DPW Lab at the Entertainment Technology Expo 2012 featuring cutting edge digital process workflow. In one special Gear Alley session, attendees an handle and improve their technique with floating, camera boom, crane and jib shots during an info seminar led by Eddie Barber,  Emmy Award-winner and cameraman with an extensive list of music video credits that include Michael Jackson, Madonna and the Beach Boys, among others.

Salon De La Photo is an international exhibition of photography in Paris put together by La Compagnie Du Nouvel Art De Vivre, a subsidiary of Comexposium. Credit: lesalondelaphoto.com

Salon De La Photo is an international exhibition of photography in Paris put together by La Compagnie Du Nouvel Art De Vivre, a subsidiary of Comexposium. On display from November 8-12 will be the latest technological innovations, from cameras to printers to digital imaging techniques. It offers a range of demonstrations, hands-on workshops, classes, film sessions and public discussions. One particular interactive experience, “Grandes Rencontres du Salon de la Photo”, gives visitors the opportunity to meet photography professionals in an event that will be organized and broadcast by Photographie.com. Salon de la Photo will also be an innovative trade show and conference for creative professionals looking to update or enhance their studio and location equipment, pick up new tips and techniques, network with industry mentors and imaging gurus. Salon de la Photo will be giving the ZOOM awards for the third year running where ten photo magazines editors each choose their favourite up-and-coming professional photographer (French or living in France) who has real but as yet unrecognized talent and whose work deserves to be brought to the attention of the general public.

This year at the Oaxaca FilmFest in Oaxaca, independent filmmakers and screenwriters from each continent will be competing for six original hand crafted Agave Statues created by international artist Alejandro Santiago. The categories include: Screen Writing Competition Award, Audience Choice Award, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Narrative Short Film, Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Narrative Feature Film. And of course Oaxaca FilmFest will honor Excellence in Cinema, including: acting, editing, musical score, directing, and Mexican film. There will be a three day “Pitch It” event that includes two workshops on how to properly pitch a film script to industry professionals followed by the opportunity to pitch to and interact with industry executives from various regions around the globe in real time via live video streaming. “Meet the Directors”, a part of the festival format since its start, will be in La Choperia, a local bar, on a night when a handful of directors screen their short films and lead a discussion on the making their film. There will be a late night “Insominia” midnight outdoor screening overlooking the city of Oaxaca. Cocktails and After Parties are scheduled for every day of the festival which goes November 8-17, and are included on a schedule at this link.

Opening November 14-25, Brisbane International Film Festival in Fortitude Valley take place at what is for them the beginning of the Australian summer, as well as for anyone else in that region of the world. BIFF is a showcase for International cinema while also serving as a platform for local Australian and Queensland productions. The Opening Night film will be British crime drama ‘The Sweeney’ followed with a gala after party on the Barracks bridge. Closing night film is Tolstoy’s classic tale of obsessive love, ‘Anna Karenina’ (Keira Knightley), from Universal Pictures, then followed by the Closing Night Gala.

In San Francisco, the Billboard FutureSound Conference’s format includes a series of 15-minute presentations from digital music thought leaders outlining their visions for both existing and future opportunities in the music industry. Fred Wilson, Principal, Union Square Ventures, delivers the conference Keynote along the intersecting lines of music, digital and social trends and investments. Don Was, President of Blue Note Records, delivers a Keynote Q&A shares his insights on how apps can function as a music format, and other issues related to the intersection of music, tech and fans as it relates to music distribution and artists development. New at this year’s two-day conference starting on November 15 is the Innovators Showcase competition where digital music startups get the opportunity to pitch a company or product to a panel of judges on stage during the conference. Eligible startups must be pre-revenue, with a working demo or prototype to present that is directed at the music industry —- be that fans, artists, or insiders. Cocktail receptions close the evenings for both days of the conference.

Bath Film Festival was originally established in 1991, in Bath, by members of the Bath Film Society and the three cinemas in the city at the time. An expanding program over the years now includes workshops for festival goers, live music accompaniments to silent cinema, open-air cinema. On November 21 screenwriter Bob Baker, who has been writing scripts for over 40 years from television dramas to children’s programs, gives advice on writing for film and television and talks in detail about his screenwriting while showing clips. On November 23, BAFTA-winning, and Oscar-nominated producer, Stephen Woolley, shares insights from his 30 year career. Bath Film Festival in conjunction with the Internet Movie Database – IMDb – have instituted two new film awards in 2012, IMDb New Filmmaker Award aims to discover new directorial talent and the IMDb Script to Screen Award. On the evening of November 25, Screen Award winner titled Pussy Cat, by Simon Wharf, will get its world premiere, and five finalists and the winner of the £1,000 prize of the New Filmmaker Award will also be screened. The festival in its entirety runs from November 15-25.

According to festival organizers, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography selects films according to their visual, aesthetic and technical values. The Bydgoszcz based Festival strives to be a forum not only for presentation but also for further development of international moviemaking. Apart from the Main Competition the Festival also contains other events such as Student Etudes Competition, Documentary Films Competition, Music Videos Competition, Feature Debutes Competition, Plus Camerimage Market, Plus Camerimage Forum, Polish Films Competition, special screenings and premieres, various reviews, retrospectives, meetings and accompanying events such as art exhibitions and music performances. During the Festival, which has its run November 24 to December 1, the gymnasium of the University of Economy is turned into a functioning film studio, where  filmmakers lead film workshops for accredited guests of the festival. This 20th edition of the festival will present Latvian Cinema Review, a program that will provide festival participants with a selection of films displaying the variety and the value of Latvian cinema. Latvian Cinema Review will not only be a chance to learn more about the country’s history, mentality, and current situation, but also explore the Latvian sense of humor and the unique atmosphere of Latvia’s cinema.

Siggraph Asia 2012 happening in Singapore November 28 through December 1 is put on by The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), an educational and scientific society uniting the world’s computing educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field’s challenges. The convention’s trade exhibition will offer participants from hardware and software vendors to studios and educational institutions a platform to market their products and services to computer graphics and interactive techniques professionals and enthusiasts. This year the conference will introduce a new program – “Technical Briefs”. Other featured events include Art Gallery, Computer Animation Festival, courses, Emerging Technologies, Symposium on Apps, and Technical Papers. The Symposium on Apps program aims to cover the development, technology, and marketing of mobile applications, and this year’s program will put more emphasis on graphics and replace “motion tracking” with categories like hardware, games, augmented reality, location-based services, animation, and social networking.

“Birds of a Feather” events are proposed by SIGGRAPH Asia 2012 attendees and are informal presentations, discussions, and demonstrations for people who share interests, goals, technologies, environments, or backgrounds. These events will be free of charge, related to computer graphics or interactive techniques, and open to all SIGGRAPH Asia 2012 conference attendees. Blender, the free/open source 3D creation software developed by a worldwide community of 3D artists and developers, holds a November 30 session for users (open to Siggraph attendees) of Blender to showcase their work, ranging from technology demos to animation and VFX for film. The official SIGGRAPH Asia 2012 Networking Reception will be at |MAX Atria Foyer, Level 1, on November 29. Stroll through the Art Gallery and Emerging Technologies demonstrations with live entertaining music in the background. A standing dinner buffet including a free flow of refreshments will be provided. Wine and beer will be available as well.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has pages translated into 10 of the most widely used international languages that can be accessed from the blog page. This month’s photo composite celebrates the 50 years since the world’s best known secret agent — James Bond — came unto the cinematic screen as Agent 007. If the composite does not appear in this post please click this link. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that December will be a slow month with most activities reserved for holiday celebration, but there will still be… Burleighfest in Perth, All Things Hollywood; International Festival opens in Burbank, Future of Film Summit in Los Angeles, European Conference on Visual Media Production opens in London, The Bahamas International Film Festival opens in Nassau, DocMiami International Film Festival will be in Miami, the International fest of experimental film and digital art will be in Bratislava, NewFilmmakers New York comes to New York City.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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