Monaco International Clubbing Show, American Film Market, Salon de la Photo, Billboard Touring Conference, are highlights in November’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Salon de la Photo is the annual Parisian trade show and conference for creative video and photography professionals. (photo credit: lesalondelaphoto.com)

The TV Connect trade show in Dubai strives to influence and advance the television service, delivery and telecom sector for the North Africa region through its resources. Planned lecture sessions, business seminars and conferences will put emphasis on issues like IPTV, OTTtv, multiscreen and Cloud TV services for local TV manufacturers and service providers. The event, once mostly rooted in IPTV, has evolved to include significant emphasis on OTTtv, multiscreen and Cloud TV services for regional TV service providers. The program agenda will shed light on monetising OTTtv, achieving the best broadcast quality through technologies including CDNs, transparent caching and web acceleration, the connected home, advice on growing revenue through the next level of quad-play services, focus on data centres and the debate on the convergence of telco business into caching business.

In a close-up of Day Two events on November 6 when the show closes, “Multi-screen services becoming part of the Digital Home” will offer insights into: Outlook of the Home of the Future and Facilitating Connected Lifestyles by Using the Power of 4G/LTE Network. A session on “User Interface and Content Discovery” shows the impact of social media on TV viewing habits – Defining Social TV and Taking content discovery to the next level by offering a premium user interface. TV Connect Middle East and North Africa will seek global exposure for all the leading domestic as well as international brands and service providers for showcasing various kinds of industrial products and services.

The Monaco International Clubbing Show (MICS) is an international meeting and forum assembled to address the needs of the nightlife and clubbing industry. The annual event, now in its fourth year happens in Monte Carlo. The highlights for this event are the conference, the exhibits and the DJ Festival. In the opening November 6 conference session, DJ Joachim Garraud, Sylvain Berretaga of Electrobeach Festival, and Fabrice Gadeau of Rex Club participate in a discussion on the rising prospects and profile within the DJ industry. The very next day, November 7, Dominique Wolton, Director of the Institute of Science and Communication of CNRS, and Pierre Chambon from UMIH Nuit will host speakers: Pierre Thomas of By Pass, Lionel Azoulay of Hostplatinium and Frederic Poulet of Optimize CHR as they build the case for how social networks are at the heart of commercial relations in todays nightlife establishments and in particular how Facebook remains the most effective tool for successful digital communication.

Another highlighted feature of the exposition are the showcase-clubbing parties. The Life Club is the official nightclub for these events, and on November 6, after the NRJ DJ Awards, there is an Official After Party with the dutch superstar AFROJACK for an exclusive DJ Set, followed by Reepublic, Niki Belucci, Paulette, Dj Oriska and Maeva Carter. On November 7, the dutch producer behind the record label Mixmash – Laidback Luke –  spins the turntables for an evening. On November 8, the DJ resident of the « Caves Du Roy » in Saint-Tropez, Jack-E, takes a turn. And on November 9, DJ Sub Zero, known as an American oriented French DJ, makes a return to the scene since two years that passed after his first performance at MICS.

AFM is the anticipated, annual 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 along Santa Monica beach. AFM will run from November 6-13. The AFM Conference Series will happen November 8-12, and will include conferences on Finance, Pitching, Production, Marketing and Distribution. Adam Carolla, comedian, podcast king, New York Times Best Selling Author and recent crowd funding leader, will deliver the Keynote Address at the American Film Market’s Production Conference on November 10. A Pitch Conference will be conducted November 9, and audience participants (pre-registered in advance) who will pitch to a panel of Hollywood decision makers, give feedback on each pitch – explaining what worked, what didn’t and why.

A special session on “How to Work the AFM” will be presented by Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director, on November 6 and 9, and is limited to 100 people. New for 2013, the AFM Producers Forum offers access to specially designed educational sessions, including co-productions, working with sales agents, production incentives, and the amenities that lead to great networking and private hosted receptions. Another new presentation this year is “Hong Kong: Asia’s Co-production Centre and Gateway to China” which will be made by: Zhou Tiedong, President, China Film Promotion International (CFPI), Maria Orzel, Producer, Studio Strada, Jeffrey Chan, CEO, Distribution Workshop on November 7. Core Barre will be held at Exhale Spa at Fairmont Miramar Hotel on November 9, Yoga Flow at Viceroy Hotel – Bristol Patio on November 10 and both events are open to all AFM Badge holders.

AFM is produced by the Independent Film and Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide. The American Film Market (AFM) is the market partner of AFI FEST. The association between the two events connects art and commerce (more on AFI in the next story below). AFM badges will allow access to many AFI events, including all public screenings. AFI FEST badges will allow access to the AFM screenings. AFI FEST filmmakers, whose films are part of the festival, will have full access to AFM (and to be able to promote their film to the AFM participant distributors. Shuttle buses will move participants between Santa Monica and Hollywood.

American Film Institute offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest every November in Hollywood presented by Audi. It operates in tandem with AFM in nearby Santa Monica running nearly identical dates. A Gala Tribute screening of ‘Osage County’ directed by John Wells is set for November 8. In this dramatic comedy Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts head an all star cast about a crisis that reunites the women of an Oklahoma family and re-ignites their dysfunction. Festival-goers will be able to obtain available tickets online at AFI.com/AFIFEST beginning Nov 2 until the last day of the festival, November 14. Additional tickets will be available all day, every day through Closing Night online and at the festival’s box office.

As a non-profit educational and cultural organization, American Film Institute carries a mandate to preserve the history of the motion picture, honor the artists and their work and educate the next generation of storytellers. It preserves the legacy of America’s film heritage for future generations through the AFI Archive, comprised of rare footage from across the history of the moving image and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present. 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. AFI FEST holds the FIAPF accreditation (FIAPF.org), assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community.

Salon de la Photo is the annual Parisian trade show and conference for creative professionals looking to update or enhance their studio and location equipment, get new tips and techniques, network with industry mentors and imaging gurus. From November 7-11 daily meetings with experts will be used to review legal, retouching, video, photographic projects, portfolio sessions, Visual correspondence. Demonstrations will be held of making and projecting picture shows (photo + video) via a programme of screenings and events focusing on the methods and tools available today from digital technology. Three topics are covered: Designing the show: taking the pictures, Making the show: software tools, Projecting the show: video-projection

Polka magazine will be organizing signing sessions with photographers. Portfolio sessions will take place every morning with members of the editorial team. In the afternoon: discussions and Q&A sessions with experts from the magazine take place. Fisheye magazine will launch its first photo competition at the Salon de la Photo, entitled “Suprise Us”. There will be experts giving technical advice for underwater photography. Five pro and amateur photographers reveal how they made photography their profession, talking about the choices they have made and the way they organize themselves in order to make a living from it. The Salon de la Photo is giving the ZOOM awards for the third year running. Nine photo magazines editors each choose their favourite up-and-coming professional photographer (French or living in France) who has real but as yet insufficiently recognized talent and whose work deserves to be brought to the attention of the general public.

Also on display will be the famous photography collection belonging to fashion designer agnès b., showing works by major photographers and new talents she supports as a patron of the arts and a gallery owner. The works exhibited are a selection of some sixty photographs chosen by her on the theme of “the young girl in the city”. Another featured exhibition will be  a retrospective of the work of Raymond Cauchetier, humanist photographer and emblematic figure of Nouvelle Vague film set photography. He began as a film set photographer when film producer Marcel Camus asked him to take photos for his film ‘Mort en Fraude’. He captured a notably iconic image of Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo on the Champs-Elysées in ‘Breathless’. He then worked on ‘Lola’, Jacques Demy’s first feature film, ‘Adieu Philippine’ by Jacques Rozier, ‘Jules et Jim’ by François Truffaut, ‘Landru’ by Claude Chabrol and other films most particularly with Jean-Luc Godard.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is organizing the second “State of the Entertainment Industry” conference for one day on November 12. The conference theme will be “Highlighting the Value of Hollywood’s Entertainment Industry to Los Angeles and California.” The conference is being presented by Variety and admission includes continental breakfast sponsored by Paramount Pictures and luncheon sponsored by The Hollywood Museum. Co-chairs of the conference are Paul Audley, President of FilmL.A., Inc and Chris Barton, Executive Vice President, Hudson Pacific. Speakers at the conference will be addressing the issues of how important the Entertainment Industry is for Los Angeles and what the outlook is for the future. The day closes with a cocktail reception.

At “State of the Entertainment Industry”, a special “Commitment to California” Award will be presented to an as yet unnamed awardee in the industry who has worked to keep production in-state. Last year’s honoree was Anthony E. Zuicker of CSI. Two days afterward on November 14 the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will hold its – unrelated – Leadership Luncheon Series with Assemblymember Richard Bloom at the Hollywood Chamber offices. This is a free event but space is limited, so it is essential to RSVP to the Hollywood Chamber in advance. The Mission of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is to promote and enhance the business, cultural and civic well-being of Hollywood. Significant accomplishments have come out of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce since its formation. For example, the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame exist today due to the efforts of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Started in 2004, the Billboard Touring Conference and Awards is an annual meeting sponsored by Billboard Magazine which also honors the top international live entertainment industry artists and professionals. Taking place in New York City for two days starting November 13, some program highlights include a featured keynote Q&A with Roger Waters whose most recent tour, The Wall Live, which captured Top Tour honors at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards, an artist development panel with Florida Georgia Line, a Grateful Dead panel featuring Skrillex and Warren Haynes, and the Touring Conference Awards honoring George Strait. Each year features a keynote speaker from the performance industry, who in the past have included the likes of Gene Simmons of Kiss and 3 Doors Down.

On day one, following a late afternoon conference presentation: “Agents In The New World Order…” there will be an Agency Forum in which attendees can get some face time with active agents in all genres of touring including: Comedy, Country, Hip-Hop/R&B, Rock, Pop, Hard Rock/Metal, EDM. At the close of day one there is a “Welcome Cocktail Reception” followed by the 10th Anniversary Billboard Touring Conference Concert with performances by Florida Georgia Line with Dallas Smith and Chris Lane. The conference day closes with a Pre-Awards Reception, followed by The Billboard Touring Awards hosted by Gary Dell’Abate.

Beginning day two of the conference and following opening remarks from Ray Waddell, Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment, Billboard, the subject matter of targeted and efficient marketing opportunities brought about by digital media,  mobile, social, e-mail, push marketing, and an array of non-traditional sales channels will be addressed in “Music Marketing In the Digital Age”, moderated by Joyce Szudzik, VP of Digital, AEG Live. Toward the end of day two, a pre-awards reception opens for the main event to follow in which Billboard will honor the industry’s top artists, venues and professionals of the year at the annual Billboard Touring Awards reception based on the Billboard Boxscore chart recognizing box office success and industry achievement in the period of October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.

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 picture placement highlights the Salon de la Photo photography exposition in Paris, France. 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: International Film & TV Finance Summit will be in New York City, Florida Media Market will be held in Miami, 2nd Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival will be in Mumbai, Art Basel will be at Miami Beach, Asia Television Forum will be happen in Singapore, Cineasia Hong Kong 2013 will be in Hong Kong.

Austin City Limits, MIPCOM, Hawaii International Film Festival, PhotoPlus International, are highlights in October’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival now happens over two weekends – October 4-6 and October 11-13 – and now encompasses eight stages and over 130 bands. Acts that have been confirmed for the 2013 lineup include: Roadkill Ghost Choir, Caspar Babypants, Whiskey Shivers, Alanna Royale, My Jerusalem, Houndmouth, Ms Mr, Depeche Mode, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Red Baraat, Delta Rae, Autre Ne Veut, Neko Case, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Toro Y Moi, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Arctic Monkeys, Little Green Cars, Noah and the Whale, Lionel Richie and so many more.

In between ACL conference weeks, the Captivate Conference, October 6-8 at Palmer Center, hosts industry talent from a number of digital entertainment industries spanning film, games, mobile and music. The sessions and workshops focus on learning tools and events set up for the professional musician and products for consumers. In separate but related activities, SXSW Eco will run for its third year, opening on October 7, and connecting professionals spanning the public, private and academic sectors who are all working toward finding solutions to  challenges facing civil society, the economy and the natural world.

Wanderlust Yoga, another mid-weekend event, is hosting an October 8 yoga class at the Long Center Pavilion during the week between the two ACL Fest weekends to benefit SafePlace. It will be a flow class led by five talented teachers and accompanied by live music. Attendees will enjoy refreshments from local vendors, a raffle of exciting prizes and a view of the entire Austin cityscape. The ACL Art Market is located in the center of Zilker Park where booths are open throughout the duration of the Festival. And aside from the daytime weekend showcases, there are the Official 2013 Late Night Shows that will bridge the two weekends, and features many of the same musical acts billed for the ACL Music Fest showcase.

The Bel Air Film Festival – BAFF for short – in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas is an annual international film festival offering attending filmmakers access to a series of film panels, music performances, gala events, and screenings of all genres including documentaries, animations, short films, student films, and comedies. The World Premiere of Feature Film Romatic-Comedy “Producer Sam” Followed by Red Carpet Gala at the Hammer Museum happens on October 10. The Festival will honor films in the following categories: Documentary Film, Feature Film, Short Film, Student Short Film, Comedy Short Film. The Bel-Air Film Festival hosted its first inaugural event in 2008 at a private estate located in Bel-Air, California. Even today some screenings are held at private luxury estates in Bel-Air and throughout theaters in Beverly Hills, on the UCLA campus, throughout Westwood, and into greater Los Angeles.

Each annual Bel Air Film Festival launches with a red carpet opening night gala and provides networking with  industry professionals. The Los Angeles Premiere of feature documentary “Unclaimed,” will be October 8 at 19:00, followed by Q & A with Director Emmy Award Winner Michael Jorgensen. It is free to attend. There will be free admission to the USC film panel hosted by FilmBreak, Ripple News and moderated by Entertainment Attorney Mitra Ahouraian, on October 9 and the Hammer Museum After Party on October 10. An October 13 film panel hosted by FilmBreak, Ripple News, and moderated by entertainment attorney Mitra Ahouraian will be on the topic “Video On-Demand: Market Potential and Opportunities in Marketing and Merchandising” marks the close of the Festival.

Organized and run by Reed MIDEM, MIPCOM in Cannes is a yearly global market for entertainment TV content across all platforms. In four days beginning October 7, visitors to MIPCOM can come to discover and acquire the newest content in every genre and platform, gain industry knowledge, understand ongoing trends, learn new business models, finance their projects, find co-production partners, network and do deals with the decision-makers in the international television broadcasting and entertainment Industry. The MIPCOM 2013 programme will include the Media Mastermind Keynote Series, World Premiere Screenings, conferences, matchmaking and networking events.

This year in association with Shine International, Kudos, Shine France Films, Sky Atlantic HD and CANAL+, “The Tunnel,” is featured in MIPCOM’s World Premiere TV Screening on October 7. The conference’s anticipated keynotes will be made by executives including: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer and Director, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Dan Rose, VP of Partnerships, Facebook, Michael Wright, President and Head of Programming, TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. Jeffrey Katzenberg has been named MIPCOM 2013 Personality of the Year and will accept the award on October 9 during a gala dinner for industry executives at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

This year, planned matchmaking and networking opportunities seek to accelerate business in different media sectors and provide practical solutions for business development. Animation buyers can take advantage of this planned opportunity to discover new prorgrams from some of Japan’s’ independent animation studios. MIPCOM and the Argentine National Film Board (INCAA) bring special focus to Argentina’s television production industry as this year’s “Country of Honor”. Argentina plays host to this year’s Opening Night Party, sponsored by the Argentine National Film Board (INCAA) and a dealmakers lunch the day after. A line-up of new leading executives and discover programming and production trends out of Africa, reportedly, a region undergoing innovation and fast growth in this field.

Screamfest from October 8-17 in North Hollywood premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. The opening night feature, ‘Beneath’, is followed by the Opening Night Party. Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects and Musical Score. In addition, there are special categories for Best Animation, Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.

On October 15, a Screamfest Q&A panel moderated by Peter DeBruge, senior film critic for Variety is paneled by: Don Handfield, producer, Ray Siegle, stunt person, Michael Colleary, writer/producer, Lucy Mukerjee, SVP Development at After Dark Films. The discussion tackles issues of: “The Art, Business and Future of Genre Filmmaking” — also to be viewable via live-streaming video hosted by CraveOnline and ScreenCraft. The festival has hosted its share of notable filmmakers as guests, including Sam Raimi, Williiam Friedkin, Wes Craven, Eli Roth, John Landis, and ushered in well regarded horror flicks: David Arquette’s The Tripper, Paranormal Activity, 30 Days Of Night, Wolf Creek, Cube: Zero and others.

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) was founded in 1989. This past year marked the 21st Anniversary of the New Orleans Film Festival, which has grown into a showcase of local, regional, national, and international films. In addition to the annual Film Festival each fall – this year from October 10-20 – the NOFS hosts special events throughout the year: the French Film Festival, the New Orleans International Children’s Film Festival, and other events designed to benefit local film audiences, artists, and professionals. The NOFS also presents two monthly film series, one at the Contemporary Arts Center and one with the Porch 7th Ward Cultural Organization. Since NOFF is dedicated to nurturing new voices and making and making them feel welcome in New Orleans, it has, in recent years provided two complimentary nights of lodging for every attending filmmaker along with a Festival All-Access pass to enjoy all films, parties and more.

The Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu is an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America, and it is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG). Started up in 1981, it has sought to represent emerging films from Asia and the Pacific, and to present the top festival films from around the world, annually screening films from over 45 countries. October 10 Festival opening films include: from Japan, Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘The Wind Rises’, from China/South Korea, Gina Kim’s ‘Final Recipe’.

HIFF will conduct a New Media Camp right up to closing date, October 17-20. It is to be an intensive video workshop with hands-on guidance and expertise from working professionals ranging from successful YouTube partners and content producers, working filmmakers in traditional media, social media experts, and Hollywood actors who will assist in tweaking craft skills in the production of a three minute video that will be presented on the final day of the workshop at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18. There is also the Creative Lab Writers Accelerator program that gives participants an opportunity to delve further into the craft, provide them with direction on the business of writing and help create a plan to assist them in taking their next steps to career fulfillment.

On October 19, SAG-AFTRA presents a workshop on the inner processes of casting diverse projects fielding a panel of industry casting directors, producers, directors and actors, some of whom have films in the 2013 Festival. After the panel, selected members of the audience will get the opportunity to test their audition skills and receive immediate feedback from the panel. HIFF started as a project of the East-West Center, an educational and research institution created by U.S. Congress and located on the University of Hawai`i Manoa campus in Honolulu.

Every two years, for 11 days, film festival goers can immerse themselves in feature films, documentaries, shorts, animations and new media works, as the Adelaide Film Festival curates a screening program along with a forum program designed to explore program themes and approaches to film methodology. The festival based in Glenside will be relevant to both the general public and industry professionals introducing it’s audience to innovative areas of screen practice that reflect current and future trends in the film and new media screen-based industries.

The Adelaide Film Festival October 10 Opening Night Gala will showcase ‘Tracks’, starring Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre, Stoker) and Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls, Frances Ha, Inside Llewyn Davis) and directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil, We Don’t Live Here Anymore). Following the screening, the festivities switch over to the Freemasons Hall for a gala after-party, to celebrate 10 years of the Adelaide Film Festival and the array of Australian and international films being presented in 2013.

On October 11, Bill Morrison will probe topics of screen works with Laurence Weshler, former director of the Humanities Research Institute, New York University. Morrison’s work is known to make use of rare archival footage in which forgotten film imagery is reframed as part of collective mythology. He has been commissioned to create films for contemporary composers, including John Adams, Dave Douglas, Michael Gordon, Henryk, Górecki and Steve Reich. And on October 14, Morrison will open up the different ways that archival film and found footage can be used in a 90 minute Masterclass.

On October 13, guests from across Australia, and outside the region via Skype, explore the world of online content in a forum at Mercury Cinema. Topics that will be covered include: comedy, documentary, drama, soap opera and educational storytelling. It will take on issues about who is making money and how they are doing it, who is watching and whether webisodes are the new step stone into the moving image industries. The forum will culminate with a launch of the 2014 Guidelines for the MRC’s annual Web TV! Webisode Production Initiative. Following the screening of Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s on October 16 at Palace Nova Cinemas, a special event follows at the Festival Club over lunch and drinks when attendees can enjoy a fashion parade of genuine period outfits from the private collection of Catwalk Connections (the people behind Frock Around the Clock). The show will also feature rare fashion items and objects of curiosity from across the decades.

The PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is an annual New York City photography event for professionals, students, educators and enthusiasts concerned with the latest developments and techniques in photography, video and digital imaging. From October 23-26 visitors to the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo can explore over 300 exhibits, see new products, attend conference seminars, keynote presentations, special events. Donald Pettit, Mark Seliger, and Rick Smolan will each deliver keynote presentations at PhotoPlus. On opening conference day, panel presentation “20/20 Vision: What Will Photography Look Like in the Next Decade?” features a panel of photo industry experts and thought leaders discussing technology, issues and desires, and envisioning the future of photography. Admission is free for all registered attendees. Portfolio Review sessions will happen October 24-26. The review program features over 175 veteran professionals with the visitor able to select and prioritize the reviewers they want to meet with. Every registrant for the Official Portfolio Review program receives free admission to PhotoPlus Expo. The Expo celebrates its 30 year history this year with a party that will include three hours of food, beverages, photo ops, and fun.

Known as “The Writer’s Festival,” for the past 19 years, Austin Film Festival has sought to distinguish its festival program by selecting films that display strong storytelling, both written and visual. This year is Austin Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary. In addition to the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature categories, this year there has been added a new “Dark Matters” category to showcase horror films. The festival will present a program of narrative, animation and documentary features and shorts, including premieres, advanced screenings, and independent films. Film screenings are complemented by informative Q&A sessions with cast members and filmmakers.

The AFF conference, dedicated to the screenwriting practice, will cover areas like: researching and editing your story, creating and funding a film, working with a writing partner, facing a blank page on a bad day,  risking a new direction after established success. Parties and social network events include Opening Night Reception, hosted by Austin Film Commission, followed later on by the WGA West Late Night Welcome Party hosted by Craig Mazin. The night before the official festival open, there will be the 11th annual “Film and Food Party”, an evening dedicated to honoring Austin as both a nationally recognized thriving film industry and renowned culinary hotspot. Proceeds from the event benefit AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program. Then there will be a Starz Media Conference Wrap Party on October 26.

Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Hollywood includes panels, Q&As and case studies with composers, music supervisors, artists and executives from across the film, television, advertising and music industries, leading discussions on the pressing issues in the Film and TV community, for two days, October 29-30. Brought back by popular demand, attendees have the opportunity to engage in 10-minute sit-downs with active song reps in the business, and submit their pitches and music. Industry notables scheduled to take part include: Michele Wernick, EVP, Music Placement; Michael Fey, Creative Licensing, Shoot the Noise Music Peter Shurkin, Select Tracks; Cindy Badell-Slaughter, President, Heavy Hitters Music Group, Peter Shurkin, Senior Director-Creative, Select Tracks; Sven Spieker, Mighty Generation Music; Anny Colvin, Position Music and others.

Grammy®-winning producer, musician and songwriter T Bone Burnett will receive the Maestro Award at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Conference. Burnett will be honored for his work in film and television music, most recently as executive music producer of “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the CBS Films release that opens in theaters December 20. Burnett will host a Q&A after the award presentation. A late panel on closing day, the eve of Halloween, “Halloween, Horror and Hollywood”, focuses on the artistry of horror films with the topic dissected by a panel of experts from the world of chilling movies. The Film and TV Music Conference Closing Night Party will be hosted by John Anderson and PJ Bloom at Avalon. Costumes are optional.

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 picture placement highlights festivals of horor and gore reflecting the upcoming Halloween period and the Hawaii International Film Fest. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link and this link to view it. In a preview of next month’s events, be aware that: The annual American Film Market (AFM) arrives in Santa Monica. Running across town in Los Angeles and having a market partnership with AFM is American Film Institute (AFI) Film Fest in Los Angeles. Monaco International Clubbing Show will be in Monaco. Supanova Pop Culture Expo Brisbane will happen in Brisbane. Annual Content and Communications World is in New York City. Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair opens in Dubai.

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.

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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.

NYFA guest article on actor training, also, MIPCOM, Ghent Fest, CMJ Music Marathon, NYTVF, are highlights in October’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Training for Now: What Degree of Acting School is Right for You?

By Glenn Kalison, Chair of Acting for Film Program, New York Film Academy

Actor training might include learning to play comedy for performers who otherwise consider themselves to be dramatic performers. Developing range never hurts and makes the actor more employable.

Ultimately, people come wired with different degrees of natural talent. This is true in every pursuit, from anything involving math or science to the arts, athletics and everything in between. This certainly is true of performers, be they actors, dancers, singers, comics or musicians. Natural talent is only a part of what’s required to be a success.

For everyone who likes to cite Bryan Cranston (the talented multi-Emmy winner for his work in Breaking Bad), who holds an associate degree in political science, we should also consider how many others devoted their life to studying drama. Meryl Streep studied as an undergraduate as Vassar College and earned her masters in fine arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. Talent provides a good foundation, but education doesn’t hurt.

A very good exercise in actor training involves improvisational work. Classes that introduce actors to this craft often evolve into performing ensembles.

On a practical business point, the actor who has invested years of his or her life to training may be more attractive to managers, agents, and casting professionals at the very beginning. On the resume, solid training represents a commitment. This is a meaningful signal to send in a field such as acting, which has a very high attrition rate. If industry professionals are considering a new relationship with an entry-level actor, they will want to know that you are not going anywhere. Additionally, there is a confidence associated with those individuals who are trained to perform to the technical and artistic needs of productions. This does not replace the importance of talent, but may increase the number of opportunities to apply that talent.

Of course, not everyone has the time or wherewithal to follow Meryl Streep’s path. The programs at the New York Film Academy (http://www.nyfa.edu/) range from one week acting school workshops through summer camps, one-year conservatory, associate (two-year), bachelor (eight-semester) and masters (eight-semester) degree programs.

It might seem attractive to take several years off from life to get another degree, but that may not be realistic for many people. But a concentrated one-week intensive program can be a smart way for a working person to spend a week off from a regular job. This program (offered at the school’s Manhattan, Los Angeles, Orlando, Harvard/Boston, Queensland/Australia, Florence/Italy and Paris/France campuses) is completely immersive, including an intensive introduction to relaxation (tension alleviation), “method” (acting truthfully), scene study (dramatic beats, needs of the characters), movement (expression without words), voice (as it reveals character) and acting for the camera. A single week of training has its limitations, of course, but anyone who takes it emerges far more skilled than before.

A summer camp is another means by which younger people – teens and kids – get a taste for acting and consider where they might focus their career aspirations. In a similar vein for adults, 4-, 8- and 12-week acting and comedy programs provide technical training for the skills required of actors. Longer programs convey an understanding of film craft, the language and grammar of filmmaking. The actor is far preferred by directors if he or she understands shot language, screen direction, camera movement, eye lines and lighting.

In a multi-year degree program, the student is clearly committed to this profession and what it takes to be a solid performer on stage and screen. The course of study includes literature (vocabulary, history and industry writing trends), production, kinesthetic expression (the expression of movement, the voice and gestures), synthesis (becoming a unique artistic product) and business (the practical nature of identifying one’s marketing niche and the creation of a business plan to meet career objectives).

Some training beats no training. Training is available for different level performers, time commitments and locations so all students of performance, young and not so young, should be able to find something from which they can benefit.

Glenn Kalison received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Irvine and has since worked as an actor, director and producer on films that include Clutter (with Carol Kane and Natasha Lyonne), The Good Shepherd (with Matt Damon and John Turturro) and Mystery Team (with Aubry Plaza and Donald Glover), a Sundance Film Festival selection; and on television productions that include Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: CI, Lights Out, As the World Turns; and many off-Broadway and regional stage productions. He is Chair, Acting for Film Program at the New York Film Academy.

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MIPCOM at Cannes is the yearly anticipated film, TV and digital market for

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in ‘Skyfall’, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. ‘Skyfall’ opens in UK Cinemas, October 26 and in US theaters, November 9.

co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content. It provides the people involved in the TV, film, digital and audiovisual content, production and distribution industry a market and networking forum to discover future trends and trade content rights on a global level. Increasingly present are new media players such as Facebook, and MIPWORLD is the event’s online matchmaking community used before, during and after the main event in Cannes. MIPJunior, a two-day screening and conference event for kids’ TV and multiplatform content, normally is held right before the MIPCOM event which this year runs October 8-11. This year, Canada will be in the MIPCOM spotlight, as the festival collaborates with Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) to present Canada Country of Honour, an immersive celebration of the best of Canadian TV, film and digital entertainment.

MIPCOM schedules a special workshop addressed to creators and producers to learn more on how to launch and grow a channel on YouTube, web broadcasting powerhouse, with more than 4 billion video views per day, on October 11. The MIPCOM 2012 World Premiere TV Screening of new period drama, ‘The Americans’, will have gala screening and MIPCOM’s red carpet Opening Night Party on Octobern 8, attended by the series’ leading couple actress Keri Russell and Welsh actor Matthew Rhys. BBC Worldwide is bringing actors Matthew Macfadyen, Jerome Flynn and Adam Rothenberg to Cannes to present the British period crime drama produced by Tiger Aspect and Lookout Point, ‘Ripper Street’. Palme d’Or and Oscar-winning writer/director Jane Campion will be at MIPCOM to present her new series, Top of the Lake, executive produced by See-Saw Films and internationally distributed by BBC Worldwide.

The Ghent Film Festival in the province of East Flanders was first established in 1974 as a student’s film festival, but has since evolved into a broader film event with its focus on film music. As this year’s nearly month-long festival gets underway October 9 the opening gala screening will be melodramatic love tale: ‘The Broken Circle Breakdown’ directed by Felix van Groeningen. Every year along with screenings the festival organises film music concerts providing composers of film scores a showcase of their own. And each year since 2001 the best soundtrack composers are honoured with the World Soundtrack Awards. In addition to the screenings, the Ghent Film Festival also organises film-related exhibitions. For instance, the Stanley Kubrick exhibition, which was previously shown in Berlin, Melbourne and Frankfurt-am-Main, was brought to Ghent before other world cities such as Rome, Paris and London.

On October 18, the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the very first James Bond film and the Belgium release of the new James Bond film ‘Skyfall’, Ghent Film Festival presents “007 in Concert: Flemish Talents Sing James Bond”. This program of famous Bond songs will performed with Flemish artists and the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé. Guest artists will share their personal interpretation of legendary Bond songs including pop and rock artists like Natalia, Koen Wauters and Eva Jacobs, Jasper Steverlinck, Noémie Wolfs (Hooverphonic), Pieter Embrechts, Lady Linn, Barbara Dex, Marie Daulne (Zap Mama), Lola (AKS) and Stryrofoam who are confirmed for attendance and other to be added. Another 007 themed concert is scheduled for October 21.

The music of award-winning composer James Newton Howard will be celebrated in concert at the Ghent’s 12th World Soundtrack Awards on October 20. Howard — who has received eight Oscar® nominations — most recently scored the blockbuster film ‘The Hunger Games’ and other credits include ‘King Kong’, ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘The Fugitive’ and ‘Pretty Woman’. VIP tickets are available for most all special concerts. In the “Artists On Film” festival showcase, October 10, Director Dheeraj Akoilkar examines the fruitful artistic collaborations between Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman in 2012 documentary ‘Liv & Ingmar’ before, during and after their romantic connection. The official closing program is “Passion” an erotic thriller in the tradition of ‘Dressed To Kill’ and ‘Basic Instinct’ directed by Brian De Palma.

At a time when all players in the TV and entertainment ecosystem face numerous challenges in keeping pace with quick paced technological innovation, introduction and adoption of new devices, platforms and evolving consumer demands, the Social TV ecosystem drives “what’s on”, and PayTV services are increasingly virtualized and seamless across multiple connected devices. That’s where the Sixth Annual TVNext 2012 Conference in Santa Clara brings together the hundreds of media, technology and entertainment companies starting to chart a course for the Future of TV and Multi-Platform Entertainment Services and Platforms. The two-day convention starting October 10 has an agenda format that offers resources to help key decision-makers adapt their products, services and content to most effectively follow the paradigm shift happening right now. Jesse Redniss, Senior Vice President Digital – USA Network, delivers the conference keynote: “The Perfect Pixel – Portable, Shareable, Social”. The Diffusion Group will lead a pre-conference workshop on October 9 titled: “TV’s Great Migration” which looks into how the existing TV experience is migrating online, new OTT services, how broadcast and VOD TV services are adapting to the connected world and how they are transitioning online with TV.

The Tyrolean Independent Film Festival set to open for a run from October 12-15 curates quality films that are between art house and Hollywood block buster movies. It selects entertaining movies that have the potential to reach a great international audience. The Metropol Kino — which will house most of the screenings — is a movie theater with a long tradition that is situated at the Riverwalk near the old town of Innsbruck in the heart of the European Alps — the alpine-urban city of Innsbruck. The Festival will screen films in cinema halls 3 and 4, as well as in the lobby. All festival parties start at 10 pm, or after the last screenings.

The Visual Effects Society (VES) is an organization representing visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos and games. Comprised of a diverse group of more than 2,500 members in 29 countries, the VES strives to enrich and educate its own members and members of the entertainment community at large through a various domestic and international events, screenings and programs. Their upcoming VES Summit in Marina del Rey on October 13 will be used to examines the intersection between creative content and the business bottom line emphasizing how social media impacts decision making on all levels. Back by popular demand are the Breakfast Round Tables. Albert Cheng, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Digital Media, Disney/ABC Television Group, follows George Whitesides, CEO and President, Virgin Galactic at the morning speaker sessions. The Visual Effects Society (VES) as a non-profit professional, honorary society is dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and uses of visual effects and to improving the welfare of its members by providing professional enrichment and education, fostering community, and promoting industry recognition. The Summit closes with a cocktail and mixer reception for all to attend.

Now in its 32nd year, CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival functions as a platform for the discovery of new music with showcases that are held in over 80 venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. In addition to keynote speakers and an exhibition area with a live performance stage running October 16-20, it features dozens of panels covering topics of universal importance to the music industry. Attendees have access to over 80 panels, seminars, Q&As, nighttime parties, meet and greets, mixers, special events and exclusive areas like the Exhibitors’ Loft and Artist Lounge. In conjunction with CMJ’s commitment to educating as well as entertaining, registrants can sign up to have one-on-one sessions with professionals in a variety of capacities across the music world for insight and advice on thriving in the industry. On opening day a panel with Elias Roman, CEO and Co-Founder of Songza, Sami Valkonen, Esq., Head of International Music Licensing, Google Play, Larry Kanusher, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, Matthew DeFilippis, Vice President New Media and Technology, ASCAP discuss some of the open issues facing streaming media, including copyright and licensing concerns, and later that day in another panel, Mark Piibe, Esq., Executive Vice President, Global Business Development, EMI Music, Tyler Lenane, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel, MOG, Gene Rhough, Esq., Independent Media Consultant, Larry Miller, Managing Partner, Miller and Company address financing innovation in entertainment.

With an emphasis on learning, talent assessment and job placement, the MIA Animation Conference and Festival conference at Miami Beach that focuses on Computer Animation, Gaming, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, Film, Web Design and Visual Arts. It will offer master classes along with software demos and multiple panels focusing on new technologies. There will be a job fair onsite bringing employers from major animation and gaming studios, Post-Houses, TV Networks, to interview and hire students onsite. Interested applicants should check job postings on the Job Fair Page (http://www.miaanimation.com/Job%20Fair.htm) on a regular basis. The Festival will be holding a Pitching Contest onsite, and all content creators are encouraged to submit their projects for consideration. The top submissions in both categories will be invited to pitch their ideas in person to a panel of animation industry experts and professionals. The top pitch overall will be set up with three meetings with relevant buyers and/or talent representatives, enabling a start to getting the pitch sold. For planned competitive event, “Animation Wars,” four competing teams of computer graphics artists will be chosen to participate in the competition to be held at Miami International University of Art & Design. The competition starts at 12 pm on October 19 and ends at 12 pm on October 20 — a day before the conference officially begins and a day before it ends. During this time the four teams will compete against each other to create the best animation sequence through creative use of technology to tell a story, based on a theme to be revealed at the day of the competition.

Each year the New York Television Festival showcases the work of artists around the world bringing its audiences the creations of independently produced television. The NYTVF has hosted these independent initiatives leading to opportunities for guaranteed development deals with a number of networks, studios and brands including FOX, ION Media, Microsoft’s Bing, Sony Pictures Television, Lifetime and Procter & Gamble Productions. In addition to those stand-alone initiatives, Independent Pilot Competition partners have included FX, IFC, MTV, USA and FOX Television Studios. Festival artists have also gone on to sell Festival-premiered content and  projects to a number of outlets including NBC, Sundance, A&E, Versus, IFC, Comedy Central, truTV and Spike. The Festival which opens October 22-27 this year in downtown Tribeca is supported by William Morris Endeavor (WME), Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the United Talent Agency (UTA).

In West Hollywood the Hollywood Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference will address the connection to, and music’s role in, film and television amid an assemblage of composers, directors, key studio, network, record label and publishing professionals, VIPs from the advertising, gaming and commercial fields as well as music supervisors in the business. Five-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera headlines the conference with the Keynote address. Aguilera will discuss her musical journey — beginning with “The Mickey Mouse Club,” up to her present stint as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice.” — an upcoming album, and the role television has played and continues to play in her life and career. Then there will be a Keynote Q&A with Epic Records Chairman, “X Factor” judge and three time Grammy winner Antonio “L.A.” Reid who will discuss his career as a producer, songwriter and label executive at Epic. Other conference highlights will include a Q&A with two-time Academy Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla who will talk about his award-winning work on ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ ‘Motorcycle Diaries’ and ‘Babel,’ as well as his latest score, ‘On the Road,’ and a panel session titled Breaking Bad: Storytelling Through Music Supervision and Composing where the creator of the hit series on AMC, Vince Gilligan, will discuss the increasing importance of music on the show with composer Dave Porter and music supervisor Thomas Golubic. Evening one (October 24) ends with a cocktail reception and the closing night on October 25 finishes with a Billboard/The Hollywood Reporter Conference Closing Party hosted by John Anderson and PJ Bloom at VANGUARD located at 6021 Hollywood Boulevard.

Casual Connect is produced by the Casual Games Association and is an industry event for the casual games industry — which are largely played on digital and/or mobile devices. Casual Connect brings together the experts of the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning and convention events held in both North America, Asia and Europe. On day one of the conference, Paul Thelen, Founder and CEO, Big Fish Games delivers a talk on “Making Money with Games – What’s Real Today”. Casual games are often found on a variety of platforms including personal computers, video game consoles, mobile phones and handheld devises. Because of their ease of distribution, varied monetization methods and mass appeal, casual games are distributed in a wide variety of locations including retail stores, major online portals such as Yahoo! and MSN, social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and specialty online retailers such as Big Fish Games and GameHouse.

Aside from the conference and other learning agendas, Casual Connect will feature an Innovation Showcase that will take place near the entrance to Elite and Azure hall, and will showcase new entries such as: Botanicula, a point’n’click exploration game created by the makers of award-winning Machinarium, studio Amanita Design and Czech band DVA; Mad Acorn, a music rhythm game that gets you to pay attention to and interact with the rhythm; Nihilumbra, a videogame that panders to the existential dread within the player and that utilizes five different colors which give the player various abilities to change the physics of the world. Just one of the official Casual Connect parties to be announced is the Big Fish Games Presents Disco Stars! at venue D*Lux. The theme of the party for this year is 80’s Disco. Check the convention agenda for more engagements which are sure to come.

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 international languages. A special guest article sidebar from New York Film Academy weighs in on selecting the right program for actor training By Glenn Kalison, Chair of Acting for Film Program, NYFA. This month’s photo composite heralds the upcoming Bond, 007 flick ‘Skyfall’, the 23rd adventure and the 50th anniversary of the series, opening in UK Cinemas October 26 and in US theaters November 9. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that… American Film Market will run along the beach in Santa Monica, AFI Fest opens in Hollywood, the ALTER-NATIVE International Short Film Festival opens in Mures, the Oaxaca FilmFest will be in Oaxaca, Brisbane International Film Festival will be in Brisbane, Content and Communication World will be in New York City, The Billboard FutureSound Conference will be in San Francisco.

Streaming Media East, Billboard Music Awards, Casual Connect Asia, Chicago Underground Film, are highlights in May’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The Avengers set new records for the overseas and U.S. North American box office recording $200.3 million for a 3-day U.S. opening weekend and $641.8 million overall in its first 12 days globally.

NARM opens its 2012 Convention in Los Angeles. As a trade association that serves the music and entertainment content delivery community, the Convention will field roundtables and panels that include: International Music Registry, Music Distribution, Music and TV, Internet and Independent Labels, Commerce vs. Royalties, and so many more areas. NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music and entertainment by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. On the evening of May 8 a Digital Music LA Meetup, designed to help digital music industry professionals uncover new business opportunities, follows a cocktail sip. On closing evening, there is the Red Carpet Arrivals and Awards Dinner Party.

The annual CTIA Wireless Convention launches this year in New Orleans through May 10. As an industry trade group that represents all sectors of the international wireless communications industry, CTIA hosts two shows a year: one in the spring, for a full representation of all things wireless, plus another show in the fall that focuses more on the usage and implementation of wireless in the enterprise. With the new convention dates starting in May and a new location in New Orleans, other updates to the convention itinerary include: afternoon keynote sessions, the Solutions Showcase, a VIP hospitality tent, CTIA World – interactive displays on the show floor, the Executive Conference Center, CTIA Unplugged and more events that round out a new agenda for 2012. CTIA (Cellular Telephone Industries Association) members include international cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio providers and suppliers, and providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. President Bill Clinton will give the show’s final keynote on the afternoon of May 10.

Now in its 15th year, and with more than 100 speakers across 30 sessions, Streaming Media East running May 14-16 in New York City, is a place to see, learn, and discuss what is taking place with all forms of online video business models and technology. Content owners, viral video creators, online marketers, enterprise corporations, broadcast professionals, ad agencies, educators, and others all come to Streaming Media East to see and hear the latest online video technology and to discuss the business models that are coming of age. Industry instructors will conduct 20 “how-to” sessions on the various technical aspects of the industry – encoding, videoplayers, webcasting productions, and more. During the opening keynote with Matt Frost, Senior Business Product Manager, Google Chrome, keynote attendees will have a chance to win one of twelve Google Chromebooks.

In Cannes, the Third Annual International Film Finance Forum hosts financiers, investment advisers, filmmakers, studio executives, finance and sales agents, distributors, attorneys, accountants, insurance and completion bond providers, film commissioners, and new entrants to film financing from all over the world. This year’s speaking faculty will address how to get movies financed, made, and sold in an ever-changing marketplace. The forum will open up with the state of the industry overview by Randall Emmett, Co-Chair/Producer of Emmett/Furla Films. Emmett. During the closing conversation, actor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover will address the importance of documentaries, creative financing strategies for this genre, and ways to market and sell these types of films. The Forum is one day only on May 18.

For the second straight year in a row, the Billboard Music Awards goes live from Las Vegas, May 20, following a hiatus that lasted from 2007 to 2011. The awards will reflect Billboard’s chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring as well as streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, Youtube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. This year, U.K. performer Adele takes the lead as a finalist in 18 award categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist and Top Billboard 200 Artist. Expected performers already announced for this year’s show include: Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood, LMFAO and The Wanted are the first performers announced with others to come. The “2012 Billboard Music Awards” is co-executive produced by Richard D. Beckman, CEO Prometheus Global Media and Don Mischer Productions. The 2012 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and hosted by Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell. The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound.

RadioTV Forum opens for a two day run on May 22 in Rome. The Aeranti-Corallo RadioTV Forum is organized by RadioTv srl and is a focal point for the radio and television industry in Italy. It consists of a program of meetings, technical seminars and workshops as well as an exhibition. The “Workshop Day” event, is a day of technical workshops and seminars focusing upon the Italian transition to digital terrestrial TV, that began at the “Casa dell’Energia” conference center. RADIOTV FORUM is an event promoted by AERANTI-CORALLO, the association of local, satellite and Internet radio and television companies, and organized by RADIOTV srl. It represents around 1,000 companies, including local radio and television broadcasters, satellite and Internet stations, local broadcaster groups, broadcast news agencies, cable radio businesses, and radio and television advertising sales houses.

Casual Connect Asia 2012 is set to run May 22-24 in Suntec City. Developed for the general public and families, casual games are video games that are fun and easy to learn and play and are found on many devices including personal computers, video game consoles, mobile phones and handheld devises. Casual Connect is the place to learn more about this industry which entertains an approximate 300 million people each month. Learn all about iPhone, Social, Android, Flash, Browser MMO and Download Games. The Innovation Showcase, is set up as an “art-gallery” style exhibition that displays twelve games considered to be innovative. Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to come and interact (play) with the games for Web and iOS platform, and maybe offer feedback leading to great games ideas. The Official Casual Connect Parties are: May 22 at IDA Singapore, and May 23 at CoCoon Bar in The Forbidden City. Founded in 2005, the Casual Games Association is a professional international trade organization providing educational resources and community support for those involved in creating games for the mass market consumer.

Belgian Broadcast Days is a networking event for manufacturers and dealers, rental and facility companies, new media, ICT and mobile television, happening in Brussels, May 23-24. On day one after an opening keynote address by Dominique Vosters, director of the Cabinet of Minister Mrs Fadila Laanan, Philippe Bekaert-IBBT explores surround video based novel television production concepts and viewing experiences in the home and on the road. Other presentations follow and day one ends with a Walking Dinner and networking party. Starting day two, Jo Caudron discusses How digital innovation will impact the television business, Jelle-Jan Bruinsma presents on Opportunities for TV Broadcasters on YouTube – a short overview of YouTube’s partnership programme for TV Broadcasters, and other talks continue through the day. Workshops on Legal aid, employment and financial incentives will be held, and a networking session ends the last day.

The inaugural New York International Short Film Festival, NY Shorts Fest kicks off May 29 down in the Lower East Side of New York City. Created by the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival – LA Shorts Fest – which is now in it’s 16th year, NY Shorts Fest events provides a showcase for international short-form cinema and includes receptions as well as workshops and master classes with industry experts and top filmmaking professionals sharing their practical advice to attending filmmakers. The festival closes May 31.

Korea International Broadcast Audio and Lighting Equipment Show (KOBA 2012) is an exhibition of broadcasting, audio, video and lighting industries opening in Seoul May 29 running until June 1. Drawing on resources from the Korean Broadcasting Engineer & Technicians Association, it offers the opportunity for engineers, producers, studio and other large scale performance professionals to get the latest information about this field. The show draws professionals related to the field of Radio and TV Equipment, Audio and Video studios equipment, Terrestrial, cable and Satelite TV, Multimedia for Broadcasting, Computer Graphics, Audio and Video Telecommunications, Audio and Video on the Internet, Video projection, profesional sound, Show Lighting, Equipment Rental, Audiovisual Interactiveness, Audiovisual Operators, Media Asset Management.

As an official program of IFP/Chicago, The Chicago Underground Film Festival has forged a certain niche for itself by presenting an accessible, user-friendly showcase for avant-garde and cult cinema. Opening May 31 to run up to June 7, CUFF showcases a wide range of work exploring the many definitions and interpretations of the concept of “underground”. This year’s festival will offer a complementary mix of independent features, shorts, documentaries and experimental films augmented by nightly parties and concerts. Panels and workshops further add to the programming that encompases alternative music films, political agitprop, high camp and formal experimentation.

A singers search and open mic produced by the long-running showbiz team of Billy Shepard and Judi Jourdan is held every Monday night at “The Iguana” just around the corner from the David Letterman Show TV taping in the Broadway show district of New York City. Talented newcomers and experienced singers are all welcome. Just come in, sign up and sing. A pianist is resident or bring your background tracks or CDs. The pianist transposes instantly in any key for you. Open to the public, all ages and all styles are welcome. Participants will be singing with the opportunity to be booked as a featured singer in a future Shepard & Jourdan television Showcase: “How to Succeed in Show Business By Really Trying”, shown on Time Warner Cable television every Wednesday at 11:30 pm on channel 57.

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 read languages. And a new initiative has begun to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols, as well as other means. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… Cine Gear Expo 2012 will be in Hollywood. Los Angeles Indie Music/Film International Summit 2012, will be in Los Angeles. IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, will be in Balchik. Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival will be in Cannes. Social Media Film Festival – showcasing films mostly about social media, social change and technology – will be in Las Vegas. The British Animation Film Festival 2012 will be in London. In this month’s photo caption: The Avengers movie set new records for the overseas and U.S. North American box office recording $200.3 million for a 3-day U.S. opening weekend and $641.8 million overall in its first 12 days globally.

Sonoma Film Fest, London Indie Film Fest, Coachella Music Festival, NAB 2012, Tribeca Film Fest, are highlights in April’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The Coachella Music Festival happens in the desert setting of the Coachella Valley for two consecutive weekends - April 13-15 and April 20-22.

The TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) global conferences, owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, was founded in 1984 to disseminate “ideas worth spreading”. It has licensed a new initiative called TEDx – a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers form the program to foster substantive discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = an independently organized TED event. At the April 7 TEDxCoimbatore, in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, slated speakers include: Melinda Gates, Co-chair Bill-Melinda Gates Foundation, ranked #40 in Forbes magazine list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in 2008. Jayen Varma, Indian Slap Bass Guitarist, who has evolved his unique style by applying Tabla/Mridangam finger technique to his craft, and is completing the recording of a CD with his band Khayal Groove, is a featured participant as well.

The Sonoma International Film Festival is a celebration of independent filmmaking and the art of cinema, set against a backdrop of fine food, the  wines of Sonoma Valley and the visual appeal of Sonoma, California. In one of the special scheduled events, the festival opening April 11-15 hosts the U.S. premiere of ‘Sir Billi’, the first full-length animated feature produced entirely in Scotland. Retired film legend Sir Sean Connery (who served as executive producer) voices the title role in a story about a skateboarding grandfather and veterinarian trying to save the last beaver in Scotland with the help of his goat Gordon, voiced by Alan Cumming. Sir Billi will screen at the 1930s era Renaissance-style Sebastiani Theatre on April 13. In another special evening at the Sonoma Veteran’s Memorial Building on April 14, American filmmaker John Waters presents his one-man “vaudeville” show, ‘This Filthy World’, that celebrates the film career and obsessional tastes of the writer William Burroughs, once called “The Pope of Trash.”

NALIP is a national membership organization that addresses the professional needs of Latino/Latina independent film, television, documentary and media makers. As NALIP 2012 convention unfolds from Universal City, April 12-15, it will include panels and workshops for documentary and narrative filmmakers, feature film directors and aspiring reality TV writer/producers. This year, Robert Rodriguez is the Keynote Lunch Speaker and entertainment legend Rita Moreno is the NALIP Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. NALIP will host a Welcome Reception at Infusion Lounge on CityWalk on April 14. There is also the annual Achievement and Estela Awards Gala Ceremony. Actors can attend the Latino edition of Back Stage’s Actorfest on April 12. This all-day event at the Wizards Theater on CityWalk includes workshops like “Breaking Into Hosting,” “Demystifying the Audition Process” and “How to Create, Produce and Star in Your Own Webisodes.”

Chicago International Movies and Music Festival brings together movies about music, movies for music, movies of music, and movies capturing music as it is made. The entries, coming from all countries and cultures and ranging from documentaries to fiction to concert films to shorts to music videos, have to be about music and/or use music in a creative, integral way. The live performances are inspired by film or feature visual accompaniment. CIMMfest, which runs April 12-15, will consist of four days of movie screenings, panel discussions, workshops, and other programs bringing together professionals and devotees from across the globe to entertain and educate. Premieres by new and established film and video directors, as well as retrospectives, classic films and videos that will screen during the day, and genre-bending musical performances to rule the night at participating venues around the great music town that is Chicago.

The London Independent Film Festival which happens April 12-23 is a festival focused on micro-budget and no-budget films in the UK. LIFF was started eight years ago when a group of first time UK directors looking for a new kind of festival experience, started one outside of the standard festival channels. Today, LIFF has expanded into a supportive system for new filmmakers, and has including a screenplay competition and filmmaker training workshops. LIFF hosts a full programme of workshops and seminars where new filmmakers can learn from experienced filmmakers. There is at least one lecture by a distinguished filmmaker, several panel discussions on such topics as fundraising and post-production marketing of independent films, and workshops run by working filmmakers on the nuts and bolts of the UK industry.

Organized by Goldenvoice, The Coachella Music Festival happens in the desert setting of the Coachella Valley over two consecutive weekends – April 13-15 and April 20-22. Coachella features many genres of music including rock, indie, Hip Hop and electronic music, and there is large sculptural art as well. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the camp grounds, each playing live music continuously. Festial maps are available online, on concert grounds and stores close by to serve as an activity guide. A partial listing of scheduled acts over the two weekends include: Black Keys, Swedish House Mafia, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Afrojack, Sky, M83, Jimmy Cliff, Tim Armstrong, Radiohead, Bon Iver, the Skins, David Guetta, Kaskade, Miike Snow, Jeff Mangum, Sebastian Ingrosso, Andrew Bird, Feist, fIREHOSE, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, SBTRKT, Manchester Orchestra, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, At The Drive-In, Justice, Florence, Machine, AVICII, Beirut, the Weeknd, Calvin Harris, the Hives, DJ Shadow, Nero, Wild Flag, Modeselektor, Dada Life, Santigold, Doctor P. ZIA Record Exchange will be the Official Music Retailer and Artist/Band signing tent at this year’s Coachella. Venue gates open at 11 am each day. A portion collected from the passes benefits the City of Indio and other local charities.

Working on behalf of its radio and television membership, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) provides members with advocacy efforts, legal expertise and timely communications and opportunities for career growth, professional development and networking with other broadcasters. This year the annual NAB Conention in Las Vegas holds its “Career Day” event April 18, giving an opportunity for media companies to network with experienced professionals, college students and entry-level job seekers interested in a career in the broadcast industry. New to the convention this year, which runs April 14-19, Content Market serves as the new spot for programming executives and media platforms surrounding digital distribution and monetization to meet and discuss collaboration opportunities. Content Theater, an attendee favorite every year as well as the Content Lounge is nearby for relaxing and networking. NAB Official Afterparties include: NAB Show Exhibitor Party on April 14 at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian; NAB Show Opening Party, April 16 at Marquee Nightclub; NAB Show Closing Party, April 19 at TAO Nightclub at the Venetian.

The 11th Annual Florida Music Festival will host more than 150 bands on 10 stages over three nights in its live music showcase. Each night, from April 18-21, a national headliner takes the mainstage at Wall Street Plaza in the center of Downtown Orlando. This year opens with The Dirty Heads. On the conference end, Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman is confirmed as this year’s Keynote Interview. The 2012 Florida Music Festival and Conference is an experience in live music, film, visual arts and the cultural community. At the VIP level, parties include open bar and catering each night and there is a Brunch on April 21 before the conference seminars.

As the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival program unfolds from April 18-29, the program contains a variety of independent films including documentaries, narrative features and shorts, as well as a program of family-friendly films. The New York City Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase artists. Some of the free events open for the public to attend without charge includes: Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” on April 19; “Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper” hosted by Barnes and Noble Union Square, and others all happening April 20-24. Kids will have opportunities to participate in the Youth Soccer Showcase — with skills, drills, pointers and competitions supervised by professional coaches on April 21.

The Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards, set to run April 23-26 in Miami will be of interest to the artists, and other music industry professionals keenly following the developments in the Latin music industry. A conference opening event on April 23 includes SAM Broadcaster In collaboration with Musical Rhythms Promotions, presenting “MAS Y MAS MÚSICA” Showcase to honor “El Caballo Mayor” Johnny Ventura on his 55 year musical career. There will be an after-party following this celebration at Club 90 Degrees. On the evening of April 24, there will be a Poolside Cocktail Reception, featuring La Salsa Vive/Salsa Lives, hosted by Nu Life Entertainment. In one conference session titled “Regional Mexican,” the new generation of regional Mexican acts discuss genre trends, violence and marketing and promoting online. The conference culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards at BankUnited Center, honoring achievement from artists on today’s Latin Billboard charts.

In its primary function as a provider in games industry news, covering daily developments on their news site and producing the annual Games and Mobile Forum in New York City, Digital Media Wire will on April 24 begin hosting a special event in Los Angeles – LA Games Conference – focused on business, finance and creative developments in the games industry. Emphasis for the new endeavor includes mobile, online and console markets and the increasing intersection of Madison Avenue and Hollywood with the industry. Double Down Interactive President, Glenn Walcott is to be featured in a special case study session of IGT’s $500 Million acquisition of the company with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP’s Stuart Campbell. An official Expo After-Party at the Tropicana Bar by poolside is to be co-hosted by PayPal, Openbucks and Tagged.

The NYC Downtown Short Film Festival is a program of DMAC-Duo Multicultural Arts Center, a (501 c3) non-profit organization in New York City’s East Village. The mission of DMAC is to create, promote and celebrate multicultural arts through theater, music, dance, art and film. The Festival goes from April 26 though May 7, overlapping with the earlier calendar start of Tribeca Film Festival, a time in New York City when New Yorkers and visitors are geared up to attend film festivals. The DMAC theater space has a rich and colorful history when it was previously known as The Astoria. Among other distinguishments, in the early 1970s Francis Ford Coppola rented the theater and shot the famous operetta scene from Godfather 2 on location.

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 read languages. A new initiative has begun to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols, as well as other means. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… American International Film Festival will be in Skokie. New York Festivals International Advertising Awards, honoring advertising in all media from over 70 countries, will be in New York City. The New York Los Angeles International Film Festival, a biannual event taking place in both cities only days apart screens in both cities. The Fifth Annual Film Production and Finance Summit will be in Los Angeles. And Streaming Media East 2012 comes to New York City. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

AFM/AFI, Leeds Film Festival, Billboard’s FutureSound Conference, Alpha Night on Broadway, are highlights in November’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

AFM is the anticipated, annual 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 leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, networking and parties, right up till November 9. 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, and 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.

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. And AFI FEST holds the FIAPF accreditation (FIAPF.org), assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community. The festival opens with the Clint Eastwood directed, ‘J. Edgar’, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas and Judi Dench. Individual tickets became available to the general public from October 27. 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 & Highland Center. The American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica, is the market partner of AFI FEST.

Leeds International Film Festival will be held in West Yorkshire through November 20. It primarily supports the work of fresh talent in fiction and documentary filmmaking (both features and shorts), and importantly, work from existing talent that has not received some exposure yet in the UK. Every section of Leeds is structured as a film festival in itself. Cherry Kino is the forum for “wondermental” cinema at the festival. Cinema Versa is the home of documentaries inspired by the underground festival aesthetic, running two major themes: Music on Film and Underground Voices, incorporating live special events and collaborations. Fanomenon is the genre section of the film festival offering a mix of fantasy cinema experiences, light and dark. To celebrate its fifth birthday, this year’s Thought Bubble festival programme will be extended over seven days taking place at venues across the city. Thought Bubble 2011 will include free workshops for all ages, a three day academic conference, talks and masterclasses led by industry professionals, a giant free book crossing and giveaway, and a programme of film and documentary screenings.

Canadian-born composer Trevor Morris has earned multiple Emmy and Gemini Nominations and Awards for his work on Showtime’s The Tudors, The Borgias, and Starz Entertainment’s The Pillars of the Earth. For a November 8 evening event in Los Angeles, he and the Grammy Museum’s Executive Director, Bob Santelli, discuss his career and the process of writing scores for films and television. Along with the discussion, Morris will take questions from the audience, instruct a live composing demonstration, and audience members will be among the first to see clips from upcoming 3D action adventure feature, Immortals, which he has contributed to.

Every November, the Lone Star Film Society presents the Lone Star International Film Festival bringing top selections in cinema to the City of Fort Worth. Along with celebrating emerging visions, the festival also pays homage to the masters of the medium throughout five days of screenings, panels, and parties. The focus of the 2011 Lone Star International Film Festival, opening for a five day run starting November 9, will be to examine new models of film distribution and marketing with the objective of contributing to the creation of industry best practices for filmmakers and other professionals working within this transitioning environment. The LSIFF Feature Film Competition Program focuses on new works from emerging talents made with modest budgets. The LSFS rationalizes this as the best way to identify new visions that are strong enough to see through barriers such as limited resources.

The Sixth Annual HPA Awards Show Gala is held to recognize the very best in Post Production, and will be held in Los Angeles on November 10. The Hollywood Post Alliance®, also known as HPA®, is the trade association serving the Southern California-based professional community of businesses and individuals who provide expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media content. Cocktail attire is suggested for this event, and a champagne and dessert reception immediately follows the show.

The Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival is an official cultural event of the city of Oaxaca de Juarez, happening November 12-19. Quality film submissions of any length are welcome from all genres from anywhere in the world. A strong emphasis of the Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival is to contribute to the economic and creative vitality of the city of Oaxaca and expand the audience for independent film. Opening night after party at Bar Txalaparta, and closing night after party at Bar Desestresse.

Billboard’s FutureSound conference will bring together musical artists, entrepreneurs, investors and meaningful rights-holders for focused conversations about next-generation opportunities in music over two days in San Francisco from November 17. These ideas will be presented and discussed on-site to produce a Billboard publication cover story detailing best practices and ideas. During a scheduled Friday panel, Steve Jang, Founder/CEO, SoundTracking, Ryan Sarver, Head of Platform, Twitter, take part in a panel moderated by Joe Marchese, SVP Marketing & Digital, FUSE, on “Twitter and The Socialization of Music”. In addition to the conference, Billboard will also be featuring installations of next generation platforms and music products to create a backdrop for the day’s discussions.

Established and recognized magazine on the film circuit, Independent Film Quarterly presents its Film & New Media Festival in New York City, November 17-24. The festival provides a platform where filmmakers can showcase their work (features, shorts, new media, animation, music videos and documentaries), increase opportunities for producers and maximize potential for distribution, press and industry recognition. The Festival will exhibit a selection of short- and long-form works that exhibit strong personal visions combined with the high standards of artistic merit and technical achievement consistent with, and reflective of Independent Film Quarterly.

At the Music In Media Industry Professionals Mixer running from November 18-19, attendees can get up close and personal with top industry movers and shakers who will be on hand to connect and meet Hollywood Music In Media (HMMA) artists and members. The Hollywood based event officially known as MIMIpro™, features groovin’ music, tasty appetizers and a full bar that will be used to create an ambiance for networking while award winners, industry luminaries and personalities deliver candid and revealing interviews live in the hotel’s mid-century styled lounge. All HMMA members, guests, friends and awards attendees are welcome to this complimentary two day experience. Live broadcast is carried via http://www.stageit.com both nights beginning at 8 pm PST. A post event celebration follows.

Held during the official proclamation of “Animation Week” in Burbank, the CTN animation eXpo which runs three days starting on November 20, is an assemblage of presentations, workshops, screenings, networking, recruiting, to mutually benefit the animation artist, games, education, film and video communities and the individuals in those communities. In one planned conference panel, “The Media is the Message!”, panel participants explore the topic of developing content in new media such as web-based, iPad apps, PDA oriented content, streaming content, multi-platform content linked with gaming, apps, feature films and more. Since its inception in 2004 The Creative Talent Network® stands as the organized community for the top creators of both traditional and digital animated films, and hosts of the CTN animation eXpo.

Our Gang Productions joins with Rho Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the producers of the Broadway play, Stick Fly, for one night, November 20, to divert a portion of the evening’s box office into a fundraiser for the Rho Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, leading up to a 2012 Historic Black college and university tour and College Boot Camp that underprivileged urban youth will take part in. The evening begins with a pre-reception at B. Smith’s Restaurant on Restaurant Row of Hell’s Kitchen, then onto the Broadway play, Stick Fly, followed by a Q&A panel discussion moderated by Dion Michael Ashman of Get Ready for Primetime Radio. Stick Fly is written by Lydia R. Diamond, directed by Kenny Leon, and executive produced by Grammy winner, Alicia Keys, who composed an original score for the production.

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 December event dates, there is the anticipated Bahamas International Film Festival in Nassau & Paradise Island, the 2011 International Film Festival Summit in  Las Vegas, Monaco International Film Festival in Monte Carlo, the Metropolitan Film Festival of New York in New York City, and Queer Fruits Film Festival in Lismore, 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.

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.

Bonnaroo Music Festival, 65th Tony Awards, Banff World Television Festival, JazzAscona 2011, are some Highlights in June’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Sheffield’s DocFest is a documentary film industry event hosting an industry session program and marketplace, pitching opportunities, discussion panels and filmmaker masterclasses, as well as an assortment of documentary films from across the globe. In attendance are expected to be members of the British documentary industry, including documentary and factual producers, directors, buyers, commissioners and distributors. Competitions will be organized at Sheffield Doc/Fest, which runs from June 8-12, with most pitches participating. And on a less serious note, Sheffield Doc/Fest is thought to be the only film festival in the world with its own roller disco rink, open for a June 9 party with complimentary vodka supplied by Zorokowich.

Opening June 9, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day, multi-stage campsite extravaganza that pulls in performers from rock and roll, as well as artists in diverse styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and any other contemporary music form. In addition to dozens of onstage performances, the festival’s 100-acre entertainment village situated in Manchester pulsates continuously with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village. This year will also see the return of the Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre, as well as the Silent Disco, a wireless dance party where hot dance beat sounds are broadcast directly to your stereo headset. The festival site is actually a 700-acre farm which is about 60 miles southeast of Nashville and northwest of Chattanooga.

Aruba International Film Festival’s mission is to connect with, and convey to the international film community, awareness for the island’s culture by showcasing regional filmmakers and productions. In 2010 over 45 films from 18 countries were screened and the festival was covered by over 40 international media outlets with numerous special programs, parties and live events. Rapper, actor and business mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will be attending the Second Annual Aruba International Film Festival in Santa Cruz, June 10-16, for the red carpet premiere of his latest feature film “Things Fall Apart.”

Tailored for professionals in the systems integration, audiovisual, and information communications industries, InfoComm 2011 showcases the latest technologies for audio, video, display, projection, lighting and staging, digital signage, conferencing, digital content creation, networking, signal distribution and much more. The Orlando based show which runs from June 11-17 also offers  educational seminars, workshops and labs taught by experts with a focus on technology, trends and best practices in the industry.

The 65th Tony Awards will be held in New York City, June 12, and telecast live for 3-hours over the CBS television network beginning at 8 pm Eastern Time. Neil Patrick Harris will host this year’s awards which will be conducted from the Beacon Theater. A short list of presenters/performers includes: Daniel Radcliffe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Alec Baldwin, Samuel L. Jackson, Kelsey Grammer, Viola Davis, Vanessa Redgrave, James Earl Jones, Harry Connick Jr., Christie Brinkley, to name a few. The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Banff World Television Festival launches once again, June 12-15, against the usual setting of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. The Banff Program Competition looks to honor the best programming across all areas of entertainment, including digital media, drama,and documentary. The Festival combines an international program competition, the Banff World Media Awards, with a comprehensive conference agenda, including four streams of intensive, in-depth programming: BANFF TV, Kids & Animation, Non-Fiction and nextMEDIA. And once again, facilitated networking opportunities include — but don’t end at — pre-booked one-on-one meetings with Program Executives, Media Buyers, and Ad Agencies.

The 2011 Maui Film Festival launches June 15 for a four day run at the  Wailea.resort area. There is an opening night reception and Twilight Reception at “Capische?” in Hotel Wailea; Other festival highlights include: Private VIP Party at MALA Wailea at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa; Saturday Filmmakers Brunch at Longhi’s at The Shops at Wailea; Filmmakers Panels and Festival Tributes; Taste of Wailea at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course; Starry Night MoonDance at Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Cafe; Taste of Chocolate at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea; Starry Night MoonDance at Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Cafe; Cosmic Closing Night Poolside Party. As always, befitting its location, the festival offers one-on-one or small group private Maui surf lessons and adventures.

On June 16 in New York City, BMI notable Allen Toussaint is among the inductees into the 42nd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. BMI songwriting icons, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, will receive the Johnny Mercer Award, and Toronto rap artist, Drake, will receive the 2011 Hal David Starlight Award. Also slated for induction this year are Leon Russell, John Bettis, Garth Brooks, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.

Now in its 17th year, the Los Angeles Film Festival, from June 16-26, is an offering of Film Independent, a non-profit, membership film organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists. The Festival is a qualifying festival in all categories for Film Independent Spirit Awards, as well as for the Narrative and Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards. The Festival works with Fast Track, a program of Film Independent that is designed to help filmmakers move their current projects — narrative as well as documentary — into production. Fast Track’s film financing market connects to financiers, production companies, and other industry professionals. In planned event, “The Art of Translation: A Conversation with Julie Taymor”, the award-winning director shares behind the scenes clips while conversing about taking material from different sources and translating them for the stage and the screen.

An evening of fine food, wine and spirits in the Calabasas Commons will be laid out for the 5th Annual Calabasas – Malibu Wine & Food Festival on June 18. This includes a special tasting of wines, beers, spirits, food demonstrations and, above all, food to eat, all while helping raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, and local charities. Event organizer Talents Connection (909-218-6002) seeks Interns and volunteers to help out with various aspects of the event. Volunteers can take part in a festive event with networking potential. Festival administration is also hosting a Video Contest for the public to take part in to produce a 30 second video promoting the 2011 Festival. Email Festival admin at: sales@valleywinefestival.com for more criteria on entering a video.

More than 24,000 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, running June 19-25. Reportedly, over 8,000 delegates from 90 countries attend the seven days of workshops, exhibitions, screenings, master classes and high-end seminars given by industry leaders. Working in partnership with The Brand Union, Lambie-Nairn, Getty Images and Clear Channel, the CannesAlso exhibition will be held outside of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes during Festival week. The exhibition will focus on photography and will be exhibited in the form of The Big Book.

Opening June 20 in Silver Spring, Silverdocs encompasses a seven-day international film festival and five-day concurrent conference that promotes documentary film as a leading art form, supports the work of independent filmmakers and fosters an atmosphere for public dialogue and civic engagement around the issues and ideas explored in the films. Celebrating the art and business of documentary storytelling, the Conference connects media professionals with over 35 panels and workshops. The conference’s Silver Sessions are small-group meetings with development, programming and acquisition executives, program officers from funding agencies, theatrical, DVD and international broadcast distributors; digital media innovators, marketing and PR consultants, producers’ representatives, legal advisers and industry visionaries.

The Creole Sweet Tease burlesque will be performed this year for the first time at JazzAscona, in the jazz club tent, after midnight. There exist different interpretations of burlesque. JazzAscona will present an exclusive show that is currently reaping success in New Orleans in which jazz is, of course, a key element. The show will be accompanied by young soloists of the Creole Synocopators that features vocalist Jayna Morgan, among others. Tenor saxophonist Ezra Brown (eZrabrown.com) is the face of this year’s JazzAscona official poster, and will spend most of the summer in Europe touring with Hip Hop AfroBeat band, BLITZ the Ambassador, to many Western European cities going into August. He takes a brief break from the BLITZ tour and joins Roy Bennett, Gordon Edwards and others forming Just Another Band (JAB) in Locarno.JAB is a festival favorite that, in its past performances at JazzAscona, has been among the most appreciated by the audiences there. JazzAsconia Festival runs June 23 through July 3.

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. A look ahead into July event dates will help you prepare for:  LA Shorts Fest, in Hollywood, How To Publish You e-Book, in Jacksonville, Casual Connect Seattle 2011, in Seattle, 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival, in New York City to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. 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.

Los Angeles Showbiz Expo, Cannes Film Festival, Billboard Music Awards, Drama Desk Awards, are some Highlights in May’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Brooklyn, the 2011 Summer Series will feature more than 200 new films, all screened outdoors, in front of big audiences in the parks, on boats, and on rooftops. The festival screens comedies, dramas, experimental shorts, animation, videos, short and feature documentaries, political films, and home movies and found footage, as well as many of the  new independent narrative feature films. Live bands at free music events are scheduled during the series which runs until September 30.

The Festival of Animated Film in Stuttgart hosts directors, production companies, distributors and international sales companies to present their animated films in this competitive festival, now in its 18th year. Artistic animation films and the support of budding talents represent the core of the festival. Prize money of more than 50,000 Euros in total will be awarded in the various competitive programs. The combination of the Festival of Animated Film, the Animation Production Day and FMX, the conference on Animation. Effects, Games and Interactive Media, has established the event as an opportunity for financing and developing animation projects. For Festival goers, entry to any events in the Festival Garden is free through May 8.

Black International Cinema Berlin, May 4-8, originated from the Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead(R) Tanz Theatre in 1986 for the first time in Europe. The present-day event in Berlin, presents the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and pays homage to legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons. The festival focuses on presenting works of an artistic, cultural or political nature coinciding with the general educational, social, artistic and economic interest of people from Africa, and/or the African Diaspora.

This year’s Los Angeles Showbiz Expo — an annual industry event happening on both coasts — that brings together everyone who works in Film, Video, TV, Theatre, Fashion and Live Events, will be happening this year from May 6-7. To attend the auditions at ShowBiz Expo, please register to attend ShowBiz Expo. If you do not pre-register by the cut-off date and would still like to attend the auditions, you may do so by proceeding to the audition area without a ShowBiz Expo badge although pre-registrations will receive priority.

NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music and entertainment by providing its members with a forum for meeting and networking opportunities, information, advocacy and education to support their businesses. At this year’s NARM Convention in Los Angeles, May 9-12, a NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course will be given on May 9 and May 10. The course features educational presentations and panel discussions focused on the independent sector, and directed to independent music labels, artists, technology companies and students, to remain current in the transforming music economy. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) is a not-for-profit trade association, and since 1958 has served the music and entertainment content delivery community.

Streaming Media, New York, is the annual gathering of online video professionals that offers the opportunity to get hands-on time with new products, check out new streaming devices, and network with industry experts, colleagues, and associates. New for 2011 is a fourth track devoted to HTML5. The HTML5 video “conference-within-a-conference” track will run the full two days from May 10-11 of the conference. Topics will include encoding to HTML5, encoding for Apple iOS devices, advertising and HTML5, how-to build an HTML5 player, and HTML5 standards. There will also be the unveiling of a new broadband device called Pavilion.

At Cannes Film Festival, short films are prominently represented at the Competition, such as when the short films Jury awards a Palme d’or, and at the Short Film Corner, a professional area for meeting people, exchanging ideas and promoting films. A number of initiatives aimed at supporting the talent of the future have already been introduced: the Camera d’Or is awarded to the best film presented either in the Official Selection, during Directors’ Fortnight or during the Semaine de la Critique. The Cinefondation, which serves to showcase new trends in the film industry, screens films from film schools as part of the Official Selection, as well as organising the Residence and the Atelier. This year, the opening film will be released in cinemas in France on the same day as its screening at Cannes and the opening ceremony will be broadcast in cinemas enabling audiences to experience the Festival launch night live. The Cinema de la Plage, an outdoor cinema, screens a different film each night, and since 2010 even the occasional world preview from its theme-based programme.

The International Film festival and Environment Ciudad de Zaragoza has a focused directive to show, support and promote films made in the world on the environment. EcoZine aims to promote, show and award prizes to audiovisual fiction, animation and/or documentaries with environmental themes produced anywhere in the world, and also to promote actions and audiovisual events related to the Environment. The Festival based in Zaragoza runs from May 13-21.

BMI will honor David Foster as a BMI Icon on May 17 at its 59th Annual Pop Awards in Beverly Hills. The invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed pop songs in the United States. Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. The evening will include an all-star musical tribute to Foster, as well as the presentation of the Pop Songwriter, Song, and Publisher of the Year crystals.

The Jazz Foundation presents its annual “A Great Night in Harlem” gala concert, May 19 in New York, benefiting the Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund. This evening will raise money to assist the elder jazz and blues musicians in crisis across the country, artists who have spent their lives being passionately devoted to their music while creating enjoyment for listening audiences. Presently on the agenda, performances by Macy Gray, Roberta Flack, Dr. John, Lou Reed, Christian McBride, Hot 8 Brass Band are slated, with more to be announced. Post-concert supper, club gala, and the VIP After-Party jam session with musicians are featured activities. The 2011 Gala Honoree is Michael Novogratz.

Artists collective, The Urban Individualists, and their artist affiliates, open a New York show with music themed, and music inspired artworks paying tribute and homage to musician and composer Gerry Eastman and The Williamsburg Music Center he founded in 1981. WMC exists to foster the creation, performance and appreciation of American Classic Music. It is a black-owned and operated non-profit jazz institution offering classes and workshops in jazz performance and history. This exhibit will formally open on May 20 with a reception and will be accompanied with live music provided by Gerry Eastman’s band. This is an Urban Individualists Event curated by Helene Ruiz, co-curated by Jakulo Cooper, in collaboration with WMC.

“Gaming: A Dominant Force In Entertainment, What’s Next?” is the theme to be addressed at a panel on May 20 that will ponder the entertainment software industry’s growth of roughly 1300% since the year 2000, and how Gaming is now beginning to push boundaries in other fields outside of entertainment such as social networking, health, education, and even science. The group of experienced gaming professionals assembling in Boulder will tackle the future role of video games in the entertainment industry. Panelists will discuss their personal history in the industry as well as rising trends and new applications for gaming.

The 2011 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from Las Vegas on May 22, in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The awards will reflect Billboard’s chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album, single and digital sales, touring, streaming and social interactions on MySpace, Facebook and other popular online destinations for music. The awards will be based on the reporting period of February 28, 2010 through March 1, 2011. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.

The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held at a gala sit-down dinner in New York, on May 23. The Drama Desk Awards which were established in 1955 and are given annually in a number of categories, recognize excellence in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of New York theatre. It is the only theatre award for which production on Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off Broadway compete within the same categories. This year’s Awards show adds new features including a live orchestra, performances from nominated musicals, and a one hour primetime special which will air one week later on the Ovation Network. Festivities opens with a Black-Tie VIP Cocktail Reception, VIP After Party Ticket with Premium open bar and dessert stations. Harvey Fierstein is host of this year’s awards.

The Amsterdam Film Festival contains a mix of art and expression seeking to reflect the character of the host city. Honoring films from over 90 countries around the world, the 2011 Amsterdam Film Festival will award and recognize feature films, short films, documentaries, student films, animation, music videos and screenplays. The festival accepts submissions of all types and encourages individuality and experimentation. The Festival, running May 31 to June 1, recognizes excellence in filmmaking in the categories with the organization’s Van Gogh Awards.

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. A look ahead into June event dates will help you prepare for:  Cine Gear Expo 2011, in Hollywood, Produced By Conference, in Orlando; The Aruba International Film FestivalSanta Cruz, Aruba, in Santa Cruz, Banff World Television FestivalBanff, Alberta, in Alberta, AFI/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Festiva, in Silver Spring, to provide only a small sample of upcoming events in advance. 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.