Art Basel, CineAsia Hong Kong, The Midwest Clinic, Kuchipudi Dance Convention, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

At Art Basel in Miami, international art galleries show work from masters of Modern and contemporary art as well as pieces by newly emerging artists. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, films, and editioned works are displayed in the main exhibition hall, while designated artworks and performances become part of the landscape at nearby beaches, Collins Park and SoundScape Park. A number of events listed on the agenda are free to the public. Although most Art Basel events are conducted December 3-7, from December 2, de la Cruz Collection, a selection of works by artists re-defining Post War movements – New Abstraction, Figurative Realism, appropriation and process-based art – goes on exhibit through December 6. Also set for an early December 2 start, The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, Fifteen Year Anniversary Exhibition, runs through December 7.

Every June, Art Basel marks the summer reunion of the international art world, hosted by the city of Basel. Outside the exhibition halls, the city of Basel’s cultural institutions – Fondation Beyeler, Kunstmuseum Basel, Kunsthalle Basel, Tinguely Museum, and Kunsthaus Baselland – offer museum exhibitions. Art Basel in Miami Beach has been adapted as the winter meeting place for the Art Basel international art world circuit. Miami’s leading private collections open their homes and warehouses to guests of Art Basel. Additionally, the museums of South Florida organize exhibitions.

The public opening of Art Basel will feature a special evening program with live performances. This event is produced in collaboration with the Bass Museum of Art. A Crowdfunding Meet and Greet grants access to conversation panels with members of the Art Basel and Kickstarter teams and gives details about projects that have already come to life as a result of the crowdfunding drive. Salons, or informal presentations such as artist talks, panels, lectures and performances, with a wide range of speakers and topics from the international art world, are held every day of Art Basel.

Art Basel works with curators who present a selection of international artists and emerging talents. Art Basel maintains an international network with over twenty Global VIP Relations Managers covering five continents, who build and strengthen relationships year-round with art world luminaries, art collectors, business leaders and decision-makers. Connecting the international art community has been Art Basel’s goal since its beginning. In Hong Kong (March 15–17, 2015), Basel (June 18–21, 2015) and Miami Beach (December 4–7, 2014), each show is defined by its host city, with participating galleries showing artworks unique to the region, and parallel programming produced in collaboration with the region’s local institutions.

International Music Festival Conference 2014 (IMFCON) produces a programs offering innovation, education, and an understanding of how music festivals play a crucial role in the music industry and foster growth in the arts. The Sixth Annual International Music Festival Conference in Austin opens December 7 with a SAG-AFTRA Opening Reception. Following an Orientation session as the first opening remarks, the agenda then presents: “It’s been a Hard Day’s Night! 2014 Recap-State of the Industry,” an insiders look at the festival industry and the forecast for 2015 and how to plan for it. This will be followed by session titled: “The Anatomy of A Festival.” Conference day one concludes with a Cocktail Reception Hosted by PublicVine and a FireChat After Party following that. The December 9 final day closing symposium will address: “Visual Arts:  How art installations give festivals personality, identity, and longevity.” The Conference will close with a cocktail reception at the Texas Foyer.

CineAsia Hong Kong is a Pan-Asian Convention dedicated to the Cinema Exhibition and Distribution communities. It will feature screenings of upcoming Hollywood films, regional films, sponsored special events, informative seminars on cinema technology and developments and the CineAsia Trade Show for three days opening December 9. CineAsia brings together Asian cinema industry professionals, from cinema owners and suppliers to film buyers and distributors. As the sister event to ShowEast and CineEurope, CineAsia maintains similar standards of programming, seminars, special events and suppliers. CineAsia screens major Asian and Hollywood films and offers educational programs specifically geared toward the needs of the Asian cinema exhibition community.

Indonesian film producer and anti-piracy campaigner, Maya Barack-Evans will be honored with the CineAsia 2014 Asia-Pacific Copyright Educator (ACE) Award at a CineAsia Awards Ceremony on December 11. She is a key member of the Association of Indonesian Film Producers (APROFI) which comprises about 30 local filmmakers, aiming to improve the quality of the Indonesian film industry and to gain international recognition. On December 10 of the convention, cinema innovator, Timeplay, will give an interactive cinema demonstration and show how movie goers can use their smart phones and tablets to interact with and influence outcomes on the big screen. The platform enables cinemas, studios, advertisers and other partners to entertain, inform, and sell direct with movie goers before, after or instead of a movie. Following that, Sony Pictures Releasing International will make a 3D oriented product presentation and then host an evening reception after that.

Convention organizer, the Film Expo Group includes ShowEast, held in Florida; CineEurope, held in Barcelona; and CineAsia, held in Hong Kong. Parent company, the Prometheus Global Media Film Expo Group owns media publications and organizes entertainment industry events affecting the motion picture industry including Film Journal International, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, Dick Clark Productions, the CLIO Awards, CineEurope, and ShowEast. Through these various media properties, Prometheus Global Media engages people and marketers by serving their needs in: music, media, entertainment.

Asia TV Forum and Market conducted in association with miptv and mipcom, Asia TV Forum and Market is an international entertainment content market and convention to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce, across all platforms. It is where the industry meets Asia’s buying community, discovers the latest trends in Asia, showcases best in class innovation and champion and monetise the next generation of Asian content. It is organized by Reed Exhibitions Pte Limited and is held this year in Singapore City, December 9-12. The Asia Media Opening Keynote Speaker is James Wang Zhonglei, President, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation China. He will be followed by Ma Dong, Chief Content Officer Iqiyi, China. He will address, Digital China: The New Storyteller – Iqiyi.

This year ATF Animation Lab will introduce “Up-Close with Commissioners”, a two-day knowledge sharing session that will give attending delegates opportunities to glimpse into the programming plans of international animation studio commissioners, and what they will be looking for from 2016-2017. Overall, Animation Lab is a three-day closed door pitching event focused toward animation producers to pitch their animation projects and ideas to attending international broadcasters, commissioners and financers.

ATF will be held in conjunction with MIPACADEMY, Asia Television Awards, recognizing excellence in programming, production and performance; ScreenSingapore, an international content sellers and Asian buyers business arena to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce, across the platforms; and Singapore International Film Festival, focused on showcasing international films and providing a global platform for the best of Singapore cinema. The MIPACADEMY event gathers format and factual producers from across the entertainment industry who want to learn directly from international format experts.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will conduct the second meeting on December 10 of its new The Entertainment, Arts and Media Committee — TEAM HOLLYWOOD. For current Hollywood Chamber members this is a complimentary member benefit. TEAM HOLLYWOOD’s mission is to promote the Hollywood brand with the intention of preserving Hollywood’s homegrown entertainment industries with a focus on film, broadcasting, commercials, television and performing arts. The Hollywood Chamber Committee additionally aims to cultivate new and emerging media so as to uphold Hollywood’s status as the entertainment capital of the world. TEAM HOLLYWOOD is co-chaired by Chamber members Susan Cabral-Ebert of IATSE Local 706 and Maricela Gomez of Paramount Pictures and meets quarterly. Chamber committees comprised of volunteer members are continuously working to improve Hollywod and shape its future. Through committee involvement, members have the opportunity to bring change in areas specific to their business and to make important business contacts. The Hollywood Chamber encourages all to take advantage of this membership benefit by participating in ongoing committees. This is a free event with limited seating. RSVP is essential.

The Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference provides attendees interested in music education with an array of clinics and exhibits, as well as access to well regarded music and teaching professionals. The Chicago located conference, continuing for four days through December 20, will also focus on industry trends and future topics in business and music education. A Conference highlight includes ensembles in performance, while showcasing anywhere from students to seasoned performers exhibiting their talents to a targeted audience with an interest in furthering music education. Each band and orchestra panel is specifically focused and offers attendees the most up-to-date music styles and education techniques. Particular features to this conference reinforce its focus on mentoring and development. Rehearsal labs provide observers an opportunity to watch and listen to conductors working with various types of ensembles in an open rehearsal setting.

The Midwest Clinic is structured for educational purposes exclusively, and among other goals, to disseminate to school music teachers, directors and supervisors and others interested in music education, information to assist in their professional work for the betterment of music education. An important goal of The Midwest Clinic sessions is for audience members to gain insight and develop practical educational framework skills they can use at home with their own ensembles. New music reading sessions provide a glimpse of new music publications available for each type of ensemble. Attendees have the advantage of listening to professional musicians as they introduce new works and perform a portion of each piece for a live audience. Each session presents a variety of styles, composers, and publishers. There will be a December 18 College Night for students and teachers looking for a music degree program among eighty colleges, universities and branches of the United States Military planning to send representatives.

Starting from December 26 in Gachibowli district of Hyderabad, more than 6,000 dancers from different parts of Andhra Pradesh, other states within India, the US, Canada, UK, Russia, Dubai, Mauritius, Malaysia and Singapore and a few other countries are expected to take part in the International Kuchipudi Dance Convention. The International Kuchipudi Dance Convention showcases interactive sessions where technical aspects of the dance form will be discussed and dance performances by the dancers of various participating countries will showcase their talent. The highlight of the conference will be a group recital in which thousands of dancers from all over the world will dance to a few selected pieces. A video has been prepared which contains all the dance pieces which will be performed on the final day is viewable online. The dancers, with the help of their respective teachers will have to learn the dance pieces, practice and perform as per the instructions given in the video. Parent organizer, SiliconAndhra organization, based in San Jose, California, has been doing several vital cultural programs over the last 12 years to protect and perpetuate the Telugu language, literature, tradition and culture. Apart from Projects, SiliconAndhra conducts five major events in each calendar year, timed to correspond to important dates in the Indian calendar. Other areas of involvement other than Kuchipudi Dance Convention include, Manabadi initiative to teach Teiugu to children born and brought up outside Andhra Pradesh, publishing the “Sujanaranjani” magazine to spread ‘Telugudanam’ (telugu culture) around the world, ‘Global Internet Forum For Telugu (GIFT)’ initiative with the goal to bring together the technology and language.

The World Wide Music Contest is a global competition conducted over the web, and open to bands and solo artists without a current recording or performance contract. A public voting system engaging the sites daily visitors urges them to select their favorite artists. The competition is primarily conducted through the organization’s web portal at: www.worldwidemusic.com. New bands, solo artists and singers compete for a grand cash prize in Euros, mastering services, instrument accessories and promotion services. The contest is still open to submissions and is free to enter until December 31, 2014. The overall first prize will be assigned to a band or artist indicated by the public vote and then confirmed by the contest’s judging panel. Toshikazu Maruno of Kagoshima Prefecture is contesting for top placement in the World Wide Music Contest 2014 but competition is fierce. With his guitar, he performs songs of love, hope and life’s daily struggles in the Rock, Pop and Acoustic range. In January 1998, he released an album, “In The Name Of Love.” In the summer of 2011, he released another album “KIZUNA.” Toshikazu’s most recent album to date is “Gratitude,” released in 2014. The voting in World Wide Music Contest remains tightly contested, but Toshikazu Maruno is determined to win new fans and maintain his edge With his two songs entered: “Your Happiness Is My Happiness” and “This Is My Life”. Enthusiastic fans are permitted to vote up to two times in a 24 hour period. Be sure to keep checking the MySpace or Facebook page for Toshikazu Maruno for upcoming concert tour dates he will have in the new year of 2015.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s photo placement includes the CD cover with acoustic pop musician and singer Toshikazu Maruno, his new album “Gratitude,” and a contestant in the World Wide Music Contest, and movie stills from latest Hobbit release, “Battle of the Five Armies.” If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Beginning the new year in January 2015, there are a full calendar of events now that the holidays are past. The global content marketplace known as NATPE opens in Miami, Annie Awards will make presentations in Los Angeles, the annual AFCI Locations Show comes to Century City, the Mountain High Music Festival opens in Crested Butte, the much anticipated Sundance Film Festival returns to Park City, Best Of Events International happens for a period of two days in Dortmund, Advanced Film Industry Expo is in Tokyo. Seasons greetings to all and all the best for the holiday period from The Actor’s Checklist.

Chicago International Film Festival, New York Television Festival, PhotoPlus International, Jazz CD Review: The Journey, are highlights in October’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

PLASA London opens its international entertainment technology show for the event, entertainment and installation technology industries, showcasing technology and gear to an audience of pro audio, lighting and stage technology users. More specifically, PLASA London showcases new audio, video, lighting, stage engineering and systems integration technology, which generally finds its way into live events, concerts, tours, theatre productions, corporate events, venue installations, nightclubs and leisure attractions. During the show, parties, awards ceremonies and parallel events are ongoing, setting up an environment to cultivate relationships between manufacturers, distributors, rental houses, dealers and end-users. The programming at PLASA London also features well regarded and fully comprehensive seminar and workshop sessions which are open to all attendees. PLASA London is owned and organized by PLASA, an international trade association for entertainment technologies. In addition to PLASA London, which runs through October 8, PLASA Events organises a series of networking events for regional entertainment technology communities. PLASA Focus began in 2009 in Leeds in the North of England, and is now touring the US and Europe.

The 137th AES Convention is gearing up to take place October 9-12 in the revitalized L.A. Live district. Returning to Los Angeles after a nearly 12 years absence, the AES Convention will draw out audio professionals with opportunities to hear from audio industry figures while also taking in the latest research and technology information through informative papers, tutorials, workshops and special events. Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® (GRAMMY), will deliver a keynote address on how the Academy and its P&E Wing take on the challenges and opportunities currently facing recording professionals. There are many areas comprising AES workshops and special events that are planned. AES will debut their new “Raw Tracks” series as part of this year’s Recording and Production Track. The new series features producers and engineers discussing and deconstructing the classic recordings from some of music’s well regarded artists.

Highlights of the AES Convention include the Project Studio Expo, created in partnership with Sound On Sound to bring the latest techniques, tools, and experts together for professional training on topics ranging from acoustics in small spaces to microphone placement, mixing, and mastering. A Live Sound Expo will offer advice for the attending live sound engineers, bringing professionals with many years of experience to the stage to inform the attendees. A “Sound for Picture Track” focuses on the new frontiers of immersive sound and object-based mixing. A planned off-site Tech Tour will feature a hands-on demonstration and Master Classes on Auro3D Immersive Sound Mixing conducted at The Dub Stage in Burbank by Marti Humphrey and Chris Jacobson. There will also be the “Project Studio Expo” in association with leading recording technology publication ‘Sound On Sound’, geared toward sharpening skills of the home recordists. At a planned GRAMMY SoundTable event on October 11, five cross-genre hit-makers will debate the who, what, when, where, and why of songs that have stamped a resilient impression in music archives.

2014 marks the 50th Anniversary Chicago International Film Festival. Cinema/Chicago, the organizer of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round cultural and educational non-profit organization dedicated to promoting better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. The films are all Chicago premieres and many are world or U.S. premieres. As its October 9 Opening Night film, the festival has selected “Miss Julie,” directed by veteran actress – and Ingmar Bergman collaborator – Liv Ullmann and starring Golden Globe®-award winning actors Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton. The red carpet event starts at 18:00. Director Liv Ullmann is scheduled to attend.

There are panels and special events lined up for Chicago International Film Festival 2014. An October 14 New Directors panel, “National Identity In The Global Marketplace”, where assembled filmmakers from a cross-section of world cinema discuss the ways in which artists can create films that raise common ground sensibilities, the differences that make each culture unique, and finesse an approach toward cross border storytelling. “What Is An Independent Film?” on October 19, traces the path of filmmaking both the U.S. and abroad, since the rise of the studio system at the turn of the century, and how the integrity of independent film has been affected by the unprecedented level of access granted by present day filmmaking technologies. October 23 Closing Night celebration includes film screening – EFWILDP – and after-party to follow.

Cinema/Chicago, the presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round non-profit cultural and educational organization dedicated to promoting better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. This year the Festival presents Spotlight Scandinavia, the fourth year of the World Cinema Spotlight Program. This year’s program highlights the range of contemporary cinematic cultures across the five Nordic countries. In addition to the Chicago International Film Festival, Cinema/Chicago presents year-round public and educational programs including the Education Outreach Program, Member Screenings, the Chicago International Television Competition (April), CineYouth (May), International Screenings Program (May-September), and INTERCOM (October). Proceeds from the Chicago International Film Festival support these important initiatives.

TV:Xperience is a UX convention from the TV Connect series looking at how multiscreen is influencing the evolution of the user experience and changing the central business models around the connected tv eco-system. This is a central issue for telcos, cablecos, broadcasters and content producers looking to monetize the second screen experience. This New York City event will be building on last year’s annual, flagship TV Connect show held in London. The series is part of a global brand with regional shows in Middle East/North Africa, Eurasia, Asia and Latin America. TV:Xperience forms a tangent of the TV Connect brand, but looking more closely into the adoption of the user experience. Along with an examination of how the innovation around multiscreen content has influenced the evolving user experience, the show will place focus on new developments in User Interface (UI) and the rise in the role of content security and payment platforms to act as effective monetization models.

In more detail, agenda topics will include: Understanding the evolution of the Consumer Experience, Offering the Consumer a Unique Multiscreen Experience, Establishing Strong T Commerce and Micropayment Platforms, Analyzing the role of Big Data on an Evolving UX, Taking Multiscreen consumer relationships to the next level of engagement, Monetizing the Multiplatform Pay TV Environment, Creating End to End Multiplatform Solutions, Understanding the Role of DRM in the new UX Engaging the user in a non linear environment, Assessing how data analytics is Impacting on the future of content, Evolution of Non Linear Content and its impact on the User Experience. TV:Xperience runs for three days through October 15.

Over five days opening October 15, NYC Independent Film Festival showcases independent filmmaker, documentaries, short and feature-length films, music videos, and animation. The festival will screen narratives, documentaries, short films, super shorts, animation shorts and music videos. The festival will showcase all genres of narratives from comedy to drama and from thrillers to love stories. NYC Indie Film Festival honors the Best in Category which includes Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Narrative, Best Super Short, Best Music Video, as well as Best Director and Best Screenplay. Bob McAndrew who served in talent development capacities at Paramount, 20th Century Fox and as an independent, leads a discussion about “On Camera Acting” on October 15.

New York Independent Film Festival is talent centric in its focus, offering talks and workshops on various aspects of developing industry skills and capabilities. Attend and meet the experts on Distribution and hear what they have to say about the future of distribution during a session taking place on October 16. On October 17, Improv Nation Training Center leads a session to develop the skills necessary used to create an improv scene by focusing on the who, what, where, when and why of the scene. Also on October 17, a workshop designed to introduce directors to a step by step method of guiding and inspiring actors towards achieving specific results in their performances through the use of active language, and following that a meeting and discussion about acting with actors and actresses behind the films of the NYC Indie Film Festival.

The New York Television Festival was founded in 2005 as the TV industry’s festival for independent television creation and artist recognition. A pioneer of the “independent television” movement, the Festival maintains initiatives of development and talent identification. While maintaining a different stance to the traditional television development model, The NYTVF works in partnership with networks, studios, brands and agencies to deliver its projects and to showcase promising talent. Many activities on the NYTVF schedule are free to the public, but admission is based on seating availability. Aside from daily panels, IPC Screenings and other events, there are scheduled happy hours and cocktail parties nightly for the run of the festival (October 20-25) for NYTVF Connect Industry Pass holders. The Connect Industry Pass will provide top tier artists and entertainment executives access and opportunities that maximize Festival participation, providing them with the tools to network, build relationships and collaborate on projects.

Quite importantly, the NYTVF exists as a year-round development incubator, providing independent artists with multiple opportunities to create, share and showcase their best and most promising ideas. Each year the NYTVF offers creators opportunities to showcase their original pilots and web series through the annual Independent Pilot Competition and stand-alone sponsored initiatives. The Independent Pilot Competition (IPC) is the NYTVF’s flagship, annual competition, accepting independently-produced, original television pilots and web series from around the globe. Official Selections from the IPC will screen in competition during the annual New York Television Festival each fall. IPC Official Selections are eligible for the competition’s category and individual achievement awards as well as development deals from Festival Development Partners.

Throughout the year, the NYTVF collaborates with networks, studios, and brands to provide exclusive submission opportunities for indie creators to develop projects with industry partners. These sponsored initiatives allow creators to tailor their original projects exclusively with a particular partner in mind. In each case, the partner will guarantee a deal for at least one project selected. Projects selected as finalists or semi-finalists in sponsored initiatives will also be named as Official Selections in the New York Television Festival. The winning project will enter into an option deal with the corresponding network and the remaining finalists and/or semi-finalists will be eligible for NYTVF Festival Development Deals once the period of exclusivity with the original initiative sponsor has ended. In addition, all creators with finalists or semi-finalists projects in sponsored initiatives will be named Official Artists and are eligible for the benefits of NYTVF Connect.

PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is a photography and imaging show happening in New York City and attended by professional photographers and enthusiasts. PhotoPlus Expo is organized by Photo District News (PDN), a monthly magazine for the professional photographer. At the expo, thousands of new products and services from exhibitors, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Epson will be on display. Over 90 educational seminars and intimate hands-on labs will be on the schedule to choose from. In “A Day Without News”, a keynote panel discussion, David Friend Vanity Fair’s Editor of Creative Development, Santiago Lyon Director of Photography at AP, and photojournalists Lynsey Addario, Ron Haviv, and Antonio Bolfo reveals first hand insights about how the increase in targeting of journalists at global conflict zones affects each panelist, their colleagues and the changing role of journalists overall.

PhotoPlus Expo conference seminars are held every day – October 29 through November 1 – are divided into nine program tracks: lighting, weddings and events, genres, social media/marketing, business, portraiture, filmmaking, post-production, steps. There will be a Master Class session limited to 25 participants covering Lighting/Posing, Portraiture, Editorial, Post-Production, Audio for Filmmaking, Business/Marketing, and more. A two-day Intensive Filmmaking Class, limited to 20 participants is offered. Over the two day session participants work with instructor Joe Switzer to capture, direct and produce the action and activities of the PhotoPlus Expo. The University will be a hands-on, interactive series of classes, suited for emerging photographers to learn from working professional photographers how to strengthen shooting and posing techniques as well as lighting techniques. ShootNYC @ PhotoPlus will be an informative three day event held in conjunction with the PhotoPlus Expo. It will conduct free seminars.

Jazz CD Review: Considering that ‘The Journey’ is a debut album (released July 2013), Ezra Brown’s opening shot comes across with veteran instincts about the kind of music resonating throughout our mass media culture and more than just a hunch about what people like listening to in our music ecosystem. It seems that the various tracks could have their own adaption into the various industries of the professional and commercial (retail) music worlds… e.g., television and film soundtracks, commercial advertising jingles, wedding celebrations, and of course just quality, audiophile level listening music. The smooth texture of notes blown from his tenor saxophone form jazzy, soulful melodies, but with a rhythm that could have you rock side to side (or forward and back). As alluded to previously, this album and the individual singles on it (in the viewpoint of this reviewer) figure into a range of possible adoptions in the music ecosystem. ‘Flower Pot’ is certainly a danceable tune and ‘New Joint’ could be too. ‘Slow Joint’ puts me in mind of a wedding anthem, particularly after a newly wed couple at their reception has just been toasted and then takes to the floor for the first dance.

The funky ‘Cookout’, another danceable tune, is one of my favorites. I imagine it being used as a track for an urban family TV sitcom — think Sanford and Son from the 1970s. ‘Her’ seems to have a more somber tone and one could see it adapted to such appropriate occasions. ‘New Jesse Song’ is a film score waiting for placement. I could go on about EZra Brown’s debut album, who at the time of this writing is taking his music across the globe with stops in regions like South America, Europe and the Far East, but its now up to you to form your own opinions. ‘The Journey’ is available now on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, CD Baby. And Ezra Brown, of course, maintains a Facebook Like page. This will be a great exercise for anyone purchasing Ezra Brown’s masterful work to attempt to figure out where in the professional/commercial/casual listening music spectrum do these musical pieces fit into. Your adventure awaits you!

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s photo placement highlights the opening of the Chicago International Film Festival and SoulMuzik Saxophonist, EZra Brown (www.ezrabrown.com), for which there is a review of his debut album, ‘The Journey’. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: The World Animation and VFX Summit returns to the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, the American Film Market (AFM) begins a day earlier than last year in Santa Monica, Casual Connect Eastern Europe 2014 opens in Belgrade, AFI Fest 2014 will be in Hollywood, International Film Festival of Wales will be in Newport and Cardiff, The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards comes to Las Vegas.

World of Women’s Cinema, MIFF 2014, SXSW 2014, Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, are highlights in March’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Hollywood, Winston Baker will launch the Sixth Annual Film Finance Forum West in association with Variety from March 4-5. The flagship event of the ongoing Film Finance Forum series will be hosted just a few days after the 86th Academy Awards at the  hotel Ballroom which hosted the presentation of the first ever Academy Awards in 1929. The forum will offer an optional day of workshops on Financing Basics for Filmmakers, Intro to Film Business for Investors, and Innovative Immersion which will tackle next generation financing, sourcing, marketing and distribution strategies. The main conference day will host industry leaders who will address such topics as financing alternatives beyond the traditional capital stack, strategies for content creation, monetizing on IP and the new realities of distribution.

Opening day is devoted to Workshop Day and includes offerings such as: “Filmmakers: Structuring and Financing Micro to Medium-Sized Projects”, “Financiers: Film Investment Models, Valuation and Risk Mitigation”, “Innovative Immersion: Evolving and Succeeding in the Digital Age”, “One-on-One Speed Networking”. Opening Day closes with a private reception featuring live entertainment at Beacher’s Madhouse. The second day is Main Conference Day and offers opening remarks by Winston Baker, “State of the Industry: Content is King – Monetizing IP in a Fragmented World”, a keynote address by Dr. Jeffrey Cole: “Navigating through the New Capital Stack for Single Picture Deals”, Case Study Presentations: “How Creative Financing Can Be Applied”, “Alternative Methods of Distribution and Content Acquisition by Independents”, “Soft Money Re-defined: Identifying and Maximizing on Film Commissions” and more topics.

The Film Finance Forum® Series was created by the Winston Baker team to educate equity and debt financiers on the latest trends and strategies for film investing while mitigating risks, provide producers with effective approaches to fundraising, and offer both audiences ways to create great content and generate revenue through various distribution platforms. Other installments of the Film Finance Forum Series include: TV and Film Finance Forum East in New York City, in April; International Film Finance Forum in Cannes, in May; Film Finance Forum China, in Shanghai, in June; Film Finance Forum Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, in August; Film Finance Forum @ Zurich Festival, Zurich, in September.

World of Women’s Cinema – WOW 2014 – is a short film competition and screen culture event celebrating International Women’s Day, with awards on March 6 and an Australian wide tour running from March 2014 to March 2015. There will also be international screenings. The opening night program of Australian Shorts 1 will be followed by an After Party and live music by Entangled Note, made up of Annette Golden and Cath Golden. Filmmaker ‘In Conversation’ events will be held in Sydney at Surry Hills Library and at the Art Gallery of NSW with ABC TV film critic Margaret Pomeranz, to celebrate International Women’s Day. On March 5, a photographic exhibition of images from classic Australian cinema, ‘Still Women’, opens at The Blackeye Gallery.

Dance lovers at WOW festival can view a program of Australian and international contemporary dance films at Metro Screen and the Powerhouse Museum. WOW (which stands for World of Women) and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) present a Writers Forum with screenwriters – both of which are alumni at Lucasfilm on the Star Wars live action television series – Jacquelin Perske and Louise Fox at the Powerhouse Museum. The WOW Film Festival Tour begins the day after the festival closes on March 14 with Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute’s screening of From the Spirit of Our Mother Program in their Spirit Festival. The WOW Tour will travel to various locations throughout Australia and overseas throughout 2014 into March 2015.

The 20th San Luis Obispo International Film Festival features a diverse spectrum of contemporary narrative features, documentary and short films from participating independent filmmakers all over the world. Although screenings take place in numerous venues, March 5-9, many will happen in downtown San Luis Obispo. Past Festival highlights have included epic surf and extreme sports films, cutting-edge new films, local and youth films, behind-the-scenes panels, a focus on women filmmakers and issues, and classic film “Hollywood & Vines” events pairing great classics with local wine and food, including historic screenings at Hearst Castle.

On March 5 at the Fremont Theatre, the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s Opening Night event will feature ‘Starring Adam West’, a new documentary by Director, James Tooley. Adam West will be at the screening for a Q&A and will receive the Festival’s third annual Spotlight Award, presented by self-confessed Batman idol and popular Los Angeles radio host on KROQ, Ralph Garman.

Every year, the King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking is presented at San Luis Obispo to a well-respected industry professional who has made a notable artistic contribution in any facet of the industry. Past recipients include Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, Elmer Bernstein, Eva Marie Saint, Norman Jewison, Robert Wise, Sir Richard Taylor and John Hawkes. Each year independent film awards are presented to talented independent filmmakers, and five days of screenings, parties, wine tasting and workshops allow filmmakers networking opportunities. Local filmmaker hosts are also assigned to make navigating the festival and the screening venues spread across the county more manageable.

The Miami International Film Festival had its beginnings as the main activity of the Film Society of Miami, Inc., which was founded in 1983. Domestic theatrical distributors and broadcasters participating in the Festival have included Paramount Vantage, Sony Pictures Classics, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Music Box Films, IFC, Sundance Selects, HBO, HBO Documentary Films, HBO Latino, and Miramax, to name but a few.

This MIFF 2014 features a Close-up on China showcasing a number of the year’s relevant artistic exports focused on this growth cinema market. MIFF will be collaborating with MDC’s Confucius Institute to program this featured section of the work. The films in the 2014 program are: American Dreams in China (中國合伙人), by Peter Ho-Sun Chan (China); Bends, by Flora Lau (China); Trap Street (Shuiyin Jie), by Vivian Qu (China); Web Junkie, by Shosh Shlam & Hilla Medalia (Israel / USA).

The Festival’s inaugural ACE (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen) Co-Production Lab will happen from March 13-15. The Co-Production Lab aims to build an environment for professional development for film companies in Latin America and Europe searching for the opportunity of working together to turn a project into a film. The three-day workshop will bring together over 30 European and Latin American film industry professionals to develop opportunities for artistic and financial cooperation between these territories. The project-based workshop will consist of case studies, pitching sessions, panels, one-on-one meetings and networking events.

Miami International Film Festival’s Knight Competition consists of dramatic works from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, as well as Latino-themed works produced in the United States. The films are competing for cash prizes courtesy of James L. and John S. Knight Foundation. Competing films are eligible for a cash Knight Grand Jury Prize that will be split between the filmmaker and the U.S. distributor of the film. If no U.S. distributor is secured before April 17, 2014, then the full award will be made to the filmmaker.

The festival’s VeoMiami program is the industry market of the Festival and is open to all film professionals, including (but not limited to) sales agents, buyers, producers, production executives, craftspeople, financiers, festival programmers, film commissioners, film publicists, and exhibitors. VeoMiami gives access to Industry/Filmmaker invite only events, Happy Hours and networking opportunities, access to Masterclass Seminars, access to online library of films and other privileges. The Freedom Tower plays host to MIFF’s Pyrat Gold: Awards Night Rum Party on February 15 the night before the festival close.

Austin’s South by Southwest (SxSW) Conferences and Festivals is a trifold event consisting of original music (March 11-16), independent films (March 7-15), and interactive emerging technologies (March 7-11). New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings form the live performance aspect and entertainment for audiences. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning and business activity. The Digital Creative Job Market at SXSW is presented by Publicis Groupe amd is a meeting spot for the career minded and  companies looking to hire. The Digital Creative Job Market enables talented professionals to match their skills with the 21st century, cutting-edge employers. A directory of the companies in attendance is available to view.

SXSW Film has plenty of programming relating to things musical, and the edition of Filmmakers in Focus talks to the filmmakers behind three music films at SXSW 2014. Alex Steyermark’s The 78 Project Movie demonstrates a novel way to record live music. Adam Kahan’s The Case of the Three Sided Dream is a portrait of the influential jazz pioneer Roland Rahsaan Kirk, while Jeff Broadway looks at the Stones Throw Records archive with Peanut Butter Wolf and co. in ‘Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton’ (This is Stones Throw Records)

Taking in the scope of all there is to do at SXSW could be overwhelming. There is obviously much to do and take part in at the SXSW festival. The remainder of this rundown focuses on parties and receptions for registrants to take part in. For instance, the 2014 SXSW Interactive portion of the Festival will host more than 75 official parties and evening events by itself.

March 7, SXSW hosts it’s third annual Taco Meet Up at Palm Park. This event – open to Film, Interactive, Gold and Platinum badges – allows guests to network with fellow SXSW attendees and try tacos and sides. Vegetarian options will be offered as well. Guests can meet on the evening of March 11 in the East Tent of Brush Square Park for the Music Mixer and Fajita Meet Up. Music Conference and Festival staff and veterans will be on hand to guide you through your SXSW experience. Savor fajita buffet (including vegetarian options) and complimentary beverages in the East Tent of Brush Square Park. On March 7 celebrate SXsports with this special kick-off reception hosted by Octagon. Connect with other SXsports enthusiasts over food, drinks and music.

March 8 marks the first full day of daytime programming at the 2014 SXSW Interactive Festival. The evening of March 8 also customarily serves as one of the most active nights of social events, ranging from low key happy hours to large concerts to informal geek-centric sporting events. This also includes The Mix at Six Party which usually turns out to be one of the top networking events of all of SXSW Interactive.

The SXSW Fusion Party will be on the evening of March 9. Presented by Associated Press, this get-together is one of the best places to connect with people outside your industry. At the SXSW Fusion Party, the creative worlds of Interactive and Film come together for an evening of cross-fest love. Filmmakers, designers, social media mavens, producers, activists and more converge — and the results can launch a thousand ships. The SXSW Fusion Party is open to all Interactive, Film, Gold and Platinum badge holders. The 27th annual South By Southwest Closing Barbecue and Softball Tournament, is the traditional closing social event of the SXSW week on March 18.

The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) is an annual film market organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Now known as a cross-media, cross-industry entertainment trade platform in Asia, FILMART’s objective is to promote Hong Kong as the regional hub for distribution and production of film, TV programs and entertainment-related products in Asia pacific and to facilitate cross-media, cross-businesses partnerships. More precisely, it will champion co-operation in areas of film financing, distribution, production, post-production, TV, digital entertainment, film and broadcasting equipment and location shooting.

This year’s Entertainment Expo, from March 24-27, will feature nine multimedia events: the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART); the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF); the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony (HKFA); the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF); the Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival (HKAMF); the IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award; ifva; the Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit; and the Digital Entertainment Forum.

FILMART’s TV World, which turns eight, is expected to welcome more than 260 exhibitors. The theme of TV World’s International Forum this year is “TV’s New Century: Asia’s Live Programmes.” A series of workshops will also be held, focusing on issues ranging from the Internet and business opportunities to forecasting film and TV content. FILMART will once again present the Intellectual Property Business zone, as well as zones spotlighting location shooting and micro-film, the latter offering award-winning movies.

Among the region’s major film-financing events, this year’s HAF is held March 24-26. Nearly 30 film projects from 11 countries and regions have been selected, attracting film investors, producers and distributors internationally. Independent film and visual media in Hong Kong and throughout Asia will be on show at the 19th edition of ifva, March 13-23. The fourth HKAMF, March 28 at the HKCEC, features seven up-and-coming Asian performers. The singers, from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, compete in the Super Nova Awards. Asian music industry business forums will also be held.

At the seventh Asian VFX and Digital Cinema Summit, March 25, industry experts discuss digital post-production trends. Recent 3D movies will be shown to introduce production techniques. The fourth Digital Entertainment Forum, March 26, examines visual media from full-pixel, real-time motion capture to interactive design and other new production technologies. A city-wide promotion: “Enjoy Great Movies, Enjoy Special Offers”, will be repeated from last time in support of Entertainment Expo. The campaign offers the public a 10 per cent discount at any of more than 40 cinemas in Hong Kong.

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 12 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organizes trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online.

The JUNO Awards celebrates the best in Canadian music. This year will mark the 43rd Anniversary of The JUNO Awards and the 13th Anniversary of its broadcast on CTV. Winners are currently chosen by either members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences or a panel of experts depending on the award. In almost all of the main general categories, such as Album of the Year or Artist of the Year, nominees are determined by record sales during the qualifying period. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies.

Juno Week 2014 is from March 24-30, and events in that week include: Juno Cup, Juno Fan Fare, Juno Fest 14 Winnipeg, SOCAN presents Juno Songwriters’ Circle, PRIX Juno 2014 Awards Broadcast. Official Juno lead up events will include: Dancin’ Tones and Buzzin’ Bones: Celebrating the 2014 JUNOS, Junior JUNOS – Featuring the 2014 Children’s Album of the Year Nominees, JUNO Photography Exhibition, The JUNO Tour of Canadian Art, Sirius XM JUNO Awards Kick-Off, Friday Night Live @ ROM: The JUNOS After Dark. The official JUNO Kick-Off Party is March 27 at Manitoba House. The Juno Awards events were not conducted outside Toronto until 1991 and the various locations often host a number of supporting events and festivals surrounding the awards. This year’s event is in Winnipeg, showcasing a new host city and their music scene for the year.

This year, country singer Brett Kissel, seven-time CCMA Award winner Dean Brody, 16-time CCMA winner Gord Bamford are set to join earlier announced performers Matt Mays, Robin Thicke, Serena Ryder, The Sheepdogs, Tegan and Sara, and Walk Off The Earth. In addition, Canadian songstress and eight-time JUNO Award winner Sarah McLachlan will take the stage as a special presenter for MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS. The Awards Committee is partnering with SiriusXM Canada to host a JUNO Kick-Off party at Manitoba House featuring performances by The Trews, The New Meanies and Attica Riots. There will be a celebration of Winnipeg’s diversity with a Francophone music showcase and an Aboriginal Nominee Honouring Ceremony.

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. The 86th Academy Award winners at the March 2, 2014 Oscar ceremony included: Lupita Nyong’o taking Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Jared Leto taking Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Cate Blanchett taking Best Actress in a Leading Role, Matthew McConaughey taking Best Actor in a Leading Role, ’12 Years a Slave’ taking Best Picture. This month’s photo placement highlights the 2014 Academy Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: the 2014 NAB Show opens in Vegas, MIPDOC and MIPTV 2014 opens in Cannes, Florida Film Festival will be in Maitland, On te heels of Mardi Gras French Quarter Festival opens in New Orleans, Winston-Baker will conduct the 6th Annual Film Finance Forum East from New York City,

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.

Toronto International Film Fest, Game Music Connect, Dubai Music Week, The Film Society, are highlights in September’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

“Soul Muzik” saxophonist, eZra brown has released his debut solo album, ‘The Journey’ and has opened a tour through the far east to promote it. (J. Quazi King, Nicole Norwood photo credits)

Ezra Brown – saxophonist, keyboardist, music director, arranger – has released his debut album, ‘The Journey’, available on iTunes (as of September 3 on the iTunes “Jazz Album Under $8” Bestseller list), Google Play, CD Baby and Amazon. An album tour is underway, and a September 6 date in Yokohama features a birthday party celebration in live music lounge and restaurant, KAMOME Live Matters. There are many tour dates in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo and other cities, but on September 14, the tour ventures to Kuala Lumpur for the one day KL International Jazz Festival. After Kuala Lumpur, other dates include September 25 in Tokyo, September 28 in Mito, September 29 in Kyoto, September 30 in Osaka, and the first date of the new month, October 3 in Kamkura city. There are more dates in October and into November

Ezra Brown, who has worked with Grammy Award winning artists: Cassandra Wilson, John Forte, Dorothy Moore, Charlie Daniels, Miki Howard, is currently involved in several projects. He serves as music director for Blue Nefertiti (one half of the group Les Nubians); as a member ofT he Mighty Embassy Ensemble for up and coming hip-hop artist Blitz the Ambassador.; and as a band member for Cheryl Pepsii Riley at The Village Underground in New York City, the top R & B open mic night in the country. You can hear Ezra on MTVu’s Live Sessions, where he is featured with Blitz the Ambassador and John Forte “Breathe” video on MTVu.

The Toronto International Film Festival traditionally opens the Thursday night after Labour Day (the first Monday in September in Canada). Films are categorized into Programs to better organize the selection. In one of the festival’s program categories, “Wavelengths”, filmmaker Jean-Marie Straub continues his exploration of classic texts with this “collaboration” involving the great 16th-century writer of the ‘Essais’. In Hollywood studios premiere their films at TIFF due to the Festival’s non-competitive nature, relatively inexpensive costs, enthusiastic and cinema knowledgeable audiences and other factors. This year the Festival hosts a September 7 Gala event, “Celebrating 100 Years of Indian Cinema”, reflecting 100 years of inspired work by Indian filmmakers. Dinner and a reception are included for this event.

The Toronto International Film Festival’s major prize, the People’s Choice Award, is given to a feature-length film with the highest ratings as voted by the Festival-going populace. TIFF Bell Lightbox has come to be regarded for film related exhibitions and moving image artworks that reach a junction between cinema and the visual arts. Specal exhibition: “David Cronenberg: Transformation” will feature six new TIFF-commissioned artworks by leading Canadian and international contemporary artists who share David Cronenberg’s inspirations from literature and philosophy—writers such as McLuhan, Burroughs and Ballard—and his fascination with biological horror, the human psyche and the merging of humans and media. The festival closes on September 15.

Game Music Connect will happen in London for one day only on September 9 and is suited to fans of music in games, aspiring and professional composers of all backgrounds and those interested in learning about the art and science of creating today’s cutting edge video game soundtracks. The format will have interviews and roundtable discussions with composers and audio directors in the video games industry. Included in a line-up of British and international composer talent will be ASCAP member Martin O’Donnell (Destiny, Halo series) and PRS affiliates James Hannigan (Dead Space 3, Command & Conquer series, Harry Potter series) and Joris de Man (Killzone series) – and will be hosted by composer, audio director and commentator John Broomhall (X-COM series, Transport Tycoon, A Christmas Carol). Audio directors from both independent and major developers and publishers will also participate.

In one of the Game Music panels, “Soundcard to Symphony”, game composers – Martin O’Donnell, Jesper Kyd, Jason Graves, James Hannigan, Joris de Man, Richard Jacques, John Broomhall (Chair) – outline their personal journeys into scoring videogames, together with their inspiration and influences, reflecting on the past, present & future of game music design and application The day’s programming will comprise in-depth discussions with celebrated composers and audio directors, including insights into their diverse career paths and scoring experiences as well as practical demonstrations of interactive music and previews of next-gen original scores. The day will feature a composer panel exploring the evolution of video game music and a philosophical discussion of the art form and its future.

International Broadcasting Convention, or just IBC, is an annual event staged in Amsterdam for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide. This year’s convention which runs September 12-17 has conference themes that reflect: technological innovations to engage viewers and create a more engaging entertainment experience; advances in industry collaboration and standards that affect business and content production; global impact of the internet on all aspects of traditional television and its affect on the future of traditional broadcasting; emergence of event television and the production, broadcast, distribution and monetisation of content in these digital spaces and other areas.

Keynote speaking presentations at the IBC conference open with Bob Harris, Chief Technology Officer, Channel 4 Television, but will also include: Robert M. Bakish, President & CEO, Viacom International Media Networks, Morten Hesseldahl, Executive Director of Cultural Affairs, DR, Danish Broadcasting Company, Keith Hindle, CEO, Digital and Branded Entertainment, Fremantle Media, Tony Wang, General Manager, Twitter, UK and others. IBC is owned by six industry partners that represent both exhibitors and visitors. They include: The International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, The Royal Television Society, The Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

San Diego Music Thing Conference and Festival opens September 13 for a two day run. Attendees can sharpen their skills and knowledge of the music business through interactive and roundtable sessions with notable panelists and featured speakers operating in the music business. Conference opening panel: “Music Industry 101: The Basics 2013”, features speakers in discussion on what anyone needs to know about getting started in the business of music. Later that same day, another workshop session, “Dos and Don’ts of Music Distribution”, covers setting up your music for sale in all formats and why YouTube is important to all performing music.

Planned day time activities include a trade show, happy hour parties, listening stations and pop up live performances, as well as a chance to meet and mingle with industry professionals and artists. Kim Gordon, a founding member of noise-rock band Sonic Youth — and who has been involved in numerous collaborations with other artists and musicians makes a featured speaker presentation at the end of day one. Bands and music artists scheduled for performances include: Ra Ra Riot, New Politics, Titus Andonicus, Milo Greene, Fidlar, The Album Leaf, Unwritten Law, Mike Herrera, Wild Nothing, The Silent Comedy, LIttle Hurricane, Body/Head featuring Kim Gordon and over 150 more.

Chartered in 1991, conference organizer, the San Diego Music Foundation, was created to make music performance accessible to children of need in San Diego County by providing them with a hands-on vehicle, – the guitar – to express themselves creatively. Over its 20 year history, the organization has served K-8 students county-wide from Chula Vista to Fallbrook. In subsequent years the organization has broadened its focus and service areas, providing forums to increase local musicians’ understanding of the music business, get performance exposure within the local and national music communities, and to publicly recognize the breadth and diversity of the San Diego music scene.

Oaxaca FilmFest, founded in the City of Oaxaca de Juarez in 2010, is intent on presenting works representative of achievement in cinema, creating opportunities for filmmakers, and providing audiences with outstanding entertainment. Planned for this year’s festival running September 21-28, Oaxaca FilmFest 2013 has scheduled eight days of international film on par with those being exhibited anywhere in the world today, an international script writer symposium, special events, tours of the region, academic opportunities and those anticipated Oaxaca FilmFest after-parties. Other aspects of the festival include the program Academia — a five day training program designed to enhance festival attendees’ self-distribution skills for those that have producer ambitions. The festival also features “Pitch It”, a platform that allows screenwriters to sell their scripts to industry executives around the globe in a designated meeting place.

Dubai Music Week is an annual B2B/B2C event dedicated to establishing the music industry in the region with: seminars, conferences and workshops, trade show and exhibition, live concerts, networking events and competitions connecting Middle East and Asia with Europe and North America. The six day event which opens September 24 is the brainchild of music impressario Quincy Jones and is also structured as a platform for rising artists and launching new talent. The convention will host the ‘Emirates World Exclusive Quincy Jones Seminars, and on September 25 Quincy Jones will invite music industry icons Timbaland and will.i.am on stage to discuss music production with fans, and to launch the first cross-over talent from across the region.

On September 24 at DMW, fans of Michael Jackson’s music will be able to hear directly from the multi-Grammy winning production team fueling the success of the King of Pop’s record-breaking albums — ‘Thriller’, ‘Off The Wall’ and ‘Bad’. Members of the team at this convention — Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Bruce Swedien and Siedah Garrett — offer reflections on the experience of producing the greatest selling albums of all time. On September 27 a Keynote Conference is scheduled and will be presented by Frank Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo Global Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo, also Shridhar Subramaniam, President of Middle East and India at Sony Music Entertainment.

MIDEM, the renowned global music convention held in Cannes every year since 1967, is an official DMW Conference Partner. Dubai Music Week in association with MIDEM will present a series of Music Conferences and Workshops with senior executives and Founders of companies such as Anghami, Saavn, Times Music, Orange, Sacem and BMI. Conference organizer, G3 is a cross-cultural music and entertainment company with offices in Dubai and Los Angeles. Founded by legendary music producer Quincy Jones and Emirati social entrepreneur Badr Jafar, the company is launching a series of initiatives and productions that is attempting to change the future of the music industry and live entertainment in the Middle East and North African region.

Known as a one stop training, exposition and networking event, Digital Video Expo brings together a gathering of technology innovators and content creation professionals to downtown Los Angeles from September 25-26. The conference agenda has over 50 conference sessions in two conference programs covering content creation and storage. The Los Angeles Post Production Group will hold their monthly September meeting at DV Expo immediately following the close of the exhibit hall floor on September 25. Cocktails will be served. The meeting is free and open to all attendees of Digital Video Expo. A new free special event, Video Edge Live! is a conference program designed for professionals who produce and deliver online video for media and entertainment, enterprise, educational, and government applications. Pro Media Conference is back this year at Digital Video Expo. PMC motivates and engages participants through a series of papers, case studies, and networking opportunities. Introduced last year at Digital Video Expo, the Pro Media Conference is designed to educate, motivate and engage professionals working in media and entertainment, video and audio production, internet and mobile video, AV, government, corporate video environments, and IT.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, to recognize and support new filmmakers, and to enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film going audience. Annually, The Film Society at Lincoln Center presents two world-class international festivals – the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films (celebrating new cinematic artists). The Society will operate the New York Film Festival from September 27 through October 13 this year. And the Festival’s Opening Night World Premiere is the Paul Greengrass directed, Sony Pictures release, ‘Captain Phillips’. The festival is competitive with approximately 28 feature films in the Main Slate and 16 short films selected each year by a five person screening committee. Entry into NYFF and ND/NF is open to all filmmakers and all lengths and genres are considered. There are no categories and no prizes are awarded. The Society also publishes the cinematic journal, ‘Film Comment’, presents an annual Gala Tribute honoring legendary stars and industry leaders of this generation, and partners with Hollywood studios to present premieres and special live appearances at various times of the year.

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 “Soul Muzik” saxophonist, eZra brown (J. Quazi King, Nicole Norwood photo credit) on tour in Japan and the far east for the introduction of his debut solo album. 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: Japanese Cultural and Anime Convention, Ochiba Con, will be in Oshawa. The New Orleans Film Society hosts their annual festival. The Adelaide Film Festival, in Glenside, opens. Colchester Film Festival 2013 featuring short film selections, opens in Colchester. MIA Animation Conference and Festival will be in Miami. The BMI London Awards will be in Hyde Park.

Khayal Groove France CD Tour, NAB 2013, MIPDoc/MIPTV, Film Finance Forums, are highlights in April’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The Khayal Groove — Jayen Varma, Aparna Panshikar, Jean Davoisne — open a France tour in April 2013 to promote its recently released CD, “Reflections of a Purple Moon” available on iTunes.

Six months after releasing its first album over iTunes and SoundCloud in October 2012, India based Raga band, The Khayal Groove, opens a promotional tour for the album in France. The Khayal Groove is Aparna Panshikar on North Indian classical vocals, Jayen Varma on Bass Guitar in collaboration with the Toulouse, France based drummer, Jean Davoisne and various artistes and bands across the world. Although still evolving a repertoire, the band performs a blend of Indian Classical (Hindustani) Vocals, Ragas, “slap” bass guitar applying tabla and mridangam based finger movements on bass guitar, with western style drumming, resulting in a sound partly reflecting the band’s tendency toward free improvisations. Concert stops will include: Bascous at Salle des Fêtes on April 3; Auch at Cri’Art on April 5; Mas d’Agenais at La Halle au Chanvre on April 6. The band will play some tunes from the newly released album — “Reflections of a Purple Moon” — create live improvisations and conduct interactive drum and bass jam sessions. There will also be opportunities to meet with and talk to the band members.

While in France, Aparna Panshikar will be the headliner on the final day of the 3e Indo-Persan Festival de Marseille for April 8 in Marseille. The Festival which actually runs from March 27, and is dedicated to artists of Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, highlighting their classical and traditional music, their poetry, their food, their clothing, languages ​​and everything that constitutes their identity. Next after these events, on April 13, JD Production Events and TAMA drum school in partnership with Zildjian Toulouse, are organizing a competition for amateur drummers hosted by Noemie Alazard, followed by an evening of instrumental demos, awards, and a concert given by the jury of the contest — Patrick Rondat, Franck Hermanny, Gael Feret, Michel Atmayer. The contest is open to all amateur drummers and is divided into two categories: under 16 and over 16 years with each candidate pre-screened. Jean Davoisne of JD Productions, formed this second drum school in 2008 in partnership with Tama and Zildjian. Coming from a Grunge-Metal background, he plays and records for various artists, having recorded drums on the track “Ghost of War” (CD “Eternity” – 2013), for Tina Guo, a USA based cellist and soloist with Hans Zimmer orchestra, and Le cirque du soleil Michael Jackson Immortal tour.

This year’s Florida Film Festival in Orlando will have more than 160 films, some 100 visiting filmmakers and special guests, and assorted special events running through April 14. The Opening Night Film which ran in Sundance, “Twenty Feet from Stardom” directed by Morgan Neville, spotlights the untold story of a group of gifted and diverse back-up singers, whose vocal talents helped shape the narrative of popular music yet still remain in the margins of history. The screening is followed by the “Eye Opening Night Party” that will include local chefs preparing and serving “Eye Opening” bites while the host venue Eden Bar serves up handmade cocktails all night long. Participating restaurants include Eden Bar, K Restaurant and Wine Bar, Ethos Vegan Kitchen, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and others. The following day, April 6, TV personality, film buff, food historian, and cookbook author Francine Segan serves out a taste of sweet and savory movie magic with history lessons from her book Movie Menus and film clips of favorite food scenes, all part of a lively discussion for this uniquely themed film festival. On April 12 the festival will screen Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic, “The Birds”, with Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette and Tippi Hedren. Following the screening Tippi Hedren will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A to discuss creating a cinema classic with the “Master of Suspense” Alfred Hitchcock.

This year will mark the 90 year existence of the NAB Convention. As an organization National Association of Broadcasters advocates on behalf of America’s free, local radio and television stations and broadcast networks and provides its members legal expertise and timely communications and opportunities for growth and development. Visitors to NAB Show can learn about techniques, including: capture, digital artistry, filmmaking, production, post-production, sound, web design and more at the annual Las Vegas event. Attendees will have access to a marketplace to buy or sell digital distribution goods and services, advertising, financing or content acquisition — which is all a part of a global platform that generates $20.7 billion in commerce every year. By focusing on what the convention has to offer, visitors can gain an understanding of content creation, content management, content commerce, content distribution or delivery and content consumption. There is a planned showcase for delivery advancements in broadcast, fiber, mobile, broadband video, streaming technologies, to deliver over airwaves, on screen or stage, online or on the go.

A planned NAB Open Mic Contest will be a chance to win a Conference Flex Pass to next year’s NAB Show® and other prizes by submiting a song video of yourself performing one of several NAB approved songs. The winner will be selected during the NAB Television Luncheon on April 8 at the Las Vegas Hotel. A convention Super Session: “Mapping the Future of Broadcast Television,” happens on April 9 with speakers: Harry Jessell, Kevin Gage, James F. Goodmon, Jr., Lieven Vermaele, Erik Moreno, who will explore the future of broadcast television from the perspective of the broadcaster, the consumer, and organizations working to develop future global television technical standards. The NAB Education Foundation will host its annual spring Career Day at the NAB Show on April 10. The event is produced in partnership with the Broadcast Education Association to open opportunities for media companies to network with seasoned professionals, college students and entry-level job seekers. Very new this year, the Show is partnering with Waskul.TV to run StudioXperience™ that will stream live proceedings and provide daily coverage while the Show Floor is open. NAB Show Live!, the official news and highlights program will also be produced each day from the Studio at 16:30 PT.

Aside from the education workshops, panels and convention floor displays, visitors can take part in a full week of networking and fun long after the show floor has closed for the day by attending the Official NAB Show After-parties, generally complimentary wth Show Badge worn by show attendees. Network with media and entertainment professionals from over 150 countries that are expected for the convention. Here is a summary listing of official NAB after-parties and hosts that are lined up: NAB Show Exhibitor Party at TAO, April 6, 21:00; Content Creators Party at Body English, April 7, 20:00 and also at LAVO starting at 23:00; NAB Show Opening Party, April 8, 22:00 at Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub; Cirque de L’absurde Outdoor Party at Gold Lot 2, across from the LVCC, April 9 at 18:00 and at LAVO Nightclub, at 23:00; general after-party April 10 at 23:00 at LAVO; NAB Show Closing Party, April 11 starting 22:30 at TAO.

Two seperate international content marketplace and conference programs organized and run under Reed MIDEM’s MIPWORLD group of content industry shows opens in Cannes. MIPDoc is an international screening conference for documentary and factual programming. This two-day event starting April 6 takes place the weekend before MIPTV, and provides a showcase for producers and distributors of documentary and factual programming. Combined with MIPFormats — a digital library dedicated to non-scripted programmes — it creates a showcase for non-scripted content in all its forms. The MIPFormats program has its own dedicated conference series with keynotes, screenings, matchmaking events and the MIPFormats International Pitch — an exclusive non-scripted entertainment formats’ competition sponsored by Warner Bros. International Television Production. MIPTV, running four days from its April 8 start is a television and media technology sector trade show attended by decision makers from TV’s ecosystem and entertainment industry along with buyers seeking content. The latest industry trends and market information are discussed during the show and attendees can also participate in the topical conferences and business keynote sessions that are scheduled here. A sizeable display of cable and satellite systems, film equipments, production services, studio tools and digital entertainment instruments are put on exhibit at the show. There is the presence of participants from different countries, highlighting the global nature of the occasion. There are animation sessions organized for kids during the show too and television premieres are hosted here as well.

April has two significant New York City film financing events to bring film professionals up to date with the latest trends and information for getting a film project funded. On April 10 the 2013 NYCFF Film and Finance Forum will be held presenting a roster of highly topical panelists from film and finance industries as well as guest speakers and panelists who represent film festivals and Crowdfunding. The evening’s panel discussions, moderated by Deena Merlen, Partner, Reavis Parent Lehrer LLP and Roger Wu, Co-Founder, New York Crowdfunds, address key issues relevant to filmmakers, financiers and anyone interested in the economics, business mechanics, and financial dynamics of both feature and independent film. Each panel is followed by a Q&A with the participants.

Attendees of NYCFF will also have the opportunity to interact and network with all featured experts and other fellow attendees. Established and aspiring filmmakers looking to raise capital for their projects, production companies, movie slates, film funds or other ventures are likely candidates to attend this gathering. Organized by SCENEPR!, NYCFF network is a presence among individuals in both the film and finance industries interested in working together to produce independent and feature films for theatrical distribution. SCENEPR! is a network of entrepreneurs and professionals from film/TV, fashion, music, art/photo, digital/online and green/eco, looking to build connections with other like-minded individuals for the purposes of doing business.

The 5th Annual Film Finance Forum East in downtown Manhattan is a follow up to the Fifth Annual Film Finance Forum West that took place in Los Angeles this past March. WINSTON | BAKER will host the 5th Annual Film Finance Forum East in association with Variety. The one-day program on April 16 is focused on financial strategies and opportunities within the film business. The speaking faculty will address: Entity-Level Investments: A Closer Look at Hybrid Models; Capitalizing on the Independent Film Business; Considering the Film Business as an Asset Class; The Evolution of Deal Structure from a Single Picture Perspective; Finding Success in Cross-Border Financing; Evaluating the Next Wave of Distressed Opportunities, and more. The New York forum is designed for chief investment officers, private equity and hedge fund managers, angel investors, high net worth individuals, private family office managers, and financial advisers who are interested in learning more about the film business as non-correlated asset class. There will be opportunities for networking with seasoned deal-makers in the industry. The closing panel is “Capitalizing on the Independent Film Business” followed by a networking reception. In May there is a planned 4th Annual International Film Finance Forum happening in Cannes, France.

French Quarter Festival’s 30th Anniversary will showcase more than 400 hours of music from more than 1,300 local musicians on more than 20 stages in New Orleans’ French Quarter district. The artist line-up reveals a variety of popular New Orleans genres including traditional and contemporary jazz, Cajun-Zydeco, world, brass band, blues, rock, and pop from local New Orleans musicians. Festival goers can savor upscale dining in a festival atmosphere at the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” – a variety of authentic local cuisine from more than 60 New Orleans restaurants. Some of the restaurants at festival include Antoine’s, Galatoire’s, Muriel’s, R’evolution, Jacques-i-mo’s, Boucherie, Crescent Pie and Sausage, GW Fins, Trey Yuen, K-Paul’s, Tujague’s, Praline Connection.

There are also free special events at French Quarter Festival, family activity with two planned kids areas and fireworks on the Mississippi River (Saturday, April 13 at 21:00). In an effort to promote the cultural heritage of the City of New Orleans and the Vieux Carré, French Quarter Festival presents the return of Let Them Talk: Conversations on Louisiana Music. This reprised program has a new film series titled TimeCode:NOLA, with screening set at the Louisiana State Museum’s OLD U.S. Mint. Both series focus on the creativity New Orleans has fostered in music and film through the use of storytelling and interactive discussions with musicians and filmmakers. The films give insight to the local culture of the French Quarter. The 2013 French Quarter Festival will feature a special 30th Anniversary Gala, on April 11 at Antoine’s Restaurant. A portion of the proceeds from the Gala will benefit The Roots of Music. French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December.

The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival in lower Manhattan opens April 17 with the world premiere of “Mistaken For Strangers”, a film that follows the personal journey of Tom Berninger (who doubles as the director and subject) as he goes on tour with his older brother, Matt Berninger, the lead singer of the Brooklyn-based band, The National. The screening is followed by a special concert performed by the actual band. In other festival events, the “Tribeca Talks Industry” series will host panels that will include: “New Filmmakers in the Digital Age”, “The Business of Entertainment: Truth, Persuasion and Bias in Documentaries”, “Big Data and the Movies”. The “Directors Series” will include conversations with Clint Eastwood, Darren Aronofsky, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Mira Nair, Bryce Dallas Howard and others. Most “Tribeca Talks” series (including the ones listed above) are free to the public. Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center to stimulate economic and cultural revitalization in lower Manhattan’s Tribeca district following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The festival goes through April 28.

The Nashville Film Festival is an Academy qualifier in the categories for short films and animation. Although special events and parties related to NaFF have been underway since the start of April, the official festival opens April 18-25. The opening night film is the premiere of “MUD”, starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. Closing Night screening is “Unfinished Song”, starring Terrence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave. NaFF emphasizes the music in films and makes a special award presentation for its Music Films/ Music City line-up. In addition to the many films about music and the Music Films in Music City awards, NaFF presents showcases, workshops, and other events where songwriters and artists come together with film professionals throughout the globe to collaborate with and help promote each others works.

NaFF maintains a VIP Tent open to Silver Level Members that will serve Stella Artois, fine wines, spirits and Nashville specialties. This year, NaFF and 5th Avenue of the Arts / Downtown Nashville  are jointly presenting a new opportunity for filmmakers, entitled: “Nashville Unveiled  – Take One Video Festival Contest (NUVC)”. Sponsored by Nashville Arts Magazine, the contest is a chance for professionals and/or amateurs to create a short film/video with the content connected to the theme: “The Arts Scene in Nashville.” Apart from the festival, the Nashville Film Festival provides three year-round programs: “Livin’ Reel”, gives urban teens hand’s on experience in filmmaking. The Hope Tour brings films and volunteers to the bedside of patients and veterans. The Tennessee Film Tour helps Tennessee cities start film festivals.

Digital Media Wire Games, formerly known as LA Games Conference, is an expanded two-day session starting April 18, called DMW Conference. It will still tackle the issues and ideas about the future of games and connected entertainment. It will run two tracks with fireside chats, panels, demos and presentations on digital game creation, distribution, monetization and marketing. Speakers include executives from Electronic Arts, Wargaming America, Vungle, Kiip, and PLAYSTUDIOS. On the first day Track B Panel, you learn: “What Does it Take to Make a Hit Game on iOS and Android Platforms” with Rob Carroll, 5th Planet Games, Matt Hulett, RealNetworks, Lina Chen, Nix Hydra Games, Marco DeMiroz, PlayFirst and Moderator Margaret Wallace, Playmatics. Zynga’s Chief Revenue Officer, Barry Cottle, will be conductng a fireside chat at DMW Games. This year’s conference features a Games Leadership Awards ceremony, a Hackathon/Game Jam hosted by Scopely. Day one ends with a Poolside Reception with a DJ performance and networking. The final conference on the last day will address “Game Development in Los Angeles: Future Prospects – Promise or Peril in the City of Angels” with a panel that will discuss the state of the game industry in Los Angeles — where the conference is held — and examine future prospects. Day two closes the conference with an official Closing Reception. Digital Media Wire is a news, publishing and events company serving the digital entertainment and media industries since 2000.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month’s photo placement highlights The Khayal Groove’s first CD tour in France since releasing their first album October 2012. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that: Vegas Indie Film Fest, comes to Las Vegas; UK Film Forum will be in London; KOBA 2013, audio and Lighting equipment show opens in South Korea; the 2013 CLIO Awards will be held in New York City, The WorldMediaFestival will be in Hamburg, the annual Cannes Film Festival returns to Cannes, Streaming Media East will arrive in New York City.

New York Film Academy guest article on acting craft, and IBC, Independent Film Week, POP Montreal, are highlights in September’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 

Acting: A Personal Expression – or Collaboration, Serving an Audience?

Guest article by New York Film Academy Staff

The performing arts – acting, dance, music – like all art forms are subjective in their definition. It’s hard to describe what art is in any context, and for actors on stage and film there may never be a single standard of what is good or great.

But we can look at some standard definitions of art to begin to understand what constitutes great acting. Thespis of Icaria in ancient Greece – from whom comes the word thespian – is regarded to be the first actor. Before him, a chorus was engaged to tell the story on stage, but in one performance Thespis stepped out of the group to speak alone. From that moment, skills in vocal projection, physical expression and an emotional facility, born of imagination, came to define the actor.

Audiences clearly have approved, all these thousands of years later. Entertainment by way of the performing arts is one of the world’s largest industries, a melding of art and commerce that has no commercial equal. Because of this commercial driver in entertainment, anyone pursuing a career in any role within the theatrical arts – not just actors but directors, editors, costume designers, makeup artists (roll the credits – the list is extensive) – has to keep in mind both the art and the commercial components of the whole package. Without an audience, the art is of lesser [monetary] value.

Glenn Kalison, chair of the Acting Department at the New York Film Academy’s (NYFA) Acting School, speaks about this as the “actor’s dilemma.” He discusses the comprehensive art of storytelling through film as necessarily a collaboration of many players: “Storytelling, such as that involved in filmmaking, involves trust that many independently moving parts are being guided to a common end that serves a story.”

By this, Kalison explains how the actor is taught to access his or her own emotions in order to play a character. But the actor must necessarily communicate something to an audience. He tells students, “What you feel and what others see are two very different things. This is often a confusing point for beginning actors who insist that they felt the appropriate emotion response for a given scene – but we didn’t see it!” Only when that trust in the other “moving parts” – production designers, cinematographers, audio engineers, gaffers, grips, screenwriters and of course, directors – influences the actor’s performance is the storytelling successful. “Good actors know the difference,” he notes.

Put another way, the character in a moving soliloquy (think Hamlet, Macbeth or Daisy Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby”) may appear to be completely alone in the world. But there are at least 100 other people involved in making that scene happen, putting it in front of an audience and truly making it work. It’s always collaboration – as Thespis, who really was part of a chorus, may have known all along.

NYFA has campuses and courses in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, Beijing, Paris, Florence and Sydney, among other locations, as well as its film school online. Students can take individual workshops or enroll in one- and two-year Conservatory programs or Associates, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs.

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The annual International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) event for professionals

R&B, soul, jazz saxophonist eZra Brown is currently touring Japan with his band through late October. A debut solo album is due in late January.

involved with the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide, opens in Amsterdam, running till September 11. This year’s conference keynote delivered by will.i.am of band Black Eyed Peas, will be about creativity and technology, delivered in his ceremonial capacity as Intel’s Director of Creative Innovation. The conference presents the best of technology for all professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and media content worldwide, including the latest 3D rigs, integrated cameras, streaming video services and cloud based production. There is once again expected to be IBC Connected World, an exhibit for anyone needing to understand the impact of wired and wireless broadband on the industry, and the IBC Production Village, a unique chance to experience first hand the latest digital imaging equipment in front of a fully-specced professional studio set.

There are expected to be free 2K, 4K and stereoscopic 3D demonstrations at the IBC Big Screen, and a convention-wide invite to attend the IBC Awards, a gala event celebrating industry achievement. The IBC Production Village is fashioned after a professional standard studio set with a host of the latest technology to explore, including: sinaCam Camera Head HDC-1-CAM, 3D Rig, Digital Film Camera, 16mm, GY-HM790E Camera and GY-HM600E Camera, Canon XF305 and Canon EOS 5D MkIII, more. The Future Zone provides a glimpse into the future of tomorrow’s electronic media with a collection of concepts and prototypes that exist only in the world’s leading broadcast research and development labs, or as academic papers, until they are demonstrated at IBC.

Founded in 1976, and highly regarded and anticipated with a reputation and ability to generate “Oscar-buzz”, the Toronto International Film Festival opens the Thursday night after Labour Day (the first Monday in September in Canada), lasting for eleven days, or September 16. The Oprah Winfrey produced ‘Precious’, which won the 2009 People’s Choice Award at the festival, went on to win two Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards while The ‘King’s Speech’, the winner of the 2010 People’s Choice Award at the festival won four Oscars at the 83rd Academy Awards. In 2010 TIFF opened a new headquarters at the intersection of King Street and John Street, in a facility called the Bell Lightbox. The facility provides extensive year-round galleries, cinemas, archives and activities for cinephiles. New this year, the Festival is partnering with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs to offer extended Q&As of five films where the film’s director will be joined by a  subject/regional expert relevant to the film. Filmmakers of Mumbai is this year’s featured city. And the Festival brings in a NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) jury to award the best Asian film of a first or second-time feature director.

The Americana Music Conference in Nashville features panels, seminars and other avenues of learning, presenting an educational music industry forum. The event covers the interests and needs of artists, managers, labels, radio stations, publishers, agents, promoters, retailers, legal and business affairs executives, merchandisers and new media professionals. At this time, the awards show is sold out. The purchase of a conference registration will place you on a waiting list for one ticket to the Americana Honors and Awards show. The show does not guarantee anyone a ticket. Badges will, however, provide access to all sanctioned daytime conference music, panels and parties, plus priority access to all evening showcase performances. Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music. It is music inspired by American culture traditions which is not only represented in classic man made, roots based sounds, but also through new and contemporary artists whose music is clearly inspired by these great traditions. The event patron — The Americana Music Association — is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre. Pre-conference reception opening, “A Taste of Australia”, at the Bluebird Cafe on September 11 and closing event Stagemothers presents The Aussie BBQ, September 16.

In its fifth year, with 12 film categories and a £10,000 production award, Limelight is paving the way in identifying emerging British film makers. The East London event is an extension of Limelight Film Awards, which is the annual red carpet short film awards ceremony. The Film Night on September 16 will see previously nominated short films from the Limelight Film Awards, with an introduction by the film makers. There will also be a short talk and Q&A with an industry specialist and a performance from emerging Artists. This month’s networking session will see celebrated Thriller Films shown, as well as a performance from an upcoming talent and a speech from an industry expert. Attending is free, but advance RSVP is essential by emailing to: contact@limelightawards.com. Entry will be available on the door subject to the event not reaching capacity and you are advised to pre book. The event will be closed with a 30 minute networking session whilst the DJ spins the records for the after party.

Happening during IFP’s annual Independent Film Week, September 16-20 in New York City, the IFP Independent Filmmaker Conference brings the international film community together to explore the art and business of 21st century storytelling, and introduce new voices on the independent scene. The Filmmaker Conference consists of a variety of small group and networking activities, hands-on workshops, keynotes with innovators including producer Christine Vachon and Focus Features’ James Schamus, ARTE’s Michel Reilhac, and Ford Foundations’ Orlando Bagwell, pitch workshops, and in-depth creative master classes. New series, Meet The Decision Makers are short, small group conversations with leaders who can help with industry advancement for films, programmers, funders, industry, and more. Also during Independent Film Week, IFP presents Project Forum — a forum for the discovery of new projects in development and new voices on the independent film scene. Project Forum consists of the Emerging Narrative (screenplays from emerging writer/directors), No Borders International Co-Production Market (screenplays represented by established producers with some financing in place), Independent Filmmaker Labs (documentary and narrative features in post-production), and Spotlight on Documentaries (documentary feature works-in-progress) programs. Additionally, Festival Forum program will assemble a gathering of international and U.S. film festival programmers.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), September 19-23, is a large scale event of its kind in North America attracting attendees from around the world. The competition screenings are the highlight of the Festival featuring the latest independent short films, commercials, TV shows, student films, music videos, feature films and more. The OIAF’s signature AniMarket is a weekend tradeshow showcasing selections in animation technology, production and education. This year there will be two specialized programs devoted to pitching: Pitch THIS! and Fast Track. As a tribute, the OIAF is devoting five programmes to animation legend, Ralph Bakshi’s work along with a one-on-one discussion. Along with a screening of rare short films, the Bakshi retrospective will include screenings of Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, Coonskin, and Wizards.

On September 23 there will be a behind-the-scenes talk on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Paperman and the Making-of Pixar’s Partysaurus RexScreening. Each year the Ottawa International Animation Festival commissions an artist to design the Festival poster. The Festival grants the artist free reign and encourages the design of unique and provocative works of art. Japanese animator, Koji Yamamura, currently on the board of directors of the Japanese branch of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA), designed the poster for Ottawa 2012. Accomplished animator, producer, director and voice actor Butch Hartman will be giving a keynote address at TAC. Hartman is best known as the creator and executive producer of three successful animated series featured on Nickelodeon. The Festival has ample social event dates to attend and network at. For instance, there will be The Animator’s Picnic with the famous pumpkin carving contest in Strathcona Park, and wrapping up the festival is the closing cocktail party.

POP Montreal is now entering its tenth year offering up a diversified selection of art forms and events, symposium discussions, artisan and visual art exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings, and more than a few all-night parties. Aside from musical headliners this year POP will include a series of free shows from September 19-21 headlining Dam-Funk, Hot Snakes and Austra, and SiriusXM will present a free show on September 19 at La Tulipe featuring Montreal indie darlings STARS and Toronto new wave diva Diamond Rings at Mission Santa Cruz. At the POP Symposium, longtime collaborators Jeannette Lee and Vivien Goldman, members of the UK’s punk-underground, where Jeannette worked at the early epicentre Acme Attractions and Vivien sang in the band The Flying Lizards, are today respectively co-owner of Rough Trade Records and Adjunct Professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute.

The Festival will have six activities areas: Puces Pop, Pop Symposium, Film Pop, Art Pop, Kids Pop, Espace Pop. Film POP will screen, Nightclubbing: New York Punk and New Wave 1975-1980, a restored collection of raw and unique videotapes taken in the late 1970′s during the New York punk scene. Art POP will exhibit works by Grammy-Award winning album artwork designer Caroline Robert (2011, Best Recording Package) and album art direction as well as longtime collaborator of Arcade Fire, Vincent Morisset. Puces POP will host a craft fair September 22-23, displaying woodcraft, jewelry, ceramics,  coma food, and the anticipated Record Fair which will have second-hand vinyl from Montreal’s finest indie record labels and collectors. Espace POP, a non-profit community event space in the Mile-End neighbourhood of Montreal, will be the site for the Fashion POP competition. Kids POP will schedule events this year in Little Italy and Mile-End, September 22-23, including Kids Yoga, Kids clothing swap and a Monster T-Shirt Workshop.

CINEC, the International Trade Fair for Cine Equipment and Technology is a Munich trade show addressed to anyone who is engaged in the field of the moving image and displays and features new developments in camera technology, camera support / grip, lighting, sound, postproduction, Stereo 3D, archiving, data management, equipment, accessories as well as production-related services. The exhibits area of the convention, opening September 22 and running three days, will display innovations in Film, Camera Technology, Camera support/Grip, Lighting, Sound, Set decoration, Equipment/Accessories, Technical Aids, Stereo 3D, Postproduction and Digital Editing, Services, and Organisations. There will also be a product forum with presentations by different exhibitors, and a special presentation by cineCongress on “The Future of Cinematography” that will address current issues and questions. One highlight of CINEC is the cinecAwards. The awards are presented by the Society of CineTechnik Bayern e.V. (CTB, formerly Bavarian Society for the Advancement of Film Technology), and awarded to innovative and trendsetting products and developments of the Motion Picture Technology. The award itself comprises  a certificate and a statue which is inspired by the Munich symbol “Bavaria”.

Bass guitarist of Cochin-Kerala, India, Jayen Varma (www.facebook.com/indianslapbass), an innovator of Indian Slap Bass and a member of band Khayal Groove, will be conducting Bass Guitar workshops in September and October at the Jayen Varma Bass Guitar School (http://www.facebook.com/BassGuitarSchool) in Cochin, Pune, Mumbai and other districts. Sessions will cover: How to do finger picking (rest stroke, free stroke, three and four finger picking two), how to play slap bass, how to play odd timings, how to play bass for songs and in bands, commonly used Scales, Ragas, Grooves etc. He will be part of the September 27 TEDxMEC event — operated under license from TED — where TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. Band KHAYAL GROOVE led by north Indian classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar, and digital recording and workshop collaborations with Toulouse, France based drummer Jean Davoisine (davoisne@hotmail.fr). The group is now in post production of the first album of works reflecting the East crosses West freedom of improvisation within the discipline and structure of a routine of rhythm and melodic features of Raga.
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 the acting craft. This month’s photo composite shows R&B, soul, jazz saxophonist eZra Brown on tour with his band in Japan. Photo credits to CrewActive for action shots and Nooka for the calendar poster. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that… the Digital Music Forum West will be in Los Angeles, Hamptons International Film Festival, will be in East Hampton, the Tyrolean Independent Film Festival will be in Innsbruck, Hollywood Film Festival will be in Beverly Hills, MIA Animation Conference and Festival will be in Miami, and Casual Connect 2012: Kylv will be in Kylv,  Streaming Media West comes to Los Angeles.

Lollapalooza 2012, Photo Image Brazil, Pentedattilo Film Festival, Internationale Tanzmesse NRW, are highlights in August’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Mumbai Sound Designer/Recordist Harikumar Pillai with BAFTA/Oscar nominated DP Jack N. Green, who was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on the set of recent feature THE LETTERS.

Dhaka based International Academy of Film and Media is arranging the first ever week-long Sound Design workshop for Film and TV with sound designer and engineer, Harikumar Pillai. The session will cover technique of sound recording, sound design for Cinema and TV, with screenings and discussions of films as well as introduction to modern techniques, technology and application in the field of sound recording including digital recording. The entire workshop will run through August 8 and be led by Bollywood Sound Mixer and Designer, Harikumar Pillai (www.imdb.com/name/nm3492300/), a well regarded alumni of the Film and TV Institute of India, Pune (FTII, Pune, India) and currently engaged as Sound Designer on a Hindi feature film produced by Twilight Entertainment, a Film Production House based out of Mumbai, India. His numerous credits over 18 years of location/studio experience include projects with BBC, Channel Four, New York TV, FORD Foundation, ISRAEL TV, NFBC, ZDF, Discovery, Nat. Geographic, OHM TV, Cinema Vision, Zee TV, Sony TV, National Network, STAR TV, Independent Film Producers etc. Especially notable are “Peepli Live” (2010), India’s official entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film of that year and “The Road Home” (2011) which was in the running for the 84th Academy Awards®.

This year Melbourne International Film Festival stretches into almost a three week run, running up to August 19. In recent years, MIFF has extended its activities to include a selection of industry and filmmaker focused programs to complement its core business — the screening program. These are: Accelerator – a four-day educational and inspirational skills development program for up-and-coming directors with short films screening at MIFF; MIFF 37º South Market – a four-day film financing market for producers with market-ready projects pitching to potential international and local co-financing partners; MIFF Premiere Fund – MIFF’s own investment and loan fund, providing essential financing support for local feature-length films. In its first year, the MIFF Premiere Fund films made up six of the 10 world premieres at MIFF. Four of the six MIFF Premiere Fund films were sold-out screenings. The Opening Night Gala, featuring the film, The Sapphires (Australia’s answer to The Supremes), ends the night followed by the official after party in the Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre, where an open bar, canapés and all-night entertainment run late. A mid-festival gala includes the screening of “Save Your Legs!” (written by actor Brendan Cowell, ABC TV’s The Slap, MIFF 11) followed by an exclusive after party with the films’ cast in the Festival Lounge. Closing night screening of “Mental”, the Official After Party follows the Red Carpet and Screening events.

Created in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band, Lollapalooza is an anticipated annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance, comedy performances and craft booths. Known for introducing and popularizing some of the big musical names, this year’s lineup performing in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park will include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Afghan Whigs, The Black Keys, Of Monsters And Men, Avichi, Skream & Benga, Sigur Ros, The Gaslight Anthem, Childish Gambino, Aloe Blacc, Sigur Ros, and many others as just a partial listing. Here is a quick rundown of activities to look forward to: Red Bull Soundstage provides a platform for emerging musicians to showcase their talents and offers more resources and opportunities through its interactive network; Sony Electrolounge is a digital lounge showcasing the latest tech, the hottest gadgets and must-see mobile devices; at the PlayStation® Society tent visitors can check out the newly released PS Vita and new and pre-released PS3™ games, win PlayStation® prizes and VIP and side stage passes; at the Play Room by Google Play exclusive Lollapalooza artist interviews and performances happen across the street from the Google Play stage; The Toyota Prius Family Playground hosts a playground full of everyone’s favorite childhood games with a Toyota twist; The #DellLive Lounge powered by Dell and Intel will feature a photo wall to get your pics on the live stream, music machine to crank out some beats to share with friends, and get spray tatted and gifted while watching a live stream of the festival; the Fender Fan Oasis is where anyone can get the chance to play the iconic Fender Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Jaguar® or Mustang® guitars. And like past festivals the f.y.e. Autograph Tent will be set up for each day’s (August 3-5) schedule of artist autograph sessions. Official after show venues include: Metro, Lincoln Hall, House of Blues, Schubas and other venues.

Music patrons can support music education in local Napa Valley schools and be part of a special music and wine event on August 11 as Nashville songwriters and Napa Valley winemakers come together to present a program of music and wine paired with the stories behind their creations. Proceeds benefit Notes for Education, an organization dedicated to the enrichment of children in the communities through arts and literacy. Notes funds area programs that bring music, art and literacy to school age children, with the goal of ensuring special music, arts, and reading programs for children continue to be available. Featured songwriters will include: Jessi Alexander, Dave Berg, Morgane Hayes Stapleton, Eric Paslay, Jon Randall and Chris Stapleton. The evening fare includes served appetizers during a walk-around wine tasting to meet and mingle with the winemakers and songwriters, and a sit-down family style Farm-to-Table dinner paired with white and red wines poured by the Winemakers themselves. The entertainment portion takes place inside the Baldacci wine caves and features six songwriters performing two one hour sets.

Photo Image Brazil is a well regarded trade fair in Latin America for the photo and imaging industries that will be held in Sao Paulo, August 14-16. On exhibit will be accessories for image reception, Albums and frames, conventional and digital video cameras, conventional and digital photographic cameras, copying equipment, audio visual equipment, test equipment, equipments for photographic studios, films, waste management, recording equipment, Imagesetter, graphic printing and film papers, printers, lenses for photographic and video cameras, minilabs, APS Systems, professional camera and lighting systems. Additionally, PhotoImage Brazil Seminars and Workshops are events which will take place simultaneously to the expo, providing technical photography and filming professionals with international trends on improving their work.

The Big Sky Songwriters Festival brings songwriting workshops, seminars and live performances right at the foot of majestic Lone Peak in Big Sky. Scheduled workshops will include: “Navigating The Industry”, “Publishing 201”, “Acoustic Brunch”, where attendees will get to play songs written during a previous BSSF session and then play them before an audience. Big Sky Resort is a 3,600-acre (15 km) resort located in southwestern Montana in Madison County, an hour south of Bozeman via U.S. Highway 191. During the Big Sky Songwriters Festival, horseback riding, hiking, and biking the trails are available on the mountain, with zipline, golf, and tennis available further down by the Meadow Village. Fly fishing and whitewater rafting are done on the Gallatin River and there are excursions into nearby Yellowstone National Park. The five day festival opens August 15 with a meet and greet cocktail sip.

Film Florida is a not-for-profit corporation based in Jacksonville that provides a leadership role in Florida’s film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations, educational institutions and labor organizations. Its purpose is to offer to businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism. Film Florida meets quarterly to discuss topics and issues of concern to the region, and then moves forward with a plan of action to help achieve our goals. They are closely connected with the Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, helping to craft the film incentives offered by the state. The upcoming Film Florida Quarterly Business and Marketing Meeting session actually takes place from August 23-24, but a Welcome Reception will be given at the Sakana Blue Bar the evening before.

The Pentedattilo Film Festival is an international short film festival born in 2006 in the ghost town of Pentedattilo by a group of young filmmakers. PFF was conceived and created by non-profit organization Pro Pentedattilo, an association working for the structural and cultural revival of the village of Pentedattilo, and by Ram Film, a film company based in Reggio Calabria, which has among its objectives the promotion of the surrounding areas through the development and the production of film projects. The two organizations work together in order to produce the festival along with several public and private organizations. According to the organizers, during the festival run the landscape of Pentedattilo – founded as a colony of the Greek city of Chalcis in 640 BC – becomes a thriving economic center harkening back to the Greek-Roman period, and an meeting place, both physically and metaphorically. Put another way as they describe it: a sort of “Territorio in Movimento”, (Land in Motion) as it has been defined by the festival. Territorio in Movimento means a land finally breathing and living. Festival organizer, Pro Pentedattilo Association, active since 1996, has the social and cultural purpose of promoting the image of forgotten sites, transforming them from “abandonment monuments” to “encounter places”.

The workshop, “Breaking into Hollywood: You Have the Next Idea for the Great Hollywood Film — What You Need to Know” will identify the different roles Producers have making a film and which role is best suited for you. Some topics to be covered range from: How to get your idea read/seen by the right people; Coming up with a Good Idea/What Makes an Idea Good?; The Art of the Pitch/Preparation/Writing a Treatment; Where do Movies Come From? Instructor Wendy Kram has developed and produced award-winning film and television projects with Oscar talent for Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, HBO, ABC, NBC, CBS, Showtime and Lifetime. Her credits include “Mad Money” with Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes, “Making Mr. Right” with Dean Cain for Lifetime, and “Sally Hemings: An American Scandal” for CBS. Check-in begins at 12:30 pm but for security reasons, you must RSVP before 10 pm on August 23 or you will not be admitted onto the lot.

The international Tanzmesse NRW to be held in Dusseldorf, August 29 until September 1, is a biennial marketplace and festival platform for communicating and networking in the field of contemporary dance. At the Tanzmesse, international dance companies and artists present their work live on stage and choreographers, dancers, agencies, presenters and cultural institutions worldwide network and interact in a “marketplace” assembled for this purpose. Initiated in 1994 as the “Tanzmesse NRW” in Essen, Germany, the original goal of the Tanzmesse was to create a platform for dance companies from North-Rhine Westphalia that would introduce and present choreographic work from the region. The Tanzmesse sought to create a presentational mix of performance and discussion. In 1997 the Tanzmesse then expanded the marketplace to include international companies and organizations to become a “World Market of Dance Regions”. In 2002 the internationale tanzmesse NRW relocated to the City of Dusseldorf, the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia, to take advantage of additional stages and the substantial facilities at the NRW-Forum Kultur und Wirtschaft. The “Open Studios – Panels – Performance Parcours” segment of the program will be given from August 30 through September 1.

The Amplitude Film Festival (AFF) promotes and celebrates all extreme sports, along with the culture and environment to which they belong, by creating opportunities for people to share experiences, challenge ideas, and find inspiration in aspects of life outside the norm. Categories for submission include: Ocean Culture – celebrates the culture of ocean life such as coastal activities, sand boarding, surfing and deep sea diving; Mountain Culture – celebrates the culture of mountain life and activities such as skiing, snowboarding or ice climbing; cUrban Life culture – street activities such as skateboarding, BMX biking or free running, or the people and societies that make the inner city; Spirit of Adventure – represented by film that celebrates the culture and adventure of any extreme sports regardless of the environment. There will be a BBQ and bar on site. The Norwich based festival is for one day on August 30.

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. This month’s photo composite includes dance companies taking part in Internationale Tanzmesse NRW, in Dusseldorf and sound recordist Harikumar Pillai of Mumbai posing with DP Jack Green on a movie set. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… the NY Games Conference will be in New York City, electronic media expo IBC 2012 will be in Amsterdam, Los Angeles International Short Film Festival will be in Hollywood, Ottawa International Animation Festival will be in Ontario, International Trade Fair for Cine Equipment and Technology which will take place in Munich.

Siggraph 2011, Sunset Strip Music Festival, INTEGRATE 2011, are Highlights in August’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Siggraph 2011 is the annual conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques through international collaboration of individuals: artists, scientists, engineers, and producers, all of whom contribute to the evolving computer graphics community. Run this year out of Vancouver, August 7-11, Siggraph 2011 presents a one-day business summit focusing on the industries that come out of the Siggraph community through discussion-based sessions and presentations. Dessert and cocktails is included at a networking reception the evening of August 8 at the West Building, Ballroom. Job Fair Exhibitors will be posting their jobs on the CreativeHeads.net and ACM SIGGRAPH job boards a month prior to the conference.

A meeting of the San Francisco Chapter’s Producers & Engineers Wing assembles members and other visiting guest participants together for an evening, August 10, listening to songs mixed by the evening’s guests. Share songs and listening experiences with other area engineers while engaging in discussion about ideas, techniques, perceptions and insights. This will be the first in a series of listening workshops designed to spark growth and creativity by learning from fellow participants how to achieve the best sound reproduction possible. Attendees are asked to bring a song to share with the group. It may be a current work in progress, or just any song to share for feedback.

Sandestin Music Festival this year unveils a cross-section of country and rock music songwriters and performers for two day opening August 12. A listing of some featured performers includes: Jeffrey Steele, Thomas Rhett, Lari White, James Slater, Kree Harrison, Jon Pardi, The Pernikoff Brothers, and Joanna Cotton. A selection of venues will showcase numerous musicians throughout the weekend. Saturday, the weekend’s main headline acts will be showcased at the Village Events Plaza in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Sandestin Music Festival supports the Wounded Warrior Foundation, whose mission is “To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in this nation’s history.” Entry to the Sandestin Music Festival is free for the public with a printed ticket from the festival website.

More outdoor music can be heard at the Sunset Strip Music Festival. The street festival is located in the 9000 – 8900 block range of Sunset Boulevard (between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard) in West Hollywood. From August 18-20, venues within the closure will host free shows for ticketed attendees during the day and after the street fest closes. Entrance is first-come, first-served. The street festival will include two outdoor stages on The Sunset Strip between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard from 1-10 pm as well as performances in the music venues within the closure – Cat Club, Key Club, The Roxy Theatre and Whisky A Go-Go – throughout the day and into the night. The street fest will also include food and merchandise vendors, beer garden, rooftop VIP lounge, and interactive experiences. Last year businesses hosted parties throughout the week as well as comedy showcases, whiskey tastings, live in-store performances, photo exhibits and exclusive deals for SSMF ticket and passholders.

Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival of Miami is a competitive screening festival, with short and feature films competing for the Crystal Lens, the largest festival prize solely dedicated to Brazilian films produced abroad. The Tribute Screenings will be held at the Miami Beach Cinematheque. Additionally, there is the festival MarketPlace that includes debates and panels focusing on distribution, co-production and commercialization, paneled with professionals from the Brazilian and International film industry.

Seattle-based, cause-rock band, The People Now will host an all ages benefit show for MusiCares® August 20 in Seattle. The music line-up will feature the band, Nine50Nine; an incarnation of Seattle alumni, featuring; Ty Willman (formerly of Green Apple Quick Step), Dave Krusen (formerly of Pearl Jam), Alan Hunt, Cameron Brownfield and guests. Also scheduled to perform is the show’s host, The People Now, a Seattle-based, cause-oriented band and organization with a depth of music and message, striving to make a difference in their community, both locally and globally. Ticket sales can be made through Ticketmaster. MusiCares provides resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues of health and welfare to those in need in the music community.

Snoop Dogg will be saluted as a BMI Icon at its 11th Annual Urban Awards ceremony, August 26 in Hollywood.  BMI President and CEO Del Bryant will share hosting duties with Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta. This invitation-only event will also honor the world’s premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers of the past year’s top urban music, and include an all-star musical tribute to Snoop Dogg, as well as the presentation of the Urban Songwriter, Song, Producer and Publisher of the Year crystals.

Integrate will join forces with InfoComm to present a broad range of seminars, workshops and special events, focused directly toward the professional sound, light and vision industries. Over 500 brands and exhibitors will be on display when INTEGRATE 2011 launches August 30 through  September 1 in the Moore Park district of Sydney. With a strong focus on education, seminar and conference programs taking place during the show, key areas to be addressed include: Unified Communications, Digital Signage, Staging and Production, Education Technology, Audio Technology, Lighting and more.

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 September event dates will help you prepare for:  Boston Film Festival, in Boston, Ottawa International Animation Festival, in Ottawa, Clearwater Film & Music Festival, in Clearwater Beach, NY International Film & TV Finance Summit, in New York, ICG’s Emerging Cinematographer Awards, in Hollywood, 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.