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.

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

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

At 50: Bond… James Bond

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ticket Summit, Cable Convention 2012, Fantasia Film Festival, Casual Connect Seattle, are highlights in July’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The Amazing Spider-Man directed by Marc Webb stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen and Sally Field.

The Joy Wai Gallery (www.joywaigallery.com) in New York City has opened the exhibition — Pepe Vives – new paintings. Pepe Vives has worked primarily as a painter and presently  has devoted himself to pictorial transformation of printed imagery: photographs, newspapers, and magazines. In his early years Vives registered at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Carlos, Valencia, in 1973. In this school that had changed little since it initially functioned as an artist’s workshop during the Renaissance, he received training in traditional techniques of painting and sculpture which had been maintained there for centuries. In his first year at the Escuela Superior, Vives was accepted as a novice in the Order of the Jesuits. In the 1984, Vives left the Jesuits and moved to New York City, where his work was strongly influenced by the aesthetic and social milieu of the East Village art scene. Currently Pepe Vives still lives and works in the Lower East Side of New York City. In its ongoing role to serve the arts community and be a platform for cultural exchange Joy Wai Gallery will launch an educational program with leading guest lecturers, artists, critics, curators, professors on the subject of contemporary art and photography. The exhibition runs through August 10.

The London Film and Comic Con is focused on fans and collectors. Through the show’s online forum the public has an opportunity to ask questions of the festival’s guest stars and exchange views about the guests with like-minded fans. On the actual exhibit floor in London will be an array of costumes which visitors can examine. These are genuine props from film and television classics. There are several planned photo sessions with some of the guest artists attending London Film and Comic Con. Most guest talks running throughout the weekend are free to attend, but since they are free, seating is limited so seating tickets must be obtained in advance. Special viewing and interactive exhibits will include: Anime Zone, Artists Alley, Cosplay Zone, Video Game Zone, Collectormania, Massive Events, Montage Moments, Autographica. London Film and Comic Con closes on July 8.

A rather unusual conference venue will take place at sea aboard a Carnival Cruise Line. The Sun Camera Action Conference and Workshop will be a conference, workshop and video training session onboard a Miami to Bahamas cruise ship, the Carnival Imagination. Conference guests can learn all about creating authentic travel, film and general interest videos. During the four-day Miami to Bahamas return trip, Phil Goora, a digital film teacher and creator/writer of THE MOMENT TV Show, will be the lead instructor teaching attendees how to create travel videos and/or amateur films. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss and apply a number of film basics such as shot selection, shot techniques, editing and exporting the video. During the cruise which sails July 7-11 there will be scheduled times for one-on-one time with the instructor and/or his assistant and there will be a number of classes where the theory will be taught. Guests can venture out on their own while in the Bahamas or join the instructor and his assistants on their exploration of the island.

Ticket Summit® is a conference and trade show for the ticketing and live entertainment industry opening July 11 through 13, in a city known for entertainment — Las Vegas. This three-day event features industry seminars, a concurrent trade show, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. The conference and trade show will have sessions on Web 2.0, mobile, online technologies, and strategic partnerships and ticket bundling among other relevant industry topics. Mike Lorenc, head of ticketing and live events for Google, will present a workshop titled ‘Hang out with Google!’ in which he will demonstrate Google’s advertising and social media technology.  “After Dark” networking and cocktail party events include a Networking Cocktail Party on July 11, private events arranged by invite only on July 12, the Closing Gala at The Bank casino on July 13.

As the Kauai Music Festival gets underway July 11-14 in Lihue, the focus will be on the art and craft of songwriting and to learn songwriting and/or refine skills through interaction with the professional songwriters that will be in attendance. Attendees can gain feedback from one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, as well as submit their music to be heard and critiqued. All attendees are welcome to join any or all of the workshops that will include: Composing for TV and Film – Demystifying the Process, led by Adam Zelkind, Melody, Melody, Melody – A Hands-On MasterClass, led by Jason Blume, What Works and What Doesn’t When Negotiating Your Licensing Deal, led by Dondi Bastone and Bill Meyer, Lessons from the Ukulele Underground, led by Aldrine Guerrero as well as other topics. An Open Mic and Wrap Party close out the festival taking place in Shutter’s Lounge.

The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival brings independent filmmakers and musicians to the San Francisco Bay Area from around the globe from July 12-15 to form a collection of independent films and bands. Included in the festival are nights of live music concerts, short films, animation, global features, long and short documentaries, skate films, music documentaries, and music videos. The Frozen Music Festival will run the same weekend as the film festival, showcasing music acts that complement the Film Festival’s movies drawn from contributors to the “Music Video” section of the Film Festival. The music festival will showcase acts from a wide selection of music genres – from pop to punk, hip hop to funk, cowboys to singer-songwriters.

The Long Island Film/TV Foundation and the Nassau County Film Commission opens the annual Long Island International Film Expo July 12 starting with an opening night party that is by invitation only. Several panels are held during the first weekend of the Film Expo — usually consisting of a distribution panel, a scriptwriting panel, legal music panel and a filmmaker panel and breakfast. There will be a Wine and Cheese Reception for Technical Awards at the Filmmakers Lounge, directly West of the Bellmore Movies on July 13. A Breakfast with the Filmmakers – Panel on “The Good, the Bad, and the Horror Stories” follows the next morning. Winners of the Long Island International Film Expo are chosen by a combination of audience ballot and judging committee which are then honored at the Long Island International Film Expo Closing Night Party and Awards Ceremony. Special awards (acting and supporting roles) will be given out during the closing party on July 19 at the Filmmakers Lounge directly west of the Bellmore Movies.

The Japan Cable TV Committee launches this first event related to “Cable Convention 2012” from July 18-19. “Cable Tech Show 2012” will be originated as an  exhibition-seminar of cable technologies. Special attention is on competition in this era of consolidation between broadcast/communication, and wired/wireless communication. In Japan’s first year of complete digital broadcasting using the ISDB standard, the latest solutions and hardware will be introduced at “Cable Tech Show 2012” with the expectation that the CATV infrastructure will be popularized and developed. In unison with “Cable Convention 2012” the exhibition aims to contribute to the development of cable technologies which support the growth of the cable industry. The location of the event, Tokyo Dome City is an total entertainment complex located in the heart of Tokyo. It consists of Tokyo Dome, a sports complex, a newly built Meets Port – LaQua, a spa complex, and an amusement park with a variety of attractions and facilities including the Tokyo Panic Cruise – a ride-type four-dimensional attraction – and Tokyo Dome City’s signature event, the Hero Action Show.

Although it is mostly a fantasy/action/horror festival, Fantasia has  embraced films that can have a unique identity, including: dramas, eccentric comedies, provocative documentaries, experimental works, musicals, even atypical children’s films. Within the feature film lineup, Montréal’s Fantasia Film Festival will present the international premiere of Kern Saxton’s anticipated crime thriller Sushi Girl, featuring Mark Hamill (Star Wars) in the sinister lead. Hosting the Fantasia launch will be Mark Hamill, Tony Todd, Michael Biehn and Kern Saxton – with additional guests to be announced. The gala Sushi Girl screening will take place two days after the Festival opening on the night of July 21. Fantasia will present the world premiere launch of travelling art show: “If They Came From Within: An Alternative History of Canadian Horror Movies, curated by Rue Morgue magazine Editor-In-Chief Dave Alexander who has assembled some of Canada and Quebec’s most celebrated genre filmmakers with some of the country’s best designers and illustrators to create a gallery of poster art. The Festival closes August 7.

Opening July 21 for two days in London’s Wimbledon district, Wimbledon Shorts Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new work in film and video from around the world — whether the film is narrative driven, animated or experimental. Films must be less than 15 minutes in duration including title sequences and credits. Wimbledon Shorts is a presentation of the Wimbledon Film Club. The WFC is an independent, non-political, not-for-profit organisation, which is a registered charity run by volunteers. The WFC is also an award-winning member of the British Federation of Film Societies. Both the Wimbledon Shorts Film Festival and Competition organisers and judges are involved on a voluntary basis. The festival venue – Polka Theatre – is dedicated to producing and presenting theatre works for young audiences.

Cinema India Expo is a Mumbai based trade show and conference for digital cinema. From July 23-24, exhibitors will demonstrate 3-D cinema and production, digital cinema equipment and technology, booth and projection equipment, lighting and signage, displays, distribution, technology, sound, speakers and amplifiers, Walls, panels and screens, digital cameras and workflow. Visitors typically include Film Buyers, Distributors, major manufacturers, technical experts, Directors, Directors of Photography, Cinematographers, cinema content creators, studio and production executives, theatre operations executives. A principal element of the show over the years has featured a Master Class by a Film Guru sponsored by Kodak and the American Society of Cinematographers. The event will be supported by the  Indian cinema fraternity including the Multiplex Association of India, Cinema Owners and the Exhibitors Association. Cinema India along with the Scrabble Entertainment Ltd. with their Digital Initiative-transforming the cinemascape of India into DCI compliant technology.

The annual Casual Connect Seattle is the place to learn more about the Casual Games industry that entertains 300 million people each month and are typically played on a personal computer online in web browsers, though they now are starting to become popular on game consoles and mobile phones as well. In 2009 the world wide connected casual games industry had revenues in excess of $3.0 billion on mobile. The 2012 International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Summit will be conducted close by at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel from July 23-24, covering topics including: writing, leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, quality assurance and monetization. The Innovation Showcase is an “art-gallery” style exhibition displaying ten games selected for their unique appeal. In the hope to inspire its visitors to come up with great games ideas, Casual Games invites visitors to come and play these select games for Web and iOS platform at the Innovation Showcase. At Casual Connect events there usually are no shortage of networking functions to mix and mingle at. This year GameChangeHers Reception on July 23 celebrates the contribution of women to the industry. The Pre-Funk and Badge Pickup, provides a loungy party with beer, wine and light snacks as attendees pick up their conference badge on July 23. Mingle with Tapjoy! on July 24 is another drinkers party featuring the bar menu, beer/wine. GREE brings you The Garage! on July 24 features music, billards, bowling, beer/wine/cocktails/light food. Mingle with Ruby Seven Studios on July 25 is another cocktail sip with bar menu, beer/wine. The Infamous WildTangent Party! on July 25, featuring gambling, drinks and the “unexpected”.

The VII International Conference on Communication, Film and Media Sciences in Paris, July 27-29, aims to bring together academic scientists, leading engineers, industry researchers and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of Communication, Film and Media Sciences, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. The International Conference on Communication, Film and Media Sciences aims to bring together academic scientists, leading engineers, industry researchers and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of Communication, Film and Media Sciences, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. The Conference offers the opportunity to build relationships with universities, schools, companies and experts from all around the world.

The Midsummer Musical Retreat Society is a 501(c)3 designated non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the performance of ensemble music by amateur and professional musicians and organizes its annual adult music camp which will happen this year in Walla Walla from July 30 to August 5. MMR provides a non-competitive curriculum for adult singers and instrumentalists. The week-long festival workshop includes orchestra, band, string orchestra, chorus, jazz big band, Recorders and Early Music, chamber ensembles and electives in a “Retreat” atmosphere the curriculum is conducted in. Workshops in Rhythm, Sight Singing, History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and The Composers’ Showcase features works composed by campers and performed by the faculty. And MMR campers enjoy the Opening Faculty Presentation, Line Dancing, informal performance opportunities, ad hoc chamber music, Skit Night and Jazz Big Band Extravaganza, the Fermata Bar (a pre-dinner social hour), group singalongs, Wine Tasting, nightly hospitality suite, the Faculty Recital, and the Festival Banquet. Many events are organized by campers.

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 is the remake of The Amazing Spider-Man which opened in North American theaters over the July 4 holiday starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that… the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will be in Melbourne, Malibu International Film Festival will be in Santa Monica, The White Sands International Film Festival will be in Las Cruces, Meisner Program Part 1 will be in Orlando, Photo Image Brazil opens in Sao Paulo.

zSXSW 2012, Martial Arts Film Festival, Variety and Academy TV Summit, Khayal Groove: East meets West, are highlights in March’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival will have many special events for its festival goers to take part in when it opens March 7-11. And it will actually utilize San Luis Obispo’s Hearst Castle to relive Hollywood heydays of the 1920s and ’30s for one night at the “Hollywood to Hearst Castle” event on March 9. Photographer Timothy White, the SLOIFF’s recipient of the inaugural Spotlight Award, will start off the evening’s festivities by flying onto Hearst Ranch’s private airfield just as William Randolph Hearst’s high-profile Hollywood friends once did. This year, there is a focus on women filmmakers and issues. And there is a “Hollywood and Vines” series, pairing great classics with local wine and food. Next, be prepared to join the sing-along while enjoying the 1958 musical classic, ‘South Pacific’ on the big screen at the Galaxy Theatres for another special event. Wear a costume and compete for prizes at the reception in the VIP Lounge (age 21+) or just come for the film which will be screened in the VIP and regular theatres (all ages welcome).

Khayal Groove is Aparna Panshikar on Vocals and Jayen Varma on Bass Guitar in collaboration with various artistes and bands across the world.

The Third Guangzhou International Theater and Cinema Facilities Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, March 9-11, is a full presentation platform for the theater and cinema facility industry that includes – but is not limited to – the categories: Cinema Playing Equipment, Theater and Cinema Furniture and Decoration Materials, Theater and Cinema Lighting and Sound Equipment, Cinema services, Film Production and Shooting.

In Austin, the much anticipated SXSW 2012 gets underway this year opening March 9 running through March 18. New festival offerings from last year that won praise will be given greater visibility this year, such as the combined SXSW Trade Show for the Creative Industries, which draws from all the events – Interactive, Film and Music. Other show features like the SXSW Block Party is modeled after a traditional pub crawl. Instead of bars, SXSW Registrants move between participating exhibitors for complementary refreshments and networking. SXsaloon plays host to the Trade Show Happy Hour is at 5 pm daily, and is generally used as a place to get a drink, meet friends, plan a schedule, and just recharge before hitting the trade show floor again. Next Stage is the destination for entertainment on the first floor. Like a variety show, this stage hosts panelists, filmmakers, comedians, and musicians that delivers a sample of all that is happening during SXSWeek. To enhance the networking experience, SXSW created a dedicated meeting space in the business epicenter of SXSW, the Trade Show Meet Up Pavilion. A First-timers Guide to the SXSW Experience is available online for download.

The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) will be held March 17 in Paris, showcasing films that explore the martial practice, philosophy, aesthetic and spirituality. The Universal Martial Arts Film Festival (UMAFF) encourages an emerging generation of filmmakers whose films treat various aspects of the field of the martial arts; those of the arts of combat and the arts of health. The purpose being to collect and to protect the collective memory, to educate the public, to share and to pass on the knowledge. Short demonstrations of: Wushu, Aikido, Tai Chi, and other forms, will take place between each projection. At the end of the screenings, all viewers can vote for the People’s Choice Award. An evening cocktail reception will close the festival.

Hollywood Shorts Film Festival is a monthly screening program that celebrates the outstanding achievements in short filmmaking and animation from both U.S. and international directors and their creative teams. This month screenings run in Hollywood from March 18-20. Over 300 short and animated films are programmed year round, and submissions are accepted year round. Hollywood Shorts began on October 9, 1998 at a popular live music venue in Los Angeles called “the Joint”. The overflowing crowd packed the house, and filled the sidewalk outside watching films by David Fickas and Mark Kelly, Frank Tota, and animation by Joe Pearson. The annual Spotlight Screenings began as part of our monthly series. These events include: African American ShortsFest at The American Cinematheque in February, Women Filmmakers Shortsfest in Spring, Animation Shortsfest in the Fall.

Interested parties can join Variety and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation in an exploration of how tradiitional television revenue models are beng forced to adapt to the new disruptive technologies, and then to identify ways to continue to produce quality content and adjust financially to the new reality. Attending the 2012 TV Summit which will only be for one day on March 20 in Los Angeles will also benefit the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s wide range of educational activities. Established in 1959 as the charitable arm of the Television Academy, the Television Academy Foundation is behind such programs as the Archive of American Television, the Student Internship Program, the College Television Awards, the Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship and the TV Faculty Seminar. An evening cocktail and networking reception closes the day’s activities.

Bloomberg BNA | CITE, formed specifically to educate U.S. and foreign multinationals and companies engaged in international business on the tax, legal and accounting aspects of doing business overseas, presents the International Film and TV Finance Summit in Los Angeles, March 22-23. The Summit focuses on obtaining finance and tax incentives to get independent and studio films made, distributed and marketed in today’s market place. In brief, the Summit agenda will: explain ways to generate financial support for films utilizing brand integration and product placement. Reveal how sales agents and distributors can generate the domestic and foreign distribution needed to make a film a success. The role of banks and specialized finance companies in providing financing for film production, and other industry related topics.

An innovator of Indian Slap Bass style, who is currently recording the first album with his band Khayal Groove featuring classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar, Jayen Varma (http://www.jayenvarma.net/) will have a series of engagements throughout March including song composing, recording sessions, master class workshops, and a major recital at Kochi’s largest performing arts venue, JT Performing Arts Center in Kochi-Kerala, March 24. In the Slap Bass style, Jayen Varma has applied Tabla/Mridangam finger technique on Bass Guitar. In 2008 The Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared him the world’s Fastest percussive bassist.

The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) celebrates its 10th Anniversary edition showcasing international women directors from around the globe when it launches its festival in Toronto, from March 28 through April 1. The FeFF selectively presents a few short films co-directed by a male/female team annually. The Script Development Program is open to female and male writers with the provision that the script features a female protagonist. All panel discussions, script readings, industry events, receptions and the Closing Awards will take place at the Novotel Toronto Centre.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely read languages. Also this month is a new undertaking to offer the news summary in various translated versions, viewable as a .pdf document and delivered via file sharing and content deliver network protocols among other means. Gazing ahead into the next month March, be aware that… The epicurean oriented Sonoma International Film Festival blending the pleasures of fine food, film and award winning wines will be in Sonoma. The Palm Beach International Film Festival comes to Palm Beach. Fantastic Planet: Sydney International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival, will be in Sydney. London Independent Film Festival for micro-budget and no-budget films launches in London. NAB 2012 will be in Las Vegas. And 2012 International Independent Filmmaker Expo will be in Miami, just to run through some events drawing close to be aware of. And don’t forget that the News and Events and the site blog have translation tools to deliver page content in an array of translatable languages other than English.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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