West Virginia Film Office
Email Blast
March 14, 2004
CONTENTS
A. Acknowledgements
B. West Virginia
Film Office Updates & News
C. West Virginia
Indigenous Production Activity
D. Nationwide
Casting Calls/Auditions
E. Articles of
Interest, Websites of Interest, Other Useful Resources
F. Film Festivals
and/or Script Submissions
G. Calendar of
Events
H. Contact Info,
Disclaimer, Subscribe/Unsubscribe
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A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
1. The Film Office extends best wishes to those
indigenous filmmakers attending a special week-long film series at the end of
March at the Pioneer Theater in Manhattan celebrating West Virginia
filmmakers and West Virginia films. For
additional details, see Section H, Calendar of Events, below. Have a great time!
2. The Film Office congratulates Jefferson
County filmmaker Midge Flinn Yost for being asked to be a presenter at the
Black History Month opening event/exhibit at Harpers Ferry National Historical
Park. Her Hi-Def documentary on Storer
College (work-in-progress) was screened during the very special occasion.
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B. WEST VIRGINIA FILM OFFICE UPDATES &
NEWS:
1. Production Services Directory: It's here!
The publication of the PSD is complete and ready for distribution. If you are listed in the PSD under Tabs B
through G, you should have already received a copy in the mail (please advise
if you have not). Additional shipments,
including to those listed in Tabs H and I, will occur during the next couple of
weeks. Currently, the Film Office
website contains a non-searchable text version of Tabs B through I. Relatively soon, the website will also
include a convenient PDF version of the entire PSD. A searchable version will eventually be available.
Your
feedback is important to continue improving the resourcefulness and ease of use
of the PSD and to maintain the integrity of the PSD. Please send all comments via email. Future deadlines will be posted in Email Blasts only.
2. Media/Marketing/Advertising
Efforts: Participated
on February 16 in interview by Sunday Gazette-Mail on film office activities
during first six months in office (for publication February 22). Participated on February 23 in interview by
senior at Wayne County High School for school newspaper article about
film production in WV. Distributed
dozens of PSDs to production companies around the nation.
3. Community/Industry Relations: Speaker on February 9 at weekly meeting of
the Charleston Exchange Club to explain purpose of a film office and how
business communities can provide film friendly support to visiting production
companies. Participated on February 25
in board meeting of the Huntington Regional Film Commission. Participated on March 6 in a three-person
panel before dozens of traditional and non-traditional students at the annual Southeastern
Theater Conference in Chattanooga, TN on the topic of "Indie
Filmmaking in the Southeast."
Presentation on March 11 at monthly meeting of Convention &
Visitors Bureaus to discuss responsibilities of a film office and how CVBs
can play important and supportive roles.
4. Production Activity by Outside
Companies: (a)
UPS corporate headquarters (Atlanta) arrived in South Charleston to
shoot internal short documentary on employee who won prestigious community
service award. UPS asked for assistance
in finding crew and locating photographs and/or video of the Beards Fork area
in Fayette County (the hometown of the employee) during the 1950s/60s. UPS hired Clai Lashley (Hedgesville,
Berkeley County) for grip services, and filmmaker Bob Gates (Charleston,
Kanawha County) was able to assist the company with archival footage.
(b)
MTV was in the Morgantown region in October for a week or so and
again at the end of January for a pilot series called "Crowned,"
a reality show which followed the homecoming court at West Virginia
University a week prior and leading up to the crowning. Morgantown crew, Jason Good and Danny
Cameron, were hired for the second portion of the shoot.
(c)
Have heard several rumors about Spike TV being in different
locations of the state, but confirmations have yet to be secured. Please contact my office if you are aware of
any production activity.
(d)
Provided diverse assistance to numerous clients between last Email Blast
and first week in March, including three cable television series and one
network television series my office is not yet at liberty to discuss because
two are currently shooting in the region and the other two are conducting
extensive scouting nationwide, with all four requesting anonymity (a recap will
be provided, if possible, in the next Email Blast – nice tease, eh?). Other scouting opportunities have included Muse
Entertainment (Canada) searching for wooden roller coasters for the William
Macy telefilm "The Wool Cap" (chose Six Flags in Atlanta)
and a New York production company searching for mountain lake beach properties
for a print ad for a national pharmaceutical company (will possibly postpone
until further melting).
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C. WEST VIRGINIA INDIGENOUS PRODUCTION ACTIVITY
(This section will include only information about production
activity from the state's indigenous filmmakers and videographers and will also
include casting calls for WV productions.
The Film Office cannot possibly follow all indigenous production
activity across the state; this is where you can assist in passing along
information. The Film Office will
consider only information which can be confirmed by a producer or director of a
film/video project. If you are passing
on second-hand info, please include an appropriate contact for the project.):
1. Sorry Dog Productions: CASTING CALL/AUDITIONS, seeking
actors and extras ages 18 to 35 for an independent film to be shot in the
Princeton/Bluefield area the week of April 5.
A crowd of people will be needed for a street scene April 10 and females
will be needed for a bar scene April 11.
Auditions will be March 20 and 21 in Princeton. Contact Jim Meredith at 425-8013 or 487-0821
or e-mail Scott Martin at emartin380@earthlink.net.
[IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT CASTING CALLS/AUDITIONS (in WV or
nationwide): Please be
aware of fraudulent casting calls and auditions no matter from which source you
obtain the information. A recent
example is a casting call that appeared in the local Charleston newspapers for
the talent to meet with the casting director at a local hotel. The "casting director" proceeded
to ask inappropriate questions, such as, "what is your SSN, driver's
license number, and mother's maiden name." Luckily, the hotel received prompt complaints about the man, the
police was called, and he was arrested and booked on several charges. Should you see any casting calls in your
local newspapers, hear of any casting calls on television or radio stations, or
find out about casting calls by any other means, please telephone my office
immediately. I may be able to help
you determine the validity of the audition notice.]
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D. NATIONWIDE CASTING CALLS/AUDITIONS:
1. Casting Call – The Apprentice 2: This is your opportunity to meet face to
face with the Apprentice Casting Teams at one of its nationwide open casting
calls. Upcoming cities include New
York, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Cleveland, San Francisco, Austin, Omaha,
Little Rock, Portland, and New Orleans.
Download and complete the application (requires Adobe® Reader®) and
arrive early because only those with wristbands will be seen. For details and to download the application,
visit http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice/apprentice_2_open_call.shtml.
2. Casting Call – Supergirl: LA Bound Entertainment is accepting pictures
and resumes on a nationwide search for an actress to play "Supergirl"
as part of a four-picture production deal for Tri-Star Films. Once production begins, there will be a 4
month commitment, but the entire four picture deal is expected to last about 2
to 3 years filming back to back.
Submissions must meet the following breakdown: Model type, Caucasian 19-26 years of age, brown to blonde hair,
green to blue eyes, 5'7" to 5'10", 36-24-36 or very close to that
description. Considering SAG and
non-SAG actors. You may submit
headshots and resumes along with one full body shot and specific
measurements. No phone calls will be
accepted. If selected, you will be
notified of audition times and location.
Submit required information to:
LA Bound Entertainment, P.O. Box 9368, Philadelphia, PA 19139-9368.
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E. ARTICLES OF INTEREST, WEBSITES OF INTEREST,
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES:
1. Since the
West Virginia Film Office receives an average of ten calls each month inquiring
about raising money for low budget films, the article identified below is being
repeated from the first Email Blast.
The
Right Way to Raise Money for a No-Budget Film:
By Jerry Kolber, who, for the last 10 years, has worked as a consultant
on indie films and as a production accountant for Universal, Disney, and
HBO. He has produced a "no-budget"
film called "The Eden Myth," for which he raised $150,000. He shares what he knows about raising money
for a no-budget film, which he considers between $1.00 and $200,000. View the complete article at
http://www.moviemaker.com/issues/50/nobudget.html.
2. Film Financing Video: Producer/director Bill Greffe offers a
special film financing video, 12 Ways to Raise Money for Independent Films,
at a cost of $29.95. Send $29.95 (check
or money orders only) to Film Artists Co., 14390 Mustang Trail, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33330.
3. www.filmmovement.com: Film Movement is a subscription
service for anyone who does not want to miss out on outstanding films because
of where they live. Film Movement
represents a groundbreaking way to enjoy new films. Each month, subscribers receive:
an award-winning film to own, a short film on DVD, film club discussion
guidelines, ability to email with cast and crew, and many more benefits.
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F. FILM FESTIVAL AND/OR SCRIPT SUBMISSIONS:
1. Call for Entries – Numerous
Categories: The 9th Annual Aurora
Awards has announced its call for entries for recognition of local,
regional, independent, and industrial excellence. Deadline is March 20 and fee is $60.00 per entry. Many rules and regulations apply for entry
of films and videos in categories of Individual/Creative Achievement,
Entertainment/Documentary, Commercials, Art/Human Values/Religion, External
Communications/Public Relations, Internal/In-House Communications,
Sales/Productivity, Conventions/Meetings/Point of Sales,
Instructional/Educational/Training Programs, Technical Information/Report, and
Interactive Multimedia/DVD. For complete
details, visit www.auroraawards.com, call 801-535-4339, or email
winaurora@aol.com.
2. Call for Entries – Student
Filmmakers: The West
Virginia International Film Festival is accepting films and videos for its
annual statewide Student Filmmaking Competition to be held in Charleston
during its annual Spring Film Festival April 29-May 2. Cash prizes are awarded to selected films
following review by a professional judge.
Deadline for entries is March 26; the entry fee per submission if
$10.00. Three divisions make up the
competition, kindergarten through 8th grade, 9th through 12th grades, and
college level. For additional details,
visit http://www.wviff.org/Spring_Film_Contest.htm, call 304-342-7100, or email
Tiffany Ellis at wviffstudentfilm@yahoo.com.
3. Call for Entries – Screenplays and
Films: In its augural year,
the Appalachian Film Festival, to be held in Huntington (Cabell County)
June 3-5, has announced its call for entries for screenplays and films. Deadline for submissions is April 15. The event was created by the Huntington
Regional Film Commission. For
rules, regulations, and complete details, visit www.appyfilmfest.com.
4. Call for Entries – Films: In its second year in Shepherdstown, WV
(Jefferson County), the American Conservation Film Festival, committed
to presenting outstanding conservation film and video, has announced its call
for entries for its November 2004 event.
Submission deadline is June 1, and all entries must address some
aspect of conservation and the personal understanding of the natural
world. For rules and regulations, to
print out an entry form, and for additional details, visit
www.conservationfilm.org, or contact Cassie Cohn at 304-876-7373 or
ccohn@conservationfilm.org.
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G. CALENDAR OF EVENTS (generally, WV activities) [please
send in events from around the state for consideration]:
1. Doris Kornish, owner of the Pioneer
Theater in NYC, and Steve Fesenmaier, Charleston resident and
Graffiti "Film Nuts" contributor, have programmed a week of West
Virginia films from March 24-30 at the Pioneer Theater in the East
Village. Films will include 15 by West
Virginia filmmakers and 2 made in West Virginia by filmmakers outside West
Virginia. Many of the West Virginia
filmmakers will be in attendance to introduce their films. For more information, visit Pioneer
Theater's website at www.twoboots.com/pioneer, or contact Steve Fesenmaier at
mystery12@charter.net.
2. The annual fundraising event for the West
Virginia International Film Festival, the "Official Film Festival of
the State of West Virginia," will be held Saturday, March 27, at the WVSC
Capitol Center Theater, 123 Summers Street.
The featured film is "In America," directed by Jim
Sheridan ("My Left Foot") and starring Samantha Morton,
nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "In America"
("Sweet and Lowdown" (also Oscar-nominated) and "Minority
Report"), and Djimon Hounsou ("Gladiator" and
"Amistad"). Included in the
evening is an always fabulous silent auction of diverse items. For more information, contact Dennise
Smith-Kastick at dsmith-kastick@spilmanlaw.com or wviff@aol.com.
3. Every Friday night in March at the Lascaux
Micro Theater in Buckhannon (Randolph County), the short film Dental
Farmer will screen at 7:00 pm.
Directed by Massachusetts filmmaker Ellen Brodsky, the film is about Dr.
Art Rybeck, a man who combines his passion for organic farming with dentistry
in West Virginia (outside Wheeling).
Rybeck set up a second clinic in a farmhouse with a pay-as-you-wish
policy for those less fortunate. Awards
it has received are Directors Choice at the Black Maria Film Festival
and Best Documentary at the Rural Routes Film Festival. The theater is located at 29 East Main
Street, Suite 4. For more information,
contact Bryson VanNostrand, 304-473-0555.
4. The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
will travel to Charleston from April 1 through April 4 at the WVSC Capitol
Center Theater, 123 Summers Street.
(The premiere festival is held annually in Durham, NC.) Admission is $7.00 per film. Screenings include "Thirst",
"Home of the Brave", No Name Game Farm", and many others. For more information, call the theater at
304-342-6522 or visit http://www.wvsc.edu/general/capcenter/upcoming.asp. and
scroll down to the festival.
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H. CONTACT INFO, DISCLAIMER,
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
1. Questions, comments, ideas for Email
Blasts? Send email to
phaynes@callwva.com if you have ideas on topics you would like to see covered
or if you have "news" you would like the West Virginia Film Office to
consider publishing in a future Email Blast.
Please note, however, that the West Virginia Film Office is the sole
authority on which topics may appear in an Email Blast, and it is the sole
right of the West Virginia Film Office to decline to publish a suggested topic,
idea, or other news item. Questions and
comments should be directed to Pamela Haynes, Director, West Virginia Film
Office, 90 MacCorkle Avenue SW, South Charleston, WV 25303; 304-558-2200, ext.
382; phaynes@callwva.com; www.wvfilm.com.
2. The Email Blasts are compiled by the West
Virginia Film Office for purposes of providing information and topics of
interest to those who choose to subscribe.
Information contained in the Email Blasts is sometimes predicated upon
information gathered from a variety of sources; website links offered in the
Email Blasts are not maintained by the West Virginia Film Office and it is not
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The West Virginia Film Office, the West Virginia Bureau of Commerce, the
West Virginia Division of Tourism, and the State of West Virginia expressly disclaim
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information contained in the Email Blasts.
The Email Blasts are provided as a complimentary service of the West
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of each Email Blast, category headings may change periodically.
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