Casual Connect, Melbourne International Film Fest, NY Latino Film Fest, FADE IN… are some Highlights in July’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Jazz pianist, Kyoko Oyobe, leads the late night jam session in New York City, Lower Eastside’s newest bar, cafe and jazz venue, The Moldy Fig, Tuesday nights in July. The establishment presents it’s jazz offering with an assortment of casual diversions like chess, shuffleboard, Scrabble, and backgammon, and a small plate menu from the kitchen. Poets will feel welcome in this Lower East Side element. Kyoko Oyobe who writes original compositions, is from Okayama, Japan, and has released her first album, ‘Cookin’ at Smalls’, recorded live at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, now available on the web at cdbaby.com/cd/kyokooyobetrio.

Taking place in New York City through July 9 to celebrate its 12th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference is geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music. A connected SummerStage event in Central Park on July 6 features performances by Spanish music standouts Jarabe De Palo, Mexican songstress Ely Guerra, Afro-Peruvian electronica folk artist Novalima and Miami’s DJ Mr. Pauer. A July 8 panel (one of several) addresses, “Patrons of the Arts: Who Are Today’s Music Investors?”

An upcoming WebTVWorkshop.com series is geared towards producing web series and new media content, in a crash course format, and is coming to New York City. Taught by Emmy-winning professionals and union reps, participants will learn how to create, market, distribute, and monetize a successful web series. The classes cover everything from strategy and pitch to advertising and promotional strategies. WTVW is including the Showbiz Labor Guide, a comprehensive software program for budgets, labor laws, and union contracts, using easy to understand terms. The Showbiz Store is the retail division of Media Services that caters to the specific technology needs of the media and entertainment industry.

The Artivist Film Festival and Artivist Awards are produced by The Artivist Collective, Inc., a charitable organization creating this platform for artists to share  inspirational and informative films with the world. As an avenue for filmmakers to screen their unique, socially-conscious films to the general public, Artivist works interchangeably with the artists and their causes. Filmmakers come together through the organization to share resources, collaborate, and network with other artists and entertainment industry professionals. According to the organization this process has also led to funding agreements for future film projects. Screenings from July 8-10 will take place in cities: Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Sedona, Seattle, Washington D.C. August will have screenings in Hollywood, and September will will move to New York City.

Anyone can join the Florida Chapter and fellow music community members in Miami for a casual networker hosted by Florida Chapter Board Governor, Serona Elton. Slated for every second Tuesday of the month, attendees can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and 2 for 1 drink specials on beverages until 8:30 pm, courtesy of Eden South Beach. There’s always free admission for Recording Academy members and anyone who would like to learn about or join The Recording Academy.

BMI is a sponsor of the Kauai Music Festival, a four-day undertaking in the art of songwriting held on the island of Kauai, beginning July 13. Through the one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and other planned events, festival participants will be able to consult and get feedback directly from the songwriting pros staffing the festival. In addition to the annual Songwriter Conference, the KMF organizes and hosts other educational, networking, and showcase events throughout the year such as the KMF Songwriter Search, an annual songwriting contest with the winner getting free attendance to the annual KMF Songwriter Conference.

A July 18 Grammy Awards 101 Musical Achievement Workshop is a presentation of the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest and Los Angeles Chapters set to be held in Honolulu. GRAMMY Awards 101 + MusiCares Outreach will be an information session on: Recently Announced Awards Restructuring, important information about the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, important upcoming dates and deadlines, explanation of eligibility for submitted product, how to submit product for GRAMMY consideration, step-by-step narrative of what each submission goes through once it has been submitted into the awards process.

Casual Connect is the place to learn more about an industry that entertains 300 million people each month. So from July 19-21, learn all about iPhone, Social, Android, Flash, Browser MMO and Download Games, at Casual Connect Seattle 2011. Casual Games Association produces the Casual Connect event annually. And it’s not just learning workshops. Some slated networking events include: Pre-funk party hosted by Mochi Media, a relaxed, loungy party beer/wine/cocktails/light snacks; Minna Mingle hosted by EA Partners, a drink in the Grand Lobby after the final session in the Taper Auditorium; Official Casual Connect Party hosted by OpenFeint, with bowling, billiards, drinks and appetizers; another Minna Mingle hosted by TransGaming, presented Happy Hour style with beer, wine, cocktails; Official Casual Connect Party hosted by WildTangent, a lounge party with beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers taking place at the Seattle Aquarium.

Summer NAMM 2011 is the music products industry’s mid-year event showcasing the latest gear, sound and lighting technology, influential companies and the newest brands. Join music educators, students, parents, music advocates, recording professionals and houses of worship music leaders at the international music products industries’ mid-year gathering. Happening in Nashville, July 21-23, attend and get connected with other industry members at the NAMM Young Professionals event during Summer NAMM. Join the group at the Wildhorse Saloon on July 21 starting from 6:30 pm. NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.

Since its commencement in 1951, Melbourne International Film Festival has developed into Australia’s largest film event. MIFF hosts an assemblage of cinematic productions from over 50 countries for seventeen days (July 21 to August 7) each Winter (Australian winter), embellished with a slate of parties and special events that has been known to create a celebratory mood throughout the city. Separately and to its own merit, the Regent Theatre has been and continues to be home to many world renowned theatre productions including Disney’s The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and Singin’ in the Rain.

A compressed summary of the activity laden Action On Film International Film Festival in Pasadena, July 22-30, helps to highlight the many interesting events that will happen in its given span of time. There will be four days of workshops and seminars, two special non-profit benefit events and a few additional “surprises”. Opening Night Mixer and AOF VII Celebration. Nick Mancuso Acting Seminar Part 1 and 2 happens July 24 and 25. A free Sunday Brunch and Filmmaker Symposium is on July 24, and a Private Celebrity ‘Dinner With’ Special AOF Filmmakers and Writers happens in the evening. Closing night includes a Black Tie Dinner Pre-event Party, Black Tie Dinner and Award Show, There are screenings at Regency Academy Theater Pasadena with-filmmaker interviews on the Red Carpet and special gifts for everyone in attendance. Private ‘after’ and ‘pre-parties’ to be announced.

The 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival mission is to showcase the works of emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, and provide expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. Programming from July 25-31 includes the flagship film festival in New York City, new music and art showcases, family and community events, scholarships for aspiring filmmakers, and a nationally recognized short film competition in partnership with HBO. The festival notably has had the endorsement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission since its formation in 2003.

FADE IN… the 15th Annual Hollywood Pitch Festival offers a chance to present your film or TV script, book, short or idea directly to 200 Hollywood agents, managers, producers, studio and productions executives, over three days starting June 29. HPF only has one class — a pitch class taught by a professional working filmmaker, and it is optional to take. But this year they are also providing one-on-one virtual pitch coaching via Skype starting two weeks prior to the festival. After session activities features a cocktail party Friday evening and VIP Contact Book that will be handed out.

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 August event dates will help you prepare for:  Flying Popcorn! Online Children’s Film FestivalNewport, in New Port, UNF Writers Conference, in Jacksonville, Siggraph 2011, in Vancouver, KRATKOFIL International Short Film FestivalBanja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Banja Luka, 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.

British Film Institute, Variety Entertainment Summit, CMJ 2010, Billboard Film & TV Music Conference, Highlight October Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

At this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, October 7-21, ‘Stone’, directed by John Curran, with Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, will be screened, and following the screening VIP ticket holders will be treated to a reception with a full bar and appetizers at theWit Hotel. The Awards Night on October 16, features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an awards presentation honoring this year’s winning filmmakers in the Main Competition, New Directors Competition, Docufest, Short Films, and Intercom competitions, set in the Pump Room of the Ambassador East Hotel.

 

In 2008, the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared Bass guitarist Jayen Varma (http://www.facebook.com/jayenvarma) of Cochin, India, the world’s fastest for that year. And the guitar master has carved out new areas of achievement as a slap bass innovator (for instance using hard plastic tubes on fingers) in the Indian Tabla style. Upcoming workshop performances will give the public a chance to view the master in performance and instruction, on October 9 on Willingdon Island, with classical vocals and Mridangam, and on October 16, in Malabar, Calicut, with classical violin and drums. There will also be a special experimental session with the mandolin master, U. Shrinivas, in the third week of the month, but complete details are as yet to be released.

 

Content & Communications World, in New York, October 13 and 14, is a conference and exhibition for media, entertainment and communications technology. CCW presents business solutions for content creation, management and delivery, along with a range of satellite, fiber, and IP communications solutions. Folded into the CCW agenda are: HD World, SATCON and 3D World conference and expo, which can all be attended free of charge for pre-qualifying industry professionals. Visitors can stop by SocialSphere to chat with a media relations specialist about maximizing social media tools for their business, get tips and tricks for Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and more.

 

Established in 1933, the British Film Institute (BFI) promotes understanding and appreciation of film and television heritage and culture through a range of activities and services. This years marks the 54th BFI London Film Festival, running October 13-28 in South Bank. BFI also runs the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival,  and publishes the monthly film magazine Sight & Sound, a wide range of books on film and television, including criticism, theory and history, as well as popular companions to individual film titles.

 

The New Orleans Film Society hosts the 20th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, Louisiana’s preeminent film event. Both established and emerging filmmakers gain media exposure, connect with the region’s diverse audiences, and participate in this anticipated event. A Patron Party and Opening Gala happens October 14 at the Eiffel Society on historic St. Charles Avenue, with food by Chef Ian Schnoebelen, specialty cocktails by Mixologist Alan Walter, and music by Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground, and Treme Brass Band.

 

Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), running October 14-24 in Honolulu, is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF presents features, documentaries and shorts from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawai`i filmmakers that present Hawai`i in a culturally accurate way. HIFF also conducts seminars, workshops, special award presentation receptions with participating Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers. HIFF is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG), and an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America. Free public screenings are held on the beach in the evening.

 

AniMiami, October 16 -17 in Miami, is a conference/festival whose mission appeals to large numbers of students and professionals of animation and computer graphics. A job fair will be held the first day of the Conference only — Saturday, October 16. Candidates will have the opportunity to sign up and interview with national and local animation and VFX companies looking to fill full-time, part-time, freelance and internship positions. Pre-selected students will have an opportunity to pitch their stories, ideas and projects to a panel of industry professionals from studios and TV networks. A kick-off party will be held at The Newsz Lounge.

 

An October 18 Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit in Santa Monica, co-produced by Variety and Digital Hollywood, has in-depth discussions and networking focusing on the top business issues facing technology in entertainment today. After a welcome and introduction by Variety Publisher, Brian Gott, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walt Disney Company, and Founder of The Tornante Company, Michael Eisner, delivers the opening keynote. In one featured break-out event, there is a competition between various content providers competing for people’s TV viewing time. The Producers Guild of America and Variety host a joint panel in another featured session. A poolside cocktail reception closes the days event beginning at 5:30 pm.

 

The sprawling CMJ 2010: Music Marathon & Film Festival arrives in New York City, October 19-23. CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with its music offerings through interactive media, live events and print. Among other things, This year, industry leaders from the worlds of gaming and music will gather at CMJ to celebrate the launch of CMJ Play, a celebration and exploration of the intersection of music and gaming, will take place Wednesday, October 20, at NYU’s Kimmel Center and in conjunction with NYU’s Music Video Game Research Project. And because some things should never change, The CMJ Artist Lounge at PureVolume House returns for 2010. As the central hub for CMJ the Artist Lounge provides a space for artists and press to interact and rest in between shows which are conducted at a multitude of venues, screenings, and panels. The lounge will also offer samples and giveaways from a variety of sponsors, along with refreshments.

 

Casual Connect Kyiv, from October 20-22 in Kyiv, brings together talented and knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. Casual Connect is the educational component of the Casual Games Association, the international trade association for casual games professionals. Casual Games Association Events are events for the casual games industry with usually over 3,000 professionals attending Casual Connect Events each year. A Disco Bowling Party at Club Chameleon happens on October 21 of the expo.

 

Through red carpet premieres, black-tie society galas, exclusive industry cocktail soirees and chauffeured antique Bentleys and limos, the Beverly Hills Film, TV, and New Media Festival will celebrate authentic Old Hollywood glamour, combined with an updated twist of the emerging technology of today. The festival’s events, from October 21-24, include a black-tie opening night gala, panels, pitch sessions, gifting suites, film premieres, television content premieres, new media exhibitions, cell phone movie premieres, networking and entertainment industry mixers, and those red carpet events.

 

The International Filmmaker Film Festival, in Broadstairs, October 25-28, celebrates popular independent and studio films from the global film industry, while promoting opportunities for the business of film, and hosting special hospitality events and courtesy leisure activities. In addition to the filmmaking workshops, screenings of independent films will include many of the filmmakers in attendance for Q&A sessions following each screening. An exclusive screening of a digitally remastered ‘Dirty Dancing’, with the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is set to open the festival, with proceeds benefiting the Demelza Children’s Hospice and the Pilgrims Hospice.

 

SMPTE is an industry association, and standards setting body, providing education and technology information to the motion imaging industry, focusing on content – creation, management, distribution and display. From October 26-28 the SMPTE Annual Tech Conference & Expo draws technology professionals from the media content business to Hollywood. This year’s event provides a welcome reception in the exhibit hall, various technical workshops, a technology-focused exhibit hall, a high profile Industry Luncheon, the association’s Honors & Awards Reception and Ceremony, and many networking opportunities.

 

The Hollywood Reporter / Billboard Film & TV Music Conference is an anticipated annual event. New additions to the format this year when the Conference runs October 27-28 in Los Angeles, allows participants to submit a demo to music supervisors for a chance to receive feedback on their work live from the stage. They can also get one-on-one facetime with film/TV music decision-makers and influencers, and win a chance to meet with the director of an indie film and score their feature. A “Publishing 101” session, offers a primer on the basics of publishing from how to make money with placements in film and TV, to the administration of catalogs. Conference closes with a networking cocktail reception.

 

The Association of Film Commissioners International, an official professional and educational organization for film commissions that assists its members with feature, television, commercial, industrial and stills production throughout the world, is hosting  Cineposium 2010 to explore the sweeping impacts of the digital revolution and new global producers on the industry. The theme this year in Universal City, October 30 through November 2, is to look at the transition from film commissioner to media commissioner, which encompasses many new roles and responsibilities. In contrast to previous years, and to underscore the need to anticipate the changes to come, Cineposium hosts general sessions designed to equip attendees for success.

 

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 will now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. A look ahead into November’s event dates can help you get ready for the American Film Market (www.americanfilmmarket.com), on November 3-10, and American Film Institute Fest (www.afi.com), November 4-11, both in Los Angeles. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Tejano Music 2010, Asian American International Film Festival, Casual Connect Seattle, LA Shorts Fest, ITVFest, Highlight July Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

Now in its 11th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference which will be held in New York this year, July 6-10, is geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music, addressing topics such as: Marketing to Urban Latino Culture, Approaches to Retail, Print Media/Television/Radio, Advertising and Sponsorship, Non-Traditional Revenue, Technology, International Markets, Music in Film, and others. Galway Film Fair, based in Galway and running July 6-11, co-ordinates pre-scheduled meetings between filmmakers with projects in development and invited Film Financiers, Distributors and Producers. Among slated workshops this year, the Actors Masterclass 2010 will provide an intensive interactive environment in the skills, methodology and aesthetics of film acting whilst dealing with all the common fears and questions actors have regarding work in front of the camera. The Long Island International Film Festival, happening this year, July 8-18 in Bellmore, shows approximately 120 short and feature-length independent films from the world over, but also includes panels, parties, publicity and networking opportunities. The LIIFF’s week is started with an complementary opening night party. Opening July 9-11 in San Antonio, this year’s Tejano Music 2010 unites the 7th Annual Tejano Music National Convention with the 30th Annual Tejano Music Awards and the 6th Annual Tejano Academy Awards for the first time. Aside from the music masterclasses, Tejano Dance Instruction is one of the more popular Convention programs, an opportunity to learn basic technique of Tejano dancing, or to add new techniques to what you already know.

Future Media Concepts conducts a session on Introduction to Sound Editing in Final Cut Studio on the Apple Macintosh, in Washington, D.C. The course focuses on practical, professional techniques used to add professional music and sound effects to video and multimedia projects. Kids First! Film Festival, a showcase for children’s films, TV shows and DVDs from major studios and independent filmmakers, builds on its kid-interactive program by partnering with more than 150 venues worldwide who host more than 10,000 screenings of Kids First! films year-round to an audience of more than one million, with youth given a true voice – as curators, as audience members, as film critics, as volunteer staff and as filmmakers showing their work in the July 15 Santa Fe event. Asian CineVision, Inc. is a not-for-profit national media arts organization dedicated to the development, promotion and preservation of film and video arts by and about people of Asian descent, stages the Asian American International Film Festival in Manhattan’s Chelsea district, July 15-24, presenting 23 features and 71 shorts from international and national filmmakers, in addition to presenting Asian and Asian American films, the festival will host workshops, panels and after parties featuring live music. The final installment of a three-part series examining the business of music, songwriters, and music publishing, will be conducted from a New York venue on July 17, and explores the interplay between songwriting, publishing deals, and recording contracts – examining the differences in copyright protection between musical compositions (songs) and sound recordings (masters).

The annual Casual Connect Seattle, from July 20-22, brings together knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. For instance, a Pre-Funk Party sponsored by ChaYoWo Games happens at Triple Door on July 19; the Games For Gamers mingle happens July 20 in the Founders Room for people interested in console, indie, and game studio start-ups; the Official Casual Connect Party sponsored by Samsung will be held at the Seattle Art Museum, July 20; the July 21 Mobile Mingle in the Founders Room is for people interested in the Mobile space; and the Official Casual Connect Speaker Dinner sponsored By Plimus will be July 21 at a local restaurant. An Opening Gala for the Okanagan International Film Festival will be held in Kelowna Community Theatre, and a separate VIP Party will be July 24 in the Mon Reposa Luxury Penthouse. The force behind the festival, which runs July 21-25, the Okanagan Film Festival Society, founded in 1998, is a not for profit charitable organization, whose mission is to educate and promote the Canadian and International film industry through film screenings, competitions and professional industry workshops and forums. Hollywood’s LA Shorts Fest is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, and reportedly, in past years, 33 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, with 11 filmmakers taking home the Oscar. This year, the NXT Stage Conference will be held in conjunction with LA Shorts Fest on July 27. LA Shorts Fest will run July 22-30. NXT STAGE is where content producers, media executives and digital entrepreneurs meet to develop key business relationships.

Expresión en Corto is a state-sponsored, non-profit, cultural event that does not charge admission to its viewing audience and is made possible in large part thanks to: the State Government of Guanajuato, and other institutions. From July 23 through August 1, more than 300 films are screened from 10 am until 4 am each day in 18 venues, which include such unusual locations as: the Jardín Principal (main square) of San Miguel de Allende; the classical open-air staircase of the University of Guanajuato; the subterranean streets and tunnels beneath Guanajuato Capital (where gay, lesbian, erotic and underground films are projected); as well as horror films that are screened in the municipal graveyards (panteónes). The festival hosts an annual International Pitching Market as well. BMI is a sponsor of the Kauai Music Festival, a four-day immersion into the art of songwriting taking place on the island of Kauai. At the Conference, participants can consult, one-on-one, with award winning songwriters, Grammy-winning producers, A&R, and other music industry professionals. In addition, any music submitted can be heard in small group seminars by established songwriters, as well as be placed in the songwriting competition. The Independent Television Festival (ITVFest) is a Los Angeles festival for independently produced, original and innovative television pilots and web-series. The focus is on TV pilots at this festival happening July 30 through August 5. Now in its fifth year, the festival maintains support from institutions like Comcast, Current TV, Brightcove and FX, and the talent of pilotmakers from all over the world.

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. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production’s ‘The Telephone Game’, Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Lollapalooza 2009, Media Leaders Meeting, GCDC Europe, bitfilm09: Hackin’ Hollywood, London International Animation Festival, Highlight August Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

From You To You Tube: A Filmmaking Summer Camp For Young Adults, is a workshop in New York running till August 14, with another session closely following, from August 17-28, teaches concepts of story and structure, how to use a camera for your own shoot, the basics of film editing theory and technique, and how to compress your final product down to a size to share on the web. Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza 2009 music festival gets going again this year, August 7-9, and as part of Citi’s sponsorship of emerging artists at this year’s festival you’re invited to take part in a grassroots music-meets-art installation that allows you and your friends to take away a prized photographic memento of your time at Lollapalooza. Also, there will be chances to win VIP passes, stage passes to the PlayStation® Stage and even chances to win PS3®/PSP® system prize packs. The Florida Writers Association partners with UNF to start a three-day conference from August 7-9 in Jacksonville, with a full day of writing workshops for each day. Sunday afternoon’s schedule includes a marketing panel and a workshop featuring the UNF Writers Conference Book & Film Deal Connection, an opportunity for attendees to submit their work to agents, book editors and film producers after the conference closes. The Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video is Chicago’s annual showcase for films that tell stories, raise questions, or touch on issues that relate to the black African, African American, and African diasporic experience, and it will be hosted this year in Chicago, August 7 through September 3.

A Media Leaders Meeting in Austin, a monthly “experiential mixing event” on August 11, brings together leaders in media, marketing, advertising and entertainment to discuss current events and new ideas. The LatinVision Hispanic Business Networking Event, an exclusive gathering of U.S. Hispanic and Latin American professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners in a relaxed atmosphere that facilitates networking, holds this month’s New York meeting on August 13, with an exclusive VIP after party to follow in the far west Chelsea district. A San Jose workshop for YouTubers who already shoot their own videos and post their content online takes place August 14, focusing on how can implement a successful video marketing strategy in this relatively new and rapidly changing field. The International Odense Film Festival is a short and documentary film festival that takes place every year in August, screening international short fiction and short documentaries as well as Danish short fiction and Danish short and feature length documentaries. Games Convention Developers Conference (GCDC), GDC Europe, hosted this year in Cologne, August 17-19, encompasses learning, networking, and inspiration via the GDC’s conference content quality and access to the industry leaders driving innovation in games across the globe. GDC Europe focuses on Business, Game Design, Production, and Programming for games. In addition, this three day conference will emphasize timely content and topics in Serious Games and Mobile Games in Europe and worldwide today.

bitfilm09: Hackin’ Hollywood begins with a three day event of indoor and outdoor screenings, a workshop for the creative industry, an opening reception, and a public open air screening in a park in the centre of Hamburg. National Alliance for Media Art & Culture Conference 2009 is for media and visual arts leaders, practitioners, researchers, technologists, advocates, scholars, students, funders, and policymakers to share experiences and pool  knowledge among attending conference members, and across networks within the arts, media and culture fields, at sessions running August 28-29 in Boston. MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, August 26-30 in Edinburgh, celebrates success in the TV industry and is committed to the development of new talent. The Festival carries over 60 individual sessions covering the most important issues facing the industry, from policy to programme making, alongside plenty of fun sessions as well. Each year London International Animation Festival 2009 focuses on a specific animation technique. So in 2009 they take a close up look at sand animation. This involves an animator placing and moving coloured sand, salt and other powders on a light box and using hand brushes, air brushes and an array of other tools to create thousands of textured pictures that make up the finished film. To showcase this technique, they put together a programme, running August 28 through September 6, which mixes recently released sand animations carefully blended with a collection of classics from the last 25 years.

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 actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist podcast blog at actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. This month on the video news summary you will again see a dynamic array of artists in performance of film and music. These videos are now available on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration. The Actor’s Checklist is proud announce the return of the photo gallery which you can visit at http://actorschecklist.com/coppermine to upload valuable head shots or other photos of your choice, create profiles, and use your pictures or others found on the gallery as ecards which you can email to friends and associates with messages.

American Film Market, Ypulse, People-Powered Media [un]Workshop, Global Gaming Expo, Billboard Touring Conference, Highlight November’s Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

The International Student Film Festival Hollywood offers student filmmakers from all over the world a unique opportunity to gain the recognition of film industry leaders. It is a forum for student filmmakers to showcase their independent films in Hollywood, mostly by putting these students face to face with working Directors, Producers, and other industry professionals, throughout the event that runs through November 9, giving them the invaluable opportunity to promote themselves and their films. American Film Market is a well regarded industry function to which over 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, red carpet premieres, networking and parties. All 23 screens on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community become AFM screening rooms for the entire eight-day event which lasts till November 12 and eight digital and video screening rooms are added just for the AFM. Ypulse Youth Marketing Mashup East, taking place in Boston, November 6-7, will focus on how you can reach and connect with youth ages 16-24 using technology, and embraces themes of content, connectivity and community.

Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, and associated festivals, is the result of the merger between Copenhagen’s major film festival organisations; Copenhagen International Film Festival and NatFilm. The new organisation today house three international film festivals in the Danish capital, with certain segments taking place from November 7-18. The People-Powered Media [un]Workshop is an ‘unconference’ style event created to explore how community media can be used as a tool for information, organization, and action, one day only, November 8, in Austin. PAUSE is the title for a conference happening November 10-11 in New York, that examines the creative and technical approaches of industry leading studios and agencies involved in broadcast and film. Attendees of this event will receive full access to the 2 day event, which includes 14 one hour presentations, and a wrap party at Madame X in Greenwich Village. The Association of Moving Image Archivists Annual Conference, takes place this year in Savannah, November 12-15, and provides an opportunity for colleagues and those interested in the field to meet, share information and work together, in part through events like The Newcomer’s Breakfast which will give Mentors and Newcomers a chance to meet and network.

The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard join forces to deliver a  two-day seminar, November 13-14 in Los Angeles, on the role of music in film and television. The seventh annual event provides a forum for the exchange of ideas among film, TV and music professionals. Also featured will be live artist performances, roundtable discussions, and networking cocktail parties. The Global Gaming Expo is a yearly event put on by the gaming industry, providing the latest secrets and ideas for everyone who comes. Anyone who runs or works professionally in the gaming industry (including Bingo hall managers) is welcome to come to this Las Vegas extravaganza happening November 18-20. The fifth annual Billboard Touring Conference and Awards is a gathering for the concert industry that will host informative panels, controversial discussions, invaluable networking opportunities, and an awards reception, the Billboard Touring Awards, which honors the concert industry’s top artists and professionals based on actual data compiled through the Billboard Boxscore chart of 2007. The November 21 ‘Betting on Shorts’ (BoSs) conference is being hosted by a London-based cultural organisation run by Ricarda Vidal, Irini Marinaki and Konstantinos Stefanis, with a focus on the dissemination of shortfilms by new international filmmakers in prominent cultural institutions, and further collaboration between cinemas and galleries in Europe and beyond.

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. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist podcast blog at actorschecklist.com/loudblog, a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download from. The Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video now serves as an archive for all past video presentations. This month on video you will see trailers and sample clips of urban a capela group from New York, but based in Germany, Naturally 7 (www.n7house.com). A platform for new urban talent, Tickles.tv (www.tickles.tv). A Junebug Presents film starring Alfred E. Rutherford, ‘Pro-Black Sheep’ (www.myspace.com/problacksheep). Rock Talk Records (rocktalkrecords.com), Chas Ferry Producer, with ‘Hypnotic Video’. Post Media, LLC (www.luispascual.com), Luis G. Pascual, principal, presenting sports television formats from – “FUTBOL DE PRIMERA” – Argentina. The Actor’s Checklist now lets you check the latest musical artists song releases on Apple’s iTunes, updated on an hourly basis.

PopKomm, IEFTA, MIPCOM, MOFFOM, CMJ, SMPTE, Highlight October’s Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

Billboard hosts its Regional Mexican Music Summit, through October 8 in Los Angeles, where regional artists, concert promoters, retailers, sponsors, managers as well as record label, digital/mobile entertainment, marketing, advertising and radio executives come together to network, do business and discuss current industry topics. At the EkoFilm International Film Festival on the Environment and Natural and Cultural Heritage, the aim of the festival is to present new films and video programmes that reshape our perception of the environment through natural and cultural heritage in a local or global fashion. The Festival runs in Prague, October 6-12. Kimberly Graham, an associate at Judy Henderson Casting, conducts a limited group casting workshop in New York, on October 7, and another with Natalie De Lange will be held October 14. For more details send email to: Michellel740@gmail.com. At Berlin’s PopKomm, expo goers can take part in an international music and entertainment business conference, focused on creation, communication and commerce, and with more than 400 solo artists, bands and DJs playing in over 25 official locations, all happening October 8-10. Monte Carlo will host the International Emerging Talent Film Festival, October 9-12, an event run by the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), a not-for-profit organization based in Monaco.

A Model/Actor Boot Camp with Aaron Marcus (aaron@howtomodel.com), will cover: preparing for auditions and casting calls; understand the differences between agents, managers, art/creative directors and casting directors; using special techniques for TV, film and commercial auditions/go-sees; accurately managing and understanding the business side of the industry; helping your agent by marketing yourself, and more. MIPCOM is the global content event for creating, co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms. This year when it is held in Cannes from October 13-17, it features a series of specialised networking breakfasts designed with the intent of creating a unique forum around some of the challenges facing the industry today. At this year’s ShowEast, happening October 13-16 in Orlando, just some of the activities you can preview are major studio and independent feature films slated for Holiday 2008 release, product reels of upcoming releases, visit a comprehensive trade show of motion picture industry products, services and concession items, networking, and actually much more. The music industry operates under quite different conditions than the film industry, just as music festivals and film festivals do, and so MOFFOM was founded to build synergy between these two worlds. And so from October 16-20 in Prague, Music on Film, Film on Music will be conducted from Prague with a rich assortment of live music and film events.

The 43rd Chicago International Film Festival last year, was dedicated to distinguished film critic Roger Ebert. At this year’s opening night presentation, join director Rian Johnson and actress Rachel Weisz, for ‘The Brothers Bloom’, and a Perspectives Tribute October 18 honoring Sidney Poitier. The Connective Series in New York educates emerging artists, musicians and music business professionals, serves as a networking opportunity and helps raise awareness and funds for charity,  and on October 21 they review “How International Bands Can Break in the US Market”. From October 21-25, CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival gets underway, with most of its activities clustered within the New York University area of Greenwich Village, day and night. The Florida Media Market (www.floridamediamarket.com), October 23-26 in Miami Beach, is a non-profit membership-based organization whose goal is to build a platform where independent film and media makers meet with international buyers, distributors and production companies to buy, sell and network. SMPTE 2008, the annual event for technology, production and operations in the motion imaging industry attended by professionals in the motion picture studios, broadcast and cable networks, production and post-production community and related industries, gets underway October 28 for three days in Hollywood.

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. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist podcast blog, a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download from. The Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video now serves as an archive for all past video presentations. This month on video you will see trailers and sample clips of Black-Smith Enterprises’ (www.black-smithenterprises.com) recent release of new feature, ‘Till Death…’  Surreal indie short by Marco Sanchez, ‘Emily in Nightmare Land’ (www.myspace.com/mjsfilms). Community generated zombie documentary, ‘Lost Zombies’ (www.lostzombies.com). Horror genre short, ‘Creepers’ (www.myspace.com/beparanoid), making the festival circuit, and slated for screenings in The Terror Film Festival, October 23, and The Severed Head Horror Film Festival, October 31. The Actor’s Checklist now lets you check the latest musical artists song releases on Apple’s iTunes, updated on an hourly basis.

AFCI Locations Trade Show, NAB Show, “Media Intercourse”, Tribeca Film Festival, Merge Miami, MUSEXPO 2008, are Selected Highlights For April’s Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

Professional television and stage actor Michael Kostroff (dark and unscrupulous gang lawyer, Maury Levy in HBO’s “The Wire,” and other appearances to his credit in “Studio 60,” “The Closer,” “Without a Trace,” etc.), and the author of the book, “Letters from Backstage” (www.myspace.com/lettersfrombackstage) conducts “Audition Psych 101” (AuditionPsych101@aol.com)  an audition workshop, one night only on April 3, in Hollywood. Author, screen, television writer, and executive consultant on HBO’s “Rome” series, Josh Conviser, will discuss writing for film, television, and literature at the Alameda Writers Group monthly meeting set or April 5 in Glendale. The Film/TV Production and Finance Summit is set to meet April 10-11 in Los Angeles, and its organizers say it is for anyone involved in filmmaking, finance, production, or investing in a motion picture or television production, particularly if you need to understand the complexities of a Film/TV finance transaction, the distribution process, and the important steps to get your production in front of the key players in the industry. The organization sometimes known as the film industry’s version of the United Nations, the Association of Film Commissioners International holds its 22nd annual AFCI Locations Trade Show with more than 180 film commissioners from around the world and some 100 production resource companies that will exhibit, in Santa Monica, April 10-12.

BEM Film’s current film project “True Riches”, now in pre-production, is hosting a 70’s era Jam Party to support filming. The production, a current day adaptation of the Book of Job, is also considering music submissions for the score and soundtrack of the film in the categories of R&B Neo Soul, Contemporary Gospel, and Smooth Jazz. Contact Talent Connection (talentsconnection@yahoo.com) for more information. The Big Break Hollywood Conference and Expo, taking place in Atlanta, from April 11-13, will award its audition finalist with a one year contract for a Hollywood talent agency; one year contract with a Hollywood management agency; and a one year contract with a commercial agency. At the Broadband TV World segment of this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas from April 11-17, learn how web video is dramatically changing the distribution channels for video and creating new challenges for branded media and traditional broadcast content. The annual IFFS Europe gathering of the European film festival community provides a platform for the community to explore ways to collaborate and promote the advancement of the film festival industry. This year’s event is conducted from Central London, April 15-16. The theme for Signal & Noise 2008, happening April 17-19 in Vancouver, is “Media Intercourse.” The Festival host VIVO is a not for profit media production, exhibition and distribution centre, operated by and for artists and media/community activists with ongoing public exhibitions of video, new media programs and Video Out’s International Distribution network. When the Bare Bones International Film Festival and Movie-Biz Conference gets underway in Muskogee, its purpose is to provide a platform from which to showcase low-budget (less than one million dollars) independent movies whose focus is championing the Bare Bones Auteur. An opening night reception is on April 17, and an Awards Gala after-party closes festivities on April 27.

This year’s Tribeca Film Festival runs April 23 to May 4 in New York’s Tribeca district. The Tribeca Talks session returns with more must-see one-on-one conversations, a concert film from a music legend, a filmmaker master class, and Tribeca Talks Industry, a brand new series that explores the business of entertainment. The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has announced the launch of Merge Miami, a two-day conference and networking event opening April 26 on queer film and media that is sponsored and funded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, presenters of the annual Oscar awards. Merge Miami, to be held across the opening weekend of the 10th Annual Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, will provide a platform where seasoned film industry veterans lend their knowledge and expertise to aide those commencing their transition into motion pictures, while international industry tastemakers have the opportunity to come together and interact with the pioneering filmmakers and industry talent. The MUSEXPO 2008 conference opens April 27 in West Hollywood with a video documentary on “How to Fix The Music Business” and is followed by a wine tasting and cocktail reception on the rooftop of The Hyatt West Hollywood. A Film/TV & Videogames (Art & Commerce through visual media) forum will be conducted April 30, and the MUSEEXPO cocktail reception and awards ceremony featuring live performances at House of Blues, is in the evening. Artist showcases happen throughout at The House of Blues Main Music Hall.

The above events are only a sampling of what is listed. Most of the reported events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at most popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Bit Torrent, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog/ a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download from. This month on video you will see trailers and video clips of Metal rock band hailing from London, Die So Fluid (www.diesofluid.net), with their latest single release from their album ‘Not Everybody Gets A Happy Ending,’ on Renaissance Records, via Koch Entertainment Distribution USA. The band will be in Phoenix, Arizona shooting a new video during the last week of April 2008. Indie film short “Switch” (www.myspace.com/switchmovie), a story about the romantic entanglements among a group of friends, based on the book of the same name and screenplay by Annette Johnson of AllWrite Publishing (www.e-allwrite.com) in Atlanta. Egami Vivid Production Studios (www. egamivivid.com) of Los Angeles and Toronto, with short film project “Rice Counter, Ice Sleeper,” a stylized story of romance, passion, temptation and self control, and other works of Director J. Wesley Bassard. The Actor’s Checklist now lets you check the latest musical artists song releases on Apple’s iTunes, updated on an hourly basis.

One Mic Nite, MusiCares Event, 50th Grammy Awards, NACA National Convention, International Children’s Film Festival, The Oscars: 80th Annual Academy Awards, Durango Songwriters Expo, are Selected Highlights For February’s Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

The Orlando Entertainment and Events Association is holding it’s first of monthly parties on October 6 where you can make friends with agents, managers, radio personalities, talent company principals, performers, meeting planners, and more. One Mic Night (www.myspace.com/onemicnite) continues its open mic showcases accommodating performing artists of all types, every Monday night in New York’s East Village following the featured act. ‘Making Your Media Matter’ is a Washington D.C. conference from February 7-8 for established and aspiring filmmakers, non-profit communications leaders, funders and students looking to learn and share cutting-edge practices for creating media that matters. During the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, running February 7-17, the Berlinale Talent Campus takes place parallel to the Berlinale and works as an intensive week-long academy for talented people from around the world involved in all areas of filmmaking. Additionally, the European Film Market (EFM) runs for 9 days during the Berlinale. Seventeen-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist Aretha Franklin will be honored as the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year, February 8 in Los Angeles. The red carpet affair benefits the Musicares fund and is two days prior to the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

The 50th Annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles and broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8-11:30 pm (ET/PT). The show also will be broadcast on radio via Westwood One worldwide and XM Satellite Radio, and covered online at GRAMMY.com. The show honors musical achievement of the 2007 recording year in which recordings were released between October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007. Billboard and Hollywood Reporter will host “Mobile Backstage”, February 13, as a break-out session at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, running February 11-14 in Barcelona. The Millenium Music Conference (MMC12) showcases new music with four nights of showcase performances by 300 original acts and artists at 30 venues in and around Harrisburg, February 15-18, in addition to business keynotes, panels, clinics, workshops, mentoring and demo listening sessions and a trade show. The National Association for Campus Activities hosts their NACA National Convention — “Show Me,” designed to give colleges and universities around the country the chance to meet one-on-one with artists, performers and agents, and view live performance showcases at the annual convention, running February 16-20 in St. Louis. Academy Award winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, has been selected by the Board of Directors of American Cinema Editors (ACE) to be honored with the organization’s prestigious ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award at a ceremony in Beverly HIlls, February 17. Fusion 2008 in Vancouver, February 20-21, dedicated to digital media – video games, online communities, digital entertainment, multi-platform animation, film and music properties, mobile content and eLearning – will showcase early and growth stage companies that are original content/intellectual property ventures or developing platform, and enabling tools to deliver digital media content.

The San Francisco International Children’s Film Festival showcases films from around the world made for children, plus animation workshops they can take part in, when it runs from February 22 to March 2. Each year the Motion Picture Sound Editors presents the MPSE Golden Reel Awards to acknowledge the year’s best work in the various areas of sound editing: Dialogue and ADR, Effects and Foley and Music. This year’s presentation is in Los Angeles on February 23 in which Michael Bay will receive the 2008 MPSE Filmmaker’s Award. This year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards are being held under a tent in beachfront Santa Monica. To be eligible, films must be at least 70 minutes long, and have either played one week in a commercial theater in 2007, or have been shown at one of the designated six film festivals. The 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony will be televised live from Los Angeles by the ABC TV network on February 24. Jon Stewart is scheduled to host the Oscar Night awards —  his second time. Join BMI’s Myles Lewis and over 40 music industry pros and songwriters for a networking experience, with workshops, listening sessions, panels, showcases, and open mics, that is customarily limited to 200 attendees — the Fifth Annual Durango Songwriters Expo happening  February 28 to March 1 in Buellton. The International Family Film Festival (IFFF) promotes and encourages the creation and sharing of family films and screenplays through seminars, networking and film camps for kids, when it opens February 28 running through March 3 in Hollywood.

The above events are only a sampling of what is listed. Most of the reported events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at most popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Bit Torrent, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog/ a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download from. This month on video you will see trailers and video clips of Shaolin Boogaloo! (www.myspace.com/sweetzombiejesusfilms / www.kallixti.net) a.k.a. “The artist formerly known as Sweet Zombie Jesus!” with a remix of “Superego Exchange – Doctor Hu’s Signal Loss Mix”; “CODEX ATANICUS”, “FAQ”, “PROXIMA”, a video collection from Spanish director Carlos Atanes (www.myspace.com/codex_atanicus / www.carlosatanes.com), reflecting a body of work from the sci-fi and horror genre. The Actor’s Checklist now lets you check the latest musical artists song releases on Apple’s iTunes, updated on an hourly basis, at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/resources/itunes.php

Alameda Writers Group, CES Digital Hollywood, Golden Globe Awards, MacWorld Conference, Sundance Film Festival, NAMM Show, 14th Annual SAG Awards, MIDEM ’08, are Selected Highlights For January’s Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

Flickerfest, an Academy® accredited international short film festival, this year will highlight award winning iconic television commercials, when it runs this year through January 13 at Bondi Beach. At an upcoming Alameda Writers Group panel in Glendale, Jim Cirile, founder of the professional coverage service, Coverage Ink; Derek Dressler and Eva Kilgore, both readers for the agency, ICM; Nick Randall, script reader for Gold Circle, discuss what they as readers are looking for in scripts. To start the new year, One Mic Nite finds a new venue in the East Village (switching from the West Village), but the format remains the same making it one of the more inclusive open mic talent showcases that opens with musical performance by Maritri Garrett and then opens up to all performing artists. Out of several slated keynotes slated for the International CES Digital Hollywood and Game Power, starting with a pre-show on January 6 in Las Vegas, studio digital media executives focus on how technology advances impact the strategic decisions made by studios. The Eighth Annual IAJE Gala, held within the larger International Association of Jazz Education Conference, running January 9-12, will be hosted by Nancy Wilson this year with proceeds to benefit the IAJE Campaign For Jazz.

Istanbul Museum of Modern Art is presenting a retrospective of experimental cinema curated by TIE Director, Christopher, January 10-13, and will include works from Albert Sackl, Peter Kubelka, Stan Brakhage just to name a few. The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards that recognizes and honors African American Gospel artists, and holds a presentation this year on January 12 in Nashville. The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards, administered by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to recognize achievements in motion pictures and television, takes place in Los Angeles January 13 with a live telecast airing on NBC at 8 pm (EST). The MacWorld Conference and Expo kicks on on January 14 for a five day run, and aside from the Steve Jobs keynote provides participants with Hands-on computer training on key applications and tools. Slamdance Film Festival, a festival “by filmmakers for filmmakers” that showcases undistributed films by emerging filmmakers, opens January 17-25 in Park City. The Sundance Film Festival, originated in 1981 by actor Robert Redford from out of a discussion to discover new ways to enhance the artistic vitality of the American film, is set to run this year from January 17-27 in Park City. The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show opens its show in Anaheim, January 17-20, bringing together all facets of the music products industry to reveal new musical instruments/products and ideas to help music products retailers and manufacturers become more successful.

The Second Annual Future TV Show North America, a platform for broadcasters and network operators to meet production companies and channels and discuss the exciting world of media convergence, opens January 22 for a two day run in New York. For its award ceremony on January 26 in Hollywood, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has dedicated the 2008 Heritage Award competition for film school seniors and recent graduates in the United States to the memory of Laszlo Kovacs, ASC who died on July 22. The 14th Annual SAG Awards happening January 27 in Los Angeles, will have live coverage on TNT and TBS networks at 8 pm ET/PT, 7 pm CT and 6 pm MT. Music industry extravaganza, MIDEM ’08, will be at its customary venue in Cannes and this year features a China-focused Opening Night Party and regular favourite, the British at MIDEM night. This years gathering of Blues acts in Memphis from January 31 to February 2 represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage as competing musicians from around the world perform in 18 venues along Beale Street. Florida ART Film Fest is now accepting submissions for approaching film festival. Contact them for more info on submissions (floridaartfilmfest@yahoo.com – www.acrosstown.org/filmfestival.htm).

The above events are only a sampling of what is listed. Most of the reported events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at most popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Bit Torrent, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog/ a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download from. This month on video you will see trailers and video clips of Singapore based film Director Alka C. Mehta (http://tw.youtube.com/alkaCM) making a return to the news summary with “Never Been Touched,” a film making several stops on the international festival circuit, coming on the heels of her debut at last year’s Cannes with God’s Own Devil; underlabstudios’ (www.underlabstudios.com) production of a Florida music video production: RENDA WRITER – Shooting Star, with lyrics/vocals by Renda Writer (www.rendathepoet.com) and edgy music video “Slow Down” from Pilot Rai (www.myspace.com/pilotraimusic) Featuring The 7th Direction; “Girl Robot,” a made for the web musical directed by Ricky Marson, and in the process of being written with a new song released every month (www.youtube.com/GirlRobotTV). The Actor’s Checklist now lets you check the latest musical artists song releases on Apple’s iTunes, updated on an hourly basis, at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/resources/itunes.php

Streaming Media Europe, One Mic Nite, MIPCOM, New Orleans Film Festival, Jazz Loft Party, Florida Media Market, Billboard Mobile Entertainment Live! Broadcast India Symposium, are Selected Highlights For October Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

HDFEST World Tour takes place in six different cities throughout four countries around the world – first in London through October 4; then New York, October 10-11 – screening High-Def content, and holding panels, that highlight issues pertaining to filmmaking in HD. Films that will be screened in the “MontanaCINE International Film Festival of Cultures, Issues of Nature and the Environment,” taking place in Missoula, through October 7, throws the spotlight on issues that include: culture, outdoor recreation, conservation, urban sprawl, political and social impacts and influences, agriculture, industry and the effects of war on the natural world. Streaming Media Europe, on October 4 & 5 in London, features over 50 international speakers focusing on both corporate and consumer business, technology and content issues for online video in the enterprise, advertising, media and entertainment and broadcast markets. The Annual Durango Songwriter’s Expo, happening in Rio Rico October 4-6, typically limits its registration slots holding this year’s number to 200. Horror genre screenwriter Stephen Susco discusses the craft and business of his chosen field when Alameda Writers Group meets October 6 in Glendale. On October 8, and every Monday night, the One Mic Nite talent showcase (www.myspace.com/onemicnite) and industry networking event turns over the microphone to a variety of performinng artists to do their thing, in the far west district of Greenwich Village.

At the San Francisco International Animation Showcase, opening October 8-11, programs of feature-length and short films are screened, with two days devoted to the latest technical, aesthetic and narrative techniques in animated film production. MIPCOM, the global content event for co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms, opens this year October 8-12 in Cannes. HD World, opening for two days on October 10 aims to bring together buyers and suppliers of HDTV, high def video, and broadcast related equipment and solutions while  offering  a forum for broadcast, cable, film and government executives to collaborate together and with suppliers of High Definition technologies. The New Orleans Film Festival enters its 18th anniversary when it opens October 11-18 as the preeminent vehicle in the region for the exhibition of local, regional, national and international film, while also hosting the Film Congress, a program of panels, workshops and mentor sessions. The 2007 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony on October 14 is a presentation of The Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc., a non-profit foundation dedicated to honoring and preserving the songwriting legacy of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. A Jazz Loft Party will be thrown to benefit the Jazz Foundation of America’s Musicians’ Emergency Fund on October 14 in New York. Nightly red-carpet gala premieres and other cause celebre are part of the annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards happening in Beverly Hills, from October 17-22.

The Amsterdam Dance Event is part industry conference, part club festival, and actually takes place in over 40 clubs, concert venues, record stores and art galeries in the city center of Amsterdam from October 18-20. Florida Media Market, a membership organization that facilitates meetings of independent film and media makers to meet with international buyers, distributors and production companies, to buy, sell and network, hosts an upcoming session from October 18-21 in Miami. FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival features independent horror from around the world, and is part of the SCREAMFEST Horror Convention, running October 19-21, in Orlando where there will be seminars, live music, tattooing, a dealer room, and more surprises. Billboard Mobile Entertainment Live! is a mobile entertainment conference produced in partnership with CTIA – and hosted by entertainment impresario Quincy Jones –  prospectively drawing in more than 1,000 executives from companies representing mobile music, gaming, TV, video, animation, messaging, marketing, social networking and more at its October 22 meeting in San Francisco.  American Black Film Festival hosts five days of independent films, panels, workshops, Hollywood premieres, live entertainment and the ABFF Awards Dinner, during its run from October 25-29 in Los Angeles. From the World Trade Centre in Mumbai, Broadcast India Exhibition and Symposium is a global megamart for broadcast related industries, with everything to do with entertainment. During the Americana Music Conference, October 31 to November 3 in Nashville, evening showcases and parties will continue Thursday through Saturday, and the Sixth Annual Americana Honors & Awards will be held at the Ryman Auditorium on November 1.

The above events are just a sampling of what is listed. Most of the reported events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are now available at most popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, the Apple iTunes store podcast category, as well as on The Actor’s Checklist at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog/ a great place to get your iPhone, ipod or Apple TV download from. This month on video you will see trailers and video clips of The Milgram Experiment (http://www.myspace.com/tme61) a Moving Art Picture film by Maxwell Addae following the story of a pair of career con artists who have mastered the art of wielding the power of authoritative figure; the antics reflected by their comedy skits and hip hop tunes of the parody duo Tommy C and Joey McG (http://www.myspace.com/tommyc_joeymcg); Hear the soulful, break beat, hip-hop style of UK based songstress, Bukola (http://www.bukola.biz; http://www.myspace.com/bukolabiz). The Actor’s Checklist now lets you keep track of latest musical artists song releases on Apple’s iTunes, updated on an hourly basis at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/resources/itunes.php