Asia Television Forum, Bahamas International Film Fest, Art Basel Miami, Monaco International Film Fest, are highlights in December’s Global Media and Entertainment Industry

“A Portrait of America” curated by Ramses Granados continues its run at the Joy Wai Gallery in Chelsea, NYC.

The Joy Wai Gallery in New York City opens a group show curated by Ramses Granados presenting images of America in 2008 with works in various genres including: abstract, figurative, expressionistic, realistic, modern and photography. The opening reception for “A Portrait of America – Experience the 2008 Presidential Campaign in 2012”, took place at Angel Orensanz Foundation In Manhattan’s Lower East Side, hosted by television anchor and hostess, Sofia Samrad. After the opening reception the exhibition continues at the Joy Wai Gallery in Chelsea. Regardless of when the works were created they will serve as a retrospective of 2008 and particularly of a historic presidential campaign that marked a milestone in the country’s history. The Joy Wai Gallery is a basement art salon that presents contemporary art with a strong focus in fine art photography. With an educational program in the works — including guest lecturers drawn from artists, critics, curators and professors — the Gallery envisions itself as a platform for exchanges within the art community.

Asia Television Forum in Singapore is a content market organized by Reed Exhibitions Pte Limited to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce across all entertainment platforms, with conference topics that will include: “Focus on Korean Format: Running Man”, “Format Distribution: The China Deal Marker”, “The Future of TV: The New TV Player”, “Focus On China’s Film Business”, “Future of TV: Going Global, Helping TV Shows Find Their Audience”, “Euro-Zone: How to Get Your Movie Made in Europe”, 360TV: Generating Revenue in the Digital Age”. The opening keynote delivered by Sanford Panitch, President Fox International Productions USA, addresses the topic: “Creativity Beyond Borders: Asia and the Global Market – What The Future Holds?”

ATF is held in conjunction with ScreenSingapore, to present trading possibilities through a seamless TV and Film market, conference, networking opportunities, and gala film premiere. Opening party by RSVP only at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark. A CBS Studios International Cocktail Party, by invitation only, is in Marina Bay Sands, Level 1, on December 5. A “Creative Malaysia Networking Luncheon” is scheduled for December 6 on Level 3 of the Sands. There will be an “International Emmy Award Showcase of the 2012 Nominated Programs From Asia” later that day in the Cassia Ballroom. A cocktail party follows at the Japan Pavilion. Still later, is a Closing Red Carpet Premiere, and Closing Party for Screensingapre, by RSVP only, at Golden Village. Last conference day, December 7, closes with Screensingapore Board Lunch (by invitation only) and “Singapre Hour” at the Singapore Pavilion.

The FlipsideTV Film Festival — an open genre, open form film festival and market — maintains the sole intention of giving independent producers, screenplay writers, and directors a means to get in front of buyers, distributors, agents, financiers and other industry professionals, as well as a film watching audience. The Huntington Beach located organization runs this online film festival twice yearly, with this year’s festival going to December 31. Movies play to an established subscriber base and are also exposed to potential acquisition and distribution agents. All official selections play to this audience for a one-month period and finalists are offered distribution and winners may get additional awards including theatrical exhibition to get the projects screened.

The Bahamas International Film Festival in Nassau is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and International visitors with a varied presentation of films from around the world. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the Bahamas, BIFF schedules educational programs, and forums for exploring the future of cinema. Immediately following it’s ninth annual festival which runs through December 9, the Bahamas International Film Festival will travel to Eleuthera for a continuation of this year’s celebration to be known as The Best of the Fest Eleuthera. During its visit to Harbour Island and Governor’s Harbour, a full program of films and festivities will be offered for the enjoyment of visiting Filmmakers, guests and local residents. The schedule of events to be held December 10-14, includes Opening Night Film and Welcome Reception at Coral Sands Resort, daily film screening at Seagrapes, Harbour Island and the Globe Princess Theater in Governor’s Harbour, and Closing Night Film and Farewell Party at Tippy’s, hosted by Odyssey. An Opening Night Party will be at Carrousel Yacht, and Closing Night Gala Party at Ocean Club Estates, Paradise Island.

From December 6-9 at various venues about Miami Beach, more than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa will take part in the 11th edition of Art Basel, showcasing works by more than 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Special exhibition sections feature young galleries, performance art, public art projects and video art. Angaelica, a non profit organization rooted in the arts and ecology, curates gallery events during Art Basel Miami, with these community events supporting and encouraging artists and filmmakers. Art Basel is an international contemporary art fair held each June in Basel, Switzerland. Similar to the Venice Biennale, it has been called “the Olympics of the art world”. Since 2002, a sister exhibition, Art Basel Miami has been held in the USA in Miami, Florida.

DocMiami International Film Festival is a Non-Profit 501c3 organization dedicated to providing a documentary film festival to promote the art form of up and coming documentary filmmakers and students’ from grades 6-12, at a local, national and international level. The festival, operating from North Miami Beach, format showcases three days of documentary filmmaking and three nights of music concerts, December 6-9. DocMiami’s music concerts benefit the non-profit, Brick by Brick for Tanzania. An Opening Night Cocktails and Dinner event feature the screening of ‘Concert’ by Richard Warren Rappaport. Festivities close with an Awards Gala featuring performances by: Tito Puente, Jr. (a member of the festival board), Kiki Sanchez and Eloy “Rali”.

Since its creation in 2003 the Angel Film Awards at Monaco International Film Festival – MIFF is held in the Principality of Monaco. It is a non-profit, independent film festival and art house event celebrating peace, love and movies. The Angel Film Awards team strives to help worthy productions gain the publicity and recognition they deserve with some AFA winners having gained distribution deals and secured financing through the festival. The Festival mandate stresses the importance of no gratuitous violence in film/entertainment, and also includes the submission of environmental, cultural and peace-promoting themes in films. The Festival’s emphasis is on promoting aesthetics in talent and filmmaker, and for films with a unique story. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre and Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo. Built on the site of the old Radio Monte Carlo building, the Monaco Gala premiere screening of ‘Dream Awake’, a feature drama (USA, 105 mins) will be followed by the Gala Evening Party with Red Carpet Champagne Reception at the Hermitage Hotel. The entire festival will be filmed for television broadcast.

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 placement highlighted art exhibit opening at Lower East Side’s Angel Orensanz Foundation of “A Portrait of America” which continues its run at the Joy Wai Gallery in Chelsea, NYC. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link (http://bit.ly/SyPjjX). Looking ahead into the next month that will open the new year of 2013, The Palm Springs International Film Festival will be based in the Coachella Valley at the base of Mt. San Jacinto. The Summer School (Australian summer) in Film making of the University of Melbourne’s Cinema Studies Program launches. TAP!2013, training conference in digital content creation, publishing, marketing and monetizing, will be in Orlando. The second annual Games Summit at 2013 International CES, produced by Digital Media Wire, is in Las Vegas. The Sundance Institute launches the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City. The Florida Media Market (FMM) created to fortify the Media industry in South Florida opens in Miami.

SXSW 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.

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

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

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

Aruba International Film Festival’s mission is to connect with, and convey to the international film community, awareness for the island’s

Tenor saxophonist eZra brown captured on the official 2011 poster for JazzAscona in Locarno, June 23 thru July 3. Source: Poster by Nicolas Pythoud - Picture by Massimo Pedrazzini

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into July event dates will help you prepare for:  LA Shorts Fest, in Hollywood, How To Publish You e-Book, in Jacksonville, Casual Connect Seattle 2011, in Seattle, 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival, in New York City to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor’s Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

Television Breakfast Workshop, Latin Grammy Awards, Media and Money, Valley of Flowers, Texas Filmmaker’s Showcase, G2E: Global Gaming Expo, American Music Awards, Billboard R&B, Hip-Hop Conference, are Selected Highlights For November Media and Entertainment Industry Career Networking Events

The American Film Market, a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed, collaborates with AFI Fest to present screenings on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community of a vast selection of indie works, happening in Santa Monica through November 11. For the Insights On Internet Television Breakfast Workshop, on November 6 in Los Angeles, Veoh Networks, an Internet television company, discusses how the industry and major players are revolutionizing the business of entertainment. American music legend Willie Nelson will be honored as an Icon at BMI’s 55th Annual Country Awards, November 6 in Nashville, the oldest awards saluting country’s top music makers. Streaming Media West 2007 happening in San Jose from November 6-8, covers the business of online video and the technology of streaming, downloading, Webcasting, Internet TV, IPTV, and mobile video. The Latin Recording Academy presents the 2007 Person of the Year Tribute at a Latin Grammy Awards related ceremony honoring Juan Luis Guerra on November 7 in Las Vegas. The Eighth Annual Latin Grammy Awards follows the next day — broadcast live on the Univision Network. Attend a Dow Jones and Nielsen Company two-day event uniting media and entertainment dealmakers with private and public investors to discuss how they can work together to profit, and how buyout firms, hedge funds and venture firms are prospecting new deals, valuing opportunities and structuring deals to maximize returns, at “Media and Money,” November 7-8 in New York. The Aurora Animation Festival fuses thematic film programmes, seminars, and debates with live performance, installation work and new films from across the world, during sessions that run from November 7-10 in Norwich, UK. A two-day IGDA Leadership Forum, on November 8 and 9 in Burlingame is focused on advancing the state of the art in game production and management, and is suited to producers, team leaders, project managers, studio directors, and all others seeking to learn and share techniques for leading teams in creating successful games.

Director Pan Nalin’s feature, “Valley of Flowers” (www.valleyofflowers.com), filmed in the remote and high altitude region of the Himalayas, and in Japan, has its New York premiere on November 9, coming off a Grand Jury Prize win at the IFFLA in April. A reception with Director and Cast follows the screening at a local art gallery. The Recording Academy’s Memphis Chapter presents “Indie Impact,” November 9-10 in New Orleans, focusing on digital music and the important business, creative and legal issues it presents to the music industry and consumers. The GiRL FeST Hawaii festival, whose mission is to prevent violence against women and girls through education and art, incorporates film, music, art, spoken word, and dance complemented by a mini-conference involving panels, lectures, outreach workshops, at sessions running November 9-18 in Honolulu. On November 10 Houston Film Commission hosts the Texas Filmmaker’s Showcase, a special screening event each June of Texas short films and videos under 45 minutes, presented to a select group of studio executives, agents and producers in the Hollywood film community, resulting in selected filmmakers being flown to Los Angeles for follow-up screenings and meetings with industry professionals at the Directors Guild of America Theater. The Michigan Production Alliance (MPA) in partnership with Detroit Women In Film and TV (DWIFTV) and The Detroit Film Society (DFS) holds a Filmmaker’s Marketing and Distribution Seminar on November 10 in Southfield to aimed at media professionals. The New York Production Technology Expo, focused on people who work with equipment; who rent and buy equipment; students and people who make creative decisions based on new and emerging technology, will be held in Brooklyn Navy Yard, on November 12 & 13.

Professionals in the interrelated areas of lighting, audio, special effects, projection and staging technologies can attend Live Design Wire 2007 Entertainment Industry Convention, to see the latest products, interface with vendors and attend educational conference sessions, November 12-18 in Orlando. At G2E: Global Gaming Expo, on November 13-15 in Las Vegas, investors, analysts, stockbrokers and investment professionals will learn about the financial future of leading gaming companies in forums, and attendants can enjoy the sounds of classic symphonic rock, jazz, new country, reggae and more at the G2E Entertainment Showcase located in the lobby. The Billboard Touring Conference and Awards unites today’s top touring professionals to discuss the current state of the industry when it meets November 14-15 in New York. The International Student Film Festival Hollywood offers a forum for student filmmakers around the world to showcase their films in Hollywood, and includes a discussion with Tim Lampros, Founder & CEO of ACT (Actors Certified Training) conducted at an opening day reception. The 35th annual American Music Awards – created by Dick Clark in 1973 as an alternative to the Grammy Awards – is hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 8 pm ET. Now in its eighth year, the Billboard R&B, Hip-Hop Conference and Awards combines conference sessions, artist showcases, networking opportunities which culminate in the awards program, from November 28-30 in Atlanta. The ongoing New Filmmakers series for independent filmmakers in New York, will screen Andrew William Flores LIAR’S PENDULUM, a psychological thriller set in the fictitious city of Johanna during the next Great Depression, on November 28.

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 Pan Nalin’s Himalayan epic “Valley of Flowers,” an Asian love story about passion, death and reincarnation spanning two centuries from remote and high altitude region of the Himalayas to modern day Tokyo (www.myspace.com/pannalin – www.valleyofflowers.com) Australian ambient music composer NakedSkin adapting its music to Fritz Lang’s 1927 Metropolis (www.youtube.com/Nakedskin – www.myspace.com/nakedskinlostsouls)  Laurence N. Kaldor’s comedy “Redirecting Eddie,” about a fledgling director who conquers sibling rivalry, finds parental acceptance, and discovers love while fighting to finish his first film (www.myspace.com/redirectingeddie – www.RedirectingEddie.com) Andrew William Flores LIAR’S PENDULUM, a psychological thriller set in the fictitious city of Johanna during the next Great Depression (www.liarspendulum.com – www.myspace.com/liarspendulum) Belgium based DocFilm’ Movie Productions making of music video Senkrecht Waagerecht (Confuse The Cat) (www.docfilm.be – www.myspace.com/docfilm_be). 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 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.