Thursday, August 11, 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into September event dates will help you prepare for:  Boston Film Festival, in Boston, Ottawa International Animation Festival, in Ottawa, Clearwater Film & Music Festival, in Clearwater Beach, NY International Film & TV Finance Summit, in New York, ICG's Emerging Cinematographer Awards, in Hollywood, to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor's Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.