AuditionInside Guest Article on audition faux pas... and... Asia Television Forum, Mixed Messages, Sync Summit, are highlights in December's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Guest article from AuditionInside
5 Ways to Not Get the Part...
By Zachary Miller -- Auditioninside

Every person has something that pisses them off. There’s always that one little thing that someone else does that throws you, wait... hurls you... off the edge! Lucky for you, we have interviewed some stage managers and grilled them about what really ticks them off! Lucky for me... I am not the one getting hired!

In this article, I will look at 5 ways to send your next potential stage manager over the edge at the audition.  Don’t want to get the part? Then do these 5 things and you surely will have no problem getting cut for a random “type out.” Hah!

1) Put no effort or thought into your resume, and I mean absolutely no stinking thought at all!  When a stage manager glances over your resume, he or she is getting a first impression of you. Don’t ruin the impression because you hand wrote your special skills in the margin or forgot to change the name of the person you copied the resume from!

2) Audition for something that you don’t want. Guess what?! Not wanting it shows clearly, even on the best liar’s face. Stage managers don’t want their time wasted just as much as you don’t want yours wasted! If you don’t want it, don’t audition.

3) Come to an audition that you know you can’t fill the requirements for! “Hey, even though the breakdown explicitly indicates ‘10 pull-ups required at the audition,’ I’m going to go even though I can’t.” Or...”I know this is an audition for a tap solo, but maybe they will look past the fact that I don’t tap and hire me for my jazz skill.” No...No...No. Again, refer to the second bullet point, don’t waste their time!

4) Don’t follow simple directions. Doing a backflip when they asked to see a back roll doesn’t impress anyone. It just shows you SUCK at following directions and should NOT be hired.

5) Use your phone at the audition. In fact, why not just talk on your phone in the waiting room, text when they are speaking to the group, and let the phone ring when the stage manager is calling your number. They really love that! I don’t believe any extra explanation is necessary here. Don’t use your phone AT ALL!

And there you go... 5 ways to not get the part... OR, really piss off your direct boss for your next year contract. Good luck with that!

All 5 ways to throw your stage manager over the edge were collected from actual stage managers. You wouldn’t believe the stories they had! AuditionInside wants to hear from you! Have you done anything extremely dumb in an audition? Have you seen anything in an audition that really irked the stage manager? Let us know at contact@auditioninside.com!

About the Author
This article was written by Zachary Miller, the founder of www.AuditionInside.com. Zachary spent his performance career as an acrobat, performing with cirque companies around the United States. Most notably, Zachary performed alongside Debbie Gibson in Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Walt Disney World. After experiencing the struggle to find consistent work during his performance career, Zachary decided to give back to the artist community. AuditionInside.com is a website designed for performance artists to find auditions, access artist resources and read performance news and advice. For more articles like the one you just read, visit www.AuditionInside.com/articles.

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Every Tuesday evening in New York City, right in the heart of Broadway, around the corner from The David Letterman Show, a singers open mic takes place. No call or appointment is needed to perform in front of the mic for Gotta Sing!. Aspiring singers are welcome to come in, sign up and sing! A pianist will be provided or singers are welcome to bring their own accompanist, tracks or be self-accompanied. From Broadway to Pop to Jazz to Country to Gospel to Opera to R&B to Singer Songwriters, this open mic welcomes all styles of musical performance, talented newcomers and experienced singers are all welcome. They will have an opportunity to gain experience and exposure in a nurturing environment. Judi Jourdan and Billy Shepard, who have operated Gotta Sing! since early 1980s, have put in their time in the industry as artists, directors and producers, nurturing new talent - referring to the performers as "our singing family" - and providing essential feedback drawn from their extensive wisdom and knowledge on how the industry works, which is over 25 years worth.

And that's not all there is to this singers showcase. Selected performers from Tuesday night will be handed an opportunity to be booked as a featured singer in a future Shepard and Jourdan Showcase for half an hour taking place on a Saturday night. Lately, the showcase has been looking to pass along the opportunity for young talented singers from Performing Arts Schools in Metro New York to take advantage of this opportunity to perform on stage in an open mic night and opportunity for booking their own show. Seeking singers from LaGuardia, Performing Arts School, Professional Children's School, Frank Sinatra School, AMDA, Juilliard, etc. Regardless of this latest endeavor, the GottaSing showcase remains open to all levels that wish to share a song and showcase their talents.

From Singapore, Asia Television Forum will be conducted as a forum to buy, sell, finance, distribute and co-produce, across all platforms, making the case for Asia’s TV and Film market and how they’re changing. ATF will be co-located this year with ScreenSingapore. Together, ScreenSingapore and ATF facilitates trading possibilities through a Film and TV market, conferences, networking opportunities, and gala film premieres. MIPAcademy, produced by Reed MIDEM, will present a one-day Master Class event focused on the ‘How To’ and targeting producers and executives from across the entertainment industry who want to learn from international industry professionals.

Activities get started with a pre-market conference on December 3. An opening keynote will be delivered by Sunny Xiangyang Zhu, Chief Content Officer, Youku Tudou Inc. on "Changing the Future of TV Content..." and then will tackle other areas: "The Future of Kids' TV in Asia Pacific", "New Media Strategy - Business Model and Monetising Opportunities". And there will be the launch of ATF's first Animation Lab, a three-day matchmaking platform dedicated to Asian animation producers who seek co-production and funding opportunities.

In another Forum highlight set for December 5, the Village Roadshow Entertainment Group Asia sets up a dialogue among film industry professionals who are engaged in the development, financing, production and marketing and distribution of Chinese films for the Mainland China market and beyond. Topics covered will be project selection and script development; financing and production management; and marketing and distribution. As the Forum winds down to its last day, December 6, a Dealmaking and Distribution panel will share insights on "How to sell your entertainment properties around the world."

Receptions and parties happening during Asia Television Forum include a Taiwan Pavilion Networking Reception, UK Indies Networking Drinks and Cocktails and Sushi Party on December 4. The French Cocktail session will be held in conjunction with the Singapore Hour and the Animation Lab Networking Session on December 5, then culminating with a Red Carpet Film Premiere.

Varied events and screenings happen in December with showcase events from the New School's Media Studies division as well as student achievements in media production and scholarship. Kinoscope, a December 3 screening series sponsored by the New York City located School of Media Studies, presents a screening of genius filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's Ikuru (1952), considered by some to be the iconic director's greatest achievement. It will be introduced by Kenji Fujishima, In Review Online editor-in-chief and Slant Magazine film critic. A discussion and reception with food and beverages follows the screening. Kinoscope’s mission is to enhance the awareness and understanding of the film and filmmaking process by screening a wide variety of national and international films.

Mixed Messages is an annual exhibition of curated works of film, video, sound, and other media created by graduate students of the School of Media Studies. Selected by a panel of jurors, the projects displayed in the gallery show range from installations and web-based projects to works on paper. There is an accompanying gallery exhibition starting with the December 4 opening, then running through December 18, at the IMC Lab + Gallery, where there will also be a reception on December 6.

The Media Studies program is also holding a Ruff Cuts III screening for New School students to attend, exhibit and discuss their media works while they are still in progress. All events are free, no tickets or reservations required but seating is first-come, first-served. Marshall McLuhan's colleague, John Culkin, brought his Center for Understanding Media to The New School in 1975 and The New School began offering the Master of Arts degree in media studies, one of the first graduate programs of its kind.

Sync Summit in Hollywood is meant to be a high-level, focused networking event where music supervisors, heads of music in visual and interactive media (TV, film, video games, advertising, the internet and mobile), label executives, publishers, music libraries, composers, artists, technologists, legal, accounting, brand managers and service providers gather for two days of discussion, networking and dealmaking beginning December 4. The goals for Sync Summit are organized to produce productive networking opportunities, presenting case studies of how music is discovered and used, point out evolving business models in the music and media market as well as creative and promotional considerations.

Summit sessions will be presented as a panel or Q&A chat format determinedly set this way to encourage dialog between attendees and speakers. Speakers delivering keynotes will include: Steve Lindsey of Warner/Chappell, Terry McBride, CEO, Nettwerk Music Group, Robert Kraft, Kraftbox, Mike Knobloch, President, Film Music and Publishing, Universal Pictures, Mathew Knowles, CEO, Music World Entertainment, Russell Ziecker, Head of Television Music and A&R, Lionsgate, Lori Silfen, SVP, Music, MGM. Day one of the two day summit concludes with the Sync Summit Reception and Party.

In one such planned session a panel consisting of rights holders and music supervisors from across the globe discuss the challenges and opportunities in doing business internationally. Then there will be a conversation between top directors, producers, music supervisors, composers, labels and publishers discussing the creative, thematic and practical roles of music in film. Topics covered include the integration of music in film throughout the creative process, best practices in clearance, collaboration and placement, discovery of music for a particular project, and how much music enhances the overall message and quality of the branding and story.

BMI, along with Hope Town Harbour Lodge, presents the First Annual Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival on Abaco Islands. Hosted by GAC’s Storme Warren, the festival which runs December 5-9 includes free performances from BMI affiliated songwriters and artists, including Jon Pardi, Dallas Davidson, Blair Daly, Kree Harrison, Native Run, Chris Farren, Ashley Gorley, Johnnie and Joe, Chris DeStefano, Rodney Clawson and Nicolle Galyon, at different venues across the island. The Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival will raise awareness and collect proceeds benefitting the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Every Child Counts, an alternative education program for children with learning, developmental or physical disabilities.

Combustion Records has collaborated with a score of country musicians such as Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Thompson Square, Dustin Lynch, Rascal Flats, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Martina McBride, and many others. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the largest non-profit music rights organization in the United States, represents over 600,000 country, jazz, and blues songwriters, composers, and publishers, and totals over 7.5 million works collectively.

Combustion Music first opened its doors in 2001 as an independent publishing/production company, first as a partnership with Windswept Pacific in L.A., and most recently partnering with Warner Chappell Music. Presently, as a Nashville independent publishing company, Combustion Music's successes include: 2009 GRAMMY Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance, and Record of The Year "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon; 2009 ASCAP Country Song of The Year "You're Gonna Miss This;" 2009 ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley; and additional GRAMMY nominations in the following categories Song of The Year, Best Rock Album, Best Country Collaboration, Best R&B Song, Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month includes guest blogger Zachary Miller, founder of web resource AuditionInside.com with a contributed excerpt on auditioning tips. This month's picture placement is drawn from  Warner Bros. Picture's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, opening December 13 in North American movie theaters. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: NMX - New Media Expo 2014 will be in Las Vegas, photo technology show, PMA International Convention And Trade Show, will also be held in Las Vegas, Florida Media Market Conference will be in Miami, London Short Film Festival, a UK-only showcase, will be in London, Asia Television Forum will happen in Singapore, culture and events fair, International Kulturborse Freiburg, happens in Freiburg, Sundance Film Festival returns to Park City, Grammy weekend in Los Angeles leads up to the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Monaco International Clubbing Show, American Film Market, Salon de la Photo, Billboard Touring Conference, are highlights in November's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The TV Connect trade show in Dubai strives to influence and advance the television service, delivery and telecom sector for the North Africa region through its resources. Planned lecture sessions, business seminars and conferences will put emphasis on issues like IPTV, OTTtv, multiscreen and Cloud TV services for local TV manufacturers and service providers. The event, once mostly rooted in IPTV, has evolved to include significant emphasis on OTTtv, multiscreen and Cloud TV services for regional TV service providers. The program agenda will shed light on monetising OTTtv, achieving the best broadcast quality through technologies including CDNs, transparent caching and web acceleration, the connected home, advice on growing revenue through the next level of quad-play services, focus on data centres and the debate on the convergence of telco business into caching business.

In a close-up of Day Two events on November 6 when the show closes, "Multi-screen services becoming part of the Digital Home" will offer insights into: Outlook of the Home of the Future and Facilitating Connected Lifestyles by Using the Power of 4G/LTE Network. A session on "User Interface and Content Discovery" shows the impact of social media on TV viewing habits - Defining Social TV and Taking content discovery to the next level by offering a premium user interface. TV Connect Middle East and North Africa will seek global exposure for all the leading domestic as well as international brands and service providers for showcasing various kinds of industrial products and services.

The Monaco International Clubbing Show (MICS) is an international meeting and forum assembled to address the needs of the nightlife and clubbing industry. The annual event, now in its fourth year happens in Monte Carlo. The highlights for this event are the conference, the exhibits and the DJ Festival. In the opening November 6 conference session, DJ Joachim Garraud, Sylvain Berretaga of Electrobeach Festival, and Fabrice Gadeau of Rex Club participate in a discussion on the rising prospects and profile within the DJ industry. The very next day, November 7, Dominique Wolton, Director of the Institute of Science and Communication of CNRS, and Pierre Chambon from UMIH Nuit will host speakers: Pierre Thomas of By Pass, Lionel Azoulay of Hostplatinium and Frederic Poulet of Optimize CHR as they build the case for how social networks are at the heart of commercial relations in todays nightlife establishments and in particular how Facebook remains the most effective tool for successful digital communication.

Another highlighted feature of the exposition are the showcase-clubbing parties. The Life Club is the official nightclub for these events, and on November 6, after the NRJ DJ Awards, there is an Official After Party with the dutch superstar AFROJACK for an exclusive DJ Set, followed by Reepublic, Niki Belucci, Paulette, Dj Oriska and Maeva Carter. On November 7, the dutch producer behind the record label Mixmash - Laidback Luke -  spins the turntables for an evening. On November 8, the DJ resident of the « Caves Du Roy » in Saint-Tropez, Jack-E, takes a turn. And on November 9, DJ Sub Zero, known as an American oriented French DJ, makes a return to the scene since two years that passed after his first performance at MICS.

AFM is the anticipated, annual film event that's not quite festival, not quite conference, but mostly business opportunity -- the business of independent motion picture production and distribution -- set oceanside along Santa Monica beach. AFM will run from November 6-13. The AFM Conference Series will happen November 8-12, and will include conferences on Finance, Pitching, Production, Marketing and Distribution. Adam Carolla, comedian, podcast king, New York Times Best Selling Author and recent crowd funding leader, will deliver the Keynote Address at the American Film Market’s Production Conference on November 10. A Pitch Conference will be conducted November 9, and audience participants (pre-registered in advance) who will pitch to a panel of Hollywood decision makers, give feedback on each pitch - explaining what worked, what didn't and why.

A special session on "How to Work the AFM" will be presented by Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director, on November 6 and 9, and is limited to 100 people. New for 2013, the AFM Producers Forum offers access to specially designed educational sessions, including co-productions, working with sales agents, production incentives, and the amenities that lead to great networking and private hosted receptions. Another new presentation this year is "Hong Kong: Asia's Co-production Centre and Gateway to China" which will be made by: Zhou Tiedong, President, China Film Promotion International (CFPI), Maria Orzel, Producer, Studio Strada, Jeffrey Chan, CEO, Distribution Workshop on November 7. Core Barre will be held at Exhale Spa at Fairmont Miramar Hotel on November 9, Yoga Flow at Viceroy Hotel - Bristol Patio on November 10 and both events are open to all AFM Badge holders.

AFM is produced by the Independent Film and Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide. The American Film Market (AFM) is the market partner of AFI FEST. The association between the two events connects art and commerce (more on AFI in the next story below). AFM badges will allow access to many AFI events, including all public screenings. AFI FEST badges will allow access to the AFM screenings. AFI FEST filmmakers, whose films are part of the festival, will have full access to AFM (and to be able to promote their film to the AFM participant distributors. Shuttle buses will move participants between Santa Monica and Hollywood.

American Film Institute offers film enthusiasts a variety of events throughout the year, including AFI Fest every November in Hollywood presented by Audi. It operates in tandem with AFM in nearby Santa Monica running nearly identical dates. A Gala Tribute screening of 'Osage County' directed by John Wells is set for November 8. In this dramatic comedy Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts head an all star cast about a crisis that reunites the women of an Oklahoma family and re-ignites their dysfunction. Festival-goers will be able to obtain available tickets online at AFI.com/AFIFEST beginning Nov 2 until the last day of the festival, November 14. Additional tickets will be available all day, every day through Closing Night online and at the festival's box office.

As a non-profit educational and cultural organization, American Film Institute carries a mandate to preserve the history of the motion picture, honor the artists and their work and educate the next generation of storytellers. It preserves the legacy of America's film heritage for future generations through the AFI Archive, comprised of rare footage from across the history of the moving image and the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, an authoritative record of American films from 1893 to the present. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards. AFI FEST holds the FIAPF accreditation (FIAPF.org), assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community.

Salon de la Photo is the annual Parisian trade show and conference for creative professionals looking to update or enhance their studio and location equipment, get new tips and techniques, network with industry mentors and imaging gurus. From November 7-11 daily meetings with experts will be used to review legal, retouching, video, photographic projects, portfolio sessions, Visual correspondence. Demonstrations will be held of making and projecting picture shows (photo + video) via a programme of screenings and events focusing on the methods and tools available today from digital technology. Three topics are covered: Designing the show: taking the pictures, Making the show: software tools, Projecting the show: video-projection

Polka magazine will be organizing signing sessions with photographers. Portfolio sessions will take place every morning with members of the editorial team. In the afternoon: discussions and Q&A sessions with experts from the magazine take place. Fisheye magazine will launch its first photo competition at the Salon de la Photo, entitled "Suprise Us". There will be experts giving technical advice for underwater photography. Five pro and amateur photographers reveal how they made photography their profession, talking about the choices they have made and the way they organize themselves in order to make a living from it. The Salon de la Photo is giving the ZOOM awards for the third year running. Nine photo magazines editors each choose their favourite up-and-coming professional photographer (French or living in France) who has real but as yet insufficiently recognized talent and whose work deserves to be brought to the attention of the general public.

Also on display will be the famous photography collection belonging to fashion designer agnès b., showing works by major photographers and new talents she supports as a patron of the arts and a gallery owner. The works exhibited are a selection of some sixty photographs chosen by her on the theme of “the young girl in the city”. Another featured exhibition will be  a retrospective of the work of Raymond Cauchetier, humanist photographer and emblematic figure of Nouvelle Vague film set photography. He began as a film set photographer when film producer Marcel Camus asked him to take photos for his film 'Mort en Fraude'. He captured a notably iconic image of Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo on the Champs-Elysées in 'Breathless'. He then worked on 'Lola', Jacques Demy’s first feature film, 'Adieu Philippine' by Jacques Rozier, 'Jules et Jim' by François Truffaut, 'Landru' by Claude Chabrol and other films most particularly with Jean-Luc Godard.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is organizing the second “State of the Entertainment Industry” conference for one day on November 12. The conference theme will be “Highlighting the Value of Hollywood’s Entertainment Industry to Los Angeles and California.” The conference is being presented by Variety and admission includes continental breakfast sponsored by Paramount Pictures and luncheon sponsored by The Hollywood Museum. Co-chairs of the conference are Paul Audley, President of FilmL.A., Inc and Chris Barton, Executive Vice President, Hudson Pacific. Speakers at the conference will be addressing the issues of how important the Entertainment Industry is for Los Angeles and what the outlook is for the future. The day closes with a cocktail reception.

At “State of the Entertainment Industry”, a special “Commitment to California” Award will be presented to an as yet unnamed awardee in the industry who has worked to keep production in-state. Last year’s honoree was Anthony E. Zuicker of CSI. Two days afterward on November 14 the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will hold its - unrelated - Leadership Luncheon Series with Assemblymember Richard Bloom at the Hollywood Chamber offices. This is a free event but space is limited, so it is essential to RSVP to the Hollywood Chamber in advance. The Mission of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is to promote and enhance the business, cultural and civic well-being of Hollywood. Significant accomplishments have come out of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce since its formation. For example, the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame exist today due to the efforts of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Started in 2004, the Billboard Touring Conference and Awards is an annual meeting sponsored by Billboard Magazine which also honors the top international live entertainment industry artists and professionals. Taking place in New York City for two days starting November 13, some program highlights include a featured keynote Q&A with Roger Waters whose most recent tour, The Wall Live, which captured Top Tour honors at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards, an artist development panel with Florida Georgia Line, a Grateful Dead panel featuring Skrillex and Warren Haynes, and the Touring Conference Awards honoring George Strait. Each year features a keynote speaker from the performance industry, who in the past have included the likes of Gene Simmons of Kiss and 3 Doors Down.

On day one, following a late afternoon conference presentation: "Agents In The New World Order..." there will be an Agency Forum in which attendees can get some face time with active agents in all genres of touring including: Comedy, Country, Hip-Hop/R&B, Rock, Pop, Hard Rock/Metal, EDM. At the close of day one there is a "Welcome Cocktail Reception" followed by the 10th Anniversary Billboard Touring Conference Concert with performances by Florida Georgia Line with Dallas Smith and Chris Lane. The conference day closes with a Pre-Awards Reception, followed by The Billboard Touring Awards hosted by Gary Dell'Abate.

Beginning day two of the conference and following opening remarks from Ray Waddell, Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment, Billboard, the subject matter of targeted and efficient marketing opportunities brought about by digital media,  mobile, social, e-mail, push marketing, and an array of non-traditional sales channels will be addressed in "Music Marketing In the Digital Age", moderated by Joyce Szudzik, VP of Digital, AEG Live. Toward the end of day two, a pre-awards reception opens for the main event to follow in which Billboard will honor the industry’s top artists, venues and professionals of the year at the annual Billboard Touring Awards reception based on the Billboard Boxscore chart recognizing box office success and industry achievement in the period of October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights the Salon de la Photo photography exposition in Paris, France. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: International Film & TV Finance Summit will be in New York City, Florida Media Market will be held in Miami, 2nd Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival will be in Mumbai, Art Basel will be at Miami Beach, Asia Television Forum will be happen in Singapore, Cineasia Hong Kong 2013 will be in Hong Kong.

Austin City Limits, MIPCOM, Hawaii International Film Festival, PhotoPlus International, are highlights in October's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

IndieCade in Culver City supports independent game development and organizes a series of international events showcasing the future of independent games. The flagship festival is held each October in Culver City, with this year's festival running through October 6, and is open to the industry and to the public. Events include festival workshops, master classes, a professional conference track, keynotes, and family-focused activities, meet-and-greets with game creators, hands-on gameplay with a GameWalk, live games, Night Games and numerous social events. IndieXchange sessions are designed to help intermediate to advanced developers push each other up to the next level. It's a full-day opportunity to network with peers, attend clinics and master classes, and discuss common challenges and  opportunities. IndieCade’s Night Games are a series of Big, Table and Digital games best played under cover of darkness. The party starts at 20:00 Saturday in the IndieCade Village. IndieCade was formed by Creative Media Collaborative, an alliance of industry producers and leaders founded in 2005.

Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival now happens over two weekends - October 4-6 and October 11-13 - and now encompasses eight stages and over 130 bands. Acts that have been confirmed for the 2013 lineup include: Roadkill Ghost Choir, Caspar Babypants, Whiskey Shivers, Alanna Royale, My Jerusalem, Houndmouth, Ms Mr, Depeche Mode, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Red Baraat, Delta Rae, Autre Ne Veut, Neko Case, Kendrick Lamar, Tame Impala, Toro Y Moi, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Arctic Monkeys, Little Green Cars, Noah and the Whale, Lionel Richie and so many more.

In between ACL conference weeks, the Captivate Conference, October 6-8 at Palmer Center, hosts industry talent from a number of digital entertainment industries spanning film, games, mobile and music. The sessions and workshops focus on learning tools and events set up for the professional musician and products for consumers. In separate but related activities, SXSW Eco will run for its third year, opening on October 7, and connecting professionals spanning the public, private and academic sectors who are all working toward finding solutions to  challenges facing civil society, the economy and the natural world.

Wanderlust Yoga, another mid-weekend event, is hosting an October 8 yoga class at the Long Center Pavilion during the week between the two ACL Fest weekends to benefit SafePlace. It will be a flow class led by five talented teachers and accompanied by live music. Attendees will enjoy refreshments from local vendors, a raffle of exciting prizes and a view of the entire Austin cityscape. The ACL Art Market is located in the center of Zilker Park where booths are open throughout the duration of the Festival. And aside from the daytime weekend showcases, there are the Official 2013 Late Night Shows that will bridge the two weekends, and features many of the same musical acts billed for the ACL Music Fest showcase.

The Bel Air Film Festival - BAFF for short - in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas is an annual international film festival offering attending filmmakers access to a series of film panels, music performances, gala events, and screenings of all genres including documentaries, animations, short films, student films, and comedies. The World Premiere of Feature Film Romatic-Comedy "Producer Sam" Followed by Red Carpet Gala at the Hammer Museum happens on October 10. The Festival will honor films in the following categories: Documentary Film, Feature Film, Short Film, Student Short Film, Comedy Short Film. The Bel-Air Film Festival hosted its first inaugural event in 2008 at a private estate located in Bel-Air, California. Even today some screenings are held at private luxury estates in Bel-Air and throughout theaters in Beverly Hills, on the UCLA campus, throughout Westwood, and into greater Los Angeles.

Each annual Bel Air Film Festival launches with a red carpet opening night gala and provides networking with  industry professionals. The Los Angeles Premiere of feature documentary "Unclaimed," will be October 8 at 19:00, followed by Q & A with Director Emmy Award Winner Michael Jorgensen. It is free to attend. There will be free admission to the USC film panel hosted by FilmBreak, Ripple News and moderated by Entertainment Attorney Mitra Ahouraian, on October 9 and the Hammer Museum After Party on October 10. An October 13 film panel hosted by FilmBreak, Ripple News, and moderated by entertainment attorney Mitra Ahouraian will be on the topic "Video On-Demand: Market Potential and Opportunities in Marketing and Merchandising" marks the close of the Festival.

Organized and run by Reed MIDEM, MIPCOM in Cannes is a yearly global market for entertainment TV content across all platforms. In four days beginning October 7, visitors to MIPCOM can come to discover and acquire the newest content in every genre and platform, gain industry knowledge, understand ongoing trends, learn new business models, finance their projects, find co-production partners, network and do deals with the decision-makers in the international television broadcasting and entertainment Industry. The MIPCOM 2013 programme will include the Media Mastermind Keynote Series, World Premiere Screenings, conferences, matchmaking and networking events.

This year in association with Shine International, Kudos, Shine France Films, Sky Atlantic HD and CANAL+, “The Tunnel,” is featured in MIPCOM’s World Premiere TV Screening on October 7. The conference's anticipated keynotes will be made by executives including: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer and Director, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Roma Khanna, President, Television Group and Digital of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Dan Rose, VP of Partnerships, Facebook, Michael Wright, President and Head of Programming, TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. Jeffrey Katzenberg has been named MIPCOM 2013 Personality of the Year and will accept the award on October 9 during a gala dinner for industry executives at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes.

This year, planned matchmaking and networking opportunities seek to accelerate business in different media sectors and provide practical solutions for business development. Animation buyers can take advantage of this planned opportunity to discover new prorgrams from some of Japan's' independent animation studios. MIPCOM and the Argentine National Film Board (INCAA) bring special focus to Argentina’s television production industry as this year's "Country of Honor". Argentina plays host to this year’s Opening Night Party, sponsored by the Argentine National Film Board (INCAA) and a dealmakers lunch the day after. A line-up of new leading executives and discover programming and production trends out of Africa, reportedly, a region undergoing innovation and fast growth in this field.

Screamfest from October 8-17 in North Hollywood premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. The opening night feature, 'Beneath', is followed by the Opening Night Party. Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects and Musical Score. In addition, there are special categories for Best Animation, Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.

On October 15, a Screamfest Q&A panel moderated by Peter DeBruge, senior film critic for Variety is paneled by: Don Handfield, producer, Ray Siegle, stunt person, Michael Colleary, writer/producer, Lucy Mukerjee, SVP Development at After Dark Films. The discussion tackles issues of: "The Art, Business and Future of Genre Filmmaking" -- also to be viewable via live-streaming video hosted by CraveOnline and ScreenCraft. The festival has hosted its share of notable filmmakers as guests, including Sam Raimi, Williiam Friedkin, Wes Craven, Eli Roth, John Landis, and ushered in well regarded horror flicks: David Arquette's The Tripper, Paranormal Activity, 30 Days Of Night, Wolf Creek, Cube: Zero and others.

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) was founded in 1989. This past year marked the 21st Anniversary of the New Orleans Film Festival, which has grown into a showcase of local, regional, national, and international films. In addition to the annual Film Festival each fall - this year from October 10-20 - the NOFS hosts special events throughout the year: the French Film Festival, the New Orleans International Children’s Film Festival, and other events designed to benefit local film audiences, artists, and professionals. The NOFS also presents two monthly film series, one at the Contemporary Arts Center and one with the Porch 7th Ward Cultural Organization. Since NOFF is dedicated to nurturing new voices and making and making them feel welcome in New Orleans, it has, in recent years provided two complimentary nights of lodging for every attending filmmaker along with a Festival All-Access pass to enjoy all films, parties and more.

The Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu is an official partner with Academy of Motion

HIFF will conduct a New Media Camp right up to closing date, October 17-20. It is to be an intensive video workshop with hands-on guidance and expertise from working professionals ranging from successful YouTube partners and content producers, working filmmakers in traditional media, social media experts, and Hollywood actors who will assist in tweaking craft skills in the production of a three minute video that will be presented on the final day of the workshop at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18. There is also the Creative Lab Writers Accelerator program that gives participants an opportunity to delve further into the craft, provide them with direction on the business of writing and help create a plan to assist them in taking their next steps to career fulfillment.

On October 19, SAG-AFTRA presents a workshop on the inner processes of casting diverse projects fielding a panel of industry casting directors, producers, directors and actors, some of whom have films in the 2013 Festival. After the panel, selected members of the audience will get the opportunity to test their audition skills and receive immediate feedback from the panel. HIFF started as a project of the East-West Center, an educational and research institution created by U.S. Congress and located on the University of Hawai`i Manoa campus in Honolulu.

Every two years, for 11 days, film festival goers can immerse themselves in feature films, documentaries, shorts, animations and new media works, as the Adelaide Film Festival curates a screening program along with a forum program designed to explore program themes and approaches to film methodology. The festival based in Glenside will be relevant to both the general public and industry professionals introducing it's audience to innovative areas of screen practice that reflect current and future trends in the film and new media screen-based industries.

The Adelaide Film Festival October 10 Opening Night Gala will showcase 'Tracks', starring Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre, Stoker) and Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls, Frances Ha, Inside Llewyn Davis) and directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil, We Don’t Live Here Anymore). Following the screening, the festivities switch over to the Freemasons Hall for a gala after-party, to celebrate 10 years of the Adelaide Film Festival and the array of Australian and international films being presented in 2013.

On October 11, Bill Morrison will probe topics of screen works with Laurence Weshler, former director of the Humanities Research Institute, New York University. Morrison's work is known to make use of rare archival footage in which forgotten film imagery is reframed as part of collective mythology. He has been commissioned to create films for contemporary composers, including John Adams, Dave Douglas, Michael Gordon, Henryk, Górecki and Steve Reich. And on October 14, Morrison will open up the different ways that archival film and found footage can be used in a 90 minute Masterclass.

On October 13, guests from across Australia, and outside the region via Skype, explore the world of online content in a forum at Mercury Cinema. Topics that will be covered include: comedy, documentary, drama, soap opera and educational storytelling. It will take on issues about who is making money and how they are doing it, who is watching and whether webisodes are the new step stone into the moving image industries. The forum will culminate with a launch of the 2014 Guidelines for the MRC's annual Web TV! Webisode Production Initiative. Following the screening of Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s on October 16 at Palace Nova Cinemas, a special event follows at the Festival Club over lunch and drinks when attendees can enjoy a fashion parade of genuine period outfits from the private collection of Catwalk Connections (the people behind Frock Around the Clock). The show will also feature rare fashion items and objects of curiosity from across the decades.

The PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is an annual New York City photography event for professionals, students, educators and enthusiasts concerned with the latest developments and techniques in photography, video and digital imaging. From October 23-26 visitors to the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo can explore over 300 exhibits, see new products, attend conference seminars, keynote presentations, special events. Donald Pettit, Mark Seliger, and Rick Smolan will each deliver keynote presentations at PhotoPlus. On opening conference day, panel presentation "20/20 Vision: What Will Photography Look Like in the Next Decade?" features a panel of photo industry experts and thought leaders discussing technology, issues and desires, and envisioning the future of photography. Admission is free for all registered attendees. Portfolio Review sessions will happen October 24-26. The review program features over 175 veteran professionals with the visitor able to select and prioritize the reviewers they want to meet with. Every registrant for the Official Portfolio Review program receives free admission to PhotoPlus Expo. The Expo celebrates its 30 year history this year with a party that will include three hours of food, beverages, photo ops, and fun.

Known as “The Writer’s Festival,” for the past 19 years, Austin Film Festival has sought to distinguish its festival program by selecting films that display strong storytelling, both written and visual. This year is Austin Film Festival's 20th Anniversary. In addition to the Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature categories, this year there has been added a new "Dark Matters" category to showcase horror films. The festival will present a program of narrative, animation and documentary features and shorts, including premieres, advanced screenings, and independent films. Film screenings are complemented by informative Q&A sessions with cast members and filmmakers.

The AFF conference, dedicated to the screenwriting practice, will cover areas like: researching and editing your story, creating and funding a film, working with a writing partner, facing a blank page on a bad day,  risking a new direction after established success. Parties and social network events include Opening Night Reception, hosted by Austin Film Commission, followed later on by the WGA West Late Night Welcome Party hosted by Craig Mazin. The night before the official festival open, there will be the 11th annual "Film and Food Party", an evening dedicated to honoring Austin as both a nationally recognized thriving film industry and renowned culinary hotspot. Proceeds from the event benefit AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program. Then there will be a Starz Media Conference Wrap Party on October 26.

Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Hollywood includes panels, Q&As and case studies with composers, music supervisors, artists and executives from across the film, television, advertising and music industries, leading discussions on the pressing issues in the Film and TV community, for two days, October 29-30. Brought back by popular demand, attendees have the opportunity to engage in 10-minute sit-downs with active song reps in the business, and submit their pitches and music. Industry notables scheduled to take part include: Michele Wernick, EVP, Music Placement; Michael Fey, Creative Licensing, Shoot the Noise Music Peter Shurkin, Select Tracks; Cindy Badell-Slaughter, President, Heavy Hitters Music Group, Peter Shurkin, Senior Director-Creative, Select Tracks; Sven Spieker, Mighty Generation Music; Anny Colvin, Position Music and others.

Grammy®-winning producer, musician and songwriter T Bone Burnett will receive the Maestro Award at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Conference. Burnett will be honored for his work in film and television music, most recently as executive music producer of “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the CBS Films release that opens in theaters December 20. Burnett will host a Q&A after the award presentation. A late panel on closing day, the eve of Halloween, "Halloween, Horror and Hollywood", focuses on the artistry of horror films with the topic dissected by a panel of experts from the world of chilling movies. The Film and TV Music Conference Closing Night Party will be hosted by John Anderson and PJ Bloom at Avalon. Costumes are optional.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights festivals of horor and gore reflecting the upcoming Halloween period and the Hawaii International Film Fest. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it (http://actorschecklist.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/HorrorPics.jpeg and http://actorschecklist.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/HIFF2013Poster.jpg). In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: The annual American Film Market (AFM) arrives in Santa Monica. Running across town in Los Angeles and having a market partnership with AFM is American Film Institute (AFI) Film Fest in Los Angeles. Monaco International Clubbing Show will be in Monaco. Supanova Pop Culture Expo Brisbane will happen in Brisbane. Annual Content and Communications World is in New York City. Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair opens in Dubai.

Toronto International Film Fest, Game Music Connect, Dubai Music Week, The Film Society, are highlights in September's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Ezra Brown - saxophonist, keyboardist, music director, arranger - has released his debut album, 'The Journey', available on iTunes (as of September 3 on the iTunes “Jazz Album Under $8” Bestseller list), Google Play, CD Baby and Amazon. An album tour is underway, and a September 6 date in Yokohama features a birthday party celebration in live music lounge and restaurant, KAMOME Live Matters. There are many tour dates in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo and other cities, but on September 14, the tour ventures to Kuala Lumpur for the one day KL International Jazz Festival. After Kuala Lumpur, other dates include September 25 in Tokyo, September 28 in Mito, September 29 in Kyoto, September 30 in Osaka, and the first date of the new month, October 3 in Kamkura city. There are more dates in October and into November

Ezra Brown, who has worked with Grammy Award winning artists: Cassandra Wilson, John Forte, Dorothy Moore, Charlie Daniels, Miki Howard, is currently involved in several projects. He serves as music director for Blue Nefertiti (one half of the group Les Nubians); as a member ofT he Mighty Embassy Ensemble for up and coming hip-hop artist Blitz the Ambassador.; and as a band member for Cheryl Pepsii Riley at The Village Underground in New York City, the top R & B open mic night in the country. You can hear Ezra on MTVu’s Live Sessions, where he is featured with Blitz the Ambassador and John Forte “Breathe” video on MTVu.

The Toronto International Film Festival traditionally opens the Thursday night after Labour Day (the first Monday in September in Canada). Films are categorized into Programs to better organize the selection. In one of the festival's program categories, "Wavelengths", filmmaker Jean-Marie Straub continues his exploration of classic texts with this "collaboration" involving the great 16th-century writer of the 'Essais'. In Hollywood studios premiere their films at TIFF due to the Festival's non-competitive nature, relatively inexpensive costs, enthusiastic and cinema knowledgeable audiences and other factors. This year the Festival hosts a September 7 Gala event, "Celebrating 100 Years of Indian Cinema", reflecting 100 years of inspired work by Indian filmmakers. Dinner and a reception are included for this event.

The Toronto International Film Festival's major prize, the People's Choice Award, is given to a feature-length film with the highest ratings as voted by the Festival-going populace. TIFF Bell Lightbox has come to be regarded for film related exhibitions and moving image artworks that reach a junction between cinema and the visual arts. Specal exhibition: "David Cronenberg: Transformation" will feature six new TIFF-commissioned artworks by leading Canadian and international contemporary artists who share David Cronenberg's inspirations from literature and philosophy—writers such as McLuhan, Burroughs and Ballard—and his fascination with biological horror, the human psyche and the merging of humans and media. The festival closes on September 15.

Game Music Connect will happen in London for one day only on September 9 and is suited to fans of music in games, aspiring and professional composers of all backgrounds and those interested in learning about the art and science of creating today’s cutting edge video game soundtracks. The format will have interviews and roundtable discussions with composers and audio directors in the video games industry. Included in a line-up of British and international composer talent will be ASCAP member Martin O’Donnell (Destiny, Halo series) and PRS affiliates James Hannigan (Dead Space 3, Command & Conquer series, Harry Potter series) and Joris de Man (Killzone series) – and will be hosted by composer, audio director and commentator John Broomhall (X-COM series, Transport Tycoon, A Christmas Carol). Audio directors from both independent and major developers and publishers will also participate.

In one of the Game Music panels, "Soundcard to Symphony", game composers - Martin O’Donnell, Jesper Kyd, Jason Graves, James Hannigan, Joris de Man, Richard Jacques, John Broomhall (Chair) - outline their personal journeys into scoring videogames, together with their inspiration and influences, reflecting on the past, present & future of game music design and application The day’s programming will comprise in-depth discussions with celebrated composers and audio directors, including insights into their diverse career paths and scoring experiences as well as practical demonstrations of interactive music and previews of next-gen original scores. The day will feature a composer panel exploring the evolution of video game music and a philosophical discussion of the art form and its future.

International Broadcasting Convention, or just IBC, is an annual event staged in Amsterdam for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide. This year's convention which runs September 12-17 has conference themes that reflect: technological innovations to engage viewers and create a more engaging entertainment experience; advances in industry collaboration and standards that affect business and content production; global impact of the internet on all aspects of traditional television and its affect on the future of traditional broadcasting; emergence of event television and the production, broadcast, distribution and monetisation of content in these digital spaces and other areas.

Keynote speaking presentations at the IBC conference open with Bob Harris, Chief Technology Officer, Channel 4 Television, but will also include: Robert M. Bakish, President & CEO, Viacom International Media Networks, Morten Hesseldahl, Executive Director of Cultural Affairs, DR, Danish Broadcasting Company, Keith Hindle, CEO, Digital and Branded Entertainment, Fremantle Media, Tony Wang, General Manager, Twitter, UK and others. IBC is owned by six industry partners that represent both exhibitors and visitors. They include: The International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, The Royal Television Society, The Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

San Diego Music Thing Conference and Festival opens September 13 for a two day run. Attendees can sharpen their skills and knowledge of the music business through interactive and roundtable sessions with notable panelists and featured speakers operating in the music business. Conference opening panel: "Music Industry 101: The Basics 2013", features speakers in discussion on what anyone needs to know about getting started in the business of music. Later that same day, another workshop session, "Dos and Don'ts of Music Distribution", covers setting up your music for sale in all formats and why YouTube is important to all performing music.

Planned day time activities include a trade show, happy hour parties, listening stations and pop up live performances, as well as a chance to meet and mingle with industry professionals and artists. Kim Gordon, a founding member of noise-rock band Sonic Youth -- and who has been involved in numerous collaborations with other artists and musicians makes a featured speaker presentation at the end of day one. Bands and music artists scheduled for performances include: Ra Ra Riot, New Politics, Titus Andonicus, Milo Greene, Fidlar, The Album Leaf, Unwritten Law, Mike Herrera, Wild Nothing, The Silent Comedy, LIttle Hurricane, Body/Head featuring Kim Gordon and over 150 more.

Chartered in 1991, conference organizer, the San Diego Music Foundation, was created to make music performance accessible to children of need in San Diego County by providing them with a hands-on vehicle, - the guitar - to express themselves creatively. Over its 20 year history, the organization has served K-8 students county-wide from Chula Vista to Fallbrook. In subsequent years the organization has broadened its focus and service areas, providing forums to increase local musicians' understanding of the music business, get performance exposure within the local and national music communities, and to publicly recognize the breadth and diversity of the San Diego music scene.

Oaxaca FilmFest, founded in the City of Oaxaca de Juarez in 2010, is intent on presenting works representative of achievement in cinema, creating opportunities for filmmakers, and providing audiences with outstanding entertainment. Planned for this year's festival running September 21-28, Oaxaca FilmFest 2013 has scheduled eight days of international film on par with those being exhibited anywhere in the world today, an international script writer symposium, special events, tours of the region, academic opportunities and those anticipated Oaxaca FilmFest after-parties. Other aspects of the festival include the program Academia -- a five day training program designed to enhance festival attendees' self-distribution skills for those that have producer ambitions. The festival also features "Pitch It", a platform that allows screenwriters to sell their scripts to industry executives around the globe in a designated meeting place.

Dubai Music Week is an annual B2B/B2C event dedicated to establishing the music industry in the region with: seminars, conferences and workshops, trade show and exhibition, live concerts, networking events and competitions connecting Middle East and Asia with Europe and North America. The six day event which opens September 24 is the brainchild of music impressario Quincy Jones and is also structured as a platform for rising artists and launching new talent. The convention will host the ‘Emirates World Exclusive Quincy Jones Seminars, and on September 25 Quincy Jones will invite music industry icons Timbaland and will.i.am on stage to discuss music production with fans, and to launch the first cross-over talent from across the region.

On September 24 at DMW, fans of Michael Jackson’s music will be able to hear directly from the multi-Grammy winning production team fueling the success of the King of Pop’s record-breaking albums -- 'Thriller', 'Off The Wall' and 'Bad'. Members of the team at this convention -- Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Bruce Swedien and Siedah Garrett -- offer reflections on the experience of producing the greatest selling albums of all time. On September 27 a Keynote Conference is scheduled and will be presented by Frank Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer at PepsiCo Global Consumer Engagement, PepsiCo, also Shridhar Subramaniam, President of Middle East and India at Sony Music Entertainment.

MIDEM, the renowned global music convention held in Cannes every year since 1967, is an official DMW Conference Partner. Dubai Music Week in association with MIDEM will present a series of Music Conferences and Workshops with senior executives and Founders of companies such as Anghami, Saavn, Times Music, Orange, Sacem and BMI. Conference organizer, G3 is a cross-cultural music and entertainment company with offices in Dubai and Los Angeles. Founded by legendary music producer Quincy Jones and Emirati social entrepreneur Badr Jafar, the company is launching a series of initiatives and productions that is attempting to change the future of the music industry and live entertainment in the Middle East and North African region.

Known as a one stop training, exposition and networking event, Digital Video Expo brings together a gathering of technology innovators and content creation professionals to downtown Los Angeles from September 25-26. The conference agenda has over 50 conference sessions in two conference programs covering content creation and storage. The Los Angeles Post Production Group will hold their monthly September meeting at DV Expo immediately following the close of the exhibit hall floor on September 25. Cocktails will be served. The meeting is free and open to all attendees of Digital Video Expo. A new free special event, Video Edge Live! is a conference program designed for professionals who produce and deliver online video for media and entertainment, enterprise, educational, and government applications. Pro Media Conference is back this year at Digital Video Expo. PMC motivates and engages participants through a series of papers, case studies, and networking opportunities. Introduced last year at Digital Video Expo, the Pro Media Conference is designed to educate, motivate and engage professionals working in media and entertainment, video and audio production, internet and mobile video, AV, government, corporate video environments, and IT.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, to recognize and support new filmmakers, and to enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film going audience. Annually, The Film Society at Lincoln Center presents two world-class international festivals – the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films (celebrating new cinematic artists). The Society will operate the New York Film Festival from September 27 through October 13 this year. And the Festival's Opening Night World Premiere is the Paul Greengrass directed, Sony Pictures release, 'Captain Phillips'. The festival is competitive with approximately 28 feature films in the Main Slate and 16 short films selected each year by a five person screening committee. Entry into NYFF and ND/NF is open to all filmmakers and all lengths and genres are considered. There are no categories and no prizes are awarded. The Society also publishes the cinematic journal, 'Film Comment', presents an annual Gala Tribute honoring legendary stars and industry leaders of this generation, and partners with Hollywood studios to present premieres and special live appearances at various times of the year.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights "Soul Muzik" saxophonist, eZra brown (J. Quazi King, Nicole Norwood photo credit) on tour in Japan and the far east for the introduction of his debut solo album. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: Japanese Cultural and Anime Convention, Ochiba Con, will be in Oshawa. The New Orleans Film Society hosts their annual festival. The Adelaide Film Festival, in Glenside, opens. Colchester Film Festival 2013 featuring short film selections, opens in Colchester. MIA Animation Conference and Festival will be in Miami. The BMI London Awards will be in Hyde Park.

TransVergence Summit, HollyShorts festival, Beijing International Radio, TV and Film, Social Media Brazil, are highlights in August's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Chicago's Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video specializes in presenting new work by independent filmmakers from Chicago and around the world. This year’s festival includes sixteen feature films and thirty shorts. Approximately 40 percent of the films were produced in the Chicago area or involve artists or subjects particular to the region. As always, the festival features, where possible, personal appearances by filmmakers to engage in audience discussion. There are special events and parties too. At the festival’s opening night on August 5, when Golden Globe-winning, In one planned special event, Emmy-nominated actress and playwright Regina Taylor will be handed this year’s Deloris Jordan Award for Excellence in Community Leadership.

In another Black Harvest International engagement, NBC 5’s LeeAnn Trotter MCs the program, "A Black Harvest Feast", which includes Chicago filmmaker Evan Allen-Gessesse introducing his short film 'Eric's Haircut'. Other festival special events are special advance screenings of 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, a profile of Kevin Clash, the African American Muppeteer who brings the beloved character Elmo to life; and VIVA RIVA!, an action, neo-noir thriller from the Congo. And for those working to get a film into production, on August 14, there will be a panel discussion "How to Get a Movie Made" -- a free DIY workshop covering every aspect of production for the aspiring independent filmmaker. The festival closes September 1.

The universal adaptation of multiple platforms and devices has fragmented audiences and forced content creators and marketers to find new ways of storytelling, branding and fan engagement. The TransVergence Summit in Hollywood, August 7-8, is a conference for content creators, branders and technologists to expand their transmedia knowledge in order to engage audiences across multiple platforms. At the featured Story Hackathon event of the Summit, the session will be a real-time, 24-hour competition during which five teams of four partners work to develop a cohesive narrative across multiple platforms. Open to writers, designers, filmmakers, developers and more, teams will design a cohesive narrative spanning three or more technological platforms and execute a single one. Informative sessions will cover vital areas such as: transmedia, immersive media, publishing, branded content, second screen, storyworlds, over-the-top television. Co-located with the Summit is the very first West Coast Story Hackathon as well as the Start-Up Salon.

8 Sided Films is an active film and webisode production company, based in North Hollywood, focused primarily on the sci-fi genre. The company is presently in production of a full length feature film under writer/director Tennyson E. Stead titled, 'Quantum Theory', the story of Chelsea and Roe, two brilliant, snarky women of science, who develop a prototype with the power to alter reality... until it's snatched from under them by L.D.I., a ruthless and powerful defense contractor.

The cast of the 'Quantum Theory' film project has been screening a promotional webseries showcasing the relationships and humor between the production's cast members entitled "SASSxACCELERATION". SASSxACCELERATION is a mocumentary college podcast in which future mad scientists Chelsea Barrington and Gertude Monroe debate and debunk the science of pop culture and modern mythology. The final episode will premiere live on geek web broadcast 1337

Lounge Live, on August 15 at url: http://www.1337loungelive.com starting time 18:00. 'Quantum Theory' stars Tybee Diskin and Danielle K. Jones join writer/director Tennyson E. Stead on the live internet broadcast 1337LoungeLive, to answer questions from hosts Jennifer Zhang, Xander Denke and the web audience after the performance.

The pubic is invited to take a role in adding critical commentary to the development of 'Quantum Theory' on the 8 Sided Forum at this link. Get Quantum Theory updates and other 8 Sided Projects and find out more about the film on the Forum page at this link. Another ongoing project for 8 Sided Films is 'Man and 'Machine', concerning a professor at an overlooked Southern California university who sacrifices his future and his freedom to create a true artificial intelligence.

With a focus on short film produced 30 minutes of less, the ninth annual HollyShorts festival will feature more than 300 short films in competition. International and local next-generation filmmakers will file into Hollywood, August 15-22, for screenings, galas, world premieres, panels and networking events. This year, the HollyShorts Film Festival will open with a feature film. Festival alumni David Rodriguez’s dramedy, 'Last I Heard', will have its Los Angeles premiere on opening day. HollyShorts is awarding two all-expense paid international trips for this year’s winning filmmakers. The overall Best Short Film top prize winner of HollyShorts will win two complimentary tickets to visit Wellington, New Zealand courtesy of festival sponsor StarNow. While in New Zealand, the winner will get to present their film at a local film festival and meet local industry professionals, along with $1K NZD spending cash.

For the second year, HollyShorts is indulging in a competition with NociCinema's NociCortinFestival 2013, another short film festival of the Southern-Italian region of Puglia, at the heel of the Italian peninsula. Hollyshorts will choose a selection of works from among the films submitted to NociCortin festival to be screened in August at the Ninth Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, and among these films, one will receive the Special HollyShorts Grand Jury Choice Award. The director of the winning film from NociCortin festival will be flown out to Los Angeles to present their film to the American public. HollyShorts Film Festival will include: an opening night ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly known as Grauman’s), fest screenings, filmmaker Q&A’s, industry panels, and private receptions happening in venues throughout Hollywood during the entire week of the celebration.

Pensacola Para Con convention will interest fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, costuming, comics, renaissance, gaming, anime, indie films, paranormal. It is a multi-genre convention for toys, comics, horror movies, original arts, collectibles MMA, wrestling, but will offer something for everyone, including: anime, manga, film, art, comics, sci fi, gaming, celebrities, and more. There will be celebrity meet and greet, discussion panels, screenings, demonstrations, workshops, and contests. This year's convention, running August 17-19, will help raise funds for American Cancer Society - Making Strides against Breast Cancer. Among special attractions people are encouraged to attend are: investigations at the Pensacola Victorian Inn and Gray House, Seville Quarter Zombies, Geeks and Freaks Masquerade Ball.

Some of the film veteran guests scheduled to appear at Pensacola Para Con include: Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers), Richard Epcar (Animation Voice Actor), Cindy Morgan (CADDYSHACK and TRON), Jason Faunt (Power Rangers and Resident Evil 6), Ari Lehman Jason: (Friday the 13th), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, The Devil's Rejects, Star Trek), Theodus Crane (AMC’s The Walking Dead), and many more.

Broadcast & Cable is a trade fair covering television, radio and telecommunications engineering of Latin America. The Sao Paulo event is directed at professionals, entrepreneurs and executives in the production and distribution of multimedia electronic content market, including open and subscription TV, radio, internet, industry, production and telecommunications.

Running August 20-22, Broadcast and Cable will have a focus on advance technologies and applications used in production, distribution, testing and operation of TV, internet, radio and other multimedia/transmedia electronics. SET 2013 Congress will run concurrent to Broadcast and Cable in the Exhibition Center. It is organized and promoted by the Brazilian Society of Television Engineering – SET. SET Congress organizes lectures, talk shows, tutorials and debates with leading professionals in the market, who will be discussing scenarios and highlighting trends, new launchings and the latest developments.

Beijing International Radio, TV and Film Equipment Exhibition is an international trade show -- summit, awards show, exhibition expo -- that will run for five days starting August 20 in Beijing, showcasing products and services related to radio, film and television industry. In October 2007, BIRTV was endorsed by International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM). BIRTV's focus is on content while highlighting the latest developments and technical innovation inspired by the international media community. Highlighted technology trends that will be specially showcased or demoed during the conference/exhibition include: Ultra HD (4K/8K), OTT, Mobile Media and Pro Audio, trends reflecting how traditional broadcasting reinvents itself. Related activities such as BIRTV Summit, BIRTV Awards, BIRTV Science and Technology Development Forum (STDF), China Digital Film and Video Editing Awards etc. will also offer new insights.

The BIRTV Summit opens with a Summit Report by President of CCTV Hu Zhanfan. Chief Engineer of CRI, Wang Lian, will address the topic of "Smart Media Network" afterward. After an afternoon break, Sun Jian, Vice President of CTVIT, tackles the topic "The Road of Global Production and Broadcast". In other talks for the remainder of the afternoon the topic of "The New Developments of Full-media Integration Production and Operation" will be presented by Zhang Dayong, of China Digital Video (Beijing) Limited. And Bannai Tatsushi, Development Department Minister of Panasonic Corp. touts the "Panasonic Technology Development Direction and New Product Application". John Ive, Director of Business Development and Technology - IABM, closes the Summit addressing "The Broadcast and Media Industry Business Outlook". To promote a better understanding of BIRTV as well as the China broadcasting industry, BIRTV conducts Group Tour projects for visitors from outside China. This will include, but is not limited to: a visit to CCTV or BTV, the BIRTV2013 Welcome Dinner, a visit to a movie and TV production base, a City Tour excursion, attending the Beijing Opera.

The International Film Awards Berlin -- the ifab -- was founded as a non-profit organization dedicated to the creation, distribution, preservation and support of independent cinema created by mostly unknown filmmakers. The awards presentation gives out several awards, including Best Lead Actress and Actor ifab Awards, Best Director ifab Award and the Grand Prize: the Brandenburg Gate Award. Festival venue, The Sputnik, is an arthouse movie theatre located in Kreuzberg, one of Berlins artistic districts. Kreuzberg has emerged from its history as one of the poorest quarters in Berlin in the late 1970s, to one of Berlin's cultural centers in the middle of the now unified city. Presently, Kreuzberg is one of the trendy districts of Berlin, known for its lively art scene, cafés, bars and restaurants and a bustling nightlife.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) will recognize siblings Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams of Cash Money Records as Icons at the 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, at a New York City ceremony on August 22. The  event, formerly known as the BMI Urban Awards, celebrates the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed r&b/hip-hop songs of the previous year. The BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards will include an all-star musical tribute to this year's Icons, as well as the presentation of the Social Star Award and R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter, Producer and Publisher of the Year crystals. BMI’s President and CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton will share the evening’s hosting duties with recording artist Ray J. Together, the Williams brothers have overseen the extension of the Cash Money brand beyond music: Cash Money Content, a book publishing division distributed by Atria/Simon and Schuster that has released three New York Times best sellers and will be releasing a new book authored by the Reverend Al Sharpton this fall.

The Cash Money enterprise they founded continues to nurture young talent into internationally recognizable standouts: Young Money Entertainment – the joint venture with Lil Wayne – has steered the rise of recording artists Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga. In 2012, Cash Money celebrated the sale of 500 million songs worldwide, a feat made possible by its top-tier artists and focused leadership. This invitation-only event will also honor the world’s premier songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed r&b/hip-hop songs of the previous year, as well as the presentation of the Social Star Award, and R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter, Producer and Publisher of the Year.

With a focus on social networking, Social Media Brazil aims to bring together key people to its Sao Paulo location to discuss and debate various aspects of social media and its cutting edge implementation. For 2013, the August 24 expo will be divided into two rooms -- one will be dedicated on lectures related to national and international issues and the other room will be based on interviews and discussions. The one-day conference agenda provides opportunities for learning, networking and some fun through numerous discussions and interactive sessions. The many aspects and utilization of social media will be discussed and debated by professionals and enthusiasts from different parts of the world.

Expo organizer, Media Education of Sao Paulo, has an industry focus in digital marketing. The events this company organizes are accompanied by an international roster of well regarded experts and leaders. Social Media Brazil, Social Media Week Sao Paulo and Search Labs are some of the numerous events that Media Education has organized. Dealing with Facebook Marketing Garage SP, Yahoo Hack Day, Social Media Week SP, Search Labs, Social Media Brazil and New Insights, Media Education seeks to apply as much innovation to develop new approaches to its marketing and media strategies.

The Internationale Tanzmesse is a biennial discussion forum, festival and marketplace for communicating and networking in the field of contemporary dance. At the Tanzmesse, international dance companies and artists present their work live on stage and choreographers, dancers, agencies, presenters and cultural institutions network and present their work in a marketplace. The internationale tanzmesse NRW also hosts numerous international gatherings and meetings. The Tanzmesse is a project of the Gesellschaft für Zeitgenössischen Tanz, based in Cologne. The original aim of the Tanzmesse was to create a platform for dance companies from North-Rhine Westphalia where they could introduce and present choreographic work from the region to a larger regional audience as well as to the professional dance world.

The Tanzmesse's goal has always been to form a presentation around performance and discussion. The companies could perform their works as well as talk about their projects in a marketplace environment. In 1997, the second Tanzmesse in Essen expanded the marketplace to include international companies and organizations to become a “World Market of Dance Regions”. As an opportunity for all the professionals and individuals who are totally consumed with all aspects of dance, the event which will run August 27-30 has been structured by the organizers to provide owners of dance companies and cultural organizations with a platform through which they can gain visibility for their projects.

This year Telluride Film Festival will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary as it opens its annual festival August 29 running through September 2. To commemorate this occasion an additional day has been added to the usual four-day Festival, making room for a five-day stretch of special programming and festivities. Telluride Film Festival, along with the Town of Telluride, has revealed it is preparing a new venue in time for the 40th Anniversary celebration. The Werner Herzog Theatre will be situated in Telluride's Town Park Pavilion and become the Festival's most technologically advanced theatre accommodating 650 pass holders.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights The Internationale Tanzmesse dance festival in Dusseldorf and upcoming webcasts and other events of 8 Sided Film Productions related to its feature film production of 'Quantum Theory'. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a preview of next month's events, be aware that: AniMazing Spotlight Animation Shorts Festival comes to Burbank, which will also be the setting for the separately run Burbank International Film Festival. The Toronto Film Festival opens in Toronto. International Broadcasting Convention 2013 Conference comes to Amsterdam. Digital Media Wire will host both the NY Games Conference and the Future of Television conferences in New York City. The Oaxaca FilmFest 2013 opens in Oaxaca. Digital Video Expo opens in Los Angeles. The Film Society of Lincoln Center will present the New York Film Festival in New York City.

Kaua`i Music Festival, Ticket Summit, Comic-Con, Melbourne Film Festival, are highlights in July's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The Los Angeles AX 2013 - AnimeExpo trade show is a multi-faceted extravaganza for industry followers to  explore various aspects of both anime and manga as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. Historically, Anime Expo (AX) has been held on the July 4 weekend as a four-day event beginning in 1992, and is one of the longest running anime conventions along with A-kon in Texas. Anime Expo is a 24-hour convention that offers late-night dances, all night video programming, tabletop gaming rooms, and open-mic Karaoke. A Cosplay Photography Contest runs throughout the expo in which the winners will receive a cash prize, and his/her art printed on a page of the 2013 programming guide and a badge to Anime Expo 2014.

The expo will present AX Anime and Manga Studies Symposium -- a special track of academic talks on the history of anime and manga, the works of individual directors and creators, the ways they represent aspects of Japanese culture, how fans in different countries interact with Japanese culture, and other similar topics. It imports professors and graduate students who teach and write about Japanese visual culture, and gives AX attendees an opportunity to learn more about Japanese animation and comics and to find out about some of the newest trends in anime and manga studies.

The AX Fashion Show will showcase trends in Japanese streetwear and design from Harajuku and Shibuya through panels, a showcase fashion show, and special guests. At Anime Expo's Battle of the Bands all amateur bands (amateur only) in and around Southern California are able to enter to win the chance to go up against a select number of finalists to go head to head to decide the finalist. One of the enduring traditions of Anime Expo, is the Masquerade extravaganza on day three where Costumers from around the world take to the stage with their exotic anime inspired costumes and performances vying for the “Best of Show” trophy.

Japanese music entertainment, featuring concerts from major J-Pop, Ani-Song, Japanese rock, and Idol Performers, takes place in the Main Events hall. An anticipated PornoGraffitti Concert is scheduled for July 6 at Club Nokia. In other music related activities, “J-MUSIC LIVE VIEWING 2013” is a project started by Live Viewing Japan Inc. that features Japanese artists’ music contents at movie theaters worldwide. The project will help to project on a global scale the performances of Japan’s top artists on the big screen with high  definition visual and crisp sound. Live Viewing Japan Inc. hopes to expand the local fan base through this project.

Two unrelated Latin music events will happen concurrently in New York City and only blocks away from each other. The Latin Mixx Conference and Awards is a annual networking event to honor and empowers Latin DJs from all genres. It features educational panels, workshops, artists exhibitions, fashion shows, over 100 exhibitors, as well as pre and post parties. The primary focus of the Latin Mixx Conference, which runs July 9-11, is to educate DJs in the areas of business, promotion, music, and  advancements in technology, among other areas which broaden their DJ ability and effectiveness. The Latin Mixx Awards will present winners of the LMX DJ Choice Awards at Stage48. Following this, the Latin Mixx Awards Bash will be held afterward at ZBar.

Although based primarily in mid-town Manhattan, an opening day Latin Alternative Music Conference event on July 9 will be a Bronx Showcase in Crotona Park with performances by Joell Ortiz and RVSB. The first panel on July 11 is a Q*A with the Latin Recording Academy’s Gabriel Abaroa (Latin GRAMMYs) sits down with Ruben Blades immediately followed by DIY 2.0: Tools for the Nueva Generacion presented by Bandzoogle and including: Carolina Arenas (BMI), David Dufresne (Bandzoogle), Pili Montilla (“Te Para Tres” on WAPA-TV), Kendel Ratley (Kickstarter), Tony Van Veen (CD Baby/Disc Makers), Megan West (SoundCloud). On the fourth day of the conference, MITu Network hosts a panel titled, Digital Dinero: Streaming, Social Media and the New Music Economy. Panel participants include: Kenny Cordova, MITu Network, Juan Jose Duran, YouTube/Google, Rocio Gutierrez, Digital Girl, Sean Glover, SoundExchange, Marcos Juarez, Pandora, Camilo Lara, M.I.S./Casete Mexico, Allison Moore, Sony/RED Distribution. Later in the evening there will be a LAMC Spoken Word and Poetry Night at La Casa Azul Bookstore with performances by Bocafloja and Shella Maldonado. Conference closes on July 13.

The Kaua'i Music Festival (KMF) and Songwriter Conference in Lihue is a celebration of the art and craft of songwriting. Opening on July 10, the KMF Songwriter Conference will teach songwriting skills to its attendees. Through one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and more, attendees will be able to consult and get feedback directly from the Grammy, Emmy, and Na Hoku-winning songwriters, producers, TV and Film Music Supervisors, A&R Executives, and other music industry people in attendance. In addition to the regular songwriting workshops and one-on-one meetings, there will be two panel discussions and a number of "Informational Workshops" to help working musicians and songwriters.

Panel 1: "Placing Your Music in TV & Film", will be presented by the State of Hawaii, DBEDT, Creative Industries Division. Panel 2: "Writing and Composing for TV & Film", will cover a broad range of topics. Regular BMI contributor, Jason Blume, leads a workshop: "Everything You Need to Know About Placing Your Music in TV & Films" which will clarify the process of pitching your songs for TV shows and movies. Orchestration mock-ups, Hybrid instrumentation, and structure will be in a session covered by David Trotter. Frank Palazzolo will lead a session, "Composing for TV – Parts 1 & 2", using a short video segment from a popular TV show (with network authorization) and ask attendees to team up to compose music for the clip. Many more sessions are planned.

The Kaua`i Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) organization that hosts or co-hosts numerous events throughout the year, leading up to the signature four-day annual Songwriter Conference. The National Songwriters Association International consists of songwriters from all genres of music, professional and amateur, who are committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, and to educate, elevate, and celebrate the songwriter and to act as a unifying force within the music community and the community at large. Day four ends the festival with an Open Mic and Party time in Shutter's Lounge.

The annual Las Vegas TicketSummit conference and trade show is aimed at the ticketing and live entertainment industry. This three-day event starting on July 17 features industry seminars, a concurrent trade show, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. The Ticket Summit All-Access Pass includes entry to: all Panel and Keynote sessions, Exhibit Hall, all conference catered events, and Ticket Summit After Dark events, including but not limited to the Networking Cocktail Party and Closing Gala. Ticket Summit Executive Director, Molly A. Mérez gives the event’s opening address detailing important industry updates and announcements pertaining to the show. There is a Networking Cocktail Party at the end of the first night. Ticket Summit Game Night closes the second night. The event's Closing Gala will be at The Bank.

The Las Vegas Film Festival offers a variety of film screenings including Oscar-winning films to world premieres, exclusive celebrity tributes and interviews, interactive panel discussions, a screenplay competition, red carpet parties, a filmmaker reception, as well as a closing night ceremony and awards. The festival program showcases Feature Films, Shorts, Foreign Films, Documentaries, Animation, Music Videos, Television Pilots, a Nevada Filmmakers Showcase, Experimental Films, a Screenplay Competition and more. Panels slated for presentation include: The Art of Storytelling, The Business of Filmmaking, Filmmakers on Filmmaking. This year's festival running July 18-21 will make available over $15,000 in cash and prizes to winning filmmakers and screenwriters. Juried and audience awards are presented in several categories to celebrate achievements in filmmaking, screenwriting and acting. The Emerging Filmmakers Scholarship Dinner on opening day celebrates new voices in cinema and is the Las Vegas Film Festival’s opportunity to enable future projects through scholarships. A three course, pre-fixe gourmet dinner will be served with a selection of liquor, beer, wine and champagne open bar at the Five Diamond rated Piero’s Italian Cuisine.

Comic-Con International San Diego is generally acknowledged to be the largest comics convention of its kind in the world. While passing through various stages of its development Comic-Con has been involved in showcasing, creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular arts including, film, television, gaming, anime, animation, sci-fi, fantasy, etc... for over 40 years. Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts, the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels

Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), both held in San Francisco, in northern California. Here's a quick tag list summarizing most of the events or activities that will happen at this year's Comic-Com: Comic Creator Connection, Fan Tables, awards, retailers, Eisner Awards, Masquerade, Artists' Alley, Comics Arts Conference, Blood Drive, preview night, special guests, Hall of Fame, Autograph Area, film festival, Cosplay, Games, Portfolio Review, anime, exhibit hall, children's film festival, art show. This year's Comic-Con event lasts from July 18-21.

With attendance topping out at 130,000 in recent years in the primary facility Comic-Con has grown and needed to include satellite locations, spilling over into local hotels and outdoor parks in the area. Programming events, games, anime, the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, and the Eisner Awards all take place outside of the Convention Center, creating a campus-like feel for the convention in downtown San Diego. Comic-Con International is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms with events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.

Since its inception in 1996, Fantasia Film Festival based in Montreal has specialized in varied programming and an emphasis on the imaginative cinema of Asia, Europe and the Americas. Fantasia’s offerings span personal visions to international commercial crowd-pleasers rarely seen in North America. In addition to juried competitions, Fantasia has been presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to guests and additional awards offered by industry organizations that include The AQCC Award (Association Québécoises des Critiques de Cinéma), the Séquences Award and L’Écran fantastique Award.

The Fantasia Industry Rendez-Vous will make its return at 2013 Fantasia from July 25-28. There will be the Frontières pitch session, conferences on the topics of production and distribution for independent genre films, meeting sessions and cocktail receptions coupled with the regular Fantasia schedule of public screenings and parties. In 2012, Fantasia launched a major new industry-driven venture -- the Fantasia Industry Rendez-Vous, with the Frontières International Co-Production Market and the Fantasia Film Market. And a year-round online magazine, Spectacular Optical, focuses on essays and interviews to highlight and expose films in the showcase added each day of the festival.

In addition to the co-production market, Fantasia Festival will be hosting a film market within the same dates, to support the sales efforts for the features that will be part of the programming of the 2013 edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival which will open July 18 and run through August 6. Sales agents and producers will be provided with a space to meet with prospective buyers. Once again, a video screening room will be in operation.

The Melbourne International Film Festival in the St. Kilda district will present new international cinema along with special retrospectives and tributes, including public panels and an international short film competition. It will highlight Australian cinema by showcasing local talent and offering targeted industry programs: an investment fund, a financing market and a development program for emerging directors.

The July 25 opening night red carpet celebration features director Pedro Almodóvar 'I'm So Excited'. After the film, patrons can enjoy a champagne toast and mingle with the performers at Hamer Hall, where the festivities continue on into the late night hours, propped up by an open bar, canapés and music. The Festival closes out August 11 with a screening of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll at Greater Union followed by an after party hosted at Forum Theatre

Complementing Melbourne film screenings is MIFF's industry program that includes an investment fund (the Premiere Fund) and the director's development program (Accelerator). MIFF's finance market (37° South) brings the national and international screen industry to Melbourne during the festival and celebrates Melbourne as a center for screen business. Established in 1952, the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is one of the world’s oldest film festivals and the Southern Hemisphere’s largest.

SESAC will launch its Sixth Annual Songwriters Bootcamp on July 26 from Los Angeles. Attendees can choose from a variety of sessions covering several aspects of the music industry. This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Grammy-winning songwriter Rico Love. SESAC will run an open forum and workshop where all questions pertaining to song registrations, song splits, live performances, SoundExchange, and more will be answered. Another panel made up of successful composers in a variety of fields will look into how they got started, how spotting sessions work, the difference between scoring linear and non-linear projects, dealing with temp love, and tips for better client relations. There will be a critique session for attendees to bring their best songs to the designated round-table discussion and have them evaluated for film and TV by some of the attending music supervisors who will discuss what works, what doesn’t work, and how you can craft your songs to have the highest chance of getting a synch placement.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. The events blog also shows links to pages that are translated into ten of the most widely used international languages read over the Internet other than English. This month's picture placement highlights comic book genre of the type that can be found at San Diego Comic-Con. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that: The 17th Annual Hollywood Pitch Festival will be in West Hollywood, Lollapalooza 2013 opens in Chicago, Pensacola Para Con: A Convention for Fans of Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Gaming, Anime, Costuming and more will launch in Pensacola, International Film Awards Berlin will be a five day affair in Berlin, the 40th Telluride Film Festival is set to open in Telluride.