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.

Ticket Summit, Cable Convention 2012, Fantasia Film Festival, Casual Connect Seattle, are highlights in July's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

 The Joy Wai Gallery (www.joywaigallery.com) in New York City has opened the exhibition -- Pepe Vives - new paintings. Pepe Vives has worked primarily as a painter and presently  has devoted himself to pictorial transformation of printed imagery: photographs, newspapers, and magazines. In his early years Vives registered at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Carlos, Valencia, in 1973. In this school that had changed little since it initially functioned as an artist’s workshop during the Renaissance, he received training in traditional techniques of painting and sculpture which had been maintained there for centuries. In his first year at the Escuela Superior, Vives was accepted as a novice in the Order of the Jesuits. In the 1984, Vives left the Jesuits and moved to New York City, where his work was strongly influenced by the aesthetic and social milieu of the East Village art scene. Currently Pepe Vives still lives and works in the Lower East Side of New York City. In its ongoing role to serve the arts community and be a platform for cultural exchange Joy Wai Gallery will launch an educational program with leading guest lecturers, artists, critics, curators, professors on the subject of contemporary art and photography. The exhibition runs through August 10.

The London Film and Comic Con is focused on fans and collectors. Through the show's online forum the public has an opportunity to ask questions of the festival's guest stars and exchange views about the guests with like-minded fans. On the actual exhibit floor in London will be an array of costumes which visitors can examine. These are genuine props from film and television classics. There are several planned photo sessions with some of the guest artists attending London Film and Comic Con. Most guest talks running throughout the weekend are free to attend, but since they are free, seating is limited so seating tickets must be obtained in advance. Special viewing and interactive exhibits will include: Anime Zone, Artists Alley, Cosplay Zone, Video Game Zone, Collectormania, Massive Events, Montage Moments, Autographica. London Film and Comic Con closes on July 8.

A rather unusual conference venue will take place at sea aboard a Carnival Cruise Line. The Sun Camera Action Conference and Workshop will be a conference, workshop and video training session onboard a Miami to Bahamas cruise ship, the Carnival Imagination. Conference guests can learn all about creating authentic travel, film and general interest videos. During the four-day Miami to Bahamas return trip, Phil Goora, a digital film teacher and creator/writer of THE MOMENT TV Show, will be the lead instructor teaching attendees how to create travel videos and/or amateur films. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss and apply a number of film basics such as shot selection, shot techniques, editing and exporting the video. During the cruise which sails July 7-11 there will be scheduled times for one-on-one time with the instructor and/or his assistant and there will be a number of classes where the theory will be taught. Guests can venture out on their own while in the Bahamas or join the instructor and his assistants on their exploration of the island.

Ticket Summit® is a conference and trade show for the ticketing and live entertainment industry opening July 11 through 13, in a city known for entertainment -- Las Vegas. This three-day event features industry seminars, a concurrent trade show, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. The conference and trade show will have sessions on Web 2.0, mobile, online technologies, and strategic partnerships and ticket bundling among other relevant industry topics. Mike Lorenc, head of ticketing and live events for Google, will present a workshop titled 'Hang out with Google!' in which he will demonstrate Google’s advertising and social media technology.  "After Dark" networking and cocktail party events include a Networking Cocktail Party on July 11, private events arranged by invite only on July 12, the Closing Gala at The Bank casino on July 13.

As the Kauai Music Festival gets underway July 11-14 in Lihue, the focus will be on the art and craft of songwriting and to learn songwriting and/or refine skills through interaction with the professional songwriters that will be in attendance. Attendees can gain feedback from one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, as well as submit their music to be heard and critiqued. All attendees are welcome to join any or all of the workshops that will include: Composing for TV and Film - Demystifying the Process, led by Adam Zelkind, Melody, Melody, Melody - A Hands-On MasterClass, led by Jason Blume, What Works and What Doesn't When Negotiating Your Licensing Deal, led by Dondi Bastone and Bill Meyer, Lessons from the Ukulele Underground, led by Aldrine Guerrero as well as other topics. An Open Mic and Wrap Party close out the festival taking place in Shutter's Lounge.

The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival brings independent filmmakers and musicians to the San Francisco Bay Area from around the globe from July 12-15 to form a collection of independent films and bands. Included in the festival are nights of live music concerts, short films, animation, global features, long and short documentaries, skate films, music documentaries, and music videos. The Frozen Music Festival will run the same weekend as the film festival, showcasing music acts that complement the Film Festival's movies drawn from contributors to the "Music Video" section of the Film Festival. The music festival will showcase acts from a wide selection of music genres - from pop to punk, hip hop to funk, cowboys to singer-songwriters.

The Long Island Film/TV Foundation and the Nassau County Film Commission opens the annual Long Island International Film Expo July 12 starting with an opening night party that is by invitation only. Several panels are held during the first weekend of the Film Expo -- usually consisting of a distribution panel, a scriptwriting panel, legal music panel and a filmmaker panel and breakfast. There will be a Wine and Cheese Reception for Technical Awards at the Filmmakers Lounge, directly West of the Bellmore Movies on July 13. A Breakfast with the Filmmakers - Panel on "The Good, the Bad, and the Horror Stories" follows the next morning. Winners of the Long Island International Film Expo are chosen by a combination of audience ballot and judging committee which are then honored at the Long Island International Film Expo Closing Night Party and Awards Ceremony. Special awards (acting and supporting roles) will be given out during the closing party on July 19 at the Filmmakers Lounge directly west of the Bellmore Movies.

The Japan Cable TV Committee launches this first event related to "Cable Convention 2012" from July 18-19. "Cable Tech Show 2012" will be originated as an  exhibition-seminar of cable technologies. Special attention is on competition in this era of consolidation between broadcast/communication, and wired/wireless communication. In Japan's first year of complete digital broadcasting using the ISDB standard, the latest solutions and hardware will be introduced at "Cable Tech Show 2012" with the expectation that the CATV infrastructure will be popularized and developed. In unison with "Cable Convention 2012" the exhibition aims to contribute to the development of cable technologies which support the growth of the cable industry. The location of the event, Tokyo Dome City is an total entertainment complex located in the heart of Tokyo. It consists of Tokyo Dome, a sports complex, a newly built Meets Port - LaQua, a spa complex, and an amusement park with a variety of attractions and facilities including the Tokyo Panic Cruise - a ride-type four-dimensional attraction - and Tokyo Dome City's signature event, the Hero Action Show.

Although it is mostly a fantasy/action/horror festival, Fantasia has  embraced films that can have a unique identity, including: dramas, eccentric comedies, provocative documentaries, experimental works, musicals, even atypical children’s films. Within the feature film lineup, Montréal's Fantasia Film Festival will present the international premiere of Kern Saxton’s anticipated crime thriller Sushi Girl, featuring Mark Hamill (Star Wars) in the sinister lead. Hosting the Fantasia launch will be Mark Hamill, Tony Todd, Michael Biehn and Kern Saxton – with additional guests to be announced. The gala Sushi Girl screening will take place two days after the Festival opening on the night of July 21. Fantasia will present the world premiere launch of travelling art show: "If They Came From Within: An Alternative History of Canadian Horror Movies, curated by Rue Morgue magazine Editor-In-Chief Dave Alexander who has assembled some of Canada and Quebec’s most celebrated genre filmmakers with some of the country’s best designers and illustrators to create a gallery of poster art. The Festival closes August 7.

Opening July 21 for two days in London's Wimbledon district, Wimbledon Shorts Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new work in film and video from around the world -- whether the film is narrative driven, animated or experimental. Films must be less than 15 minutes in duration including title sequences and credits. Wimbledon Shorts is a presentation of the Wimbledon Film Club. The WFC is an independent, non-political, not-for-profit organisation, which is a registered charity run by volunteers. The WFC is also an award-winning member of the British Federation of Film Societies. Both the Wimbledon Shorts Film Festival and Competition organisers and judges are involved on a voluntary basis. The festival venue - Polka Theatre - is dedicated to producing and presenting theatre works for young audiences.

Cinema India Expo is a Mumbai based trade show and conference for digital cinema. From July 23-24, exhibitors will demonstrate 3-D cinema and production, digital cinema equipment and technology, booth and projection equipment, lighting and signage, displays, distribution, technology, sound, speakers and amplifiers, Walls, panels and screens, digital cameras and workflow. Visitors typically include Film Buyers, Distributors, major manufacturers, technical experts, Directors, Directors of Photography, Cinematographers, cinema content creators, studio and production executives, theatre operations executives. A principal element of the show over the years has featured a Master Class by a Film Guru sponsored by Kodak and the American Society of Cinematographers. The event will be supported by the  Indian cinema fraternity including the Multiplex Association of India, Cinema Owners and the Exhibitors Association. Cinema India along with the Scrabble Entertainment Ltd. with their Digital Initiative-transforming the cinemascape of India into DCI compliant technology.

The annual Casual Connect Seattle is the place to learn more about the Casual Games industry that entertains 300 million people each month and are typically played on a personal computer online in web browsers, though they now are starting to become popular on game consoles and mobile phones as well. In 2009 the world wide connected casual games industry had revenues in excess of $3.0 billion on mobile. The 2012 International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Summit will be conducted close by at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel from July 23-24, covering topics including: writing, leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, quality assurance and monetization. The Innovation Showcase is an “art-gallery” style exhibition displaying ten games selected for their unique appeal. In the hope to inspire its visitors to come up with great games ideas, Casual Games invites visitors to come and play these select games for Web and iOS platform at the Innovation Showcase. At Casual Connect events there usually are no shortage of networking functions to mix and mingle at. This year GameChangeHers Reception on July 23 celebrates the contribution of women to the industry. The Pre-Funk and Badge Pickup, provides a loungy party with beer, wine and light snacks as attendees pick up their conference badge on July 23. Mingle with Tapjoy! on July 24 is another drinkers party featuring the bar menu, beer/wine. GREE brings you The Garage! on July 24 features music, billards, bowling, beer/wine/cocktails/light food. Mingle with Ruby Seven Studios on July 25 is another cocktail sip with bar menu, beer/wine. The Infamous WildTangent Party! on July 25, featuring gambling, drinks and the "unexpected".

The VII International Conference on Communication, Film and Media Sciences in Paris, July 27-29, aims to bring together academic scientists, leading engineers, industry researchers and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of Communication, Film and Media Sciences, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. The International Conference on Communication, Film and Media Sciences aims to bring together academic scientists, leading engineers, industry researchers and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences and research results about all aspects of Communication, Film and Media Sciences, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. The Conference offers the opportunity to build relationships with universities, schools, companies and experts from all around the world.

The Midsummer Musical Retreat Society is a 501(c)3 designated non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the performance of ensemble music by amateur and professional musicians and organizes its annual adult music camp which will happen this year in Walla Walla from July 30 to August 5. MMR provides a non-competitive curriculum for adult singers and instrumentalists. The week-long festival workshop includes orchestra, band, string orchestra, chorus, jazz big band, Recorders and Early Music, chamber ensembles and electives in a “Retreat” atmosphere the curriculum is conducted in. Workshops in Rhythm, Sight Singing, History of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and The Composers’ Showcase features works composed by campers and performed by the faculty. And MMR campers enjoy the Opening Faculty Presentation, Line Dancing, informal performance opportunities, ad hoc chamber music, Skit Night and Jazz Big Band Extravaganza, the Fermata Bar (a pre-dinner social hour), group singalongs, Wine Tasting, nightly hospitality suite, the Faculty Recital, and the Festival Banquet. Many events are organized by campers.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used international languages. This month's photo composite is the remake of The Amazing Spider-Man which opened in North American theaters over the July 4 holiday starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that... the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) will be in Melbourne, Malibu International Film Festival will be in Santa Monica, The White Sands International Film Festival will be in Las Cruces, Meisner Program Part 1 will be in Orlando, Photo Image Brazil opens in Sao Paulo.

International Film Festival Summit, 2nd Street Jazz, Jingle Mingle Holiday Party, Monaco International Film Festival, are highlights in December's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The annual Bahamas International Film Festival, held on Nassau & Paradise Island, runs through December 4 this year. BIFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local island community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world that might not otherwise be seen there. At the festival, BIFF features educational programs and forums for exploring the future of cinema. Panels and master classes will include: acting; directing; discussion on producing, fundraising and distribution, covering emerging trends and financing options. During the Festival, there will be a Rising Star Tribute to Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny Kravitz). The opening night reception features live music by emerging Bahamian artists, including 4ever1 Band, and the closing night reception will promote a Bollywood theme requesting attendees to wear Indian style attire, and will feature live music and entertainment by Bollywood dancers.

Matsumoto's 2nd Street Jazz in the Little Tokyo district of  L.A.

Galileo Studio and the Azusa Pacific University Department of Theater, Film, and Television are hosting a conference on the art, craft and business of the short film, taking place in Azusa, from December 2-3. Titled "Much More than a Little Feature: The Splendor of the Short Film", day one will be presented as a short film movie night, while day two will be presented as a short film conference. Collaborating organizations for the event include the Angelus Student Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, and Act One: Training for Hollywood. A partial list of speakers include: Luke Matheny, Writer/Director, 2011 Academy Award® Winner for Best Short Film, Live Action “God of Love”; Randy Haberkamp, Director of Special Projects at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Bobette Buster, Story Consultant for Pixar, 20th Century Fox, Disney Animation, and Sony Animation and others.

Set in the noted entertainment capital of Las Vegas, with only a three and a half hour drive from Hollywood, the Nevada Film Festival hosts several world premieres, galas and parties during its run through December 3. This year's festival line-up includes both award-winning and world premiere feature films, documentaries, short films, foreign films, animations, music videos, experimental films, a screenplay competition, and an actor's showcase. Films of many genres will be screened including drama, comedy, action, horror, family and more. The festival also features panel discussions with the filmmakers where audiences have the opportunity to interact. Panel discussions include a range of topics and disciplines such as writing, directing, and producing. Priority access is available for all films, panels, Opening Night Party, Filmmaker Reception, Festival Awards Ceremony, and VIP reserved seating.

Sandra Lord who conducts the long-running Hollywood Networking Breakfast (usually held on the last Thursday of every month) conducts another seminar for this month in West Los Angeles on December 3 — "Taking Charge of Your Career or Business Direction in 2012". Areas for investigation focus on strategies for guidance and a fresh perspective for the next step of your career planning, resolving common issues of having representation but with career advancement and aspirations still lagging, strategies for those who lack connections or don’t know how to effectively use the ones they have, and more. Although admission is free, reservations are required through an RSVP to the organization's email address and by providing the requested details in the email note.

As an annual event, the International Film Festival Summit Conference in downtown Austin generally attracts over 300 music and film festival executive directors that are the decision-makers in the music and film festival industry. Examples of attendees include SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Summerfest, Telluride Film Festival, Moviemaker Magazine, IFC, Bonnaroo, AFI Fest, Atlanta Film Festival, Starz Denver Film Festival, Savannah Music Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, River Run International Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and other institutions that are in attendance for the festival, this year running from December 4-6. For 2011, award-winning actor, Matthew Modine, will provide an actor's point of view on film festivals and what attracts above-the-line players to film festivals.

Within the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, eclectic Matsumoto's 2nd Street Jazz weekly event showcase presents Jazz, Blues, Hip Hop, Rock n' Roll, Soul and R & B artists, as well as open mic opportunities and DJ turntable battles. The doors usually open at 7:30 pm nightly and live entertainment starts at 9 or 10 pm. In addition to its original purpose as a jazz club for which it was begun six or seven years ago by one time trumpet player and entrepreneur Kohei Matsumoto, 2nd Street Jazz explores music which ranges from rock to electronic to hip-hop and of course, jazz. Monday nights is a NYC styled jazz jam with any musicians with instruments invited up to the stage to play and singers to sing. Hip Hop and MC beat battles happen on Thursdays. The club features a full bar and late night food from their kitchen.

Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, running December 6-11 in Hollywood is committed to assisting the promotion and distribution of films made outside the major studio system. The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival celebrates independent and international filmmaking and is a sister project to the long running Independent Filmmakers Showcase series of monthly events designed to bring awareness to new and independent filmmakers of merit. The Hollywood Reel Independent Film festival will screen its 35mm film winners with special screenings at the New Beverly Cinema, owned by landlord Quentin Tarantino and home to his Grindhouse Film Festival. Films screenings include Q & A with directors and are hosted by comedian Don Takano.

Join Central Florida's media and entertainment associations for Holiday "Mingling", networking and fun at the Annual Jingle Mingle Holiday Party in Winter Park this December 8. There will be entertainment, food, cash bar, silent auction and much more. The event is hosted by Women in Film & Television-Florida, and co-hosted by Digital Media Alliance Florida (DMAF), the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association (FMPTA) and Film Florida. Following on just several days later, Film Florida Legislative, Marketing and Board Meetings holds the quarterly business meeting of state's trade associations for film, TV, digital media and commercial production, December 12 and 13 in Cocoa Beach. Its purpose is to offer to businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism in the state.

The Angel Film Awards, also known as the Monaco International Film Festival, is a celebration of peace, love, harmony, positive energy and non-violence in film and this year will add to the festival program non-violent shorts and features, when it runs December 8-11 from the seaside resort area at Monte Carlo — part of the tiny, prosperous principality of Monaco, famous in part for its posh, high-dollar casino and the annual Formula One Grand Prix. Special screenings of 2D and CGI Animation from across the globe are added to the program this year. Since its creation in 2003, the Festival has received wide coverage from global media and is known for its glamour, prestige, and networking industry party events. Venues include Hotel Hermitage, Salle Belle Époque, Monte-Carlo Bay Resort, Salle Empire at Hotel de Paris and the Pacific Lounge. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre and Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo. Built on the site of the old Radio Monte Carlo building, the Novotel provides state of the art projection facilities to view the festival program.

Four journalism professionals based in Colorado — Steve Outing, Vanessa Martinez, Sandra Fish, Mike Lewis — will form a panel that will discuss hyperlocal journalism and its various forms: free vs. paid content, innovative tools and online applications, and the roles of social media in journalism, on December 13 in Boulder. Whether your interest lies in journalism, blogging, social media, or other digital content creation, this discussion will attempt to makes its case through examples, case studies, ideas, and anecdotes on the state of journalism and its ever-evolving role in people's daily lives. Admission to the event is free but registration is required to attend.

The Second Annual San Diego Christian Film Festival, happening December 27-30, showcases creative, high-caliber films, supports emerging filmmakers, and inspires audiences through the power of visual storytelling. The city-wide event in San Diego will also include  performing artists, workshops and networking opportunities that will make up its program.

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 which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. In a look ahead into January event dates, there is the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Palm Springs, the Victoria Independent Film Festival, in Sebastopol, Games Summit at CES, in Las Vegas, the very seminal Graphation film festival, combining the worlds of comic books, graphic novels and film with a unique perspective on adaptation, in Los Angeles, the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, the SlamDance Film Festival in Los Angeles, the NATPE 2012 Market and Conference, in Miami. These and more are slated for the month ahead. Seasons greetings to all and all the best for the holiday period from The Actor's Checklist!