Banff, Variety’s TV Summit, Bonnaroo 2015, NATPE Europe, are highlights in June's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

The BANFF agenda gives a breakdown of critical issues facing the television and digital medaia industries through keynotes from industry leaders, panel debates, expert forecasts, celebrity Master Classes, critical case studies, key strategy sessions and more. In the first major address of the conference sessions on June 7, Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission will speak about where the Commission is headed, why the recently launched review of basic telecommunications services is important, and how the CRTC is encouraging the creation of compelling and diverse content made by Canadians.

Many opportunities are arranged at BANFF to meet with programming executives for those seeking feedback with projects in development or stages of implementation, giving them access to international decision makers attending BANFF. These meetings and sessions include Breakfast with a Development Executive, Face-to-Face with a Development Executive, Lunch With a Development Executive, and happen on a recurring basis on the festival program.

The nextMEDIA breakout sessions at BANFF offer insight into the fluid and evolving digital media ecosystem, exploring three themes this year related to how digital content is created, distributed, consumed and monetized, while looking forward to future trends. Media-Related Technologies — mostly hardware components — encompassing app development, biometrics, physical computing, gaming technologies and second-screen technologies will be covered. Storytelling 3.0 reveals all tools, apps and platforms through which to share a story. Expect a breakdown of the synergies around Branded Content in which content producers and advertisers look for meaningful partnerships and mediums through which to tell their stories.

CBC Radio Canada will host the first major opening reception over hors d’oeuvres, hand-selected wines and locally-brewed beers at the annual Festival June 7 kick-off. It follows the returning “View From The Top” discussion between the leaders of international broadcasters, studios, and digital powerhouses engaging in conversations about the current state of storytelling in the global content industry and how digital platforms are affecting traditional strategies moving forward.

BANFF networking opportunities that take place include breakfasts, lunches, special ceremonies, galas, and the anticipated after-parties. Various delegate lounges, designed to connect its guests with attending producers, content creators, Development Executives, Commissioning Editors, are set up at various locations of the BANFF event area. The annual Rockies Awards Gala celebrates the "Best of the Best" in Content, featuring the Grand Jury Prize winner of the Program Competition and the special recognition Awards.

Netflix will host a late night After Party at the Spoke Club on June 8, but preceding that is a Cocktail Reception in honor of the French Delegation. A+E Network will present The Awards Reception and Gala on June 9 in the Alhambra Room, but before this celebration begins a cocktail reception in honor of the Mexican Delegation will be held in addition to a Kids and Animation Reception. BANFF’s closing party on June 10 happens in conjunction with Festival Music House.

Media and entertainment industry news source Variety is launching TUNE IN: Variety’s TV Summit 2015 in Beverly Hills, marking the return of its popular annual event dedicated to the television industry. With audiences splintered across new and varied traditional and digital programming platforms, the TV Summit will explore in a one-day June 9 session how to recognize opportunity to advance overall business. Networks, advertisers, showrunners, production companies, over-the-top channels and services will explore what it means to develop, market, monetize and distribute successful programming for today’s audiences and beyond. Keynote speakers for this summit include Chris Albrecht, CEO, Starz and Tom Forman, CEO, Relativity Television among other industry stalwarts. A wide selection of premium options across broadcast, cable/satellite, and newer over-the-top sources is increasingly spreading audiences thin across all the various platforms. In part, the summit addresses how the TV industry is working to connect its programming to audiences while monetizing it at the same time, the mix of over-the-air and online options needed to grow viewership, TV network chiefs debating how they are continuing to make their industry flourish.

This year marks the 21st edition of the Los Angeles Film Festival. The Festival screens nearly 200 narrative and documentary feature films, short films and music videos. The Los Angeles Film Festival highlights cinema from across the globe. In addition, the Festival presents a variety of panels, educational seminars, live music performances and free outdoor screenings. The Los Angeles Film Festival’s Future Filmmaker Showcase will present films made by aspiring filmmakers from across the country and the globe. In a diverse slate of films, selected high school filmmakers will present comedies, dramas, animation, experimental films and everything else in between. Besides film screenings, LA Film Fest will explore aspects of music, film score composition and comedy.

On June 11, Brian Transeau, one of the pioneers of modern American electronic music who made his debut as a film composer with the score for “Go" and since then has composed the music for such projects as Monster, The Fast and the Furious, Under Suspicion, discusses his craft and performs some selections from his film score career. Also, “Talk Score to Me: Filmmakers on Collaborating with Composers,” will be screenings and talks with Project Involve fellows and ASCAP composers (Mary-Lyn Chambers and Nicolas Repetto; Mark Columbus and Jordan Gagné;  Maritte Go and Amanda Jones; Peter Jin and Leo Kaliski; Marvin Lemus and Chrysanthe Tan; Ryan Velasquez and Agatha Kaspar). “Talk Score to Me” will be moderated by Jennifer Harmon, Director of Creative Services, Visual Media, ASCAP.

Web video portal Funny Or Die is reteaming with the LA Film Fest this year to host a mash-up comedy extravaganza celebrating diverse, unique voices in the comedy world. They will present this through a showcase of stand-up performances and comedy videos. Select videos from this "Make ‘em LAFF" competition will screen as part of the showcase. The chosen winner will meet with a Funny Or Die producer where they will pitch ideas for their next comedy video and once Funny Or Die approves a concept, they will co-produce the video and have it distributed on Funny Or Die. On June 13, Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell joins a tba filmmaker onstage for an intimate, off-the-record conversation titled, “Diversity Speaks: In Conversation," about the state of the film industry. At the festival conclusion June 18, a Zeitgeist Award Winner will be presented.

Presently set on more than 700 acres of farmland, Bonnaroo festival originally started with a primary focus on jam bands and folk rock. It has since diversified greatly over the years and now holds multiple stages (and tents) featuring a diverse array of musical styles including indie rock, classic rock, world music, Hip Hop, Jazz, Americana, Bluegrass, Country Music, Folk, Gospel, Reggae, Pop, Electronica, and other alternative music. Festival goers at Bonnaroo are usually referred to as Bonnaroovians. Expect to hear from the likes of musicians that include: Phoebe Ryan, Mumford & Sons, Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Earth Wind & Fire, Jai Wolf, Throwback Superjam Dance Party, Courtney Barnett, Deadmaus, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, Caribou, Kendrick Lamar, Natasha Leggero, Billy Joel, to name just a few. Bonnaroo has also listed some of its more notable “Experiences” and they include: Outrageous Nightly Parades, Frolic In The Fountain, Comedy Theatre, Splash-A-Roo & The Big Ass Waterslide, Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Barn, Ferris Wheel and more.

Activity Tents on the campgrounds — aka “Tent City —  are a much anticipated draw at Bonnaroo. The Silent Disco tent is a novel mainstay where each person upon entering the tent is given a set of headphones that syncs with a DJ on the turntables. Everyone is listening to the same song through the headphones while appearing from the outside to be dancing to no music at all. An air-conditioned Cinema tent is set up screening new indies before they are released, documentaries, comedies, cult classics, fun live interactive happenings and even the last few episodes of Game of Thrones. Cinema Tent will also feature live Q&A sessions with guest filmmakers and actors as well as special cinematic performances with musicians and comedians. The Broo’ers Festival tent is an understandably popular attraction featuring a variety of breweries from all across the United States. "The Graffiti Wall" is a place for street artists to paint whatever they feel like painting.

Bonnaroo will host many costume parties that will be held in Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Barn. A Tiki Disco Tropical Party is scheduled for June 12. A southern NOLA Bounce Party where Booty shorts encouraged is scheduled for June 13. Bonnaroo’s closing day, June 14 is full of costume parties to attend. A stylized, modern house dance, known as Vogue, that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s is scheduled and will crown a Dance King and Queen of the ball. The second annual Robe Rage encourages people to come dressed in their best house robe, and will feature a special surprise musical guest. A 90s Rave party brings back the days of neon, necklaces and netting and the music is provided by Full Service Party. A Classic Hip Hop Party going back to the 90s and 80s encourages gold fronts, big chains and track suits. A Dancehall Reggae Party to spread vibes and positivity amid the red, gold and green of the Trenchtown Yard faithful closes out Bonnaroo’s Costume Party lineup.

Bangalore Shorts Film Festival began in 2012 to mark the 100 years celebration of Indian cinema and salute the contribution of the Kannada film industry towards the development of cinema in India. The festival provides a platform to aspiring and professional filmmakers for showcasing their talent with networking and marketing opportunities in the film industry. Festival objectives are to invigorate short films culture in India, promotion of upcoming filmmakers, develop sources of revenue generation for short films and to make short filmmaking a commercial enterprise. BSFF 2015 will add more workshops and master classes to the program. The Miniboxoffice Film Market will be a highlight for filmmakers who want to explore possibilities with feature film production. Screenplay Incubation is a suited category for writers to submit their screenplay for selection and submission to producers and directors for pitching consideration and funding evaluation. There is also the short film contest. Entry categories for Bangalore Shorts Film Festival-2015 include: shorts films, animation, documentaries and music videos.

NATPE Europe this year is held in the city of Prague and will put focus on Central and Eastern Europe. It will highlight the content revolution with a show encompassing TV Channels, Broadcast Networks, Cable/Satellite Networks, Internet/Broadband/Digital/Mobile Platforms and Home Entertainment, providing the Central and Eastern European media industry with a viable market. Event scheduling for NATPE Europe has been structured so that: Monday and Tuesday feature studio screenings that are “invitation only.” Registration will open June 22 and the market floor will open the next day. Full market days will be held June 24-25. Special events will be held on most days as will networking cocktails receptions that close each business day.

A conference session on opening day (June 22) tackles “Global TV Formats - What's Hot and What's Not?” produced in association with The Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA). On June 23, there is a Breakfast Keynote with Adrian Hodges, creator of the BBC television series THE MUSKETEERS. A cocktail reception at Cloud 9 Sky Bar and Lounge follows later in the evening. The evening  of June 24 AXN hosts the NATPE Europe Party at the Municipal House, Republic Square. Market floor and suites are open for the final day of the convention. NATPE Prague follows on from NATPE Budapest a well established event which was previously known as “Discop.” The move from Budapest to Prague was done to shift focus to the EEC countries and the expansion of TV stations, regional, local and thematic channels and multiple pay-TV platforms.

Showcasing innovation in local and emerging tech hubs across America, Techweek Chicago is focused upon established industry producers and leaders of the future in emerging U.S. tech hubs. Although Techweek, opening June 22, is a seven-day event, the nexus of Techweek is a two-day technology conference and expo of music, fashion, startup competitions and more. Overall there are 12 standard events in various disciplines. Attendees to Techweek can gain industry insights for success in tech from speakers in panel discussions, experiential workshops, keynote addresses and fireside chats. From Q&A with experts at the Knowledge Bar or a CEO speaking on the Summit Stage, Techweek’s conference covers the pressing issues in technology.

Future Sound at Techweek is a music festival focused on the intersection of music and technology. The Future Sound Music Festival is usually the final technology event to be scheduled heading into the weekend. Fashion and technology meet in style at Techweek’s FashionTECH Runway show. The Runway Show includes the latest in wearable technology, innovative manufacturing, and e-commerce brands.  Also featured on the FashionTECH Runway are local tech entrepreneurs as they model the hottest tech and fashion trends. From networking breakfasts to late-night parties, Techweek Gatherings are planned breaks to unwind, grab a drink or a bite to eat, and talk tech with fellow attendees in an environment planned for some low-pressure networking and fun. Techweek and Harley Davidson will show a June 24 screening of Avengers: Age of Ultron presented by Harley-Davidson.

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/index.php/news-updates/monthly-event-calendar. If you like this report and other content found on The Actor's Checklist, please consider liking the Facebook page at this link. This month's photo placement displays activity of the touring Makeup Show which will be in Dallas from June 13-14. If the photos do not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, heading into the slower summer period, be aware that: The Galway Film Fleadh is in Galway. Long Island Film/TV Foundation and the Nassau County Film Commission will launch the annual Long Island International Film Expo in Bellmore. The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival (SFFFF) will be run from the heart of the Mission District. Fantasia International Film Festival will open in Montreal. The Latin Alternative Music Conference 2015 comes to New York City. Locarno International Film Festival 2015 will again be set in the Swiss-Italian border town. Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), one of the oldest film festivals in the world is in Melbourne.

Entertainment Finance Forum, Cartoomics Movies Comics Games, SXSW, FILMART, are event highlights in March

 

The Byron Bay International Film Festival is open to films of all lengths and all genres. All films entered will automatically be considered for nomination in any award categories that the film might qualify for during the selection process. BBFF awards include but are not limited to Best Film, Documentary, Short Film, Drama, Cinematography, Surf Film, Animation, Experimental Film, Environmental Film, Music Video, Best Young Australian Filmmaker (open to Australian Director’s under 25) and an award for the Best Local Film. Normally submissions are handled via the website or email inquiries can be sent to: submissions@bbff.com.au. The Red Carpet Festival Opener is Tony Benn: Will & Testament, a feature-length documentary about the late British political firebrand, socialist and tireless fighter against privilege and injustice filmed over the last two years of his life.

BBFF2015 will host innovative figures in the film industry for workshops, panels and networking events focusing on the art and business of film. Typical of this is the March 7 event, Magic Happens in The Dark: A Filmmakers view of Festivals, where a panel will share their emotional and professional journey onto and around the International Film Festival circuit. Submission tactics and reactions to dismissals or acceptances will be discussed, as will the much coveted final screening. Another free panel on March 8, At Your Own Risk: How Far Will A Director Go To Make A Film?, a panel of filmmakers will discuss the considerable hurdles they have faced in production that require a fine balance of judgment and diplomacy, like shooting hazardous events, dealing in sensitive content and finding themselves in illegal situations. For March 15, an exploration of the ABC Open: Makers and Creators Project will show how to storyboard, shoot and edit a short video then publish it on the ABC (www.abc.net.au/openprojects) with the new ABC Open Makers and Creators project. ABC Open Producer Jeff Licence offers insights to develop storytelling skills and get involved in making videos. The theme for the video is Makers and Creators.

In other special events, BBFF2015 has invited actor David Wenham, of "Pirates Of The Caribbean 5" fame, for a special presentation about his latest film, Force Of Destiny, set for March 7 with the Director Paul Cox in attendance as well. Audiences will have a sneak preview at some of the film's scenes before the film premieres at Melbourne International Film Festival. The Festival’s ongoing “Experimental” category will showcase the cutting-edge of film as art at a free session presented in a “gallery” format. Approximately 20 films from across the globe will be screened on March 12. Another Red Carpet Gala Party on March 14 precedes the festival close on March 15 with a screening of Zen and the Art of Dying, the closing night highlight made by BBFF Alumni Filmmaker Broderick Fox.

Entertainment Finance Forum was conceived and produced by conference operator specializing in film finance conferences, Winston Baker, to provide insight to equity and debt financiers on investment opportunities, challenges and strategies for increased upside as they relate to film, TV and innovations in the digital space. The forum also offers workshops and sessions for producers and innovators looking for effective approaches to fundraising, marketing, distribution, and profitability.

The notable speaking faculty features some of the industry’s most seasoned executives and financiers, award-winning producers, and the newest innovators. Keynote speakers will include leading industry executives and active investors such as James Moore, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of Vine Alternative Investments, who recently announced the closing of the company’s third fund focused on investments in film, television, and entertainment assets with over $500 million of capital commitments. EuropaCorp Chief Executive Officer Christophe Lambert and Schuyler Moore, Partner, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP will also serve as keynotes.

In addition to insightful keynotes, the Los Angeles forum will host workshops on film and TV finance, crowdfunding and production incentives. Featured panel discussions will address: Equity Evolved: Approaches to Smarter Money, Distribution Disrupted: Emerging Independent Platforms, Television Redefined: New Business Models and Revenue Streams, Getting in on the Action of the Big Gaming Industry, Racing for the Gold Rush: Taking Mobile Apps from Development to Market.

Over the three day forum that closes March 11, day one workshops will include: Capitalizing on Crowdfunding, Navigating and Monetizing Production Incentives, Fundamentals of Film Finance, TV Finance 101. Day two workshops are: State of the Industry: The Future of the Big Screen, Equity Evolved: Approaches to Smarter Money, Sky’s the Limit: Sourcing the Capital Stack for Single Picture Deals, Distribution Disrupted: Emerging Independent Platforms, Measurable and Engaging Approaches to Brand Funded Programming, Television Redefined: Shifting Business Models and New Revenue Streams. Day three workshops are: Getting in on the Action of the Big Gaming Industry, Ctrl Alt Delete: Music Rebooted, 360 Degree Marketing: Utilizing the Digital Angle to Increase Returns, Racing for the Gold Rush: Taking Mobile Apps from Development to Market.

Like Comic-Con in San Diego and Supanova Pop Culture in Melbourne, Cartoomics Movies Comics Games shapes up as the Milano version of these popular pop culture destinations. This three day event showcases products like comics, movies, cartoon, video games, collectibles, to that of fantasy based products and services. Operation Fear Film Festival presents, in collaboration with Cartoomics 2015, the latest film by director Ivan Zuccon. A screening will be given March 15, the result of a Italian-American co-production effort, and has in its cast two scream queens well known to fans of Troma's Lloyd Kaufman -- Tiffany Shepis and Debbie Rochon. Like other pop culture conventions, one of the more popular events will be the Cosplay contest. The Cosplay competition starts on opening day with the Light Cosplay Contest, a small parade dedicated to cosplayer that, in addition to free admission, will parade onto a stage to sufficiently display the creations from the Cosplay competitors.

Day two of Cartoomics' Cosplay competition will be the presenting of the Cinecosplay Award, awarded to a cosplayer whose dress is inspired solely to the world of film, TV series and feature film animation. On the final day, hundreds of cosplayers, made up of groups and couples, will perform to show an assembled audience their creations, presided over by an international jury. For Star Wars fans, the large area dedicated to Star Wars in the Sci-Fi Area of Cartoomics 2015 this year will turn into the desert planet of Tatooine, one of the locations most beloved by fans of the saga. In addition to scenes depicting environments on the planet will be exhibited numerous themed props, many of which have never been exhibited before and were made ​​specifically for the Milano event. There will be members of the two Legions: the 501st Italica Garrison and the Rebel Legion Italian Base (the only two groups of Italian Star Wars costuming approved by Lucasfilm). Costumed groups will be available for photographs and interactions with visitors both before and during official parades.

 

 

SXSW is arguably the highest profile event of the month, encompassing three major topic areas: music, film and interactive tech. SXSW Music is a large festival with more than 2,200 official performers and bands playing in more than 100 venues. The festival offers artist-provided music and video samples of featured artists on their official YouTube channel. SXSW Film focuses on new directing talent. SXSW Interactive is focused on emerging technology, and the festival includes a trade show, speakers, parties, and a startup accelerator. There are also official Welcome Events to get things started at SXSW. Attendees can open their SXSW experience by enjoying food, drink and networking. Film, Interactive, Platinum and Gold registrants can sign on for the BBQ Crash Course or the Film and Interactive Taco Meet Up on March 13. Platinum and Music registrants have the opportunity to attend the Music Taco Meetup on March 20 or the Music Mixer on March 18. South by Southwest is run by the company SXSW, Inc. which plans and executes conferences, trade shows, festivals, and other events.

This year the SXSW Job Market is presented by Publicis Groupe and is open to the public March 13-14 with free Guest Pass wristbands, available in advance or onsite at the event. Visit guestpass.sxsw.com for more information. The 29th annual South By Southwest Closing Barbecue and Softball Tournament, the traditional closing social event of the SXSW week, runs from 12:30-17:30 on March 22. The accompanying SXSW Barbecue serves up an authentic Texas spread with all the trimmings (vegetarian options as well), prepared by local Ruby’s BBQ, plus beer, water, and soft drinks. SXSW hosts acts in every stage of their development, including music legends such as Dave Grohl, Stevie Nicks, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, LL Cool J, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Depeche Mode. Sonicbids is the exclusive online musical event application platform for the way SXSW handles showcase inquiries. Programming offered by the three festivals (Music, Film, Interactive) is a vast offering. Following, is a paragraph by paragraph roundup of selected highlights captured from each individual festival. Film submission inquiries to SXSW are done through the website at this link: www.sxsw.com/film/screenings/submit. Inquiries about speaking opportunities must go through SXSW PanelPicker page (panelpicker.sxsw.com) for more information.

SXSW opens with Interactive, running March 13-17. Featured Sessions at Interactive showcase reveals the innovative thinkers of the field. Charlene Li, Altimeter Group, leads a session to look at how leaders can use technology to listen, share, and engage with employees and customers, at scale. Google’s Eric Schmidt joins Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and The Innovators, and Megan Smith, Chief Technology Officer of the United States, discuss the role of collaboration and the iterative nature of progress in all the major innovations of the digital age. At a fireside chat, Mashable’s Pete Cashmore will cover how technology, social media and the explosion of digital have will affect the world’s consumption habits, business models and the way we live. In an interview, Kevin from KROQ's Kevin and Bean show has, A Conversation with Jimmy Kimmel, where Kimmel will share how he got his start, show highlights from some of his favorite moments, and delve into his work as the host and executive producer of his show.

SXSW’s Film Festival segment goes from March 13-21. A conference is part of the program covering a breadth of topics, from digital release strategies, to filmmaking techniques, production, and casting. Some of the vital segments of the film area will be Keynotes consisting of 20 minute one-on-one moderated interviews with three different insiders; mentor sessions that offer attendees one-on-one interaction with industry experts and creative game changers; Future15s that are three high energy, fifteen-minute sessions packed into one hour, structured for informativeness and focus; the Featured Sessions that also include the Conversation series with iconic filmmakers, actors and industry leaders moderated by a noted journalist, academic or fellow creative; workshops covering the latest trends in the industry, providing practical knowledge and inspiration in the form of hands-on experience; mentor sessions that offer attendees one-on-one interaction with industry experts and creative game changers. An offshoot of Film, SXSW Comedy, presents showcases, live recordings, conversations, improvisations, and late night parties. Wristband holders also welcome to all SXSW Comedy events at Esther's Follies, The Hideout, and The North Door.

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference runs March 17-22. At day there are the panels, talks, the Trade Show, Music Gear Expo and other conference activities at the Austin Convention Center. Panel topics cover everything from touring to releasing your own music to practically every aspect of the music business. SXSW hosts networking opportunities, career-building conference programming and over 100 stages of music for showcasing bands and conference attendees. At night attendees are treated to musical performances from over 2,200 regional, national and international acts taking place at the SXSW Music Festival. SXSW Music Festival showcases occur at over 100 venues throughout downtown Austin. How could anyone know if their favorite band or musical artist is performing this year at SXSW? This linked page () is a breakdown of music rvents sorted by Name on Any Day limited to Showcase. Something to know about the city of Austin is it’s official slogan as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” attributed to the many nightclubs on 6th Street district. The concentration of restaurants, bars, and music venues in the city's downtown core designates its zip code as encompassing the downtown entertainment district hosts the most bar or alcohol-serving establishments in the U.S.A.

The Hong Kong International Film and TV Market - also known as FILMART - is a four day film and entertainment market from March 23, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). FILMART focuses on the needs of professionals in areas such as distribution, production and acquisition of film, TV programmes, animation, digital entertainment, games, production and post-production services, shooting locations, film commissions, film festivals, film insurance and film financing.

The convention was formed to promote Hong Kong as a regional hub for distribution and production of film, TV programs and entertainment-related products in Asia pacific and to promote cross-media, cross-businesses partnerships. The convention projects itself through a range of exhibit categories, including: finance, film insurance, entertainment-related professional services. film and entertainment festivals/fairs organizers, artist management, cinema operation and management, production and post-production services, pre-production and shooting locations mandated by film commissions, distribution, production and acquisition of film, TV programmes, animation, digital entertainment/games, to list a few areas.

The 13th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is a marquee area at the convention, happening March 23-25. The HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with film financiers, producers, investors, distributors and buyers. 25-30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.

TV World 2015 will be in its ninth edition as co-located trade platform with a variety of TV-related business sectors along with FILMART. TV World has set up pavilions covering related sectors, including film, TV, animation, digital entertainment, short films, equipment, post-production and location shooting. A key event here is the International Forum with a panel sharing insights on the development and opportunities in the TV sector. Two anticipated special events of TV World 2015 will be the TV World Opening Ceremony and the TV World International Forum.

Convention organizer the Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body established in 1966 as the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based manufacturers, traders and service providers. The organisation has more than 40 offices around the world, including 13 on the Chinese mainland. The HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and Asia, with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online.

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/index.php/news-updates/monthly-event-calendar. 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 photo placement displays the South by Southwest convention logo which will be happening in Austin from March 13-22 and the Cartoomics Movies Comics Games pop culture convention in Milano. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month be aware that: Seventh Annual TV and Film Finance Forum will be in New York City, NAB Show 2015 is in Las Vegas, 2015 Florida Film Festival is in Maitland, WonderCon Anaheim 2015 comic and pop culture convention is in Anaheim, MusExpo 2015 will be in Hollywood, Supanova Pop Culture Expo will be in Melbourne, Mipdoc/Miptv will be in Cannes, AppsWorld: TV and Multi-screen will be in Berlin.

Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Skip City D-Cinema Festival, Comic-Con International, Kaua’i Music Festival, are highlights in July's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

A 24/7 Expo happening right in downtown L.A., Anime Expo is considered North America’s largest anime and manga celebration and the second longest running anime convention after A-kon in Texas. The Expo wants fans to meet and hear from veteran anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get involved with everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions while offering exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the anticipated Masquerade in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. A simple online application process is available to anyone wishing to take part in or present at Anime Expo, obtainable from the web site. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is the parent organization which funds and manages Anime Expo.

There are many segments making up Anime Expo, which runs through July 6, including the Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, Concerts, Battle of the Bands, and the AX Fashion Show. Anime Expo is a 24-hour convention that offers late-night dances, all night video programming, tabletop gaming rooms, and open-mic Karaoke in the late evening/early morning hours. Many of the attendees cosplay while attending the convention, and there are many gatherings for fans of different anime and manga series.

There are numerous areas of event interaction that Anime Expo will have going on -- in some cases 24/7. Last Comic Standing is a showcase for visitors to show off their comedy skills. There is programmed Japanese music entertainment, featuring J-Pop, Ani-Song, Japanese rock, and Idol Performers. The Anime and Manga Studies Symposium will schedule talks and lectures on Japanese comics and animation given by scholars from colleges and universities around the world. Live Panels put on by industry companies as well as attendees, range from announcements directly from the industry to fan discussions. AX Fashion unveils trends in Japanese street-wear and design from Harajuku and Shibuya through panels, a showcase fashion show, and  guest designers and models.

eGames area is a free play area at Anime Expo for everyone attending Anime Expo that love video games. The Table Top Gaming will host tournaments in favorite games like Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic The Gathering, Settlers of Cataan, and Texas Hold’em, to a casual gaming environment and this year will be joining forces with Arcade, and Console gaming. The anticipated Masquerade is an Anime Expo highlight with costumes and performances competing for the trophy. Lounge 21 and Manga Lounge will be separately themed lounges for relaxation and entertainment. The Artist Alley is a venue for amateur and semi-professional artists to celebrate Japanese pop culture through works of art.

Taking place in cinemas, bars and clubs about Perth, but centered in Leederville, with live music, performance, conferences and movies, Revelation Perth International Film Festival strives to put a unique slant on its programming. Opening night screening is Jonathan Glazer's 'Under The Skin,' adapted from the book of the same name by Michael Faber, in which Scarlett Johansson plays an alien driving through Scotland in a van to seduce men and lure them back to her mysterious lair. Getting its start back in 1997 in the basement back room of the Greenwich Club, a regarded Perth jazz venue, Revelation is part of the Australian film festival season and interacts with the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand International Film Festivals and any number of Australian screen culture organisations with program, print sources and curated projects.

The Revelation Screen Conference (RevCon) is structured to highlight and investigate issues, approaches and perspectives that are part of international independent film process. Held over two weekends during the festival, RevCon aims to be an 'ideas market' that draws in industry participants from the creative, cultural and business sectors for discussion and analysis oriented panel sessions that are free to attend. Complimentary to RevCon is an academic sidebar - Revelation Academic - that will take on areas such as: the current state of play of the international independent scene, a television masterclass with Aaron Pedersen (at cost), getting ideas through from concept to screen, creating new cinematic worlds. Separately from the conferences, Magnolia’s Late Night Live Revelation Special, a live talk show with a substantial following, brings together artists and musicians to chat about entertainment and cinematic appreciation led by Tristan Fidler (RTRFM’s Movie Squad), at a scheduled July 7 appearance at Bill's Bar and Bites.

Revelation strives to bring out the unique, weird and unusual in its festival programming. Revelation will celebrate Vladmaster’s View-Master reels --  handmade View-Master reels. As a seated audience holds their viewmasters in hand the audio soundtrack starts accompanying the 3D stereoscopic slides with the audience clicking-on the viewers as the soundtrack demands. The result becomes a visionary form of storytelling where the music, narration, sound effects and dings let the audience know when to advance each image or change discs. A selection of experimental films, from abstracted forms through dreamscapes and diaries and very personal explorations of the potentialities of cinema will be screened in the Experimental Showcase. The REVEL-8 Showcase was conceived to challenge a filmmaker to shoot one reel of silent Super 8 film in camera lasting only three and one-half minutes. A composer's challenge was to compose and record a music soundtrack without meeting the director. The resulting public showcase of matched films and scores will compete for prizes.

Revelation's program carries live music, gallery based visual arts and associated activity generated by the event or independent curators. Entries for the 2015 edition will open on September 1. Subscribing to the newsletter is one way to receive notification as it happens. Presently, the festival includes 100 international films presented at cinemas, galleries, cafes and bars across Perth. The 26th Annual WA Screen Award (WASAs) will be held at the Heath Ledger Theatre in the State Theatre Centre of WA on July 14 as a grand finale event to the Revelation Perth International Film Festival.

With an emphasis on music in film, the San Francisco Frozen Film Festival features a music competition as well as a film competition. There is also the July 17 opening night gala, live concerts, music winners, youth programs and film screenings with filmmaker discussion that round out this Bay-Area festival held in the Mission district. Last year's festival featured surf and skate films, international films, animated shorts, dramatic shorts, comedic shorts, Art House / experimental shorts, feature films, digital films, music documentaries, prison documentaries, and two musical concerts. In addition to the annual film festival, the SFFFF Youth Program is very focused on providing underserved youth pathways to help them find a career in the film arts.

The 2014 festival features a Gala-party, a concert with the music winners, another concert with bands from one of the movies, and a closing night awards ceremony set for July 20. The Frozen Film Festival invites all filmmakers and musicians to submit their work for programming with a strong commitment to music, shorts, and Bay Area related films, and more than 10 bands who played concerts at various spots around the city during the festival. The festival takes in submissions on VHS or DVD/Blu-Ray disc. More information is available on the website or by emailing: frozenfilmfestival@gmail.com. Filmmakers whose work is accepted into the festival are invited to come to the festival to screen and discuss their work.

Skip City International D-Cinema Festival is an international competitive festival taking place in Saitama, created to encourage and contribute to the development of Digital Cinema (D-Cinema), focusing just on works shot and produced digitally. The Festival's mandate is to encourage and contribute to the development of Digital Cinema and to cultivate filmmakers in Digital Cinema through international competitions, screenings and awards for digital filmmakers and their works. Categories up for competition for this festival with dates from July 19-27 will include: Feature Length, Short Length Competition, Animation Competition, Current D-Cinema 2014, Cinema Kabuki, Special Screenings, Barrier Free Screenings with Japanese subtitles and Audio Guidance and Guests.

All entries are screened by a 4K Digital Cinema projector at Skip City. Awards will be presented at the Closing Ceremony by an international jury committee. Overall, there will be several unique side events that will accompany the screenings and competitions, most of which are suited for the entire family. There will be three evenings of outdoor screenings (July 20-22) with an appearance by action hero Ultra-man Tiga on evening one, three NHK animations will screen on evening two, the original Ultra-man series will screen on evening three. Learn how to cook with secret recipes (July 20) and sample various dishes prepared with Bulldog sauce.

In Skip City musical programming, a local big band, New Notes Orchestra, will perform movie soundtracks (July 21-26). The annual bon dancing festival with international guests (July 21). UWF, a popular student wrestling team, will appear at Skip City (July 26) and visitors can enjoy tap beer and snacks in the Beer Garden. A Waku Waku Workshop (July 19, 22, 26) will show visitors how to make a thaumatrope, the origin of the motion picture reel. Kids special screenings of TV programs from NHK Archives and popular animation programs will be screened (July 20, 21, 25). An exhibition of on-set location photos provided by Film Commission Office in Saitama can be viewed from July 19-26.

Casual Connect USA 2014 happens in San Francisco with a July 22 starting date. Casual Connect USA is the largest of all the Casual Connect conferences. Casual Games Association produces these events for the casual games industry with over 6,500 professionals attending Casual Connect each year. Along with the conference sessions, indie developers will be showcasing their works in the Indie Prize Showcase and established developers will be presenting their games in the IDEA Showcase. The remaining Casual Connect series set for this year is set for November 10-12 in Serbia.

Lectures at Casual Connect are programmed to focus on cutting edge topics in the video games space. Presenting at the series, Jill Braff, Commerce Mobile Gaming Social, discusses "Beyond the App Store: Where's the Casual Games Market in a Post-Zynga World?" Another presentation features Mike Delaet, Kabam; Andrew N. Green, Tinyco; Simon Jeffery, Backflip with Moderator Ben Chen, SponsorPay, taking part in a panel titled "Indie vs. Blockbusters... or a Match Made in Heaven?"

The International Design, Entertain and Amaze (IDEA) Showcase at Casual Connect invites established developers looking for international partners for publishing, user aquisition, game performance monitoring and logistical support. Among the benefits offered by IDEA is a dedicated showcase area, online game listing and online meeting system listing. Hosted four times a year in conjunction with Casual Connect and Indie Prize, the IDEA Showcase™ highlights developers from all over the world in showcases in Western Europe, Asia, USA and Eastern Europe. Promising developers just getting started are encouraged to apply for the Indie Prize scholarship. Submission is handled through an online application process (http://www.cvent.com/d/w4qs56/4W).

Casual Connect is often reputable for its parties and networking events. Networking mixers will include: A Pre-Funk & Badge Pickup with StartApp on July 21. The next day, July 22, there is an early evening Mingle with Tapjoy followed by the Official Opening Night Party, presented by InMobi + Pandora, which will be a dance party featuring DJ Youngblood Hawke and Tender Buttons at Mezzanine. For July 23, Mingle with Fiksu, opens the early evening then followed by Dinner with Vegas World, Indie Prize Awards Ceremony, ending in an evening of music and dancing with App Annie and Upsight at Party @ City Hall. On the final convention day, July 24, there is the Women's Lunch with DeNA starting at noon.

Comic-Con is a multigenre entertainment and comic convention taking place annually since 1970 when it originally began as Golden State Comic Book Convention. Once only exclusively showcasing comic books and science fiction/fantasy related film and television arts, the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture and entertainment elements across most all genres. On the Wednesday evening prior to the official July 24 opening of the convention, there is a preview for professionals, exhibitors, and select guests pre-registered for all four days. Comic-Con International opens with Preview Night on July 23, marking the 45th year for the show.

There are several event areas that happen at Comic-Con. Comic-Con International's 2014's Artists' Alley will feature artists and illustrators working in comics, science fiction and fantasy, and related popular arts fields. Anyone interested in applying for exhibit space in Comic-Con International's Artists' Alley can go to their website to download the Artists' Alley Exhibitor Application. The Comics Arts Conference which started in 1992 at Comic-Con has an academic orientation and offers panels, seminars, and sessions covering all four days of Comic-Con. The Comic Creator Connection is the convention initiative that brings writers and artists together to enable creative collaborations.

Located in the Sails Pavilion upstairs at the Convention Center, the Art Show displays the nominated books and comics for this year’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and houses a special exhibit devoted to members of the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in addition to original works by both amateurs and professionals. Carrying over an arrangement of past years, fan tables will be set up across the convention exhibit hall.

Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), both held in San Francisco. Comic-Con has also awarded its annual Inkpot Award on guests and persons of interest in the Popular Arts industries, as well as on members of Comic-Con's Board of Directors and the Convention Committee. It is also the home of the Will Eisner Awards. Comic-Con is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events.

The Kaua'i Music Festival (KMF) Songwriter Conference and Concert Series is a four-day annual event is held on the island of Kaua‘i focusing on the art and craft of songwriting, embracing most genres -- rock, pop, R&B, country, urban, contemporary Hawaiian. At Kaua’i, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization now in its 12th year, attendees can learn songwriting or refine skills through interaction with actively professional songwriters. In addition, throughout the conference performed music will be heard by active industry veterans. Through one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and more, there are ample opportunities to consult with and get feedback from industry representatives that include producers, TV and Film Music Supervisors, A&R Executives. An evening discussion set for July 30 covers, "How the Grammys Work".

In addition to the regular songwriting workshops and one-on-one meetings, Kaua'i Music Festival will provide a number of "Informational Workshops" to help working musicians and songwriters. There will be two workshops sponsored by the State of Hawaii, DBEDT, Creative Industries Division: "Everything You Need to Know About the Business of Placing Your Music in TV & Advertising", led by Chris Jackson, Comcast Entertainment Group, and "Everything You Need to Know About the Business of Placing Your Music in Film and Cinema", led by David Trotter, Studio 51. Other workshops are available and a CD "Demo Derby" will be held during the early morning session of August 2 with participants encouraged to bring their CD's.

As in past years, Kaua’i Music Festival will hold it's songwriting contest for registered attendees to participate in. Submissions would have had to have been registered in advance. The final competition will be held on the second day of the Festival. Each of the selected Finalists will perform their submitted song in the competition. In 2014 there are two concert nights. On August 1, a Po`alima Concert featuring Mainland Artists will present Hot Chelle Rae, 'Hookman' Marlin Bonds, Mark Feist, Richard Harris and other artists. And on August 2 a Pau Hana Concert features Hawaiian Artists, showcasing Kenneth Makuakane with the Pandanus Club, Eric Gilliom, John Cruz, Kimo Knox and other performers. The Festival closes out on August 2 with an Open Mic followed by Party time in the Makai Lounge.

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 photo placement highlights Mumbai based film sound designer, Harikumar Pillai as the subject of a profile by Dhaka based Jamuna Television and the official show poster for Comic-Con in San Diego. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, although the industry gets quiet during the summer months, be aware that: the Florida Film Industry Expo 2014 opens in Tampa, Texas Association of Broadcasters 61st Annual Convention and Trade Show opens for two days in Austin, the 3rd Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival-14 is a one day festival in Kolkata, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest known film festival - Melbourne International Film Festival - opens in Victoria for an 18 day run, the 10th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival opens in Hollywood, the Monitor Latino Convention will be in Los Angeles over three days, the Brazil Promotion Trade Show 2014 will be in Sao Paulo.

Banff World Media Festival, Bonnaroo, NXNE 2014, The BET Experience, are highlights in June's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Cine Gear Expo, is the film, video, and digital media expo for specialists in the entertainment production and post production world opens in Los Angeles. It is structured to give attending artists and technicians a path to discover the latest technology and techniques through hands-on training from industry veterans. Attendees can handle the latest equipment, hear breaking industry news and network with peers and industry leaders. This annual four day conference through June 8 includes: exhibits, premiere and Master Class seminars, film series competition and finalist screenings, new product announcements, demonstrations, VIP Awards Ceremony, special events.

A screening of Feature Film Finalists, Student Short Finalists, Independent Short Finalists, starts on June 5. A Master Class on the PMW-F5 and PMW-F55 cameras, and how to shoot raw with FS700 with the Odyssey 7Q will be conducted from the Sony Digital Motion Picture Center in Culver City on June 8. In addition, the class will look at the cameras different shooting modes including high frame rate shooting. The F5 and F55’s super 16mm crop mode shooting plus advanced features such as the interchangeable optical low pass filter that is capable of varied special effects.

A Cine Gear Award Reception and Party happens June 6 where Indy, Student Shorts and Feature Film Competition winners will be announced. The Cine Gear Expo 2014 Cinematography Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Adam Greenberg, ASC, in recognition of the contributions he has made to advancing the art and craft of Cinematography. The 2014 Technical Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Andres Valles and Alfredo Valles, in recognition of the varied contributions they have made to advancing the art and craft of film making.

The CMA Music Festival is a Country Music festival hosted each June by the Country Music Association in Nashville. Started in 1972 as Fan Fair, the event presently features artists holding autograph sessions, "meet-and-greet" sessions and other fan interaction events for festival goers happening at various staging areas. Artist of the Day appearances will include: LeAnn Rimes on June 5, Sara Evans on June 6, Craig Morgan on June 7, Lady Antebellum on June 8. Each day of the Festival, Fan Fair X will feature an artist on their designated day. And there will be Q-and-A sessions between the artists and fans as well as acoustic performances. A pre-festival kick-off concert on June 4 features The Grascals, with additional performances by Brazilbilly, Lindsay Ell, Marshall Tucker Band, Morgan Evans, Shooter Jennings and Waymore's Outlaws, Small Town Pistols, Tim Hicks, at Chevrolet Riverfront Stage from 11:00.

There are many special festival activities that are slated to happen. CMA Close Up Stage will feature an artist, band or panel in performance or discussion with an audience Q&A following. The Durango Music Spot will host various artists at the Fan Fair X. Kix Brooks will present his American Country Countdown radio program live from Fan Fair X on June 7 (11:15 CT). Great American Country, the network that delivers original lifestyle programming celebrating American living and Country Music is hosting a Great American Country Breakfast Series at Fan Fair X. In a first look at films and TV shows by and featuring Country artists, The Screening Room will feature “Like a Country Song,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, “Alive at Brushy Mountain,” a documentary by Mark Collie, A&E’s new series “Big Smo,” and VH-1’s “LeAnn & Eddie,” a satirical look at the lives of one of the most gossiped about celebrity couples.

And in yet more CMA activities taking place, kid-friendly activities include inflatable bounce houses, face painting and balloon artists, musical instrument lessons by Nashville Symphony members, a music recording studio experience, arts and crafts, the Nashville Public Library and Wishing Chair Productions Puppet Truck will present “The Frog Prince” each day, and Now Playing Nashville will provide various family friendly activities. The very popular autograph sessions in Music City Center returns again in 2014 with new improvements for how to enter the drawing. In addition to autographs, visitors can now enter to win access to exclusive performances at the HGTV Lodge located in Fan Alley. Festival activity and concerts will happen across several different stages with the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage situated on the bank of the Cumberland River as the festival epicenter. The Country Music Association aspires to heighten the awareness of Country Music and support its on-going growth. Half of the proceeds from the festival each year are donated to charity, while the other half are earmarked by the CMA for "the advancement of country music.

The 68th Annual Tony Awards will be on the evening of June 8 in New York City. The Tonys will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall, on the CBS television network. The live red carpet coverage can also be viewed at TonyAwards.com starting at 18:00. The line-up of performances for the award ceremony includes: 2014 Tony Nominee Neil Patrick Harris and the cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch; 2014 Tony nominee Sutton Foster with the cast of Violet; Alan Cumming reprising his Tony Award-winning role in a performance from the revival of Cabaret; and 2014 Tony Nominee Idina Menzel performing from the new musical If/Then. The evening will also feature performances by the casts of this year’s Best Musical and Best Musical Revival Nominees. The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. During the telecast, behind-the-scenes companion coverage of the show can be followed at: TonyAwards.com/secondscreen.

Marking its 35th year of operation, BANFF World Media Festival is the annual media content creation event structured to create opportunities for co-production deals, enabling new business relationships and revealing future industry trends. The Festival combines an international program competition -- the Banff World Media Awards, with a conference agenda that will engage areas: BANFF TV, Kids and Animation, Non-Fiction, nextMEDIA. The Banff Keynote, moderated by veteran TV journalist Dan Rather, will be delivered by Eileen O'Neill, Group President, Discovery, Science and Velocity Networks, who will discuss the Discovery Channel climb to record-breaking ratings and social engagement.

Qualified BANFF registrants get their chance to interact by pitching their new concepts and business models. These meetings can be booked exclusively by BANFF delegates using the ".Connect" networking platform. The ‘Face to Face with a Development Executives’ series is an opportunity for BANFF delegates to meet with international development executives from global networks, broadcasters, production companies, digital distribution platforms, advertising and media buying agencies. A planned June 9 Facebook Feature Interview titled: "Demystifying Digital vs. Traditional: The Golden Age of TV & The Second Screen Syndrome," examines evolving viewing habits in which Canadians multitask with an Internet-connected device while watching TV.

This year, Banff World Media Festival will honor Canadian actor, songwriter and TV game and talk show host, Alan Thicke, with this year’s Canadian Award of Distinction. The award is presented to a Canadian whose body of work illustrates outstanding achievement, the Canadian Award of Distinction will celebrate the new industry standards set by Thicke’s professional achievements. Presented in partnership with Entertainment One (eOne), Thicke will accept the honor at the annual Rockie Awards Gala, a ceremony that has awarded names in the entertainment industry, including: Will Arnett, Howie Mandel, Eric McCormack and Martin Short.

Networking receptions and parties at this 35th Banff include on June 8: the "Rockies Program Competition Nominee Reception" and "CBC Radio-Canada Opening Reception"; June 9: "Breakfast with a Development Executive," "Rockie Awards Luncheon," "Netflix Late Night After Party"; June 10: "Breakfast with a Development Executive," "Lunch With a Development Executive," "A&E Reception"; June 11: "Breakfast with a Development Executive," "Lunch With a Development Executive," BANFF's 35th Birthday Party. The Banff Springs Hotel, where the conference is held, is a luxury hotel that was built during the nineteenth century as one of Canada's grand railway hotels, constructed in Scottish Baronial style and located in Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times, screens new American and international features, music videos, and shorts from over 40 countries and with access to critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals and emerging cinematic talent. Taking place in the heart of downtown Los Angeles from June 11-19, the Festival has also programmed live musical performances, parties and informal gatherings, as well as the exclusive, pre-festival Filmmaker Retreat.

Select narrative features, documentary features and short films participate in the Festival’s three competitive sections, the winners of which are chosen by a special jury. Most features and shorts are also eligible for Audience Awards, which are chosen based on ballots submitted by Festival audiences. The Festival is a qualifying festival in all categories for the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking, as well as for the Narrative, Animated and Documentary Short Film categories of the Academy Awards.

The Festival also hosts Fast Track, a program of Film Independent that is set-up to help filmmakers move their current narrative or documentary projects into the next phase. Fast Track is a film financing market that connects them financiers, production companies and other industry professionals. This selective program is open to established as well as up-and-coming filmmakers with exceptional projects still seeking funding. The Los Angeles Film Festival is a program of Film Independent, a non-profit, membership film organization that champions independent film and that organizes and hosts the Spirit Awards.

The annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival typically takes place on the second Thursday in June. The main attractions of the four-day festival are the multiple stages of live music, featuring a diverse array of musical styles including indie rock, world music, hip hop, jazz, americana, bluegrass, country music, folk, gospel, reggae, pop, electronica, and other alternative music. But beyond musical showcases, there are other varied activities as: cinema, art displays, eat and drink adventures, Kalliope, exercise and camping.

A short list of some of the highlighted musical acts set to take the stage at Bonnaroo include: Susan Tedeschi, Damian Marley, Janelle Monae, Arctic Monkeys, DJ Logic, Lauryn Hill, Taj Mahal, Ice Cube, The Flaming Lips, Elton John, Fritz and The Tantrums, Lionel Richie, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sarah Jarosz, The Avett Brothers, Skrillex, Vampire Weekend, Cake, Kanye West. For artists looking for performance opportunities at Bonnaroo, as of 2014 festival management has partnered with Sonicbids to accept submissions for performance slots at the festival.

The Bonnaroo Cinema Tent will screen new independent features before they are released, documentaries, comedies, cult classics and host fun (as in comedy) live interactive happenings. The cinema is open 24 hours and will integrate into the format live Q&A sessions with special guest filmmakers, actors and unique cinematic performances with musicians and comedians. Kalliope Stage is a new offering at Bonnaroo in 2014. In the evening Kalliope Stage becomes a staging area for a light show filled with cryogenics, lasers and serial beams and an enhanced audio system.

The Game Stage at Bonnaroo powered by Xbox One will function as an alternative to the musical stages offering game addicted fans a chance to battle giant mechanical Titans, race the fastest cars in the world, hunt zombies or just send questions to your favorite Bonnaroo artists via Skype video. Yoga classes take place at locations across The Farm. Yoga Roo takes place Friday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset, at various locations across The Farm. All classes are free and open to yogis of all levels. For the second year in a row the "Roo Run" will be held June 14 - the day before the festival close - to race the 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) across the festival grounds. Prizes will be awarded.

North by North East is the an annual music and arts festival with conference held each June in Toronto, Ontario, patterned on the South by Southwest festival held earlier in the year in Austin, Texas. The festival is broken down along the lines of: NXNE Music Festival (June 18-22), NXNE Film (June 13-15), NXNE Interactive (June 17-21), NXNE Comedy (June 18-22), NXNE Art (June 16-22). The festival takes over Toronto’s downtown core, with many venues (thought to be over 50 Toronto music venues) grouped along Queen Street West, College Street, and the Bloor Street Annex. Most venues host six bands a night. Some of the scheduled musical acts for 2014 will include: ASAP FERG, Big Name Actors, D!GGY the DJ, Drugs in Japan, Emma Frank, Falling Androids, Gangis Khan aka Camoflauge, Ghost Town Jenny, Greys, Tequila Mockingbird and others

NXNE Film screens the year’s selected music-themed features, documentaries, shorts, and experimental films from around the world. This year in partnership with Hot Docs, NXNE presents screenings that include, ‘Vann “Piano Man” Walls: The Spirit of R&B’, directed by Steven Morris, a film for anyone curious about the origins of rock n’ roll. NXNE Comedy, hosted by Fleshlight and in partnership with Empire Comedy Live, will feature special festival presentations like: The Epic Nerd Show, Sunday Night Live with The Sketchersons, Fan Fiction The Show, presenting Sailor Moon. In the art segment, NXNE Art Team will make selections from OCAD University's graduating class of 2014 to exhibit among works of other artists. There will be an Art Party in the Art Lounge June 20 with music and drinks.

NXNE Interactive (NXNEi) is a digital interactive media conference bringing together content-creating artists, tech entrepreneurs, digital marketing gurus, web business experts, and social media aficionados for workshops, presentations, and panels. Oliver El-Khatib, a co-manager for Toronto based Rap artist Drake, and founder and creative director of OVO, will deliver the NXNEi keynote address and share insight on the music industry, the development of the OVO brand, and the importance of championing Toronto.

With its global perspective in regard to programming, the festival organization strives for certain achievements in the course of the festival run, including: provide a forum for new music in which fans can see rising talent at Toronto club venues, screen the year’s curated music-themed films, explore and develop common ground between the creative industries and the interactive world, present Toronto with a marquee tourist festival destination by showcasing international headline performers at free outdoor concerts. Getting to play NXNe is a matter of submitting an Electronic Press Kit through Sonicbids where it will be then taken up for consideration by the NXNE listening team.

InfoComm opens in Las Vegas, an annual AV trade show featuring the latest technologies for audio, video, display, projection, lighting, staging, digital signage, conferencing, digital content creation, networking, signal distribution and more. InfoComm International® is the trade association behind the convention representing the professional audiovisual and information communications industries worldwide. The conference segment of the convention runs June 14-20 and the exhibits segment runs June 18-20. Mike Walsh, CEO of Tomorrow and Author of FUTURETAINMENT, delivers the Opening Keynote on June 17, focusing on the next five years of industry innovation.

InfoComm will have a Tech-Know Job Fair, June 18-20 during show hours in the InfoComm International booth. For 2014, InfoComm introduces two new Solutions Summits -- conferences focused on digital signage and unified communications and collaboration. The program opens on June 17 and continues through June 20 with keynotes, case studies and panel discussions on the concerns of using these technologies and integrating them into the organization.

InfoComm Technology Pavilions and Special Exhibits areas will showcase over 950 exhibitors and thousands of products representing areas of audio, digital signage, conferencing, lighting and staging and security. Over time, certain popular pavilion areas have come to establish themselves, such as: Digital Signage Presentation Stage, Production Camera Showcase and Production Zone, Rigging Safety Demo, Audio Demo rooms, the Technologies for Worship magazine Live Events Experience stage.

Established in 1939, InfoComm International has more than 5,000 members, including manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end users and multimedia professionals from more than 80 countries. InfoComm International serves its members and the industry through education, including technical and business courses, in the classroom and online; resources, such as AV standards, thought pieces and market research; and events, including local roundtables and international trade shows.

Black Entertainment Television network will present their annual BET Awards on June 29 in Los Angeles. The awards celebrate the achievements of African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are the culmination of a three-day extravaganza called The BET Experience which will happen throughout the L.A. Live district. BET Awards ‘14, will be hosted by Chris Rock and will be broadcast live on BET from approximately 20:00 PT. Beyoncé and Jay-Z lead the nominations with five each. Drake, Pharrell Williams and August Alsina are tied for four. The 2014 lineup for BET Experience at L.A. Live, the lead-up to the awards that opens on June 27, will feature performances from notable R&B, Hip-Hop acts, including Outkast, Mary J. Blige, Maxwell, Jill Scott, Trey Songz, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Marsha Ambrosius, K. Michelle, and Ty Dolla $ign.

Leading up to the BET Awards, the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE will feature three days of music and comedy concerts, “106 & PARK” tapings, BET Fan Fest, seminars, GRAMMY® Museum exhibits, a signature food festival, celebrity meet and greets and other special appearances. Most of the interactive events are popular holdovers from previous years. BET Experience Fan Fest is an interactive expo with its own Pavilion where guests engage with their favorite BET shows, talent and brands through exhibits, demonstrations and giveaways. The Fan Fest is free to the public and includes a signature food experience. Genius Talks are seminars focusing on pragmatic advice on money, culture, entertainment, family, celebrity and relationships. The GRAMMY® Museum Exhibit will offer an exhibit of past “BET Awards” Lifetime Achievement Honorees. The popular “106 & PARK” program will present free musical performances, new talent showcases and celebrity appearances on its stage. Late night VIP after parties with featured DJ's will happen at selected and exclusive venues.

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 photo placement highlights action sequences from Warner Bros. sci-fi feature, Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. If the photo does not appear in this post please visit the blog page to view it. Looking ahead into the next month, although the industry gets quiet during the summer, be aware that: the Los Angeles Acting School Acting Conservatory School will conduct sessions in Santa Monica, Casual Connect USA 2014 will be held in San Francisco, Media/Broadcast/Cinema Today as three co-located events will come to Chennai. Comic-Con International 2014 will be in San Diego. The Engaging Youth: Where They Want, How They Want! Conference will happen in London.

London Short Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, 2014 NAMM Show, 56th Grammy Awards, are highlights in January's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Irvine International Film Festival at Laguna Hills anticipates a festival running through January 16 where industry members can network and host a venue for the public to watch film and interact with film makers mostly through Q and A after the screenings. On January 11, "Karen Black: On Acting" will be a screening followed by a panel discussion with the director, Russell Brown that was given by the late actress who was an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner. In 75 minutes, the in-depth interview from this very respected performer of her generation covers everything from perfecting regional accents to finding a character’s inner needs. There is a scheduled International Cinematographers Guild Panel Discussion on January 12, with the presentation of 10 short films honoring the best of ICGs emerging cinematographers.

Multi Emmy award-winning actor, Ed Asner, a former Mary Tyler Moore show regular and past president of SAG, is IIFF's 2014 recipient of the festival's "Lifetime Achievement Award" as an actor and will attend January 12 for a special screening and discussion. John G. Avildsen, Oscar winning Director of "Rocky" is the festival's 2014 recipient of the "Lfetime Achievement Aard" as director and will be in person on January 16. Festivities begin with an Opening Night Party and concludes with an Award Show at which Oscar nominations will be announced.

The London Short Film Festival is now in its 11th year in the City of Westminster district. During the nearly two week run from January 10-19, screenings are run out of a number of independent cinemas and venues in the area showcasing short films and interactive events. There are special event sessions that are planned as well. On January 13, the British Council stages an event appealing to both filmmakers and those interested in developing a career in the festival sector. On January 14, TorinoFilmLab, an international organization supporting young talents from all over the world through training, development and funding activities, and with a principle focus on first and second feature films, makes a presentation. Following this, Cinema Jam conducts a panel discussion outlining three perspectives on how people working in the short film format can build a viable career. On January 15, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art conducts a session specifically designed for directors on how best to work with actors. On January 16, ThinkSync offers a music supervision session for selecting the right track for a short film. Later on, a panel of industry experts from London Film Academy and the Institute for International Film Financing present the most recent insider knowledge and tips on how to secure film funding.

Other London Short Film Festival special event screenings will include: a programme of inventive shorts made on a shoe-string budget on January 10, a comedy selection in association with the British Film Institute’s Future Film for younger audiences on January 11, the first of three documentary programmes in this year's festival, screened January 12, an eclectic mix of animation, documentary and experimental footage offered in this year's Music and Video program, January 13, the BFI's Gothic season with a selection of disturbing and thought provoking shorts titled "The Gothic and the Grotesque" on January 14, and "Celluloid Traces" drawn together in a program of experimental work, on January 19. The London Short Film Festival is meant to be a mecca for the UK’s young creative talent combining independent shorts, plus live music, training, parties, art and fashion.

Celebrating its 30th year from Park City, The Sundance Film Festival showcases dramatic and documentary films from emerging and established artists, innovative short films, filmmaker forums and panels, live music performances and film composer events, while seeming to add to the program listing of events and activities year over year. In addition to discovering filmmaking's newest talent through the Festival's program of documentary, dramatic, and short films, Festivalgoers experience live music performances, panel discussions with leading filmmakers and industry figures, cutting-edge media installations, parties celebrating the Festival community, and more.

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival opens with screenings from the competition film line-up, as well as the opening of New Frontier. A planned fundraiser and kick-off for the 2014 Sundance Film Festival takes shape as an evening to celebrate independent artists and their work. This event includes cocktails with filmmakers, reserved seating at the Day One screening, dinner with artists and everything ending with a party at Legacy Lodge at Park City Mountain Resort. This year, Sundance Institute is honored to congratulate President and Founder Robert Redford on his Golden Globe Best Actor nomination for his role and performance in J.C. Chandor's film 'All Is Lost'. In addition, the Institue congratulates Julie Delpy on her nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her performance in Richard Linklater's 'Before Midnight'.

On the festival grounds, YouTube on Main Street will be hosting the filmmaking community to daily activity that include live Sundance Film Festival production, screenings, panels, happy hours, and much more. Canon U.S.A., Inc has planned a January 20 panel discussion and screening spotlighting the craft of cinematography in the field of Microcinema. Panelists will share valuable insights, anecdotes, and technical knowledge, as well as discuss their real-world experience with the Canon Cinema EOS line of professional digital cameras and lenses. To celebrate the U.S. premiere of Doug Aitken's project, The Source (evolving), the artist, with art collector, Maurice Marciano, will discuss how ideas begin and the future of creativity in the 21st century. The January 18 talk is to be an exploration across creative disciplines -- film, visual arts, music and architecture.

In April, Sundance offers its third Sundance London program, presenting a cross-section of films fresh from Sundance Film Festival – a mix of documentary and narrative features, made by first-time and established directors, and short films from around the globe. Sundance London is presented by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute, and AEG Europe. The closing night Awards Ceremony and Reception ends with the Awards Night Party at Basin Recreation Field House.

About 31 miles down the road (in a manner of speaking) from the Sundance Festival in Park City, Slamdance Film Festival has carried on its tradition serving as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent and nurturing new independent artists and their cinematic vision for 20 years now. For its 20th anniversary, January 17-23, Slamdance has planned Special Screenings, Beyond and Shorts programs, the premiere of the DIY documentary that follows the historical development of the Do-It-Yourself indie film movement. An expanded short film programs include 62 American and International productions including 24 World, five North American and eight U.S. Premieres. The 2014 Shorts showcase includes Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Anarchy and a new Experimental Program.

The Slamdance Screenwriting and Teleplay Competition is a mainstay of the festival. The competition consists of four categories: feature, short, horror, original teleplay/webisode. Awards are given to the top three scripts in each category. In addition to that, JuntoBox Films and Slamdance will present the new Grand Prize for the best feature length screenplay. MixBit.com, and The Slamdance Film Festival have joined forces to launch a new trailer contest that gives emerging Slamdance directors a chance to create their best trailer for the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival. To compete, filmmakers whose films have been accepted into the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival will agree to upload their trailers to MixBit.com, where Slamdance attendees and the MixBit community can remix the high quality clips and repurpose the trailers in new and creative ways. The competition goes live December 6th, 2013 at www.MixBit.com/Slamdance and will close January 3rd, 2014.

Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the festival, including Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Benh Zeitlin, Lynn Shelton and Lena Dunham. Oren Peli’s PARANORMAL ACTIVITY originally acquired from Slamdance went on to gross over $190 million at the Box Office. In 2013, more than half of the Slamdance competition features were picked up for VOD distribution. Each year significant cash and service prizes are awarded to all Sparky Award recipients. Slamdance offers selected feature and short films theatrical showings during the following year through the Slamdance On The Road program.

NAMM is the anticipated music products industry trade event of the year based in Anaheim, that features the latest innovations and gear from more than 1,400 exhibitors and nearly 4,500 brands from around the world. From January 23-26, visitors get a close-up of the latest Pro audio sound technology, training, skills refinement in the Hands-On Training (H.O.T.) Zone and a stage where you can see it in action, refine your skills and improve the quality of your productions and attend the NAMM TEC Awards. To get the party started, there will be the NAMM Pre-Show Block Party, starting at 17:30 on January 22. The night features live music from Bernie Williams and Gil Parris, plus networking, food trucks and a beer garden at the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza.

Reflecting on a trend of a strong growth trajectory and the Electronic Dance Music and club-music craze attached to it, over 300 brands will debut in the area of DJ-related gear at the 2014 NAMM Show. EDM grabs center stage every night of the NAMM Show on The Venue Stage presented by Pioneer DJ. Located between the arena and the Hilton, the Venue stage will play club music from 17:00-20:00 Thursday and Friday nights. On Saturday night, DJs sponsored by Monster Products take the stage.

This year's NAMM experience will also include a group music-making experience at the show on three occasions: an "All-Industry Drum Circle" will be hosted by REMO Inc. on January 24; Conn-Selmer, Inc. will sponsor a "pBone Trombone Workshop" where elementary students with little to no music background can create a brass instrument musical experience, on January 26; the third annual Uke Circle with ukuleles provided by Kala Brand Music, is set for January 26.

The Grammy Awards are set for January 26 this year and will take place in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 20:00-23:30 (ET/PT). The show also will be carried on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and webcast online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube. The GRAMMYs are a peer-presented award honoring artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. A GRAMMY is awarded by The Recording Academy's voting membership to acknowledge this excellence in the recording arts and sciences. Two-time GRAMMY winner LL COOL J returns as host of this year's GRAMMY Awards.

Some performers announced early for this 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards® telecast include: current GRAMMY® nominee Daft Punk; nominee Kendrick Lamar joined by nominees Imagine Dragons; nominees P!nk and Nate Ruess (of FUN.); and a special "GRAMMY Moment" featuring two-time GRAMMY winner Merle Haggard, three-time GRAMMY winner and 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Kris Kristofferson, seven-time GRAMMY winner Willie Nelson, and current nominee Blake Shelton. This will be Daft Punk's first television performance since they last performed on the 50th GRAMMY Awards telecast in 2008. Merle Haggard will be performing on the GRAMMY stage for the first time, and this will be P!nk's and Nate Ruess' first time performing together on network television.

Kendrick Lamar has seven nominations: Best New Artist, Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Best R&B Performance for "How Many Drinks?" (with Miguel), Best Rap Performance for "Swimming Pools (Drank)," Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Now Or Never" (with Mary J. Blige), and Best Rap Song for "F***in' Problems" (with Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Rakim Mayers and Noah Shebib). Two-time GRAMMY-winning group Daft Punk are up for four awards: Album of The Year and Best Dance/Electronica Album for Random Access Memories and Record of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Get Lucky" (with Pharrell Williams). Imagine Dragons, three-time GRAMMY winner P!nk, two-time GRAMMY winner Nate Ruess, and Blake Shelton each have two nods.

The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers. Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. The Academy maintains a focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music will be a lasting part of this culture.

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 reflects the upcoming 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards. If the photo does not appear in this post please click this link to view it. In a look ahead into next month's events, we have: MIDEM 2014, in Cannes; American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) hold their annual Outstanding Achievement Awards, in Hollywood; Westminister Media Forum: European media policy..., in London; European Film Market, in Berlin; The music industry - revenues, consolidation and the digital artist, in London; The American Model Awards, in Las Vegas; Country Radio Seminar, in Nashville.

Hollywood Black Film Festival, CineVegas Film Festival, CMA Music Festival, City of New York Music Festival, Bluegrass Masters Film Festival

The Webby Awards will honor website innovation and creativity in categories that include Art, Games, Lifestyle, Movie and Film, Music, NetArt and more, during a festival and awards ceremony from June 3-5 in New York. You can browse three floors of exhibitors that provide the essential tools for advancing careers, and actually audition at casting calls, model and talent searches, during the one day only Entertainment Industry Expo on June 3 in New York. The Hollywood Black Film Festival taking place June 5-10 in Beverly Hills, will feature narrative and documentary features, short and student films, music videos and animation in its competitive program, a separate Storyteller Competition for screenwriters, and nightly parties to attend, including the HBFF White Party at Royale on Wilshire. At CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas, June 6-16, Jerry Weintraub, producer of Ocean's Thirteen, will be honored with the Vanguard Producer Award, and joined by his all-star cast from the movie, during opening night festivities which will benefit the aid group, International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch, an organization whose campaign is to support Darfur humanitarian relief efforts.

At "Country Music's Biggest Party," better known as the CMA Music Festival, running June 7-19, the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall at the Nashville Convention Center, gives four-day attendees the opportunity to meet some of their favorite country music entertainment personalities. Opening the Maui Film Festival in Kahului, June 13-17, a twilight reception theme titled "Taste of the Islands" ends with an after-party at Cosmic Comedy Club. At the In The City of New York Music Festival curated by Manchester-based In The City, in conjunction with AEG Live, panels happen at day, and at least six of the UK’s hottest new bands perform at night followed by after-show events throughout downtown Manhattan. The Bluegrass Masters Film Festival is part of the ROMP music festival, June 21-23, in Owensboro, and features world premier screenings of the International Bluegrass Music Museum's 'Video Oral History Project' films - film documentaries of the lives and musical contributions of bluegrass music's First Generation.

At the many showcase events during the Los Angeles Film Festival starting on June 21, a June 28 session titled "Actors Who Call Cut," explores the creative opportunities and challenges actors face when stepping behind the camera to direct. Cinema Expo 2007 running June 25-28 in Amsterdam previews important upcoming cinema releases for the European market while offering a trade show of motion picture industry products, services and concession items, while running in conjunction the Cinema Expo International award presentation. At the Second Annual Hollywood and Games Summit, June 26 & 27 in Los Angeles, business and creative visionaries from both industries address synchronized production, who and how to pitch to the other side. Clive Barker, writer-director of Hellraiser and other films delivers the keynote address. For the Web Video Summit Spring '07, on June 27-28 in San Jose, one theme that will be pointedly addressed is how new and old media can learn from each other - how net productions can find opportunities in Tinseltown, and what changes "old pros" need to make to succeed in this new web arena.

The above events are just a sampling of what is listed. Most of the reported events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html/. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are now available at most popular sites around the Web like YouTube and the Apple iTunes store podcast category, as well as on The Actor's Checklist at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog/. This month on video you will see trailers and video clips of Scottish pop rock band Spotty Dog (http://www.myspace.com/spottydoggmusic; http://www.spottydogg.com/), now giving away (http://www.mydatabus.com/public/spottydogg1/SpottyDoggFREECDSingle.rar) copies of their debut single "High Heels"; from acoustic guitarist and comedian, Larry Martinelli (http://www.larrymartinelli.com/; http://www.myspace.com/larrymartinelli); Currently showcased in Australia's "most sick and twisted short movies," Trasharama A Go-Go, Australian Premiere entry, "Chicks From Hell" from Director Christos Mouroukis (http://www.myspace.com/christos98); United Kingdom based film Director Serdar Ferit (http://www.myspace.com/serdarferit; http://www.serdarferit.com/) featuring "Elevator Music", a MyMovie MashUp (http://www.myspace.com/mymoviemashup) short film Entry.