Los Angeles Showbiz Expo, Cannes Film Festival, Billboard Music Awards, Drama Desk Awards, are some Highlights in May's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Brooklyn, the 2011 Summer Series will feature more than 200 new films, all screened outdoors, in front of big audiences in the parks, on boats, and on rooftops. The festival screens comedies, dramas, experimental shorts, animation, videos, short and feature documentaries, political films, and home movies and found footage, as well as many of the  new independent narrative feature films. Live bands at free music events are scheduled during the series which runs until September 30.

The Festival of Animated Film in Stuttgart hosts directors, production companies, distributors and international sales companies to present their animated films in this competitive festival, now in its 18th year. Artistic animation films and the support of budding talents represent the core of the festival. Prize money of more than 50,000 Euros in total will be awarded in the various competitive programs. The combination of the Festival of Animated Film, the Animation Production Day and FMX, the conference on Animation. Effects, Games and Interactive Media, has established the event as an opportunity for financing and developing animation projects. For Festival goers, entry to any events in the Festival Garden is free through May 8.

Black International Cinema Berlin, May 4-8, originated from the Black Cultural Festival, which was produced and directed by Fountainhead(R) Tanz Theatre in 1986 for the first time in Europe. The present-day event in Berlin, presents the contributions of Black people to world culture through film, theater, dance, music, workshops and seminars, and pays homage to legendary tap dancer, Carnell Lyons. The festival focuses on presenting works of an artistic, cultural or political nature coinciding with the general educational, social, artistic and economic interest of people from Africa, and/or the African Diaspora.

This year's Los Angeles Showbiz Expo -- an annual industry event happening on both coasts -- that brings together everyone who works in Film, Video, TV, Theatre, Fashion and Live Events, will be happening this year from May 6-7. To attend the auditions at ShowBiz Expo, please register to attend ShowBiz Expo. If you do not pre-register by the cut-off date and would still like to attend the auditions, you may do so by proceeding to the audition area without a ShowBiz Expo badge although pre-registrations will receive priority.

NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music and entertainment by providing its members with a forum for meeting and networking opportunities, information, advocacy and education to support their businesses. At this year's NARM Convention in Los Angeles, May 9-12, a NARM/A2IM Music Business Crash Course will be given on May 9 and May 10. The course features educational presentations and panel discussions focused on the independent sector, and directed to independent music labels, artists, technology companies and students, to remain current in the transforming music economy. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) is a not-for-profit trade association, and since 1958 has served the music and entertainment content delivery community.

Streaming Media, New York, is the annual gathering of online video professionals that offers the opportunity to get hands-on time with new products, check out new streaming devices, and network with industry experts, colleagues, and associates. New for 2011 is a fourth track devoted to HTML5. The HTML5 video "conference-within-a-conference" track will run the full two days from May 10-11 of the conference. Topics will include encoding to HTML5, encoding for Apple iOS devices, advertising and HTML5, how-to build an HTML5 player, and HTML5 standards. There will also be the unveiling of a new broadband device called Pavilion.

At Cannes Film Festival, short films are prominently represented at the Competition, such as when the short films Jury awards a Palme d'or, and at the Short Film Corner, a professional area for meeting people, exchanging ideas and promoting films. A number of initiatives aimed at supporting the talent of the future have already been introduced: the Camera d'Or is awarded to the best film presented either in the Official Selection, during Directors' Fortnight or during the Semaine de la Critique. The Cinefondation, which serves to showcase new trends in the film industry, screens films from film schools as part of the Official Selection, as well as organising the Residence and the Atelier. This year, the opening film will be released in cinemas in France on the same day as its screening at Cannes and the opening ceremony will be broadcast in cinemas enabling audiences to experience the Festival launch night live. The Cinema de la Plage, an outdoor cinema, screens a different film each night, and since 2010 even the occasional world preview from its theme-based programme.

The International Film festival and Environment Ciudad de Zaragoza has a focused directive to show, support and promote films made in the world on the environment. EcoZine aims to promote, show and award prizes to audiovisual fiction, animation and/or documentaries with environmental themes produced anywhere in the world, and also to promote actions and audiovisual events related to the Environment. The Festival based in Zaragoza runs from May 13-21.

BMI will honor David Foster as a BMI Icon on May 17 at its 59th Annual Pop Awards in Beverly Hills. The invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most-performed pop songs in the United States. Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. The evening will include an all-star musical tribute to Foster, as well as the presentation of the Pop Songwriter, Song, and Publisher of the Year crystals.

The Jazz Foundation presents its annual "A Great Night in Harlem" gala concert, May 19 in New York, benefiting the Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund. This evening will raise money to assist the elder jazz and blues musicians in crisis across the country, artists who have spent their lives being passionately devoted to their music while creating enjoyment for listening audiences. Presently on the agenda, performances by Macy Gray, Roberta Flack, Dr. John, Lou Reed, Christian McBride, Hot 8 Brass Band are slated, with more to be announced. Post-concert supper, club gala, and the VIP After-Party jam session with musicians are featured activities. The 2011 Gala Honoree is Michael Novogratz.

Artists collective, The Urban Individualists, and their artist affiliates, open a New York show with music themed, and music inspired artworks paying tribute and homage to musician and composer Gerry Eastman and The Williamsburg Music Center he founded in 1981. WMC exists to foster the creation, performance and appreciation of American Classic Music. It is a black-owned and operated non-profit jazz institution offering classes and workshops in jazz performance and history. This exhibit will formally open on May 20 with a reception and will be accompanied with live music provided by Gerry Eastman's band. This is an Urban Individualists Event curated by Helene Ruiz, co-curated by Jakulo Cooper, in collaboration with WMC.

"Gaming: A Dominant Force In Entertainment, What's Next?" is the theme to be addressed at a panel on May 20 that will ponder the entertainment software industry's growth of roughly 1300% since the year 2000, and how Gaming is now beginning to push boundaries in other fields outside of entertainment such as social networking, health, education, and even science. The group of experienced gaming professionals assembling in Boulder will tackle the future role of video games in the entertainment industry. Panelists will discuss their personal history in the industry as well as rising trends and new applications for gaming.

The 2011 Billboard Music Awards will air on ABC live from Las Vegas on May 22, in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The awards will reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album, single and digital sales, touring, streaming and social interactions on MySpace, Facebook and other popular online destinations for music. The awards will be based on the reporting period of February 28, 2010 through March 1, 2011. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.

The 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held at a gala sit-down dinner in New York, on May 23. The Drama Desk Awards which were established in 1955 and are given annually in a number of categories, recognize excellence in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of New York theatre. It is the only theatre award for which production on Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off Broadway compete within the same categories. This year's Awards show adds new features including a live orchestra, performances from nominated musicals, and a one hour primetime special which will air one week later on the Ovation Network. Festivities opens with a Black-Tie VIP Cocktail Reception, VIP After Party Ticket with Premium open bar and dessert stations. Harvey Fierstein is host of this year's awards.

The Amsterdam Film Festival contains a mix of art and expression seeking to reflect the character of the host city. Honoring films from over 90 countries around the world, the 2011 Amsterdam Film Festival will award and recognize feature films, short films, documentaries, student films, animation, music videos and screenplays. The festival accepts submissions of all types and encourages individuality and experimentation. The Festival, running May 31 to June 1, recognizes excellence in filmmaking in the categories with the organization's Van Gogh Awards.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into June event dates will help you prepare for:  Cine Gear Expo 2011, in Hollywood, Produced By Conference, in Orlando; The Aruba International Film FestivalSanta Cruz, Aruba, in Santa Cruz, Banff World Television FestivalBanff, Alberta, in Alberta, AFI/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Festiva, in Silver Spring, to provide only a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor's Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

NAB 2011, Coachella, Tribeca Film Festival, San Francisco International Film Festival, London Sci-Fi & Fatastic Film, are some Highlights in April's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

A one of a kind arts festival is underway at the New School for Social Research in New York City through April 8. The theme of the festival is "Noir", a cinematic style of shadowy expressiveness that had its heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, and how its influence has penetrated areas ranging from fashion design to fine art, graphic art to fiction. An exploration of the genre and its present day adaptations is done through a presentation of iconic films, hard-boiled storytelling, graphic art, and illustration.

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary April 6-9, the 2011 Florida Music Festival & Conference showcases live music, film and visual arts within the cultural community of downtown Orlando, The keynote interview for this year's conference features Melvin Benn of Festival Republic on creating a successful live music event or festival. In an April 9 panel, Aaron Ford, Grooveshark, Alex Ewen, Media/Label, David McKenna, Bonded Records/Film, Jeffrey Hanson, Silent Majority Group, and David Beame, Beame & Mencher, LLP, discuss "The Business of Music." All conference speakers will be available to all performing artists and registered music companies or aspiring music industry students to network with, post conference and throughout the weekend.

Now in its 28th year, the 2011 French Quarter Festival highlights New Orleans’ signature music, food, and culture within the historic neighborhood. French Quarter Festival was first produced in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the Quarter. Today, 18 stages throughout the festival celebrate local music and represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R & B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, latin, zydeco, classical and international. In other festival attractions, New Orleans' restaurants, create the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” in Jackson Square, the Old U.S. Mint and Woldenberg Riverfront Park during festival weekend; Satchmo SummerFest hosts ‘Red Bean Alley’ with Satchmo inspired dishes and local cuisine. Only local restaurants are invited to participate in these festivals. French Quarter Festival runs April 7-10.

Palm Beach Women's International Film Festival, April 7-10, premieres as a new women’s film event in Florida, attracting women filmmakers and visitors from around the world. A festival highlight includes the US Premiere of "Finding Kind", a documentary about the “mean girl” phenomenon, which has been covered extensively in national media lately. The film will screen on Sunday, April 10 at Muvico in Cityplace, followed by a panel on school bullying from leading area experts including the School District of Palm Beach County and the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida.

Hollywood based FirstGlance Film Fest accepts all genres and screens feature length, feature documentaries, short narratives, shorts too (under 10 minutes), mini-docs, student shorts, graduate student shorts, music videos, animation and webisode pilots. Filmmakers of both short and feature films taking part in the festival are offered theatrical distribution through the festival's new relationship with a Las Vegas theatre chain and distributor offering PPV and VOD after the theatrical run. During the festival's run of April 8-10, After Parties will allow filmmakers to mix and mingle and hold informal Q & A with fellow filmmakers and audience members.

Over 85 years ago, Thomas Meighan was a famous hollywood silent movie star of the twenties. In 1919, he hit stardom in one of his best known films at the time, "The Miracle Man", but unfortunately due to film deterioration it has disintegrated into small fragments over time. Thomas Meighan dreamed of making New Port Richey the Hollywood of the South. The Thomas Meighan Project will premiere the first film festival in the New Port Richey area, April 9-17, by showcasing film, video and animation shorts as a tribute to Meighan’s vision. Today, Meighan’s most recognizable role is in the film, "Male and Female", directed by one of Hollywood’s legendary directors, Cecile B. Demille. The Thomas Meighan Project in association with the Richey Suncoast Theater will present the return of the "2011 Black Maria Film Festival."

The Delray Beach Film Festival has become the Downtown Boca Film Festival (DBFF) based in Boca Raton, yet remains a non-profit 501 (c-3) organization dedicated to providing the local community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world. This year festival screenings are from April 9-17 and include a program of student shorts and Xtreme sports video. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the USA, DBFF provides a unique cultural experience with events like Casino Night in Old Hollywood, benefitting Planet Hope, set for opening night, the Reel to Runway fashion show on April 11, as well as educational programs and forums for exploring the future of cinema.

NAB 2011, the annual digital media industry event held in Las Vegas, this year from April 9-14, is typically attended by media, entertainment and communications professionals focused on the next generation of video and audio content across multiple platforms — television, radios and computers to phones, the big screen. In sessions planned for April 12, Gordon H. Smith, President and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters, presents the "State of the Broadcast Industry Address", and Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of CBS, sits down with Gordon Smith to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing broadcasters and the broadcast medium today. The NAB Education Foundation in partnership with the Broadcast Education Association and Pinkslipmixers.com hosts its annual spring Career Day during the NAB Show. Academy Award-Winning film director James Cameron will keynote the NAB Show.

The London Independent Film Festival will be held this year from April 14-25. It is committed to the independent filmmaker by giving special attention to films by first and second time directors, film produced with budgets under £100,000, and quality films that, for whatever reason, are unlikely to receive distribution through other channels.

Coachella, the anticipated annual music festival, April 15-17, set in the California Desert features many genres of music including alternative rock, indie, and electronic music. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the (camping) grounds, each playing live music continuously. From April 16–18 of the 2010 festival, Coachella drew a reported over 75,000 spectators each day. The festival also features interesting installation art and sculptures. Most of the pieces are interactive, and provide entertainment and eye candy for attendees walking throughout the Polo grounds. 2011 will introduce a new high security wristband that must always be worn and will be scanned at various checkpoints and upon entry to camping and festival grounds.

The Tribeca Film Festival in New York happens April 20 through May 1. As in past years, the Festival incorporates into its format the ESPN Sports Film Festival. Also in years past, the 2011 Family Festival Street Fair repeats again, this year on April 30 from 10 am to 6 pm. "The Union," Cameron Crowe's new documentary, chronicling the musical collaboration between Elton John and Leon Russell, opens the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. And in the Tribeca Talks series, "After the Movie" post-screening dialogue with filmmakers, will be mixed with free events like "Industry", that reviews issues that matter to today's filmmakers such as the future of film distribution, stretching a production budget, how visual style affects genre, the challenges of documentary, and more. Established in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca Enterprises currently operates a network of branded entertainment businesses including the Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival International, Tribeca Cinemas and Tribeca Film, a distribution initiative.

The 54th San Francisco International Film Festival opens at the Castro Theatre April 21 for a screening of "Beginners", and then shifts to the after party to enjoy culinary delights from local restaurants, sophisticated cocktails as well as dancing. The Festival’s Midnight Awards on April 23 have been created to honor a dynamic young American actor and actress entering the prime of their careers — the ceremony is crafted as a late night awards ceremony and cocktail reception featuring food and drinks, DJ entertainment, film clips and remarks by special guests. The April 28 Film Society Awards Night is an anticipated black-tie gala event benefitting SFFS Youth Education fund. The evening honors this year’s directing, acting and screenwriting award recipients with peer tributes and career highlights, and features a special tribute to George Gund III. The "Centerpiece" of this year’s Festival is an event that features an edgy new film by an emerging director, followed by a chic lounge party at the CLIFT’s Velvet Room, featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the latest beats. On closing night, May 5, mix and mingle with a movie-loving crowd at The Factory. Dance to music inspired by the Closing Night film and feast on hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

At London's ninth International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film, there is the regular film programming of shorts, features, documentaries and world premieres, then there will be a featured series of talks, such as special-effects masterclasses, and debates on genre literature, film and TV. The festival, running April 23 - May 2, will also expand their ‘Science Fact’ stream with demonstrations, lectures and debate - under the banner SCI-FI-LONDON: LAB. A regular fixture at the Festival, the all-nighters offer three very different programmes of movies that run from around midnight until sunrise: an anime programme taking releases right to the big screen rather than DVD; the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 program; a themed programme of either sci-fi or horror classics. All attendees are given goody bags, ice-cream, a ample supply of caffeine (Red Bull, coffee and tea) throughout the night and breakfast at daybreak.

At ASCAP's "I Create Music" Expo, there will be panels for all three days and live musical events each evening. To kick things off, there will be a pre-EXPO Networking event on Wednesday night, April 27. Lindsey Buckingham will be presented with the ASCAP Golden Note Award. Immediately following the presentation, Buckingham will be interviewed by Sara Bareilles focusing on his career as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, member of Fleetwood Mac and a solo artist. Marco Beltrami and Wes Craven, Scream 4, will discuss their collaboration in influencing the modern horror genre experience. And new this year, panelists in the film and TV industry lead a "Film & TV Scoring Feedback" session in which pre-submitted attendees' composition and/or scores are played and analyzed constructively.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into April event dates will help you prepare for: the Florida Music Festival and Conference, in Orlando, Tribeca Film Festival, in New York; National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2011, in Las Vegas, London Independent Film Festival, in London, the San Francisco International Film Festival, in San Francisco, to list only a few upcoming events in advance. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video.

Miami Int'l Film Fest, SXSW Festival, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, Hong Kong Film Fest, Edgemar Film Fest, are some Highlights in March's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

In Melbourne, the MuVifest International Music Video Festival, open now through March 30, is a competitive festival originally inspired by independent artists and filmmakers. There are two competition categories, the Global Poverty Project MuVments, and the main festival itself. The festival is an outdoor event that is free to attend and will feature live music, DJ's and entertainment on the Kiss FM Stage, and will have an after party.

The Miami International Film Festival, presented by Miami Dade College, is programmed to introduce a representative selection of Ibero-centric films and filmmakers to South Florida’s residents and visitors. The Festival encompasses international film screenings, gala premieres, REEL seminars and the Miami Film Society, which offers Members an inclusive range of year-round activities that investigate and celebrate the artistry and innovation of the showcased cinematic visionaries. Festival seminars to be presented, include, but are not limited to: Cinematography Master Class, Futurescape of Multi-Platform Distribution in Latin America, Ready-Steady-Pitch! The Craft of Creating and Delivering a Pitch, WMC & MIFF Present Soundtracking for TV & Film, more, all running through March 13.

Berlin's Delphic Art Movie Award comes from a prior contest for documentary short films about artistic achievements, the maximum duration allowed of which is 10 minutes. The contest and showcase for the Delphic Art Movie Award, from March 9-13, shows short documentaries about the fascination of arts and culture. The award framework is set by six categories and their disciplines, which represent contemporary or traditional aspects: Acoustic Arts, Performing Arts, Lingual Arts, Visual Arts, Social Arts and Ecological Arts. Selected films are intended to document, to inform, to inspire and to encourage the enthusiasm and understanding of art.

Filmapalooza 2011, the finale festival for the 48 Hour Film Project, conducts its showcase of screenings at the Miami International Film Festival, March 10-13. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to go out and make movies. The tight deadline of 48 hours puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers—emphasizing creativity and teamwork skills.

Opening for a run from March 10-16, the Athens International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival is organized and run by the Science Fiction Club of Athens, Greece (or “ALEF” for short). It started out as a retrospective of Greek genre short films, but then quickly evolved into an international event, always in the SFF-rated domain of moving images. A featured premier screening for the Festival will be H.P. Lovercraft's "The Whisperer in Darkness".

Innovative slap bass guitarist of Cochin-Kerala, Jayen Varrma, joins drummer Jean Davoisne, a native of Toulouse and owner of two drumschools sponsored by Tama drums and Zildjian cymbals, and an Art Center in southern France, to tour Toulouse and other parts of France presenting Master Classes and holding recitals and jam session performances. After their March 4 engagement at Salle des Fêtes, the session then moves to Guitars N' Stuff for the March 11 engagement. Then there is a March 13 appearances at Studio Expériences in Toulouse, and on March 14 at Cri' Art, a cinema and concert event where the musical performance will accompany the screening of film, "The Sound of Noise." More dates in March could be planned so check the accompanying websites or Facebook pages for the artists.

An Acting for TV and Film Intensive taking place March 11-13 in Dallas, is structured to give each actor opportunity to practice and develop tools of character and script exploration. The workshop's acting exercises and scene work makes it a goal to take the craft to a new level of awareness and expression. The workshop also features original scene material written with the participants in mind. Steven Anderson has been coaching actors privately and conducting workshops for the last 20 years. His directorial projects include the short film, "Only In Miami" which screened at the CineFestival in San Antonio, in October 2006, and "Good Things" which screened at the 5 Second Film Festival, in Claremount, in May 2010.

This year the SXSW Film Conference and Festival gets underway March 11-19 in Austin. The event offers networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of the world of independent film. Speakers, creative minds, and notable mentors tackle the latest filmmaking trends. The nine-day Festival spotlights innovation and emerging talent by with a program that includes documentaries, comedies, DIY narratives, genre standouts and more. Party and lounge spaces at the festival will include: Film Hideout Lounge presented by YouSendIt; Filmmakers Lounge presented by the North Carolina Film Office; The Interactive / Film Fusion Party presented by Meebo; SXSW Film Closing/Music Opening Party Hosted by YouTube, just to name a few. BMI will conduct a panel, "Sound Decisions: A Reality Check on Using Music in Film" on March 13 of the festival. The opening film party will be at Buffalo Billiards.

The 26th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be conducted in New York, March 14, and taped for later broadcast exclusively on Fuse TV (www.fuse.tv/), Madison Square Garden’s national music television network, airing March 20, at 9 pm EST. The 2011 Inductees include: Dr. John, Jac Holzman, Alice Cooper, Neil Diamond, Darlene Love, Tom Waits, Art Rupe and Leon Russell. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (in Cleveland) will screen the over 3-hour ceremony starting at 8:30 pm, including the performances and presentations, which will be broadcast on a giant 12 foot screen on the Museum’s Main Stage and several large screens throughout the Museum.

This year the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) starts up March 20 running through April 5 in Wan Chai North. The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film, with a mission to strengthen global appreciation of Chinese film. The Society organizes three annual flagship events in March and April: The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) and the Asian Film Awards (AFA). Running concurrently and practically from the same convention center, from March 21-24, the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), is an annual film market organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) promoting co-operation in areas of film financing, distribution, production, post-production, TV, digital entertainment, film and broadcasting equipment and shooting locations.

CTIA —The Wireless Association®, hosts two shows a year: one in the spring, this year taking place March 21-24 in Orlando and representative of all things wireless, and another show in the fall that focuses more on the usage and implementation of wireless in the enterprise. CTIA — The Wireless Association® is an international nonprofit membership organization that has represented the wireless communications industry since 1984. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products.

The 2011 Edgemar Short Film Festival in Santa Monica, from March 23-27, will screen short works of 30 minutes or under, in the narrative, animated and documentary genre categories. Edgemar Center for the Arts (ECA), Michelle Danner, Artistic Director, serves as collaborative rehearsal and performance space open to artists of all disciplines and experience levels, encouraging collaboration between writers, directors, actors, musicians, dancers and visual artists. It is a space in which original and classical theater productions, dance performances, visual arts and films works are performed. Additionally, ECA serves all facets of the Westside community and beyond by offering public arts programs, ticketed performances and educational outreach courses for children and senior citizens.

Canada's own Grammy's — The JUNO Awards — has evolved from an singular industry awards presentation event to a week long festival that travels city to city across the country. The Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. This year's ceremony will be conducted in Toronto on March 27. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies. Winners are currently chosen by either members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences or a panel of experts depending on the award.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used languages. A look ahead into April event dates will help you prepare for: the Florida Music Festival and Conference, in Orlando, Tribeca Film Festival, in New York; National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2011, in Las Vegas, London Independent Film Festival, in London, the San Francisco International Film Festival, in San Francisco, to list only a few upcoming events in advance. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video.

Kennedy Center Honors, TV 3.0, ABC TV's New Year's Dance Party, Film Florida Meeting, some highlights in December's Media and Entertainment Industry

In Monte Carlo, the Monaco International Film Festival runs through December 5, and the Eighth Edition Angel Film Awards take place as an established art house cinema event recognizing themes of peace, love and movies from around the world, short and feature film, and separate screenplay award nomination. Red carpet screenings will take place at the new Art Novo Theatre & Press Lounge in the Novotel, Monte Carlo.

For this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, happening December 5 in Washington, DC, the selection of recipients to be honored at the 33rd annual national celebration of the arts are: singer and songwriter Merle Haggard; composer and lyricist Jerry Herman; dancer, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones; songwriter and musician Paul McCartney; and producer, television host and actress Oprah Winfrey. The gala will broadcast on CBS on December 28 from 9-11 pm, ET/PT, and the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a supper dance in the Grand Foyer.

At this year’s International Film Festival Summit in Las Vegas, a special break-out event with members of the Austin Film Festival staff will discuss the organization and operation of their annual eight day festival and conference as well as their year round events. Another break-out event, “Festivals Impact on Social Change and Culture,” a group of experienced panelists will address the impact film festivals have on the way we see the world. There will also be an Opening Cocktail Reception on the Exhibit Floor, and the "Dinner With Strangers" event at this annual event that runs December 5-7.

Every Monday, a singers search and open mic is held in Manhattan, at a noted Broadway lounge right around the corner from the David Letterman show. Talented newcomers and experienced singers are all welcome. A pianist is resident or bring your background tracks or CDs. The showcase, “Gotta Sing!”, which continues on December 6 is open to the public, inclusive of all ages and all styles, and is produced by the long-running showbiz team of Billy Shepard and Judi Jourdan who also produce their own television show "How to Succeed in Show Business By Really Trying" shown on Time Warner Cable every Tuesday at noon on channel 56.

The One Mic Nite Open Talent Showcase is another performer’s open mic, and a blend of indie music or dance, theatre, poetry, and art of a decidedly urban influence, backed by the grooves of the resident Artist DJ on the turnatables. The open jam session, preceded only by the house band, is an Open Mic acoustic-style event, and an evening of informal networking for artists of all kinds presented by industry veteran Marcos Luis starting after 9:30 pm and currently being presented from a venue on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Tbilisi International FilmFestival, founded in 2000, is a registered organization of “Prometheus Cinema Art Centre”. As a diverse cultural event the festival is directed toward familiarizing the Georgian public with new trends of world cinema and promoting development of the Georgian film industry. The festival is partnered by Georgian National Film Center, Ministry of culture, monuments protection and sports, Association of Independent Filmmakers of South Caucasia, Georgian Events Company, “Hot Chocolate” and “Kino” magazines. Goethe Institute together with the Georgian-German company Medea present a program of new German films “Made in Germany” on an annual basis. A French films show is also held within the framework of the festival with Dumas French Culture Centre assistance. This year’s festival runs December 6-12.

This year’s TV 3.0 Innovations in TV Content and Delivery Conference in Los Angeles, December 7-8, enables you to hear and network with over 50 expert speakers from across the TV and content value chain, who will present and debate the latest innovations in TV and content delivery. Some keynote speakers include: Verizon Communications' Senior Vice President, Eric Bruno; President of CBS Vision, David Poltrack; ESPN Vice President, Bryan Burns. The TV Innovation Awards, Reception, Awards Presentations, and After Party, features complimentary cocktails, hor d'oeurves, carving stations, and networking.

Winter Park’s Jingle Mingle, an annual holiday event assembling Central Florida's media and entertainment associations for the long-running holiday "Mingling", networking, fun. entertainment, food, cash bar, silent auction and more, happens this year on December 8. The event is hosted by Women in Film & Television-Florida, and co-hosted by Digital Media Alliance Florida (DMAF), the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association (FMPTA) and Film Florida.

From December 8-10, you can gather your dancing friends and head down to a Hollywood ABC TV studio to dance (club style) on national television. This casted show is taped in advance so you can actually watch yourself on TV as you ring in the new year of 2011. Free giveaways and prizes are included in this New Year’s event to be hosted by Fergie. Noted performers scheduled to appear include: Jason Derulo, Natasha Bedingfield, Drake, Mike Posner, Far East Movement, Jennifer Hudson, La Roux, Train, Avril Lavigne, Willow Smith (featured artists subject to change). Dress code is classy to hot cocktail, and you should be prepared to submit your date of birth, and photo ID. Contact Beverly Hills based Talents Connection (talentsconnection#at#yahoo.com or 877-228-6778) for arrangements and more info.

A New York MPSE Sound Show, produced by the Motion Picture Sound Editors organization and Manhattan Edit Workshop, takes you behind the scenes of a major motion picture to understand the intricate sound work crafted by the movie’s team of audio artists. In this December 9 session the group will explore the sound design of Paramount Pictures’ Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Excerpts from the movie will be presented with special “pre-dub” mixes to illustrate the variety of elements used to create this particular sonic environment of the film.

Film Florida is a not-for-profit group that assumes a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations and labor organizations, holds its Quarterly Marketing and Business Meeting, December 9-10 in Key West. Working closely with the Florida Governor's Office of Film and Entertainment, its purpose is to offer to businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into any chosen language. A look ahead into January's event dates can help you prepare for the Palm Springs International Film Festival, opening January 6; Flickerfest 2011, opening January 7; the Sundance Film Festival opening January 20 in Park City. The latest Video News Summary presentation now running showcases the talents of: AMSTELLARDAM’s teaser for The Lonely Sound, Gilli Moon’s album release of, The Stillness, the pre-feature trailer for dark docudrama, Nitrate, GuerrillaMonster Films’ Grindhouse flick, Cigarette Girl. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video. Happy Holidays to all our readers from The Actor’s Checklist!

Latin Grammy Awards, Miami Music Festival, InfoComm Asia 2010, Dubai International Convention, Highlight November Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

The sprawling American Film Market (AFM) practically took over the beach front area at Santa Monica beach. Run in conjunction with the AFI Fest film event, the AFM is a marketplace, and not a convention, where production and distribution deals are closed.  The AFM transforms The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, the Le Merigot Beach Hotel, and many other venues along the Santa Monica beach front area into a busy marketplace where 23 screens on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community become AFM screening rooms for the entire event.

The Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival, November 8-11 in Oaxaca, is an official cultural event of the long and storied city of Oaxaca de Juarez, showcasing films exploring a broad range of subject matter and spanning multiple genres. The Festival will also play host to the Oaxaca International Literature Competition — dedicated to providing a forum for the writer to display their talents — that will run concurrently with the film festival. The “event within the event”, celebrates writing as the interaction of a complex of processes-rhetorical, cognitive, social, and intuitive-that develop through social acquisition, formal training, and reflective practice.

Camila, Pedro Fernández, Juan Luis Guerra, Enrique Iglesias, Rosario, and Wisin y Yandel are early names announced by The Latin Recording Academy as performers for the 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, November 11 in Las Vegas. The awards will be airing live on the Univision Network from 8–11 pm ET/PT (7 pm Central). Actor/comedian Eugenio Derbez and actress/singer Lucero will co-host this year's celebration. The 11th Latin GRAMMY Awards will be supported on radio via Univision Radio (the official Spanish-language radio network of the Latin GRAMMY Awards), and highlighted on the Internet at www.latingrammy.com and www.univisionmusica.com.

Mockfest Film Festival of Hollywood, November 11-14, aims to showcase the best mockumentaries from around the world. Mockfest features mockumentaries of all types and lengths. Comedic, dramatic, and experimental mockumentaries are showcased at the festival, including works from the past, present and future. An 80s theme kick-off party will happen at Pangaea. Closes with Awards Ceremony, Sunday at 6:30 pm.

The Miami Music Festival conference, November 12-13, for emerging artists is a series of panels, master classes, workshops and interactive sessions designed to give musicians hands-on instruction and information about navigating the new music industry. While focusing on, all major genres, the MMF conference offers sessions on music creation, performance, publishing, recording technology and live sound, law and more. MMF takes place during the newly arranged Live Music Month in Miami and will include two daytime sessions on five stages in Bayfront Park and a show at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Conference events will feature A&R executives, producers, music publishing and touring executives, entertainment attorneys, leading technology developers, media and marketing executives, radio program directors, film music supervisors, advertising executives and other buyers of music. An all-ages daytime BBQ on Saturday and Sunday features performances at various stages at Bayfront Park.

ASCAP and Music Unites, a non-profit organization supporting musical artists and professionals through performance and education opportunities, have teamed up to present four workshops to offer insight on integral aspects of the music business. Beginning November 16 in New York, the first of the four sessions will focus on music publishing and will feature a panel of executives from EMI Music, Downtown Music Publishing and Shapiro Bernstein. Each workshop will consist of an hour long panel discussion followed by a 20 minute Q&A session. Cantora Records’ Savoir Adore is scheduled to end the first evening with a live performance.

InfoComm Asia 2010 in Hong Kong, November 17-19, presents an opportunity for AV distributors and systems integrators, as well as business operators and IT managers, to find out how to leverage AV technology in corporate or marketing strategies for the goal of optimizing business success. Conference attendees can expect to see the latest AV technology, applied in diverse industries e.g. digital signage and video walls used in retail malls and transit halls; sound, visual and data integration systems for command and control centers in transportation, defense and security; interactive e-boards for classrooms and training centers; collaborative conferencing equipment and fittings for corporate boardrooms; multiple screen presentation systems, complete with state-of-the-art sound and lighting effects for fixed installation and staged events.

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, located in Tallinn, November 19 through December 5, combines a feature film festival with sub-festivals of animated films, student films and children/youth films. The festival aims to present its audiences with a comprehensive selection of world cinema, with the emphasis on European films, and providing an atmosphere for interaction between the audience, Estonian filmmakers and colleagues from abroad. The Black Market Industry Screenings at the festival further cooperation on both sides of the Eastern border of European Union (EU) and Nordic countries, and give filmmakers visibility and access to the bigger audiovisual markets around the world. In addition to the Black Market, a Literary rights market "Books To Films" will be presenting, promoting film literature from Estonia, Latvia. Lithuania, Finland, Russia, Georgia and Ukraine. Up to 14 titles will be selected and presented to possible producers and filmmakers who are looking for new ideas.

In 1973, legendary music show host Dick Clark created the American Music Awards to pay tribute to the top musicians who ruled the album charts, topped national sales, and assembled legions of devoted followers. Going into its 37th year this November, the show has honored hundreds of artists with the AMA trophy, allowing the best and brightest stars in the music business to shine. This year the 2010 American Music Awards will air live from the Nokia Theater, Sunday, November 21, in Los Angeles,  at 8 pm on the ABC Television network.

There will be three separately themed entertainment industry conventions taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, opening November 29. MyContent is a marketplace for producing, co-producing, selling, buying and distributing entertainment content, especially geared to professionals involved in the TV, film, animation, kids programs, documentary, mobile and internet content, comics and digital media industry. The Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair conducts the Third Dubai International Character & Licensing Fair dedicated to trade events in the Middle East for production, marketing and licensing of cartoon characters, animation, logos, films, brands, arts and designs. The Third Dubai World Game Expo is devoted to introduce a wide variety of computer games, including entertaining video games, online gaming, mobile games, edutainment and infotainment software, game related hardware, and next-generation platforms.

Government Video Expo attracts a regional contingent of video production, post and broadcast professionals, running November 30 through December 2. The DC based conference is structured for production and post production professionals. In cooperation with GVExpo, the DC Film Alliance has created a special space on the GV Expo Exhibit Floor for the Washington, DC regional film, video and media arts community to come together complete with a screening room and coffee house. If you want to network with government video producers who hire outside contractors for their projects the “Meet the Government Producers” (MGP) panel hosted by TIVA-DC will take place at the event.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. A look ahead into December’s event dates can help you prepare for the International Movie Trailer Festival, in Los Angeles, December 1-2, the International Film Festival Summit, December 5-7 in Las Vegas,  and the annual holiday Jingle Mingle in Winter Park, on December 8. The latest Video News Summary presentation now running showcases the talents of: AMSTELLARDAM’s teaser for The Lonely Sound, Gilli Moon’s album release of, The Stillness, pre-feature trailer for dark docudrama, Nitrate, GuerrillaMonster Films’ Grindhouse flick, Cigarette Girl. Past videos from the monthly video news summary are archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Durango Songwriters, British Film Institute, Variety Entertainment Summit, CMJ 2010, Billboard Film & TV Music Conference, Highlight October Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

In Cannes, the annual MIPCOM event is known among industry professionals for creating, co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms. At this year’s event, which runs through October 8, "The Connected Experience" showcases trend-setters and innovators in the industry that will provide unique perspectives on how they see the new digital future unfolding, and in "Engaging Your Audience Through Social Media", Facebook’s Joanna Shields will share her vision of future business models for Facebook content.

Now in its 15th year, Durango Songwriter’s Expo is a bi-annual musical event held in Colorado and in Santa Barbara, wine country. The October 7-9 event in Broomfield promises golf enthusiasts among its songwriting workshop participants a 27-hole championship golf course, as well as the Mokara Spa for use of massage, body treatment, sauna, fitness room, steam room and inhalation room. As usual, Expo enrollment is limited to 200 participants to provide greater attention from the music industry professionals conducting the sessions.

At this year’s Chicago International Film Festival, October 7-21, ‘Stone’, directed by John Curran, with Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, will be screened, and following the screening VIP ticket holders will be treated to a reception with a full bar and appetizers at theWit Hotel. The Awards Night on October 16, features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an awards presentation honoring this year’s winning filmmakers in the Main Competition, New Directors Competition, Docufest, Short Films, and Intercom competitions, set in the Pump Room of the Ambassador East Hotel.

ShowBiz Expo is the annual event held on both West Coast and East Coast presenting many opportunities to network, build contacts, and be cast in upcoming productions. This month the show is in New York for one day on October 9. Auditions at ShowBiz Expo have a limited number of appointments available and must be made at Casting Registration upon entering the Expo. A VIP networking after-party, with open bar and hors d`oeuvres, follows the Expo event. 

In 2008, the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared Bass guitarist Jayen Varma (http://www.facebook.com/jayenvarma) of Cochin, India, the world’s fastest for that year. And the guitar master has carved out new areas of achievement as a slap bass innovator (for instance using hard plastic tubes on fingers) in the Indian Tabla style. Upcoming workshop performances will give the public a chance to view the master in performance and instruction, on October 9 on Willingdon Island, with classical vocals and Mridangam, and on October 16, in Malabar, Calicut, with classical violin and drums. There will also be a special experimental session with the mandolin master, U. Shrinivas, in the third week of the month, but complete details are as yet to be released.

Content & Communications World, in New York, October 13 and 14, is a conference and exhibition for media, entertainment and communications technology. CCW presents business solutions for content creation, management and delivery, along with a range of satellite, fiber, and IP communications solutions. Folded into the CCW agenda are: HD World, SATCON and 3D World conference and expo, which can all be attended free of charge for pre-qualifying industry professionals. Visitors can stop by SocialSphere to chat with a media relations specialist about maximizing social media tools for their business, get tips and tricks for Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and more.

Established in 1933, the British Film Institute (BFI) promotes understanding and appreciation of film and television heritage and culture through a range of activities and services. This years marks the 54th BFI London Film Festival, running October 13-28 in South Bank. BFI also runs the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival,  and publishes the monthly film magazine Sight & Sound, a wide range of books on film and television, including criticism, theory and history, as well as popular companions to individual film titles.

The New Orleans Film Society hosts the 20th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, Louisiana's preeminent film event. Both established and emerging filmmakers gain media exposure, connect with the region's diverse audiences, and participate in this anticipated event. A Patron Party and Opening Gala happens October 14 at the Eiffel Society on historic St. Charles Avenue, with food by Chef Ian Schnoebelen, specialty cocktails by Mixologist Alan Walter, and music by Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground, and Treme Brass Band.

Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), running October 14-24 in Honolulu, is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF presents features, documentaries and shorts from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawai`i filmmakers that present Hawai`i in a culturally accurate way. HIFF also conducts seminars, workshops, special award presentation receptions with participating Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers. HIFF is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG), and an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America. Free public screenings are held on the beach in the evening.

AniMiami, October 16 -17 in Miami, is a conference/festival whose mission appeals to large numbers of students and professionals of animation and computer graphics. A job fair will be held the first day of the Conference only — Saturday, October 16. Candidates will have the opportunity to sign up and interview with national and local animation and VFX companies looking to fill full-time, part-time, freelance and internship positions. Pre-selected students will have an opportunity to pitch their stories, ideas and projects to a panel of industry professionals from studios and TV networks. A kick-off party will be held at The Newsz Lounge.

An October 18 Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit in Santa Monica, co-produced by Variety and Digital Hollywood, has in-depth discussions and networking focusing on the top business issues facing technology in entertainment today. After a welcome and introduction by Variety Publisher, Brian Gott, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walt Disney Company, and Founder of The Tornante Company, Michael Eisner, delivers the opening keynote. In one featured break-out event, there is a competition between various content providers competing for people's TV viewing time. The Producers Guild of America and Variety host a joint panel in another featured session. A poolside cocktail reception closes the days event beginning at 5:30 pm.

The sprawling CMJ 2010: Music Marathon & Film Festival arrives in New York City, October 19-23. CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with its music offerings through interactive media, live events and print. Among other things, This year, industry leaders from the worlds of gaming and music will gather at CMJ to celebrate the launch of CMJ Play, a celebration and exploration of the intersection of music and gaming, will take place Wednesday, October 20, at NYU’s Kimmel Center and in conjunction with NYU’s Music Video Game Research Project. And because some things should never change, The CMJ Artist Lounge at PureVolume House returns for 2010. As the central hub for CMJ the Artist Lounge provides a space for artists and press to interact and rest in between shows which are conducted at a multitude of venues, screenings, and panels. The lounge will also offer samples and giveaways from a variety of sponsors, along with refreshments.

Casual Connect Kyiv, from October 20-22 in Kyiv, brings together talented and knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. Casual Connect is the educational component of the Casual Games Association, the international trade association for casual games professionals. Casual Games Association Events are events for the casual games industry with usually over 3,000 professionals attending Casual Connect Events each year. A Disco Bowling Party at Club Chameleon happens on October 21 of the expo.

Through red carpet premieres, black-tie society galas, exclusive industry cocktail soirees and chauffeured antique Bentleys and limos, the Beverly Hills Film, TV, and New Media Festival will celebrate authentic Old Hollywood glamour, combined with an updated twist of the emerging technology of today. The festival's events, from October 21-24, include a black-tie opening night gala, panels, pitch sessions, gifting suites, film premieres, television content premieres, new media exhibitions, cell phone movie premieres, networking and entertainment industry mixers, and those red carpet events.

The International Filmmaker Film Festival, in Broadstairs, October 25-28, celebrates popular independent and studio films from the global film industry, while promoting opportunities for the business of film, and hosting special hospitality events and courtesy leisure activities. In addition to the filmmaking workshops, screenings of independent films will include many of the filmmakers in attendance for Q&A sessions following each screening. An exclusive screening of a digitally remastered ‘Dirty Dancing’, with the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is set to open the festival, with proceeds benefiting the Demelza Children's Hospice and the Pilgrims Hospice.

SMPTE is an industry association, and standards setting body, providing education and technology information to the motion imaging industry, focusing on content - creation, management, distribution and display. From October 26-28 the SMPTE Annual Tech Conference & Expo draws technology professionals from the media content business to Hollywood. This year's event provides a welcome reception in the exhibit hall, various technical workshops, a technology-focused exhibit hall, a high profile Industry Luncheon, the association’s Honors & Awards Reception and Ceremony, and many networking opportunities.

The Hollywood Reporter / Billboard Film & TV Music Conference is an anticipated annual event. New additions to the format this year when the Conference runs October 27-28 in Los Angeles, allows participants to submit a demo to music supervisors for a chance to receive feedback on their work live from the stage. They can also get one-on-one facetime with film/TV music decision-makers and influencers, and win a chance to meet with the director of an indie film and score their feature. A "Publishing 101" session, offers a primer on the basics of publishing from how to make money with placements in film and TV, to the administration of catalogs. Conference closes with a networking cocktail reception.

The Association of Film Commissioners International, an official professional and educational organization for film commissions that assists its members with feature, television, commercial, industrial and stills production throughout the world, is hosting  Cineposium 2010 to explore the sweeping impacts of the digital revolution and new global producers on the industry. The theme this year in Universal City, October 30 through November 2, is to look at the transition from film commissioner to media commissioner, which encompasses many new roles and responsibilities. In contrast to previous years, and to underscore the need to anticipate the changes to come, Cineposium hosts general sessions designed to equip attendees for success.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page which now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. A look ahead into November's event dates can help you get ready for the American Film Market, on November 3-10, and American Film Institute Fest, November 4-11, both in Los Angeles. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player, and your Windows Media Player. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which will now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. A look ahead into November's event dates can help you get ready for the American Film Market (www.americanfilmmarket.com), on November 3-10, and American Film Institute Fest (www.afi.com), November 4-11, both in Los Angeles. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Popkomm 2010, SCENEPR!, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Pop Montreal, Highlight September Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

The 67th Venice Film Festival will premiere the anticipated new action film, Machete, conceived as an expansion of the faux Grindhouse trailer, directed by Robert Rodriguez with Ethan Maniquis. The International Jury for the Competition at the 67th Venice International Film Festival has been selected, with American director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino as president. American Director Julie Taymor’s The Tempest has been chosen as the closing night film (Out of Competition) for the close of the festival, September 11.
Each year the Salento International Film Festival introduces filmmakers worldwide to the Salento area's resources, while celebrating the history and future of the film industry. This year the guest country is Mexico, and to celebrate the bicentenary of Mexican independence from Spain (1810 - 2010), and the centenary of Mexican revolution (1910-2010), Salento International Film Festival under the guidance of the Mexican Embassy in Italy will dedicate ample resources to the Mexican culture represented by its folklore, music, and traditional food. A traditional Mexican Fiesta Party happens September 3 while the festival continues till September 12.
UNESCO, the UN Office for Partnerships, and Wheel Houz combine efforts on International Literacy Day, Wednesday, September 8, for the Symposium, "Literacy: An Essential Foundation for Development" to be moderated by CBS News Chief National Correspondent and author, Bryon Pitts. Speakers include Laura Bush, Honorary Ambassador for the UN Literacy Decade; Irina Bokova, Director-General, UNESCO; and Jacob Atem, Founder, Home at Southern Sudan Health Care and former “Lost Boy of Sudan.” and creations by iconic 1970s pop artist, Peter Max. Seating is limited and early registration is strongly recommended.
Popkomm 2010 International Music Business Market and Showcase, presents artists to an international audience of interested specialists from the world of media and music at concerts and showcases in more than seven clubs and venues. Exhibiting labels are in attendance to showcase their artists who perform in all musical genres. There are three activity areas to Popkomm: B2C and B2B marketplaces, conference and festival — the live music segment of Popkomm. In 2010, Popkomm is an integral part of the first “Berlin Music Week”. Popkomm takes place in the historical (and decommissioned) Airport Berlin - Tempelhof, the world’s largest integrated building complex when it was built in 1923, and often referred to as the “mother of all airports”. It is still regarded third largest building in the world after Peking Airport and the Pentagon. The New Music Award together with the Popkomm opening party will take place at Airport Berlin - Tempelhof (entrance hall) on September 7, and the festival carries on through September 10.
The Americana Music Association is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music, host a yearly Americana Conference, publish the weekly Americana Airplay Chart, produce the annual Americana Awards Show, participate in other industry events that advocate and support this genre of music noted as an amalgam of roots musics formed by a confluence of sounds from folk, country, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, but popularly referred to as alternative country. That includes the annual Convention & Festival, running this year, September 8-11 in Nashvillle.
SCENEPR!, a career event organizer and networking hub for media entrepreneurs and professionals working in independent film, launches its first major social event for the month, September 9, SoHo, New York, geared to a crowd made up of musical artists, filmmakers, photographers, models, and other creatives, to enjoy ambient sounds, exchange business cards and ideas. Attenders are also encouraged to bring headshots, postcards and other promotional material for distribution. With an international call for entries, the group is beginning a new short film series with subjects of any genre, shot in HD, titled, Cinematique, the first screening set for September 15 in Astoria. Then, on September 29, SCENEPR! presents "The Main Event," a recurring event series for men (and women) who want to learn how to maximize their time, better their health, augment their careers, improve their looks/style, networking, education, male bonding, professional enrichment, and for fun.
BMI will present its President’s Award to founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, will.i.am, at the 10th Annual Urban Awards ceremony. The BMI President’s Award is presented on unique occasions recognizing an individual who has distinctly and profoundly influenced the entertainment industry. This honor celebrates will.i.am’s work as an artist, producer, and humanitarian. This invitation-only event will also honor the world’s premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers of the past year’s top urban music, as well as crown the Urban Songwriter, Song and Publisher of the Year. The Awards will be hosted by Del R. Bryant, President & CEO of BMI, and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta.
A recurring theme for this year’s annual Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival, September 9-12, is "Other Places", and about 90% of film selections are non-US productions, helping to fulfill the festival mission of promoting cross-cultural understanding through film. Opening night there's a sunset cocktail reception with live music on the roof of the Mansion House Inn overlooking Vineyard Haven harbor. Friday and Saturday night feature post-screening parties with world music, prepared appetizers, and refreshing drinks provided by festival sponsors. Closing night will be on the deck of the Vineyard Haven Marina where Festivalgoers will hear live bluegrass by Ballyhoo, appetizers by Vineyard faves Blue Canoe restaurant, Net Result, and Il Tesoro of the Charlotte Inn along with libations from the fest sponsors.
During this year's 35th Toronto International Film Festival, opening September 9-19, industry professionals host the "Meet With..." series of informal and intimate information sessions on pressing topics in today's film industry. The sessions give insight into the fundamentals of the business and craft of filmmaking. Filmmakers’ Lounge, formerly the Match Club, is a new meeting space for Festival filmmakers and industry professionals, and the site for panels and industry sessions as well as a place to meet, work, dine, have a drink and talk films. Now in its seventh year, Talent Lab is presented by Canadian Initiatives during the Toronto International Film Festival and is an intensive four-day artistic development program that provides emerging talent with an opportunity to learn from established film artists.
The West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference in Santa Monica, September 13-15, brings together accomplished producers, directors, writers, network executives, agents and distributors for stimulating discussions, as well as networking opportunities. WESTDOC runs two areas of professional interest, designated as The Documentary Village and The Reality Village. Attendees and speakers are able to take full advantage of both of these arenas and to select seminars from any village they choose. The third day of the conference is entirely devoted to PitchFest, a live presentation for Documentary and Reality producers to pitch new concepts to network and development executives for potential acquisition in front of a live audience.
The Oldenburg Film Festival is a non-competitive film festival, and embraces an “open” format for what it screens. There is a cinema-trailer part to the festival that is usually popular highlight, stressing off-beat innovations and ideas to stimulate the festival audience. Another feature of the festival, which goes from September 15-19, “Speed Pitch,” is overseen by the Wirtschaftsförderung Oldenburg, which functions as an economic development zone, which is focusing on the promotion of creative businesses by creating networks between economic development agencies and creative entrepreneurs.
The Boston Film Festival opens September 17-23 this year. This year there will be a 35th Anniversary screening on Opening Weekend of Steven Spielberg's legendary film Jaws, starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfus. The festival’s Closing Night film is a special sneak preview of Iron Cross, a thriller starring the late Roy Scheider as Joseph, a retired New York police officer and Holocaust survivor. Evening receptions are hosted by the region's signature chefs and restaurants where filmmakers are able to network, and for the festival’s closing night, special events will feature the recording Group Ernie and The Automatics with a special performance by James Montgomery.
As the annual Independent Film Week and Filmmaker Conference gets underway in New York, September 19-23, the Project Forum offers a meetings-driven forum connecting filmmakers who have new narrative and documentary projects with industry executives interested in identifying projects with which to become involved with at the financing or distribution stage. Another new section, IFP Independent Filmmaker Labs, will introduce and support “under-the-radar” new talents — first-time feature directors who have little previous industry exposure and live outside the film hubs of New York and LA — providing them with the access, mentorship and tools necessary to ensure that their unique stories reach audiences. Opening each day at the Filmmaker Conference, a “Conversations With...” series sponsored by Kodak, features one-on-one, in-depth discussions with luminary writers, directors, executives and new-media experts about their experiences in the industry and where filmmaking is heading next.
Held annually each fall in New York City, the birthplace of modern television, and this year from September 20-25, the New York Television Festival brings all interested parties together to celebrate the medium and to help shape its future. NYTVF's Independent Pilot Competition has put in place a pipeline allowing producers, writers, and directors to showcase their original TV pilots directly to the decision-makers of the industry. Along with the Independent Pilot Competition, the Festival presents parties, seminars, and other special events designed to honor television as an institution and as an art form. Launched in 2007, the TV Festival PassPort Program offers an opportunity for outstanding TV producers, writers, and directors to showcase their work on an international stage through an exchange program.
Opening in Port of Spain September 22 and running through October 2, the trinidad + tobago film festival presented by FLOW and supported by Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, mounts an exhibition of films made in the Caribbean region, including Latin American countries in the Caribbean Basin, Caribbean people of the Diaspora, and international filmmakers that reflect Caribbean culture and way of life both in the Caribbean and the Diaspora. Also, continuing the ttff's heritage initiative, that started last year with a focus on the cinema of India, the Festival is this year focusing on African cinema. Also, this year the ttff will present, in association with the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brasil, a showcase of Brazilian cinema with Daniela Thomas who will be hosting a mini-retrospective of her work. During her slated time, she will be leading a workshop on directing feature length films with screenings of her work at Studio Film Club.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center opens the 48th New York Film Festival September 24, running it through October 10, in New York City. The Festival includes main slate program selections along with special events, panel discussions, the experimental film showcase, Views from the Avant-Garde, and more. The Film Society of Lincoln Center was founded in 1969 to celebrate American and international cinema, to recognize and support new filmmakers, and to enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film going audience. One NYFF special event will be, Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff, screening with A Matter of Life and Death and Dracula (George Melford, Director) the 1931 Spanish-language version of the classic tale freshly accompanied by an eerie live solo guitar performance by guitarist, composer, and Grammy-nominated songwriter Gary Lucas.
Opening in Nashville September 27 and running into October 3, International Bluegrass Music Association Week, the annual business conference for the bluegrass music industry with artist showcases, an exhibit hall totaling more than 100 booths, professional development seminars, member constituency meetings, one-on-one networking, and more. From October 1-3, certain highlighted activities will be, Fan Fest, an indoor music festival featuring performances by some of the industry's top acts, a Masters Workshop Stage, a Roots & Branches Stage, exhibit hall, and scores of jam sessions. This year's International Bluegrass Music Awards Show happens on September 30 of the event week. The After Hours presentations are part of the overall event, but are hosted by individual groups and organizations, and are ticketed and do require conference registration or a music pass to attend or take part in.
Organizers for the Pop Montreal International Music Festival claim to have an open interpretation of what pop music is, and so it admits a wide range of artists and genres. So as the program opens September 29, its FilmPop category will showcase, Dark Night Of The Soul is a music and visual art project put together by Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and a host of guest vocalists with a collection of original David Lynch photography, who's imagery is wholly inspired by and based on the music providing a visual narrative to the record. Then, aside from the music, Lil Biz, a small business conference for artists, designers and the self-employed, offers four workshops that are completely free. Puces Pop Record Fair, will be a two day Record Fair in the Mile End featuring volumes of record collectors, instrument repairs and international and local indie record labels. This event runs along side Puces POP, Montreal's largest do-it-yourself festival where over one hundred local and international artists, crafters, and indie record labels come to sell their wares.
The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which will now have a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Vince Bosco\'s Beyond Love, Padded Cell\'s Little Noise, Brazilian band MegaRex, The Telephone Game, Jayen Varma, world\'s fastest bass guitar

 

 This month on video you will see Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', due to hit the festival circuit in September 2010, shot using no script, with all dialogue improvised by the cast. Matt Oakey, who plays sets which can bridge Funky, Electro, deep, Underground and Dirty House, presents 'Little Noise', featuring remixes by Nev Scott and Saint George, from the sound stable of Toronto based music producers, Padded Cell Productions (http://www.facebook.com/WhereMusicLives), that creates sound experiences in trance, electronica, ambient music and more. Jayen Varma (www.facebook.com/jayenvarma), awarded recognition as World's Fastest Bass Player in 2008 by the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, and for developing Indian Slap Bass, is based in Kerala, India. In 'Beyond Love', director www.facebook.com/vinceboscoVince Bosco stars with Kristina Nguyen, John McNulty, Cindy Cayrasso and Emile Weber. MegaRex, the Brazilian band out of São Paulo that mixes Pop Rock with Brazilian Popular Music performs 'santo.com'' in the video. MegaRex makes a limited time offer to the public to download their music for free at MegaRex's site (http://www.megarex.com.br/) or Sonicbids (http://www.sonicbids.com/megarex) in return for introducing two new people to the band. All past video uploads are now archived without the audio news narration to the Free Home Video Showcase

 

Lollapalooza 2010, PhantomCon, Sandestin Music Festival, MCA-I Beach Party, Strasbourg International Film Festival, Highlight August Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

In the South Wales industrial town of Port Talbot, the International Youth Film Festival runs through August 7. This festival is an IMDb Qualifying Festival, and Sir Anthony Hopkins is the Festival Patron. Film makers and friends are welcome to attend the Nominees Party and Mayors Reception on August 6, which will be the festival’s main networking event, where film projects may be openly discussed, and there will also be an unveiling of a brand new life size oil painting of Patron Sir Anthony Hopkins. Located on the banks of Lake Maggiore at the foot of the Alps, the medieval town of Locarno conducts the Locarno Film Festival for new films from all over the world. This year, the Pardo d’onore Swisscom, will honor two esteemed contemporary filmmakers: Chinese filmmaker JIA Zhang-ke and Swiss filmmaker Alain Tanner. And in another ceremony, the Locarno will confer the Excellence Award Möet & Chandon to the French actress Chiara Mastroianni, followed by a roundtable discussion with the actress. Celebrity etiquette and networking expert, Naomi Torre presides over a “Cool Down On Sunset…”, a Los Angeles summer mixer on August 5 where B2B Marketers come to relax, socialize, network, and take advantage of Luxe Hotel's happy hour menu. The evening is organized  by the Business Marketing Association, Southern California, dedicated to business-to-business marketing executives, company presidents, and marketing communicators.

Lollapalooza 2010, the annual musical extravaganza held in Chicago’s Grant Park, August 6-8, features such acts as the Grammy-nominated electropop band Hot Chip. GALApalooza is the official preview party of the Festival, and will treat guests to a one-of-a-kind cocktail party and private concert under the stars of Grant Park. Also, online social networking community Do312 — www.do312.com — is the official Lollapalooza after-shows organizer, with scheduled shows at multiple Chicago venues. Koffeehouse presents its Fourth Annual “Evening of Independence” Concert benefitting MusiCares® with featured performances by Verve/Universal recording artist and actress Katharine McPhee, Island Def Jam recording artist Jon McLaughlin, Ironworks recording artist HONEYHONEY, LA-based indie rockers The Daylights, and two-time Grammy-nominated, Sixpence None The Richer — who are reuniting for their first show in the U.S. in six years. Available VIP tickets include pre-paid parking, access to the VIP lounge with open bar and food, a mention of you or your company in the official event program, gift bag of goodies, and the best seats in the house. Noted Casting Director Helen McCready offers two workshops to take place as follows: Boynton Beach, August 7; Bonita Springs, August 8. The workshops cover: Auditioning for leading and supporting roles; The differences between those who book work and those who don't; Auditioning sides for guest starring roles; How to stand out and book supporting and co-starring roles; How do you connect to Hollywood. Additionally, fully registered attendants will be emailed over 1,000 email addresses of Hollywood contacts active in the industry.

At the 2010 University Film & Video Association Conference, August 10-14 in Burlington, will be world-class screenings, panels, script readings, and new media exhibits. And there is also the traditional Thursday night picnic at Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center, the UFVA golf tournament at Kwiniaska Golf Club in Shelburne on Friday morning, and then the Saturday evening dressy-casual banquet closing the conference at the IDX Student Life Center overlooking Lake Champlain. PhantomCon is an annual conference celebrating paranormal research and the Horror movie industry. The organizers goal is to connect fans, followers, researchers, sensitives and skeptics with an audience interested in their findings. The Western North Carolina Paranormal Research Society invites all interested parties down to Hickory to attend, and hosts a Meet & Greet Dinner on opening evening August 12. Co-sponsored by BMI, along with the Sandestin Resort and Southwest Airlines, the first annual Sandestin Music Festival will divert voluntary donations collected at the festival to support the National Audubon Society and its efforts to help birds and other wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The celebrations, which are free with a printed ticket, opens with singer/songwriters at Hammerhead's Bar & Grill, then moves onto Rum Runner's for a jam session, and finally settles into Graffiti & The Funky Blues Shack for a late-night concert. There’s also a VIP Package that includes priority seating and a meet-and-greet with all the performers on Sunquest Cruise’s yacht, the Solaris, after the show on Saturday.

At the upcoming North Park Music Thing - San Diego Music & Media Conference, August 13-14, conference attendees can learn about the music business during panel discussions, workshops and demo review sessions. NPMT will present speakers who are involved in local, regional, and national music – including keynote speaker Kim Fowley, who managed the all-girl band, The Runaways, from the 1970s. At the "Music Industry 101" workshop, panelists will discuss recording a quality demo, developing an effective promo package, building a functional website, booking and promoting consistent gigs, and releasing your first record. Each night following the workshops, NPMT showcases nearly 100 musical acts from throughout the Southwestern United States, at 14 select San Diego-area venues. The Feel Good Film Festival in Hollywood, August 13-15, is a competitive showcase encouraging the development, production, and distribution of short or feature length film with happy endings, that make audiences laugh, and that capture the beauty of this world. Winning projects will be entertaining, optimistic, humorous, and/or heartwarming, and leave the audience feeling good. Opening and closing night celebrations highlighting festival submissions take place in the venue's courtyard.

During the 2010 monitorLATINO Convention in Guadalajara, August 15-18, registered attendees can take part in the "Demolition Demo" in which a panel discusses the importance of "a good composition and excellent performance as keys to music industry success. Producers may register their demos for a chance to have it reviewed when the Panel reaches a selection of demos submitted while sharing their tips for helping the composer/producer to take a career to the next level. Film Florida, which fills a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations and labor organizations, conducts a quarterly marketing, legislative, councils and admin meeting over two days beginning August 16 in Naples. At the SCFEO August Film Mixer / Reception on August 17, a discussion on the “virtual” future of film and television production will be discussed by Darren Frankel, President - Stargate Studios, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages served, in an evening hosted by University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Peachtree Village International Film Festival in Atlanta is presented by The African American Cinema Gallery (AACG) & Gipp. Museums, and showcases feature length films, shorts, music videos, documentaries, and screenplays from around the globe. During the festival’s run, August 19-22, for one of the slated panels, "Cast Me If You Can", panelists tackle the subject how to prepare for television and film auditions, followed by a Q&A. There is a Meet-up each night of the festival in the lobby of the host Hotel for networking and drinks.

Media Communications Association-International holds its Beach Party August 22 in Mission Bay Park, and this year provides a full "Tostada Bar" complete with chicken, beef, and vegetarian toppings, with pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Enjoy lawn games, water sports, of course networking, and if you arrive to the party with your jet ski or boat, you can pull up right next to the swim area. The goal of BLUE Ocean Film Festival, as a film festival and conservation summit of underwater filmmakers and marine researchers, is to share the latest insights on what is happening in our oceans, when it runs from August 24-29. A companion community festival shares highlights of the film competition with presentations from the filmmakers and scientists who created them. Other special events will include: "Intro to Underwater Filmmaking Boot Camp", a "Welcome to Monterey Networking Reception", with samplings of local food and wine from the Monterey area, a VIP Gallery Reception for a David Doubilet photography exhibit. This summer, Strasbourg International Film Festival runs from August 27 through September 5, and is focused on industry networking working at a grassroots level to build community involvement and participation. There will be filmmaker introductions to films followed by questions and answers after screenings, industry panels/workshops, out-of-competition screenings, and free filmmaker brunches. The film festival also plans to have special events for students and the community-at-large.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which will now have a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the

podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog

as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your

Real Media Player

at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your

Windows Media Player

at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the

Free Home Video Showcase

at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.

Tejano Music 2010, Asian American International Film Festival, Casual Connect Seattle, LA Shorts Fest, ITVFest, Highlight July Media and Entertainment Industry Networking Events

Now in its 11th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference which will be held in New York this year, July 6-10, is geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music, addressing topics such as: Marketing to Urban Latino Culture, Approaches to Retail, Print Media/Television/Radio, Advertising and Sponsorship, Non-Traditional Revenue, Technology, International Markets, Music in Film, and others. Galway Film Fair, based in Galway and running July 6-11, co-ordinates pre-scheduled meetings between filmmakers with projects in development and invited Film Financiers, Distributors and Producers. Among slated workshops this year, the Actors Masterclass 2010 will provide an intensive interactive environment in the skills, methodology and aesthetics of film acting whilst dealing with all the common fears and questions actors have regarding work in front of the camera. The Long Island International Film Festival, happening this year, July 8-18 in Bellmore, shows approximately 120 short and feature-length independent films from the world over, but also includes panels, parties, publicity and networking opportunities. The LIIFF’s week is started with an complementary opening night party. Opening July 9-11 in San Antonio, this year's Tejano Music 2010 unites the 7th Annual Tejano Music National Convention with the 30th Annual Tejano Music Awards and the 6th Annual Tejano Academy Awards for the first time. Aside from the music masterclasses, Tejano Dance Instruction is one of the more popular Convention programs, an opportunity to learn basic technique of Tejano dancing, or to add new techniques to what you already know.

Future Media Concepts conducts a session on Introduction to Sound Editing in Final Cut Studio on the Apple Macintosh, in Washington, D.C. The course focuses on practical, professional techniques used to add professional music and sound effects to video and multimedia projects. Kids First! Film Festival, a showcase for children's films, TV shows and DVDs from major studios and independent filmmakers, builds on its kid-interactive program by partnering with more than 150 venues worldwide who host more than 10,000 screenings of Kids First! films year-round to an audience of more than one million, with youth given a true voice - as curators, as audience members, as film critics, as volunteer staff and as filmmakers showing their work in the July 15 Santa Fe event. Asian CineVision, Inc. is a not-for-profit national media arts organization dedicated to the development, promotion and preservation of film and video arts by and about people of Asian descent, stages the Asian American International Film Festival in Manhattan’s Chelsea district, July 15-24, presenting 23 features and 71 shorts from international and national filmmakers, in addition to presenting Asian and Asian American films, the festival will host workshops, panels and after parties featuring live music. The final installment of a three-part series examining the business of music, songwriters, and music publishing, will be conducted from a New York venue on July 17, and explores the interplay between songwriting, publishing deals, and recording contracts - examining the differences in copyright protection between musical compositions (songs) and sound recordings (masters).

The annual Casual Connect Seattle, from July 20-22, brings together knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. For instance, a Pre-Funk Party sponsored by ChaYoWo Games happens at Triple Door on July 19; the Games For Gamers mingle happens July 20 in the Founders Room for people interested in console, indie, and game studio start-ups; the Official Casual Connect Party sponsored by Samsung will be held at the Seattle Art Museum, July 20; the July 21 Mobile Mingle in the Founders Room is for people interested in the Mobile space; and the Official Casual Connect Speaker Dinner sponsored By Plimus will be July 21 at a local restaurant. An Opening Gala for the Okanagan International Film Festival will be held in Kelowna Community Theatre, and a separate VIP Party will be July 24 in the Mon Reposa Luxury Penthouse. The force behind the festival, which runs July 21-25, the Okanagan Film Festival Society, founded in 1998, is a not for profit charitable organization, whose mission is to educate and promote the Canadian and International film industry through film screenings, competitions and professional industry workshops and forums. Hollywood’s LA Shorts Fest is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, and reportedly, in past years, 33 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, with 11 filmmakers taking home the Oscar. This year, the NXT Stage Conference will be held in conjunction with LA Shorts Fest on July 27. LA Shorts Fest will run July 22-30. NXT STAGE is where content producers, media executives and digital entrepreneurs meet to develop key business relationships.

Expresión en Corto is a state-sponsored, non-profit, cultural event that does not charge admission to its viewing audience and is made possible in large part thanks to: the State Government of Guanajuato, and other institutions. From July 23 through August 1, more than 300 films are screened from 10 am until 4 am each day in 18 venues, which include such unusual locations as: the Jardín Principal (main square) of San Miguel de Allende; the classical open-air staircase of the University of Guanajuato; the subterranean streets and tunnels beneath Guanajuato Capital (where gay, lesbian, erotic and underground films are projected); as well as horror films that are screened in the municipal graveyards (panteónes). The festival hosts an annual International Pitching Market as well. BMI is a sponsor of the Kauai Music Festival, a four-day immersion into the art of songwriting taking place on the island of Kauai. At the Conference, participants can consult, one-on-one, with award winning songwriters, Grammy-winning producers, A&R, and other music industry professionals. In addition, any music submitted can be heard in small group seminars by established songwriters, as well as be placed in the songwriting competition. The Independent Television Festival (ITVFest) is a Los Angeles festival for independently produced, original and innovative television pilots and web-series. The focus is on TV pilots at this festival happening July 30 through August 5. Now in its fifth year, the festival maintains support from institutions like Comcast, Current TV, Brightcove and FX, and the talent of pilotmakers from all over the world.

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 www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Video and podcast versions of this news summary are also available at popular video sites around the Web like MySpace, YouTube, Daily Motion, as well as on The Actor's Checklist podcast blog at http://actorschecklist.com/loudblog. Last month the video news summary featured Grey Duck Production's 'The Telephone Game', Matt Oakey of Toronto based music and film producers, Padded Cell Productions with ‘Little Noise’, Indian Slap Bass master out of Kerala, India, Jayen Varma, Parisian film director Vince Bosco with latest work, ‘Beyond Love’, Pop Rock  band out of  São Paulo, MegaRex. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/actorschecklist. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/realaudio_realvideo.html, and your Windows Media Player at link: http://actorschecklist.com/video/windowsmediastream.html. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase at http://www.actorschecklist.com/video which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.