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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Variety Venture Capital New Media Summit, Casual Connect, Melbourne International Film Fest, FADE IN... are some Highlights in July's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Jazz pianist Kyoko Oyobe, whose album of original compositions
'Cookin' at Smalls' was recorded live at  Smalls in Greenwich
Village, leads the late night jam session every Tuesday night
in July at The Moldy Fig jazz club in New York City.

Jazz pianist, Kyoko Oyobe, leads the late night jam session in New York City, Lower Eastside's newest bar, cafe and jazz venue, The Moldy Fig, Tuesday nights in July. The establishment presents it's jazz offering with an assortment of casual diversions like chess, shuffleboard, Scrabble, and backgammon, and a small plate menu from the kitchen. Poets will feel welcome in this Lower East Side element. Kyoko Oyobe who writes original compositions, is from Okayama, Japan, and has released her first album, 'Cookin' at Smalls', recorded live at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, now available on the web at cdbaby.com/cd/kyokooyobetrio.

Taking place in New York City through July 9 to celebrate its 12th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference is geared towards the marketing of Spanish-language alternative music. A connected SummerStage event in Central Park on July 6 features performances by Spanish music standouts Jarabe De Palo, Mexican songstress Ely Guerra, Afro-Peruvian electronica folk artist Novalima and Miami’s DJ Mr. Pauer. A July 8 panel (one of several) addresses, "Patrons of the Arts: Who Are Today's Music Investors?"

An upcoming WebTVWorkshop.com series is geared towards producing web series and new media content, in a crash course format, and is coming to New York City. Taught by Emmy-winning professionals and union reps, participants will learn how to create, market, distribute, and monetize a successful web series. The classes cover everything from strategy and pitch to advertising and promotional strategies. WTVW is including the Showbiz Labor Guide, a comprehensive software program for budgets, labor laws, and union contracts, using easy to understand terms. The Showbiz Store is the retail division of Media Services that caters to the specific technology needs of the media and entertainment industry.

It is fairly well known that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- aka Prince William and Kate Middleton — have recently been traveling throughout North America, with stops throughout Canada and California. The couple is also slated to be on hand for the Variety Venture Capital New Media Summit on July 8 in Beverly Hills. Variety’s Summit will explore how the investment community is driving technology innovation that is critical for the growth of the evolving entertainment industry. At the Summit, top financiers, studio leaders and start-up founders will debate how best to keep this momentum going, creating new media services and products that cross growing numbers of platforms and devices.

The Artivist Film Festival and Artivist Awards are produced by The Artivist Collective, Inc., a charitable organization creating this platform for artists to share  inspirational and informative films with the world. As an avenue for filmmakers to screen their unique, socially-conscious films to the general public, Artivist works interchangeably with the artists and their causes. Filmmakers come together through the organization to share resources, collaborate, and network with other artists and entertainment industry professionals. According to the organization this process has also led to funding agreements for future film projects. Screenings from July 8-10 will take place in cities: Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Sedona, Seattle, Washington D.C. August will have screenings in Hollywood, and September will will move to New York City.

Anyone can join the Florida Chapter and fellow music community members in Miami for a casual networker hosted by Florida Chapter Board Governor, Serona Elton. Slated for every second Tuesday of the month, attendees can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and 2 for 1 drink specials on beverages until 8:30 pm, courtesy of Eden South Beach. There's always free admission for Recording Academy members and anyone who would like to learn about or join The Recording Academy.

BMI is a sponsor of the Kauai Music Festival, a four-day undertaking in the art of songwriting held on the island of Kauai, beginning July 13. Through the one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, workshops, panel discussions, open mic activities, and other planned events, festival participants will be able to consult and get feedback directly from the songwriting pros staffing the festival. In addition to the annual Songwriter Conference, the KMF organizes and hosts other educational, networking, and showcase events throughout the year such as the KMF Songwriter Search, an annual songwriting contest with the winner getting free attendance to the annual KMF Songwriter Conference.

A July 18 Grammy Awards 101 Musical Achievement Workshop is a presentation of the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest and Los Angeles Chapters set to be held in Honolulu. GRAMMY Awards 101 + MusiCares Outreach will be an information session on: Recently Announced Awards Restructuring, important information about the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, important upcoming dates and deadlines, explanation of eligibility for submitted product, how to submit product for GRAMMY consideration, step-by-step narrative of what each submission goes through once it has been submitted into the awards process.

Casual Connect is the place to learn more about an industry that entertains 300 million people each month. So from July 19-21, learn all about iPhone, Social, Android, Flash, Browser MMO and Download Games, at Casual Connect Seattle 2011. Casual Games Association produces the Casual Connect event annually. And it's not just learning workshops. Some slated networking events include: Pre-funk party hosted by Mochi Media, a relaxed, loungy party beer/wine/cocktails/light snacks; Minna Mingle hosted by EA Partners, a drink in the Grand Lobby after the final session in the Taper Auditorium; Official Casual Connect Party hosted by OpenFeint, with bowling, billiards, drinks and appetizers; another Minna Mingle hosted by TransGaming, presented Happy Hour style with beer, wine, cocktails; Official Casual Connect Party hosted by WildTangent, a lounge party with beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers taking place at the Seattle Aquarium.

Summer NAMM 2011 is the music products industry’s mid-year event showcasing the latest gear, sound and lighting technology, influential companies and the newest brands. Join music educators, students, parents, music advocates, recording professionals and houses of worship music leaders at the international music products industries’ mid-year gathering. Happening in Nashville, July 21-23, attend and get connected with other industry members at the NAMM Young Professionals event during Summer NAMM. Join the group at the Wildhorse Saloon on July 21 starting from 6:30 pm. NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.

Since its commencement in 1951, Melbourne International Film Festival has developed into Australia's largest film event. MIFF hosts an assemblage of cinematic productions from over 50 countries for seventeen days (July 21 to August 7) each Winter (Australian winter), embellished with a slate of parties and special events that has been known to create a celebratory mood throughout the city. Separately and to its own merit, the Regent Theatre has been and continues to be home to many world renowned theatre productions including Disney’s The Lion King, We Will Rock You, and Singin’ in the Rain.

A compressed summary of the activity laden Action On Film International Film Festival in Pasadena, July 22-30, helps to highlight the many interesting events that will happen in its given span of time. There will be four days of workshops and seminars, two special non-profit benefit events and a few additional "surprises". Opening Night Mixer and AOF VII Celebration. Nick Mancuso Acting Seminar Part 1 and 2 happens July 24 and 25. A free Sunday Brunch and Filmmaker Symposium is on July 24, and a Private Celebrity 'Dinner With' Special AOF Filmmakers and Writers happens in the evening. Closing night includes a Black Tie Dinner Pre-event Party, Black Tie Dinner and Award Show, There are screenings at Regency Academy Theater Pasadena with-filmmaker interviews on the Red Carpet and special gifts for everyone in attendance. Private 'after' and 'pre-parties' to be announced.

The 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival mission is to showcase the works of emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the U.S. and Latin America, and provide expansive images of the Latino experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community. Programming from July 25-31 includes the flagship film festival in New York City, new music and art showcases, family and community events, scholarships for aspiring filmmakers, and a nationally recognized short film competition in partnership with HBO. The festival notably has had the endorsement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission since its formation in 2003.

FADE IN… the 15th Annual Hollywood Pitch Festival offers a chance to present your film or TV script, book, short or idea directly to 200 Hollywood agents, managers, producers, studio and productions executives, over three days starting June 29. HPF only has one class — a pitch class taught by a professional working filmmaker, and it is optional to take. But this year they are also providing one-on-one virtual pitch coaching via Skype starting two weeks prior to the festival. After session activities features a cocktail party Friday evening and VIP Contact Book that will be handed out.

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 August event dates will help you prepare for:  Flying Popcorn! Online Children's Film FestivalNewport, in New Port, UNF Writers Conference, in Jacksonville, Siggraph 2011, in Vancouver, KRATKOFIL International Short Film FestivalBanja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Banja Luka, to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor's Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

Bonnaroo Music Festival, 65th Tony Awards, Banff World Television Festival, JazzAscona 2011, are some Highlights in June's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

A Meeting of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) will happen during the World Copyright Summit in Brussels, June 7-8. The occasion is an international and cross-industry event addressing the future of the creative community and the entertainment business in the digital economy. Some of the slated agenda addresses: legislation and dissemination of intellectual property and creative content, creation, licensing, usage, collective management, the value of creative works, the future of authors' rights, the role of creators and their collective management organizations.

Sheffield's DocFest is a documentary film industry event hosting an industry session program and marketplace, pitching opportunities, discussion panels and filmmaker masterclasses, as well as an assortment of documentary films from across the globe. In attendance are expected to be members of the British documentary industry, including documentary and factual producers, directors, buyers, commissioners and distributors. Competitions will be organized at Sheffield Doc/Fest, which runs from June 8-12, with most pitches participating. And on a less serious note, Sheffield Doc/Fest is thought to be the only film festival in the world with its own roller disco rink, open for a June 9 party with complimentary vodka supplied by Zorokowich.

Opening June 9, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day, multi-stage campsite extravaganza that pulls in performers from rock and roll, as well as artists in diverse styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and any other contemporary music form. In addition to dozens of onstage performances, the festival's 100-acre entertainment village situated in Manchester pulsates continuously with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village. This year will also see the return of the Bonnaroo Comedy Theatre, as well as the Silent Disco, a wireless dance party where hot dance beat sounds are broadcast directly to your stereo headset. The festival site is actually a 700-acre farm which is about 60 miles southeast of Nashville and northwest of Chattanooga.

Aruba International Film Festival's mission is to connect with, and convey to the international film community, awareness for the island's culture by showcasing regional filmmakers and productions. In 2010 over 45 films from 18 countries were screened and the festival was covered by over 40 international media outlets with numerous special programs, parties and live events. Rapper, actor and business mogul Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will be attending the Second Annual Aruba International Film Festival in Santa Cruz, June 10-16, for the red carpet premiere of his latest feature film "Things Fall Apart."

Tailored for professionals in the systems integration, audiovisual, and information communications industries, InfoComm 2011 showcases the latest technologies for audio, video, display, projection, lighting and staging, digital signage, conferencing, digital content creation, networking, signal distribution and much more. The Orlando based show which runs from June 11-17 also offers  educational seminars, workshops and labs taught by experts with a focus on technology, trends and best practices in the industry.

The 65th Tony Awards will be held in New York City, June 12, and telecast live for 3-hours over the CBS television network beginning at 8 pm Eastern Time. Neil Patrick Harris will host this year's awards which will be conducted from the Beacon Theater. A short list of presenters/performers includes: Daniel Radcliffe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Alec Baldwin, Samuel L. Jackson, Kelsey Grammer, Viola Davis, Vanessa Redgrave, James Earl Jones, Harry Connick Jr., Christie Brinkley, to name a few. The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The Banff World Television Festival launches once again, June 12-15, against the usual setting of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. The Banff Program Competition looks to honor the best programming across all areas of entertainment, including digital media, drama,and documentary. The Festival combines an international program competition, the Banff World Media Awards, with a comprehensive conference agenda, including four streams of intensive, in-depth programming: BANFF TV, Kids & Animation, Non-Fiction and nextMEDIA. And once again, facilitated networking opportunities include — but don't end at — pre-booked one-on-one meetings with Program Executives, Media Buyers, and Ad Agencies.

The 2011 Maui Film Festival launches June 15 for a four day run at the  Wailea.resort area. There is an opening night reception and Twilight Reception at "Capische?" in Hotel Wailea; Other festival highlights include: Private VIP Party at MALA Wailea at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa; Saturday Filmmakers Brunch at Longhi's at The Shops at Wailea; Filmmakers Panels and Festival Tributes; Taste of Wailea at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course; Starry Night MoonDance at Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe; Taste of Chocolate at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea; Starry Night MoonDance at Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe; Cosmic Closing Night Poolside Party. As always, befitting its location, the festival offers one-on-one or small group private Maui surf lessons and adventures.

On June 16 in New York City, BMI notable Allen Toussaint is among the inductees into the 42nd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. BMI songwriting icons, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, will receive the Johnny Mercer Award, and Toronto rap artist, Drake, will receive the 2011 Hal David Starlight Award. Also slated for induction this year are Leon Russell, John Bettis, Garth Brooks, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.

Now in its 17th year, the Los Angeles Film Festival, from June 16-26, is an offering of Film Independent, a non-profit, membership film organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists. The Festival is a qualifying festival in all categories for Film Independent Spirit Awards, as well as for the Narrative and Animated Short Film categories of the Academy Awards. The Festival works with Fast Track, a program of Film Independent that is designed to help filmmakers move their current projects — narrative as well as documentary — into production. Fast Track's film financing market connects to financiers, production companies, and other industry professionals. In planned event, "The Art of Translation: A Conversation with Julie Taymor", the award-winning director shares behind the scenes clips while conversing about taking material from different sources and translating them for the stage and the screen.

An evening of fine food, wine and spirits in the Calabasas Commons will be laid out for the 5th Annual Calabasas - Malibu Wine & Food Festival on June 18. This includes a special tasting of wines, beers, spirits, food demonstrations and, above all, food to eat, all while helping raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation, and local charities. Event organizer Talents Connection (909-218-6002) seeks Interns and volunteers to help out with various aspects of the event. Volunteers can take part in a festive event with networking potential. Festival administration is also hosting a Video Contest for the public to take part in to produce a 30 second video promoting the 2011 Festival. Email Festival admin at: sales@valleywinefestival.com for more criteria on entering a video.

More than 24,000 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, running June 19-25. Reportedly, over 8,000 delegates from 90 countries attend the seven days of workshops, exhibitions, screenings, master classes and high-end seminars given by industry leaders. Working in partnership with The Brand Union, Lambie-Nairn, Getty Images and Clear Channel, the CannesAlso exhibition will be held outside of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes during Festival week. The exhibition will focus on photography and will be exhibited in the form of The Big Book.

Opening June 20 in Silver Spring, Silverdocs encompasses a seven-day international film festival and five-day concurrent conference that promotes documentary film as a leading art form, supports the work of independent filmmakers and fosters an atmosphere for public dialogue and civic engagement around the issues and ideas explored in the films. Celebrating the art and business of documentary storytelling, the Conference connects media professionals with over 35 panels and workshops. The conference's Silver Sessions are small-group meetings with development, programming and acquisition executives, program officers from funding agencies, theatrical, DVD and international broadcast distributors; digital media innovators, marketing and PR consultants, producers' representatives, legal advisers and industry visionaries.

The Creole Sweet Tease burlesque will be performed this year for the first time at JazzAscona, in the jazz club tent, after midnight. There exist different interpretations of burlesque. JazzAscona will present an exclusive show that is currently reaping success in New Orleans in which jazz is, of course, a key element. The show will be accompanied by young soloists of the Creole Synocopators that features vocalist Jayna Morgan, among others. Tenor saxophonist Ezra Brown (eZrabrown.com) is the face of this year's JazzAscona official poster, and will spend most of the summer in Europe touring with Hip Hop AfroBeat band, BLITZ the Ambassador, to many Western European cities going into August. He takes a brief break from the BLITZ tour and joins Roy Bennett, Gordon Edwards and others forming Just Another Band (JAB) in Locarno.JAB is a festival favorite that, in its past performances at JazzAscona, has been among the most appreciated by the audiences there. JazzAsconia Festival runs June 23 through July 3.

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 July event dates will help you prepare for:  LA Shorts Fest, in Hollywood, How To Publish You e-Book, in Jacksonville, Casual Connect Seattle 2011, in Seattle, 2011 New York International Latino Film Festival, in New York City to provide just a small sample of upcoming events in advance. Also to alert viewers, a site revamp and redesign of The Actor's Checklist is close at hand, with new interactive features, tools and resources to aid members, so please stay tuned.

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.