NYFA guest article on actor training, also, MIPCOM, Ghent Fest, CMJ Music Marathon, NYTVF, are highlights in October's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Training for Now: What Degree of Acting School is Right for You?

By Glenn Kalison, Chair of Acting for Film Program, New York Film Academy

Ultimately, people come wired with different degrees of natural talent. This is true in every pursuit, from anything involving math or science to the arts, athletics and everything in between. This certainly is true of performers, be they actors, dancers, singers, comics or musicians. Natural talent is only a part of what’s required to be a success.

For everyone who likes to cite Bryan Cranston (the talented multi-Emmy winner for his work in Breaking Bad), who holds an associate degree in political science, we should also consider how many others devoted their life to studying drama. Meryl Streep studied as an undergraduate as Vassar College and earned her masters in fine arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. Talent provides a good foundation, but education doesn’t hurt.

On a practical business point, the actor who has invested years of his or her life to training may be more attractive to managers, agents, and casting professionals at the very beginning. On the resume, solid training represents a commitment. This is a meaningful signal to send in a field such as acting, which has a very high attrition rate. If industry professionals are considering a new relationship with an entry-level actor, they will want to know that you are not going anywhere. Additionally, there is a confidence associated with those individuals who are trained to perform to the technical and artistic needs of productions. This does not replace the importance of talent, but may increase the number of opportunities to apply that talent.

Of course, not everyone has the time or wherewithal to follow Meryl Streep’s path. The programs at the New York Film Academy (http://www.nyfa.edu/) range from one week acting school workshops through summer camps, one-year conservatory, associate (two-year), bachelor (eight-semester) and masters (eight-semester) degree programs.

It might seem attractive to take several years off from life to get another degree, but that may not be realistic for many people. But a concentrated one-week intensive program can be a smart way for a working person to spend a week off from a regular job. This program (offered at the school’s Manhattan, Los Angeles, Orlando, Harvard/Boston, Queensland/Australia, Florence/Italy and Paris/France campuses) is completely immersive, including an intensive introduction to relaxation (tension alleviation), “method” (acting truthfully), scene study (dramatic beats, needs of the characters), movement (expression without words), voice (as it reveals character) and acting for the camera. A single week of training has its limitations, of course, but anyone who takes it emerges far more skilled than before.

A summer camp is another means by which younger people – teens and kids – get a taste for acting and consider where they might focus their career aspirations. In a similar vein for adults, 4-, 8- and 12-week acting and comedy programs provide technical training for the skills required of actors. Longer programs convey an understanding of film craft, the language and grammar of filmmaking. The actor is far preferred by directors if he or she understands shot language, screen direction, camera movement, eye lines and lighting.

In a multi-year degree program, the student is clearly committed to this profession and what it takes to be a solid performer on stage and screen. The course of study includes literature (vocabulary, history and industry writing trends), production, kinesthetic expression (the expression of movement, the voice and gestures), synthesis (becoming a unique artistic product) and business (the practical nature of identifying one’s marketing niche and the creation of a business plan to meet career objectives).

Some training beats no training. Training is available for different level performers, time commitments and locations so all students of performance, young and not so young, should be able to find something from which they can benefit.

Glenn Kalison received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Irvine and has since worked as an actor, director and producer on films that include Clutter (with Carol Kane and Natasha Lyonne), The Good Shepherd (with Matt Damon and John Turturro) and Mystery Team (with Aubry Plaza and Donald Glover), a Sundance Film Festival selection; and on television productions that include Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: CI, Lights Out, As the World Turns; and many off-Broadway and regional stage productions. He is Chair, Acting for Film Program at the New York Film Academy.

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MIPCOM at Cannes is the yearly anticipated film, TV and digital market for co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content. It provides the people involved in the TV, film, digital and audiovisual content, production and distribution industry a market and networking forum to discover future trends and trade content rights on a global level. Increasingly present are new media players such as Facebook, and MIPWORLD is the event's online matchmaking community used before, during and after the main event in Cannes. MIPJunior, a two-day screening and conference event for kids' TV and multiplatform content, normally is held right before the MIPCOM event which this year runs October 8-11. This year, Canada will be in the MIPCOM spotlight, as the festival collaborates with Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) to present Canada Country of Honour, an immersive celebration of the best of Canadian TV, film and digital entertainment.

MIPCOM schedules a special workshop addressed to creators and producers to learn more on how to launch and grow a channel on YouTube, web broadcasting powerhouse, with more than 4 billion video views per day, on October 11. The MIPCOM 2012 World Premiere TV Screening of new period drama, 'The Americans', will have gala screening and MIPCOM's red carpet Opening Night Party on Octobern 8, attended by the series' leading couple actress Keri Russell and Welsh actor Matthew Rhys. BBC Worldwide is bringing actors Matthew Macfadyen, Jerome Flynn and Adam Rothenberg to Cannes to present the British period crime drama produced by Tiger Aspect and Lookout Point, 'Ripper Street'. Palme d'Or and Oscar-winning writer/director Jane Campion will be at MIPCOM to present her new series, Top of the Lake, executive produced by See-Saw Films and internationally distributed by BBC Worldwide.

The Ghent Film Festival in the province of East Flanders was first established in 1974 as a student's film festival, but has since evolved into a broader film event with its focus on film music. As this year's nearly month-long festival gets underway October 9 the opening gala screening will be melodramatic love tale: 'The Broken Circle Breakdown' directed by Felix van Groeningen. Every year along with screenings the festival organises film music concerts providing composers of film scores a showcase of their own. And each year since 2001 the best soundtrack composers are honoured with the World Soundtrack Awards. In addition to the screenings, the Ghent Film Festival also organises film-related exhibitions. For instance, the Stanley Kubrick exhibition, which was previously shown in Berlin, Melbourne and Frankfurt-am-Main, was brought to Ghent before other world cities such as Rome, Paris and London.

On October 18, the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the very first James Bond film and the Belgium release of the new James Bond film 'Skyfall', Ghent Film Festival presents "007 in Concert: Flemish Talents Sing James Bond". This program of famous Bond songs will performed with Flemish artists and the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé. Guest artists will share their personal interpretation of legendary Bond songs including pop and rock artists like Natalia, Koen Wauters and Eva Jacobs, Jasper Steverlinck, Noémie Wolfs (Hooverphonic), Pieter Embrechts, Lady Linn, Barbara Dex, Marie Daulne (Zap Mama), Lola (AKS) and Stryrofoam who are confirmed for attendance and other to be added. Another 007 themed concert is scheduled for October 21.

The music of award-winning composer James Newton Howard will be celebrated in concert at the Ghent's 12th World Soundtrack Awards on October 20. Howard -- who has received eight Oscar® nominations -- most recently scored the blockbuster film 'The Hunger Games' and other credits include 'King Kong', 'The Sixth Sense', 'The Fugitive' and 'Pretty Woman'. VIP tickets are available for most all special concerts. In the "Artists On Film" festival showcase, October 10, Director Dheeraj Akoilkar examines the fruitful artistic collaborations between Liv Ullmann and Ingmar Bergman in 2012 documentary 'Liv & Ingmar' before, during and after their romantic connection. The official closing program is "Passion" an erotic thriller in the tradition of ‘Dressed To Kill’ and ‘Basic Instinct’ directed by Brian De Palma.

At a time when all players in the TV and entertainment ecosystem face numerous challenges in keeping pace with quick paced technological innovation, introduction and adoption of new devices, platforms and evolving consumer demands, the Social TV ecosystem drives “what’s on”, and PayTV services are increasingly virtualized and seamless across multiple connected devices. That's where the Sixth Annual TVNext 2012 Conference in Santa Clara brings together the hundreds of media, technology and entertainment companies starting to chart a course for the Future of TV and Multi-Platform Entertainment Services and Platforms. The two-day convention starting October 10 has an agenda format that offers resources to help key decision-makers adapt their products, services and content to most effectively follow the paradigm shift happening right now. Jesse Redniss, Senior Vice President Digital - USA Network, delivers the conference keynote: "The Perfect Pixel – Portable, Shareable, Social". The Diffusion Group will lead a pre-conference workshop on October 9 titled: "TV's Great Migration" which looks into how the existing TV experience is migrating online, new OTT services, how broadcast and VOD TV services are adapting to the connected world and how they are transitioning online with TV.

The Tyrolean Independent Film Festival set to open for a run from October 12-15 curates quality films that are between art house and Hollywood block buster movies. It selects entertaining movies that have the potential to reach a great international audience. The Metropol Kino -- which will house most of the screenings -- is a movie theater with a long tradition that is situated at the Riverwalk near the old town of Innsbruck in the heart of the European Alps -- the alpine-urban city of Innsbruck. The Festival will screen films in cinema halls 3 and 4, as well as in the lobby. All festival parties start at 10 pm, or after the last screenings.

The Visual Effects Society (VES) is an organization representing visual effects practitioners including artists, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos and games. Comprised of a diverse group of more than 2,500 members in 29 countries, the VES strives to enrich and educate its own members and members of the entertainment community at large through a various domestic and international events, screenings and programs. Their upcoming VES Summit in Marina del Rey on October 13 will be used to examines the intersection between creative content and the business bottom line emphasizing how social media impacts decision making on all levels. Back by popular demand are the Breakfast Round Tables. Albert Cheng, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Digital Media, Disney/ABC Television Group, follows George Whitesides, CEO and President, Virgin Galactic at the morning speaker sessions. The Visual Effects Society (VES) as a non-profit professional, honorary society is dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and uses of visual effects and to improving the welfare of its members by providing professional enrichment and education, fostering community, and promoting industry recognition. The Summit closes with a cocktail and mixer reception for all to attend.

Now in its 32nd year, CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival functions as a platform for the discovery of new music with showcases that are held in over 80 venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. In addition to keynote speakers and an exhibition area with a live performance stage running October 16-20, it features dozens of panels covering topics of universal importance to the music industry. Attendees have access to over 80 panels, seminars, Q&As, nighttime parties, meet and greets, mixers, special events and exclusive areas like the Exhibitors’ Loft and Artist Lounge. In conjunction with CMJ’s commitment to educating as well as entertaining, registrants can sign up to have one-on-one sessions with professionals in a variety of capacities across the music world for insight and advice on thriving in the industry. On opening day a panel with Elias Roman, CEO and Co-Founder of Songza, Sami Valkonen, Esq., Head of International Music Licensing, Google Play, Larry Kanusher, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, Matthew DeFilippis, Vice President New Media and Technology, ASCAP discuss some of the open issues facing streaming media, including copyright and licensing concerns, and later that day in another panel, Mark Piibe, Esq., Executive Vice President, Global Business Development, EMI Music, Tyler Lenane, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel, MOG, Gene Rhough, Esq., Independent Media Consultant, Larry Miller, Managing Partner, Miller and Company address financing innovation in entertainment.

With an emphasis on learning, talent assessment and job placement, the MIA Animation Conference and Festival conference at Miami Beach that focuses on Computer Animation, Gaming, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, Film, Web Design and Visual Arts. It will offer master classes along with software demos and multiple panels focusing on new technologies. There will be a job fair onsite bringing employers from major animation and gaming studios, Post-Houses, TV Networks, to interview and hire students onsite. Interested applicants should check job postings on the Job Fair Page (http://www.miaanimation.com/Job%20Fair.htm) on a regular basis. The Festival will be holding a Pitching Contest onsite, and all content creators are encouraged to submit their projects for consideration. The top submissions in both categories will be invited to pitch their ideas in person to a panel of animation industry experts and professionals. The top pitch overall will be set up with three meetings with relevant buyers and/or talent representatives, enabling a start to getting the pitch sold. For planned competitive event, "Animation Wars," four competing teams of computer graphics artists will be chosen to participate in the competition to be held at Miami International University of Art & Design. The competition starts at 12 pm on October 19 and ends at 12 pm on October 20 -- a day before the conference officially begins and a day before it ends. During this time the four teams will compete against each other to create the best animation sequence through creative use of technology to tell a story, based on a theme to be revealed at the day of the competition.

Each year the New York Television Festival showcases the work of artists around the world bringing its audiences the creations of independently produced television. The NYTVF has hosted these independent initiatives leading to opportunities for guaranteed development deals with a number of networks, studios and brands including FOX, ION Media, Microsoft's Bing, Sony Pictures Television, Lifetime and Procter & Gamble Productions. In addition to those stand-alone initiatives, Independent Pilot Competition partners have included FX, IFC, MTV, USA and FOX Television Studios. Festival artists have also gone on to sell Festival-premiered content and  projects to a number of outlets including NBC, Sundance, A&E, Versus, IFC, Comedy Central, truTV and Spike. The Festival which opens October 22-27 this year in downtown Tribeca is supported by William Morris Endeavor (WME), Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the United Talent Agency (UTA).

In West Hollywood the Hollywood Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference will address the connection to, and music’s role in, film and television amid an assemblage of composers, directors, key studio, network, record label and publishing professionals, VIPs from the advertising, gaming and commercial fields as well as music supervisors in the business. Five-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera headlines the conference with the Keynote address. Aguilera will discuss her musical journey -- beginning with "The Mickey Mouse Club," up to her present stint as a coach on NBC's "The Voice." -- an upcoming album, and the role television has played and continues to play in her life and career. Then there will be a Keynote Q&A with Epic Records Chairman, "X Factor" judge and three time Grammy winner Antonio "L.A." Reid who will discuss his career as a producer, songwriter and label executive at Epic. Other conference highlights will include a Q&A with two-time Academy Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla who will talk about his award-winning work on 'Brokeback Mountain,' 'Motorcycle Diaries' and 'Babel,' as well as his latest score, 'On the Road,' and a panel session titled Breaking Bad: Storytelling Through Music Supervision and Composing where the creator of the hit series on AMC, Vince Gilligan, will discuss the increasing importance of music on the show with composer Dave Porter and music supervisor Thomas Golubic. Evening one (October 24) ends with a cocktail reception and the closing night on October 25 finishes with a Billboard/The Hollywood Reporter Conference Closing Party hosted by John Anderson and PJ Bloom at VANGUARD located at 6021 Hollywood Boulevard.

Casual Connect is produced by the Casual Games Association and is an industry event for the casual games industry -- which are largely played on digital and/or mobile devices. Casual Connect brings together the experts of the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning and convention events held in both North America, Asia and Europe. On day one of the conference, Paul Thelen, Founder and CEO, Big Fish Games delivers a talk on "Making Money with Games – What's Real Today". Casual games are often found on a variety of platforms including personal computers, video game consoles, mobile phones and handheld devises. Because of their ease of distribution, varied monetization methods and mass appeal, casual games are distributed in a wide variety of locations including retail stores, major online portals such as Yahoo! and MSN, social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and specialty online retailers such as Big Fish Games and GameHouse.

Aside from the conference and other learning agendas, Casual Connect will feature an Innovation Showcase that will take place near the entrance to Elite and Azure hall, and will showcase new entries such as: Botanicula, a point'n'click exploration game created by the makers of award-winning Machinarium, studio Amanita Design and Czech band DVA; Mad Acorn, a music rhythm game that gets you to pay attention to and interact with the rhythm; Nihilumbra, a videogame that panders to the existential dread within the player and that utilizes five different colors which give the player various abilities to change the physics of the world. Just one of the official Casual Connect parties to be announced is the Big Fish Games Presents Disco Stars! at venue D*Lux. The theme of the party for this year is 80's Disco. Check the convention agenda for more engagements which are sure to come.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used international languages. A special guest article sidebar from New York Film Academy weighs in on selecting the right program for actor training By Glenn Kalison, Chair of Acting for Film Program, NYFA. This month's photo composite heralds the upcoming Bond, 007 flick 'Skyfall', the 23rd adventure and the 50th anniversary of the series, opening in UK Cinemas October 26 and in US theaters November 9. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that... American Film Market will run along the beach in Santa Monica, AFI Fest opens in Hollywood, the ALTER-NATIVE International Short Film Festival opens in Mures, the Oaxaca FilmFest will be in Oaxaca, Brisbane International Film Festival will be in Brisbane, Content and Communication World will be in New York City, The Billboard FutureSound Conference will be in San Francisco.

New York Film Academy guest article on acting craft, and IBC, Independent Film Week, POP Montreal, are highlights in September's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Acting: A Personal Expression - or Collaboration, Serving an Audience?

Guest article by New York Film Academy Staff
The performing arts - acting, dance, music - like all art forms are subjective in their definition. It's hard to describe what art is in any context, and for actors on stage and film there may never be a single standard of what is good or great.

But we can look at some standard definitions of art to begin to understand what constitutes great acting. Thespis of Icaria in ancient Greece - from whom comes the word thespian - is regarded to be the first actor. Before him, a chorus was engaged to tell the story on stage, but in one performance Thespis stepped out of the group to speak alone. From that moment, skills in vocal projection, physical expression and an emotional facility, born of imagination, came to define the actor.

Audiences clearly have approved, all these thousands of years later. Entertainment by way of the performing arts is one of the world's largest industries, a melding of art and commerce that has no commercial equal. Because of this commercial driver in entertainment, anyone pursuing a career in any role within the theatrical arts - not just actors but directors, editors, costume designers, makeup artists (roll the credits - the list is extensive) - has to keep in mind both the art and the commercial components of the whole package. Without an audience, the art is of lesser [monetary] value.

Glenn Kalison, chair of the Acting Department at the New York Film Academy's (NYFA) Acting School, speaks about this as the "actor's dilemma." He discusses the comprehensive art of storytelling through film as necessarily a collaboration of many players: "Storytelling, such as that involved in filmmaking, involves trust that many independently moving parts are being guided to a common end that serves a story."

By this, Kalison explains how the actor is taught to access his or her own emotions in order to play a character. But the actor must necessarily communicate something to an audience. He tells students, "What you feel and what others see are two very different things. This is often a confusing point for beginning actors who insist that they felt the appropriate emotion response for a given scene - but we didn't see it!" Only when that trust in the other "moving parts" - production designers, cinematographers, audio engineers, gaffers, grips, screenwriters and of course, directors - influences the actor's performance is the storytelling successful. "Good actors know the difference," he notes.

Put another way, the character in a moving soliloquy (think Hamlet, Macbeth or Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby") may appear to be completely alone in the world. But there are at least 100 other people involved in making that scene happen, putting it in front of an audience and truly making it work. It's always collaboration - as Thespis, who really was part of a chorus, may have known all along.

NYFA has campuses and courses in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, Beijing, Paris, Florence and Sydney, among other locations, as well as its film school online. Students can take individual workshops or enroll in one- and two-year Conservatory programs or Associates, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs.

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The annual International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) event for professionals involved with the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide, opens in Amsterdam, running till September 11. This year's conference keynote delivered by will.i.am of band Black Eyed Peas, will be about creativity and technology, delivered in his ceremonial capacity as Intel's Director of Creative Innovation. The conference presents the best of technology for all professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and media content worldwide, including the latest 3D rigs, integrated cameras, streaming video services and cloud based production. There is once again expected to be IBC Connected World, an exhibit for anyone needing to understand the impact of wired and wireless broadband on the industry, and the IBC Production Village, a unique chance to experience first hand the latest digital imaging equipment in front of a fully-specced professional studio set.

There are expected to be free 2K, 4K and stereoscopic 3D demonstrations at the IBC Big Screen, and a convention-wide invite to attend the IBC Awards, a gala event celebrating industry achievement. The IBC Production Village is fashioned after a professional standard studio set with a host of the latest technology to explore, including: sinaCam Camera Head HDC-1-CAM, 3D Rig, Digital Film Camera, 16mm, GY-HM790E Camera and GY-HM600E Camera, Canon XF305 and Canon EOS 5D MkIII, more. The Future Zone provides a glimpse into the future of tomorrow’s electronic media with a collection of concepts and prototypes that exist only in the world’s leading broadcast research and development labs, or as academic papers, until they are demonstrated at IBC.

Founded in 1976, and highly regarded and anticipated with a reputation and ability to generate "Oscar-buzz", the Toronto International Film Festival opens the Thursday night after Labour Day (the first Monday in September in Canada), lasting for eleven days, or September 16. The Oprah Winfrey produced 'Precious', which won the 2009 People's Choice Award at the festival, went on to win two Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards while The 'King's Speech', the winner of the 2010 People's Choice Award at the festival won four Oscars at the 83rd Academy Awards. In 2010 TIFF opened a new headquarters at the intersection of King Street and John Street, in a facility called the Bell Lightbox. The facility provides extensive year-round galleries, cinemas, archives and activities for cinephiles. New this year, the Festival is partnering with the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs to offer extended Q&As of five films where the film's director will be joined by a  subject/regional expert relevant to the film. Filmmakers of Mumbai is this year's featured city. And the Festival brings in a NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) jury to award the best Asian film of a first or second-time feature director.

The Americana Music Conference in Nashville features panels, seminars and other avenues of learning, presenting an educational music industry forum. The event covers the interests and needs of artists, managers, labels, radio stations, publishers, agents, promoters, retailers, legal and business affairs executives, merchandisers and new media professionals. At this time, the awards show is sold out. The purchase of a conference registration will place you on a waiting list for one ticket to the Americana Honors and Awards show. The show does not guarantee anyone a ticket. Badges will, however, provide access to all sanctioned daytime conference music, panels and parties, plus priority access to all evening showcase performances. Americana is music that honors and is derived from the traditions of American roots music. It is music inspired by American culture traditions which is not only represented in classic man made, roots based sounds, but also through new and contemporary artists whose music is clearly inspired by these great traditions. The event patron -- The Americana Music Association -- is a professional trade organization whose mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy of Americana music and to promote public awareness of the genre. Pre-conference reception opening, “A Taste of Australia”, at the Bluebird Cafe on September 11 and closing event Stagemothers presents The Aussie BBQ, September 16.

In its fifth year, with 12 film categories and a £10,000 production award, Limelight is paving the way in identifying emerging British film makers. The East London event is an extension of Limelight Film Awards, which is the annual red carpet short film awards ceremony. The Film Night on September 16 will see previously nominated short films from the Limelight Film Awards, with an introduction by the film makers. There will also be a short talk and Q&A with an industry specialist and a performance from emerging Artists. This month's networking session will see celebrated Thriller Films shown, as well as a performance from an upcoming talent and a speech from an industry expert. Attending is free, but advance RSVP is essential by emailing to: contact@limelightawards.com. Entry will be available on the door subject to the event not reaching capacity and you are advised to pre book. The event will be closed with a 30 minute networking session whilst the DJ spins the records for the after party.

Happening during IFP’s annual Independent Film Week, September 16-20 in New York City, the IFP Independent Filmmaker Conference brings the international film community together to explore the art and business of 21st century storytelling, and introduce new voices on the independent scene. The Filmmaker Conference consists of a variety of small group and networking activities, hands-on workshops, keynotes with innovators including producer Christine Vachon and Focus Features’ James Schamus, ARTE’s Michel Reilhac, and Ford Foundations’ Orlando Bagwell, pitch workshops, and in-depth creative master classes. New series, Meet The Decision Makers are short, small group conversations with leaders who can help with industry advancement for films, programmers, funders, industry, and more. Also during Independent Film Week, IFP presents Project Forum -- a forum for the discovery of new projects in development and new voices on the independent film scene. Project Forum consists of the Emerging Narrative (screenplays from emerging writer/directors), No Borders International Co-Production Market (screenplays represented by established producers with some financing in place), Independent Filmmaker Labs (documentary and narrative features in post-production), and Spotlight on Documentaries (documentary feature works-in-progress) programs. Additionally, Festival Forum program will assemble a gathering of international and U.S. film festival programmers.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), September 19-23, is a large scale event of its kind in North America attracting attendees from around the world. The competition screenings are the highlight of the Festival featuring the latest independent short films, commercials, TV shows, student films, music videos, feature films and more. The OIAF's signature AniMarket is a weekend tradeshow showcasing selections in animation technology, production and education. This year there will be two specialized programs devoted to pitching: Pitch THIS! and Fast Track. As a tribute, the OIAF is devoting five programmes to animation legend, Ralph Bakshi's work along with a one-on-one discussion. Along with a screening of rare short films, the Bakshi retrospective will include screenings of Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, Coonskin, and Wizards.

On September 23 there will be a behind-the-scenes talk on Walt Disney Animation Studios' Paperman and the Making-of Pixar's Partysaurus RexScreening. Each year the Ottawa International Animation Festival commissions an artist to design the Festival poster. The Festival grants the artist free reign and encourages the design of unique and provocative works of art. Japanese animator, Koji Yamamura, currently on the board of directors of the Japanese branch of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA), designed the poster for Ottawa 2012. Accomplished animator, producer, director and voice actor Butch Hartman will be giving a keynote address at TAC. Hartman is best known as the creator and executive producer of three successful animated series featured on Nickelodeon. The Festival has ample social event dates to attend and network at. For instance, there will be The Animator's Picnic with the famous pumpkin carving contest in Strathcona Park, and wrapping up the festival is the closing cocktail party.

POP Montreal is now entering its tenth year offering up a diversified selection of art forms and events, symposium discussions, artisan and visual art exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings, and more than a few all-night parties. Aside from musical headliners this year POP will include a series of free shows from September 19-21 headlining Dam-Funk, Hot Snakes and Austra, and SiriusXM will present a free show on September 19 at La Tulipe featuring Montreal indie darlings STARS and Toronto new wave diva Diamond Rings at Mission Santa Cruz. At the POP Symposium, longtime collaborators Jeannette Lee and Vivien Goldman, members of the UK’s punk-underground, where Jeannette worked at the early epicentre Acme Attractions and Vivien sang in the band The Flying Lizards, are today respectively co-owner of Rough Trade Records and Adjunct Professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute.

The Festival will have six activities areas: Puces Pop, Pop Symposium, Film Pop, Art Pop, Kids Pop, Espace Pop. Film POP will screen, Nightclubbing: New York Punk and New Wave 1975-1980, a restored collection of raw and unique videotapes taken in the late 1970′s during the New York punk scene. Art POP will exhibit works by Grammy-Award winning album artwork designer Caroline Robert (2011, Best Recording Package) and album art direction as well as longtime collaborator of Arcade Fire, Vincent Morisset. Puces POP will host a craft fair September 22-23, displaying woodcraft, jewelry, ceramics,  coma food, and the anticipated Record Fair which will have second-hand vinyl from Montreal’s finest indie record labels and collectors. Espace POP, a non-profit community event space in the Mile-End neighbourhood of Montreal, will be the site for the Fashion POP competition. Kids POP will schedule events this year in Little Italy and Mile-End, September 22-23, including Kids Yoga, Kids clothing swap and a Monster T-Shirt Workshop.

CINEC, the International Trade Fair for Cine Equipment and Technology is a Munich trade show addressed to anyone who is engaged in the field of the moving image and displays and features new developments in camera technology, camera support / grip, lighting, sound, postproduction, Stereo 3D, archiving, data management, equipment, accessories as well as production-related services. The exhibits area of the convention, opening September 22 and running three days, will display innovations in Film, Camera Technology, Camera support/Grip, Lighting, Sound, Set decoration, Equipment/Accessories, Technical Aids, Stereo 3D, Postproduction and Digital Editing, Services, and Organisations. There will also be a product forum with presentations by different exhibitors, and a special presentation by cineCongress on "The Future of Cinematography" that will address current issues and questions. One highlight of CINEC is the cinecAwards. The awards are presented by the Society of CineTechnik Bayern e.V. (CTB, formerly Bavarian Society for the Advancement of Film Technology), and awarded to innovative and trendsetting products and developments of the Motion Picture Technology. The award itself comprises  a certificate and a statue which is inspired by the Munich symbol "Bavaria".

Bass guitarist of Cochin-Kerala, India, Jayen Varma (www.facebook.com/indianslapbass), an innovator of Indian Slap Bass and a member of band Khayal Groove, will be conducting Bass Guitar workshops in September and October at the Jayen Varma Bass Guitar School (http://www.facebook.com/BassGuitarSchool) in Cochin, Pune, Mumbai and other districts. Sessions will cover: How to do finger picking (rest stroke, free stroke, three and four finger picking two), how to play slap bass, how to play odd timings, how to play bass for songs and in bands, commonly used Scales, Ragas, Grooves etc. He will be part of the September 27 TEDxMEC event -- operated under license from TED -- where TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. Band KHAYAL GROOVE led by north Indian classical vocalist Aparna Panshikar, and digital recording and workshop collaborations with Toulouse, France based drummer Jean Davoisine (davoisne@hotmail.fr). The group is now in post production of the first album of works reflecting the East crosses West freedom of improvisation within the discipline and structure of a routine of rhythm and melodic features of Raga.
The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed.

Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used international languages. A special guest article sidebar from New York Film Academy weighs in on the acting craft. This month's photo composite shows R&B, soul, jazz saxophonist eZra Brown on tour with his band in Japan. Photo credits to CrewActive for action shots and Nooka for the calendar poster. Looking ahead into the next month, be aware that... the Digital Music Forum West will be in Los Angeles, Hamptons International Film Festival, will be in East Hampton, the Tyrolean Independent Film Festival will be in Innsbruck, Hollywood Film Festival will be in Beverly Hills, MIA Animation Conference and Festival will be in Miami, and Casual Connect 2012: Kylv will be in Kylv,  Streaming Media West comes to Los Angeles.

Lollapalooza 2012, Photo Image Brazil, Pentedattilo Film Festival, Internationale Tanzmesse NRW, are highlights in August's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Mumbai Sound Designer/Recordist Harikumar Pillai
with BAFTA/Oscar nominated DP Jack N. Green

Dhaka based International Academy of Film and Media is arranging the first ever week-long Sound Design workshop for Film and TV with sound designer and engineer, Harikumar Pillai. The session will cover technique of sound recording, sound design for Cinema and TV, with screenings and discussions of films as well as introduction to modern techniques, technology and application in the field of sound recording including digital recording. The entire workshop will run through August 8 and be led by Bollywood Sound Mixer and Designer, Harikumar Pillai (www.imdb.com/name/nm3492300/), a well regarded alumni of the Film and TV Institute of India, Pune (FTII, Pune, India) and currently engaged as Sound Designer on a Hindi feature film produced by Twilight Entertainment, a Film Production House based out of Mumbai, India. His numerous credits over 18 years of location/studio experience include projects with BBC, Channel Four, New York TV, FORD Foundation, ISRAEL TV, NFBC, ZDF, Discovery, Nat. Geographic, OHM TV, Cinema Vision, Zee TV, Sony TV, National Network, STAR TV, Independent Film Producers etc. Especially notable are "Peepli Live" (2010), India's official entry to the Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film of that year and "The Road Home" (2011) which was in the running for the 84th Academy Awards®.

This year Melbourne International Film Festival stretches into almost a three week run, running up to August 19. In recent years, MIFF has extended its activities to include a selection of industry and filmmaker focused programs to complement its core business -- the screening program. These are: Accelerator - a four-day educational and inspirational skills development program for up-and-coming directors with short films screening at MIFF; MIFF 37º South Market - a four-day film financing market for producers with market-ready projects pitching to potential international and local co-financing partners; MIFF Premiere Fund - MIFF’s own investment and loan fund, providing essential financing support for local feature-length films. In its first year, the MIFF Premiere Fund films made up six of the 10 world premieres at MIFF. Four of the six MIFF Premiere Fund films were sold-out screenings. The Opening Night Gala, featuring the film, The Sapphires (Australia’s answer to The Supremes), ends the night followed by the official after party in the Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre, where an open bar, canapés and all-night entertainment run late. A mid-festival gala includes the screening of "Save Your Legs!" (written by actor Brendan Cowell, ABC TV's The Slap, MIFF 11) followed by an exclusive after party with the films' cast in the Festival Lounge. Closing night screening of "Mental", the Official After Party follows the Red Carpet and Screening events.

Created in 1991 by Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell as a farewell tour for his band, Lollapalooza is an anticipated annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance, comedy performances and craft booths. Known for introducing and popularizing some of the big musical names, this year's lineup performing in downtown Chicago's Grant Park will include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Afghan Whigs, The Black Keys, Of Monsters And Men, Avichi, Skream & Benga, Sigur Ros, The Gaslight Anthem, Childish Gambino, Aloe Blacc, Sigur Ros, and many others as just a partial listing. Here is a quick rundown of activities to look forward to: Red Bull Soundstage provides a platform for emerging musicians to showcase their talents and offers more resources and opportunities through its interactive network; Sony Electrolounge is a digital lounge showcasing the latest tech, the hottest gadgets and must-see mobile devices; at the PlayStation® Society tent visitors can check out the newly released PS Vita and new and pre-released PS3™ games, win PlayStation® prizes and VIP and side stage passes; at the Play Room by Google Play exclusive Lollapalooza artist interviews and performances happen across the street from the Google Play stage; The Toyota Prius Family Playground hosts a playground full of everyone's favorite childhood games with a Toyota twist; The #DellLive Lounge powered by Dell and Intel will feature a photo wall to get your pics on the live stream, music machine to crank out some beats to share with friends, and get spray tatted and gifted while watching a live stream of the festival; the Fender Fan Oasis is where anyone can get the chance to play the iconic Fender Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Jaguar® or Mustang® guitars. And like past festivals the f.y.e. Autograph Tent will be set up for each day's (August 3-5) schedule of artist autograph sessions. Official after show venues include: Metro, Lincoln Hall, House of Blues, Schubas and other venues.

Music patrons can support music education in local Napa Valley schools and be part of a special music and wine event on August 11 as Nashville songwriters and Napa Valley winemakers come together to present a program of music and wine paired with the stories behind their creations. Proceeds benefit Notes for Education, an organization dedicated to the enrichment of children in the communities through arts and literacy. Notes funds area programs that bring music, art and literacy to school age children, with the goal of ensuring special music, arts, and reading programs for children continue to be available. Featured songwriters will include: Jessi Alexander, Dave Berg, Morgane Hayes Stapleton, Eric Paslay, Jon Randall and Chris Stapleton. The evening fare includes served appetizers during a walk-around wine tasting to meet and mingle with the winemakers and songwriters, and a sit-down family style Farm-to-Table dinner paired with white and red wines poured by the Winemakers themselves. The entertainment portion takes place inside the Baldacci wine caves and features six songwriters performing two one hour sets.

Photo Image Brazil is a well regarded trade fair in Latin America for the photo and imaging industries that will be held in Sao Paulo, August 14-16. On exhibit will be accessories for image reception, Albums and frames, conventional and digital video cameras, conventional and digital photographic cameras, copying equipment, audio visual equipment, test equipment, equipments for photographic studios, films, waste management, recording equipment, Imagesetter, graphic printing and film papers, printers, lenses for photographic and video cameras, minilabs, APS Systems, professional camera and lighting systems. Additionally, PhotoImage Brazil Seminars and Workshops are events which will take place simultaneously to the expo, providing technical photography and filming professionals with international trends on improving their work.

The Big Sky Songwriters Festival brings songwriting workshops, seminars and live performances right at the foot of majestic Lone Peak in Big Sky. Scheduled workshops will include: "Navigating The Industry", "Publishing 201", "Acoustic Brunch", where attendees will get to play songs written during a previous BSSF session and then play them before an audience. Big Sky Resort is a 3,600-acre (15 km) resort located in southwestern Montana in Madison County, an hour south of Bozeman via U.S. Highway 191. During the Big Sky Songwriters Festival, horseback riding, hiking, and biking the trails are available on the mountain, with zipline, golf, and tennis available further down by the Meadow Village. Fly fishing and whitewater rafting are done on the Gallatin River and there are excursions into nearby Yellowstone National Park. The five day festival opens August 15 with a meet and greet cocktail sip.

Film Florida is a not-for-profit corporation based in Jacksonville that provides a leadership role in Florida's film and entertainment industries by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations, educational institutions and labor organizations. 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. Film Florida meets quarterly to discuss topics and issues of concern to the region, and then moves forward with a plan of action to help achieve our goals. They are closely connected with the Governor's Office of Film and Entertainment, helping to craft the film incentives offered by the state. The upcoming Film Florida Quarterly Business and Marketing Meeting session actually takes place from August 23-24, but a Welcome Reception will be given at the Sakana Blue Bar the evening before.

The Pentedattilo Film Festival is an international short film festival born in 2006 in the ghost town of Pentedattilo by a group of young filmmakers. PFF was conceived and created by non-profit organization Pro Pentedattilo, an association working for the structural and cultural revival of the village of Pentedattilo, and by Ram Film, a film company based in Reggio Calabria, which has among its objectives the promotion of the surrounding areas through the development and the production of film projects. The two organizations work together in order to produce the festival along with several public and private organizations. According to the organizers, during the festival run the landscape of Pentedattilo - founded as a colony of the Greek city of Chalcis in 640 BC - becomes a thriving economic center harkening back to the Greek-Roman period, and an meeting place, both physically and metaphorically. Put another way as they describe it: a sort of "Territorio in Movimento", (Land in Motion) as it has been defined by the festival. Territorio in Movimento means a land finally breathing and living. Festival organizer, Pro Pentedattilo Association, active since 1996, has the social and cultural purpose of promoting the image of forgotten sites, transforming them from "abandonment monuments" to "encounter places".

The workshop, "Breaking into Hollywood: You Have the Next Idea for the Great Hollywood Film -- What You Need to Know" will identify the different roles Producers have making a film and which role is best suited for you. Some topics to be covered range from: How to get your idea read/seen by the right people; Coming up with a Good Idea/What Makes an Idea Good?; The Art of the Pitch/Preparation/Writing a Treatment; Where do Movies Come From? Instructor Wendy Kram has developed and produced award-winning film and television projects with Oscar talent for Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, HBO, ABC, NBC, CBS, Showtime and Lifetime. Her credits include "Mad Money" with Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes, "Making Mr. Right" with Dean Cain for Lifetime, and "Sally Hemings: An American Scandal" for CBS. Check-in begins at 12:30 pm but for security reasons, you must RSVP before 10 pm on August 23 or you will not be admitted onto the lot.

The international Tanzmesse NRW to be held in Dusseldorf, August 29 until September 1, is a biennial marketplace and festival platform for communicating and networking in the field of contemporary dance. At the Tanzmesse, international dance companies and artists present their work live on stage and choreographers, dancers, agencies, presenters and cultural institutions worldwide network and interact in a "marketplace" assembled for this purpose. Initiated in 1994 as the “Tanzmesse NRW” in Essen, Germany, the original goal of the Tanzmesse was to create a platform for dance companies from North-Rhine Westphalia that would introduce and present choreographic work from the region. The Tanzmesse sought to create a presentational mix of performance and discussion. In 1997 the Tanzmesse then expanded the marketplace to include international companies and organizations to become a “World Market of Dance Regions”. In 2002 the internationale tanzmesse NRW relocated to the City of Dusseldorf, the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia, to take advantage of additional stages and the substantial facilities at the NRW-Forum Kultur und Wirtschaft. The "Open Studios - Panels - Performance Parcours" segment of the program will be given from August 30 through September 1.

The Amplitude Film Festival (AFF) promotes and celebrates all extreme sports, along with the culture and environment to which they belong, by creating opportunities for people to share experiences, challenge ideas, and find inspiration in aspects of life outside the norm. Categories for submission include: Ocean Culture - celebrates the culture of ocean life such as coastal activities, sand boarding, surfing and deep sea diving; Mountain Culture - celebrates the culture of mountain life and activities such as skiing, snowboarding or ice climbing; cUrban Life culture - street activities such as skateboarding, BMX biking or free running, or the people and societies that make the inner city; Spirit of Adventure - represented by film that celebrates the culture and adventure of any extreme sports regardless of the environment. There will be a BBQ and bar on site. The Norwich based festival is for one day on August 30.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used international languages. This month's photo composite includes dance companies taking part in Internationale Tanzmesse NRW, in Dusseldorf and sound recordist Harikumar Pillai of Mumbai posing with DP Jack Green on a movie set. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that... the NY Games Conference will be in New York City, electronic media expo IBC 2012 will be in Amsterdam, Los Angeles International Short Film Festival will be in Hollywood, Ottawa International Animation Festival will be in Ontario, International Trade Fair for Cine Equipment and Technology which will take place in Munich.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Banff, New Music Seminar, Cannes Lions Advertising Festival, Aruba Film Festival, are highlights in June's Global Media and Entertainment Industry

Prometheus, Ridley Scott's so-called prequel to Alien, opened in
North American theaters November 8.

Formed in 1958 as the first trade association for a single genre of music, Country Music Association promotes Country Music mainly through its two signature events, CMA Music Festival and the CMA Awards. Through June 10, the CMA Music Festival will be held in Nashville, and it is filled with special events, parties and very interesting things to do. Here's a run down of some of them: ABC TV returns for the 2012 CMA Musical Festival and takes a big hand to get the party started when it hosts The ABC Summer Block Party. This year’s block party, hosted by Bradford Anderson (“General Hospital”) has entertainment for the entire family. Located on the historic Broadway strip in downtown Nashville, the party will include daily activities, fun games and exclusive screenings from some of ABC’s new fall pilots. And Nashville’s own Grilled Cheeserie Truck will be on site with sandwiches provided and inspired by ABC’s “The Chew”. There will be Q&A sessions and autograph signings held with the new fall series stars from “Nashville”. This year The Buckle is a destination for families to come and enjoy activities, games, live entertainment, demonstrations, free samples, autograph signings, and more. Fan Alley will have many new activities and exhibits in 2012 including: The Chevrolet Ride and Drive, entertainment provided by the Ultimate Air Dogs, appearances and autograph signings by Country artists, live music, giveaways and prizes. Soleil Bella Beach in the Walk of Fame Park is a new highlight of this year’s Music Fest where visitors can hear a variety of artists, enjoy outdoor games and activities or relax on a sand beach. A new free feature for 2012, the BMI Tailgate Party, features a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters and artists warming up the audience before they enter LP Field for the Nightly Concerts. And highlighting the international appeal for Country music artists, 22 Country artists representing four different countries and territories including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have been announced for the 2012 Global Events showcases. The Festival is slated to be aired over the ABC television network on September 17, at 8/7 CENTRAL.

The 2012 Tony Awards goes live in New York City June 10, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing to celebrate excellence in the theatre. Australian film actor Hugh Jackman, is receiving a Special Tony Award® and will attend the night's Awards ceremony. This year, The Tony Awards will include a live broadcast from the middle of the Caribbean Sea, where Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas’ cast of Hairspray will perform a show-stopping number. In celebration of the Tony Season, the Tony Awards® is partnering with Bloomingdale’s to present a Tony Award Costume Exhibit at Bloomingdale’s in New York City, now through June 18. The 66th Annual Tony Awards will be held at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, airing live on at 8/7 pm C over CBS television network. For international viewers, CABLEready, an independent distributor of television programming for media outlets worldwide, will distribute the Tony Awards® telecast to theatre fans in four continents and over 45 countries around the globe including: Latin America - Film & Arts; New Zealand - Sky Network; Australia - Foxtel Bio channel; Japan - NHK; The Philippines - Velvet Channel; Armed Forces Television. Regardless of broadcast arrangements, anyone can watch live coverage of Tony Awards events via webcast at TonyAwards.com.

Banff World Media Conference and Festival, opens in Alberta running till June 13, putting the focus on Canada and international territories. There will be pre-arranged face to face meetings with industry decision makers, and opportunities for networking with potential partners from across the globe. Also available, the BANFF Marketplace is structured to help visitors create new development and production opportunities. The program will feature keynotes from industry achievers, panel discussions, expert forecasts, Master Classes, critical case studies, key strategy sessions and more. This year, Larry King, the well-regarded television and radio host, will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also new in 2012, BANFF launches the Co-Production Business Market, that will form a business hub for entertainment and digital media executives producing or commissioning co-productions and co-ventures. Also, the nextMEDIA Demo Hub demonstrates itself as a forum for technology companies working in coding, app development, social media, game production, content management systems, location-based apps, cloud computing and other leading edge technologies. There will be a NetFlix Late Night After-Party on June 11, and conference wraps up with BANFF's "Hell On Wheels" BBQ.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles invites interested parties to their film screening series and after-party event in Hollywood on June 11 featuring a filmmaker lounge throughout the evening. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the directors of screened films, the actors and crew, and take part in an audience Q&A. There are pre-receptions and after-parties for each program. Admissions to the programs includes the screening ticket and access to the filmmaker lounge. An after-party follows the last scheduled screening. NewFilmmakers LA at Sunset Gower Studios is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization designed to showcase innovative works by emerging filmmakers from around the world providing the Los Angeles community of entertainment professionals and film lovers with a constant surge of monthly screening events. NewFilmmakers LA provides a forum where filmmakers can be recognized for their contributions, have open audience discussions about their projects and connect with industry professionals for insight on distribution, production, acquisition and representation.

Now in its 18th year, North by Northeast Festivals and Conference (NXNE) is a Toronto festival destination for emerging artists and major-label headliners, for music filmmakers, and for digital interactive innovators. The Festival encompasses NXNE Music, NXNE Film, and NXNE Interactive, bridging the gap between technology and the arts. NXNE Music offers international, national and local acts at 50 official festival stages in downtown Toronto’s club district. A partial listing of scheduled acts includes: Oberhofer, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Matthew Good, Bad Religion, Bass Drum of Death, A Place To Bury Strangers, Archers Of Loaf, The Flaming Lips, so many more. NXNE Film showcases music-themed features, documentaries, shorts, and experimental films from around the world. NXNE Interactive (NXNEi) is a digital interactive media conference that brings together content-creating artists, tech entrepreneurs, digital marketing gurus, web business experts, and social media aficionados for workshops, presentations, and panels that explore the newest ideas that bridge the gap between creativity and the digital world. The NXNE Record Show curated by Kops Records is a one day vinyl show featuring record dealers from across Ontario, a selection of label vendors, educational stations and on-site DJ entertainment. The Festival opening party (RSVP to LIVEatNXNE@gmail.com) is on June 12, and showcases Canadian music photographers. The free NXNE Official Day Party, "I Blame Yoko" will be on June 14. The Festival runs through June 17.

The New Media Film Festival opens for a two day run June 12 in Los Angeles, and at red carpet opening night, wine bar drinks and Hor Dourves will be served and recording artist Irina Maleeva entertains with her one-woman musical comedy show. For the extent of the festival a resident distribution partner is set to review NMFF submissions and online distribution outlets have offered to interview and showcase content that is relevant to their site's genre. These partners include but are not limited to: Mingle Media, Stay Tuned TV and Gal Time. In addition to the media showcase, attendees have access to the New Media Marketing Table to distribute business cards and other promotional materials. There will be a Networking spot to meet fellow New Media filmmakers, artists, producers, above and below the line crews, thought makers, implementers, distributors. In one scheduled June 13 New Media Panel, a group will focus on new avenues to monetize content, new platforms that are being launched to interact and monetize on a global scale. After the closing night film the New Media Film Festival Awards presentations are held to announce the winners.

According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Maui Film Festival is one of only six "Signature Cultural Events" in Hawaii-and the only one that takes place on Maui. The Festival, running June 13-17, opens with the Twilight Reception at Capische? restaurant. Aside from film screenings in the outdoors under the stars, the festival is notable because of traditional events including: Opening Night Twilight Reception at Capische? Restaurant; Taste of Chocolate theme night at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, co-hosted by Variety; The 13th annual Taste of Wailea - sampling Wailea Resorts' most celebrated chefs and restaurants - at the David Leadbetter Private Golf Academy on Wailea Gold and Emerald Golf Course; the Sunday Starry Night MoonDance dance party, complemented by libations courtesy of Maui's own Organic Ocean Vodka and a beer selection too. There will be the Cosmic Closing Night Fashion Show and Poolside Party at Hotel Wallea.

Beginning June 16, the Los Angeles Indie Music/Film International Summit opens for two days of music, film, keynote speaker activities geared to: music producers, film producers, artist managers, agents, radio personalities, music and film executives, promoters, publicist, attorneys, songwriters, recording artists, unsigned artists, CD manufactures, distributers and record label representatives. There will be panels, workshops, presentations, live indie stage and major artist performances, one to one mentoring, J-Lounge kiosk (demo listening, EPK and videos) and an industry trade show. The event celebrates new music with two days of showcases featuring over 100 original acts on three stages. Music industry rights association SESAC leads a workshop to educate songwriters and publishers on their right to be compensated for having their music performed in public. Another panel of Hollywood Casting Directors will discuss the secrets to landing the perfect role, and what they are looking for from actors at the audition. Summit organizer Jadar Entertainment’s mission is to showcase, promote, and market Independent artists, actors, producers, songwriters and record labels, etc. and their ideas. Both conference days end with after parties.

Presented as a seminar for the new business of music, the New Music Seminar in New York City will present sessions offering vital industry survival information, with every delegate receiving the NMS New Music Business Guidebook, that has promotion and marketing tips, contact information, forms and guidelines on how to succeed regardless of the kind of music. The NMS Networking Lounges placed throughout the seminar area facilitate business networking. Attendees are encouraged to pre-arrange meetings in the comfort of the various NMS Lounges where they are able to eat, drink and make new contacts. NMS breakout sessions that are held throughout the day are designed to provide specialized knowledge and instructions on a variety of fields. Industry talent will be discussing new marketing opportunities, legal, publishing and songwriting, touring and other important areas in which to advance a career. A SESAC Songwriters Workshop will be held the afternoon of June 19 featuring hit songwriters talking about writing hits... where they get their ideas, how they get their gigs. Cabo Wabo is the official Tequila of the NMS Opening Night Party, open to NMS Delegates and their guests. NMS will run from June 17-20.

The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival will be held in Cannes Cedex from June 17-23 celebrating creativity in commercial communications. In terms of international advertising awards, more than 24,000 entries from all over the world are showcased and judged at the Festival and winners take home the Lion trophy presented at four award ceremonies throughout the week. The Festival is also a global meeting place for advertisers, advertising and communication professionals. Delegates from 90 countries attend seven days of workshops, exhibitions, screenings, master classes and high-profile seminars by notable industry leaders. To celebrate its 10th anniversary Grupo ABC based in Latin America brings President Clinton to Cannes Lions to talk about how advertising can help build a better world. Academy Award-nominated director Ridley Scott (Prometheus) leads a talk on new standards for how brands tell their stories to capture the imagination of audiences.

From Suntec, BroadcastAsia 2012 International Conference, opening June 19-22, investigates the future trends and critical issues of next generation broadcasting, addressing pivotal issues of an industry confronting new and fast changing consumer dynamics and content shift typical in this era of "anytime, anywhere content demand". It presents topics covering the facets of next generation broadcasting, broadband, hybrid platforms, multiple screens and multi-platforms to OTT delivery, terrestrial technology and file based workflow and asset management. Addressing the industry’s grasp regarding content production and creative development of film for big and small screen, the Conference showcases the latest developments and trends. Both the conference and masterclass workshops seek to prepare attendees with new knowledge and raise their production skills up to the next level to meet today’s demand for creative programming across various screen sizes. A new OTT Feature Zone is set up for exhibitors such as Axon, EVS, XOR Media (formerly Seachange Broadcast), Switch Media and Magna to present a special showcase on how broadcasters and media producers can deliver content to a new generation of consumers, who view content on a variety of devices like PCs, tablets, smartphones or netbooks.

Opening June 19, Palm Springs International ShortFest is a seven day competitive festival screening approximately 300 films from 40 countries in a series of 90 minute programs. All films submitted whether screened in the Festival or not are eligible to participate in the Market which consists of a video film library and 20 viewing stations open to sales agents, distributors and other industry representatives. The Festival has twenty competitive categories with prize money, film stock and production services valued at over $70,000 to be awarded for first and second places in addition to a "Best of Festival" award and a "Future Filmmaker" award. All first place winners in the Live Action and Animation categories will automatically become eligible for nomination consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the short film categories. Parent of the festival -- The Palm Springs International Film Society -- is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness.

A 3D and Virtual Reality Expo (IVR) in Tokyo showcases a platform for research and expertise groups, including users from manufacturing industries, amusement industries, broadcasting stations, image producing companies, content production companies, telecommunication companies, public offices, universities and research centers who are looking to buy solutions for their businesses, to try out and experience the latest 3D technology and high definition image technology used in the latest 3D products and technologies (ultra-high definition displays, AR, and 3D broadcasting). The exhibited technologies will include: High-Definition Displays: 4K x 2K Displays, HDTVs, LED Displays, Plasma Displays, Other Related Products: 4K Digital Image Recorders, 4K Digital Image Projectors, Hi-Definition Projectors, High-Performance Monitors, Image Input Boards, 3D Sound Systems. Industrial Virtual Reality Expo opens June 20 for a two day run.

Founded in 2010 by film producers Jonathan Vieira and Giuseppe Cioccarelli, the third edition of the Aruba International Film Festival is rededicating itself to a two-fold purpose: advancing worldwide understanding of Aruba and its people, and encouraging emerging Caribbean filmmakers by offering them hands-on training from accomplished professionals. Within the Festival's Caribbean Spotlight Series’s, the “Aruba Flavor” competition highlights and rewards the work of talented local filmmakers and forms a platform for networking opportunities with fellow Caribbean peers and industry professionals from around the world. The AIFF Film Lab workshop, entitled 96 HOURS, will provide intensive hands on training in the filmmaking process over a four-day period of time during the festival. And there will be an acting class coordinated by arts education director Maureen Heffernan, who will lead students through a series of exercises to totally embrace a role, as well as to learn the technical requirements of working on a film set. The Festival will be casting for an international photo shoot (paid) and is looking for actors, actress, children and extras. The Casting will be on June 24 the whole day and on June 25 from 10:30 am - 1 pm, taking place at the Paseo Herencia. The photo shooting itself is from the June 28 till July 4. As a special musical feature, Marc Antony performs in concert June 23, at the AIFF Harbor Arena.

Dance Camera West's annual dance film festival opens June 27-30 in Los Angeles, and presents an international selection of dance media and special screening events at venues throughout southern California. Dance Camera West embraces dance media in any dance style or genre. Categories include: screendance, experimental movement based film, short films, features, documentary, installations, and interactive dance media. The festival presents its first "Dirty Dancing Dance-A-Long" on June 22 in partnership with Los Angeles Film Festival and Grand Performances. Free pre-show salsa lessons and professional dancers on stage will perform along with the film. The closing evening program will consist of the Hammer Evening Doc of "Wayne McGregor Going Somewhere," a creative documentary film by Catherine Maximoff, and the evenings program leads into the Awards Reception.

Established in 2003, IN THE PALACE is an International festival dedicated to short films under 45 minutes in length. This year it opens June 29 to run into July 7 in the Black Sea town of Balchik. The Festival aims to present and contribute to the development of contemporary film art in Bulgaria, Europe and the world, creating a favourable environment and platform for young filmmakers and established professionals. Traditionally, the Festival’s core are the International and National competitive programmes, accompanied by various special screenings. Filmer Forge is the business centre of the festival. Each year producers, distributors, buyers and sales agents gather to meet and network with fellow industry colleagues at the festival. Filmer Forge includes four resource areas: the Exhibition Hall with market stands, business meetings, presentations, Media Rendez Vous; Pitching sessions - that will include the awarding of 10 financial grants; Market Video Library of short films and a database of filmmakers, decision makers, festivals, broadcasters (on-line industry guide); Market Screenings. The town of the festival (Francis Ford Coppola spent 11 days at the palace shooting scenes of 'Youth Without Youth'.) has a history spanning over almost 3000 years. During that period it was known as the ancient Greek colony of Krouni, the Greek and subsequently Byzantine fortress of Dionyssopolis, mediaeval Bulgarian town Karvouna and the Ottoman and later again Bulgarian town of Balchik. One of the most interesting places in the vicinity of the town is the architectural park complex "The Palace" (venue of the festival), built by the Italian architects Amerigo and Agustino within the period 1920-1936. The town has also been the former summer residence of the British princess and Romanian Queen Marie of Edinburgh.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html which now has a language translation button to convert page contents into most widely used international languages. This month's photo composite is of Prometheus which opened in North American theaters June 8 as Director Ridley Scott's so-called prequel to the 1979 Alien. The cast for Prometheus includes: Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce, Patrick Wilson, Benedict Wong, Sean Harris, Idris Elba. Gazing ahead into the next month, be aware that... International Television Festival will be in Reseda, Downtown Film Festival L.A. will be in Los Angeles. The Sun Camera Action Conference and Workshop Film Cruise sets sail from Miami. Trade show for the ticketing and live entertainment industry, Ticket Summit, will be in Las Vegas. Cinema India Expo will be in Mumbai. Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show will be in Paris. Broadcast & Film Africa will be in Nairobi.