AIVF Birmingham
Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers
 
Ezine Number 35, March 7, 2003
 
From The Ezine Editor
 
If you've noticed that there hasn't been any Salon meeting this year, you're right. As professionals we've been a little busy and just plain ain't had the time to set up a meeting place or time yet. Many of our members have been tied up on "Big Fish" in Montgomery/Wetumka area while others have been working on projects here in Birmingham. Between commercial projects and research projects I've been discussing with other people and working to set up the web space. Don't forget, the AIVF is a volunteer effort.
 
And speaking of volunteer effort, it's nice to hear about Lexi Alexander and the Oscar nomination for her short film "Johnny Flynton". I know that quite a few AIVF members and others around town donated their time to help Lexi with her creative vision. Let's see what happens on March 23rd.
 
Report on "Lightning Bug" auditions
 
Auditions for "Lightning Bug" were held March 1st in Birmingham and March 2nd in Huntsville. Associate Producer, Lisa Waugh and her staff certainly had one of the best run and nicest auditions for their film. They had scripts available for the actors to study and although an audition takes time, they came out and informed those waiting as to what was going on and what scenes to study.
 
Robert Hall is a Alabama native who has worked on the TV series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and has return to direct his script about a young man who wants to pursue his dream of working on special effects makeup despite the opposition of his family and townfolks.
 
Filming is scheduled for May in Cullman County.
 
Kevin Gase, Ashley Laurence and Hal Sparks are cast.
 
There were a lot of submissions for the roles available but there is a need for production personnel.
If you are interested in working on this film you can send your information to
 
Lisa Waugh
Almost Human Inc.
8573 Higuera Street
Culver City, California 90232
 
News of "Big Fish"
 
With all the rain we've had recently the production schedule may have been pushed back by as much as two weeks. Tentatively scheduled for now is the 'circus' scene. A couple of weeks back was the 'funeral' scene.
I've heard about where Billy Crudup and Albert Finney were in some wild car driving scene. Of course all this is 'unofficial' information.
 
There is still a need for some extras in some upcoming scenes. If you are a college student and want to hang with Ewan McGregor during spring break instead of going to Panama City, there is a scene scheduled at Huntington College that needs you. And if you are of Asian descent there is a scene that needs you also. You can contact the Extras Casting Coordinator below,
 
Mary Ellen Roberts
1125 East Fairview Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36106
 
If you are enthusiastic enough and know where the Capri Theater is in Montgomery, then you can hand deliver you headshot to Mary Ellen. The production office is in the old Cloverdale High School on the block next to where the Capri is. If you come down from I-65 on East Fairview, turn left at the side street right past the theater and go to the back of the wing of the school facing on Boultier Avenue to enter the casting office. Better hurry, spring break is only a couple of weeks away.
 
For those of you who work behind the scenes, production assistant Carlos De La Torre has been doing an excellent job.  
 
The Montgomery Advertiser has redone the web page of it's "Big Fish" coverage. There is a new photo gallery section showing the filming of various scenes and people. You can go directly to the page at 
 
Scriptwriting Class
 
SCRIPT TO SCREEN: HOW TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY (HU115)
From format to dialogue, learn how to master the basics of screenwriting. This interactive class will take you inside of the film industry. Through exercises and instruction, you will get you started on your script for any length film. Novelists are welcome to learn adaptation for the screen.
Instructor: Angela Burchett
March 15, 1 Sat., 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
University Center Annex, 112
$75 (includes lunch) .7 CEU
 
For more information contact Samford After Sundown (205) 726-2898 or at www.samford.edu/sundown
 
Script Development Workshop
 
The next meeting of the Script Development Workshop will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday March 20. The meeting will be at Books & Co. in Brookwood Village on the lower level. There is an outside entrance. The meeting generally last to 9:00 p.m. although you can stay and talk until the store closes. For more information contact Angela Burchett angela@boang.com
 
AIVF Regional Salon News 

Each month IMAGE works in conjunction with the Association of Independent
Video and Filmmakers to sponsor informal, educational salons. These meetings
are free and open to the public. Salons are held the second Tuesday of each
month from 7pm-8:30pm @ Red Light Cafe (553 Amsterdam Ave, off Monroe
Drive;  404/874-7828).  Food and drinks are available - see their web site for a menu:
www.redlightcafe.com.

Tuesday, March 11, 2003
MEET AND GREET: MAC COSMETICS
Makeup Artists are the "art and soul" of MAC Cosmetics, and an invaluable asset to the film world. Do you have a flair for facial fashion? Let Keri Blair, Senior Pro Artist of MAC Cosmetics and Bart Stancil, Retail Manager of MAC, tell you the best tips for accentuating actors in front of the camera, and listen as they discuss the MAC PRO Preferred Professional I.D. Program, allowing hopeful Makeup Artists the best resources for education, networking and industry support.
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Film Festivals
 
CALL FOR FILMS AND VIDEOS
2003 Ohio Independent Film Festival
 
Contact: Annetta Marion or Bernadette Gillota, Co-Artistic and
Executive Directors, (216) 651-7315
 
The Ohio Independent Film Festival (OIFF) is one of the leading
independent film events in Ohio.  The 2003 OIFF, this November in
Cleveland, Ohio, will mark our 17th festival.  Like many festivals,
the Ohio Independent Film Festival is a curated and internationally
recognized line-up of first-class independent films from around the
world.  "(The OIFF) was truly an experience where you knew that you
were in the company of the most cutting-edge artists around...  you
could tell that you were in the presence of countless souls who were
destined for greatness and longevity in the motion picture industry,"
comments Eric Muss-Barnes, director of THE UNSEELIE COURT from our
2002 festival.
 
But here's what is unique about the Ohio Independent Film Festival:
we only accept film and video submissions WITHOUT theatrical
distribution and we program the entire festival from those
submissions.  Continues Muss-Barnes, "The thing I found most
enjoyable about the OIFF was having the chance to exhibit my film
along with other independent films that you truly could not see
anywhere else.  I met filmmakers from all across the country who do
Hollywood-caliber work.  ?all the work I saw was of the highest
quality, and it was thrilling too be in the same event as so many
unknown, world-class, up-and-coming filmmakers."  Additionally, every
film and video entrant will benefit from personal feedback from
festival programmers on his or her film.
 
Deadlines to submit films and videos for the 2003 Ohio Independent
Film Festival are: JUNE 1; JULY 1 (late).  Please call (216) 651-
7315, email OhioIndieFilmFest@juno.com, or visit www.ohiofilms.com
for film and video entry information.
 
SPONSORS: The George Gund Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, Ohio
Arts Council, Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers, Media
Design Imaging, Cleveland Public Theatre, www.WritersScriptNetwork.com
 

CALL FOR SCREENPLAYS for the 2003 Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards
-a program of Independent Pictures, presenter of the Ohio Independent
Film Festival
-sponsored by WritersScriptNetwork.com
 
For Immediate Release: February 11, 2003
 
Contact: Annetta Marion or Bernadette Gillota, Co-Artistic and
Executive Directors, (216) 651-7315
 
The Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards introduce aspiring writers to
the professionals who can propel real writing careers.  "?my
script received more industry exposure than I got from other contests
I've won or placed in," states Rich Figel, winner of the 2002 Best
Voice of Color Screenplay Award for his script INUGAMI.  Over the
years, winning screenplays have been optioned, other winners have
been produced into full-length feature films; additionally, some
winning writers are now well on their way to professional writing
careers.  The 2003 Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards marks our 7th
annual screenplay competition and boasts a seasoned judging process.
 
Personal coverage and feedback from programmers and readers on your
screenplay will be available to every screenplay entrant.  Finalists
and winners are awarded submission to Hollywood and NYC producers,
talent management companies and production companies-the introduction
to a real writing career. On top of all that, winners receive even
more-including cash and representation/promotion by
WritersScriptNetwork.com.
 
Deadlines for the 2003 Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards are: JUNE
1; JULY 1 (late). Please call (216) 651-7315, email
OhioIndieFilmFest@juno.com, or visit www.ohiofilms.com for screenplay
entry information.
 
SPONSORS: The George Gund Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, Ohio
Arts Council, Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers, Media
Design Imaging, Cleveland Public Theatre, www.WritersScriptNetwork.com
 
Ohio Independent Film Festival
1392 West 65th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44102 USA
(216) 651-7315
(216) 651-7317 Fax
OhioIndieFilmFest@juno.com
www.ohiofilms.com
 
If you would like to respond with any comments, updates, announcements, blurbs, quips, jibs, exhortations or advice, you can contact,
 
Ezine Editor, aivfbham@bellsouth.net