Casting call for an iBook (a digital novel for the iPad). This interactive digital novel includes video clips, still images, text, audio clips and graphic design. The story follows the screenplay “Closer Than Rust,” which was recently selected as one of the three winners of the 2011 Atlanta International Film Festival.

Casting Calls:

Date: Wednesday, May 15^th

Time: 4-5:30pm

Location: The Phillip Rush Center, 1530 Dekalb Avenue, Suite A, Atlanta, GA, 30307

(www.rushcenteratl.org/)

The Rush Center is located one block from the Edgewood/Candler Park Marta Station.

Date: Thursday, May 16^th

Time: 6-8pm

Location: Georgia State University, General Classroom Building (“GCB”) room #115

Corner of Decatur Street and Peachtree Center Avenue (Building #12 on the GSU campus map).

Located two blocks from the 5 Points Marta Station (Walk down Central Ave towards Decatur Street. Central Ave becomes Peachtree Center Ave and the building is right there on the corner. Studio is on the ground floor, room #115)

Actors are needed for the following parts:

CHARACTERS:

Jamie  27, caucasian, genderqueer/FTM

Aliza  22-24, African American, Female/Femme

Bryan  8, African American, Male (Aliza’s playful little brother)

Creggory  8, African American, Male (Aliza’s brother’s friend)

Reggie  mid/late-20’s, African American, Male (Aliza’s ex-boyfriend)

Vespa  33, Asian American, Female/femme

Hart  mid-30’s, Asian American (other races considered), Female, Butch (Vespa’s partner)

Bill  Over 40, Caucasian, Male, “Proud Southern Redneck”

Tanisa  mid-20’s, African American, Female (a wild artist type)

EXTRAS / Townspeople:            

Tina  45 or so, African American, Female (Aliza’s Mom) (Photo & Voice Only)

Harden  45 or so, African American, Male (Aliza’s Dad) (Photo & Voice Only)

Frankie  mid-60’s, Caucasian, Male (also a “Proud Southern Redneck”)

Darnell  late-20’s, African American, Male (works with Jamie on the dump truck)

Mike  mid-30’s or so, Male (driver of the dump truck)

Mr. Casselberry  mid-60’s, African American, Male (married to Mrs. Casselberry)

Mrs. Casselberry  mid-60’s, African American, Female (married to Mr. Casselberry)

Christian Wife  late-40’s or so, female (married to Christian Husband)

Christian Husband  late-40’s or so, male (married to Christian Wife)

Mother  mid-30’s, female (the mother of “child”)

Child  3-6, female (the child of “mother”)

Henry  late-30’s, male, probably Caucasian (married to Juna – interracial couple)

Juna late-30’s, female, probably African American (married to Henry – interracial couple)

Yolanda  mid-50’s or so, African American, Female (a Yoruba Priestess)

“Redneck Wife”  40’s or so, female, Caucasian (married to “Redneck Husband”)

“Redneck Husband”  40’s or so, male, Caucasian (married to “Redneck Wife”)

Creggory’s Mom  early-40’s (flexible), African American, Female (Creggory’s Mom)

Newscaster for web video – Any age, race, gender

 Possible: “neighborhood children” (various ages, genders, races)

Possible: voice over actors for animated robots (dream scene)

–

This is a low budget project – a labor of love for most of the artists involved. Actors will receive small “Thank you” stipends, a copy of footage for their reel, and a copy of the finished digital book (expected in December, 2012).  All filming will take place this summer in and around Atlanta, GA.

For more information, please contact Laura Zaylea at closerthanrust@gmail.com and/or visit: http://closerthanrust.wordpress.com/get-involved/join-us/ . This is an LGBT themed film about interracial relationships, community, small Southern towns, magical dreams/intuition & art-making!

See you at the casting call!

By: Laura Zaylea

The Call for Submissions Deadline for the fourth annual EcoFocus Film Festival has been extended to October 22, 2011. Please see EcoFocus Film Festival for submission details.

The 2012 EcoFocus Film Festival will run March 23-31, 2012 in Athens, Georgia. We accept film submissions in three categories: Environmental Features (50 minutes or more), Short Environmental Films (20 minutes or less), and Family Programming (any-length). Films may be submitted to more than one category. Pleae review our submission details and fill out our on-line entry form. No submission fees!

EcoFocus is an annual celebration of environmental films in Athens, Georgia. Our mission is to screen a diversity of high-quality films that promote discussion and inspire audiences into awareness and action on behalf of the environment.

Inquiries can be directed to: ecofocusfilmfest [at] gmail dot com.

By: Sara Beresford

This 12 hour per day, two day advanced level bootcamp is for working commercial production assistants, and interns and dayplayers on studio features and TV series, who are looking to take their skills to the next level to improve their chances of advancement and full-time employment on studio features and TV series. Local DGA Assistant Directors and working PA’s on Studio Features and TV Series will be running the bootcamp.

Lingo, procedure, and protocol will be incorporated into every activity throughout the day. Participants will learn to

read, create, and/or understanding all production paperwork – call sheets, production reports, exhibit G’s, time cards, one liners, shooting schedules, vouchers, shot lists, and walkie sign out sheets. Standard equipment that

PA’s interact with, like C-stands, stingers, sandbags, walkies, pop-up tents, video village, and apple boxes, will be used on a regular basis during training. At the end of the two days, a resume class will set participants up for success.

APPLICATION PROCESS

- Potential Participants must register on-line: Register Now

- Once registered -

Potential Participants must submit the following via email to nusouthfilms@mindspring.com by August 26th, 2011:

- a film resume showing commercial credits, or credits on at least 1 Studio Feature or TV Series

- a letter stating why they should be accepted

- a written recommended by another established PA/AD, or above the line crew person.

None of these requirements guarantee acceptance.

The final choices will be approved by instructors and workshop coordinators.

Business proposals are always evolving. Whether you are looking for $25,000 or $250,000 or more, the basics are the same. Learn what to include and not include in a business proposal, as well as the relevance and legality of including a strong risk statement, whether making it “artsy” is a good idea, how you can better sell yourself and your team, and what a festival, sales, and marketing plan should really look like.

Instructor: Linda Burns – Producer, Line Producer, and Production Manager for Commercials, Television, and Indie Features since 1994

$150 for ATL Film 365 and GPP Members/$175 for non-members
Limit 25 students, minimum 10

Class Location:

Hollis Gillespie’s Shocking Real Life Workshop Space
327 Nelson Street
Storefront Suite #313
Atlanta, GA 30313

Visit atlantafilmfestival.com for more classes and to register

Registration begins at 10:30 AM featuring safety presentations from IATSE and Teamster veteran keys in Special Effects, Construction, Grips and Electrics and Transportation with safety demonstrations and teachings. Free to ANYONE already working in the film industry. Just preregister. Give your name, your job craft, and last job worked. Limited seats going fast! Thanks for passing the word on. Email signup is georgiafilmset@gmail.com”

Cover art for "Stragglers" (which has little to do with the actual movie)

You might have heard of Cineprov, the local improv group that makes fun of movies on a weekly basis. They’ve been doing their thing for years, and were even featured way-back in another incarnation of this magazine. They’ve since moved their brand of MST3K/Riff Tracks type of humor to Relapse Theater, where they do shows every Friday night. Recently, they’ve added a Saturday screening and this Saturday, May 21, they take on a new challenge — making fun of local films.

The mockery starts with “Stragglers” this week, a horror film from PlatoVision pictures that was filmed way back in 2004, eventually getting a release on DVD in 2009 on Brain Damage Films. The film was written and directed by Dave R. Watkins, and I’m proud to say that I was a producer and one of the leading actors in the film. We’re proud of this film, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to make fun of.

Cineprov’s Larry Johnson has promised to “mock with love,” so hopefully other local filmmakers will take the challenge and be mocked in the future. In fact, Johnson has suggested that even a “short film night” could be in the plans.

For more information on Cineprov, head to http://www.cineprov.com/

“Stragglers”  stars Dave R. Watkins, Michael D Friedman, Amy Holt, Chris Burns, Cheri Christian, Joel Hunter, Spencer Stephens and Ron McLellan. You can buy your own copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Stragglers-Dave-R-Watkins/dp/B002M9FYMQ/

Bring it to the show, and I’ll autograph your copy!

Stragglers Synopsis

Dr. Elaine Krauss leads a group of research scientists deep into the mountains to investigate a series of supernatural phenomena. But while exploring, they stumble across the aftermath of a brutal, bloody massacre. The lone survivor, a man named Mark Locke, is mentally traumatized and claims to have no memory of what happened. Hoping to uncover the truth, Dr. Krauss puts Mark under hypnosis and forces him to relive the previous few days. While Mark suffers through the memories, it becomes obvious that whatever attacked him before is still out there…and Dr. Krauss’s team has attracted its attention. Soon, a strange, other-worldly battle is underway, where the past and present collide and nothing is what it seems.

You finally get the call. Your first job on a professional film, television or commercial set. You’re equally excited as you are terrified.

“What do I wear? What should I bring? Where are my sharpies? What tools do I need? Tools? I need tools and I need a belt!”

Here’s your chance to learn the ‘Tools of the Trade’.

Whether you’re hoping to be a grip, an electric, a PA in camera, wardrobe or art department, or you’re working in craft service or the production office, this panel of professional filmmaker will show you what to wear and how to wear it. They will show you the necessary tools that every department needs in their possession, so that when you show up, you’re prepared to work and you look like you know what you’re doing. Dressing to impress we call it – but without the suit and tie, and no high heels are required!

Indie and Studio Feature Sound Mixer Aron Siegel will explain what tools you need in your kit to work in the sound department!

Carpenter, Set Dresser, and all around talented guy – Andy Rusk – will help you understand what you should have on your tool belt if you want to work in art dept. And you should see his tool belt! It’s fancy!!

Set PA extraordinaire – Jihad ‘JZ’ Ziyad – has joined the panel! He and his ‘big ass pen’ will give you the ins and out of what to bring to set for anyone looking to get a break as a Production Assistant on a TV show, feature, or commercial!

More Guests – TBA

Here’s what’s going on in the A this last full week in January 2011.  Enjoy!

Tuesday (1/25)

• The Room@The Plaza–9:30, $9

Wednesday (1/26)

• Emory Cinematheque–Shoot The Piano Player–7:30, FREE

Saturday (1/29)

• Silver Scream Spook Show @The Plaza–Frankenstein–1p and 10p, $7.50, $9

Interested in filmmaking but don’t have a clue…

Whether you’d like to dive into the industry or just want to test the waters, this introductory course is designed just for you. The workshop will give an overview of everything it takes to complete a film or video (there is a difference), and offer you direction for next steps to take.
You’ll go away with a better understanding of what this “mystery” business is all about. The information covered will help you decide whether you want to learn more and pursue a career in the industry, or just talk the talk to impress your family and friends!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR…

Lorna Wilson has over 16 years of experience in film and video production encompassing work in corporate and commercial production, public access television, independent and mainstream film production. She’s been a production assistant, production coordinator, associate producer, film festival manager, college instructor, and is presently employed as the Director of Operations for Rainforest Films.

Ms. Wilson has also been very active in the local film community supporting events, initiatives and organizations, including service on the board of Women in Film/Atlanta for 6 years.

Click To Register and More Information

The teen acting class is held on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The studio is located at 2849 Piedmont Rd., in the heart of Buckhead. For directions, more information, or to sign up to audit a class, please visit http://www.proactorsstudio.com.