Archive for November, 2006
From Jeff Gund…
American Cinematheque and Miramax Present…
An In-Person Tribute to Director
STEPHEN FREARS
THREE Double Features!
Live Q&As with Director Stephen Frears!
December 2 – 6
Saturday, December 2nd, 7:30 PM
Double Feature with
Stephen Frears In-Person:
THE QUEEN
starring Helen Mirren
&
DANGEROUS LIAISONS
starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer
in a lusty 18th century tale of seduction and game playing
Sunday, December 3rd, 7:30 PM
Double Feature with
Stephen Frears In-Person:
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
starring Daniel Day Lewis
&
PRICK UP YOUR EARS
starring Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave
a biopic about murdered controversial gay playwright Joe OrtonWednesday, December 6th, 7:30 PM
(Stephen Frears will NOT be present at this screening)
THE HI-LO COUNTRY
starring Penelope Cruz, Woody Harrelson and Billy Crudup
&
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS
starring Audrey Tatou (Da Vinci Code) and Chewitel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots)
Tickets and more information:
http://aerotheatre.com/archive1999/2006/Aero/Stephen_Frears.htm
All Shows at:
Max Palevsky Theatre at the Aero
1328 Montana Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90403
www.americancinematheque.com
(323) 466-3456
Altman Dies at 81
Robert Altman has died at age 81. He is best known for such films as Gosford Park, M-A-S-H (that went on to become a hit TV show, which he didn’t like due to his feelings that it trivialized the act of war), The Player, and my personal favorite, 3 Women.
Filmed in 1977, 3 Women is a haunting portrayal of two roommates —one with a split personality—who also work together in a sunny California solarium. The shier of the two women takes on a more domineering personality as the result of a near death experience. The two women are brilliantly portrayed by Shelley Duvall (Mildred “Millie” Lammoreaux), and Sissy Spacek (Pinky Rose).
An excerpt from 3 Women:
Millie Lammoreaux: Okay, now, what’s wrong with ya?
Pinky Rose: Nothin’?
Millie Lammoreaux: Well, there’s gotta be somethin’ wrong with ya.
Pinky Rose: My bathing suit’s too big?
Millie Lammoreaux: No. I mean, why else would you be here if it weren’t somethin’ like your legs or your arms. There’s gotta be somethin’ wrong with ya.
Pinky Rose: Oh, my back! Oh, my back! And my leg. My leg. My leg hurts.
Millie Lammoreaux: Okay, your back and your legs. This is for people with bad back and legs.
He will be remembered for his commitment to creating unconventional stories, and presenting surprising takes on a seemingly ordinary world.
Speaking of innovation, here’s some interesting trivia about Altman. In the late 40’s-early 50’s, he developed a way to ‘Identi-Code’ pets. He would tattoo a number on the cat or dog. And, he managed to tattoo President Truman’s dog. Somehow this seems like a fitting idea for him to come up with. Wouldn’t you agree?…this coming from the same man who gave us Prêt-à-Porter, A Prairie Home Companion, and so many other films.
For more trivia about Altman, and serious information, too, visit imdb.com/name/nm0000265/.
REMARKABLE HISTORIES Event
From the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC) – www.iwosc.org:
REMARKABLE HISTORIES: CAPTURING STORIES OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ORGANIZATIONS
IWOSC Panel and General Meeting Monday, November 20 7:30 p.m. sharp (arrive early) to 9:00 p.m.
More Americans and American companies are researching their roots, often making surprising discoveries – and sometimes they need the help of a professional writer. Join IWOSC as a panel of history detectives discuss the methods and marketplace for creating family and corporate histories. Learn about the methods and marketplace for family and corporate histories from oral historians, writers, and a genealogist.
Our panelists come from a variety of backgrounds:
Moderator Richard Sherer is working on two family history books. Sherer wrote for the Sunday magazine and edited the opinion section in the Sunday Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. He served as a member of the public information committees of the Hospital Council of Southern California and the Greater Los Angeles Affiliate of the American Heart Association, served two terms as president of the Southern California Society for Hospital Public Relations, and was a member of the American Hospital Association’ s Motion Picture and Television Advisory Committee.
Jean Chapman Snow is an accomplished teacher with over 25 years experience, a freelance writer with editorial experience in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and quarterlies, genealogist and lecturer, as well as the facilitator of Writers’ Group at Southern California Genealogical Society, Burbank. Her work has appeared in The Searcher (a publication of Southern California Genealogical Society), the Chapman Family Association Quarterly, Christian Science Monitor, The Mountain Astrologer, Los Angeles Times, Heritage Quest, Sapphire Magazine online, and Doll World.
Ellie Kahn created Living Legacies in 1988, having worked as a psychotherapist and journalist before beginning to conduct Oral Histories. She was asked by Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Foundation to interview Holocaust Survivors for their project. Since 1988, Kahn has conducted hundreds of Oral History interviews. Her clients have ranged from the great granddaughter of African-American slaves, to Holocaust survivors, to ordinary people.
Teresa Barnett is the head of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research. She has been in oral history for over twenty years conducting interviews with activists, educators, and individuals in the arts, and more. In addition to administering the Center for Oral History Research, she conducts oral history workshops and has served as oral history editor of the Public Historian and book review editor of the Oral History Review.
Laura Blumenthal has been a personal historian since 1993. She works with older adults who want to pass their family stories on to their children, grandchildren and the generations to come. They include copies of family photos and other memorabilia. Since 1995 Blumenthal has conducted more than 50 oral histories for the Brentwood Historical Society. She is a member of the Association of Personal Historians, the Southwest Oral History Association, and IWOSC.
DATE: Monday, November 20
TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue (Culver City)
COST: General admission: $15. IWOSC members: FREE!
RESERVATIONS & INFORMATION: RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED — Space is limited! Contact info@iwosc.org or 877-799-7483 for reservations, directions, or information. Reservations will be honored up to ten minutes before the meeting begins.
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IWOSC, the Independent Writers of Southern California, is a nonprofit association that has provided support, tools and resources to help self-employed professional writers in Southern California since 1982.
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$50,000 Templeton Foundation Deadline Approaches
Final Deadline for the 2nd Annual $50,000 John Templeton Foundation Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays is approaching.
MOVIEGUIDE® and The John Templeton Foundation have announced the 2nd Annual Kairos Prize after a tremendously successful first year. The primary purpose of the prize is to further the influence of moral and spiritual values within the film and television industries. The prize has been set up to help inspire first-time screenwriters to produce compelling, entertaining and spiritually uplifting scripts. Last year’s winner was read by the top executives in the industry including Jeffrey Katzenberg of Dreamworks, Amy Pascal of Sony, Dick Cook of Disney and Jeff Robinoff of Warner Bros.
FINAL DEADLINE FOR ENTRY: December 15th, 2006
PRIZES:
Grand Prize: $25,000
1st Runner Up: $15,000
2nd Runner Up: $10,000
For complete information please visit www.kairosprize.com.
FINAL Opening & Artists Reception @ Tilford in L.A.
It’s a sad day when an exciting art gallery closes its doors. Join me and others at the final opening and artsts reception at the Tilford Art Group on Fri., Nov. 17 at 5449 W. Pico Blvd. LA. More info follows:
mud…will feature new works by
Francks Francois Deceus
Yolanda Gonzalez
Charly Palmer
Jose Ramìrez
Oscar Sanàbria
These five artists of African American and Latin American descent were commissioned by Tilford Art Group to address issues that affect and applaud their communities. These artists were asked to address various concerns, from education and politics, migration and immigration, identity and media perceptions, to unifying Black and Brown kids in our school systems, as well as matters of gang violence and creating a united front. The artists had two months to create these works.
mud… will run Nov. 17-Dec. 15, 2006.
‘Home of the Brave’ Free Screening @ Fine Arts Theatre
Who doesn’t enjoy a free movie? And, this one is appropriately themed for Veteran’s Day. Courtesy of the SAG Foundation…Enjoy!
From Academy Award ®-winner Irwin Winkler comes Home of the Brave, the story of four American soldiers nearing the end of their tours of duty in Iraq. Shortly after learning their unit will soon return home, they are sent on one final humanitarian mission to bring medical supplies to a remote Iraqi village.
The unit is ambushed and takes heavy losses. The surviving troops suffer both physical and psychological injuries. Now, as they return to the United States, four soldiers must face memories of the past as they look towards the future and return to civilian life.
These are their stories. Home of the Brave is about hope and courage and the impact of war on both the individuals who fight it and the people close to them.
Home of the Brave is directed by Irwin Winkler (producer of Goodfellas and Rocky) and written by Mark Friedman. Samuel Jackson (Coach Carter), Jessica Biel (Elizabethtown and The Illusionist), Curtis Jackson (Get Rich or Die Tryin’) and Brian Presley star.
While the film does not open until December 15th we are hosting three special screenings on Veteran’s Day, November 11th here in Los Angeles.
Saturday, November 11th
The Screenings will be at 2 PM, 5 PM and 8 PM.
There will be a brief Q&A with the director, Irwin Winkler and actor Brian Presley immediately following the 2 PM and the 8 PM screenings. The 5 PM screening will be introduced by the director.
Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Validated parking available at the Flynt Communications building 8484 Wilshire Blvd. two blocks east of the theatre
RSVP to: 310.449-3800
Please arrive early to ensure a seat, these screening will be purposely overbooked to guarantee a full house
Stay for the Q&A if you are attending either the 2 or 8 PM screenings. The Fine Arts Theatre has agreed to provide free soda and popcorn to anyone current or former military attending the screening in uniform.
‘Venus’ Movie Premiere Tonight
Here is a last minute opportunity to attend the premiere of the Miramax film Venus. The film stars Peter O’Toole, Leslie Phillips, Jodie Whittaker, Richard Griffiths, and Vanessa Redgrave, was written by Hanif Kureishi, and was directed by Roger Michell. The event will be held TONIGHT, November 9th, 6:45pm at the ArcLight Theater 6360 Sunset Blvd. (at Ivar). After the screening, there will be a Q & A with Jodie/Whittaker, Hanif Kureishi and Roger Michell. Interested? RSVP to (323) 822-4392.
Attack Pilot Season!
Last week, the Actors’ Network held an informative workshop on pilot season at Argentum Photo Lab. The workshop was hosted by Actors’ Network Vice President, Paulo Andrés, who is also former actor, and current talent manager for several working actors in Hollywood. He estimates that there will be 125 pilots cast and shot this upcoming season, which runs Jan. 3-April 15. According to his estimation, this upcoming pilot season will offer more guest starring roles than in previous years. With this information in mind, Andrés offered some excellent advice to actors of all levels to help actors create a plan of attack for the season. In summary, Andrés offered the following tips:
Timing is Everything: At this time of the year (Oct.-Nov.) actors should be preparing themselves for pilot season in several ways. Schedule planning meetings with your manager and agents. Sign up for acting classes, especially audition technique classes. Sign with new representation if you’re not happy with your current representation. Get new headshots, if necessary. Get your face in front of as many casting directors as you possibly can at this time. Increase your credits by any means necessary. Involve yourself as much as possible to build the momentum and confidence that you’ll need to catapult yourself into the season that awaits you.
Prepare Your Pocketbook: Work more paying jobs now and through the end of the year. If you’re expecting holiday gifts from friends and loved ones, request cash—you’ll need everything you can get. It will allow you to focus less on bringing in survival money during pilot season. During the season, your time will be better spent on preparing for pilot show auditions, auditioning, and hopefully call-backs and call times for jobs. You don’t want to miss out on an important audition because you have to worry about paying your bills to eat.
Know the Competition: You probably go up against the same actors for the same parts. Andrés suggested that you should know your competition’s availability so that you can make yourself available when they may not be around. Be in town and available during pilot season.
Flexible is Doable: Set up work with flexible hours during the pilot season. It’s a small window of time. Don’t wait until then to try to do it. You’ll make yourself crazy. Do it now. Find and interview for positions that will allow you the time that you need to pursue your dreams.
Stay ACTive!: Live the actor’s life. Join a theatre company. Start a theatre company and make things happen. Write. Make films. Spend productive time with other actors. You are an actor; cultivate the self-confidence that it takes to do it and live it.
Marketing…Shmarketing: Get the best headshot you’ve ever had! According to Andrés, 95% of today’s headshot submissions are electronic. Casting directors look at your shots as small images on a computer monitor, which really means that they’ve gotta’ pop. In addition, order new postcards, including stationary, business cards, demo reels, etc.
He also suggested get a minute long reel, or “Speed Reel.” It should have two contrasting scenes on it. You can do this yourself, especially if you own a newer Mac computer that often comes ready to shoot, edit and burn reels. In short, market yourself like crazy! Make and renew contacts with casting directors, casting associates, studio executives, hair dressers on set and anyone else who can open doors for you.
Study Hard & Do Your Homework: I’ve mentioned it already, but it’s worth restating. Get into an acting class. Andrés also suggested that actors should also get a great acting coach who is available at an instant’s notice. During the workshop, Andrés recommended a few private acting coaches; I hesitate to mention their names here for the sake of their privacy. However, if you are interested send me an email to michelle@michelleflowers.com. I don’t feel it would be rude to share this information on an individual basis. Read and study scripts. Understand what’s going on in them. Andrés suggested that actors should get scripts and work them as if they were preparing for auditions. Also, know the history of people in the industry, especially casting directors. Know what they’ve cast and what they are slated to cast.
Trade Papers & Sites: Lastly, Andrés recommended that all actors should study the trade papers and websites, including:www.backstage.com, www.hollywoodreporter.com, and www.variety.com. In addition, he mentioned a site that I don’t have much experience with called http://www.futoncritic.com/. Check it out let me know what you think about it.
This Actors’ Network event was co-sponsored by Argentum Photo Lab. It is part of an ongoing guest speaker series. It was held at the Argentum Photo Lab’s new location at 6550 Sunset Blvd.,Hollywood, CA. For more info about their upcoming events, visit www.actors-network.com or www.argentum.com.
I welcome your comments and additions to this post. In the meantime, take heart, prepare well, and stay ACTive!
