yourACT Acting Studios Atlanta

SAG & AFTRA National Boards of Directors Approve Merger Package

2012-01-30T08:56:00.000-05:00

This weekend, the SAG and AFTRA National Boards took a decisive step to strengthen our future by overwhelmingly endorsing a plan to merge Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. If members approve the merger, the new union will be called SAG-AFTRA.

The vote of the unions’ National Boards came after more than a year of focused effort to hear from members about their needs for stronger union representation and to develop a merger plan to meet those needs. With the enthusiastic approval of our boards, the decision now rests in the hands of AFTrA and SAG members.

Merger referendum ballots are scheduled to be mailed on or about February 27^th – but all members of both unions will have access to the complete merger documents within the next couple of days on the SAG and AFTRA websites. Full printed merger documents will also be mailed to each voter with the referendum ballot, which will be due for return on March 30^th. This will give each member ample time to make a thoughtful and well-informed decision.

We’re also excited to announce that on Friday, February 3^rd, we will launch a new joint website to provide members all the information they’ll want to consider before casting their votes. The website will include complete merger details, FAQs, and a comprehensive calendar of events to alert members nationwide to informational meetings and other opportunities for learning about the plan. Watch your email later this week for details of the website launch.

After more than a year of intensive work, we are extremely proud to bring you this historic opportunity. We also want to acknowledge the ceaseless dedication of the AFTRA and SAG members and staff who came together as the Group for One Union (G1) to produce this remarkable plan. We look forward to sharing all the details and answering any questions you may have. Finally, we are confident that SAG and AFTRA members will embrace this singular chance to harness the true power of unity, and that SAG-AFTRA will protect members and shape the entertainment and media industries for decades to come.

In unity,

Ken Howard

SAG National President

Roberta Reardon

AFTRA National President

CASTING CALL The Art Institute of Atlanta

2012-01-28T00:51:00.000-05:00

Our STUDENTS invite you to be in their SHORT FILMS, COMMERCIALS and PSAs!

We’ll be delighted if you - or actors you know - will consider appearing in these films. Thank you to everyone who’s auditioned with us in the past. Our students can’t make their films without you!

AUDITION SESSION:

When: Thursday, February 2, 2012 Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Where: The Art Institute of Atlanta, 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE, Atlanta 30328

Room: 460B – please come sign in here

TO SCHEDULE AN AUDITION:

Please email Jessica Muhammad at <aiaauditions@gmail.com>

-- Use ACTORS WANTED as Subject of email

-- INCLUDE your first and second choices for times. We schedule actors in 30-minute blocks.

-- Please provide the following in your email:

Age Range

Height
PHONE NUMBER(S) and EMAIL ADDRESS

If you do Voice-Overs

If you are a member of SAG and/or AFTRA

Your audition confirmation will include a SPECIFIC time. Audition times are first come, first serve.
If you have a last minute change of plans, please email aiaauditions@gmail.com OR call Fran Burst at 404-524-9756.

NOTE TO PARENTS: We love your kids but this casting session is for Age 14 and up.
* Please email your child’s headshot, resume and key info (above) so students can contact you if they do have kid-roles. THANK you so much for your ongoing support of our young directors.

THE AUDITION:

* Please bring your HEADSHOT and RESUME (at least 2 copies of each)

* Prepare 2 short MONOLOGUES (a dramatic and a comedy) for your audition.

* Sides will not be provided, but some student directors may have scripts to discuss with you.

If you can’t come to Auditions but would like to be considered for students’ film, please email us your headshot, resume and other key info noted above.

If you are coming to Audition, please don’t attach your headshot and resume to the email but be sure to bring them to the Audition

Although actors will not be paid, each actor who appears in a student film will receive a master-quality video of project(s) in which he/she appears.

Parking is free at The Art Institute, but if you arrive before 8pm, please get a parking pass from receptionist in 1st floor Gallery. Put the pass on your car, follow the signs and come upstairs. If you arrive after 8pm, see if receptionist is still in gallery - if not, you don't need a pass.

The Art Institute of Atlanta, 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Building 100, Atlanta, GA 30328DIRECTIONS: http://www.artinstitutes.edu/atlanta/about/directions.aspx

I would like to extend a very big Thank You! for taking an interest in our student films!

SINGLES LADIES CASTING

2012-01-26T13:16:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

We hope you are having a great 2012. We are currently loooking for men and women ages 25-75 all ethnicities. We have a 4 day call approaching which requires ballroom type attire. Long formal gowns for women and tux's for men. We will be able to use some in upscale suits as well. The dates this will be shooting is 1/31-2/3. If you are available for this four day call and have the proper attire then please e-mail CLCformal@gmail.com, Please include 3 pics at minimum. This needs to include at least one clear face shot straight on and a body shot. We would REALLY LOVE to see pictures in your formal attire as well! Impress us! In the body of the e-mail please put your actual age, height, weight, dress (women), bra (women), waist (men), inseam (men), Jacket (men), neck (men), sleeve (men), and shoe sizes. This will make our process go a lot smother. We would also like you to put GOWNS, TUX or SUIT in the subject box.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this e-mail. We look forward to working with you all soon. Keep an eye out for our updates.

Catrett Locke Casting
Rose and Jamie
Kelli, Ash, Seanie

11 Better Questions To Ask Than “What Do You Do?”

2012-01-26T08:33:00.001-05:00

by TODD SCHNICK on JANUARY 26, 2012

I think one of the problems is that we all attempt to, or allow ourselves to be, defined by our work. We think we have to stay in miserable, unhappy jobs just because it is a status thing, or that we think this is what society expects.

I say bunk. No doubt, it is a lot harder (for me at least) to run my own business and have to eat what I kill. Sure, bills would be easier to pay with a regular paycheck, but I hated life like that. I love being on my own, responsible to myself, and flexible to do work that matters to me. It is a tough slog, but I love the battle.

But I think we are responsible for this predicament. What is the first thing we usually ask someone we meet for the first time?

“So…what do you do?”

Does asking this question subconsciously tell people that we expect an answer to be some formal, society-approved job? Maybe so.

So, here is what I propose. Instead of leading off with the standard “what do you do?” question, from now on, let’s start with these:

What do you love to do?

What are you reading?

What do you want to learn?

Tell me about your family?

What do you want to be known for?

What big, hairy challenge are you striving to achieve?

If you wrote the great American novel, what would it be about?

Would you rather be a writer, artist, or musician?

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere?

What would you do if you were president for a day?

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made?

I don’t know about you, but I personally find the answers to these questions to be a lot more meaningful, and a lot more telling about a person than how they spend nine to five.

What do you think? What other questions would you want to ask?

###

[join my merry band of intrepid raiders here]

[drawing by hugh macleod]

VOICE-OVER "COPY GRASP" WORKSHOP

2012-01-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

with Voice-Over AGENT SALLY NEAL of Houghton Talent

Sally Neal, voiceover agent of Houghton Talent has this to say: "A voice is just a voice until you add personality and a true understanding of what you are saying and why... It's the reason producers will choose one voice over another."

Break down the copy you are given. Look at it from the producer's and writer's point of view. Figure out who the target audience is. Determine why your style/voice has been asked to audition the copy. Then deliver the script in the most effective way to promote interest in the product. If you do it, you will book the jobs!

Come and learn this important information!

ONE DAY ONLY, 1-3pm, Saturday, February 11 - Only $99!

Limited to 15 (or time will be extended)

Call 404-499-9996 to register.

BEGINNING VOICE-OVER

2012-01-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

Taught by VO Agent Jeffrey Umberger

We’ve all heard the voice behind the TV commercial, or the radio spot that compels us to buy that product! It sounds so easy when we hear it, but the fact is…it takes practice.

D E T A I L S
7-10 PM one night a week for 3 weeks, Feb 21, 28, and March 6
Limited to 14.
ONLY $99 TOTAL!!
Call 404-499-9996 to REGISTER NOW!

This workshop introduces you to the tools and techniques of voice-over. In this 3-week class, you will learn—

*Microphone technique
*Enunciation and delivery (how to bring it off the page and deliver in ideas)
*Reading with inflection to sound natural and conversational
*Pacing and how to approach the different styles of commercials

As a Voice-Over Agent, Jeffrey has placed talent with Tyler Perry's 'HOUSE OF PAYNE', 'SINGLE LADIES' on VH1, HGTV, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, DIY Network, The Food Network, Fine Living Network, The Cooking Channel, and Georgia Public Broadcasting, among others. He also helped his VO talent obtain National Commercial credits including McDonalds, Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, Dove, AT&T, Verizon, REI, WILSON, BB&T, UPS, and countless others. Along with operating Umberger Agency, Jeffrey also serves as a Casting Producer on the hit show 'MEGA DENS', now entering it's 3rd season on the DIY Network.

Haber Film/TV Audition INTENSIVE

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

This Intensive course is designed for trained actors who have some audition
experience. Taught by Della Cole.

D E T A I L S
6:00–10:00 pm twice a week
MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS February 13 thru March 7
Prerequisites: On-Camera I and II or approval of instructor
Limited to 12 students
$350, or pay in 2 installments of $175
Call 404-499-9996 to register.

As professional actors, we often audition and work on projects that don't
necessarily challenge the full spectrum of our talents. You may be comfortable
with industrials, commercials, and voice-over but fall apart when you audition
for a film. With the increase of film and television coming to Georgia, now more
than ever, Atlanta talent needs to be ready for Hollywood auditions.

In this Intensive, using the "Haber Audition Technique", actors work with film
and television scripts, learning how to nail the audition in a limited amount of
time. The focus is on the nuts and bolts of breaking down a scene, including
relationship, intention, history, opening and closing beats, core and masking.
Using the skills you learn will greatly improve your audition skills. This
valuable cold-reading technique works.

yourACT Atlanta is affiliated with the prestigious Margie Haber Acting Studios,
located in Los Angeles. A renowned acting coach and author of the book How To
Get The Part Without Falling Apart, Margie Haber does seminars and workshops
worldwide and has worked with some of Hollywood's top actors including Halle
Berry, Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Tea Leoni, Heather Locklear, John Corbett ("Sex
In The City", "Northern Exposure") and Sophia Bush ("One Tree Hill"), among many
others.

We are proud and honored that Margie has chosen yourACT Atlanta as the only
studio outside of L.A. to offer her approach to auditioning for film &
television. Della and Bob trained with Margie and her elite group of
instructors at the Haber Studios in LA in order to teach the famous "Haber
Audition Technique."

"A big thanks to yourACT for offering this great class! I would recommend it
highly to anyone serious about making big improvements to their auditioning
technique. After taking eight classes, I feel much more confident in my
understanding of scene breakdown theory, and [I have] an increased appreciation
of the importance of identifying and exploring relationships and characterhistory—all in 15 minutes or less! Thanks, Della." —Wes Bailey

"I loved the Margie Haber class! It's amazing the progress each actor made in
only four weeks. I look forward to my next film audition because my approach hascompletely changed!" —Greer Howard

Words of Wisdom for the New Year

2012-01-24T06:02:00.000-05:00

Ultimate Model Management presents...

2012-01-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Article about Sketchworks Theatre in Intown Magazine

2012-01-23T19:14:00.001-05:00

Click IMAGE twice for LARGER view.

CASTING FAMILY for DIY Network

2012-01-23T12:58:00.000-05:00

DIY Network
25-40 yr old family with 1-3 children. Upper middleclass. Any ethnicity.

In final stages of or recently finished with remodel, renovation, flooring project, or some other project that takes up floor space and would allow for belongings to be stored in an onsite storage container.

$750 for family (including agency fee if there is one) and possible help if project needs finishing touches.

To be used by DIY Network and internet in-perpetuity

In ATL area but suburbs are fine.

The shoot date range is February 20-22.

Family must have gone through a recent renovation where they had to move furniture out of or around their house.
Maybe they got new floors throughout the house?
Renonvations should be finished or 95% finished.
The client is one of those portable storage units and they are making a "how to" video for DIY Network broadcast and internet.
The video will show how much easier it is for a family to store the furniture in one of these units while renonvations are being done.

*Casting off photos.

Thanks in advance for any help!
kelly
--
kellyCASTING
404-797-0872 phone
kellycasting@gmail.com

THE WOMAN IN BLACK – IN THEATRES FEBRUARY 3RD!

2012-01-20T18:09:00.000-05:00

CBS Films is having a special advance screening of their new psychological thriller, THE WOMAN IN BLACK starring Daniel Radcliffe. The advance screening is on Tuesday, January 31 @7:30PM at AMC Discover Mills. Please note: wear ALL BLACK to this screening for some special perks!

To attend each member MUST download a screening pass from Gofobo.com. (Please see download instructions below.)

TO DOWNLOAD A SCREENING PASS
==============================
1) Go to: http://www.gofobo.com/rsvp/promotion/96cd3dbcf19947ae8e63fd5698360368

2) Enter RSVP Code: YOURACV7Z4
3) Print pass and attend screening (Each person will be allowed to print out a maximum of TWO admit-one passes)

Please arrive early! Seating is first come, first served, and is not guaranteed. The theater is overbooked to ensure a full house.

Watch the trailer: http://www.womaninblack.com/

Synopsis: Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer whose grief has put his career in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric. But upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost… and no one, not even the children, are safe from her vengeance. Directed by James Watkins (EDEN LAKE), written by Jane Goldman (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS) and co-starring Ciarán Hinds (TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY) and Golden Globe®-nominee Janet McTeer (ALBERT NOBBS).

Kids & Teens classes at yourACT's Gwinnett Branch

2012-01-18T09:43:00.001-05:00

yourACT offers on-camera acting classes for film, TV, and commercials at our Gwinnett branch. The Gwinnett location is a branch of our main school in Decatur. Classes are held at:

All Stars Performing Arts Academy “Where Your Star Shines Bright” (view site)

5700 Cumming Hwy, Suite E,

Sugar Hill, Georgia 30518 (map)

678-400-0091

Realizing that kids need a well-rounded acting program, yourACT has tailored its classes to give them a taste of what it's really like to work on-camera and onstage, plus the thrill of improvisation.

They learn how to:

Unlock their imagination and emotions
Be honest, truthful, and natural
Gain discipline and focus
Become the character

Kids & Teens have fun while learning to perform on-camera! Each child or teen learns the fundamentals of acting in a supportive environment. Developing at their own pace, they explore the art and craft of acting. Offered in 4-month sessions, the classes focus on using imagination, creativity, concentration, and focus to create strong, believable characters, whether in front of a camera or on stage.

Fun and fast-paced with expert guidance
Scripts and improv games geared to excite and challenge
Great training for the real world of TV, film, and theatre
Builds confidence, improves reading skills, and enhances self-esteem
Parent & Agent visit at yourACT's main Decatur location
(Saturday, April 28th from 4-6 pm in our 100-seat theatre!)

Kids & Teen classes are taught by working actress Miss Nicky.

As a native of Manhattan, New York, Nicky a former Dallas Cowboys and All-Star Cheerleader has performed in several SuperBowls.

She has always carried a torch for the ART of acting and performing whether it is in front of the camera or on stage. She has 10 years of acting (theatre, film/movies, commercials, and voice-overs) and 14 years of technical dance training, performing and choreographing under her belt.

In 2005, Nicky implemented and jump-started a three week summer intensive program for young performers aspiring to hone their skills and become triple threats. The project is appetizingly named “ARTSmartx3.”

Nicky works meticulously and continuously on sharpening her craft. Her highly motivated, self starting and hardworking temperament presents her to be a positive force working on or with any project.

Her Motto: Stay Humble, Be Grateful, Help Others Along The Way and Remain True to Your Craft; Whatever it may be.

Wilmington casting agency to focus on filling principal roles

2012-01-17T14:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120105/ARTICLES/120109867

By Judy Royal
Judy.Royal@StarNewsOnline.com

Published: Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.

The year 2012 is already promising many changes for Fincannon & Associates Inc.

The Wilmington-based film and television casting agency has moved to a new location and is steering away from working with extras.

"It's really a young man's game," company president Craig Fincannon said of extras casting. "It's 100 hours a week, and it's starting at 4 in the morning and still working at midnight."

Fincannon & Associates, in business since 1979 and a part of Wilmington since 1983, will continue to focus on principal casting and is currently working with the television shows "Homeland," "Drop Dead Diva," "Necessary Roughness" and "The Walking Dead."

The Wilmington Regional Film Commission's website lists five other local companies that are now handling extras casting.

"To continue doing extras, it was just something that we're going to have to eventually pass on to younger and newer groups anyway," said Mark Fincannon, Craig's brother and a casting director for the company. "When Craig and I were younger, it was a whole lot easier to manage."

Although the Fincannons are no longer actively pursuing extras casting work, they would be open to considering it for a "very large show that needs many years of expertise," Mark Fincannon said.

Such a role for "Iron Man 3" is not out of the question as the company is "in conversations" with the production, which will be the largest ever to film here when cameras start rolling in May or June. But it's still early in the process, Mark Fincannon added.

As for the new location, Point Harbor Road under the Isabel Holmes Bridge across the Cape Fear River has been the company's home since the end of November. Fincannon & Associates had an office at EUE/Screen Gems Studios on 23rd Street for the previous 14 years.

"We love Screen Gems, and we love the management there, and we'll still go there a lot," Craig said. "But most of what our day-to-day work is involves the computer and telephone so we can sort of be anywhere we want to be, and we love this river."

Judy Royal: 343-2019

On Twitter: @judyroyal

CASTING 2 ROLES for "Marriage for Spies"

2012-01-17T07:14:00.000-05:00

MARRIAGE FOR SPIES (2 Roles)

Short Film

Whitestone Motion Pictures

Producer: Brandon McCormick, John Merizalde

Director: John Merizalde

Writers: John Merizalde & Ross Lee

Shoot Dates: Feb. 3-5 2012

Location: Buford, GA

STORY LINE: The film is a 10-minute short action-comedy about a married couple who happen to be spies. Think Mr. and Mrs. Smith. A husband and wife spy duo are captured while trying to retrieve a mysterious briefcase. They must learn how to reconcile their problems and learn to work together so they can escape with their lives, and marriage, intact.

Lead roles - PAID

[WALTER] AGE 25-40. He is an international spy who works with his wife, Eva. He overestimates his own ability in all aspects. He is the sensitive one in the relationship. He has reached a lull in his marriage, and it is affecting his ability to complete missions with Eva. He sees his wife as the source of his problems, and refuses to acknowledge his own faults. He sees himself as James Bond, but his wife sees him more as Johnny English...LEAD Athletic build, Caucasian.

[EVA] AGE 25-40, She is an international spy who works with her husband, Walter. She overcompensates in everything she does, trying to stand out in a male-dominated profession. She tries to shield emotion and assert dominance in all situations. She has reached a lull in her marriage, and it is affecting her ability to complete missions with Walter. She sees her husband as the source of her problems, and refuses to acknowledge her own faults. She

sees herself as Rooney Mara (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), but her husband sees her more

as Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality)...LEAD Athletic build, Caucasian.

There are other non-paid roles.

Email picture & resume' to Amor Owens amor_owens@comcast.net (with underscore between amor and owens).

CASTING film for Arts Institute of Atlanta campus movie festival

2012-01-13T11:00:00.018-05:00

My name is David Cone. I am casting a film for the campus movie fest at The Art Institute of Atlanta. I'm excited about the story I've written and we have some of the best crew members in the school.

For this cast I need:

A young, caucasian boy who can play around the age of six. (If he's a bit older but can play 5 or 6 that would be perfect.)

A male in his 40's to play that child's respective father.

Then for the next scene, I need another male, in his 40's, who will be playing the grown up version of the first boy.

Lastly, I need a young girl, around age 9 or 10, to play his daughter.

I've written and directed 7 short films, won 3 awards, and I'm looking for good things from this one.

Email headshot & resume' to daconedac@gmail.com.

Thanks,

David Cone

Margie Haber in Atlanta Fri, Sat, Sun March 23-25

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

http://www.margiehaber.com/home/classes/haber-in-atlanta

Margie Haber Intensive Studies in L.A.

2012-01-11T17:10:00.000-05:00

Tyler Perry Studios - EXTRAS NEEDED for "Madea's Witness Protection Program"

2012-01-11T14:27:00.000-05:00

TYLER PERRY STUDIOS EXTRAS CASTING DEPARTMENT SEEKS EXTRAS
FOR THE FEATURE FILM “MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION”
Tyler Perry’s feature film “Madea’s Witness Protection” is casting extras. Filming will
take place in Atlanta, GA from January 2012 – March 2012.
The following talent is requested: Ages 18 and UP ONLY PLEASE!
∗ Male and Female Extras of all ethnicities! We are looking for all types of people and
looks!
Requirements:
« Must be available for a 12-14 hour day if booked
« Must have set etiquette
« Must have a professional work attitude
« Must have a flexible schedule
*Extra Compensation: $8.00/hr (with an 8 hours guarantee)
• Stand-In Compensation: $120.00/12 hours
Please go to TPSExtras.com and click on the label “How to Become an Extra” for
submission details.
THANKS!
Heather Hylton Bivens – Extras Casting Director, “Madea’s Witness Protection”
Emily Mask – Extras Casting Assistant, “Madea’s Witness Protection”

Georgia ranked #3 place to film!

2012-01-07T10:11:00.001-05:00

http://blogs.ajc.com/the-buzz/2012/01/04/georgia-ranked-3-place-to-film/

GA Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office 2011 Report

2012-01-01T08:17:00.002-05:00

http://bit.ly/xKWAwU

Georgia Film, Music Digital Entertainment Office

MISSION
To strategically deliver economic development throughout the state by:
• Attracting and assisting new entertainment projects and relocations
• Supporting the growth of indigenous businesses and infrastructure
• Marketing the state to prospects and customers
• Encouraging competitive incentives
• Promoting Georgia as both an entertainment industry destination and permanent business location

Film, Music & Digital Entertainment office Economic Impact
• FY11 saw record investment in the state by the entertainment industry, with more than $689.3 million in direct spending in FY11.
• Total economic impact of the 327 feature films, TV movies, TV series, commercials and music videos that filmed in Georgia was $2.4 billion, a 71 percent increase from FY10.
• A Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)- commissioned study shows the Film Tax Credit program returns $1.24 in state and local taxes for every $1.00 spent.
• In the same study, film-induced tourism spending has been conservatively estimated at $429 million, generating $33 million in state and local tax revenues since 2005.

Infrastructure Growth
• In FY11, numerous entertainment-related companies expanded or located to Georgia, including the return of Panavision Cameras, which had closed its Georgia facility in 1998 due to lack of business. Although none of these companies are eligible to receive the Film Tax Credit, it is a testament to the effectiveness of this program that companies have followed their customers to Georgia.
• In August of 2010, EUE Screen Gems signed a 50-year lease with the City of Atlanta to take over the old Lakewood Fairgrounds. The company has refurbished the historic buildings on the site, creating soundstages and production office space. In February of 2011, it completed construction of a new 37,500 square-foot dividable soundstage—the third-largest east of California.

2011 MILESTONES

• Investments in the state by entertainment companies have surpassed all previous highs, with more than $689.3 million in direct spending in FY11. Georgia is now among the top five states in the nation for film and TV production.

• In FY11, 336 feature films, TV movies, TV series, commercials and music videos located in Georgia, with an aggregate economic impact of $2.4 billion, a 71 percent increase from FY10. The economic impact created in FY11 accounts for 22 percent of the entire film impact produced in the division’s 38 year history.
• The FMDE office created the Camera Ready program to help economic impact from the film industry reach all corners of the state by offering film and television production companies access to local resources and information. The program is a special designation awarded to Georgia communities that are interested in attracting entertainment productions and meet the criteria established for the program. The state’s Camera Ready Community program started in October 2010 with 16 counties and, as of June 30, 2011, included 86 counties across the state.
• A Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)-commissioned study of the Film Tax Credit program shows a $1.24 return in state and local taxes for every $1.00 spent in tax credits since 2005.1 Additional value for Georgia not quantified in the study is the increased brand awareness of the state through the Georgia Entertainment Promotion (GEP) logo included in the requirements for the full tax credit.

FEATURE , INDEPENDENT, TELEVISION
& EPISODIC PRODUCTIONS in FY11

Total combined productions: 117
• Features: 25
• Independents: 18
• Television and Episodic: 83
Total combined budgets for features and television: $671.6M
Commercials: 189
• Total commercial budgets: $17.0M
Music Videos: 21
• Total music video budgets: $673,250
Georgia hosted a record number
of television series, most notably:
• AMC’s highest-rated show, The Walking Dead
• BET’s The Game, the most-watched sitcom on cable TV
• The Discovery Channel’s popular Auction Kings
• The CW’s top-rated series The Vampire Diaries
• Lifetime’s top-rated series Drop Dead Diva
• VH1’s hour-long scripted series Single Ladies
• TV’s long-running game show, now filmed in Georgia, Family Feud
• MTV’s Teen Wolf
• BET’s The Mo’Nique Show
• Tyler Perry Studios’ Meet the Browns

Movies: Feature/Indie
Footloose
Paramount
The Three Stooges
20th Century Fox
American Reunion
Reunion Committee, LLC/Universal
The Wettest County
Bootleg Movie, LLC
What To Expect When You’re Expecting
WTE Prods. Inc./Lionsgate
Jayne Mansfield’s Car
JMC Productions, LLC
Savannah
Savannah Prods East
Crackerjack
Crackerjack, LLC
Good Deeds
Deeds Prods. Inc./Tyler Perry Studios
The Trials and Tribulations of a
Trailer Trash Housewife
Krestrel Films
Joyful Noise
Gospel Truth Pictures/Alcon Ent.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Green House Pictures/Disney
The Collection
Liddell Entertainment
The Proxy
POPfilms, LLC
Madea’s Big Happy Family
BHF Prod./Tyler Perry Studios
Wanderlust
Universal
The Change Up
Fastball Prods./Universal
Fishers of Men
Desert Wind Films/Fishers of Men
Eye of the Hurricane
Eye of the Hurricane LLC
Fast & Furious 5
Universal
X Men: First Class
TCF International/Fox
Contagion
The Keres Corporation/Warner Brothers
The Ivy League
Radiant 3 Prods.
Soul Ties
Amvic Entertainment
Television films
Neverfail
Alive and Kicking/Cartoon Network
Marry Me
Sony
The Lost Valentine
McGhee Street Prods./Hallmark
Always and Forever
Crawfish Prods./ABC Family Channel
Field of Vision
HCP Productions

Television specials/series
The Walking Dead (Season 1) TWD Prods./AMC
Drop Dead Diva (Season 3) Woodridge Prods./Lifetime
Hail Mary (Pilot) Bonanza Prods./WB
Partners (Pilot) FTP Prods./ABC
WWE Wrestlemania XXV11 Event Services, Inc.
WWE Monday Night Raw Event Services Inc.
Reed Between the Lines (Series) Breakdown Prods./BET
The Game (Series) Breakdown Prods./BET
Untitled Josh Berman Project (Pilot) Woodridge Prods./Sony
The Mo’Nique Show (Season 2) BET V Prods./BET
BET Hip Hop Awards John Cossette Prods./BET
What Chili Wants (Season 2) Little Pond TV/BET
Bait Car (Series) BCA Prods./Turner
Mega Dens (Series) Crazy Window Prods.
Teen Wolf (Season 1) New Remote Prods./MTV
Necessary Roughness (Pilot & Season 1) Woodridge Prods./USA
Auction Kings (Season 2) Authentic Entertainment
Vampire Diaries (Season 2) Bonanza Prods./CW
Let’s Stay Together (Series) Breakdown Prods/BET
Single Ladies (Season 1) VFU/PopFilms/VH1
House of Payne (Season 5) House of Payne LLC/ Tyler Perry Studios
Good Eats (Season 15) Be Squared Prods./Food Network
Sunday Best (Series) BET Prods. V, Inc./BET
Atlanta DUI LMNO Cable Group, Inc.
For Better or Worse (Pilot) For Better or Worse
Real Housewives of Atlanta (Season 4) True Entertainment/Bravo
A Madea’s Christmas Perry Plays/TPS
Archer (Series) Floyd Co. Prods./FX
The Steve Harvey Project (Season 1) Breakdown Prods./BET
Meet the Browns (Season 4) Tyler Perry Studios/TBS
Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (Series) Swift Justice Prods.

Danny Acres Headshot Special Jan 28th & 29th

2011-12-12T11:53:00.003-05:00

Lou Freeman Photography Special

2011-12-10T18:45:00.000-05:00

Kelsey Edwards in Atlanta Feb 4 & 5!

2011-12-10T18:27:00.000-05:00

Get the Look that Works!

Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.

kelsey edwards photography

get the look that works

Get ready for pilot season and book those jobs
...with our help!

Atlanta
February 4th and 5th!

Go online to http://www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com/schedule.php
and book or call 323-936-6106 if you have questions.

To Your Success!

Kelsey Edwards Photography
Catchlight Studio
633 N La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-936-6106

visit me - www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com

like me - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-CA/Kelsey-Edwards-Photography/43806746018?ref=ts

tweet me - http://twitter.com/#!/CatchKelsey

read me - http://kelseyedwardsphoto.com/blog/

If you like us~ Yelp us!

follow on Twitter \| friend on Facebook \| forward to a friend
Copyright © 2011 Kelsey Edwards Photography and Catchlight Studios, All rights reserved. You received this email because you've shot with Kelsey in the past or asked to be put on this list. Our mailing address is: Kelsey Edwards Photography and Catchlight Studios 633 North La Brea Los Angeles, CA 90036 Add us to your address book
unsubscribe from this list \| update subscription preferences \| view email in browser

TBS needs EXTRAS for "Trends With Benefits"

2011-11-30T16:20:00.000-05:00

TBS is looking for extras and featured extras to be in a segment for their new show Trends With Benefits. The segment will be shot on Tuesday, 12/6 in downtown Atlanta. This is a NON PAYING position. If you are interested in getting experience on-set, being on TV and having something for your reel, this is a perfect opportunity. Plus you will get to meet some great people while you're at it!

Here's what we are looking for:

Women and men in their early 20's to late 30's - all ethnicities, and all dressed for chilly weather (coats, scarves, mittens). If selected, you will be in a segment about the latest trends in cocktail culture, specifically warm winter cocktails.

DATE OF SHOOT: Tuesday, 12/6/11
TIME OF SHOOT: 11am - 6pm (Some may arrive earlier or later depending on the schedule.)

If you are not available for this date or this time frame, please do not send your resume. There will be future shoots, however, and we'll be checking back with yourACT as they come up.

For those interested and who qualify, please email your headshot and contact info to Jonathan Baker, at jonathan.baker@turner.com

Check us out on the web and Facebook:

http://www.tbs.com/shows/trendswithbenefits/
http://www.facebook.com/TrendsWithBenefits?ref=ts

2011-10-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

FALL SUMMIT NEWS!

HAPPY FALL! This is my favorite time of year as we gear up for the holiday season.

My family and I love giving even more of our time and special gifts to our favorite charities these next few months.

And I will be adding a new page to my Summit website soon listing those charities and non profits that I support, so everyone can learn more about them. (Contact me if you would like to find out how your favorite non profit organization could get on my list.)

MY PASSION IS TO CONNECT MORE GREAT PEOPLE WITH MORE GREAT CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS, year round!

TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!!!

WANTED....

HERO NOMINATIONS NOW

for both LIVE YOUR LEGACY SUMMIT locations coming up in 2012!!

Selected honorees will receive.....

PRIZES, RECOGNITION AND MORE!!!!!

Who do you know that is going out of their way to LIVE their BEST LEGACY right now?

"You know who I mean"

that person who is ALWAYS giving back to their favorite causes.

Or they have OVERCOME huge obstacles and are still a positive giver, despite their own circumstances.

Live Your Legacy Summit wants to know who these OUTSTANDING

people are.

We are looking to honor and award many LIVING LEGENDS in your neighborhood at our next Summits.

Women of all ages

TEENS

and YES even boys and girls under 13 years old. Many are out there making a difference too.

AND WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THEM.

HURRY before time runs out to submit.

Live Your Legacy Summit coming to:

SUNNY ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA on January 7th.

AND

HOT-LANTA, GEORGIA on March 24th.

To nominate someone and to read ALL the details LOG ON TO:

http://www.LiveYourLegacySummit.com

Look for the blue box on the home page, with the heart ribbon in it that says .......

Nominate a Living Legacy Honoree.

Open that form to see ALL the details and categories.

I can't wait to see all of your nominations!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Blessings from your friend,

Aurea

Be an extra on "Tyler Perry's House of Payne"

2011-09-22T18:53:00.000-04:00

“TYLER PERRY’S HOUSE OF PAYNE” SEASON 6 SEEKS EXTRAS

“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” is casting extras for Season 6. Filming will take place in Atlanta, GA from

October 3, 2011 – January 2012.

The following talent is requested: Ages 18 and UP ONLY PLEASE!

• Male and Female Extras of all ethnicities! We are looking for all types of people and looks!

• Featured Extras: Certified Nurse

• Stand-Ins: Please let us know if you have Stand-In experience

Requirements:

« Must be available for a 12-14 hour day if booked

« Must have set etiquette

« Must have a professional work attitude

« Must have a flexible schedule

*Extra Compensation: $8.00/hr (with an 8 hour guarantee)

* Stand-In Compensation: $110.00/12 hours

Please go to HOPextras.wordpress.com and click on the label “How to Become an Extra” for

submission details.

THANKS!

Heather Hylton Bivens – Extras Casting Director, “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” Season 6

Emily Mask – Extras Casting Assistant, “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” Season 6

Extra Extras seeks actors and others for extra work

2011-09-17T15:13:00.002-04:00

Hello!
Welcome to Extra Extras, a branch of About Faces Model and Talent. We would like to add you to our database and if you are interested in acting please email your head shots and resume or just a picture of yourself and your contact info (ie. full name; number; real age (don't worry we won't tell); email) to ExtraExtrasGA@gmail.com.

We will then add you to our database which will put you in the running for extra work, stand-in and smaller roles. Also for all current updates and audition info, please go to Facebook and join our Extra Extra Actors casting company group http://www.facebook.com/#%21/groups/244937485540856/?notif_t=group_r2j.
We look forward to working with you,
Love,
The staff of Extra Extras :)

CASTING CALL

2011-09-14T13:25:00.000-04:00

Have you seen someone who looks exactly like your mom, brother, sister, dad or even a friend?

TWIIN is a reality TV series that will connect 2 people from two different walks of life to share their story and reveal to viewers that anyone can have a twin who are not biologically related to each other but who look like TWIINS!

If you answered yes to both questions we want you to submit!

Please visit www.twiin.tv and submit photos and stories of people you think look alike but don't know each other, or submit your own photo in hopes that we find your Twiin!

Compensation:

Each “Twiin” candidate that is cast for the show will receive a flat rate of $100.00!

Thanks!

My Twiin Productions, LLC

2011-07-27T11:34:00.000-04:00

Is it time for your new Professional, Actor, or FaceBook head shots?

Please Use this image to receive you 1/2 price head shots.

Call today for appointments.

LOU FREEMAN
photographs & multimedia
404-697-1113
Lou@loufreeman.com
http://www.loufreeman.com

$175 includes one look or outfit set up for your lifestyle headshot.

All head shots are to be booked by appointment only and

paid in full upon appointment and do not include make up.

All images can be posted on line for selection.

Retouching is $25 per image.

Prints in all sizes are available.

Additional Disks with retouched images are $25 each.

Atlanta Sound Stages

2011-05-15T08:53:00.001-04:00

EUE / Screen Gems Studios in Atlanta!
Atlanta Sound Stages

The Stories We Make Up

2011-05-13T12:34:00.001-04:00

Actors and artists are brilliant at making up stories.

In fact, you're so good at it that it could be killing your acting career. Here's what happens. You go into an audition room. You give a really great audition. And whammo, you get the ever-dreaded "Thank you," and suddenly the great work you just did doesn't mean a thing in your mind. After all, every actor "knows" that when someone says "Thank You" it means "No Thank You," right?

WRONG!!!

"Thank You" means "Thank You." Period. Any other 'story' you put around it is your own. I'm sure you've made up plenty of those stories. We all do it. You've decided at some time or another that "Thank you" really meant "Thank you, you suck." But in truth, you have NO IDEA what that "Thank you" really meant. But our fabulous brain MUST MAKE UP SOMETHING so it can file it somewhere in its "database" under "what Thank you means."

Trust me, we're not just making up stories about what "Thank you" means. At every moment our brains are making up all kinds of stories that are well, FRANKLY NOT TRUE! At the foundation of fact there is simply what happened and what didn't happen. That's it!

What have you been making up?

Stop IT! 8 (other) Stories That are Killing Your Acting Career

1. "That casting director just doesn't like me"

2. "I sucked at that audition"

3. "I didn't really want to be in that show [film, play, etc] anyway."

4. "They can't tell anything in only 16 bars [30 seconds, 5 minutes, etc.]"

5. "That person behind the desk [camera] is probably just an intern."

6. "I heard the role was already cast."

7. "The industry is closed to newcomers."

8. "They only want stars"

==========================================

Work IT: Your Work IT! Action

Become acutely aware of the stories you're making up and stop it!

=========================================

Think IT: Words of Wisdom

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

Aldous Huxley

Work IT! Newsletter is protected by copyright

Atlanta Film Festival 365 Membership Levels & Benefits 2011

2011-03-31T12:32:00.000-04:00

Shawndaja Entertainment - OPEN CALL

2011-03-29T11:25:00.000-04:00

Great article by Marc Durso

2011-03-04T09:40:00.000-05:00

Read this great article on Acting by acting instructor Marc Durso from Infocus Magazine.com.

Sister Entertainment becomes Avery Sisters Entertainment, LLC

2011-01-16T09:54:00.000-05:00

Looking for Entertainers for Corporate Events, Murder Mysteries, Celebrity Lookalikes, and more...

2010-12-15T19:31:00.003-05:00

Hi all!

Crownover Enterprises is looking to expand its Rolodex of talent.
I'm looking for actors in the Atlanta area who you feel have the potential at being great at:

Corporate Theater
Living Statues
Murder Mysteries
Mix & mingle characters
Etc

Candidates need not be ultra experienced because I can show them the ropes. They do, however, need to be extremely professional, willing to learn, generally be a fun person to be around, and be comfortable with a live audience. Improv skills are big plus!

If you know of anyone who may fit the bill please send them my way.
Have them email a current photo and a list of any experience they may have with corporate acting.

Thank you,
Dean Crownover
404.403.9090
dcrownover@comcast.net
CrownoverEnterprises.com

CROWNOVER ENTERPRISES
Entertainment With Outcomes

*Fake Paparazzi
*Emcees
*Benefit Auctioneers
*Murder Mysteries
*Celebrity Lookalikes
*Walk-Around Costumed Characters
... and much more!

See Video of our Fake Paparazzi right now at www.crownoverenterprises.com

Ready for our closeup

2010-11-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

Tinseltown taps Atlanta as movie-making mecca! Will showbiz boom bring boffo box office?

by Curt Holman

http://clatl.com/gyrobase/hollywood-comes-to-atlanta/Content?oid=2298123&showFullText=true

Read this article in Creative Loafing!

Sister Entertainment Open Call every other Saturday

2010-10-28T15:58:00.008-04:00

Avery Sisters Entertainment (formerly known as Sister Entertainment, LLC) has recently teamed up with a talent and model agency in LA! Not only do we receive castings from the Southeast Region, we will now receive castings from the Los Angeles, CA area.

We are searching primarily for actors that have SAG credentials, but we are also looking for professionals actors and those who have “extreme” potential but must be currently enrolled in reputable acting classes.

We are looking for all ages, genders and ethnicities. (Not accepting children under 5 yrs of age). Please bring headshot and resume. You do not need to prepare a monologue, a short script will be supplied to you.

Open Calls will be every other Saturday at our local office. calls every other Saturday. Email info@sisterent.com for schedule of next Open Call.

You do not need to make an appointment but please note…contact our office on Friday evenings after 7pm to listen to our voicemail for any scheduling changes that “we” may have.

Our address is: 3783 Presidential Parkway, Suite 142E, Atlanta GA 30340 (Presidential Commons office Park)

Great article in Jezebel Magazine

2010-10-21T12:49:00.000-04:00

Hollywood East
Atlanta’s music business has been booming for more than a decade now. But how did the ATL become the East Coast’s answer to Tinseltown?

Perhaps you’ve read about the increasing slew of local celeb spottings within the pages of JEZ, People and US Weekly magazines. Maybe you’ve even seen a star or two around town yourself, what with A-list actors ranging from Demi Moore and Jennifer Aniston to Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds descending upon the city. Regardless, it’s clear Atlanta is emerging as the East Coast’s answer to Hollywood, with dozens of big-budget films and TV shows lured here by the gorgeous weather, experienced local crews and state tax rebates.

There was a time when the business of filmmaking was location-driven, with directors seeking out specific locations that best embodied their creative vision. That all changed when Canada began offering competitive tax incentives, which helped production companies that were struggling to finance increasingly big budgets. In 2003, Louisiana became the first U.S. state to offer major tax incentives, which took away much of the business Georgia was getting at that time. It took until 2008 for the General Assembly to pass the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, offering aggressive tax incentives to production companies choosing to work in the state.

Lee Thomas, the film division director for the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, remains one of the key players in Georgia’s current film boom. In her eyes, the legislation has proved to be remarkably effective, leading to a 400-percent rise in local productions in the last two years. “In fiscal year 2007, the economic impact of our efforts on film, TV, commercials, music videos and game development was around $241 million,” she points out. “By fiscal year 2010, which just ended, the economic impact was $1.3 billion. So it’s definitely working.”

Oscar-winning film director Aaron Schneider, who shot his latest film, “Get Low” (starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray), here, claims the tax incentive was one of several reasons he decided to film in Georgia. “One reason is that the crew is terrific, because the people down here are great. We also wanted to shoot in Georgia because of creative reasons: We saw a beautiful little town in Crawfordville that worked perfectly for us. And the tax rebate plan works out great for everybody. We put some money into the economy, and Georgia helped us out a little in terms of our squeaky little budget.”

That’s not the only way the state helps out. Thomas’ team also assists clients through every step of the production process, from location scouting and finding production office space to securing local crew and equipment. They certainly have their hands full, what with TV shows such as “The Vampire Diaries,” “Drop Dead Diva” and “The Walking Dead” all in production here. The list of films being shot in the area seems to keep growing by the day, from the “Footloose” reboot (starring Dennis Quaid, Andie McDowell and Julianne Hough) and “The Fast and the Furious 5” (Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker and Vin Diesel) to “The Change-Up” (Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman) and “Wanderlust” (Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston).

Georgia is also attracting multimillion-dollar production facilities as well. Filmmaker Tyler Perry opened his namesake studio in southwest Atlanta in 2008. Raleigh Studios, the largest independent studio and production support operation in the United States, recently opened a full-service film and TV production facility in Senoia. And major industry player EUE/Screen Gems recently announced a 50-year partnership with the City of Atlanta to open a 30-acre production facility on the Lakewood Fairgrounds property.

“We are so pleased to be open and working in Atlanta,” says Chris Cooney, COO of EUE/Screen Gems. “We’ve hosted one major entertainment brand at the studio already. We’re in discussions with studios about upcoming bookings, and you’ll be hearing soon about some of the Atlanta-based individuals we’ll be hiring as we move forward. The climate here is definitely film- and television-friendly. We are excited about the work and collaboration still to come.”

As happy as Hollywood may be about setting up shop in our fair city, it doesn’t hold a candle to the excitement local actors and other creative types are feeling. For them, more productions means more work, which in turn leads to more opportunities for them to generate their own creative ideas. Adel native Ray McKinnon has been a working actor for more than 20 years now, moving from small parts in “Driving Miss Daisy” and “In the Heat of the Night” to major roles in local productions such as “The Blind Side” and “Footloose.” As a writer and director with several indie films (“The Accountant,” “Randy & the Mob”) under his belt, McKinnon sees the current climate as one that will foster great growth for the city’s creative future.

“There’s a viable entertainment industry happening here, and that creative energy is leading a lot of people to pursue film degrees,” McKinnon says proudly. “They’re gonna make movies come hell or high water. There’s a sophistication about it. The film crews have worked on big productions and aren’t freaked out by them, and even the young actors have been in front of cameras for a good portion of their lives and aren’t intimidated by it. I’m grateful for the fact that it’s happening in Atlanta, and I just want to see it continue for as long as possible.”

By Bret Love

Customized, professionally shot & edited scenes for demo reels

2010-09-20T11:04:00.001-04:00

Sleepy Eyes Filmworks is now offering customized, professionally shot, professionally edited, high quality scenes for talent looking to add to their demo reel or resume. For more info contact us @ films@sleepyeyesfilmworks.com or call 404-909-9766.

Article in the AJC

2010-08-10T11:57:00.000-04:00

Atlanta Business News http://www.ajc.com/business/ 5:08 p.m. Sunday, August 8, 2010
By Tammy Joyner tjoyner@ajc.com
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Film students spend most of their college years creating their craft, so few graduate understanding how the industry works as a business.

Emory University hopes to change that this fall with a new program that will combine the artistry of filmmaking with the left-brained fundamentals of business.

The school's new concentration in Film and Media Management will give students a broad immersion not only in the creative side of filmmaking, but real-world experience in distribution, marketing, finance and other business elements of film and media. In turn, business students interested in film will get a chance to learn how film and other media evolve artistically.

"They've taken a leaf from our notebook," said Al Lieberman, marketing professor and executive director of the Entertainment Media and Technology program at New York University's Stern School of Business. In 1996, the business school began offering courses tailored to undergraduate film students. "Emory, to the best of my knowledge, is probably the first school to have picked up on this and looking at it as an opportunity."

The two-year program, which starts in a student's junior year, is a collaboration between Emory's Department of Film Studies and the Goizueta Business School and comes as Georgia is carving out an impressive role in the film industry. "The growth of the [film and media] industry in Atlanta has made it possible for us to connect our students to meaningful experiences and better prepare themselves to launch their careers. Film is going to end up being a huge part of Atlanta's economy in the not-to-distant future," said Andrea Hershatter, associate dean and director of the Bachelor of Business Administration program at Goizueta Business School.

"This is now the best time to be making film and television in Atlanta," said Matt Bern-stein, a film historian, professor and chairman of Emory College's film studies department. "This kind of [recent] expansion is bringing so much work to Atlanta."

The heads of the film department and business school at Emory realized the need for the program two years ago after business and film students were brought together to create a television pilot in a TV production class.

The business students naturally gravitated together as a team and came up with good ideas to market and distribute the product but couldn't really execute the ideas. The film students could create trailers and commercials but didn't have the logistical or marketing know-how, Bernstein said.

Beyond the classroom, the gulf between the creative and business sides has led to huge failures in the industry. Who can forget "Heaven's Gate"? Released in 1980, the Western was a lavish recounting of the dispute between land barons and European immigrants in 1890s Wyoming. The movie, which cost $44 million - a fortune at the time - was deemed "the biggest flop ever" by film critics. Its financial and creative excesses eventually sank United Artists studio.

"The business people didn't have an ongoing communication with the creative people and the creative people had the sense the business people couldn't really contribute," Lieberman said. "They felt the business people were only interested in curtailing them, not really supporting and facilitating."

Creating a better link between filmmakers and financiers is every bit as critical today.

The industry has ushered in a new age of filmmaking, where films and other forms of media are conceived and displayed on more than just big screens in theaters: on the Internet, in video games, on cell phones, personal digital devices and other platforms.

"It's a vast industry," said Eddy Von Mueller, a lecturer in Emory's film studies department. "A lot of [film studies] people get upset if they leave college and don't become a movie star or director. They think there's nothing else. We want to give them an idea of how rich and vast it is. There are careers that exist now that didn't exist a few years ago."

To get a better sense of what Emory's program needed, Bernstein, Von Mueller and Hershatter met with alumni in Los Angeles - among them agents, producers and network executives - to find out what areas of media they wished they had learned about while at Emory.

The alumni gave them pointers on how to better prepare students for careers in film and media and committed to help students in the program. Emory alumni work in talent agencies, movie studios, television and other parts of the industry.

Emory began teaching filmmaking on a regular basis about two years ago. Courses include documentary, avant-garde, narrative fiction filmmaking and screenwriting.

The inaugural Film and Media Management program will have 10 film students and 10 business students. It will be open to juniors and seniors this year but limited to juniors after that.

The concentration, which offers five courses, is not a minor for film studies students or business school students and will not appear on a student's transcript.

It will, however, give students a chance to learn more about the multifaceted media industry. Students will be teamed with industry professionals during internships in the program. By its end, students will be expected to develop, pitch and create a pilot for their ideas in a course called "Content Creation."

"We're not trying to be UCLA or NYU," said Hershatter. "We're trying to work within our region to leverage Emory's resources and position our students in a unique experience."

Some good advice

2010-08-05T11:27:00.002-04:00

What am I doing with my life?
by Leslie Becker
Author of The Organized Actor®
Have you ever felt like you're on a treadmill that just keeps going, and even though you want to get off you just don't seem to know how to?

If you're human, I know that you've felt it. Everyone has. And let's be honest, "what am I doing with my life?" is a valid and scary question. But you know me, I'm never shy about asking tough questions, especially if they
will lead you to the answers you are looking for.

So what ARE you doing with your life?

Are you fulfilled? Are you happy? Are you living the life you've always dreamed of?

If so, congratulations!

If you are not, congratulations for admitting it! Knowing that your life is not really going in the direction you want it to can actually be an incredibly powerful motivation. The challenge with actors and artists is that often we want A LOT of things to be different. But through all my years of coaching, what I usually find is that all of those "not so great parts of your life" stem back to one key ingredient that if altered, will change everything. I'll bet you already know what yours is. It's usually pretty obvious even if you don't want to speak it out loud. And I'm not talking about outside factors like "if I were just in a Broadway show everything would be great." No, I'm talking about things you have complete control over.

Is it your self-image? Do you need to lose weight? Are you in a relationship you need to get out of? Do you need to get back to voice lessons? Do you need to get a job? Do you need to quit smoking? What is it? What is that one thing that would change everything if you took the step today?

Well guess what? All you have to do to change it is to take the first step. Whatever it is. Take it right now. Go on, do it. Be brave. Your life is waiting for you on the other side!

Here are 8 fabulous ways to take back your life!

1. "BE" WITH YOURSELF. As artists we are pulled in so many directions as we run to auditions, balance our day-jobs, families and friends. Before you can blink an eye, a year has gone by and you'll still running around like a chicken with your head cut of. Make a point to "be" with yourself everyday. Just you. The real you. You can do this by taking time daily to journal, meditate or walk with nature. Stop "doing" and start "being."

2. STOP THAT ONE BAD HABIT. You know which one I mean. It's that habit that is affecting every aspect of your life. It might be smoking, procrastinating, sleeping till noon, being late, jumping from relationship to relationship, complaining about the business, gossiping. Whatever. Stop it right now. Think highly enough of yourself to treat your mind and body with great respect and your life will transform almost immediately.

3. TACKLE THE BIG ISSUE. Yes, THAT big issue! Everyone has one. Many times we skirt around the issue and look for other "excuses" as to why something isn't going our way instead of really addressing the biggest thing holding us back. And quite honestly, usually the thing holding you back is YOU. Only you. You can pretend it is someone or something else, but it is only you.

4. STOP DOING WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE TO DO. I've written this one for myself because I am the queen of doing things I don't really like to do, simply because I CAN do them. But being good at something doesn't necessary mean that you LIKE doing it. So cut out at least one thing that you really don't like doing and give it to someone else. Even if you have to pay the person, find someone else or some other way to have that thing done for you.

5. TAKE A BREAK. Human beings always feel the need to push themselves so hard.especially goal-driven people (hello!). But taking a break and allowing yourself to breathe and get perspective will catapult you forward quicker than hard-nosing your way through whatever you are working on.

6. DO THAT THING YOU'VE BEEN TERRIFIED TO DO. If you're terrified to leave your agency, do it. If you're terrified to do a solo concert, do it. If you're terrified to break up with your spouse, do it. Trust me, the fear you've created "about" doing it is far greater than actually doing it. (Let me be clear, I am not instructing you to take these specific actions, but rather using these as examples to spark your own "do-it" actions)

7. STOP MAKING EXCUSES. There's nothing less empowering than blaming everything and everyone else for your own mistakes. Oh yes, it is much easier to say "the accompanist really screwed up" than it is to say "gosh, I really didn't prepare properly for that audition." Everyone can have a rough day, at an audition or otherwise, but as soon as you take responsibility for it, your world becomes an easier place to navigate.

8. ACCEPT THE TRUTH. Regardless of how difficult the truth might be, it IS the truth, and accepting it will truly set you free. I can't promise you that accepting the truth will be easy, but I can promise you that when you do, a new world awaits!

Apply even just ONE of these ideas above and your life will transform with ease.

Leslie Becker is an actress and author of The Organized Actor®, the #1 selling organizational tool for actors for 15 years. To subscribe to her free newsletter Work IT! Tips for Workin' Your Acting Career and Your Life, please visit http://www.OrganizedActor.com

=============================

Leslie Becker
The Organized Actor®
www.OrganizedActor.com

Live Painting for your next Party

2010-05-31T11:17:00.004-04:00

Duke Ellington Live Painting in Tampa.wmv

This is a video of a live painting I did this past April in Tampa. It was for a fundraiser for a school jazz program. Hopefully you'll recognize Duke Ellington when it's done!

A native Atlantan, Jean Alexander has a background in painting, portraiture, architectural illustration, and, oddly enough, theatre. These two worlds collided in the form of live painting when Jean did her first live performance painting, along with six other artists, at North Point Community Church in front of an audience of 12,000 people. That was in 2002, and since then, Jean has painted for various fund raisers, at conventions, and even as the entertainment in a club. For more information, you can contact Jean at jeanvalexander@gmail.com.

Georgia shoots take off

2010-05-16T20:06:00.000-04:00

Georgia shoots take off
Aggressive incentives draw high-profile pics
By Jack Egan

When it comes to deciding where to shoot these days, many producers will tell you they have Georgia on their mind.

Recent high-profile film releases lensed in the Peach State include "The Blind Side," starring Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock, "The Last Song" with Miley Cyrus and Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?" Set for the cine-plexes later in 2010: "The Conspirator," directed by Robert Redford; "Lottery Ticket," starring Ice Cube and Bow Wow; "The Killers," with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigel; and "Due Date," starring Robert Downey Jr.

Productions have come flocking to Georgia ever since it boosted its film incentives to 30% in 2008. The hike made Georgia competitive with Louisiana, New Mexico and a handful of other states that have effectively used hefty tax breaks to lure shoots from Hollywood. More than 26 features were shot in Georgia in fiscal 2009, compared with only a couple two years earlier.

"We're definitely in the top five states when it comes to film and television production and No. 1 in our region," says Bill Thompson, deputy commissioner of Georgia's Film, Music & Digital Entertainment office. Production spending has increased by more than 150% since the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act was signed two years ago, according to Thompson, who projects that total outlays could approach $1 billion in 2010.

Georgia provides a basic 20% incentive tax credit for film, television and videogame productions that spend at least $500,000 in a single year. An additional 10% is available if a production includes an animated State of Georgia logo in the titles or credits or some similar product placement within a film. On top of that, there is a sales tax exemption, worth up to 8%, on spending within the state for equipment or services.

"Our incentives are the easiest to use in the country," Thompson says. "There is no sunset clause on the legislation, no limits or caps on Georgia spend, no limits or caps on the amount of tax credits that may be earned, and both residents and non-residents working in Georgia are treated the same," he observes.

Because the financial incentives come in the form of credits, they have to be sold to a company or an individual that has Georgia taxable income, which usually is done through a broker intermediary.

"The value generally ranges between 85 and 90 cents on the dollar but can go up to 92 cents on premium credits, usually from large studios," says Denise Elsbree, head of Georgia Film Credit Consultants. Since 2008 the business "has exploded," she notes. "We feel we've become the go-to state, under consideration for just about any location that we even remotely resemble."

Georgia's tax benefits are leveraged against the state's other attractions to filmmakers, from generally mild weather to a diverse topography that includes mountains, forests, swamps and 100 miles of seashore. Locations range from teeming urban environments to rural hamlets. Georgia also has a number of historic towns boasting unique period architecture.

Coastal Savannah, with its well-preserved streets and planned squares that hark back to its 18th-century founding, is where Forrest Gump sat on his bench and recently served as the period setting for "The Conspirator." Disney's "The Last Song" was shot at nearby Tybee Island.

"Making a movie in some of the neighborhoods can involve a lot friction," says Jay Self, the long-time tourism and film services director for Savannah. "My job is to find a way to accommodate a production that is also good for the city."

Atlanta is already a major media and entertainment complex with a music sector that registers annual revenues of about $2 billion. The city has become a center for hip-hop recordings, spawning stars such as Outkast and Ludacris. It is also the headquarters for Turner Broadcasting with its many cable networks.

It's estimated that more than 25,000 Georgians owe their livelihood to some entertainment-related enterprise. Most important to production companies, Georgia has a deep and experienced film and television crew base that tops 6,000. "We can handle up to 10 film and television productions simultaneously," Thompson says.

Broderick Johnson, one of the producers of Alcon Entertainment's "The Blind Side," says the positive experience of shooting in Georgia drew the company back to do "The Lottery Ticket," which hits theaters in August. In addition to offering creatively appealing locations for both films, "The magnitude of Georgia's tax break is one of the best, if not the best, in the country," he says. Georgia trumps other states with attractive breaks because "it has such a mature crew base you can hire almost everyone locally, so the value of the credit is bigger."

A strong testament to Georgia's incentives appeal to filmmakers is, indeed, repeat business. "Everything about shooting here was tremendous," says Marc Fischer, executive producer of "Hall Pass," directed by the Farrelly brothers and starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis. The pic recently finished shooting in and around Atlanta.

Georgia served as a substitute for New England, and it was both more economical and easier to shoot the film in Atlanta instead of Boston, Fischer notes. He also praises the city's amenities. "There's a Morton's, a Palm and amazing shops," he says. "Our wardrobe people from Los Angeles were able to find everything here."

Because of the positive experience with "Hall Pass," the next two films Marc Fischer is working on are also set to be filmed in Georgia. "Walter the Farting Dog," based on a children's book of the same name, will begin filming in August. And the much-anticipated "Three Stooges" project -- tentatively starring Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro and "very possibly Jim Carrey," according to Fischer -- starts prepping in Atlanta in January. "We've really found a home here," he says.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com.

TV producers find a lot to like in Georgia

2010-05-16T20:04:00.000-04:00

TV producers find a lot to like in Georgia
Savings can be high enough to allow a new studio to be built
By Karen Idelson

Georgia television production has long been known for "In the Heat of the Night," but a crop of popular newcomers -- "Drop Dead Diva" and "Vampire Diaries" -- have focused the small screen spotlight back on the Peach State.

The producers of "Drop Dead Diva," which shoots in Peachtree City, about an hour south of Atlanta, initially came for the tax rebates. They soon found a lot more in the area that they could use to get the look they wanted -- even places doubling for Los Angeles. And since labor costs and property costs were right, the show was able to build its own backlot. "There's a lot of space here, there are a lot of looks available and the ability to do things quickly and easily," says executive producer Josh Berman. "People really appreciate us in Georgia, too. When we brought Paula Abdul in to shot an episode at a local high school there was a lot of excitement about it, while in L.A. people are sometimes too used to seeing celebrities everywhere."

"Diva" is not the only TV skein making use of the state's varied scenery. "Vampire Diaries" uses soundstages in Decatur, and the city of Covington doubles for its "Mystic Falls" location. Additional shooting takes place in Monroe. The new ABC pilot "187 Detroit" is also shooting in Georgia.

Mark Henderson, owner of Get-a-Grip Atlanta, has seen production come back in quickly since 2008, when Georgia brought back solid incentives for film and television production. "We've always had the infrastructure," says Henderson, whose company has helped put together crews and equipment for "American Idol," "Nanny 911," and a variety of CBS specials. "But I would say in recent years Atlanta has really grown up, and we're starting to be known as a place where you can find mountains and a variety of exteriors and locations for different productions."

Wilbur Fitzgerald, an actor and founding partner in Georgia Film Tax Consultants, began to see an influx of crew about two years ago when Georgia lawmakers began to consider bringing back tax credits. "Crews seem to find out things before anyone, so we began to see people who'd moved away or just new people come into the state for the work," Fitzgerald says. "So right now our crews are very deep, and we have a lot of resources for incoming production." Georgia grants a tax credit of 20% to qualified productions. Qualified companies can also save through a tax exemption that gives companies an immediate point-of-purchase exemption that will save up to 8% on many below-the-line materials and rentals. An additional 10% tax credit can be earned by including an embedded Georgia logo within the completed project.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com.

Screen Gems Studio Report on WSB

2010-05-14T10:12:00.004-04:00

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/23532642/detail.html

Multimillion-Dollar Movie Studio Planned For Atlanta Posted: 5:14 pm EDT May 12, 2010 Updated: 6:45 pm EDT May 12, 2010 ATLANTA -

A multimillion-dollar soundstage could soon call southeast Atlantahome. Channel 2 Action News reporter Jovita Moore got an exclusive firstlook at plans to turn the Lakewood Fairgrounds into a soundstage for Screen Gems, a New York-based subsidiary of Sony's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. The development would mean about 1,000 new jobs and many opportunities for new development in and around the Lakewood Fairgrounds. "To have a major company come in like Screen Gems and want to do something is exhilarating," said John Lavelle who handles Atlanta's real estate. The Lakewood Fairgrounds is a property the city has wanted to do something with. "The new soundstage, which will enable film production to take off in Atlanta, will be put where former sheds are," said Lavelle. A LOOK BACK: Lakewood Antiques Market Georgia competed with Tennessee and Louisiana for the development project.

Screen Gems currently has a studio in based in Wilmington, N.C. The Atlanta City Council finance committee approved the deal Wednesday. It now goes to the full city council for a vote on Monday. Among the benefits, the city would get rental income from the deal and millions would be invested into the old fairgrounds. It would also help put Atlanta on the map for moviemakers. Channel 2 has learned that Screen Gems has agreed to terms of an offer. It's ready to lease the fairgrounds for $250,000 a year to start, and make an initial $6 million investment -- replacing old metal sheds that are currently on the property with a Hollywood-type soundstage to make movies and rebuilding much of the infrastructure on 30 acres of land. "We think it's a very favorable deal ... we think it's important for the city of Atlanta to have these new economic development opportunities," said Luz Borrero, Atlanta's deputy COO. Borrero said the city worked for nearly three years to make this happen. "We are competing for this type of industry and it is not a given that they just simply choose us," said Borrero. During Moore's sneak peek at the plans, a Screen Gems executive and a landscape architect were also there reviewing site plans for the fairgrounds. The production company said it is ready to move in as soon as the ink is dry. The four buildings at the fairgrounds site will not be torn down, but instead get much-needed face-lifts. Infrastructure all around the property would also be improved. The city would get $250,000 a year to start, but that rent could get as high as $600,000 after the first 10 years.

The Lakewood Fairgrounds property is very marketable because there is plenty of parking and it is about four miles from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and downtown Atlanta. Visitors also have easy access to Interstates 75/85.

Copyright 2010 by WSBTV.com.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NEW SAG franchised talent agency

2010-05-04T10:29:00.002-04:00

THE JANA VANDYKE AGENCY recently became SAG franchised.

Their contact information is:
3655 James Rd.
Suite 114
Acworth, GA 30102
(770) 529-0655
--
Alison D. Wise
Assistant Executive Director
AFTRA Atlanta Local
SAG Georgia Branch
awise@aftra.com
(404) 239-0131 ext. 12

XXI CENTURY TALENT SEARCH

2010-01-25T10:01:00.003-05:00

ACTORS * DANCERS * SINGERS

LOOKING FOR AN AGENT IN ATLANTA OR LOS ANGELES???

XXI CENTURY ENTERTAINMENT

TALENT SEARCH

XXI Century talent discoveries have appeared on:

“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”, “Everybody Hates Chris”, “Meet The Browns”, “According to Jim”, “That’s So Raven”, Nickelodeon’s “All That”, “One Tree Hill”, “Lost”, HBO’s “True Blood”, “The Unit”, “Days of Our Lives”, CSI, “8 Simple Rules”, “Without a Trace”, “Arrested Development”, “The Price is Right”, “Deal or No Deal”, “The Wronged Man”, Oliver Stone’s “W”, “Dr. Doolittle 3”, “Reign Over Me”, “Freedom Writers”, “Coach Carter”, “Soul Plane” and “Bring It on All or Nothing”!!!

OPEN CALL AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

For Appointment Call: (770) 271-8060

For more information visit our website at: www.xxicenturyent.com

HIGH RISE nominated for 9 Indie Soap Awards - VOTE NOW!

2010-01-24T14:12:00.004-05:00

HIGH RISE up for 9 Indie Soap Awards--we need your vote!!

Hello High Rise Fans,
As we get prepared to go into production for Season 2, we have just learned that HIGH RISE has
been nominated for 9 Indie Soap Awards. We are thrilled and hope you will click on the link below and VOTE for us as the 2009 Fan Favorite. Winners will be announced on Feb 1 and you can also see the individual nominees by clicking on the image above.

We have some great stuff coming in Season 2! Soon you will be able to SEE casting sessions LIVE
on our site, we'll have a LIVE feed from the set during the shoot and some more surprises in store.

Stay tuned for the DRAMA!!!
http://www.highrisetheseries.com/blog/

Elite Atlanta Lifestyle becomes Stewart Talent Atlanta!

2009-12-19T07:16:00.005-05:00

yourACT Gwinnett branch now open!

2009-08-13T16:31:00.003-04:00

yourACT Acting Studios has a NEW location in Sugar Hill! Classes for Kids, Teens, and Adults. Classes began September 8th.

The Gwinnett Branch is a subsidiary location of our main school in Decatur.

Realizing that kids & teens need a well-rounded acting program, yourACT has tailored its classes to give them a taste of what it's really like to work on-camera and onstage, plus the thrill of improvisation. Taught by instructor Koko Chalfant.

They learn how to:

*Unlock their imagination and emotions
*Be honest, truthful, and natural
*Gain discipline and focus
*Become the character

This ongoing course focuses on using imagination, creativity, concentration, and focus to create strong, believable characters, whether in front of a camera or on stage.

*Fun and fast-paced with expert guidance
*Scripts and improv games geared to excite and challenge
*Great training for the real world of TV, film, and theatre
*Builds confidence, improves reading skills, and enhances self-esteem
*Visits by top Atlanta talent agents and casting directors!

Kids & Teens have fun while learning to perform on-camera! Each child or teen learns the fundamentals of acting in a supportive environment.

Developing at their own pace, they explore the art and craft of acting!

Kids & Teens meet after school weekdays. Adult classes are also forming, to be held 7-10pm weekdays.

All Stars Performing Academy offers a full program of dance for ages 3 - 93 - ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, folkloric - and body sculpting as well.

Visit their website for their schedule and tuition. For more information on the acting classes, schedules and costs at our new affiliate studio, please contact:

All Stars Performing Arts Academy "Where Your Star Shines Bright"
5700 Cumming Hwy, Suite E
Sugar Hill, Georgia 30518 (view map)
Click for more information or call 678-400-0091

Pursuing an Acting Career

2009-06-22T11:23:00.002-04:00

Been on vacation - had this in our email Inbox when we returned and wanted to share with our blog subscribers.

Just wanted to share with you these tips that were submitted by one of our readers - hope you enjoy them!
- Chad Gracia
President, ActorTips.com

PS: Use coupon code MV3 for 15% off all acting supplies:http://www.actortips.com/catalog

***
Balancing Dueling Professions: Tips for Fruitful Careers, On-stage and Off

It is likely that when you told your parents that you wanted to pursue a career in theatre they answered brashly, "You better have a back-up plan!" Whether you took this advice and held it close to you, or threw it out the window, because well, you wanted to do what you wanted to do, is another story. However that choice can be pivotal to your approach to the profession now.

Whether it was the cynical parent who refused to pay for a theatre degree or the acting professor who told you to try another route if there was any possibility you could be happy doing so, you probably earned some skills to reassure mommy dearest that everything was going to be okay.

Contrary to popular belief, an actor can have a healthy and fruitful career without sacrificing the chance at another stable profession. Now I'm not saying that doctors should leave their patients unattended while they perform a stand-up routine (although Patch Adams made it look easy), but there are ways to find flexible jobs that will allow time for the stage as well.

Here are a few tips on balancing dueling careers:

Don't be afraid to freelance. Are you a good writer? Are you a self-taught Photo shop master? Perhaps you're good with a camera? Got a knack for voice-overs? Think about the hobbies that you might have, and turn them into lucrative jobs. With websites like Craig's list, Twitter, and others, people are able to make immediate calls for work. Finding odd jobs through these sites can start as short term, and potentially become long term, plus it allows for ample flexibility. Finding jobs that allow one to set their own hours is invaluable when trying to give enough face to the stage. Ditch that temp job and have two careers that you genuinely enjoy! Who knows what possibilities will develop with time.

Stay sharp by taking night or weekend classes. Lots of studios make it possible for career men and women to engage in workshops and classes that don't conflict with time on the clock. Sunday nights and Monday nights are prime times to get out and sharpen up the game, and you won't even have to worry about missing that teamwork luncheon that you're oh so looking forward to.

Work for an arts organization. Find a job with people who are passionate about the same things you are. Working in a theatre or another arts organization gives you access to knowing tons of people who can help you get a foot forward, not to mention theatre spaces, access to equipment and more, if you play your cards right. Now with this one, it's important to not overstep any boundaries. Your responsibilities to the company (whether it program advertising sales or box office management) are still number one, but it can be very beneficial to work in an environment like this, if only to meet other creative people. There's no harm in getting together with some of the co-workers to put on an improv show after hours. Or maybe you're looking for someone to do some writing with . . . the possibilities here can be endless, but the balancing act can become more difficult. Be wary and make sure that you're entirely passionate about the other job that you're doing. There's nothing worse than the lackluster production assistant who wants to be the lead actress.

Learn impeccable time management. Where there's a will, there's a way. You know the old phrase. If you can learn to balance work and play, you'll accomplish more with each and every day. That's the real key to accomplishing any of the above routes.
The real lessons here are to hone skills that you enjoy performing, and manage time effectively. If you can handle this, you've got yourself a successful life. Being a performer is what you make of it. Besides Oprah Winfrey was still working in broadcasting when she had her film debut in The Color Purple. However, if you're the governor of California, you might want to take a break from the screen.

- Megan Venzin

ActorTips / The Gracia Group
360 West 43rd Street, Suite N9D
New York, NY 10036

info@actortips.com

ACT TRUE - an article by Marc Durso

2009-05-18T23:27:00.009-04:00

We occasionally will feature articles on our blog written by other acting instructors who we feel embody the highest standards of skill and professionalism in their teaching. Marc Durso, the founder of ActTrue in Miami and Los Angeles, is such a person. We met Marc at Big Break Hollywood when he was one of the guest instructors. Ever since then, the actors who experienced his approach have been asking when we might have him at yourACT for a workshop. We are looking at dates when that might happen. In the meantime, enjoy this article and the video links at the end - thanks, Marc!

ACT
accomplish, achieve, attain, bring about, carry out
TRUE
authentic, actual, factual, faithful, precise, undistorted

Acting is undeniable action and imaginative living that is so truthful, so passionate, so clear, that it engages the mind and spirit of the audience, till they breathe with your character.

High standards? A lot to shoot for? Absolutely! Art. Why do it any other way!

We are called actors, not "feelers" or "emoters" or "posers". We DO! Because that’s what makes human beings. We are in action, with goals, objectives, expectations of success. We "feel" because we have set ourselves in motion, in action. Emotion is a result of the actions we take.

We live within a world of circumstances, of place, of time, of relationship, NOT LINES! Young actors standing in hallways outside of camera classes practicing their lines, trying to find "interesting ways" of saying them, are working from a false premise, that it has something to do with lines. The legendary Master Teacher Sanford Meisner said, "An ounce of behavior is worth a ton of words."

And it is behavior that we investigate in our work at ActTrue: NOT ATTITUDES, NOT FEELINGS, NOT EMOTIONS, NOT TRICKS, NOT GIMMICKS, NOT SHORTCUTS! Stanislavski’s premise, "Action with thought is behavior" is the basis for ActTrue's approach to text. Our teaching is grounded in the unshakable integrity of the Hagen Process of creating truthful human behavior. As both a student of Master Teacher/Tony Award winner Uta Hagen and then as her associate director on a NY premiere, I have specific professional experience with the application of the Ten Object Exercises.

Ten Exercises that free the actor into action, who lives within the exciting imaginary circumstances of the work, without the inhibiting weight of predetermined emotional choices.

Ten Exercises which reveal the Thoughts which create action as human beings, Exercises which have been applied to acting challenges for over 50 years at HB Studio in NY by actors who have gone on to create acting in America:

Al Pacino, F. Murray Abraham, Debbie Allen, Anne Bancroft, Candice Bergen, Peter Boyle, Matthew Broderick, Gary Burghoff, Stockard Channing, Jill Clayburgh, Whoopi Goldberg, Judd Hirsch, Hal Holbrook, Harvey Keitel, Jack Lemmon, Bette Midler, Penelope Ann Miller, Geraldine Page, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Robards, Fritz Weaver, Sigourney Weaver and many, many more.

Let me quote from a Backstage West interview, Feb. 12, 1998, with Award winning Director Sydney Pollack, (who was also a teaching assistant to legendary Master Teacher Sanford Meisner):

"...behavior is the key...doing is the operative word. Acting is doing. The great misconceptions is that it’s about saying things--that it’s about the way you read lines....In fact, the last thing that happens in performance is speech. Everything else comes first, and is the real part of the iceberg. It holds everything up. Acting is doing something...and the emotion sometimes expresses itself verbally. It’s (emotion) the last thing in a chain of events. And it’s very hard to convince people that that’s where the search always has to be: for the behavior..."

I invite you to join me in that search.
Marc Durso
ActTrue, Inc.
http://www.acttrue.com/

www.myspace.com/marcdurso

Marc on Facebook

Marc explains his approach - Video

More Videos of Marc in Action - click on titles to view

Tax Incentives bring more film to Georgia!

2009-05-17T09:38:00.002-04:00

Tax incentives give Georgia entertainment industry a boost
Companies can get up to 30 percent of budget in credits if they meet terms
By RODNEY HO

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, May 08, 2009

Metro Atlantans have spied Bill Murray, Woody Harrelson, Sandra Bullock and Ashton Kutcher trolling local watering holes in recent weeks.

No, this isn’t some strange reality show concoction. It’s a direct result of tax incentives the state of Georgia passed last May for film, TV and digital media production companies.

“Despite the economy, we’re going gangbusters,” said Ric Reitz, a local actor who helped fashion the tax incentive package. The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment office predicts this will be Georgia’s biggest year ever for entertainment production.

Even though the new incentives didn’t pass until mid-year 2008, the office said it helped boost the economic impact of the movie and TV industry in Georgia over the previous year from $413 million to an estimated $524 million.

This time last year, Georgia had only two major film productions. Now, just over four months into the year, the state already has exceeded last year’s film output. At least a dozen major film and TV productions have wrapped or are currently filming, from a Lifetime TV series (“Drop Dead Diva”) to a horror flick (“H2”) to a historical drama (“Get Low”).

The biggest coup for 2009? Disney will shoot “The Last Song,” starring Miley Cyrus, in Savannah this summer. Because of stronger tax incentives, Georgia beat out North Carolina for the Nicolas Sparks film.

For doing business here, a production company that spends at least $500,000 in a calendar year can get up to 30 percent of its budget in tax credits as long as they display a special Georgia tourism logo prominently in the film credits. A company can sell its unused tax credits to other Georgia taxpayers to help them write down their tax obligations.

The tax incentive also helps Georgians already committed to the state. That includes the Food Network’s Alton Brown and Paula Deen as well as Tyler Perry, who last fall opened a 200,000-square-foot studio in southwest Atlanta. Perry’s studio, which films TBS sitcoms “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns,” employs 100 to 350 people at any time.

Race to attract films

Even before tax incentives, Georgia already had a business-friendly environment, a variety of vistas and an easily accessible airport. As a result, many popular films have been shot here through the years, including “Deliverance” and “Driving Miss Daisy.”

But in the 1990s, Canada began offering financial incentives to attract American film and TV productions. It worked. Hundreds of films were shot up north, and Georgia began losing ground.

Things got worse in 2002 when Louisiana, and later New Mexico, started dangling tax credits and rebates to film companies. That’s how the Oscar-winning drama “No Country For Old Men” landed in New Mexico, not its fictional home in Texas. That’s also why the Louisiana Superdome substituted for the Georgia Dome in a Lifetime biopic about “American Idol” Fantasia Barrino.

Then in 2005, Georgia launched an incentive program of 9 to 17 percent in tax credits, drawing the ABC series “October Road” and the film “We Are Marshall.”

But business dried up again as the incentives race heated up. That prompted Georgia to raise its maximum tax credit to 30 percent last year. While many states offer similar percentages, most have more strings attached (such as giving tax credits only for employing people from that state).

“Georgia makes the process so easy compared to most other states,” said Yolanda T. Cochran, senior vice president of physical production for Los Angeles-based Alcon Entertainment. “They have great crews, great infrastructure, great support.”

In 2006, Alcon shot the film “One Missed Call” in Georgia after the first incentive package but later skipped the state when other states offered better incentives.

Now with a bigger carrot, Alcon has returned to Georgia for Sandra Bullock’s $30 million drama “The Blind Side,” which started production in Atlanta last month. The film is employing 150 to 200 people, mostly Georgians.

“If you show the money,” Alcon said, “people will come.”

Incentives can be costly

California, the biggest state for film and TV production, has seen work there plummet. The Los Angeles Times reported last month that film and TV production has dropped to its lowest in decades.

Some states say tax incentives can become a net negative.

Stephen Moret, secretary of the Louisiana economic development office, told the New Orleans City Business newspaper last month that while film production generated $15 million in tax revenue in 2007, the state handed out $115 million in tax credits. (That doesn’t take into consideration that movies create jobs and businesses that generate additional tax revenue.)

“We have to be careful about how far we privilege one industry over every other industry in the state,” Moret told the publication.

Allen Buckley, an Atlanta tax attorney who ran for Senate as a Libertarian last November, said politicians have a tendency to succumb to the sexiness of entertainment-related entities such as sports stadiums and filmmaking.

“If you’re in those industries, this is great,” Buckley said. “You’re getting work and a handout. But to the extent of the revenue lost, taxpayers as a whole in Georgia have to pay for it.”

Some states have commissioned studies to find out if tax incentives are worth the dollars the state coffers are sacrificing. Bert Brantley, spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue, said Georgia will commission its study later this year.

“The hope is we can build our crew bases and reputation so long-term, we can reap the benefits,” Brantley said.

Ted Morrow, managing partner of All About Props in Tucker, which specializes in historical period items not readily available at local stores, says the incentives have been a godsend.

In recent weeks, Morrow has provided props for “The Blind Side” and the Lifetime film “The Wronged Man.”

“Without the incentives, I might not be here,” Morrow said.

Ironically for Perry, the influx of business has “been a double-edged sword,” said supervising producer Roger Bobb.

“The level of success in such a short time has been phenomenal, but we’re actually now having to compete with other productions for crew,” Bobb said.

Reitz, the actor who also runs a consulting company that helps producers sell their tax credits, said a 20 percent tax credit is considered a basic break-even proposition for the state. Still, he convinced the Legislature that the on-screen Georgia logo can more than compensate for the extra 10 percent because it is effectively advertising for the state.

“The state is getting promotional mentions worth millions,” said Denise Elsbree, who runs TRIO Media Group. She flies to Los Angeles regularly to pitch the state as a place to shoot films and TV shows.

Reitz admits it’s too early to say whether the logo will translate into direct tourism dollars, but films do boost a city’s image. Savannah, for instance, has gotten plenty of mileage out of 1994’s “Forrest Gump” and 1997’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

“They keep Savannah in people’s minds,” said Jay Self, director of Savannah Tourism and Film Services. “I still walk down the streets and people will ask me, ‘Is that the “Forrest Gump” bench?’”

Great advice for actors

2009-05-14T08:52:00.005-04:00

Thanks to A.C.T.4life (info@act4lifeatl.com) for sharing this. Do you have some great info you'd like us to publish to our blog? Email us at dellabob@youract.tv.

This is an excerpt from a fantastic monthly blog written by award-winning former copywriter and commercial actor, Colleen Wainwright (www.communicatrix.com). Things that actors can do in just 30 minutes that can make a difference:

30 minutes sketching out video ideas.
If I were an actor working now, I would be doing everything I could to leverage the amazingly cheap and powerful tools available for putting myself out there in the new media world. I don’t mean that you should turn on your webcam and get all LonelyGirl15 (although if you can come up with the 2009 version of an attention-grabber like that, more power to you). I mean coming up with a clever, interesting way to showcase what you do (i.e., act) online. Back in my day, some poor actors paid hundreds or thousands of dollars to get some crappy tape of themselves. You have no excuse not to be doing 10 times better.

30 minutes doing your social media sweep.
Facebook. Twitter. MySpace. YouTube. Your network is your life, so treat it with the respect it—and you—deserve.

30 minutes getting current on film and TV.
No one can go see everything. But there’s no reason you can’t know about most of it, including who was in it, what it was about and what people are saying about it. This is not a free pass to go spend a half-hour on the online Lost forums, either. This is about you learning the whole landscape, not gorging yourself on stuff you’d watch anyway.

30 minutes schmoozing before or after a play.
Yes, schmoozing. Yes, even if it’s just your dumb friend’s dumb play and there’s no one there “worth” meeting. (A) You never know who’s “worth” meeting, and (B) you most likely need the practice in a low-stakes environment.

30 minutes punching up your bio.
Read through these old columns. Look over your own bio. Is it up-to-date? Does it show you in the best light? Is it user-focused (i.e., interesting for the reader)? Here’s a hint: a bio can almost always be better. And shorter. And by the time it is, you’re usually overdue for revising it again. Always be writing.

30 minutes putting yourself on tape.
How do you work on scenes? Are you watching how you look on-camera? Getting more comfortable with working small? I’m a big fan of actor play-reading groups.

30 minutes writing thank-you notes.
You get auditions. You go to seminars and workshops and classes, meet with casting directors, read acting columns (ahem!). You could easily fill 30 minutes this week writing thank-you notes to people who have somehow, in some small way—even a very, very small way—helped you move the ball forward. Be brief, be genuine and be polite. But be grateful, out loud. It will make you more aware of all the goodness in your life, and it will make the day of the person on the receiving end.

30 minutes reading the trades AND the news.
This one is self-explanatory. Don’t be a dummy actor with no awareness of your industry or the world around you. Even if you’re not in a union yet, educate yourself on the issues. Even if you’re not going out for A-list parts yet, know what’s going on in the business. You don’t have to know the minute details of every last deal, but you should have some understanding of what’s going on in and around your chosen profession aside from what you read in OK! magazine. And you should have some idea of what’s going on in the world around you, if for no other reason than having something besides the latest celebutard DUI scandal to talk about over lunch on a shoot day. You are your own best P.R. agent; don’t feed into the Dumb Actor stereotype.

30 minutes making sure your meeting wardrobe is in shape.
Missing shirt buttons. Run-down heels. Stained suit pants. It’s a good idea for any business person to have a good, working wardrobe; for an actor, it’s indispensable. Do not give them any reason to not hire you; do not let yourself go out looking anything other than your best.

This is all great advice. Also check out Bob Harter's article "12 Steps to Becoming a Pro" on the Resources page of the yourACT website www.youract.tv/resources.html

Great VO advice from Voice123.com

2009-05-09T09:55:00.004-04:00

In a creative industry, there are no 'absolutes', yet the one thing that seems to have changed very little over the last 20 years is 'how to read copy', even with all the technology out there, which changed the way business is done.

Back in the 90's, I read the book 'Word of Mouth', by Susan Blu & Molly Ann Mullin. When it comes to copy reading, I still refer to tips in this book. Of course, the way we do business has changed with online casting, in that it is now more 'do-it-yourself'. So, as someone, who listens day to day to demos and auditions on Voice123, I would like to share some thoughts and tips about copy reading, a main component of booking voice over work.

*Know who you are talking to, always, while you read copy.
Each script has an audience. It is important to sound as if you are addressing someone while you speak. I have always believed that 'if you talk to someone specifically, you talk to everyone at the same time', and if you are listening to a voice over, the voice that stops the audience in their tracks is one that sounds as if it was directed at one person.

*Do not try to sound like anyone else. Be yourself.
In a business with so many talents, you have to sell a product, that being your voice, and there is no other person out there like you. Trying to sound like what you perceive voice over artists to sound like, actually makes you sound inexperienced.

*Creativity & originality is a must, BUT know the basic rules first.
I live by the motto, 'You can only break rules, once you know the rules.' That said, true creativity and originality can be implemented when you know what is being done, and should not be done. For example... Announcing in an audition that you are 'Trying something new here...', actually scares people into thinking you do not know what you are doing. Why? Because true creativity and originality that holds the listener's attention requires no explanation, before or after. Just do what you think is best, based on what you know. If you are having a creative block, just change up the cadence, and try inflections on words, even if they make no sense. Remember though... do this when you practice, so that when you audition, it is second nature to you. On this point as well, all creativity you have may be lost if your recording quality is poor.

*Repetition and practice is key.
The best way to learn a new skill is through repetition of educated steps. The best way to learn how to read copy is to practice reading it consistently. Doing this in classes and with coaches is better than trying it for the first time when auditioning. You want scripts and copy to become a new language for you. Practice also helps your diction, and also gets you 'out of your head', almost so that you are not thinking so much about how you sound, but more so whether or not you are accomplishing the goal that the script has set before you.
I still remember the day I felt like something clicked inside me while reading copy... I was reading something, and I knew while I was reading it, that I was not getting the point across, I was speaking too fast, and that my NYC accent slipped in there by mistake, and it was out of place and not asked for in the script. It was very much an 'in the zone' feeling that came after many months of working diligently with a coach, and classes on what types of voice overs I sell best. I also remember that when I auditioned on Voice123 as a talent, I read the script almost 20 times before recording, just to make sure I knew what the script was really trying to do, backwards forwards.

I hope this insight helps. You can always share your opinions or ask for Demo Advice on Voice123's Premium Forums. Opinions may vary, but you can never forget practice, and dedication.

Steven Lowell
Public Relations Manager
Voice123 Premium Forums
Steven's Blog
Twitter: @stevenNYC123

Coming up at yourACT Studios July 1, 8, and 15 -
BEGINNING VOICE-OVER taught by Della Cole
Get started in the exciting field of Voice-Over
For info on this course, and the Intermediate V-O and V-O Demo Workshop go to http://www.youract.tv and click on Adult Classes (we also offer a V-O Demo Workshop for Kids and Teens)

Atlanta 2nd only to "Second City" for Indie Films!

2009-03-06T15:50:00.000-05:00

From Paste Magazine http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/03/moviemakers-best-25-places-to-live-for-indie-filmm.html:

CHICAGO NAMED BEST CITY FOR INDIE FILMMAKERS
By
Jeffrey Bloomer on March 6, 2009 8:30 AM

If you’re an independent filmmaker (or just unemployed and want to become one), MovieMaker magazine put together its annual list of the top cities to host indie filmmakers and
productions. Last year’s No. 1, Austin, got bumped to No. 10 in favor of Chicago, which was certainly the most visible location last year since The Dark Knight largely called it home.
The list goes on to include the obvious (New York, Miami) and the less familiar (Boise, Wichita and Bozeman, Mt.).

Paste's stomping ground, Atlanta, came in at No. 2. By its own admission, the list reformed this year to include 25 cities (up from 10) and a conscious effort to consider “those places that offer the perfect combination of employment opportunities, reasonable costs of living, strong quality of life, affordable home prices and, of course, financial incentives,” not a surprise given frantic economic times.

The 25 cities:
1. Chicago, Ill.
2. Atlanta, Ga.
3. New York, N.Y.
4. Shreveport, La.
5. Albuquerque, N.M.
6. Boston, Mass.
7. Stamford, Conn.
8. Memphis, Tenn.
9. Milwaukee, Wis.
10. Austin, Tex.
11. Detroit, Mich.
12. Miami, Fla.
13. Seattle, Wa.
14. Portland, Ore.
15. Philadelphia, Pa.
16. Sedona, AZ
17. Salt Lake City, Utah
18. Wilmington, N.C.
19. Boise, Idaho
20. Denver, Colo.
21.. Bozeman, Mont.
22. Wichita, Kan.
23. San Diego, Calif.
24. Richmond, Va.
25. Des Moines, Iowa

Related links:

http://www.moviemaker.com/ MovieMaker.com: Last year's list of Best Movie Cities

http://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/

Unraveling the Mystery of MONOLOGUES: A Resource for Actors

2009-02-14T15:11:00.001-05:00

*A step-by-step detailed training manual for actors that guides you through the process of finding and bringing to life the "perfect" monologue, a monologue that works for you.

*Includes over 50 original monologues for men and women with tips on approach and delivery.

*Quotes & advice from agents, managers, casting directors, and coaches in Los Angeles,
Atlanta, and New York.

"Thanks to Unraveling the Mystery of Monologues, I not only gained knowledge and confidence, I actually used two of Della's monologues to audition for and book my very first film part. This book is invaluable!"--Mary Jane Mahan

Buy the book at http://www.monologuesthatwork.com or have a custom monologue written JUST FOR YOU!

Also available at http://www.amazon.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and other fine booksellers online.

For more info call 404-499-9996.

An Answer to a Question About Cold-Reads

2009-02-12T13:49:00.001-05:00

We received a great question that we think many of you may also have:

I have a question mostly for Casting Directors. Here in Atlanta there has been a great deal of concern about actors not having auditions fully memorized before the audition. For both film/TV and commercials. Now, unless things have changed, In Hollywood, they really didn't want you to have the audition completely memorized. However here in Atlanta they do. My question is how do you handle the audition when the Casting Director or their rep who is reading with you, loses their place in the script? Do you stop, and tell the reader they messed up? Or do you continue and have who you are auditioning for think it was your fault.
I had an audition for a Indy film last fall and was very familiar with my scene. After my audition, the casing director asked me back that afternoon to read for the Director and Producer, but to please have my scene memorized. Which I did. But during the audition, with the casting director reading, she lost her place, and the only way the audition was saved, was that I had the script in my hand. Which I later found out that Casting Directors in Atlanta want you to be script free. What are your thoughts?
Thank you.

From Bob:
First, let me address the question of having auditions fully memorized. I'm aware of the situation here in Atlanta about casting directors insisting on having auditions memorized and how that differs from how things are in Hollywood. Here at yourACT On-Camera Acting Classes (http://www.youract.tv), we are affiliated with the Margie Haber Studios in Los Angeles (http://www.margiehaber.com), where Margie teaches a cold-reading technique used by many stars. Margie is author of "How To Get The Part Without Falling Apart" and has coached the likes of Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, Halle Berry, Heather Locklear, Sophia Bush, and many others.
She was very surprised when she first started teaching her workshops in Atlanta to discover that actors were asked to be "off book" for auditions. As you said, not only is this rarely asked for, but often is not really wanted for auditions in L.A.

Some reasons why casting directors in Atlanta may want memorized audtions may be:

1) Actors in Atlanta generally don't have multiple auditions each week, or even in a single day, and so have more time to memorize effectively. Actors in Hollywood audition more frequently and so it's not realistic to expect them to be prepared until they've had a script longer, say, for a call-back.
2) Evidently they have found that actors here don't know how to cold-read properly, for example, they are "buried" in the script and don't connect with the reader, so there is no eye contact and the scene suffers.
3) They may have had bad experiences with actors who audition well, but can't memorize lines and so they don't do well on the set. It may be for this reason that they don't want you to even hold the script in your hand - they may see it as a crutch that you won't have on the actual job.

I studied in L.A. for a decade, and we were always taught to keep the script in our hand at all times, unless it was a call-back situation where they had given us at least a week with the script to get it memorized. Personally, I strongly disagree with not having the script in your hand at the initial audition. That way if you do get lost, you have a safety net...it saves time in the event that you get lost and it keeps you from having to be prompted for the line, etc. If you only have a few lines, like an "under 5", you should definitely memorize your script and shouldn't need it in your hand. If it's a long script and you are cold-reading, know the story. You can only do an effective cold-read if you understand the who, what, when, where, and why of the relationships and situation.

It is definitely an advantage to be a "quick study" with lines - you will find on the set that you'll have revisions to the script at the last minute, both for film, TV, and commercials, and you have to learn them quickly. My experience, however, is that if you know good cold-read technique, a good cold-reading is far superior to an audition where most of your energy is focused on remembering your lines, lines that you may not have had that long to study.

The second part of your question, about what to do if the casting director or reader messes up, is pretty straightforward. No, you absolutely do NOT stop and tell the reader they messed up! That will just embarrass them, especially if the director, writer, producer, or other VIP is in the room. Don't make them look bad. It won't be appreciated. It's a difficult situation, but if you stay in character and just ad lib until you can get the scene back on track you will show them you are a professional. I had an agent tell one of my classes that they expect mistakes in auditions, what sets the good actors apart from the rest is how they handle those mistakes.

Hope this helps! Maybe if enough actors in Atlanta brush up on their cold-reading skills or we start getting so much work due to the new tax incentives that we're too busy to memorize auditions, then we can change things to be more like they are in Hollywood.

Thanks,

Bob Harter