'How to Market Your Product for Free (or really really cheap)'

Program includes:

 Low and no-cost options for film makers to get their product out there.
 How to use the social networks for your gain.
 When does the money start rolling in? What's the financial model for New Media?
 Info on "The Powers That Be" and some thoughts on where New Media is headed.
 Then watch as Dan walks you through the process of marketing of a specific project.
 A Q&A session will follow.

When: May 19th, 6:30 8:30pm
Where: Artworks, 320 Hull Street Richmond, VA 23224
How much: Free (or really really cheap). 
Meaning: Free for current VPA members, $5 everyone else.
What else: Light refreshments provided

DAN PORTNOY
is founder and president of The Portnoy Media Group, Inc.,
a specialized media-creation firm focused on advancing mediums of connectivity. 
He also is the chief editor of THE DROP, an online music magazine promoting the next big thing. 
In 2007 Dan produced The Great American Road Trip, a mini-series released straight to the web.
Currently he's producing SOLD, a documentary on the child sexual slave trade of Southeast Asia.
www.portnoymediagroup.com

Virginia Film Tours kicks off their new
Horsing Around in Virginia Tour Program with
Discover Beautiful Middleburg, Recognized as the Nation's Hunt and Horse Capitol. Experience Virginia's horse world up close and personal from the experts, which you might not otherwise ever have the opportunity to do. Perfect for families with children 10 or older, seniors, or for any one who loves horses, history or movies! VPA members and families receive the $10.00 discount student and senior rate.

Public tours leave from Richmond beginning May 10 and run the second Saturday of each month through October. Private group tours are also available. For complete details visit: http://www.virginiafilmtours.com/page32.html

Film and Video Marketing for the Non-Profit

A shorter, more hands-on version of Virginia Bertholet's course Film & Video Marketing for the Non-Profit is being offered at the University of Richmond Mon & Tue, May 12 & 13,  9-12.

They will cover why & how to use this medium for your non-profit, and she will offer one-on-one help on how to produce your specific project. Register on-line: http://activenet8.active.com/thinkagain/  or call 804-289-8133.

Otherwise her more extensive 2-day VCU class covering “theory” and production is now one of their core courses and will be offered every fall.  Call 804-827-0246 or go to:
http://www.community.vcu.edu/programs/nonprofit/index.html

15th Annual Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competitions Open for Entries

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) has opened up its Call for Entries for the 2008 Screenplay and Teleplay competitions. For fifteen years, AFF has provided emerging writers with a platform to have their work read and discovered by industry professionals. As one of the most respected competitions in the country, AFF supports participating writers by providing unique networking opportunities during the Festival and Conference, October 16-23.

The Screenplay Categories are Drama (Historical, Western, Family, Romance, Horror, Thriller, etc.) and Comedy (slapstick, dark comedy, satirical, etc.). The prizes are $5,000 for each category, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the festival, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.

The Screenplay Competition also features two sub-categories with prizes of their own. They are the Latitude Productions award (open to adult character driven drama or comedy scripts with an estimated budget of $10 million dollars or less) and the Sci-Fi award (science fiction, horror, super-natural thriller, fantasy, etc.). In order to be considered for these prizes you must be entered in either the Drama or Comedy Screenplay categories. The prizes for these are $2,500 each, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the festival, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.

The teleplay competition is open to any spec script from a currently airing network or cable TV show. The two categories are Drama and Comedy, and the prizes are $1,000 each, reimbursement for airfare (up to $500) and hotel (up to $500) for attendance to the festival, and the bronze AFF Typewriter Award.

The early screenplay deadline is May 15th ($40 entry fee) and the late deadline is June 1st ($50 entry fee). The Latitude and Sci-Fi awards are an additional $20 each. The teleplay deadline is June 1st and the entry fee is $30.

The winners of the competition will be announced in Austin at a special luncheon on October 18 at the Austin Club.

“The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition is one of the few places where writers can measure their talent alongside some of the best emerging screenwriters out there. Being a finalist this year has definitely given my career a huge boost.” – Sean Minogue, 2007 Screenplay Competition Finalist

The Austin Film Festival also hosts a renowned film competition. The competition has several categories including Narrative Shorts, Narrative Features, Documentary Shorts, Documentary Features, Student Shorts and Animated Shorts. The early deadline is June 5 and the late deadline is July 5.

For additional information on the 15th Annual Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition, including entry forms, submission fees and rules contact Alex McPhail by email at alex@austinfilmfestival.com . For more information about the Film Competition please contact Jesse Trussell at jesse@austinfilmfestival.com . Information on both is also available by calling the Austin Film Festival offices at 1-800-310-FEST (3378), visiting the official website at www.austinfilmfestival.com , or by regular mail at 1145 W. 5th Street, Ste. 210, Austin, TX 78703.

About Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their contributions to film, television and new media. The AFF champions the work of aspiring and established writers and filmmakers by providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community partnerships. www.austinfilmfestival.com

Roy W. Dean Grants

The Roy W. Dean grants are now taking applications for documentaries, shorts and Indie features under $500,000.  They want films that are unique and make a contribution to society.

The Roy W. Dean Video and Editing Grants are closing soon, NYC grant 5/30/08, Go Edit Editing 5/30/08 and the LA film and LA video close 6/30/08.  These are goods and services and awards run from $25 to $40,000.  Full info & applications at www.fromtheheartproductions.com. 

The Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival Final Submissions March 1- May 31

Filmmakers entering their film for consideration for the 2008 MABFF must be 18 years of age or older.

FILMS SUBMITTED IN ALL SECTIONS MUST:

Have been directed or written and produced by a person of African descent. Tell a story about the Black experience and/or feature a person of African descent in a lead role.

A non-returnable final cut copy of your film must be on DVD; one film entry per DVD. Filmmaker is responsible for obtaining the rights and clearances pertaining to the submitted film. All films must be accompanied with: A completed submission form  A separate form is required for each entry A non-returnable copy of your film on DVD with the film’s name and running time One copy of filmmaker bio and photo One copy of film synopsis (max. 1 page) One copy of a photo still from film (jpeg.format) A non-refundable submission fee via money order (U.S. Postal preferred) payable to CACC INC., MasterCard, Visa or American Express.                                                                                                           Mail entries to MABFF, c/o The Attucks Theatre., P.O. Box 1272, Norfolk, VA  23501 All entries must arrive to the MABFF office postmarked by May 31, 2008. Applicants will be notified of the festival’s decision by June 30, 2008.

 Producer needed!
 
For short (10 minutes), low-budget
horror film. Will be shot in July, over 3-4 nights. 
Film shot primarily in two locations, featuring two
main characters.

Must have previously produced at least one short.  
 
A little pay, plus food. If interested, please send an
email with resume to mcjack301@gmail.com.

The second annual GI Film Festival

in Washington DC at the
Carnegie Institute for Science
1530 P st NW from 14-18 May 2008

Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival

August 21-23, 2008 at the
Historic Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, VA

The Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival
is an annual juried competition and showcase
for independent filmmakers from all over the world
and a core program of Crispus Attucks Cultural Center,
a non-profit cultural arts organization dedicated to promoting 
education and cultural diversity in filmmaking and cultural arts. 

The Festival's lineup will highlight the
Short and Student Film Competition, premieres,
international cinema, tributes, and educational
workshops facilitated by leading figures in the film industry.

 For more information, please visit http://www.mabff.org/        

or call Gail Easley at (757) 622-4763
Managing Director, Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, Inc.
Executive Producer, Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival
P.O. Box 1272
Norfolk, Virginia  23501
Tel.    757-622-4763
Fax.   757-622-4764
www.attuckstheatre.org

A Call for Entries

from John Romeo, producer and host

of the online show called

"The Romeo Theater" 

http://www.romeo-theater.com

Each show presents a short movie, and afterward the director shares a little bit about the story behind it.

The Romeo Theater originates in Richmond, VA, but independent filmmakers from all over the country have presented their work on the show, now in its third year. It's a great promotional tool because it introduces these films to a worldwide audience. It's also available as a video podcast, and is part of the YouTube Partners program.

"The Romeo Theater" is always seeking new films to feature on the show,

but the films must meet these requirements:

Under 5 minutes, no copyright infringements, in the general 'PG' range.

Then the director gets to create a 1-2 minute "making of" segment that follows the film, explaining a little about how it was made or where the idea came from, usually incorporating behind-the-scenes footage.

If you would like to promote your film on The Romeo Theater,

please visit the website <http://www.romeo-theater.com>

and click the "Submissions" link on the right.

That page will tell you about the simple (and free) submission process.

Feel free to contact John Romeo with any questions:

Phone: 804-617-5516

E-mail: john@romeo-theater.com

THANK YOU!

(804) 617-5516

2007 Webby Award Honoree

----------------------------------------

Romeo Theater in the news: http://www.romeo-theater.com/press.html

Have Chef Emeril Lagasse solve your greatest cooking challenges.

Do you love to cook but have trouble hard boiling an egg?  Are you tired of making the same 3 chicken dishes every week? After a big night out, is it tough for you to make heads or tails of what's in the fridge?  Are you wondering how you can do your part to be eco-friendly while still deep frying your turkey?

Planet Green is casting enthusiastic and fun people with creative and interesting kitchen challenges for the new show "EMERIL GREEN", taping in Northern Virginia, for air on Planet Green beginning in July.  This could be your chance to receive cooking tips and recipes tailored specifically to your needs by America's most beloved chef!

Tell your story….

Please email your basic information (name, address, age, occupation), your culinary challenge and a recent picture to foodshowcasting@gmail.com.   Wanted: Real people with real cooking dilemmas! Send your information today.

Thank you,

April Marie Broyles

Production Coordinator

Planet Green

STONEHENGE CASTING EVENT!

What is Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is a one-day casting event held several times
throughout the year in various cities, including Arlington, Virginia. 
If you're an actor, think of it as a mass audition. You'll be able to perform a monologue
in front of 20 or more production companies looking to produce films in the near
future. If you're a filmmaker, think of Stonehenge as a mass casting
tool, showing you over 100 actors whom you might call back to read for a
specific part. Please see the link below for much more information.

2008 Stonehenge Dates Announced!
http://www.teamjabberwocky.com/stonehenge.html