Calendar

June 10
Governor's Screenwriting
Competition Deadline
Virginia Film Office

June 14
ITVA DC Peer Awards 
Deadline
www.ITVA.org

June 16—June 22
Screenwriting Class by
Helene Wagner
ArtWorks

June 16
Virginia Production Alliance Screenwriters' Tales and Tips
Regent University

July 23 & 24
Lulupalloza, Byrd Theater, Fireside Theatre. Tickets, info and directions: lulupalooza.org 

Check it Out !

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

Opens June 29, 2005. Check out the website for trailers, photos and an interactive survival game. This film was partially shot in the Shenandoah Valley near Lexington.
www.waroftheworlds.com

THE NEW WORLD

Scheduled for a November 9 release, this film's website features a trailer and still photography of the movie. A few scenes were shot in England, but everything else was shot in Virginia. 

Those involved or interested in the filming of this movie should keep up with the “behind the scenes” reports published regularly at the movie's website.

 
The New World

©2004 Merie Wallace,
SMPSP/New Line Productions

www.thenewworldmovie.com
VISIT THESE SITES FOR FILM RELATED EVENTS OR OPPORTUNITIES. 

Virginia Production Alliance
Website  www.filmva.com
Recorded Hotline: 888.523.1043

Commander-in-Chief on Fall Schedule for ABC Congratulations to producer/director Rod Lurie and Battleplan Productions. Their series Commander-in-Chief, a one hour drama starring Geena Davis, has been picked up and will air on Tuesdays at 9:00pm. Filmed on location in Richmond, the show is already generating “considerable buzz.”  The series marks the fourth project that Lurie has shot in the area.

Kent Eanes, Photographer

Governor's Screenwriting Competition
Deadline June 10
Dust off that old screenplay or put the finishing touches on the one you're working on now and submit it to the Virginia Film Office 2005 Screenwriting Competition. The only catch is that it needs to either be delivered or postmarked by Friday, June 10. For an application or more information, click here.  To find out more about past winners, click here.

George Mason Starts Summer Film Program
George Mason University is pleased to introduce a NEW certificate program for filmmaking available through the Center for Visual and Performing Arts. The GMU Friends of Film (FoF) Filmmaking Certificate Program gives students the opportunity to tell their story using the medium of film and digital video. Register for one course, or complete either Screenwriting or Documentary Filmmaking courses along with The Business of Filmmaking to earn a George Mason University Certificate of Completion. In the classes you will produce a documentary for personal and business applications, gain hands-on experience in the expanding universe of screenwriting and documentary filmmaking and learn from industry experts what is involved in novice, amateur, and professional levels of production. Classes are scheduled at convenient times at either the Fairfax or Prince William campus. Classes begin June 20 and last until Fall. Class size limited!
To learn more, click here.   To register, click here

ITVA DC Peer Awards Deadline June 14
Tuesday, June 14 is the deadline for submissions to the ITVA DC Peer awards. Open to residents of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, this competition celebrates the best work from around the two states and the District.  There are more than 50 categories covering everything from documentaries to commercials, from still shoots to shorts.  Check out the information at the ITVA website, www.ITVADC.org. Let's show them what Virginia has to offer!

VPA Presents Screenwriters' Tales and Tips
The Virginia Production Alliance in Hampton Roads will be hosting a screenwriting panel on June 16 at Regent University.  Entitled Screenwriter's Tales and Tips, the seminar will feature professional writers sharing their secrets about how to make a script great. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. with a social and the program will start at 7:00. Panelists are Dennis Bounds and Robert Arnett, screenwriting professors at Regent University and Old Dominion University, independent filmmaker Rick Fisher, and award-winning writer and director Antonia Zarro.
For information about the VPA             For directions to Regent University

John Adams Accepting Crew Resumes
The John Adams mini-series will be shooting in the Richmond and Williamsburg areas and is currently accepting resumes for crew only. Resumes can be emailed  to johnadamsshow@yahoo.com. Actors -- please do not submit resumes or headshots at this time. Casting arrangements have not been made and all actor information will be discarded. Check the VFO website or call the hotline at 800.641.0810.

John W. Dean Film Grants
This is one of the largest film grant competitions in the world, accepting submissions in several categories.  Film and video grant deadlines are in June, while screenwriting and editing deadlines are in August and September. For more information, or to apply visit From the Heart Productions.

Lulupalooza 2005 July 23 & 24
The Firehouse Theatre Project and Yellow House will present Lulupalooza 2005: A Celebration of the Cinematic Life of Louise Brooks, Saturday July 23 and Sunday July 24.  The two-day event will include a film presentation of G.W. Pabst's Pandora's Box at the Byrd Theater on July 23 at 1:30 p.m with live accompaniment provided by Los10Space.  At 7:00 p.m. a staged reading of Janet Munsil's Smoking with Lulu will be presented  at the Firehouse Theatre. Lulupalooza ‘05 will also feature nine Brooks films and excerpts from several others, primarily through DVD projection, although Pandora's Box, through arrangement with Kino International, will be shown in 35 mm. Firehouse Theater seating is limited; Pandora's Box presentation has ample availability. For information and PayPal registration visit lulupalooza.org or call (804) 355-2001.

Visit these sites for more on Firehouse Theatre; Yellowhouse; Byrd Theatre

Volunteers Needed for Richmond Summer Program
Volunteers are needed for a summer program teaching inner-city youth about the creative process of producing a television show. The summer program starts June 29th and runs through August 4th. If you have about 4-hours per week available to volunteer, your help is really needed. The program will take place at the Westover Community Center (adjacent to Westover Hills Elementary) in Richmond, VA.  For more information, email Nyya Sistrun, President and CEO of Link Media.

Farewell to Good Friends
The Virginia production community lost two respected members of its ranks recently, and their loss will be felt by all who knew them.

ALAN SAWYER was an accomplished sound mixer and recordist whose extensive career took him to four continents while working on films, television and documentaries.  A resident of Chesapeake, he was also a musician and a member of the Cinema Audio Society.  Although he provided sound for literally hundreds of projects of all kinds and sizes, he will be best remembered as a great guy and good friend to all who knew him.  Because of his lengthy illness, Alan's family is left with significant medical debts. Contributions to the family can be made in the name of Alan's 11-year old daughter Sara Jo Sawyer at Monarch Bank, 3701 Pacific Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.

JOSEPH McLEAN WEST, JR  (Joe) was the assistant director of engineering and building at the state Department of General Services. He was the official contact for filming at state-owned buildings and he worked tirelessly to make the impossible possible for the many projects that he was involved with. He was also an actor and SAG member and appeared in numerous films including Hannibal, Hearts in Atlantis, Mickey and Tom Clancy's NetForce. Joe was a good friend to the industry and he will be greatly missed. Contributions in Joe's name may be made to the Massey Cancer Center, P.O. Box 30, MCV Station, Richmond, VA. 23298 or St. Peter's Catholic Church, 800 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA, 23218.