Oscar nominees list

1. Best Picture: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Munich."

2. Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote"; Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow"; Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain"; Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line"; David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

3. Actress: Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents"; Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"; Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice"; Charlize Theron, "North Country"; Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line."

4. Supporting Actor: George Clooney, "Syriana"; Matt Dillon, "Crash"; Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man"; Jake Gyllenhaal, "Brokeback Mountain"; William Hurt, "A History of Violence."

5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, "Junebug"; Catherine Keener, "Capote"; Frances McDormand, "North Country"; Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener"; Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain."

6. Director: Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain"; Bennett Miller, "Capote"; Paul Haggis, "Crash"; George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck."; Steven Spielberg, "Munich."

7. Foreign Film: "Don't Tell," Italy; "Joyeux Noel," France; "Paradise Now," Palestine; "Sophie Scholl - The Final Days," Germany; "Tsotsi," South Africa.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana, "Brokeback Mountain"; Dan Futterman, "Capote"; Jeffrey Caine, "The Constant Gardener"; Josh Olson, "A History of Violence"; Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, "Munich."

9. Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco, "Crash"; George Clooney & Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck."; Woody Allen, "Match Point"; Noah Baumbach, "The Squid and the Whale"; Stephen Gaghan, "Syriana."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Howl's Moving Castle"; "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride"; "Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit."

11. Art Direction: "Good Night, and Good Luck.," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Pride & Prejudice."

12. Cinematography: "Batman Begins," "Brokeback Mountain," "Good Night, and Good Luck.," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "The New World."

13. Sound Mixing: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Walk the Line," "War of the Worlds."

14. Sound Editing: "King Kong," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "War of the Worlds."

15. Original Score: "Brokeback Mountain," Gustavo Santaolalla; "The Constant Gardener," Alberto Iglesias; "Memoirs of a Geisha," John Williams; "Munich," John Williams; "Pride & Prejudice," Dario Marianelli.

16. Original Song: "In the Deep" from "Crash," Kathleen "Bird" York and Michael Becker; "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow," Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard; "Travelin' Thru" from "Transamerica," Dolly Parton.

17. Costume: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Mrs. Henderson Presents," "Pride & Prejudice," "Walk the Line."

18. Documentary Feature: "Darwin's Nightmare," "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "March of the Penguins," "Murderball," "Street Fight."

19. Documentary (short subject): "The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club," "God Sleeps in Rwanda," "The Mushroom Club," "A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin."

20. Film Editing: "Cinderella Man," "The Constant Gardener," "Crash," "Munich," "Walk the Line."

21. Makeup: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Cinderella Man," "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith."

22. Animated Short Film: "Badgered," "The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation," "The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello," "9," "One Man Band."

23. Live Action Short Film: "Ausreisser (The Runaway)," "Cashback," "The Last Farm," "Our Time Is Up," "Six Shooter."

24. Visual Effects: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "King Kong," "War of the Worlds."

___

Academy Award winners previously announced this year:

Honorary Award (Oscar statuette): Robert Altman.

The Gordon E. Sawyer award (Oscar statuette): Gary Demos.

___

On the Net: http://www.oscar.com

(From AP)

Upcoming at the MeDiA Co-op

MeDiA Co-op February News
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: TUESDAY NIGHT WORKSHOPS NO LONGER EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT
After nearly four years of hosting free workshops every Tuesday night at the co-op, we have decided to limit the Tuesday night workshops to the FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH. This will allow us to host other workshop formats, and programs that are more intensive and diverse. We are developing a couple of intensive, multi-week workshops that will have limited enrollment. We will send out a notice on the progression of these programs as they are developed. Thanks to those of you who've attended the workshops over the years, your committment has been very valuable. We look forward to what the co-op will evolve into over time with the continued support of the local community.

Events this month:

* Thursday, Feb 2nd @ 7pm : Music On Film Workshop . $25(gen admission), $15(students), FREE to Recording Academy members.

The Memphis Chapter of The Recording Academy® and The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing (P&E Wing) presents a special Music On Film Workshop featuring panelist Karyn Rachtman and moderator Ralph Sutton.
Featured guests:
Karyn Rachtman has been a musical supervisor and producer for a multitude of motion pictures, including Boogie Nights, Bulworth, North Country, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and Reality Bites.
Ralph Sutton has a well-established background in the music industry as a recording engineer and record producer. Over his more than twenty years of experience, he's worked with music industry elite, from Stevie Wonder to Prince, and Motley Crue to Marvin Gaye.

Seating is limited. Attendees must R.S.V.P. to reserve their space to courtneyb@grammy.com or 901.525.1340.

* Saturday Feb 4th @ 10am-2pm: Open Casting Call

Oddly Buoyant Productions, makers of 2004 Indie Memphis award winner "Automusik Can Do No Wrong", are seeking actors for their new movie "Eat." All sizes, shapes, races, and sexes needed. Real-life experience in a restaurant is a plus.
For more information, email mail@oddlybuoyant.com.

* Tuesday Feb 7th @ 7:30pm: Forum/Workshop

An open-call to the local film community to discuss the FIRST ANNUAL MID-SOUTH INDPENDENT FILMMAKERS CONFERENCE. We are looking to get input from all directors, actors, writers, crew, etc from around the Mid-South about ideas for the Conference. Everyone is invited to this planning session.

ALSO THIS MONTH:

Family and Friends Magazine is sponsoring a SGL Film Festival the 24th or 25th of February, and The Peace and Justice Center is sponsoring a film screening on Sunday, FEB 19th @ 6pm of a 9-11 related documentary. Another casting call for a local film will take place on Sat, FEB 11th from 9am-12pm organized by Arnold Edwards. Email: kugar13@gmail.com for more info.

More info on these and other events at the Co-op will be posted soon at www.mediaco-op.org

Acting for the Camera with Red West

I'm a regular at Red's classes and it's good for honing the craft and good for networking.

Here's an exhortation from Red's No. 1 disciple, Forrest Pruett, who tells it like it is:

Have you ever wished that you had an acting professor or acting coach who would just tell it like it is? No bullshit, no over-hyped jargon: just the truth about acting and the life of a performer? Meet Red West.

Red brings his experience as a working actor in film, TV & commercials to the acting classes he has taught for more than 12 years in the Memphis area. Red's strengths as an actor’s coach lie in his strong motivational and disciplined acting technique, including some improvisation, nurturing the actor to reach within himself to achieve his/her own personal best in bringing the character on the scripted page to life

Selected credits include the feature films "Roadhouse," "The Rainmaker," Cookie's Fortune," I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Forty Shades of Blue." His latest triumph is "Glory Road."

Four decades as a paid performer is an amazing achievement for anybody.

Call 384-6464. Classes are held Thursdays from 7:30-10 p.m.

Talent needed for Fox pilot

This from Craigslist. Note that Aquamatrix is a referral service. If you have an agent, check with him or her first.

Seeking all New Talent for Roles on the Fox Pilot "Southern Comfort": Male- Early to late 30's, any ethnicity, hard, tough, cool, attractive, dangerous Female- 17-22, any ethnicity, budding beauty Female- Mid 20's to early 30's, african american, detective type Male- 18-24, any ethnicity, gorgeous, good body To apply please go to: http://aquamatrix.net/casting.asp?
Job location is Memphis
Compensation: $625.00 per day
no -- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
no -- Please, no phone calls about this job!
no -- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
yes -- Reposting this message elsewhere is OK.

Documentary

Free show, Friday, Feb. 3 at The Bridge (3570 Canada RD, Lakeland), show starts at 7 p.m. with bands The Opening Night (formerly The Fews), Hey Heidi-Rae, Arma Secreta, and This Side of Summer. In between Hey Heidi-Rae and Arma Secreta, the documentary "Invisible Children" will be screened. For more information, go here.

The documentary will also be shown Saturday, Feb. 4 on the University of Memphis campus, William Faulkner Lounge at the University Center, 7 p.m.

The purpose of these events is to raise awareness of what is happening to the children in Uganda in the face of the rebellion. Go here for more info.

Thanks to LiveFromMemphis

Getting your music into film and TV

7 PM Thursday Feb 2nd at The Media Co-Op 1000 Cooper in Midtown Memphis.

Sponsored By The Recording Academy

KARYN RACHTMAN - Music Superviser to films including, The Basketball Diariesm, Resevoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Clueless, Reality Bites, Boogie Nights, Bulworth, Holes, The Rugrats Movie.

Karyn will be giving a talk on Music in Film and TV Moderated by famed recording engineer Ralph Sutton(Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Motley Crue).

Student Admission: $10
General Admission: $20
NARAS Members: Free

(Thanks to the always sublime Rachel and the City).

Hairspray wants you

NEW LINE LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE CASTING SEARCH FOR MUSICAL FILM VERSION OF HAIRSPRAY

Auditions To Fill Three Main Roles Hit Three Cities In February

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 25, 2006) – New Line Cinema has launched a nationwide casting search to fill three roles, including the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, in its upcoming feature film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, it was announced today by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, producers of Hairspray and the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago.

The casting search will begin on Feb. 4 with an open call audition in Atlanta on the campus of Georgia State University. On Feb. 11, casting agents will hold an open call in New York at the Hilton Theatre Rehearsal Studios and the search will come to Chicago on Feb. 18th at the Chicago Academy of Arts. Complete details of the auditions are available at www.hairspraymovie.com.

In addition to the open calls, interested actors can fill out an audition application by mail or email through www.hairspraymovie.com as well.

“One of the most exciting things to do as producers is be able to offer life-changing roles to new actors and Hairspray has presented us with an amazing opportunity to create new stars,” said Zadan and Meron.

The roles that are currently being cast include:

- TRACY TURNBLAD: (Starring Role) Female, Caucasian, age 16-21 to play age 16. Overweight girl with a pretty face, infectious grin and indomitable spirit. Must be a “triple threat” talent -- singer/dancer/actress with a powerful Broadway-caliber singing voice.

- SEAWEED: African American male, age 16-21 to play 18. Charming, handsome, excellent singer and dancer. Dynamic.

- LI’L INEZ: African American female, age 10-13. Seaweed’s younger sister. Smart, strong, and the kind of girl who stands up for herself. She is one of the best dancers and singers around and she knows it.



Hairspray, which is being directed by Adam Shankman and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago, is originally based on Waters’ 1988 comedy about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. The new version of the film will be based on New Line’s hit Broadway adaptation of the film which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director.



Many of the key contributors to the Broadway show will also be involved in the feature film adaptation. Marc Shaiman (music and co-lyricist) will serve as the film’s music supervisor who will compose the score for the film as well as produce its songs. Co-lyricist Scott Wittman and Shaiman will also be the film’s executive producers. The play’s book writers, Thomas Meehan & Mark O’Donnell, are set to adapt the screenplay.



New Line Production President Toby Emmerich is overseeing the project along with New Line’s Senior VP Mark Kaufman, and Creative Executive Michael Disco.

Improv tonight

Keep your chops in tune tonight from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

This workshop is an introduction to improv. Basic skills are taught including focus, listening, reacting quickly, teamwork, scene work and trust. This class is excellent for actors or for those looking to be more comfortable onstage or in public speaking situations. The pace is determined by the skill level of the participants. Supportive, creative and fun!

This class provides students with an in-depth examination of storytelling. Students are challenged to explore more complicated elements of their individual performance skills. Everyone works together to fine tune all aspects of improvisation, with coaching.

Coaches include:
Forrest Pruett - SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter ("Forty Shades of Blue")
Michael Travis Stone - SAG actor ("Ray")
Arnold Edwards II - Indie director
Jon W. Sparks - writer/actor

For more info contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

We will have a guard to watch everyone's cars.

Casting call

Oddly Buoyant Productions, makers of 2004 Indie Memphis award winner "Automusik Can Do No Wrong", is casting its new movie. All sizes, shapes, races and sexes needed. Saturday Feb. 4,
10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op. 1000 S. Cooper. mail@oddlybuoyant.com

Scene study with Lisa Lax

Lisa says: We are definately having class Sunday the 29th from 4-6 p.m.
Southwest Tennessee Community College, Macon Cove off of Sycamore View at Fulton Auditorium-this is a new space for us. Please confirm your space! Special is $85 per month (4 classes) or $25 per class. Contact her at actlink@aol.com.

Halftime gig

The Grizzlies are looking for someone to play a crazed fan for some half-time fun. There is no money, but they are offering some great seats to a future game, and a gift pack of Grizzlies gear. This one-time bit with the crazed fan requires attendance at the game on Saturday where a bit of entertainment will be improv'd, and also available for a video shoot later this week that will be part of the entertainment. If you can commit to this, contact Cori Stevenson at 849-3781.

Casting call for an Arnold Edwards II pic

Cowboy Up Productions will be holding a casting call at the Media Co-op February 11th from 9 a.m. till 12 noon for the full length feature film titled Curbside Confessions. We are looking for a diverse group of actors from any ethnic background ranging from 18 years of age and up (no cap on age). More info to come...

Arnold Edwards II, Cowboy Up Productions, 491-8860

Furnace production in Nashville needs crew

THE FURNACE is an independent, low budget feature shooting in Nashville at the Tennessee State Prison from February 6-25, 2006. The rates are really low but there will be great food and a lot of cool, fun people. The producers and director are in from North Carolina and Los Angeles so this could lead to future work.

Please email resumes to furnacethemovie@yahoo.com.

Specifically looking for:
1st AC
2nd AC
2nd AD
Best Boy Electric
Boom Operator
Craft Service
Electric
Extras
Extras Casting Director
Grip
Hair & Make-Up Intern
Script Supervisor
Security Guards
Set Medic
Sound Mixer
Steadicam Operator
Video Assist
Wardrobe PA

Son of Improv Workshop

The second offering of this improv workshop is happening Wednesday. The first one got great reviews, so shake it out and come on over.

'Eyes of a Blue Dog'

"Eyes of a Blue Dog" screening is Saturday, Jan. 28, 8:30 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op, 1000 S. Cooper. The 11-minute movie is by local filmmaker Amy Frazier.

(Thanks, Sarah)

Nashville Samurai Film Festival

Check out this sharp genre's 7 films and 3 directors from Jan. 27-Feb. 7 (no films February 3rd)
Info is here.

Atlanta Film Festival

The 30th Annual Atlanta Film Festival Scheduled for June 9 –17, 2006 in Atlanta. Entries must be received by Friday, February 3, 2006. International submissions must include English subtitles and/or audio.

Applicants may submit their films online and receive a $5 discount through http://www.withoutabox.com/ or, an entry form can be downloaded at http://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/. Applicants may submit films in the animation, narrative, documentary, student film, teen screen and experimental categories.

(Thanks, Johnny)

Mississippi movies info

The Tupelo Film Festival is May 18-21. It's accepting entries now; deadline for entries is Tuesday, February 28, 2006. Go here for more information or to register.

Also:

Barefoot Workshops will be conducting a four-week documentary workshop documenting the Mississippi Delta Feb. 5-Mar. 4 in Clarksdale. For more information, contact Chandler Griffin at 917.385.9343, or email him at chandler@barefootworkshops.com.

(Thanks, Johnny)

Extras

Extras needed for Denzel Washington film in NOLA. You can still send in your info. (Thanks, Forrest).

Improv workshops

Practice your improv skills with students from Red West's Acting for the Camera classes and other interested actors. Red is starring in Glory Road, opening today, so his classes are on hiatus for a few weeks. You can keep your chops in tune at these two classes on Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

This workshop is an introduction to improv. Basic skills are taught including focus, listening, reacting quickly, teamwork, scene work and trust. This class is excellent for actors or for those looking to be more comfortable onstage or in public speaking situations. The pace is determined by the skill level of the participants. Supportive, creative and fun!

This class provides students with an in-depth examination of storytelling. Students are challenged to explore more complicated elements of their individual performance skills. Everyone works together to fine tune all aspects of improvisation, with coaching

Coaches include:
Forrest Pruett, - SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter ("Forty Shades of Blue")
Michael Travis Stone - SAG actor ("Ray"),
Arnold Edwards II - Indie director
Jon W. Sparks. - writer/actor

Go here for more info or contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

Profile of Red West

And here's a profile of Red West by CA sportswriter Ron Higgins:

"I've worked on a lot of stuff, some things I've forgotten about," said West, 69, a Memphian who was a bodyguard for Elvis Presley in what seems a lifetime ago. "But there's something about this movie that was special. It was the best shoot I've ever been involved in."

Review of 'Glory Road'

Here's John Beifuss' review of "Glory Road" in the CA:

See the film and you'll wonder why Red West isn't working all the time, in the types of character parts that usually go to the likes of Brian Dennehy, M. Emmet Walsh and even Robert Duvall.

Amy LaVere

An adoring CA story on the multitalented Amy LaVere, musician, actress and creative force to be reckoned with:

Amy LaVere is not a rockabilly queen. You can tell by the trail of rockabilly fans lost on the path behind her. A path that looks a little country, a little rock, but at the end of the road, she is more of a will o' the wisp, taking people on a musical journey a little different than what they expected.

Lately, nearly everybody in her inner circle of musicians has been playing the definition game: "What is Amy LaVere?" Their cause to wonder is her first album This World Is Not My Home, which she'll turn over to fans on Sunday at the Midtown restaurant Tsunami.

Model needed for music video

Looking for a female model interested in working on a music video. The job is not paying, but will give you great experience working with some of the leading professionals in the business from Memphis and the Mid-South area. You'll also get a DVD of the video for your resume.

The video is for the local band "The Central Standards" (see centralstandards.com). The music video will be directed by WAHEED ALQAWASMI. Visit his website at WAFILMS.COM to see more of his work.

Model Specifications:
Height: between 5'6" and 5'10"
Color: Caucasian
Body Type: Slim
Hair: Prefer long hair

Days of Shooting: January 28-29. About an hour on the 28th and a full day on the 29th. You will be driven to and from the different sets.

Send your headshots to WAHEED@WAFILMS.COM.

For more information, email WAHEED@WAFILMS.COM

LiveFromMemphis party

Live From Memphis 5-year Birthday Party!!!
WHO: Live From Memphis
WHAT: 5 year Birthday Party
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 9pm - till
WHERE: 1 South Main Street, Downtown, Memphis (Corner of Madison and Main)

Casting

WB reality show looking for energetic 21-and-up people for "the last spring break hoorah." Details on Craigslist.

Auditions for annual Gridiron Show

Reposting this from the eCallboard:

The Memphis Gridiron Show is a political spoof to be staged March 31 and April 1.
Auditions will be held at the Variety Club, 1648 Sycamore View, at 11 a.m. Saturday Jan. 21.
For more info, call Terry Reeves at 722-4886 or Gail Mathewson at 818.9774, 652.8050 or 652.8010.

H&F DVD, Hallelujah!

Read John Beifuss' CA story on today's DVD release of "Hustle & Flow." Looks like it has some good extras.

Also see Beifuss' article on the made-in-Memphis-in-1929 milestone movie "Hallelujah." And here's more info on the historic all-black cast musical.

Blockbuster buster?

Another must-read in the series on Hollywood economics from Slate:

By 2003, the studios were taking in three times as much money from DVDs as they were from VHS videos (click here for the actual numbers). In this reversal of fortune, Wal-Mart replaced Blockbuster as the studios' single largest source of revenue.

"Glory Road" is glorious

Red West called in and reported on the Hollywood premiere of "Glory Road," chronicling the 1966 story of Texas Western coach Don Haskins who put together the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team and took it to the NCAA national championship. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced film stars Josh Lucas as Haskins, Red as assistant coach Ross Moore and Jon Voight as opposing coach Adolph Rupp. "The way it was edited, it didn't slow down for a minute," said Red, who attended the premiere at LA's Pantages Theatre with his wife Pat. The theater, he said, was packed and that's one of those old huge cinema palaces of days gone by.

Director James Gartner was thrilled and "Glory Road" gives him a nice feature debut to brag about. Before this, he directed commercials. Red said "he did a heckuva job for his first outing" and told one of Gartner's directing partners that the success meant the helmsman wouldn't be doing many more commercials.

The buzz is vivid on this movie and it's obviously reached Memphis -- press and sneak previews here have been at capacity. Three of us tried to go last night and there were only two tickets left at the Paradiso.

Men don't listen to women enough...

Here's an interesting year-end appreciation of "Forty Shades of Blue" from Jeremiah Kipp at filmcritic.com:

I had a delayed reaction to this one. Writer-director Ira Sachs blew me away with his previous film, The Delta, and my expectations were high for Forty Shades of Blue. But I absolutely could not connect with the central character, Laura (Dina Korzun), a Russian trophy wife of legendary Memphis music producer Alan (Rip Torn). She seemed like a character who placed an emotional wall between herself and the world, and when Alan’s son comes to town, her cold, illicit affair with him leads her to self-knowledge, not about her affair (which is essentially meaningless to her) but about her very life and the lack of living within it. I found her actions inscrutable. Weeks later, I was walking down the street and thunderstruck by the fact that, like Alan, I was choosing not to listen to her, to look into her depth, and to attempt to understand her. Torn gives a raging good performance as the music producer, but what Korzun does is absolutely indelible — she creates a performance where you have to plug into her instead of allowing her to wash over you. Men don’t listen to women enough, I guess, and when a movie comes along asking us to keep up, it is perhaps alienating at first — but ultimately rewarding and rich. The final shot of Laura walking away from a glaring pair of headlights is either an awakening or an imprisonment, depending on whether you see that glass of water as half-full or half-empty. Look deeper and you’ll see this movie has soul to spare.

Improve your improv

Practice your improv skills with students from Red West's Acting for the Camera classes and other interested actors. Red is starring in "Glory Road," opening officially on Jan. 13 and whipping up lots of buzz, so his classes are on hiatus for a few weeks. You can keep your chops in tune at these two classes on Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

Coaches include:
SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter Forrest Pruett ("Forty Shades of Blue"); SAG actor Michael Travis Stone ("Ray"); Indie director Arnold Edwards II and writer/actor Jon W. Sparks.

For more info, contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

A shot at stardom Sunday morning...

The makers of "Divine Manipulation of the Threads" are doing a musical scene and need people. No singing required, but you'll be dancing. It's 10:30 a.m. this Sunday at the fountains on the Main Street Mall by City Hall. You can park at Washington and Second.

From the producers: "This will be in 3-D so it is going to be very cool. If you were in the movie already trying wearing something we have already shot you in. Others wear casual clothes ... no heavy coats. It will be warm--Tim Simpson promises 62 degree weather. Please call 490-1965 or email christineconnolly@yahoo.com if you want to participate."

Director Jack Sholder at Rhodes

Film director, writer and editor Jack Sholder will discuss the film "King: From Montgomery to Memphis" on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Rhodes College. Free and open to the public, the event includes a screening of the film and begins at 7 p.m. in Frazier-Jelke.

An Emmy Award winner, Sholder has directed "A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge," "Arachnid," "Renegades," and "The Hidden." He was an editor on the 1970's "King: From Montgomery to Memphis," nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary. The film documents the life and work of the civil rights leader from early days in Montgomery, Alabama to his assassination in Memphis.

The screening and visit by Sholder is part of the Rhodes' Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Week January 16-21. The celebration's theme is "In the Spirit of Unity and Service – Remember! Celebrate! Act!"

Those with more specific inquiries about the film screening can contact Dwaun Warmack at 901-843-3628.

Test screening

A free test screening of the not-quite-finished feature "The Importance of Being Russell" will be Wed., Jan. 11 at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. at Malco's Studio on the Square. Director is Sean Plemmons, cinematographer is Jeff Hassen, writer/lead is John Pickle and producer is Jeff Bryant.

Casting for Mississippi film

The independent film, BALLAST, will be holding additional auditions for two lead roles on Friday, January 6th. The film is seeking an African American male, age 10 - 13 and a white male, age 58 - 68. Acting experience is not a requirement. Non-actors are encouraged to audition. If you are interested in auditioning, call 601.859.4449, ext.1, for an appointment.
BALLAST, a low-budget feature length film, will be filmed entirely in Canton and Yazoo City. The story involves an African-American man dealing with the unexpected loss of his twin brother. Filming will begin in late January. The film company is looking to cast a Mississippian in every role. Those cast in speaking roles will be paid.

Mississippi Film Office
601.359.3297
601.359.5048 fax
www.visitmississippi.org/film

Scene study with Lisa Lax

Lisa Lax (actlink@aol.com) sends this:

Scene Study with Lisa Lax resumes Jan. 9, Monday night at 7 p.m. at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Pay by the month or week. $85 for the month or $25 per class.

Coming up at the MeDiA Co-op

• Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.: Open Forum/Film workshop. Promotions, Premieres, Film Festivals, and Distribution. (Donations appreciated).
• Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m.: "Oz's Lion" World Premiere, $5. A cowardly man-boy discovers a small fortune in a dumpster and must find the courage to save his friends from the goons that want the money back. Screenplay by Bryan Foshee and Ray Sommers, directed by Bryan Foshee, digital cinematography by Stephen Leet, edited by David Hymel, produced by ManyHands Films.
• Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m.: Open Forum/Film workshop. (Donations appreciated).
• Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m.: Open Forum/Film workshop. (Donations appreciated).
• Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.: Transgeneration, Episodes 1, and 2. Sundance Channel-2005, 60min each episode. (Donations appreciated).
• Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.: Open Forum/Film workshop. (Donations appreciated).
• Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.: Open Forum/Film workshop. (Donations appreciated).

Also at the Co-op in January, Amber O'Daniels starts her latest Meisner for the Creative workshop (info: amber.coolestactingcoach@gmail.com), and Forrest Pruett begins an improv acting workshop (info: Forrestpruett@bellsouth.net). For more information about the Co-op or membership, contact Andrew: andrew@mediaco-op.org. Also check out the Co-op blog.

For the Open Forum/Film workshop's please feel free to bring short films that you've made to screen for feedback, or just to screen. Also, if you want to give a lecture, workshop, or see a film screened here, please feel free to let us know.

MeDiA Co-op is at 1000 S. Cooper Memphis, TN 38104; 901.278.9077.