Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club #41

Rural Route Tour - Encore Presentation
7:30 pm Wednesday, June 11 @ Power House Memphis
Admission is free, donations are recommended.

The Rural Route Film Festival was created to highlight works that deal with rural people and places. This year's "Rural Route Tour" program leans towards the artistic and documentary films, with both fun and serious pieces from all around the world. Arctic owls in Montana, Canadian lawnmower races, films about light pollution, a Ukrainian poetic peasant masterpiece, dancers in the snowy Norwegian tundra, plastic lawn deer lost in Brooklyn, a man's captivating search for his ancestors in Lithuania, and some good, 'ol banjo playin' at a Kentucky old folks home. Total running time is 97 minutes.

Remember My Blueberry Nights? Oh yeah! Here it is...

From John Beifuss in the CA:

Did you participate as an extra or crew member during the shooting of "My Blueberry Nights" in August of 2006 in downtown Memphis ?

If so, you’ll at last have a chance to see your work or yourself (if you made the cut) on the big screen on May 30, when the latest film from acclaimed Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai opens in Memphis for a run of at least a week, exclusively at Malco’s Studio on the Square.

Wong’s first English-language film and his first to be shot in America, “My Blueberry Nights” is a romantic road movie set in Memphis, Las Vegas and New York that stars Norah Jones, Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, David Strathairn, Natalie Portman and Tony Award-winning Memphian Adriane Lenox. The movie debuted in May of 2007 at the Cannes Film Festival, to mixed reviews; with distribution in the U.S. by The Weinstein Company, it opened April 4 in New York and Los Angeles, and has been slowly expanding into other cities since. (As of this weekend, it has played in a total of only 69 U.S. theaters.)

Reposting: Deadline extended for free workshop

Announcement from The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission on a tuition-free film/TV workshop June 7 and 8:

James Spies, nationally known film and television producer ("Nothing But the Truth," "The Contender," "Commander-in-Chief"), returns to Memphis to lead the first of The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission's long-awaited crew training workshops.

Spies will lead the first workshop at the University of Memphis, June 7 and 8.

"Breaking into Film and Getting Your First Job," is a two-day, 10-hour intensive workshop covering everything from using a walkie-talkie to set procedures and protocol to learning about gripping and gaffing.

Applicants must possess proof of residency in Memphis and Shelby County (driver's license preferred), be at least 18 years of age or 18 on the next birthday, and be chosen by The Workshop #1 Selection Committee. The workshop application process is competitive; space is limited to thirty (30) students.

Applications can be downloaded from The Commission’s website: www.memphisfilmcomm.org and faxed along with proof of residency and a letter of reference from professor, teacher or work supervisor to: (901)-527-8326. All questions should be emailed to info@memphisfilmcomm.org.
Applications must be received by the end of the business day on Monday, June 2. Successful applicants will be notified.

To graduate, workshop attendees must complete with a passing grade a final on-line test, covering topics discussed during the two days of class. Workshop graduates will be eligible for priority consideration for jobs through The Commission’s wage refund film trainee program on future qualified productions based in Memphis and Shelby County. Additionally, graduates will qualify for listing as “Production Assistants” in the next edition of The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission Production Directory.

This workshop is part of The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Incentive Program and as such encourages the active recruitment and training of women and Memphis & Shelby County citizens of diverse ethnicities.

Casting call

Casting Call ...... Female lead role for a FUN film

We are looking for a talented, hardworking and VERY dependable actress to play lead in an upcoming feature film. We would like someone in her 20's or 30's, attractive, athletic, medium to small build. Must be willing to train or must know some martial arts. Must be willing to be topless briefly in a couple of scenes. Contact me for more info.

This is a fun vampire/comedy film being shot by a local production company in Memphis that has produced 3 feature films, 8 short films 4 documentary films (a couple have been aired on national television.)

If interested, please send a headshot and resume to:
brad@rustedsunfilms.com

Tricks World Premiere June in LA

DeAara Lewis' "Tricks" has its World Premiere at the Hollywood Black Film Festival on June 5 at 8:30 p.m. in Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills.

From the HBFF site:
"She thought she played her cards right, she quietly left the city, and she quietly re-emerged, years later. Opening up a massage parlor and with the business tact she inherited from Doug Sullivan, she knew how to increase her revenue quickly - offer massages with 'happy endings.' It was a clever idea that quickly took off, yet still remained secretive enough to only reach the ears of those who understood the language. The parlor also brought in the women, each with her own reasons for wanting to work, each fiercely devoted to Donna in one way or another. Yes, Doug Sullivan taught her well.But then there was still Sebastian Crump, who believed Donna was responsible for the death of Doug Sullivan and the theft of over two hundred thousand dollars of Sullivan's money. Sebastian wanted her to repay the money that was stolen. Donna had to figure out a way to raise that kind of money in a short amount of time without bankrupting her business. She concocted an idea - host an after party for a famous artist who had a concert coming through town. Crump reluctantly agreed, but warned her if anything went wrong, he was shutting her down. As the event approaches, each woman has to make a tough decision. But the decision is not at all about leaving the business, but in her own way, learning how to be loved and accepted with no apologies in the world's oldest profession."

omg/HaHaHa World Premiere June in NY

From Morgan Jon Fox:

Sawed-Off Collaboratory Productions' feature film, omg/HaHaHa, written/directed by Morgan Jon Fox, is having its WORLD PREMIERE Saturday June 14th 8:30pm at the AMC LOEWS 34TH ST Cineplex in NewYork City.

I don't know if any of you were at the sneak preview of the film in late '07, but this will be the first screening of the final version, which is almost 20 minutes shorter, with many changes to the edit.

The film was selected to be apart of NEWFEST, the 20th Annual NewYork GLBT Film Fest. We are very delighted to have such a prime time slot in a well respected film fest.

As a result, just in the last week we've received invitations from 12 other festivals to screen the film, and 3 different US distributers and an Israel-based international distributer have expressed interest in obtaining the film. HURRAH!

From the NEWFEST website: "Cleverly reflective of today’s YouTube/MySpace generation, and shot in an improvisational, documentary style, OMG/HaHaHa opens a window to the lives of several young people in Memphis, TN. A teenager’s video blog frames the various stories, as he introduces his circle of friends and their troubles – from unexpected pregnancy to homophobia, break-ups to dying parents. From its attractive and talented actors’ naturalistic performances to its perfectly chosen soundtrack, OMG/HaHaHa impresses with a unique and inviting charm."

Link to our new ads for the film: Front and Back.

Many of the actors will be making the trip to represent. Just spreadin the word...we are excited. Keep updated on all sawed-off's projects by checking our website: www.sawedoffproductions.com

FABA -- Saturday -- don't miss it