Tales Told In April 2009
Week of April 05, 2009
I’m putting all local DPs on notice! For the first time in my career, I bought a video camera! It’s a Flip (DPs insert sigh of relief here) and I got it for scouting and shooting events for this website…my photo pages will be moving from now on!
The Virginia Production Alliance held its annual meeting last week and elected Mark Remes as President. The annual Spirit Award was renamed the Liz Marks Spirit Award and Steve Hurwitz was this year’s recipient. Since I didn’t go (and nobody sent me the promised report), that’s all I got.
Also, didn’t go to this year’s Richmond Show, but I heard there was no Best in Show for production. What does that say about our production community? However, congrats to Dave Saunders, who was named Ad Person of the Year. To see a video I produced on Madison+Main for last year’s Richmond Chamber Impact Awards click here and select “Madison + Main.”
The Virginia Film Office and Virginia Production Alliance are sponsoring the 2nd annual Virginia Independent Film Festival on 4/26 at the Byrd Theatre. There are 3 screenings:
- Documentaries: Noon-4
- Shorts: 4-6
- Features: 6-10
Winners in each session will be announced at the festival and audience members can vote for their favorites. $5 for a single session, $10 for an All Day Pass ($5 for VPA members and students with ID). Tickets available at the box office.
Also, they’re looking for 3-4 volunteers for both afternoon shifts to distribute programs, sell merchandise, etc. Volunteers get an All Day pass. To volunteer send your shift preference, name, phone and email addy.
We hear that local screenwriter Megan Holley popped up after a Saturday night showing of her film “Sunshine Cleaners” at the Westhampton to take questions from the audience.
Ellie St. John was named Assistant Director of Operations for the HQ staff of the 48 Hour Film Project.
Sound recordist Kevin Beale has a new CD entitled “The Late, Great Barnabus Jones.”
New reviews of “Sunshine Cleaning,” “Adventureland,” “Aliens vs. Monsters,” “I Love You, Man,” “Duplicity” and more. Click here for these reviews and more.
Week of April 13, 2009
Those graphics guys at ShaveFx did it! They shaved their heads to raise money for St. Baldricks (more than $1,700). Plus, there was a surprise, last-minute shavee. Click here to watch the video I shot and find out who.
In case you hadn’t heard, the James River Film Festival runs thru next Sunday. Visit the site for details.
Finalists for the Virginia Indy Film Festival has been announced. Click here for details.
The 2009 Virginia Screenwriting Competition (presented by the Virginia Film Office) is open to Virginia residents and students attending state schools. Every screenplay will receive a written critique from the first panel of judges and finalists are judged by industry professionals. Deadline for entries is 5/22 and there’s no fee. Click here for details.
The 48 Hour Film Project will be in Richmond 7/17–19. Registration will open late May.
The rest of the new Virginia Production Alliance officers are 1st VP: Kahil Dotay, 2nd VP: Anne Chapman, Treas: Alfred Shapiro, Sec: Jennifer Pullinger.
“Lake City,” which was shot in the area, is now available on DVD.
New reviews of “Sunshine Cleaning,” “Adventureland,” “Aliens vs. Monsters,” “I Love You, Man,” “Duplicity” and more. Click here for these reviews and more.
Week of April 20, 2009
Long-timers will remember Richmond’s cutting-edge animation studio, Minds Eye (1991-97) and it’s owner Mark Lambert. He’s back in Richmond from LA to be VP/Creative Director at Park Group. (Click on his name to read his impressive resume.) Also, Dave Willams has been hired as VP/Director of Interactive Services and Stacy Murphy has been promoted to VP/Executive Producer.
We hear that a production company based in Virginia Beach has plans to open a Richmond facility this month in former home of “Style Weekly” in the Scott’s Edition.
Construction has started on another audio facility “Raising Grace Studios” (formerly Far West Audio) downtown at 9 West Grace.
Gov. Tim Kaine has signed SB1421, the digital media fee bill, so it’s now official. You can read new VPA President Mark Remes’s post on their website.
On 4/29 Performance Video Systems is shooting a 5-camera HD concert by Ryan Farish at the National Theatre. It’s the first in a series of concerts at the venue that producers hope to sell to PBS. Additional performances will be shot later in the year.
You may have seen the article in Sunday’s TD about Emeril Lagasse doing his show at Ft. Lee. What you didn’t read is that a local crew (Dave Park, Jeff McGall, Rob Vaughn) shot that day and an additional 4 days for the rest of the package that will flesh out the show. It airs on Memorial day.
Craig Belcher, TV Production Coordinator for Westminster Canterbury, is looking for locally-produced nonfiction content to air for their in-house station. DVD, Mini DV or VHS will not be returned. Send to Westminster Canterbury Richmond c/o Craig Belcher, 1600 Westbrook Ave # 134, 23227.
Kevin Beale and Leslie welcomed their 3rd child, Carter Andrew, on 4/17. Meanwhile, to celebrate the release of ‘The Late, Great Barnabus Jones,” (and help pay for that third kid) he’ll be playing a CD release party on at 6pm on 5/3 at the Barksdale (Willow Lawn). $10 for the show and a copy of the CD ($5 for show only).
Project Resolution is back to its normal night this Sunday, 4/26, 7 at the Firehouse Theatre. The prompt is: Bathroom Epiphanies. All filmmakers bring their work (miniDV, DVD, VHS) by 6:30. Free.
There will be a benefit showing of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” (plus a Wurlitzer concert and free popcorn) to help preserve the Byrd Theatre on 4/25, 7 & 9:30, $10, $5 students. Also, “The Biggest Picture,” an environmental film festival, will play at the Byrd 5/16 & 17.
Megan Holley, Richmond screenrwiter of “Sunshine Cleaning,” is speaking about the film at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Parham Road Campus (the Lipman Auditorium) on 4/21 at 6. Free and open to the public.
DVG will cover NAB 2009 via their Twitter tweets.
New reviews of “State of Play,” Crank,” “Sunshine Cleaning,” “Adventureland,” “Aliens vs. Monsters,” “I Love You, Man,” “Duplicity” and more. Click here for these reviews and more.
Week of April 27, 2009
More poop from Park Group (nice rhyme). They just finished production on Beyonce’s World Tour TV and radio spots (shot/edited by Nick Kleczewski, audio by Alfred Walker). Also, a stock clip they shot of kids in tire swings is used in the opening sequence of “Parks and Recreation,” the new Amy Poehler comedy on NBC.
“Jackson and Joseph,” a finalist in the Rock Creek Screenwriting Competition, will be shot by VCU Cinema students 5/20–30. For casting details or to submit headshot/resume email Nate King and Ben Artley
Club 600 Studios is seeking talent for their new series of shows, including actors, singers, dancers, comics, musicians & screenwriters. Visit the site for details or call 767-6007.
New reviews of “State of Play,” “Crank High Voltage,” “Sunshine Cleaning” and more. Click here for these reviews and more.
