VIRGINIA INDY FILM COMPETITON FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the finalists of the 2nd annual Virginia Independent Film Competition.

Documentary Finalists are: Saving Grace, Eric Futterman director and producer; The Community Model in Corrections, Lucas Krost director, Alexandra Krost producer; The Flyingest Flying, Josh Criss director and producer.
Short Film Finalists are: Concept of Beauty, Benny Oliveri and Martin Montgomery, directors, Scott Strimple and Jude Fageas, producers; Harmony Ranch, Hal Dowdy director, Mark Remes producer; La Vie est Courte (Life is Short) Sallie Keena director, Joe Carabeo producer; Singed, A. A. Thweatt director, A. A. Thweatt, Jasmine Kettenacker producers; Tide, Shane Rocheleau director, Jacob Dodd, Bryant Dameron, Shane Rocheleau producers; Cannibal Cheerleader Camp, Paul Busetti director, Paul Busetti, Ian Albetski, Colin Lamb producers.

Feature Film Finalists are: In The Pines, Chip Johnson director and producer; Singularity, Paul Gleason director, Nathan Burns, Paul Gleason and Sarah Masters producers; Recover Me, Dahsheen Amin director. Go here for more information about the films including actors and plot descriptions.

VIRGINIA INDY FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 26The finalist films from this year’s Virginia Independent Film Competition will be screened at the Virginia Independent Film Festival on April 26 at the Byrd Theatre, 2908 West Cary Street, Richmond. Documentaries will be screened from Noon-4pm, shorts from 4pm-6pm and features from 6pm–10 pm. Each series will feature a Q & A with filmmakers and an Audience Choice Award. Admission is $5 for each series, or $10 for an all-day pass. Students with ID and Virginia Production Alliance members can purchase an all-day pass for $5.00. Proceeds from the Festival will benefit the Virginia Production Alliance and its legislative and educational initiatives.

VIRGINIA SCREENWRITING COMPETITION DEADLINE MAY 22
The Virginia Film Office is now accepting submissions for the Virginia Screenwriting Competition through May 22. This competition is open to Virginia residents and students attending Virginia schools. No entry fee is required. Go here for information, competition rules and application.

SUNSHINE CLEANING OPENS NATIONWIDE
When Richmond screenwriter Megan Holley won the Virginia Screenwriting Competition in 2006, she didn’t know how much her life would change. One of the judges optioned her screenplay and produced it starring Emily Blunt, Amy Adams and Alan Arkin. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and recently opened nationwide. It’s a quirky, funny story of a single mother who starts a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service with her unreliable sister. The film is shown at theatres throughout the state. Go here for information.

JAMES RIVER FILM FESTIVAL IN RICHMOND APRIL 12—19
The 16th annual James River Film Festival—Virginia’s Festival for the Independent-minded—will be held April 12-19, 2009 in Richmond. A celebration and examination of independent cinema, the James River Film Festival is produced by the Richmond Moving Image Co-op and is co-sponsored by WRIR 97.3 LPFM, the Virginia Film Office, the Virginia Production Alliance and Friends of the Festival. The week-long event has a wide range of films and events including a reception and juried competition sponsored by the Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance on Friday, April 17. Go here for the complete schedule

VIRGINIA PRODUCTION ALLIANCE ELECTS OFFICERS
At its annual meeting in March, the Virginia Production Alliance elected new officers: Mark Remes, President; Kahil Dotay, First Vice President; Anne Chapman, Second Vice President; Jennifer Pullinger, Secretary; Al Shapiro, Treasurer and Terry Stroud, Chairman. VPA-Hampton Roads Chair Hunter Thomas was also elected.
Thanks to outgoing board members Ellie St. John, Joe Cacciotti, Barbara Guerriri and Todd Raviotta.

LAKE CITY ON DVD
The feature film Lake City, shot in the Richmond area and starring Sissy Spacek, Dave Matthews and Troy Garity, is now available on DVD. Go here for movie information. Go here for the DVD on Amazon.com.

Paper Heart

The comedy PAPER HEART is debuting in theatres in Los Angeles and New York on August 7, 2009 and expanding on August 14. The film, directed by Nicholas Jasenovec and starring Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up) alongside Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno), successfully debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival – winning the Waldo Salt Award for best screenplay. Previous winners include The Squid and the Whale, The Station Agent and Memento.

PAPER HEART follows Yi as she embarks on a quest across America to make a documentary about the one subject she doesn’t fully understand: Love. Cera becomes the object of her affection. Weaving together reality and fantasy, the film combines elements of documentary and traditional storytelling to bring a fresh perspective to the modern romance.

Overture will handle worldwide distribution of the film including the North American theatrical release. Its affiliated company, Anchor Bay Entertainment, will distribute the film in the home entertainment market in North America, Australiaand the United Kingdom.

The producers on the film are Sandra Murillo and Elise Salomon and Jasenovec and Yi serve as executive producers. Jasenovec and Yi also share writing credits on the film and Yi composes the film’s music along with Cera.

“By blending a narrative storyline with documentary support, Charlyne and Nick have created something really unique,” said Overture CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett. “We cannot help but be excited to be involved with a film that effectively redefines the classic love story.”

Yi began her career performing stand-up comedy before making her film debut as a giddy stoner in 2007’s Knocked Up.

"This is so exciting! I'm one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming this generation's Shirley Temple,” said Yi.

PAPER HEART also stars Jake Johnson (Red Belt) who plays the film director documenting Yi’s international journey that includes stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York City, Toronto and Paris.

THE 2009 VIRGINIA SCREENWRITING COMPETITION APPLICATION IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!

The 2009 Virginia Screenwriting Competition presented by the Virginia Film Office is open to Virginia residents and students attending Virginia schools, there is no entry fee to submit a screenplay.

Every screenplay in the competition will receive a written critique from the first panel of judges and screenplays selected as finalists in the competition are judged by industry professionals actively producing feature films.

The deadline to enter is Friday, May 22, 2009. All entries must be postmarked on or before that date.

For a complete list of rules and the application form, click HERE.

For more information or questions, contact the Virginia Film Office at 800.854.6233 or email kstephens@virginia.org

VIFF

THE 2009 VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Sunday April 26th at the Byrd Theatre
2908 West Cary Street, Richmond
Noon-10pm

Full Schedule Now Available Online! Click Here!

The Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance present the second annual Virginia Independent Film Festival, a three-part screening series of Virginia documentaries, short films and features. Proceeds will benefit the Virginia Production Alliance.

Documentaries Noon-4pm
Shorts 4pm-6pm
Features 6pm-10pm

Winners in each session have been selected by a panel of judges and will be announced at the festival. Additionally, audience members will have the opportunity vote for their favorite film in each session and those films will be awarded Audience Choice Awards.

Tickets are $5 for a single session or $10 for an ALL DAY PASS.
Virginia Production Alliance Members and Virginia students with ID may purchase an ALL DAY PASS for $5.
All tickets may be purchased at the box office on the day of the festival.
www.film.virginia.org

James River Film Festival

James River Film Festival opens in Richmond !
April 12-19, 2009

Please see the Richmond Moving Image Co-Op website
for all the details of this exciting week-long event
in the Capital City!!!

http://www.rmicweb.org/jrff/index.html

See you at the Festival !

"On the Breath" Acting Workshop with CAROL FOX PRESCOTT, May 2-3

Plus Open House and Class Series opportunity

Here are THREE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES to meet and study with internationally-acclaimed New York acting teacher CAROL FOX PRESCOTT! Carol was featured in "Acting Teachers of America: A Vital Tradition" and named one of the 50 most influential acting teachers in America. She was selected as one of the four master teachers recommended in "ACT: New York 2005."

1. The evening of Friday, May 1st, an Open House will be held to introduce Carol and her work to DC actors.

2. On Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, Carol will teach her two-day acting workshop "Breathing Into Scene Study."

3. In the fall of '09, an on-going monthly acting class will commence (in the form of a monthly weekend intensive class).
OPEN HOUSE

May 1st, 7 - 9 PM

Held at Convergence Church in Alexandria (address and contact information below), this evening will give you an opportunity to speak with Carol and hear about her acclaimed approach to acting. You can also learn about the on-going weekend intensive classes that Carol will begin offering in DC in the Fall of '09. Please RSVP to carlamp@earthlink.net. with "Open House" in the subject Line.

BREATHING INTO SCENE STUDY WORKSHOP
Two Day Workshop May 2-3

Come spend a weekend with Carol Fox Prescott. Experience growth in your scene work and freedom in your acting soul as you add the simple rules of breathing, awareness and joy to your repertoire of techniques, tricks and talents. Learning to work "On the Breath" creates a joyful, reliable, physically-based approach to acting that drops you right into the fullness of the present moment, deepens your listening, develops your sensitivity to the written word and expands your imagination helping you to become the spontaneous, creative and exciting actor you long to be.

Through the use of both exercise and scene study, you will leave the workshop with practical techniques along with a deeper understanding of the real role you play, the role of the actor. Both new and returning students will find this course challenging.
The two day workshop will be held on Saturday May 2nd (10 AM to 6 PM) and Sunday May 3rd (11 AM to 6 PM).

Location:
The Lab at Conversions Church
1819 N. Quaker Lane
Alexandria, VA 22302

Directions to Convergence Church: http://convergenceccf.net/site/content/view/15/28/. Please note that The Lab is a separate building from main church building (which is located at 1801 N. Quaker Lane). The Lab is located across the cross street (Crestwood Drive) from the main church - on the NE corner of N. Quaker Lane and Crestwood Drive. Enter through the double doors at the rear of The Lab building.

Class size is limited. All students will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tuition: $250.00

To register online with a credit card or check:
Go to www.paypal.com ;
Send $250 full payment, or reserve your place with non-refundable deposit of $125.00.
Indicate your payment is going to CFPRESCOTT.WORKSHOPS@GMAIL.COM.
Include messaging with your name and phone number.

To register by mail:
Send $250.00 full payment, or a non-refundable deposit of $125.00 to
Carol Fox Prescott
P.O. Box 89
Lake Hill, NY 12448
Be sure to include your name and phone number.
There are no refunds.

READ ABOUT CAROL FOX PRESCOTT: To learn more about her life of experience and special approach to acting and musical theater visit www.CarolFoxPrescott.com. ; Read an excerpt from her book, "Breathing, Awareness and Joy: An Approach to Acting for the Twenty-first Century" though at www.carolfoxprescott.com/index_in.html. ; You can also a view one of her classes in action at http://www.carolfoxprescott.com/course.html.

CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions, contact Carol McCaffrey at carlamp@earlthlink.net or 703-379-0201.
"This breath-to-breath communication that operates well below the surface of the words we speak is a picture of the way in which we are intrinsically connected to one another, to the oneness of the universe, to the discovery that we are not separate, not alone, not other. It is the picture of life working. It is a picture of all the parts finding their place, moving with the flow of energy that brings all of us together." From BREATHING, AWARENESS AND JOY by Carol Fox Prescott

VPA-Hampton Roads Chapter

The Monthly meeting for APRIL will be held TOMORROW NIGHT Tuesday April 7th from 6pm to 8pm at Enricos Restaurant4012 Colley Ave Norfolk 23508 www.enricosristorante.com.

As usual there will have social and networking time from 6:00pm to 6:30pm and the meeting will begin at 6:30pm. Special guests Vibhaa Vermani from the Institute of Film Making will give a brief presentation and Robert Thorndike, Jr, Senior VP and Financial Advisor for Davenport & Co will give some of his time to discuss how to handle your money!And our newly elected VPA President Mark Remes will be joining us! That's right. The head honcho, the big cheese, Hail to the Chief and all that stuff. So come on out and let's show'em what we've got!-- See you at the April 7th Meeting at Enrico's on Colley Ave.

www.filmva.com