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SAGIndie Diversity Screening Series - Call For Submissions!

SAGIndie is pleased to announce the launch of our Diversity Screening Series, a program dedicated to promoting films with a diverse cast and/or diverse themes. SAGIndie and the Screen Actors Guild are committed to increasing employment opportunities for performers of all types, a commitment shown in our sponsorship of diversity-themed film festivals, our diversity outreach programs, and our Low Budget Diversity in Casting Incentive. The Diversity Screening Series is an exciting next step in this constantly evolving campaign.

The screenings will be held quarterly in New York and Los Angeles, with other cities to follow as the program matures and moves forward.

Thank you for your interest in submitting your film to this exciting new event. We look forward to watching all your films – every last one of the thousands and thousands of excellent films that will be soon coming our way. To help us make that happen, though, you should read the following guidelines. Learn them. Live them. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines will find themselves moldering away in the SAGIndie Vault of Misfit Films.

1) The SAGIndie Diversity Screening Series is intended to promote films produced under the SAG Low Budget Agreements. However, if you (or your Uncle Theodore) have deep pockets and have made an awesome diversity film for more than 3.75 million, we'll consider it - provided you buy us a starter home in the red-hot California real estate market.

2) This should be a no-brainer, but here goes: submitted films MUST have diverse cast, themes, or situations to be considered. They MUST also be SAG films. No exceptions. Thank you.

3) Brownie points are awarded to films using the Screen Actors Guild's Diversity in Casting incentive.

4) Submissions must be in DVD format ONLY. VHS is dead, and we will not watch your film on YouTube (we're too busy watching funny cat videos).

5) Submissions become the property of SAGIndie, and will not be returned. But don't worry - we won't show the really bad ones at a booze-soaked bad-movie party. We promise.

6) Print out this Submission Form, fill it out completely, and send it along with your DVD to the address on the form.

7) And finally, don't call us, we'll call you. Seriously.

That's it! Simple, no? Thanks for your submission, and good luck!

NEW! Visit our brand new Diversity Screening Series web site! Featuring news, screening schedules, and a consolidated film submission area, not to mention tons of geeky-friendly social networking features!

PS Film Fest 2006: Part Two

And now for part two of my trip to the Palm Springs International Festival of Shorts:

After barely escaping certain death (these pools in Palm Springs have depths of up to FOUR WHOLE FEET!), I got ready for my One on One meeting debut, which Paul very correctly described as speed dating, but with filmmakers. Well, this is conjecture - I'm assuming he was correct, as I've never actually done speed dating, what with all the opportunities these days for electronic rendez-vous (a/s/l????). So I sat in a little room, behind a curtain and met with filmmakers, ten minutes at a time. Unfortunately, under my name on the sign up sheet, it said that I was there to answer any questions about just the Screen Actors Guild, not their low-budget contracts. In the end that turned out ok, because mostly people just wanted to tell me to come see their short film premiering at the fest, or to give me copies of their film that was in the market.

When I was finished with the two hour block of meetings, I had another two hours to kill before my next party and screening. I had sent Marcus off to take notes at a panel discussion that I had wanted to attend, but couldn't because I was busy being important. Since there is pretty much nothing at all to do in Palm Springs (I thought Phoenix was bad!), and I didn't want to risk heatstroke by meandering aimlessly outside (what? I'm dainty!), I resigned myself to hanging out at the mall. I stopped in at the only department store to people watch, which is how I get a ton of my ideas for films. While wandering through the labyrinth of racks displaying elastic-waist jeans and beaded tunics, a polite older woman stopped me and asked if I was looking for anything in particular, as she was available as a personal shopper (!!!) A personal shopper, you say? Consider my interest piqued. I told her that I was planning a trip to Las Vegas, and I was interested in purchasing a new outfit for the trip, but that I wanted to be comfortable. She looked me up and down, sent me off to the dressing room to wait, and returned with the lovely little number shown here.

Marcus and I met back up and attended a "Meet the Industry" party before heading to our second program, Boy Meets Girl. I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with each film in this screening, but the highlight had to be the animated opener, "Angry Unpaid Hooker". I highly suggest tracking this down, it's one of the funniest things I have seen in at least a week. I know I've said this before, but I really love short films. Maybe because almost no one makes any money off of a short, so filmmakers seem more sincere about their passion for telling stories through this medium.

After the program, since we couldn't put our best party clothes to waste, we hooked up with some filmmakers and as a newly formed crew decided to explore the local nightlife. "It's an experiment, you guys! It's an art project!" we said, and tumbled Alice-like into the first bar with live music. We spent the rest of the night there, learning what the people of Palm Springs consider a party.

And then, just like that, it was over. I had a wonderful time, and would love to thank Kim for all her help and patience. Many talented filmmakers were met, and I truly look forward to seeing what they create after these films. I'd love to return next year, but hopefully I'll be there with my own short.

PS Film Fest 2006: Part One

I'm quite happy to announce that the rest of the SAGIndie group finally came around and realized what a valuable asset I am to the team and sent me off to represent our organization at this past weekend's Palm Springs International Festival of Shorts. I didn't want to go alone, so my fake-date/chauffeur was the eternally useful Marcus Grewe. Armed with a full tank of gas, some SAGIndie digests and two road trip mix cds, we set off for a weekend of cinematic stimulation...and schmoozing. And free alcohol (which, as it turns out, we didn't get any of. Harumph!)

Maybe it was the Biz Markie on the stereo to keep our minds off the distance or the fact that there wasn't any of this fabled "traffic" on the 10, but we made it there in record time, despite having left an hour late. The lovely folks at the PS Film Fest set us up at The Wyndham, which was above and beyond what I was expecting, having been raised on Econo-Lodges. Seriously, this hotel was so nice we would have felt out of place, had we not been so good looking. We unpacked and took some pictures and then headed over to the "mall" (as pictured below, all 12 stores of it) to get our badges. Once we had our ultra-important badges and welcome bag, we made our way to our first party of the fest, where we ran into a teacher from our alma mater, Columbia College Chicago (whose unofficial mascot is the wedding videographer), a man named Ben-Hur Uribe, there to support his own short film. We stayed there until it was time to attend our first program of shorts, Crimes and Misdemeanors.

After emerging from said program and all dressed up with nothing to do, we wandered through a town that apparently turns into a pumpkin after midnight, until we were drawn, moth-like, to the buzzing fluorescent lights of a casino, where we finished out the night, breaking even.

The next day I actually had to work, but not until 1 pm, so we took advantage of the pool. Or rather, Marcus took advantage of the pool. I'm...not the, uh, strongest swimmer. Actually, I hesitate to say swimmer, because I rarely get in past my knees and when I do...I end up like this. So I spent a good half an hour alternately hyperventilating and clinging desperately to the side of the pool. It was a pretty positive experience. For those of you who may have seen me, I'd like to make it clear that I wasn't crying because of the taunts from the children swimming circles around me, I just got chlorine in my eyes and that stings.

Tonight SAGIndie is hosting FIND's Sundance workshop, and I need to get downstairs, so this will be continued tomorrow...

Don't Call It a Comeback!

I know it's been a while since the indieBlog has been updated. We've just been so busy here...there's always something, you know? It's so exhausting! But here I am, with the hotly anticipated return of the blog. That's dedication.

ANYWAY, I bet all seven of you that read this are really excited to know that last night DMG and I had our third date. (And you know what that means!) We went to Filmmaker's Alliance VisionFest 2006. They celebrated their ninth year last night with a special award for Werner Herzog (!!!) presented by the hilarious Zak Penn. Were I to have a disposable income, I'd hire him to introduce me before I entered a room. Actually, everyone who gave a speech last night did a great job - concise, entertaining and inspiring. After the speeches and the quick awards ceremony, the shorts program began.

I love shorts programs! It's, like, the ideal cinematic situation for committment-phobes. Worried about liking a movie? Already decided that you don't like the movie? Never fear! It's over in 3 minutes! It's like speed dating minus that weird desperation! Sometimes I think I might like shorts better than features, which is why I am super excited about The Palm Springs Film Festival next week.

When we left the theater, we were greeted by an incredible sight: tables upon tables of glorious food. You guys, this never gets old. You put your game face on, and it's every person for themselves. As I sampled inhaled (let's just be honest here) the food, I had to be grateful that no one at any of these functions knows or cares who I am (yet!), therefore making it safe(r) for me to eat like I do when no one is watching. Despite relishing (oooh, relish...) my anonymity, I'll extend an invitation: the next time you're out and you recognize me, standing in a corner, cramming sushi in my mouth with one hand, a whole wedge of brie with the second and guzzling my vodka/cranberry with the third, come say hi (instead of pointing and laughing). I'm actually somewhat nice and only moderately condescending. And I promise I won't bite...unless you have food in your hands.

Sundance Producers Conference 06: A River Really DOES Run Through It!

O.K., you all know that I go to a lot of festivals.  The truth is, I rarely go to any panel or event where I expect to learn something for myself.  It's not that I'm so brilliant (well, it's not JUST that), but usually, panels have to cover such general ground for the audience that I rarely, if ever, hear something new.

Except when I go to the Sundance Institutes Independent Producer's Conference.  This weekend event is where filmmakers, producers, and all the people who really run the indie film industry converge in an idyllic setting to talk all things film.  Panels are run by heads of mini-major studios like Sony Classics, heads of independent film departments at agencies, like William Morris' Cassian Elwes, and other people who could buy and sell me.  This is one of the few trips I take where I gain as much as I give (and I'm a giver).  The people you meet and the information you get is really invaluable.  And this is what we tell the bevy of publicists (damn flacks) and managers when we invite an actor to come with.  It's amazing how the people who are in charge of futhering the career of their clients, don't actually pay attention to events that could do just that.  So I talked with a LOT of said idiots, and explained again and again why this event is important.  Ultimately I got an actor - who then fell out due to work, then we got another actor - who then fell out due to work (WHY are all these actors working?!).  I finally got an actor who, due to her charm and beauty put the other actors to shame, Elizabeth Banks.  Mind you, I generally as a rule, hate skinny blond girls, but Elizabeth is nice, unassuming, and funny - even I can't hate her.  And I hate everyone.

So, Thursday morning, I drag my tired arse to the airport and meet Elizabeth there.  We fly on Southwest, and arrived fresh and fancy free in Utah.  The ride to the Institute was easy, despite being 55 miles.  No, it's not in Park City, but further into the lovely Provo where you pass the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls.  The Institute itself is just beautiful.  The cabins are scattered throughout the property, and we all ate at the Rehearsal Hall (note:  the great Indian that sits at the edge of the pond).  Everyone hangs out together, we eat together, we drink together, etc.  It's like camp for film executives. 

As a sponsor, I got to say a few words at the opening night screening.  Then we sat back and enjoyed the light hearted documentaries of Baghdad ER and HIROSHIMA/NAGASAKI, about surviving an atomic bomb.  Fun times.  After, we all went directly to the Owl Bar and tried to forget.  Still, extremely good films.  Other films screened for us were the aforementioned by Paul, HALF NELSON.  That Ryan Gosling.........yum.  And the last night, the tentpole screening (if there is such a thing) was Marie Antionette.  An interesting film that sucked me in from the very beginning, but spit me out well before the end of the movie. 

I also met with the group of film fellows who had projects that Sundance Inst. was helping to develop.  We went over the intricacies of the SAG low budget contracts and they asked many good questions.  In there midst, was their film guru, Michelle Satter, shepherding and protecting her flock of filmmakers. 

Anyhow, I had such a great time.  I met many great filmmakers, like Gary Winick, and just generally enjoyed myself.  Geoff Gilmore even chatted with me!  Careful people, I have arrived.  And as I promised, this is what ran just outside my cabin door.  I can almost hear Robert Redford narrating my thoughts (ooh, he's talkin' naughty!).

SAGIndie Diversity Screening Series: Half Nelson

Last night we launched the SAGIndie Diversity Screening Series in New York with Half Nelson. This film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps as an inner city junior high school teacher and student who develop an unexpected friendship.

It was the perfect movie to launch this series in New York. First, it's a New York film. Second, almost everyone in the cast is a performer of color, a woman, or a senior performer. Third, it also deals with diverse themes, including the history of the civil rights movement. And, fourth, it's one of the best films I've seen all year. And based on their reaction, I think the audience agreed.

And speaking of audiences... hat's off to the filmmakers and actors of New York City!

We held the event at the DGA Theatre, a beautiful 430 seat auditorium, and filled the joint. Here's a picture of the line outside the venue. I was afraid we where going to have to turn people away (and in 100 degree, 65% humidity weather that isn't something I was looking forward to), but we got everyone in.

Before the film started I said a few a words about the program and thanked our sponsors: The DGA for providing the space and Stella Artois for providing the free beer for the reception afterward and Propecia for keeping my bald spot from getting any bigger.

After the film, writer/director Ryan Fleck, producer/writer/editor Anna Boden, and lead actor Shareeka Epps joined me for a Q & A about the film and the filmmaking process. They were open and funny and I think everyone in the audience agrees with me that Shareeka is going to be a star.

The other big news I have to report is the further expansion of the SAGIndie Evil Empire (wait, did I say that out loud?). I am very pleased to announce that we now have a SAGIndie representative in New York City: filmmaker, former actor, and Ambassador to the United Nations (at least that's what his resume said), Michael Sladek (pictured on the right).

Michael jumped right into the fire and set everything up for our screening while I was flying cross-country. He brought in three fantastic volunteers; Scott Goldberg, Alyssa Orvis, and Miss Sheryl Santacruz, to help us work the event; bought all the supplies we needed for the reception; and made sure everything ran smoothly.

And as you can see by the way he handles that Stella bottle, he fits in perfectly with the rest of us.

Welcome, Michael!

And thanks, New York!