Register Now for Florida's New Online Production Directory! Goes Live Sept 1st!

Florida is experiencing a resurgence of production in the state due to the new financial incentive that went into effect July 1st. We hope everyone is regularly checking our website at www.filminflorida.com for information about the various projects that will be coming to your local areas. Visit the “Florida Incentive Recipients” page for more information.

We are thrilled to be able to offer our clients the most talented crews and extensive array of industry vendors and professional support services found throughout the state via our new online Production Directory. The Production Directory, powered by “Reel Crew,” is an expansion of our current Reel Scout locations photo system that will create a searchable, electronic database of Florida’s skilled workforce and available production resources.
On September 1st, the new Production Directory’s search function will go live! Clients all over the world looking to bring their projects to Florida will be able to access the Production Directory and search for crew members and local businesses by category, region, union affiliation, and much more! They will also be able to create a customized directory of crew and support services for the area(s) they are looking to work in. Additionally, clients will have the ability to print their results (with just a click) in a variety of ways – e.g., by name, by category, with all credits listed, with just the most recent credits listed, etc.
REMEMBER: You must be present to win! Clients cannot find you if you’re not listed. We strongly encourage you to go register IMMEDIATELY at http://www.filminflorida.com/. Create and update your profile with the most current information on your work history, your professional credits, even upload your resume or brochure (if you’re a business). Then, don’t forget to continue to update it as you work on new projects. The guide’s search feature will be going live this Wednesday, September 1st, so we encourage you to REGISTER NOW!!!
We also encourage you to register with any and all other online reputable directories, including ProductionHub.com, Doddleme.com, and the FilmFlorida.com production guide. You cannot be listed in too many places.

It’s a sunny day in Florida!

http://www.filminflorida.com/

Screenwriting Workshops at UNF

Sharon Y. Cobb, director of Jacksonville.com's Cinemania, will instruct three, one-day screenwriting workshops of various difficulty at University of North Florida's University Center located on 12000 Alumni Drive.

The Beginning Screenwriting Workshop, Saturday, August 21(also November 6) from 9am to 5pm, is an introduction to the three-act structure, basics about creating movie characters, film stories, and plot construction, which will also educate on loglines, synopses, and beat sheets and use film clips as examples.

The Intermediate Screenwriting Workshop, Saturday, August 28 (also November 13) from 9am to 5pm, is about learning to work outside of the common three-act structure and open writing to alternative story structures, which will also feature a powerful class writing exercise to help students create organic characters and have film clips as examples (recommended for students who have either completed the Beginning Screenwriting Workshop or have completed two screenplays).

FMPTA Updates

The Jacksonville Chapter of the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association (FMPTA) is hosting its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 31, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at its new spot, The Performers Academy, located on 3674 Beach Boulevard. Guest speaker Rick Alexander will discuss his vast location sound experience that includes programs such as Access Hollywood, CBS Today Show, Speed Channel: Pinks All Out, HGTV: Green House Giveaway, ABC Sports: Kentucky Derby, PBS History Detectives, and the Universal/NBC Harry Potter Open. Also, check out the new vamped state website at FMPTA and for more information on local meetings and news, please visit FMPTA Jax.

State Directory Goes Live September 1!

The new online statewide production directory launched by the Florida Governor's Office of Film & Entertainment becomes active starting September 1. The directory, an expansion of Reel Scout, is a searchable, electronic database of Florida’s skilled workforce and available production resources. Clients from all over the world looking to bring their projects to Florida will be able to access the directory and search for crew and support services by category, region, union affiliation, and more. They will also be able to create a customized directory of crew members and local businesses for the area(s) they are looking to work in and to print their results in a variety of ways e.g., by name, by category, with all credits listed, with just the most recent credits listed, etc. Crew and support services can now create and update a profile with the most current work history and professional credits and even upload a resume or brochure. To register for the directory, please visit Film in Florida.

Improv Course

Premiere acting coach, Bob Parker, is teaching the first class of a four-week improv course on Tuesday, August 17, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Cindy Hogan's studio on 2231 Corporate Square Boulevard. The full course costs $195. For more information, please visit The Performers Academy.

2010 Jacksonville Film Festival News Release

The 2010 Jacksonville Film Festival, scheduled October 14 to 17, recently sent out a press release with the latest news on its upcoming events. Confirmed screenings for this year include an African American Spotlight, Viva Cinema, and Indie USA. Workshops include: Writing Screenplays That Sell, The Ackerman Way, with UCLA screenwriting head Hal Ackerman; The Art of the Pitch, with writer/producer Khris Baxter; Producing Film: What They Didn't Tell You in Film School with studio producer Jillian Stein; and Screenwriting for Beginners, with screenwriting instructors Jennie Jarvis and John Boles, August 28 from 9am to 4pm at the Cummer Museum (early registration until August 20 costs $65 and late registration until August 27 costs $75, while day of or at the door registration costs $85, $45 for students).

Nomination Deadline Extended to August 13th!

GOOD NEWS! The deadline to send in nominations for the Jacksonville Film and Television Industry Award has been extended to this Friday – August 13th!

The Jacksonville Film & Television Industry Recognition Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions resulting in significant impacts on the film and television industry. This award symbolizes the epitome of service to the film and television industry. Nominees should be committed to the film & television industry and exhibit exemplary professionalism, creativity, resourcefulness and tangible results, actively participating over a number of years.

Do you know someone who has advanced Jacksonville's film and television industry? Please feel free to fill out a nomination form that you can find at the following link: Industry Award Nomination Form.

Previous recipients include Ted S. Johnson and the late Representative Don Davis. Be sure to nominate somebody today! (Pictured: Donald E. Barton, 2010 Award Recipient)

Don’t forget – Deadline is AUGUST 13th. Nominate someone NOW!

Charity in a Click

The St. Johns Riverkeeper is an organization in Jacksonville that works to improve the water quality of the St. Johns River and its tributaries, to protect its habitants, and to increase awareness of the critical issues affecting the river. Now you can help the Riverkeeper simply by watching a video. The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation will donate one dollar to support the Riverkeeper every time its psa is viewed. Watch the video at PSA and help the city of Jacksonville maintain its river. Watch the psas of your other favorite organizations to help support them as well.

Cinemania Video Contest

Cinemania, Jacksonville.com's premiere film organization, just launched a contest to find the best videos promoting anything Cinemania related. Submitted entries must be no shorter than 30 seconds and no longer than 2 1/2 minutes in length and can be any genre, theme and medium. Contestants must upload their video by noon on Tuesday, August 17, at Video Share and have until noon on Friday, August 20, to turn in a DVD of their video to the following:

Florida Times-Union, Interact Dept.
ATTN: Tracy Collins
One Riverside Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32202

The top 3 finalists, determined in combination by a Voters' Choice and a Editors' Choice, will be screened at Movies in the Park at RAM Saturday, August 28, prior to the movie. After the screening, the grand prize winner, determined by the Editors' Choice, will be announced and will receive a check for $200. To get all the details, please visit Cinemania Video Contest.

Webinar on Business in Brazil

Alan Vinson, member of the Mayor's Film Advisory Board and president of Brazil Business Solutions, is holding a webinar titled "Doing Business in Brazil" this Tuesday, August 10 at 8pm. Werner Trieloff, a consultant and an expert in taxes and accounting in Brazil, will co-host the webinar, which will last 30-45 minutes. Please reply in advance if you plan on attending the webinar and send any specific questions you may have related to the film and television industry in Brazil or any other industry to alanv@jtvinson.com. The team will do their best to research ahead of the webinar in order to better answer questions. To view the webinar, please visit BBSolutions.

REMINDER!

The deadline to send in nominations for the Jacksonville Film and Television Industry Award is this Friday – August 6!

The Jacksonville Film & Television Industry Recognition Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions resulting in significant impacts on the film and television industry. This award symbolizes the epitome of service to the film and television industry. Nominees should be committed to the film & television industry and exhibit exemplary professionalism, creativity, resourcefulness and tangible results, actively participating over a number of years.
Do you know someone who has advanced Jacksonville's film and television industry? Please feel free to fill out a nomination form that you can find at the following link: Industry Award Nomination Form, or fill out the attached document.

Don’t forget – Deadline is AUGUST 6th!

Need Professional Photos?

Attention Actors, Musicians, and Business Owners:

Mosaic Model & Talent Management Inc. is doing in-studio photoshoots for less than $100 that will include makeup, hair touchups, and a cd of select images. The photoshoots will be held this Thursday, August 5, at the company's downtown location at 220 E. Forsyth Street, Ste. 1. The professional photos from these photoshoots are great for auditions, biographies, portfolios, press releases, and websites. Call Akia McDaniel at (904) 405-4008 for more information and to reserve your spot today! Check out the company's work at MMTM.

Florida's Boost in Production Makes Global Coverage

In a recent article, The Location Guide, a tool for filmmakers to find global locations and benefits, discusses Florida's production boom given the state's new incentives, particularly the five-year, transferrable tax credit for the film and entertainment industry. The article also notes Florida's availability to double for numerous locations and the state's large supply of crew and services as part of its attractiveness for film and television companies. The article specifically mentions Jacksonville, recognizing the town's popularity for the different environments it offers that within a short distance of each other and the cost savings that accumulate from the city's low-price hotels and city property that is free to use. To read the full article, please visit The Location Guide.

Civil Rights Film Festival

In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 Sit-Ins and Ax Handle Saturday, the Jacksonville Branch NAACP is hosting the Civil Rights Film Festival, August 28 from 10am to 3pm at the Ritz Theatre and Museum. The festival will feature three films:

Scarred Justice explores the Orangeburg Massacre of 1968 where white police officers opened fire at black student protestors on the campus of South Carolina State College, an event that would prelude the tragedy at Kent State.

Home of the Brave captures the rarely-told story of Viola Liuzzo, the only white woman to die in the civil rights movement, and her children's struggle to face the consequences of her heroism particularly her mysterious death.

Freedom Never Dies remembers civil rights activist Harry T. Moore who died tragically when his house was bombed, but whose spirit could not be stopped.

The festival will also hold an in-person commentary by filmmaker and producer Sandra Birnhak. Look out for updates on ticket sales!