Hotline Information


*UPDATED 10/6/2008*

Fall Workshops at Montana Actor's Studio

Molli Benson on ACTING INTENSIVE:
 Oct. 24-26, $225 (6 male spots /1 female spot avail)
Molli is a nationally renowned acting coach from Los Angeles. Ms. Benson has also worked as an actor, director, producer, personal manager, casting director, SAG agent and screenwriter making her one of the foremost authorities on the ins and outs of Hollywood. She is a 37-year veteran of the entertainment industry. More class information is available.

AUDITIONING CLASSES with Tina Buckingham:
Nov. 7-9: $175 (including year membership in MAS)
Tina Buckingham is a Casting Director and the Director of Montana Actor's Studio. In these classes, you will learn how to get an audition, how to get an agent, auditioning techniques, scene work, memorizing lines, getting your headshot and tons of behind-the-scenes information only a casting director can give you. The workshop also teaches marketing skills and offers insights into opportunities available in/from Montana. The workshop is designed to make the actor more comfortable with the auditioning process. Not only will you have fun, you will build confidence and self esteem. Tina has been working as a Casting Director in Montana and worldwide for over 20 years and has been in the film business for over 30. Her resume includes 25 feature films, reality tv, music videos, catalogs including Lands End and LL Bean, and over 50 national commercials – products ranging from American Express to Wrangler. HatcHfest, Montana’s premiere film festival, is a venue that Tina helped create and continues to be actively involved in. Tina is passionate about mentoring the actors of the future.

…and for the actor who WANTS MORE:
 On-going acting classes with focus on technique & scene work – on-camera and critique. Ask us about dates.

MONTANA ACTOR'S STUDIO monthly meetings:
 Montana Actor's Studio is a networking community comprised of individuals of all ages and varying career levels from all facets of the entertainment industry. Monthly meetings are designed for networking, to share ideas and information about the 'biz' and to meet actors and other film folk. New happenings at the Studio include weekly audition exercises with Casting Director, Tina Buckingham and Director, Pascal Grapard. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month. At our monthly meetings we provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere where everyone can learn and support each other. Networking is key to success in the film biz. Not a member yet? Give it a try. Your first meeting is free. Yearly membership is $100.

For more information about the workshops and meetings contact:
Tina Buckingham
ph: 406-586-9758
email: filmmt@aol.com


*UPDATED 10/6/2008*

32nd International Wildlife Film Festival
Call for Entries & Poster Art Contest

2009 IWFF Call for Entries:
The 2009 International Wildlife Film Festival Global Vision: Wild in Focus is the premier film venue that celebrates wildlife and natural history programming from a global perspective. As an international film and conservation media center for filmmakers, broadcasters, scientists, educators, and students, IWFF provides a unique opportunity for the sharing of ideas and the development of proactive projects that impact what happens to our planet. IWFF is a unique opportunity to engage public audiences, to learn about trends in filmmaking - technology, cinematography and wildlife production as well as to participate in dynamic seminars and workshops that focus on wildlife, conservation and the natural world. January 31, 2009 is the call for entry deadline. This year's Tarkio Retreat will be held on May 13, 2009, and will focus on Wildlife Entrepreneurship. The 5th Annual Tarkio Retreat will be moderated by Chris Palmer, Director of American University's Center for Environmental Filmmaking.

2009 IWFF Poster Art Contest:
Your art could be the permanent look of the 32nd IWFF and used on tee-shirts, posters, programs, and more! The poster art deadline is November 1, 2008. See our Guidelines page at www.wildlifefilms.org or call 728-9380 for more info.


*UPDATED 10/6/2008*

Natural History Nights at the Roxy

Join the Montana Film Academy each third Thursday of the month starting in October to celebrate the Best of IWFF through this evening film series at the Roxy! Tickets only $5 each at 7 pm, (concessions opens 6:30pm). For film descriptions, please visit our EarthVision Media Library on www.wildlifefilms.org.

2008-09 Calendar of Films:
October 16: Snow Leopard and Crash: A Tale of Two Species
November 20: The Last Trimate and The Great Dance: A Hunter's Story
December 18: Christmas in Yellowstone and Planet Earth's Ice Worlds
January 15: White Falcon White Wolf and The Flying Dustbin
February 19: Hokkaido - Garden of the Gods and The Queen of Trees
March 19: Satoyama: Japan's Secret Water Garden and Norfolk Broads
April 16: My Halcyon River and Beetlemania

*UPDATED 9/24/2008*

2009 Assistant Directors Training Program
Recruitment is Now Underway

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Assistant Directors Training program. The program is co-sponsored by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. The mission of the Assistant Directors Training Program is to provide motion picture and television industry training as directed by DGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

Since its inception, over 500 men and women have graduated from the program and gone on to successful careers in the entertainment business. Trainees are required to complete 400 days of paid on-the-job training and also attend regular unpaid curriculum-based seminars. Trainees must live in the Los Angeles area and are assigned to work on episodic television, television movies, pilots, miniseries and feature films in both Los Angeles and various other locations. The actual employers of trainees are various studios and production companies.

Further information and a downloadable application are available online at www.trainingplan.org or by calling 818-386-2545.

Application deadline is November 21, 2008.


*UPDATED 9/12/2008*

R2C is Looking to Hire an Experienced
Producer & Account Executive

R2C Group is based in Portland, Oregon. R2C Group is one of the largest, privately held, full-service direct-response advertising agencies in the world. We provide accountable advertising for many of the world's leading brands to drive response, revenue and profit. We have 240 employees in offices in Portland OR, Philadelphia PA, Billings MT, San Francisco CA, Providence RI and remote employees across the country. The R2C Group is searching for a phenomenal Producer/AE to join our team in Billings, Montana. It is the Producer/AE’s job as a writer/producer/director to coordinate all aspects of video and film production from inception through completion.

Interested candidates should contact:
Sheri Bilicic, Human Resources Specialist
R2C Group - Portland
tel: 971-544-3441
email: sbilicic@r2cgroup.com
web: www.r2cgroup.com


*UPDATED 8/20/2008*

MTV Documentary Casting Call

MTV is currently casting an upcoming series focusing on young women during their pregnancy. As we realize that this is a sensitive subject that many of our young women are experiencing, our goal is to show what pregnant women, from varying backgrounds, are experiencing in their everyday lives. From morning sickness to mood swings, and to even the day of the baby's arrival, we would like you to let us document this exciting, life changing event. This show will allow young women to share their story in their own voice. As time is of the essence, please email me ASAP at Sandra.Phillippeaux@mtvnmix.com. Please include what state you are in, your contact details, a picture and why you would want to take part in the series.


*UPDATED 8/20/2008*

Regular Entry Deadline Approaching for the
2009 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, the premier venue for nonfiction film in the American West, is seeking submissions for its sixth annual event. From February 13-22, 2009 the festival will screen 100 films, including world and U.S. premieres, classics, rare and experimental works on Montana's largest screen at the historic Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, Montana. In addition to ten days of screenings, the event will feature many public and VIP events including panel discussions, galas, receptions and networking round-tables.

The competitive event is open to non-fiction films and videos of all genres, subject matter, lengths and production dates. Awards and cash prizes will be given for Best Documentary Feature (over 50 minutes), Best Documentary Short (15-50 minutes), Best Mini-Doc (under 15 minutes) and best documentary about the American West (the "Big Sky Award").

VHS (NTSC/PAL), DVD (NTSC/PAL), DVCAM (NTSC/PAL), HDV (NTSC), and miniDV (NTSC/PAL) accepted for preview. Enter via Withoutabox.com or download entry form in pdf format at www.bigskyfilmfest.org/entries. If you would like an entry form emailed to you in pdf format, send a request to callforentries@bigskyfilmfest.org.

Regular Deadline - September 1, 2008
Final Deadline - October 20, 2008

We look forward to viewing your films!

Doug Hawes-Davis, Festival Programmer
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
131 South Higgins Avenue, Suite 307
Missoula, Montana 59802
(406) 541- FILM (3456)

*UPDATED 8/14/2008*

Made in Montana films to be screened in Livingston during August

The Livingston Depot Foundation in association with the Montana Film Center presents "Dinner and Some Movies" on Thursday August 21 starting at 7 p.m. outside at the Depot Complex in Livingston. The event is part of the Depot's Third Thursday summer educational outreach series. On that evening, the Depot will show the classic 1930s Montana railroading film "Danger Lights", a behind-the-scenes short that looks at the filming of "Rancho Deluxe", and short films by local filmmakers. The event includes commentary by filmmakers and also dinner.

Participating filmmakers include producer Patrick Markey ("A River Runs Through It", "The Horse Whisperer"). Markey is currently working on a documentary on Butte and will discuss this made-in-Montana project. Other films will be presented by Livingston filmmaker Ian Kellet who will screen a film he is producing on "Wind" and "Riding for the Brand" by Big Timber resident Stephanie Alton.

Rancho Deluxe is a comedy western movie filmed primarily in Livingston. It was directed by Frank Perry and released in 1975. Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston star as two cattle rustlers in modern-day Montana who plague a wealthy ranch owner (Clifton James).The film also stars Slim Pickens, Harry Dean Stanton, Richard Bright, and Elizabeth Ashley. Jimmy Buffett contributed the music, and performed in a scene set at a country/western bar-The Wrangler. Local scenes including Chico, the former Dan Bailey's fly-tying operation and other still recognizable local locations. The behind-the-scenes short which will be shown during the Depot event was shot at the Wrangler.

"Danger Lights" stars Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong, and Jean Arthur. The film's plot concerns railroading on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, and the movie was largely filmed along that railroad's lines in Montana. The railway yard in Miles City was a primary setting, while rural scenes were shot along the railway line through Montana's Sixteen Mile Canyon. Additional footage was shot in Chicago.

"Danger Lights" was filmed during a period when some movie studios were experimenting with various wide screen film formats. Wolheim plays the boss of the railroad yard in Miles City, Montana. The film opens with a landslide across the tracks in Montana, and a repair crew is dispatched to clear the tracks. Several hobos are lounging nearby and are put to work helping the repair crew. One of the hobos, played by Robert Armstrong, is discovered to have been a former railroad engineer who lost his job due to insubordination. He quickly falls in love with the boss's fiancée, played by Jean Arthur. Jealousy grows between the two over the affections of Arthur with both of them attempting to win her in marriage. Things come to a head during a fight in the railroad yard between the two, during which Wolheim is hit by a train and injured. To save his life, Armstrong must transport him in record time to Chicago for surgery.

To RSVP or for more information, call the Livingston Depot at (406) 222-2300.



*UPDATED 7/21/2008*

Montana CINE International Cultural & Environmental Film Festival
and Grand Re-Opening of Roxy Theater

Montana CINE International is the Last Best Film Fest in Missoula, Montana. Montana CINE International is a cultural and environmental screenings film festival held every fall and is now in its 5th year. Montana CINE's focus is global - films entered may have a cultural, social, political, policy, outdoor or environmental theme and should help to complete a global view of why and how we live in our world and interact with our environment. The topics and themes of Montana CINE International films are broad, featuring issues that explore the human experience and peoples' relationships with nature and their environment be it urban, suburban, rural or wild.

Films that are eligible can be features or documentaries, full length of short. There is no limitation on production year. Films entered may have a special focus on cultural, social, political or economic issues. Environment is interpreted to be any type of environment be it rural, urban or sub-urban. There is no restriction on production year. Films may be entered whether or not they have been broadcast. Entry forms and information are available at www.wildlifefilms.org. You may also contact the International Wildlife Media Center at 406-728-9380 or iwmc@wildlifefilms.org.

The film entry deadline is August 1, 2008. Cultures and Issues of Nature & the Environment events will be held October 6-12, 2008 in Missoula, Montana.

Montana CINE, now in its 5th year, will also host the Grand Re-Opening of the restored historic Roxy Theater on October 7, 2008. Join us as we unveil the Historic Plaque and throwback to 1937! Learn more at www.wildlifefilms.org.

*UPDATED 4/10/2008*

Search for LAWN ART

Grand Prix Productions is gathering footage and digital photos for a new book and syndicated television series, which will be called, Lawn Art. They are looking for houses and properties in Montana that have displays of lawn art of any type: mechanical, wind aided, religious, electrical/battery operated, automotive, holiday*, political*, and/or most original. The lawn art can be quirky, humorous, scary, serious or down right silly. We want to see everything!

Each individual participant will need to fill out a release and information sheet. (Click here to view the release and information sheet). They can be either faxed to 310-889-9310 or emailed to lawnart2008@aol.com. The deadline in all categories, EXCEPT holiday and political is July 1. The deadline for political is November 1 and holiday is December 31, 2008.

For more information contact Grand Prix Productions:
Grand Prix Productions
P.O. Box 11134
Beverly, Hills, CA 90213
(310) 889 -9310 office
(310) 889-9310-3 fax
www.GrandPrixProductions.com
lawnart2008@aol.com




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