Durango Songwriters, British Film Institute, Variety Entertainment Summit, CMJ 2

By actorschecklist

In Cannes, the annual MIPCOM event is known among industry professionals for creating, co-producing, buying, selling, financing and distributing entertainment content across all platforms. At this year’s event, which runs through October 8, “The Connected Experience” showcases trend-setters and innovators in the industry that will provide unique perspectives on how they see the new digital future unfolding, and in “Engaging Your Audience Through Social Media,” Facebook’s Joanna Shields will share her vision of future business models for Facebook content.

Now in its 15th year, Durango Songwriter’s Expo is a bi-annual musical event held in Colorado and in Santa Barbara, wine country. The October 7-9 event in Broomfield promises golf enthusiasts among its songwriting workshop participants a 27-hole championship golf course, as well as the Mokara Spa for use of massage, body treatment, sauna, fitness room, steam room and inhalation room. As usual, Expo enrollment is limited to 200 participants to provide greater attention from the music industry professionals conducting the sessions.

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ShowBiz Expo is the annual event held on both West Coast and East Coast presenting many opportunities to network, build contacts, and be cast in upcoming productions. This month the show is in New York for one day on October 9. Auditions at ShowBiz Expo have a limited number of appointments available and must be made at Casting Registration upon entering the Expo. A VIP networking after-party, with open bar and hors d’oeuvres, follows the Expo event.

In 2008, the Registry of Official World Records (Record Holders Republic) USA & UK, declared Bass guitarist Jayen Varma of Cochin, India, the world’s fastest for that year. And the guitar master has carved out new areas of achievement as a slap bass innovator (for instance using hard plastic tubes on fingers) in the Indian Tabla style. Upcoming workshop performances will give the public a chance to view the master in performance and instruction, on October 9 on Willingdon Island, with classical vocals and Mridangam, and on October 16, in Malabar, Calicut, with classical violin and drums. There will also be a special experimental session with the mandolin master, U. Shrinivas, in the third week of the month, but complete details are as yet to be released.

Content & Communications World, in New York, October 13 and 14, is a conference and exhibition for media, entertainment and communications technology. CCW presents business solutions for content creation, management and delivery, along with a range of satellite, fiber, and IP communications solutions. Folded into the CCW agenda are: HD World, SATCON and 3D World conference and expo, which can all be attended free of charge for pre-qualifying industry professionals. Visitors can stop by SocialSphere to chat with a media relations specialist about maximizing social media tools for their business, get tips and tricks for Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and more.

Established in 1933, the British Film Institute (BFI) promotes understanding and appreciation of film and television heritage and culture through a range of activities and services. This year’s marks the 54th BFI London Film Festival, running October 13-28 in South Bank. BFI also runs the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and publishes the monthly film magazine Sight & Sound, a wide range of books on film and television, including criticism, theory and history, as well as popular companions to individual film titles.

The New Orleans Film Society hosts the 20th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, Louisiana’s preeminent film event. Both established and emerging filmmakers gain media exposure, connect with the region’s diverse audiences, and participate in this anticipated event. A Patron Party and Opening Gala happens October 14 at the Eiffel Society on historic St. Charles Avenue, with food by Chef Ian Schnoebelen, specialty cocktails by Mixologist Alan Walter, and music by Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground, and Treme Brass Band.

Established in 1981, the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), running October 14-24 in Honolulu, is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF presents features, documentaries and shorts from Asia made by Asians, films about the Pacific made by Pacific Islanders, and films made by Hawai’i filmmakers that present Hawai’i in a culturally accurate way. HIFF also conducts seminars, workshops, special award presentation receptions with participating Asian, Pacific and North American filmmakers. HIFF is the sister festival of Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and Shanghai Media and Entertainment Group (SMEG), and an official partner with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for Oscar Night America. Free public screenings are held on the beach in the evening.

AniMiami, October 16 -17 in Miami, is a conference/festival whose mission appeals to large numbers of students and professionals of animation and computer graphics. A job fair will be held the first day of the Conference only – Saturday, October 16. Candidates will have the opportunity to sign up and interview with national and local animation and VFX companies looking to fill full-time, part-time, freelance and internship positions. Pre-selected students will have an opportunity to pitch their stories, ideas and projects to a panel of industry professionals from studios and TV networks. A kick-off party will be held at The Newsz Lounge.

An October 18 Variety Entertainment and Technology Summit in Santa Monica, co-produced by Variety and Digital Hollywood, has in-depth discussions and networking focusing on the top business issues facing technology in entertainment today. After a welcome and introduction by Variety Publisher, Brian Gott, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walt Disney Company, and Founder of The Tornante Company, Michael Eisner, delivers the opening keynote. In one featured break-out event, there is a competition between various content providers competing for people’s TV viewing time. The Producers Guild of America and Variety host a joint panel in another featured session. A poolside cocktail reception closes the day’s event beginning at 5:30 pm.

The sprawling CMJ 2010: Music Marathon & Film Festival arrives in New York City, October 19-23. CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with its music offerings through interactive media, live events and print. Among other things, this year, industry leaders from the worlds of gaming and music will gather at CMJ to celebrate the launch of CMJ Play, a celebration and exploration of the intersection of music and gaming, will take place Wednesday, October 20, at NYU’s Kimmel Center and in conjunction with NYU’s Music Video Game Research Project. And because some things should never change, The CMJ Artist Lounge at PureVolume House returns for 2010. As the central hub for CMJ the Artist Lounge provides a space for artists and press to interact and rest in between shows which are conducted at a multitude of venues, screenings, and panels. The lounge will also offer samples and giveaways from a variety of sponsors, along with refreshments.

Casual Connect Kyiv, from October 20-22 in Kyiv, brings together talented and knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry through networking and learning. Casual Connect is the educational component of the Casual Games Association, the international trade association for casual games professionals. Casual Games Association Events are events for the casual games industry with usually over 3,000 professionals attending Casual Connect Events each year. A Disco Bowling Party at Club Chameleon happens on October 21 of the expo.

Through red carpet premieres, black-tie society galas, exclusive industry cocktail soirees and chauffeured antique Bentleys and limos, the Beverly Hills Film, TV, and New Media Festival will celebrate authentic Old Hollywood glamour, combined with an updated twist of the emerging technology of today. The festival’s events, from October 21-24, include a black-tie opening night gala, panels, pitch sessions, gifting suites, film premieres, television content premieres, new media exhibitions, cell phone movie premieres, networking and entertainment industry mixers, and those red carpet events.

The International Filmmaker Film Festival, in Broadstairs, October 25-28, celebrates popular independent and studio films from the global film industry, while promoting opportunities for the business of film, and hosting special hospitality events and courtesy leisure activities. In addition to the filmmaking workshops, screenings of independent films will include many of the filmmakers in attendance for Q&A sessions following each screening. An exclusive screening of a digitally remastered ‘Dirty Dancing’, with the late Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is set to open the festival, with proceeds benefiting the Demelza Children’s Hospice and the Pilgrims Hospice.

SMPTE is an industry association, and standards setting body, providing education and technology information to the motion imaging industry, focusing on content – creation, management, distribution and display. From October 26-28 the SMPTE Annual Tech Conference & Expo draws technology professionals from the media content business to Hollywood. This year’s event provides a welcome reception in the exhibit hall, various technical workshops, a technology-focused exhibit hall, a high profile Industry Luncheon, the association’s Honors & Awards Reception and Ceremony, and many networking opportunities.

The Hollywood Reporter / Billboard Film & TV Music Conference is an anticipated annual event. New additions to the format this year when the Conference runs October 27-28 in Los Angeles, allows participants to submit a demo to music supervisors for a chance to receive feedback on their work live from the stage. They can also get one-on-one face time with film/TV music decision-makers and influencers, and win a chance to meet with the director of an indie film and score their feature. A “Publishing 101” session, offers a primer on the basics of publishing from how to make money with placements in film and TV, to the administration of catalogs. Conference closes with a networking cocktail reception.

The Association of Film Commissioners International, an official professional and educational organization for film commissions that assists its members with feature, television, commercial, industrial and stills production throughout the world, is hosting Cineposium 2010 to explore the sweeping impacts of the digital revolution and new global producers on the industry. The theme this year in Universal City, October 30 through November 2, is to look at the transition from film commissioner to media commissioner, which encompasses many new roles and responsibilities. In contrast to previous years, and to underscore the need to anticipate the changes to come, Cineposium hosts general sessions designed to equip attendees for success.

The above events are only a sample of what is fully listed. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page which now has a language translation button to convert its contents into any chosen language. The companion video news summary can be found on the podcast blog as well as on the most popular video sharing sites. A look ahead into November’s event dates can help you get ready for the American Film Market, on November 3-10, and American Film Institute Fest, November 4-11, both in Los Angeles. Follow the posting of the news summary on Twitter. Streaming video can now be played directly into your Real Media Player, and your Windows Media Player. Past video from the monthly video news summary is archived on the Free Home Video Showcase which now serves as an archive for all past video presentations but without the audio news narration.