MeDiA.co-op (memphis.film.post)

OLD SCHOOL PICTURES ANNOUNCES DVD RELEASE OF AWARD-WINNING "ACT ONE"

2006-06-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

The feature film Act One, which recently claimed Best Narrative Feature in the hometowner category at 2005’s Indie Memphis Film Festival and screened for two weeks in full engagement at Malco Theatres, is now available on DVD home video. Act One is the latest award-winning film from Old School Pictures, a Memphis filmmaking collective that has been making movies together since 1998.

The Act One DVD has been mastered through a professional dual-layer replication process – the same method of disc production that has become the industry standard in Hollywood. In addition to the film itself, the Act One DVD boasts an abundance of special features to complement the movie including:

- Motion menus
- Dolby Digital 2.0
- Scene Selection
- Feature Commentary with director Brad Ellis and writer/actor Allen Gardner
- Feature Commentary with lighting designer John Moore, producer Mark Norris, and director of photography Matt Weatherly
- ‘One More Take’ – Behind the Scenes of Act One featurette
- Deleted Scenes with optional director commentary
- Audition Reel
- Outtake Reel
- Photo Slideshow with commentary by photographer Michael Norris
- News Channel 3 “Live at 9” interview with Mark Norris and Matt Weatherly
- News Channel 3 “Live at 9” interview with Brad Ellis and Allen Gardner
- Time Warner TV spots
- Q107.5 Radio Interview with Brad Ellis
- Movie Review by Film Commissioner Linn Sitler

The discs are available at $15 each, a price that includes both tax and shipping. You can purchase the DVD by visiting www.oldschoolpictures.net, or by contacting mail@oldschoolpictures.net.

This romantic comedy-drama stars Allen Gardner – who also wrote the screenplay – and Bettina Adger of Los Angeles, as well as stage actors Casey Cannon and Joey Watson of Memphis. The film also features a cameo by local character-actor Jerry Chipman of 21 Grams.

The film was directed and co-produced by Brad Ellis who, along with co-producing partners Mark Norris and Matt Weatherly of Old School Pictures, previously won the Hometowner Narrative Feature category at the 2002 Indie Memphis Film Festival with their thriller, The Path of Fear. Featuring over 50 speaking roles and utilizing locations all within Memphis, Act One is a light-hearted yet moving story about a young man, Kevin Hansen, and his journey into adulthood.

More information on Act One or the cast and crew of Old School Pictures can be found at www.oldschoolpictures.net.

CONTACT:
Brad Ellis, Director – Old School Pictures
(901) 229-0753 E-mail: brad@oldschoolpictures.net
Brian Churchill, Co-Producer – Old School Pictures
(901) 754-6675 E-mail: churchillstudios@aol.com

march at the co-op

2006-02-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

March at the MeDiA Co-op

1000 S. Cooper Memphis, TN 38104 901-278-9077

Tuesday March 7th 7:30pm - FEATURING LOCAL FILMMAKERS MARK JONES and RYAN PARKER

7:30-8:00 Open House/Membership sign up
8:00-9:00 Mark Jones(Writer/Director/Producer) and Ryan Parker(DP/Editor/Director), who collaborated on the international festival hit, Eli Parker is Getting Married, will talk about their experience both on Eli, and on their latest, yet to be released fature film, Fraternity Massacre. They will show clips, and take questions about their projects.

Saturday March 4th 10am-6pm- - AUDITIONS for new Sawed-Off Collaboratory Film

This auditon is by appointment only, so please email Morgan@mediaco-op.org to set a time slot, and to recieve more information. More on Sawef-Off Collaboratory HERE.

Saturday March 25th 2:00pm - the First ever LIVE FROM MEMPHIS LIL' FILM FESTIVAL

Live From Memphis is pleased to present its first ever theme-based, mini-festival:
LIL' FILM FEST!! "What is Lil' Film Fest?" you ask. Well, there's always something weird, strange, unusual, funny, or at least interesting happening around town, so we figured, Why not turn those happenings into lil' films? This first ever Lil Film Fest theme is: Baptist Hospital Implosion. For info on how to enter your film into this festival, go HERE.
ALSO, please visit LIVE FROM MEMPHIS regularily to see what an amazing resource they are. Thanks.

DON'T FORGET about the rest of FEBRUARY:

Friday Feb 24th, and Saturday Feb 25th at the MeDiA Co-op, Memphis' first ever SGL Film Festval, featuring films with GBLT people in the African American community in celebration of Black History Month. Films begin at 7:00pm on Friday, and at Noon on Saturday, including many *Award winning films never before seen in Memphis.

ACT ONE at Studio on the Square (Extended for a second week!!!). The winner of this years Indie Memphis Best Hometown Feature award, ACT ONE is a very solid film. Don't miss this Old School Productions film while it's still enchanting audiences during its now two week-long run at Malco's mid-town Studio on the Square. For more info: GO HERE

Auditions for new Sawed-Off film

2006-02-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

Heart*strings

a new film from Sawed-Off Collaboratory Pictures

written by John Roemer, and Morgan Jon Fox.

Closed auditions, by appointment only on: Saturday, March 4th 10am-6pm at the MeDiA Co-op: 1000 S. Cooper Mem, Tn (yes, this time has changed since we last posted about it)

To make an appointment, please email: morgan@mediaco-op.org

**All ages/colors/sizes/orientations/etc encouraged. ***especially encouraged are people who've never acted before, but who are interesting, who care about life, who are comfortable in their skin, who are gender outlaws, and bursting at the seems with wonderful ways of looking at life, etc etc and so on.

sawed-off collaboratory pictures

thanks you.

Old School Pictures Announces Malco’s Week-Long Engagement of “Act One” at Studio on the Square

2006-02-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

Old School Pictures is going to be running "Act One" at Studio on the Square from Friday, February 17 to Thursday, February 23. Malco has graciously offered to co-sponsor a full week run for the film. That's 4 shows a day for 28 total screenings! Come and check out the film if you didn't get to see it at Indie Memphis where it won Best Local Feature! Check it out 2 or 3 times, there will be plenty of opportunities! If this run is successful then Malco will surely be open to sponsoring these types of events in the future, which will benefit everyone in the local film community. Tickets will be available through all the normal Malco outlets, and showtimes will be featured on their site as well as the newspaper. For more details about the film, including cast and crew info, photos, and the trailer, be sure to bust on over to Old School Pictures.

Curbside Confessions Audition Feb 11th

2006-02-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

Cowboy-Up Productions will be holding auditions for the full length feature film titled Curbside Confessions at the Media Co-Op Saturday Feb 11th from 9am till noon.

Tagline: There are no good people. There are no bad people. There are the decisions people make.

Curbside Confession revolves around four unrelated stories that come together on one night, confronting issues such as prejudice, violence, and drugs, but that is not what Curbside Confessions is truly about. It's about how ordinary people prevail over such issues. It's about redemption, love, loyalty, reunion, morality, doing the right thing no matter the cost, overcoming prejudice, and humanity.

For additional information:
WWW.Cowboy-UpProductions.com

For bios and sides please contact us at: CowboyUpProductions@gmail.com

We at Cowboy Up would like to thank the Media Co-Op and all of it coordinators for all the hard work and dedication they put forth for the Memphis film making community. They are truly amazing and I am grateful for all they do!!!

Arnold Edwards II
Cowboy-Up Prod.

MEDIA CO-OP IN FEBRUARY

2006-01-29T19:14:00.000-08:00

MeDiA Co-op February News

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: TUESDAY NIGHT WORKSHOPS NO LONGER EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT
After nearly four years of hosting free workshops every Tuesday night at the co-op, we have decided to limit the Tuesday night workshops to the FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH. This will allow us to host other workshop formats, and programs that are more intensive and diverse. We are developing a couple of intensive, multi-week workshops that will have limited enrollment. We will send out a notice on the progression of these programs as they are developed. Thanks to those of you who've attended the workshops over the years, your committment has been very valluable. We look forward to what the co-op will evolve into over time with the continued support of the local community....ok, so for the events this month:

Thursday, Feb 2nd @ 7pm : Music On Film Workshop . $25(gen admission), $15(students), FREE to Recording Academy members.

The Memphis Chapter of The Recording Academy® and The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing (P&E Wing) presents a special Music On Film Workshop featuring panelist Karyn Rachtman and moderator Ralph Sutton.

Featured guests:
Karyn Rachtman has been a musical supervisor and producer for a multitude of motion pictures, including Boogie Nights, Bulworth, North Country, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and Reality Bites.

Ralph Sutton has a well-established background in the music industry as a recording engineer and record producer. Over his more than twenty years of experience, he's worked with music industry elite, from Stevie Wonder to Prince, and Motley Crue to Marvin Gaye.

Seating is limited. Attendees must R.S.V.P. to reserve their space, courtneyb@grammy.com or 901.525.1340.

Saturday Feb 4th @ 10am-2pm: Open Casting Call

Oddly Buoyant Productions, makers of 2004 Indie Memphis award winner "Automusik Can Do No Wrong", are seeking actors for their new movie "Eat." All sizes, shapes, races, and sexes needed. Real-life experience in a restaurant is a plus.

For more information, email: mail@oddlybuoyant.com.

Tuesday Feb 7th @ 7:30pm: Forum/Workshop

An open-call to the local film community to discuss the FIRST ANNUAL MID-SOUTH INDPENDENT FILMMAKERS CONFERENCE. We are looking to get input from all directors, actors, writers, crew, etc from around the Mid-South about ideas for the Conference. Everyone is invited to this planning session.

ALSO THIS MONTH:

Family and Friends Magazine is sponsoring a SGL Film Festival the 24th or 25th of February, and The Peace and Justice Center is sponsoring a film screening on Sunday, FEB 19th @ 6pm of a 9-11 related documentary. Another casting call for a local film will take place on Sat, FEB 11th from 9am-12pm organized by Arnold Edwards. Email: kugar13@gmail.com for more info.

More info on these and other events at the Co-op will be posted soon at www.mediaco-op.org

Improv classes this month @ the Co-op

2006-01-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

Practice your improv skills with students from Red West's Acting for the Camera classes and other interested actors. Red is starring in "Glory Road," opening officially on Jan. 13 and whipping up lots of buzz, so his classes are on hiatus for a few weeks. You can keep your chops in tune at these two classes on Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 from 7-10 p.m. at the MeDiA Co-op (1000 S.Cooper). Cost is $10, part of which goes to support the Co-op.

Coaches include:
SAG-eligible actor/screenwriter Forrest Pruett ("Forty Shades of Blue"); SAG actor Michael Travis Stone ("Ray"); Indie director Arnold Edwards II and writer/actor Jon W. Sparks.

For more info, contact forrestpruett@bellsouth.net or call 382-3305.

Tales From SVA: First 16mm project - Critique

2005-12-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

So today was the day that we showed the 16mm lighting project (linked below) to our class and production teacher. Over all I think our class was sort of bothered by the abstractness. it was uhm... maybe they liked it but weren't sure why. people complimented us afterwards though so that's nice.
Our teacher said the one thing he didn't like about it was the few shots of jackie dancing where it was hella dark and all you could see is like her arms. Cat's solo dancing was like that too. I think what happened there was that the contrast on the camera turned to black or something. the bolex we rented was slightly different and had some settings that I was never taught.
Anyone familiar with bolex cameras? cause this little triangle thing kept popping up in the bottom left of the viewfinder. anyone have any clue as to what that is?
p.s. morgan wanted me to have a little icon at the end of my posts so now I do.

Bearded Child All Stars @ Power House

2005-12-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Indie Memphis will present Bearded Child All Stars on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. The screening will take place at Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson (between Main & Front Streets). Admission is free.

Northern Minnesota's Bearded Child Film Festival features a selection of experimental, low-budget, and extremely bizarre short films. For the past five years, the festival has thrived within the obscurity of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, a mill town of under 8000 people located 150 miles northwest of Minneapolis. In order to develop a niche within the crowded world of festivals, the Bearded Child specifically seeks out work that is often "too weird" or too "lo-fi" for many festivals. The festival has encouraged filmmakers to push the boundaries of corporate film culture, while entertaining local crowds of pseudo-lumberjacks and old women in the process - a curious venture to be sure. After five years of obscurity, the Bearded Child Film Festival is now crisscrossing the nation with a selection of "All Star" films from the past five years. The tour kicked off at the Burning Man Festival in late August. Attendees should expect a mix of experimental films, oddball comedies, and the bizarre. Many of the films have never been shown outside of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. For more information, visit: www.beardedchild.com

Tales From SVA: First 16mm project - Rough Cut

2005-12-04T20:03:00.000-08:00

Some stuff didn't turn out
and
we realize it's kind of boring..
http://homepage.mac.com/john.tom/.public/Testify.mov

A Harmless Internet Chain Letter Joke

2005-11-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

Hey, this is Tommy (Kha)
I need your help. I need you to check out this ONE MINUTE SHORT FILM that I, Adam Carycroft and Ben Siler did. Please watch it and VOTE for us! And if you can forward this message and have your friends and contacts vote for us, that will be awesome!

It's entitled A Harmless Internet Chain Letter Joke

Here's the link:
http://www.newyorkminutefilmfestival.com/movieselectorcomedy3.php?filename=AHarmlessInternetChainLetterJoke.mov&offset=0

Or you can go to www.nymff.com and click on "Movies" and click on "Comedy".

To vote, click on the "Voting Ballot" on top of the movie choices. We are movie id 840.

Thank you!

Tommy "...Woah" Kha

Tales From SVA: More about ME!

2005-11-29T21:41:00.000-08:00

So maybe all you filmstars out there are wondering what my qualifications are and how morgan knows me etc.
Well.
Morgan and I met while I was making a film called Disasterpiece in callaboration with Do You Know Where Your Children Are? Productions. The film is a spoof action short that recalls a messy screening of their epic Shakesphere drama, Hamlet. Which took place in Piggly Wiggly.
[Disasterpiece]

After that film I basically goofed off for most of the summer. Hung out with Morgan aroudn the co.op and all that sort of thing.
at the end of the summer I made a short film starring Moragn and Alanna Stewart that was about Now and Laters (yes, that candy)

Those are the two biggest projects I did work on before coming to film school.

Now I am surrounded by totally unmotivated teenagers in New York city at a very nice art school.
Today I had a production of a 5 minute film we were supposed to shoot next week. I was at 10AM and no one showed up. I don't even have anything to do with the production because i was cast as a character. I simply decided to go to share my ideas and views. No one showed up. except me. So our Production teacher iGor was very angry with us and the director/writer. there were kids that were supposed to rewrite the script with a shot list and an assistant director who was supposed to choose actors from our casting office and an art director who was supposed to reserve the apartment room for us to film in. no one did any of their work. Shouldn't this be something they should want to do? shouldn't that be fun?

CELEBRITY CITINGS, OMG! (no.2)

2005-11-25T12:42:00.002-08:00

Wed Nov 23rd, Young Ave. Deli-The Glass, Harlan T. Bobo, and Vending Machine.
Oh my, people, the celebrities were out on wednesday night, like...completely. To bad if you missed the show, because it was all the rage, and many stars showed face, made deals, and cause controversy...all the makings of a great night out, in Memphis.

Heidi Marie Knochenhauer, emerging actress (Dollars & Signs, Bright Sunny South), was out and about in style, and was overheard speaking of her new "absolutely incredible" part in an upcoming project. When our staff asked her what project this was she replied "why don't you go make your little indie films, and leave the real stars alone, b*#%@^." Wow.

Joshua Peter Laurenzi(left), star of Blue Citrus Hearts arrived early to the show, however, he had to sneak to the back of the venu after "out of control" fans beseiged him with requests to quote lines from the film. One "fan" in particular ripped two buttons from his jacket, screaming "eBay, eBay, eBay." wtf?

Chris Scott McCoy(left), director of the award winning Automusik Can Do No Wrong, was stationed at the back of the venue, and claimed to be congregating with members of the Gambino Crime Family discussing "family business". McCoy was overheard shouting, "werfjwlefkjalskfj2 wlkdsflkopitolk,wer09i 3u9083289923". We don't know what that means.

Hairdesigner for the stars, the beautiful and ever-charming Robin Tucker made an appearance with new love interest, and an entourage of "bad asses", so to speak.

Shortly after her entrance, Tucker bumped heads with artiste extraodinaire Anastasia Laurenzi (DP on away(A)wake), who was on "shifty terms" with the hair designer because members of Tuckers entourage "created a ruckus" at Laurenzi's last art opening. By the end of the night, the two were on great terms, but their respective entourages were purportedly still "not talking."

Morgan Jon Fox and Tiffany Watts were seen enjoying the show in the VIP section, however, at this very moment captured in the photograph, the two were disturbed by "fowl drunk people" that somehow stumbled a "little too close for confort". Watts was seen later "having it out" with her security guards over the incident, saying "if you even let those "people" look at me again, i'll make you swin with eels." !!!!????

Filmmaker Brent Shrewsbury arrived casually, conversing with New York installation artist Aaron Suggs. Shrewsbury left immediately after the two spoke because of an "important phone call". Word has it, Stephen Spielberg wants to remake his short film 17 Inch Cobras, however, Shrewsbury apparently told Mr. Spielberg to "go swin with eels." We're still not sure what exactly that term means, however, it seems to be a common phrase amongst the stars. More on this later...

Andrew Nenninger, of Bright Sunny South fame, was overheard telling an unidentified woman "a huge secret". Once Nenninger recognized that we heard this secret, he threatened to pour beer on our "tiny digital camera not worth a splash of his taste in good beer", he concluded that if we divulged his secret, that "he'd see to it that we....." (something about eels). In the background, the filmmakers lady friend watched on in spite, at one point blurting out "how come i don't even know the secret and that gurl gets to hear it, s*$t man."

Brilliant actor Bret Magdovitz (Dollars & Signs, away(A)wake, Bright Sunny South) was seen chilling near the VIP section speaking of his role in a new Sawed-Off Pictures short film from Andrew Nenninger. Magdovitz also was seen yelling at Morgan Jon Fox, "eyh, i got something for you, pal." We were unable to confirm what that "something" was.

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS, OMG!

2005-11-19T12:13:00.000-08:00

THIS COLUMN FEATURES SNAPSHOTS AND BLURBS, OF WHAT'S SEEN AND HEARD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK...in, on, through, and around the MEMPHIS FILM SCENE.
Watchout, YOU MAY BE SPOTTED NEXT.

Wednesday Night, Nov 16th World Premiere of Delusions, Directed By Robert Saba

Actress Sarah Ewell was seen working the crowd, and spread word of a distribution deal for Shutter a new film from Jeremy Benson, which she has a feature role in...

Indie film star, Tiffany Pemberton, a lead in Delusions, was in high spirits with new beau..Pemberton was purpotedly approached by Sawed-Off producers for an up-comming role in a collaboration with Brandon Hutchinson(Dollars and Signs).

Actor John Stills, of Poor and Hungry, Shutter, and Hustle & Flow was in the house.

Red West, VIP, and entourage.

Film Commissioner Linn Sitler, VIP, arrived with Sharon Fox O'Guin, they stayed the whole time.

Award-Winning Director/Producer Brent Shrewsbury, who was seen discussing a new documentary project with Suzi Crashcourse of Sawed-Off. Shrewsbury had to leave the screening early "due to an emergency."

Other Sightings throughout the week...

Writer, Director Suzi Crashcourse was spotted attending the midnight screening of Harry Potter at Muvico with entourage and body guards.

Director Morgan Jon Fox(Sawed-Off/MeDiA Co-op) at the Harry Potter screening, threatened photographers to "stay out of his personal life"

Famed photographer Robin Salant at the Meisner Challenge premiere...

Kingpin Jon Sparks seen discussing wild ideas with fellow actors at the Meisner Challenge premiere the Seraphim.

Director Brandon Hutchinson and Fox seen at new hangout, Quetzal discussing a new project they're collaborating on.

Infamous graphic designer Sasha Barr spotted at Studio on the Square, with unidentified female, was at a screening of Capote, and supposedly disrupted the screening several times shouting "TRUMAN......."(wtf?)

Underground film star Timothy Morton and auteur Ben Siler discuss "issues" outside the MeDiA Co-op...

BUZZ BUZZ:

Craig Brewer supposedly is going to be directing not only Hustle-N-Flow 2, but also parts 3-17 and is purportedly slated to write and direct a shot by shot remake of The Godfather Part III, starring Justin Timberlake as the Godfather.

***All information in this column is unverified, and we cannot be held accountable for any mistakes we've made, defamation of character, liable, altered photos that make people look horrible, etc...Get real, get over it, and we apologize. Bye.

Tales From SVA: The adventures of a first year film student in New York

2005-11-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

(pictures coming sooon)
Hi I'm John Roemer and I go to The School of Visual Arts for film. The school is located in Manhattan, East 23rd streed to be exact. That's also where I live. I live in an apartment style dorm with 5 other art students. four of us are here for film and the other two are photography. Morgan Fox asked me to post about my experiences at film school because this is a film blog and people that read it should be interested in such things, right?

So here we go!

I've been going to school now for about 11 weeks. The most interesting classes I have are Intro to Production and Intro to Editing. The two are fairly self explainatory. I enjoy them the mos simply because my other classes involve no hands on learning. I take English, Storytelling (script writing) and Film History.
In Production class all we do is shoot short films. every week in class we shoot a scene or short on a 16mm Bolex camera. I like this class a lot because it revolves around working as a group and getting stuff done like that etc. That's what makes film great, right? bringing multiple people together to make something great then showing it to more people so that they can see things the same way as you. through your eyes (cameras).
The last thing that we shot was... this 16mm film on the banks of the river by FDR highway or somewhere a few blocks away from school. I was camera operator. My friend Chris was the director and came up with some weird idea about love or something romantic like our teacher told us to do. but I sort of wanted to take it in a more abstract way like... more like images of romance? the point is as soon as i shot out ideas people were like WTF?! that's too abstract, john. that's not what Igor (our teacher) wants. and i was like screw you. and i shot what they wanted. whatever.
-John

TWO NEW COLLUMNS COMING SOON

2005-11-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS
a collumn featuring snap shots of local film celebrities(HAVE YOU BEEN SPOTTED?)
and

CHOMPIN ON THE BIG APPLE(not official name)
posts from a memphis kid who's a freshman film school student in NYcity at SVA.

STAY TUNEDDDD

OPEN DISCUSSION TONIGHT AT CO-OP CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS...

2005-11-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

TONIGHT AT THE MEDIA CO-OP we'll be having an open discussion on different filmmaking esthetics in the local community. Hopefully we'll have enough representation from the local community to have many different voices represented. And if all goes well, there'll be enough passionate creators in the room that a huge arguemnt over stylistic approaches will break out and a brawl will unfold resulting in THE BIRTH OF TRUE FILM SCENE...with rivalries and entourages who have showdowns at premieres and who try to disrupt one another film shoots and...or, maybe 6 people will show up and we'll talk about why we like making moves.

Either's fine.

CO-OP NEWSSSSS

2005-11-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

The MeDiA Co-op UPDATE.......
The Memphis Digital Arts Co-op 1000 S. Cooper Memphis TN 38104 901.278.9077

UPCOMING SCREENINGS/EVENTS
OVERALL CO-OP UPDATE....

PLEASE AD OUR NEW COMMUNITY BLOG TO YOUR BOOK MARKS: www.mediaco-op.blogspot.com
if you wish to post on this blog, please send a resonse to this email

1.UPCOMING SCREENINGS/EVENTS:

Sunday Nov 13th 6pm Films By Andrei Tarkovsky

Tuesday Nov 15th 7:30pm Open Discussion on different filmmakling esthetics

Sunday Nov 20th 6pm Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price (http://www.walmartmovie.com)

(The Films Of Fellini have been postponed)

Tuesday Nov 22nd 7:30pm Open Forum for discussion about current projects...

Sunday Nov 27th 6pm Celebration by Thomas Vinterberg, and The Idiots by Lars Von Trier

2.OVERALL CO-OP UPDATE

FREE TUESDAY NIGHT WORKSHOPS every tuesday at 7:30
Thanks to all of you who have been attending, facilitating, or even thinking about the Tuesday NIght workshops at the MeDiA Co-op. Coming up on our 4th year of holding these workshops every tuesday night, we are going to be changing the format up a bit, and launching a new educational program at the Co-op starting in the new year. Starting immediately, tuesday nights are going to serve more as an open forum, a place for people to discuss the films they're working on, a place to seek assistance for a production you're gearing up for, or to let people know what you've learned about the projects you've completed.

SUNDAY NIGHT FILM SCREENINGS every sunday at 6pm
We officially launched our ESSENTIAL FILM SERIES to take place every sunday night at 6pm for a measily 3 bucks. These films will be scheduled in advance and advertised secretly through flyers that you can find at places like BlackLodge Video and Otherlands. THis film series will feature great directors from international and american cinema, from the past and present. Each screening will be accomodated by a lecture of some sorts. Some screenings will also actually be lectures on film history, with clips of films and the like. We will be encouraging people from the community to become engaged and be apart of this by selecting films and filmmakers they know alot about and therefore to curate a night of the ESSENTIAL FILM SERIES.

MEMBERSHIP
The co-op now offers 4 tiers of Membership ranging from simple use of office space/internet/printers, to access to a G4w/Editting and Design software, to access to a miniDV camera/boom mic/boom pole/various low-grade lights/tripod. We also have an Patron Membership where if you donate $100 to the co-op you can get discounts for workshops and screenings throughout the year at the co-op. If you have more questions, please email Tim at membership@mediaco-op.org or Andrew at anennngr@memphis.edu

1ST ANNUAL FILMMAKERS CONFERENCE
To celebrate our 4th year of being apart of the Film community of Memphis after First Congregational so graciously accepted us into their wonderful building we will be launching the FIRST ANNUAL MID-SOUTH INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS CONFERENCE in March. The conference will be a mulit-day event with workshops, panels, and screenings. Their will also be an audition formatted similar to the UPTA"s where film actors can audition in front of a panel of directors. Through this conference we hope to unite the independent film community in the surrounding area. We hope to establish the following goals through this project:
-The creation of the MIFD: Memphis Independent Filmmakers Database
A database of all the local directors, producers, actors, etc etc Including a listing of every film created in this city and who's worked on what and where.
-A Library of all locally produced works
-The initiation of an info-list serve where the local film community can stay in-touch with what's going on-including auditions, screenings, need to assistance with crew, etc...

We will start requesting information from individuals soon to get some of these projects off the ground. Please Let us know if you'd like to help with this in any way.

HOPE TO SEE YOU AROUND THE MEDIA CO-OP SOON.

FUNDRAISER SCREENINGS AT CO-OP

2005-11-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Sawed-Off Collaboratory Productions seek your kind assistance.....

FUNDRAISER SCREENINGS FOR a SAWED-OFF COLLABORATORY PICTURES project...

to finish production on the new documentary This Is What Love In Action Looks Like
@The MeDiA Co-op 1000 S. Cooper
901-278-9077 for more info PAY WHAT YOU CAN!

Friday December 16th

7:30 What Does Love In Action Look LIke: a preface (plus short films)
9:30 Blue Citrus Hearts

Saturday December 17th

7:30 Away(A)wake
9:30 What Does Love In Action Look Like: a preface (plus short films)

The Documentary follows an international news story that unfolded in Memphis in the summer of 2005 surrounding the controversial "get straight camp" Love In Action, and their teenage program called Refuge. Sawed-Off needs funding to complete this documentary and then promote it around the country for distribution and festival screenings. What does Love In Action Look Like: a preface, the companion piece to This Is What Love In Action Looks Like was awarded the "Ron Tibbett Excellence In Filmmaking" award at the 2005 Indie Memphis film festival.

Sawed-off's previous films which will screen the 16th and 17th have been screened around the country and are distributed by Ariztical Entertainment nationally on DVD.

Acclaim for The 2003 Feature, Blue Citrus Hearts:

"one of the top 15 films of 2003" -The Commercial Appeal -The Chicago Reader

"this movie captures all the awkwardness, angst, despair, exhilaration and confusion of being a teenager. It’s raw and aching, beautiful and honest...
I am adding Fox to my list of filmmakers to watch and I am wondering just what is going on in Memphis, Tenn., to foster work so solid and accomplished"
-Chicago Free Press

All screenings will be accompanied by Q and A sessions....

Co-op crew take 4 awards at Indie Memphis...

2005-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Indie Memphis has been a very fun experience already, and there's still 4 days left...GO SEE MOVIES!!!!!

At the awards ceremony Saturday night there was much fun to be had as 4 MeDiA Co-op affiliates left with hometown awards:

Brett Hanover-Best Documentary
Brent Shrewsbury-Kodak Tenessee Filmmaker Award
Andrew Nenninger-Best Short
Morgan Jon Fox-Ron Tibbet Excellence in Filmmaking Award

Hat's off as well to all the other winners, especially Old School Pictures who took Best Film...

It's been a great experience seeing films all day everyday hanging out with the like's of Michael Galinski(Horn's and Halo's/Code 33), Bill Brown(who visited to co-op earlier this year), Kelly Baker(The Angry Filmmaker), Coleman Hue(writer-Full Frontal/Bubble), etcetcetc...

This year's lineup is more amazing than normal including some really incredible local work, as well as some very diverse work from around the South. The Panel's on Saturday went very good as well.

More soon as the week goes along.

This only happens once a year, DO NOT MISS IT...................

Bill Brown at Indie Memphis

2005-10-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

If you saw the Lo-Fi Landscapes program at the MeDiA Co-op last summer you won't want to miss the return visit of experimental documentary filmmaker Bill Brown at the Indie Memphis Film Festival this Sunday, October 23, at 1 p.m.

The program will feature three short films from The Next Best Place (or “action-packed documentaries from one man’s never-ending road trip across the New World”): Roswell (1994), Confederate Park (1999), and Mountain State (2003). Also there will be a repeat showing of Chicago/Detroit Split, a work in progress with filmmaker Thomas Comerford, with musical accompaniment by Morgan Jon Fox.

2005 Indie Memphis Lineup

2005-10-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Just so you guys know, the schedule for Indie Memphis is now available on their site.

Sawed-Off Collaboratory/MeDiA Co-op present...

2005-10-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Three Films at Indie Memphis Film Fest Oct. 21-27th Downtown, Memphis - Muvico Theatres

-----------------------------------
away(A)wake 90min
Tuesday 25th 8:30

written/directed byMorgan Jon Fox, Suzi Crashcourse
starrring Helen Bowman, Mark Pergolizzi, Tim Morton,
Saki Nosurname, Daniel Long, Pam Chapman,
Doris Barker, Bill Baker, David Caffey, Carly Crawford
Giles Gratz, and Mr. White
music by BARRY ISKIWITZ*WITNESSE*SEAN O'DANIELS*
ESMERINE*DAN MONTGOMERY*SNOWGLOBE*MICHAEL GROGAN*
ANTECHAMBER*THE FOLDING TONES(featuringMR.WHITE)
assistant directed by Amber O’Daniels
shot by Fox, Crashcourse, and Anastasia Laurenzi
Fiscal Spoonsor: Delta Axis/Indie Memphis
-----------------------------------
Bright Sunny South 27min
Sun 23rd 9pm/Tues 25th 6:30

written and directed by Kentucker Audley
starrring
Brett Magdovitz, Mark Pergolizzi, Carly Cripe,
and Andrew Nenninger

produced by Gretchen Cook
assistant directed by Alex Cooke
shot by Eric Morrison and Ben Siler
-----------------------------------

What Does Love In Action Look Like: a preface 60min

Monday 24th 6:30

directed by Morgan Jon Fox
assistant directed by Suzi Crashcourse
in cahoots with Queer Action Coalition
production assistance by Cale Lefevre, Alex Polotsky,
Jenessa Williams, Ben Siler, Tim Morton

The screening will be followed by a Q&A discussion
with members of QAC, the group who organized
the protests featured in this documentary, to
create dialogue about the impacts these issues are
having on our city, as this story is still unfolding.
--------------------------------

IRA SACHS' debut feature to screen at MeDiA Co-op

2005-10-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

The MeDiA Co-op
1000 S. Cooper 901.278.9077

presents

THE DELTA (1996 85min)
directed by IRA SACHS, award winning filmmaker of
"Fourty Shades of Blue"

Ira's first feature film, shot in Memphis will screen at the MeDiA Co-op

Saturday October 15th 8pm

Sunday October 16th 6pm

$5 suggested donation

Plot Summary
Lincoln, who's not yet 18, leads a straight life most of the time: he has a girl friend, goes to dances, jokes with guys. But he also has a secret life, in which he's drawn to dark places where he has sex with men he doesn't know. One night, while visiting a gay video arcade, he connects with John, a Vietnamese-born gay man, in his 20s probably, whose father was an African-American US soldier. John invites Lincoln to spend some carefree time with him, and Lincoln takes him to his father's boat. John then convinces Lincoln to take the boat into the Mississippi delta, where setting off some fireworks out of season precipitates betrayal and revenge.

Someone to Call My Clone Screening and Lecture

2005-10-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

The amazing Amber O'Daniels will hold a lecture at the Brooks Museum on, Wednesday, October 5th, 2005.

Her last Meisner for the Creative class' film, Someone to Call My Clone, will be screened also at the Brooks Museum.

For more information about Meisner and an upcoming new class in January, pelase visit:
Meisner at Sawed-off.net.

Tickets are $5 or free if you are a member.

Tommy "All the leaves fell off that tree" Kha

Membership Drive

2005-09-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, OCTOBER 4TH, 2005 is the first Tuesday of the month. A membership drive will be held for anyone who is interested in wanting membership with the MeDiA Co-op. Please contact either:
Tim Morton or Andrew Nenninger at membership@mediaco-op.org
for more information.

Also, while you are interested in membership, please stop by at our FREE Tuesday night filmmaking workshop at 7:30 PM.

Tommy "Ok then" Kha

Music Clearance

2005-09-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted yet, so I thought I would offer this.

I found it VERY helpful in understanding the mysterious process of music rights clearance.

Brandon

TLC's Open Casting Call

2005-09-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Learning Channel (TLC) is having an open casting call for a reality TV program for any family who is interested in improving their health/lifestyle.

Contact:
Arnold Edwards II at kugar13@gmail.com or 491.8860
Or Jarrod Wilson at awakenedmind@gmail.com or 626.3395

These people will direct your calls and give you the detailed information.

Tommy "I'm prophesizing" Kha

Youth Films Wanted

2005-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

Indie Memphis is still soliciting films for our youth showcase, which features the work of filmmakers that are 18 and younger. Films should have been made within the last two years. There is no entry fee. Submissions should be sent to Indie Memphis Youth Showcase, 1910 Madison Avenue, PMB 632, Memphis, TN 38104, with running time, contact information, etc. Films also can be dropped off at that address, which is the Mail Center. Email info@indiememphis.com with question.

Extensive Writing Workshop

2005-09-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Arnold Edwards will be heading a writing workshop.

The workshop will be six weeks long and cost $50 per person.

Where does this money go? Well the fee pays for the location at the
First Congo Church (Co-op) for 6 days. It pays for all handouts and
materials purchased for the workshop. It pays for all media materials
(disks, etc.) used to provide participants software, and it pays for any
additional needs for the workshop.

What do you get:

A structured workshop designed to teach you scriptwriting, where your first draft (90-120 pages) should be finished by week 5.
Instruction of format, character development, analyzing a scene, writing good dialogue, etc
Critique of your script by your peers
Guidance in getting your draft copyrighted
Class and personal instruction on script writing, ensuring you get what you want from the workshop
And the list goes on and on..... leading to A GREAT SCRIPT!

Honestly I believe this workshop is good for anyone, even people who
would consider themselves accomplished script writers.

Slots are filling up fast (I want to keep the class small to make sure
everyone gets the instruction they need). If you are interested
contact me now!

Classes will begin within the next few weeks. For more information, please contact Arnold Edwards at kugar13@gmail.com.

Tommy "Film on" Kha

Micro Cinema This Wednesday

2005-09-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

Indie Memphis Micro Cinema Club will hold its September meeting this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Short films from around the country will be screened, and refreshments will be available. At the Power House, 45 G.E. Patterson, next to Central Station. Free everything.

Membership Drive

2005-09-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

Beginning every first Tuesday of the month, a membership drive will be held at the MeDiA Co-op. Sign up for membership is tonight (I feel bad for the delay). For more information, please email membership@mediaco-op.org (Tim or Andrew).

dead anonymous

2005-08-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

Auditions will be held for my official film, "dead anonymous" on Sept. 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the:

MeDiA Co-op
1000 S. Cooper
Memphis TN 38104

Anyone 17 and older is welcome to come to the casting call for this dark humor dramedy. Bring resumés and headshots if available. No experience necessary. For more information, please contact Arnold Edwards (Director and Producer) at kugar13@gmail.com or Tommy Kha (Writer, Assistant Director, and Producer) at amokmyth@gmail.com. If you are unable to make it to the auditions, please contact the emails above as soon as possible.
Please come on time, it will be first come, first serve.

The story: Most of us wonder if there is an afterlife or post-life, but no one knows death is literally among us. Based in Memphis, death serves as a network of getting everyone to where they need to be, but eventually, some souls get lost when their physical bodies die. In order for them to adjust to their post-life, they must enter a twelve-step program of ridding their addiction to life itself. Eidolon, a recently departed teen, enrolls in the twelve-step program. Fortunately for him, he has a sponsor who may or may not be Jimmy Hoffa teaching him the ropes of death and gets a job as an escort ferrying souls to the post-life. Everyone comes to terms with their post-lives differently. As for Eidolon, he's kicking and screaming.

2005-08-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Live From Memphis, in association with the Indie Memphis film festival, presents the 2005 Live From Memphis Music Video Showcase.

Memphis bands and Memphis filmmakers will have their chance to showcase their music videos at the 2005 Indie Memphis film festival. Videos will be screened at Muvico’s Peabody Place 22 Theatre and an award will be given for “Best Music Video/EPK.” If you are a local filmmaker or local band with a music video – submit it now!

Submission Deadline is September 15, 2005.

DOWNLOAD AN ENTRY FORM/GET MORE INFO

This is your chance to ROCK the big screen!!!

LOCAL INDIE FILMMAKER CONFERENCE

2005-08-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Please start contacting every local filmmaker, film actor, film lover, and the like, gather their contact information, and send it mediaco-op@mediaco-op.org as we will organizing Memphis' first annual independent filmmaker conference early next year. The conference will include film screenings, workshops, an open actor audtion where we hope to gather headshots and contact info on every local actor willing to work on films, while actors read/audition in front of a huge panel of directors, we will discuss how to link local production compaines, and have central information points for auditions, premieres, and events. We will update information on this as it forms, but the first step is to gather contact information so that we can register participants, secure workshops topics, and make sure that we have every local filmmaker, actor, patron and the like in attendance for this much needed conference centered around making our film scene stronger, more organized, and visible..to one another, to this city, and beyond.

Hello all, my first time.

2005-08-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

What up kiddies! This is my first time creating a blog account, so yeah... tis kewl. Before this I have only posted anonymously on a buddies blog site (he is known to have a SILVER LINING <~~ figure out who he is and I'll give you a balloon!). I really dig the work that Tommy, Morgan, and anyone else who has contributed to the construction of this blog page has done. I am very excited about the potential about this blog and hope that many use it as much as a creative outlet as a means to keep informed about our film making breathern!!!

FILM TO LIVE! LIVE TO FILM!
Arnie

Lighting Workshop @ the MeDiA Co-op

2005-08-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night, MeDiA Co-op is proud to present our lighting workshop, hosted by a representative from Mainstage Theatrical Supply Inc. Please email kugar13@gmail.com, Arnold, one of the workshop coordinators, for more information and/or requested studies on lighting.

Info clearinghouse for local filmmakers

2005-08-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

I recently created memphis.cool.movies to post information and items of interest for local filmmakers and actors. You'll find audition notices, news items, features on indie moviemaking and links galore. It's in blog format but is mostly a bulletin board. Feel free to send me (jonwsparks (at) gmail.com) any info/links you think would be fitting.

There will be overlap with this blog but check both, cause there's lots going on in the region. And check daily since many audition notices are posted with very little lead time.

Remember, the MeDiA Co-op is very much at the center of the soul of filmmaking. Which leads me to remind you: Contribute to the Co-op.

SEND US YOUR BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS

2005-08-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

We're building a database of local production companies, filmmakers, and following their latest projects...etc...send us a few behind the scenes stills from your latest project, and we'll ad it to our photo album, for example...

Sawed-off Collaboratory's "away(A)wake" Behind the Scenes

Just send us a few .jpg's with info about who's who and what's what, and we'll set you up.

Two Emerging Filmmakers Profiled

2005-08-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

This article in today's CA profiles two high school filmmakers: Jennifer Sadler and Matthew Frazier. Both had films in last year's Youth Showcase (part of the Indie Memphis film festival) and also attended film camp this summer at Ole Miss. Info for submitting films to this year's Youth Showcase also is included here. Sorry to be so self-serving in my first post, but this is a good article with really great pictures too.

2005-08-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Help be the glue that sticks us all together

This blog will serve as a voice for all Memphis filmmakers, associates, and the like.
We will use this as a forum for auditions, as a journal/behind the scenes look at film productions, and a "what's what" in the goings on in the Memphis Film Scene. We know that are already several sites, and the like dedicated, but we hope we can help serve as a link between all of them. If you would like to contribute to this blog by writing about events, documenting productions, etc...We invite all to post freely here. Just contact us if you're interested. And please send us your links, photos, production co info, etc...

Free Tuesday Night Workshops

2005-08-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

That's right. Every Tuesday night, the MeDiA Co-oP hold film workshops starting at 7:30 P.M. Donations are appreciated. Did I mention the workshops are free?

new blog

2005-08-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

mediaco-op's info line