A "Commmunity Center" for Memphis Filmmakers 1000 S. Cooper Memphis, TN 38104 901.278.9077

Friday, June 09, 2006

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


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

scribbled by Matt at 6:08 PM | 0 screams and shouts

Thursday, February 23, 2006

march at the co-op

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

scribbled by MeDiA Co-op at 3:07 PM | 0 screams and shouts

Auditions for new Sawed-Off film

Heart*strings
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.

Image hosting by PhotobucketImage hosting by Photobucket
sawed-off collaboratory pictures
Image hosting by Photobucket
thanks you.
Image hosting by Photobucket



scribbled by MeDiA Co-op at 2:50 PM | 0 screams and shouts

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

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



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.

scribbled by Matt at 10:27 AM | 0 screams and shouts

Sunday, January 29, 2006

MEDIA CO-OP IN FEBRUARY

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

scribbled by MeDiA Co-op at 7:14 PM | 0 screams and shouts

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Improv classes this month @ the Co-op

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.

scribbled by Jon W. Sparks at 8:16 PM | 0 screams and shouts

Friday, November 25, 2005

CELEBRITY CITINGS, OMG! (no.2)

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.





Ben Nichols, lead singer of Lucero was at the show, however, he remained outside all night, looking the other way, humming his own lyrics, occasionally glaring at local filmmakers saying "I dare you to use my music in your indie films, we'll sue you for every penny you're never gonna be worth." When contacted to verify the "completely outlandish" situation, Nichols said, "listen cuz..." and then hung up. Jeeeze.






Brad Postlethwaite(left), lead singer of Snowglobe also attended the show but ignored the musicians on stage. At one point he rallied audience members to come an route him on in beligerent game-playing antics. Postlethwaite also joined Nichols later on outside, purpotedly placing bets pertaining to the number of people who'd be at Lucero's Friday night show at The Complex.


***All information included herein is to be considered "purported", or "heresay", therefore plese don't hate us or whatnot, because it's all love. THankx, bye.

scribbled by MeDiA Co-op at 12:42 PM | 3 screams and shouts

Saturday, November 19, 2005

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS, OMG!

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.

scribbled by MeDiA Co-op at 12:13 PM | 4 screams and shouts