HERE'S A CHANCE TO PEDAL YOUR FILM

The Boston Bike Film Festival, a cycling related film festival geared to bicycling enthusiasts of all stripes from casual weekend riders, to would-be Tour de France entrants, is seeking entrants for its first annual event. The festival is a two-night event to be held in three to four venues. Organizers are soliciting films from filmmakers
nationwide

Shorts, Animation and Features will be accepted. Each category accepts films that have cycling or a bicycle somehow integral to the story and not just as backdrop (i.e., the lead character happened to own a bike).

The event will be held October 21-22, 2005. Deadline for entries is September 24, 2005. For more information visit www.BostonBikeFilmFest.org.

STEEL & FIRE TO BE SHOT AS SHORT

Poster for STEEL & ICE, Electric Druid Films’ short to shoot in Maine in September. Image courtesy of Andrea Winn

Maine's Electric Druid Films is making a short of its feature film hopeful, "Steel & Fire." They want something in the can to show to perspective investors and to start a buzz.

In an attempt to create their own niche in the market, Electric Druid wants to market high-quality, low budget digital films directly to the video market. The short is scheduled to shoot the second weekend in September in Naples, Standish, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. According to Andrea Winn, President of Electric Druid Films, the production still
needs a lighting tech, a cinematographer, a camera person, a sound engineer, and a composer.

Steel & Fire is the story of a small island town, betrayed by someone charged with their well-being. A mysterious stranger must teach the town how to "get up and stand up". It may be an homage to the spaghetti Western modernized with motorcycles and fishing boats. Think of Clint Eastwood's HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER and Peter Fonda's EASY RIDER.

If you are interested in any of those positions or want to know more, you can contact Andrea Winn at: electric_druid_films@verizon.net.

Tom Waits, Issac Brock (Modest Mouse), Loretta Lynn, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Benji Madden (Good Charlotte), President of Universal Records and other celebrities to judge 2005 International Songwriting Competition


Monte Lipman, President of Universal Records and judge for the International Songwriting Completion. Photo by Anton Corbijn	Singer/Songwriter Joss Stone, one of a host of judges for ISC. Contest deadline is October 14, 2005. Photo by Anton Corbijn

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting entries for 2005. One of the largest songwriting competitions in the world, ISC offers entrants a chance to compete for over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of $10,000 (US) in cash and $20,000 in merchandise. ISC winners benefit from extensive press and publicity, gaining exposure and recognition from an international music market of industry professionals and fans.

Internationally renowned for its high-caliber judges, ISC offers entrants a unique opportunity to have their songs heard by some of the most influential decision-makers in the industry.

2005 categories: Pop/Top 40, Rock, Gospel/Christian, Country, R&B/Hip-Hop, Performance, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, AAA/Roots/Americana, Jazz, Dance/Electronica, Blues, Children's Music, Teen (18 yrs. Old and younger), Instrumental, World Music, and Lyrics Only.

Deadline for submission is October 14, 2005. Entries are accepted online or through regular mail. For more information, an entry form or to enter online, visit http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

This is a new wrinkle! HB Communications has announced the opening of its new online eBay Store where you will find a wide selection of audio visual, presentation, computer and professional A/V products. Many of the products available are hard to find, specialized items in perfect working condition.

HB Communications serves its eBay customers with the same level of customer attention and product quality they've been providing to all their customers, for over 50 years. To see their current Ebay offerings and to get great tips for shopping online, check out their
August Newsletter here: http://www.hbcommunications.com/aug05enews.html

James Redford's (son of Robert) directorial debut, SPIN, a coming-of-age film set in the 1950s Southwest of Arizona and Mexico, based on the novel by Don Axinn and starring Ruben Blades, Dana Delaney, Paula Garces, Ryan Merriman, and Stanley Tucci, has recently been released on DVD by SMV and Universal. The film was produced by Elaine Rogers of Fish & Richardson P.C., Boston, MA. The firm also acted as production counsel for the film. Rogers took a leave of absence from the firm to produce SPIN. (see feature in IMAGINE Dec/Jan 2003). SPIN has also been picked up by Showtime and Starz Entertainment networks for television. SPIN had its Boston premiere last November.

NEW DANZON at ICA, BOSTON

NEW DANSON, by Maria Novaro, will screen Friday, August 19, 8 PM, at the Institute of Contemporary Art. (1992, 103 minutes)

Considered a milestone of Mexican cinema, DANSON a simple story about a switchboard operator whose immense passion for dance propels her to realize her independence and find a new identity. With its vibrant color, sentimental love songs, and a range of interesting characters, the film negotiates a delicate balance between modern notions of female empowerment and the appeals of tradition, nostalgia, and old-fashioned romance.

Tickets are $7 general admission, $6 for ICA members, students, and seniors.

48-HOUR Award Winning Film Project in Film Festival Debut at Woods Hole

LIFE AFTER LEUKEMIA made it's festival debut at this years, Woods Hole
Film Festival.

The film previously took home 6 awards earlier this year at the 48 Hour Film Project, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Acting, Best Script, Best Editing, and Best Locations! The film was made as per the 48 Hour Film Festival rules, which as up know means that the film was created, from conception to completion, in 48 hours.

The film chronicles former Hllywood child actor J. Withers (Played by actor/production designer Lawrence Sampson), once a sought after talent twenty years ago, who is now an alcoholic scavenger, living on the streets of Allston Mass. The film interviews his TV brother Malcom played by Tom Morin, who tells it like it is. J. Yearns for the times when he was on top, and plans to make it back there someday.

The film was produced by local award winning producer Louis Scheele, shot by cinematographer Allison Morrissette, and sound mixed by Brian "Timid" Corchine.

Award winning filmmaker and photographer Mike Pecci lent his hand into the mix by handling the films digital grading and graphic work. David J. Schwartz of Drag1Studios was hired to do the films final sound mix. Local band, "The Abatements" contributed a song to its score, and frontman Nathan Leigh contributed music to the film as well.

The film was directed by Boston based filmmaker Benjamin Oliver, who grew up in Sandwich MA, on Cape Cod. He was a former student of the Vancouver Film School, in British Columbia. He currently works at Harvard University as a film editor, and appears frequently on hit Internet cooking/reality show, "I'm Starvin' with Louis" which last
month garnerd just over 500,000 web hits.

"This is truly the little film that could. We made it for fun, our crew contributed a lot to its success. We didn't put any rules or strains on ourselves. We made it to do what we love to do, and it's paying off in ways none of us ever even imagined, said Oliver. To
learn more visit: http://www.benjaminoliver.net