CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR THREE COCA-COLA REFRESHING FILMMAKER FINALISTS! MFA 3rd Year Paul Seetachitt’s script “Can on the Run", MFA 2nd Year Micah Ranum’s script “Waking Up!”, and MFA 1st Year Derek Meyer’s script “The Showdown” have earned them each a chance the make their fifty-second short films and compete for the $10,000 top prize. Their films will be shot at the end of this semester during the winter holiday break. Final films must be to Coca-Cola by January 11, 2008. The top winner will be announced February 12, 2008, and the top award presentation made at ShoWest on March 13, 2008.

From Chris Bryant (BFA 05) “Hello everyone, please watch the latest TV series that I produced, "Benelli Top Guns". Its is a 2:30min "mini feature program" that airs on ESPN2 at 8:56am every Saturday until the end of the year. It features exhibition shooters Tom Knapp and Tim Bradley as they blast scores of clay pigeons and accomplish feats of true marksmanship with historic firearm replicas. Plus if anyone is ever in Washington, DC or looking for a great place to live and work after school drop me a line. There is plenty of TV work here, guys that work on major motion pictures and a lot of corporations that are creating motion media departments which need producers. ChristopherBryant@Hotmail.com, (301) 821-6211.”

From Cherie Saulter (BFA 06) “Tomorrow begins our third and final week of production for Medicine for Melancholy (Barry Jenkins' feature film shooting in San Francisco). Just wanted to let you know that we have a new blog and more pictures up on boxoffice.com <http://boxoffice.com <http://boxoffice.com> > (http://boxoffice.com/production-diaries/medicine-for-melancholy/) <http://boxoffice.com/production-diaries/medicine-for-melancholy/)> . Next week promises to be chaotic as we're shooting mostly night shoots in maybe not the best part of SF. Wish us luck and safety, I guess. Also, I really want to thank everybody who's bought shirts or made donations on the website ( http://www.strikeanywherefilms.com/?page_id=18) <http://www.strikeanywherefilms.com/?page_id=18)> . It helps more than you know, both financially and in the fact that it reassures us that people believe in what we're doing. You guys are amazing and will probably all get associate producer credits in the movie. I'll let you know how everything winds up next week.”

I talked with Film School cinematographer Rexford Metz this week and he had lots of good news! First, Katie Comkowycz (BFA 04) has been hired as staff 2nd AC for the TV show Pushing Daisies. That job comes with full benefits!

Next, Rex says that Lucie Rouche (MFA 06) has been nominated for her cinematography on “Rundown” for competition for the Laszlo Kovacs Student Award – Golden Tadpole, Silver Tadpole or Bronze Tadpole Award, the most coveted award in the world for student filmmakers. The US Oscar is equivalent to the Golden Frog which is awarded to camera professionals during the Plus Camerimage Awards in Lodz, Poland, and the Golden Tadpole the student equivalent!

And he says that the faculty have selected three cinematographers in nomination for the ASC Student Awards: Julie Hotz for “Kirksdale”, Jerry Kontogiorgis for “Cosmos” and Ryan Singh for “State of Sunshine”.

Rex Metz stopped by again to ask if I would post this: Rex is looking for a gearhead who knows about Nitro – he’s getting ready to run his Nitro dragster – a wicked looking machine!

And the last bit of Rex Metz’ news is that he will be doing the second unit cinematography on “Borders” in New Mexico and Las Vegas, working again with Bill Butler who shot “Jaws” with Rex!

From Khen Shalem (MFA 07) “We just completed the principle photography for "On the Road to Tel-Aviv" and it was a great experience. Last night, we finally watched the dailies, and we are very happy with the results. I plan to make the first cut here, in order to see if we need to shoot any pickups. During the last several weeks I received many complements here, and I feel confident that the education that I got at the film school gave me a great deal of knowledge and understanding of how to make films. I'm very happy with my choice to study at FSU, and I hope that this film will bring a great deal of respect to The Film School.”

Joachim Hellenes (BFA 97) who lives in Norway, will be visiting FL: Tampa, Orlando, Miami, with his 8 year old daughterbetween the November 17 and 23. He’d like to be in touch with some of our Film School alums. You can be reach Joaquin at jhellenes@gmail.com <mailto:jhellenes@gmail.com>

From Sharon Jacobs (MFA 06) “I wanted to let you know that I am going to be in a play here in Tallahassee during the first two weeks of December. I'm very excited. I haven't acted in over a year and it's been a lot longer since I've been on stage. :-). Wanted to let you know in case anyone wanted to journey to Tallahassee to see it. The details are below....
5 Women Wearing the Same Dress
Written by: Alan Ball (American Beauty, 6ft. Under)
Directed by: Chip Chalmers (DGA television shows) (and Film School Head of Production)
December 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16th. During Chanuka so don't worry, if you come you can just count that as my gift this year. LOL. No pressure, really. Just wanted to let you all know because I am so excited!”

From Christine Yoon (MFA 07) “This internship is listed in the UTA list, but I thought I'd forward it to you anyway - it's for spring interns at Mosaic. I think Mosaic ranks among the better places to start out at here - everyone's friendly and laid back, and there's a lot to learn about development and management. It's also relatively fast-paced; they keep you busy. Anyone who wants to know more can feel free to contact me about it... Mosaic Media Group (Talladega Nights, Batman begins, upcoming Semi Pro and Get Smart), seeks eager, egoless, and enthusiastic interns for the Spring semester. Duties include everything from reading scripts, writing coverage and desk coverage, to aiding in the general day to day function of the office. Must have car with insurance. College credit only. Interest in talent/literary management, and feature film development/producing is a plus. Email resumes with cover letter to jfriedman@mosaicla.com.”

From Andrew Hevia (BFA 06) “My four and half months in San Francisco have come to an end, and it was undoubtedly one of the greatest experiences of my life. If you recall, I was working/interning at McSweeney's Publishing ( www.mcsweeneys.net) under one of their smaller banners called "Wholphin," which is "the DVD Magazine of Rare and Unseen Short Films." ( www.wholphindvd.com) This was sort of a dream come true for me, as I got to meet and work with several of my literary heroes, including Dave Eggers, (who started the place) Michael Chabon and Nick Hornby, not to mention that I now have something to talk about with all the great filmmakers we've worked with, including Spike Jonze, Steven Soderbergh, David O. Russell and Paul Thomas Anderson. I also spent time working as a video editor for the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, a non-profit arm of McSweeney's dedicated to rebuilding Southern Sudan that was started in conjunction with Dave Egger's book What Is the What. Eleven of the videos I cut are now online at http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/ <http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/> I met some great people there and even made an appearance as an extra in Barry Jenkin's (BFA 04?) feature currently shooting up there. I'm currently back in Miami for a few months, raising money for the next great adventure and trying to impress girls with my new title: Associate Curator at Large for Wholphin DVD. So far, no luck.”

I heard from Stevie Calandra (MFA 96) this week. She is living in Washington, DC and is a producer for the National Geographic Channel, working on multiple things at once - long form non-fiction programming; short form web content, etc. She met Dana Kemp (BFA 97) at a meeting recently, both thinking they “looked” familiar, but neither realized the Film School connection!

Tallahassee: mark this Saturday the 10th on your calendar. At 8 PM in the Conradi Theater (to the left of Wescott if you're facing the fountain) they will be having their 10 minute plays performed as part of the entry into the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. We support our production students at their screenings. Please join our writing students for the evening.
From Luci Westphal-Solary (BFA 98) “Scott has recently been hired by CBS as the show runner / Sr. Producer of the highly successful online show Wallstrip (where stock culture meets pop culture). A favorite episode he produced is the Halloween Zombiecon episode: http://www.wallstrip.com/theshow/2007/10/31/10-31-07-wallstrip-halloween <http://www.wallstrip.com/theshow/2007/10/31/10-31-07-wallstrip-halloween>
To watch the latest episode go directly to the website: http://www.wallstrip.com <http://www.wallstrip.com> or look for it on your favorite online video site (including iTunes) The show DocStock on PlumTV interviewed Luci about her documentary All’s Well and Fair. You can now watch the segment (which includes excerpts from the work-in-progress) on our website: http://www.goodhardworkingpeople.com/AllsWellAndFair.html <http://www.goodhardworkingpeople.com/AllsWellAndFair.html> Luci is currently looking for music to use in the documentary All’s Well and Fair: punk rock grungey garage alternative indie bands, preferably involving women. We’re not sure if we’ll be able to compensate financially for the use of the music. So please do it for the love of it :-) If you want to find out more please look over the website for the film http://www.goodhardworkingpeople.com/AllsWellAndFair.html <http://www.goodhardworkingpeople.com/AllsWellAndFair.html> Otherwise please send whatever you think might fit to: Good Hard Working People, P.O. Box 170077 , Brooklyn, NY 11217 or admin@goodhardworkingpeople.com (CD’s and mp3’s preferred, url’s acceptable) And the sooner the better because Luci will be going on a 4 week editing retreat in Germany starting 11/12 to whip that film into shape. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for sending anything – even if it’s just a lead... Of course, please feel free to forward this “search for music” to anyone you think might be interested in having their music be in a documentary about three punk rock moms.”

From Jamie M. Fox (BA 00) Jamie M. Fox (Comedy Central Stage, Second City) stars in this critically acclaimed solo show about a Jewish woman stuck in a dead-end job as a celebrity's personal assistant, her cocaine addicted (and recently incarcerated) brother and the two neurotic parents who spawned them...But it's a comedy The Market Theater, Nov. 9-11, 16-18, 2007 (Fri/Sat at 8pm, Sun at 7pm) , 1428 Post Alley * Seattle, WA 98101 * (206) 325-6500 Click HERE for tickets <http://www.ticketwindowonline.com/show.php?shownumber=1786 <http://www.ticketwindowonline.com/show.php?shownumber=1786> >

Check out the interview she just did on city a go go. Click on the link below, then click on the inDEPENDENCE tab http://JamieMFox.com <http://JamieMFox.com> <http://jamiemfox.com/ <http://jamiemfox.com/> > BACKSTAGE- “Fox works with laser-like sharpness…Her characters never bleed one into the next…she’s a trip!” LA WEEKLY-“ Fox nimbly darts from one scene to the next, from character to character with out skipping a beat!” Fox is an engaging personality!”
From Ed Donovan: “This is the November issue of Florida's Film, Television and the Arts Industry Magazine. *www.infocus-magazine.com* We are now on myspace *www.myspace.com/infocusmagazinecom* Please submit all editorials to the editor for consideration edono@infocus-magazine.com”

Members of the Tallahassee Film Festival announced the addition of the 24-Hour Film Contest to the list of activities for its first annual film festival. The contest will provide the general public and local area professionals with the chance to be a part of the film process from conception to viewing by offering contestants training seminars and the opportunity to create and submit their own short film. The contest is open to anyone in the community who assembles a team of one to five people to compete. Each team must use a commercial digital camera and common computer editing programs to shoot and edit their films. In addition, there will be two seminars – one in the fall and one in the winter – that provide instruction on filmmaking for interested contestants. The first seminar will take place on November 10 at Tallahassee Community College from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m To learn more about the 24 hour contest, go to http://kccitallahassee.wordpress.com.”

After the success of its first eleven contests, Filmaka has launched its twelfth contest ‘Home for the Holidays’. Submissions are accepted till 30th November 2007. This month’s topic is "Home for the Holidays" and all 1-3 minute films must be uploaded by midnight PST, 30th November 2007. The annual grand prize is a feature film contract.
Filmaka.com <http://filmaka.com/ <http://filmaka.com/> > is a new online competition, judged by award winning filmmakers including Werner Herzog, Neil LaBute, Paul Schrader and Wim Wenders, and founded by leading independent producers and financiers. Filmmakers have a new chance to enter each month, and submissions are accepted in 10 different languages. Please visit www.filmaka.com <http://www.filmaka.com <http://www.filmaka.com> > to see past contest submissions, and for complete rules, terms and conditions. Membership is free for full time students: email collegeregistration@filmaka.com <mailto:collegeregistration@filmaka.com <mailto:collegeregistration@filmaka.com> > from your school issued email account for more information.”

From the Tallahassee Film Society: Richard Portman Returns with "Harold and Maude" - This Friday, Nov. 9th at All Saints "Forever" - 2 Shows This Saturday, November 10th at All Saints Blade Runner - 25th Anniversary Showing - Friday, November 16th at 7:30 PM Settle into "The Puffy Chair" - Friday 11/16 Sunday 11/18 at All Saints! This Week's Regal Miracle Theater Movies - November 9 - 15. This Week's Films at the Challenger Learning Center IMAX. For complete information go to tallahasseefilms.com

FROM THE FSU MAILING LIST

A production company on Venice Beach is looking for a part-time intern. Ideal candidate is a reliable, friendly, well-organized self starter who is interested in learning. Usual duties include general office tasks, light errands, research, and some reading. This is an unpaid internship, however, a great opportunity to gain exposure to the industry and to learn about development in a supportive, laid back environment. Please, e-mail your resume to jillianS@solarisentertainment.com with the subject line: INTERN POSITION. No phone calls please.

From Rob McCaffrey (MFA 99) “my college is looking for someone to pick up one or two sections of a screenwriting class for the Spring 2008 semester. One of these sections is online, so if any of you are already familiar with online teaching, you don't necessarily have to be in Orlando. Email or call me at work if you're interested: rmccaffrey@valenciacc.edu 407 582-2784”

FSU Screenings & Awards Update November 8, 2007

RUNDOWN (MFA Thesis 2006 – DP Lucie Rouche, Dir. Patrick Alexander and Crew) has been selected for the Student Etudes Competition at this year’s Plus Camerimage Film Festival in Lodz, Poland. Student films will be screened on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, at the City of Lodz The Grand Theatre, Plac Dabrowskiego. The film will be competing in the Student Cinematography division. Awards include the Laszlo Kovacs Student Award – Golden Tadpole, Silver Tadpole or Bronze Tadpole Award. The web link for the festival is www.camerimage.pl/index.php?lang=en=pg=1282 (choose English flag on the top right).

CAMION DE CARGA (BFA Thesis 2006 – Juan Sebastian Jacome & Crew), won 4th Place in the Short Narrative Category and SNIP SNIP (BFA Doc. 2005/05 – Nick Zayas) won 4th Place Documentary, and HIGH CASTING (BFA Doc. 2007 – Justin Lazernik) got Florida Honorable Mention during the 22nd Annual Fort Lauderdale Int'l Film Festival. The awards link for the FLIFF Collegiate Competition sponsored by KODAK is: http://fliff.com/event_details.asp?eventid=196

UPCOMING SCREENINGS AND AWARDS:

CAMION DE CARGA (BFA Thesis – Juan Sebastian Jacome) and INNER SIGHT (MFA 2006 – Erika Bagnarello & Crew) are screening in the International Latino Film Festival – San Francisco Bay Area this week. The Festival runs through November 18th 2007 in San Francisco, Redwood City, San Jose, Marin, Berkley, and San Bruno. For more info go to www.latinofilmfestival.org

CAMION DE CARGA (BFA Thesis 2006 - Juan Sebastian Jacome & Crew) has been accepted into CERO LATITUD, the most important Ecuadorian Film Festival. This is excellent news for Juan, as it is his home country. The festival will be held November 8-18, 2007 and the web site is www.cerolatitud.com/index.php?idC=33

THE STATE OF SUNSHINE (MFA Thesis 2007 - Z. Eric Yang & Crew) just earned director Eric Yang the DGA Student Award Best Asian Short Student Film Award. MIA (F-3 2007 Catherine Rehwinkel & Crew) was given an Honorable Mention in the Women’s category. More details on when the DGA awards will be presented in December will be forthcoming.

Meryl Warren, Director of Alumni
College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts
A3100 University Center, Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2350
850 644 3464 office; 850 644 2626 fax
www.film.fsu.edu