Press Release: New York, NY - June 18, 2008 - IFC Films has acquired worldwide rights to writer-director Barry Jenkins’ (BFA 03)romantic drama, Medicine for Melancholy. The film, which is the feature film debut for Jenkins, is in competition at this week’s LA Film Festival and will premiere on Friday June 20th, with additional screenings on Monday, June 23rd and Tuesday, June 24th. IFC plans to release Medicine for Melancholy will be released in 2009 through IFC in Theaters, IFC Films’ day and date distribution platform which makes independent films available in theaters and on-demand, simultaneously. "Medicine for Melancholy is one of the great American discoveries of the year," said Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment. "Barry Jenkins has delivered an intelligent, heartfelt and often funny universal love story and introduced two brilliant performers to the feature film world-Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins. The film will not only inspire and ignite great discussions among the African- American community, but is sure to engage audiences across the globe."

Medicine for Melancholy is a love story about a one-night stand told through two African-American twenty-somethings dealing with issues of class, identity, and the evolving conundrum of being a minority in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco- a city with the smallest proportional black population of any other major American City. When Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo’(Tracey Heggins) stumble into the brightness of a sunny San Francisco day after a hook-up, Jo’ can’t wait to escape the uncomfortable silence, but a shared cab ride and a lost wallet soon bring a well-intentioned Micah to her front door. As caution turns to curiosity, the young couple sets off on a romantic ramble through eclectic neighborhoods and their own lives as they swap views on everything from the meaning of blackness to letting go of heartbreak. Filmed entirely in San Francisco, Medicine for Melancholy stars Wyatt Cenac as Micah and Tracey Heggins as Jo’. Cenac is an accomplished writer and actor whose credits include the classic television comedy series King of the Hill. Currently, he appears as a correspondent on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. Heggins has appeared in several television shows and series throughout her acting career and Medicine for Melancholy marks her first leading role in a feature film.

Jenkins began his career as a director’s assistant for Harpo Films and his most recent work includes two short films which he wrote and directed in 2003, Little Brown Boy and My Josephine. Since its premiere in March 2008 at the SXSW Film Festival, Medicine for Melancholy has garnered two prestigious awards including the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and the Special Jury Award for Cinematography given to James Laxton (BFA 03) at the Sarasota Film Festival. Medicine for Melancholy was written and directed by Jenkins and produced by Justin Barber (BFA 04) and Cherie Saulter (BFA 06).”

Missy Carter (MFA 96) is Executive Producer/Writer for a pilot called "Mistresses." Beth Brandon (MFA 06) is working as her assistant.

Stuart Robertson, former Film School faculty member, will be here this weekend to do the special effects for a project being shot by Rex Metz, our Film School cinematographer and MFA 2 students David Wiley, Nathan Levine-Heaney, Ben Bumgarner and Alicia Dean. The head of the Dance Department has an original dance piece and Stuart wants to try out a new visual effect.

From Brandi Bradburn Holland (MFA 97) “Dan is editing on "Cold Case" this season and because of the screwy schedule courtesy, the writer's strike, he is editing the season premiere right now. He'll enjoy a short hiatus in July, though, and be back on after that, until May. Dan and I have been co-editing in the feature world, and the comedy we cut last year, "Frankenhood", with Charlie Murphy will be released through Lionsgate next month.
We are now finishing up on a romantic comedy, "Pizza With Bullets", starring Talia Shire and Vincent Pastore, among others. Emma Jean and Henry are doing absolutely fantastic and we are about to celebrate Henry's 1st birthday at the end of the month.”

From Mike Moragne (BFA 04) “I started working at Nickolodean about 2 months ago. I'm a P.A. on a Nick Jr. show called Ni Hao, Kai-lan. It premiered in February and it got picked up for season 2 when I started which is what I'm working on now. It's a lot of fun, I love working there. It's probably been the best job I have ever had!”

From Matt Hartwell (BFA 07) “"Hartwell here: Just moved from New York to Pittsburgh at the beginning of the Summer. Got a job with Blackberry Studios working as a sound recordist and more importantly to me, a VO artist. Just doing commercials and college textbook lesson podcasts for now, but with enough talking about the Great Gatsby, I'll definitely have a fatter reel than before. The studio's expanding at a rapid rate, and it's an exciting time to be there!"

Jim Lakin (BFA 01) is currently doing production sound sound on a feature with Britney Murphy and Thora Birch. The film is written and directed by Sean McConville and is titled "The Deadline." They're shooting on super 35mm about 40 miles outside of New Orleans on a plantation. They did additional days in Baton Rouge and on process trailers, but will be finishing the film in LA.

From Nicole Emanuele (BFA 06) “I'm working as an assistant at Cinetic Media. I work with Robert H. Nathan( a partner at Cinetic) and Matt Littin ( the head of single picture financing and international sales). It's going well so far and I'm learning a lot about how projects are put together. We are starting a new digital film sales company called Cinetic Rights Management, there was a write up in the New York Times a week or two ago here is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/media/25steal.html?scp=2&sq=Cinetic+Rights&st=nyt <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/media/25steal.html?scp=2&amp;sq=Cinetic+Rights&amp;st=nyt> <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/media/25steal.html?scp=2&amp;sq=Cinetic+Rights&amp;st=nyt <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/media/25steal.html?scp=2&amp;sq=Cinetic+Rights&amp;st=nyt> > <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/media/25steal.html?scp=2&amp;sq=Cinetic+Rights&amp;st=nyt <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/media/25steal.html?scp=2&amp;sq=Cinetic+Rights&amp;st=nyt> > .
So If you are struggling to find theatrical or ancillary distribution, we can help you find a home online. Feel free to give FSU alums my contact info if you are interested.” (If you want to contact Nicole, contact me and I’ll give you her contact info.)

Heads-up --- the FSU Film School will be looking for someone to fill the position of Post-Production Specialist. Start date will be in August 08. Position requires someone who is qualified to provide technical instruction to graduate and undergraduate students on various aspects of picture editing, sound editing and sound design and on operational procedures for video and audio editing platforms and post-production platforms. Position also requires supervision of audio recording sessions for dialogue, sound effects and music. Official advertisement for the position will be posted on the FSU Human Resources website with a complete description of duties and qualifications by June 24, 2008. Application for the position can be made on-line at https://jobs.fsu.edu beginning June 24th; search for Post-Production Specialist, position #25227. Call Linda at 850-644-8747 for additional information.

The Reach Film Fellowship is a Cinereach granting program supporting East Coast undergraduate filmmakers producing socially relevant work. Applicants submit treatments for short narrative or documentary films dealing with an array of diverse issues, from Palestinian land rights to bullying in schools. Four winners are awarded $5000, mentorship, support from Reach Film Fellowship sponsors and are advised by the likes of Albert Maysles and Rachel Grady through the production process. Cinereach will fly winners to New York City for periodic group and mentor meetings. Once completed, the films are premiered in New York and celebrated at the event Reach Out. Last year's event was held at the Gramercy Park Hotel, hosted by Mira Nair, and the filmmakers received coverage from Hollywood Reporter, NYmag.com, Filmmaker Magazine, The Huffington Post, indieWIRE, and more. For more information or to apply visit us online at www.thereachfilmfellowship.com or visit our facebook page - The Reach Film Fellowship.

This week with the Tallahassee Film Society: This Friday/Saturday at All Saints - "Love Songs" "The Yearling" - Museum of Florida History This Thursday, June 19th! "Blue Blood" - Coming Saturday, June 28 to All Saints Theatre A La Carte presents "A Little Night Music" For complete information go to tallahasseefilms.com

From Jesse O’Shea: “I have headed up a organization on campus that is rising quickly and is going public in the fall. The FSU United Way Student Association is starting its marketing campaign: Live United-- and we need help with creating a 30 second commercial, a 15 second commercial, and perhaps a longer video peice for our campaign videos. If you know anyone who would be interested in helping or if you would be I can show you the sample video for the commericial framework that the United Way of the Big Bend has given us-- it seems basic. Let me know! We need connections with people that are in communcations and the film school, and unfortuately although we have the most prominent student leaders like the SGA president, we don't have the basic elements for success! Let me know if you guys can help me find someone or any help at all. It wouldn't be a difficult project and it would be good for someone’s portfolio. Jesse O'Shea jgo07@fsu.edu <mailto:jgo07@fsu.edu> ”

FROM THE FSU MAILING LIST

From Brandi Bradburn Holland: The following was sent to me... please email me if you are interested Brandi Bradburn Holland <brandiaj@yahoo.com>. Begin forwarded message: Dear Fellow ACE Members, I have been approached to edit an independent film project in the skateboarding genre with a spiritual base. I have been asked to look for an Avid system at a very low cost and an assistant editor /intern willing to work for experience only.”

FSU FILM SCREENINGS AND AWARDS UPDATE – June 19, 2008

THE WALL (MFA D-3 2007 – Michael Lloyd Green & Crew) has been accepted for screening at the Rhode Island Film Festival (RIFF) August 5-10, 2008. Go to www.film-festival.org <http://www.film-festival.org> for more information.

TOUGH CROWD (MFA D-3 2007 – Iman K. Zawahry & Crew) has been accepted into the DC Shorts Film Festival to be held in Washington DC September 11-18, 2008. For more go to www.dcshorts.com

HOPE (MFA D-3 2007 – Atiya Wheelings & Crew) has been accepted into the 10th Annual Roxbury Film Festival. The festival will be held July 28-August 3, 2008, in Boston, Massachusetts. Feature-length films, shorts, and documentaries will be screened at four locations along Boston’s Huntington Avenue. A full schedule will be online at www.roxburyfilmfestial.org <http://www.roxburyfilmfestial.org> <http://www.roxburyfilmfestial.org/ <http://www.roxburyfilmfestial.org/> by July 14th. 2008.

UPCOMING SCREENINGS AND AWARDS:

PROMBIES (MFA D-2 Frederick Snyder & Crew) will be screening June 30 at the Space4Shorts Festival in the U.K. THE CARESS OF THE CREATURE is also screening in that festival as well.
THE STATE OF SUNSHINE (MFA Thesis 2007 – Z. Eric Yang & Crew) has been accepted for Festival being held July 10-19, 2008 in New York. For more information on the festival go to www.asiancinevision.org

THE WALL (MFA D-3 Michael Green & Crew) has been accepted to screen at 2008 Stony Brook Film Festival. The film will be screened on Friday, July 18 at 7:00 pm . Go to stonybrookfilmfestival.com or call (631) 632-7235 for more information on this festival.

MORNING GLORY (BFA F-3 Nicole Emanuele & Crew) was accepted to The Baltimore Women's Film Festival for October, 2008. Check out the Baltimore Women's Film Festival website for more details at www.bwfilmfestival.com <http://www.bwfilmfestival.com>

Meryl Warren, Director of Alumni
College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts
A3100 University Center, Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2350
850 524 0063; 850 644 2626 fax
www.film.fsu.edu