Bayou City Film News

Aurora Picture Show and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, collaborate to present a screening of the film, The BQE, by singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens on Friday, January 8 at 7pm at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Street. An orchestral homage to the architecture of the NYC boroughs and the imposing Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Sufjan Stevens and Reuben Kleiner filmed The BQE on do-it-yourself 16mm film cameras. With animated footage of gridlock and the perpetual motion of choreography, the Koyaanisqatsi-style production utilizes time-lapse photography, in-camera editing, slow motion, and post-production mirror effects to transform the urban blight of traffic into a splendor of graphic compositions. Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter considered a part of the folk revival in indie-pop. Stevens has garnered much interest from the press for his "Fifty States Project", the purpose of which to complete an album about each of the states of the Unite...

I've just learned the casting director Shari Rhodes has died..Rhodes started out in the 1970's with Jo Doster and Liz Keigley. The trios claim to fame was location casting for the Steven Speilberg feature "Jaws"...Here is a link to the story from variety.com...http://bit.ly/6TkSfw 

SWAMP and XL Films invite you to a special one-day technical workshop on the revolutionary RED ONE 4K Digital Camera System. The RED ONE produces images that are 4 times the resolution of the best high-definition video, with the same aesthetically pleasing selective focus, latitude and color resolution as 35mm film, among many other unique features. In this workshop, you'll get a thorough run-through of the RED ONE's capabilities, operations and menus, as well as an overview of the RED all-digital post-production workflow. Please RSVP at swamp@swamp.org . Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010 Time: 10am - 4:30pm Location: Rice University Media Center Presented by XL Films Cost: FREE (must be a current SWAMP member to attend)

Houston—The Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS) will announce their Best of 2009 Film Awards in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Brown Auditorium Theater at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 19. The event showcases the winners of the major acting and production awards selected by the members of the HFCS and will be highlighted by numerous film clips and guest appearances, including G.W. Bailey. Members of the organization will announce the awards in 15 categories. The event is free and open to the public, followed by a reception in the museum galleries. “2009 was a wonderful year for cinema, and as the year comes to a close, it is timely to assess which films will leave a mark on history. As Houston’s film critics unveil their selection, audiences can re-live their favorite theatrical moments and perhaps make some new cinematic discoveries as well,” said MFAH film and video curator Marian Luntz . “MFAH Films is delighted to host the HFCS Film Awards once more.” “The Houston Film Critics S...

Don't miss SPAGHETTI WESTERN II: HOLIDAY HOEDOWN, our Central Texas fundraiser and celebration of our new incentives program, 7pm this Friday at beautiful Star Hill Ranch just outside Austin. It promises to be the shindig of the season for film, television, commercial and video game makers in Central Texas. (Last year’s sold out, so grab your tickets before it's too late!) Your ticket includes: Dinner catered by Ciao Chow; access to the Tito’s Vodka / Sweet Leaf Tea Saloon; wine from Spicewood Vineyards; Shiner Bock and Lone Star beer from Capitol Beverage; Amy’s Ice Creams; a fabulous silent auction (including rental packages from Omega Broadcast, Austin HD and Pro-Tape Systems, tickets to the Long Center and Austin Steam Train, a Smithville getaway and much more); networking with special guests, industry professionals, aficionados and state leaders; and amazing music by THE TINY TIN HEARTS (Winner, Austin Chronicle Sound Wars, and one of Austin's Best New Bands at the 2...

In cooperation with the 13th biennial photography festival FOTOFEST2010 ( http://www.fotofest.org/biennial2010/ ), Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) is extending a challenge to Texas filmmakers to produce a short film exploring the possibilities and challenges of 21st century life with an open call for submissions of short films (10 minutes max) on the theme of "The American Dream 2010: Visions of 21st Century Life in the USA and in all the Americas, from North to South," inspired by FotoFest's focus on Contemporary U.S. Photography. A distinguished panel of jurors will choose the best films from those submitted. Selected shorts will be screened at a special presentation at the prestigious Brown Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Sunday, April 18, 2010 and receive a variety of special prizes. In addition, shorts will be considered for inclusion in the 34th season of THE TERRITORY (2010-11), SWAMP's short film showcase series broadcast on Texas P...

Join us at Dean's on Thursday December 3rd for our first ever ShortFilm Slam! Bring your 10 minute or under short film and have itscreened with your friends and others in the filmmaker audience. Therehas to be a few Rules (see link), but it should be fun andentertaining! There is no prize but as a "Film Slam", the audience canvote with their applause or jeers...but all in good fun! The firstThursdays short film evening is always a great networking opportunityor simply a chance to get together with or meet new filmmakers andcreative people. This FREE evening is not to be missed because youwon't get to see these film anywhere else! Please arrive early,screening begins promptly at 9:00PMish. http://www.houstonfilmcommission.com/firstthursdays/

If you're one of the many filmmakers anxiously waiting for word on your lucky festival break, don't worry! You still have time to submit your film to SXSW! It's easy - simply head to our submissions page , follow the instructions and get that screener in the mail to SXSW HQ. Features are $60 and shorts $40 until this Thursday, December 3. That's right - 3 days, so get on it! Don't forget, you can also enter the SXSW Title Sequence Design Competition until Friday, December 11. Even if you're not submitting your film, your Title Sequence is still eligible. It's only $10 to submit, so head here for more info!

http://www.brettchisholm.com

"Electric Purgatory: The Fate Of the Black Rocker" Electric Purgatory is a documentary that examines the struggles of black rock musicians and the industry's ambivalence towards them. Houston director Raymond Gayle spent the better part of a year traveling around the United States interviewing many of Black Rock's elite including Fishbone, Vernon Reid, Adam Falcon, Jimi Hazel and Cody Chesnutt. Distinguished journalists such as Flip Barnes, Darrell McNeil, Charlie Braxton, and Greg Tate, share their opinions and insight on the dilemma facing these artists. The film will explore the origins of the Black Rock Coalition and its relevance in the music industry. The project will also take a look at the stigma Black Rock musicians face in the Black community and more importantly how to bring the Black audiences back into the fold.For more information, go to http://www.domystore.com/houston/htx_invites/electric_purgatory.html Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Domy Books, Housto...

Just heard from Thomas Bickham who told me tour tour for local feature "Cook County" recently ended in Jerusalem and that they will be holding off on things until after the nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards. The hope is that if nominated it would better there chances at a distribution deal. There keeping their fingers crossed and so are we. I'll keep you posted on hold things go.

Special Advance Screening of Houstonian director Wes Anderson´s New Film! MFAH Films & Houston Cinema Arts Society invite you and a guest to see Fantastic Mr. Fox is visionary director Wes Anderson´s first animated film, utilizing classic handmade stop motion techniques to tell the story of the best selling children´s book by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach). Mr. and Mrs. Fox (George Clooney and Meryl Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristofferson (Eric Anderson). But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr. Fox´s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean - who are determi...

Thoroughly Modern Millie is a high-spirited musical romp that has all of New York dancing the Charleston. It's the zany 1920's musical that has taken Broadway by storm! Taking place in New York City in 1922, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of young Millie Dillmount, who has just moved to the city in search of a new life for herself. It's a New York full of intrigue and jazz - a time when women were entering the workforce and the rules of love and social behavior were changing forever. Based on the popular movie, the stage version of Thoroughly Modern Millie includes a full score of new songs and bright dance numbers. Filled with frisky flappers, dashing leading men and a dragon-lady of a villainess audiences will love to hate, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a perfectly constructed evening of madcap merriment. And with the role of Millie Dillmount, musical theatre has found a new heroine for the ages in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Can't wait to see you at the sho...

The Texas Motion Picture Alliance cordially invites you to our Second Annual Central Texas Fundraiser, SPAGHETTI WESTERN, on Friday, December 11 at the beautiful Star Hill Ranch (starhillranch.com) in Bee Cave just 25 minutes from downtown Austin. It promises to once again be the biggest party of the year for film, television, commercial and video game makers in our region, and will include a seated dinner, silent auction, live music from The Tiny Tin Hearts and Erik Larson & Peacemaker, and more. Join hundreds of industry professionals, friends, fans and state leaders for more fun than you can shake a stick at.If you have already made your reservations, they will be held over to the December event. For more information, contact Paul Alvarado Dykstra at paul@perchance.com or (512) 385-9697.

ABOUT THE FILM Once the animatronic entertainment at Showbiz Pizza, The Rock-afire Explosion faded into obscurity in the late 1980s. But thanks to YouTube, they're back and hotter than ever! In this funny and touching documentary, Houston filmmakers Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason explore the cult following that's keeping these robot rockers alive today. http://www.rockafiremovie.com/ ABOUT THE SCREENING Join SWAMP and The Orange Show for a special screening of "Rockafire Explosion" on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 7:00pm. The event will take place at the famous Orange Show Monument and will include pizza, beer and whole lotta 80's nostalgia. Filmmakers Brett Whitcomb and Bradford Thomason will participate in a Q & A following the film screening. But that's just the beginning! After the screening, stick around and rock out with Houston's own Wayside Drive Friday, December 4, 2009 Doors: 7pm / Screening begins 8pm Tickets: $10 at the door The Orange...

Dear Friends, It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the Fourth annual SNAPshots Celebration and Fashion Show! I hope that you will join me in becoming a part of the solution to the animal overpopulation crisis in Houston by attending this fabulous party! All of the proceeds from the event will benefit SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, inc.) This year, our event is taking place at the WINTER STREET STUDIOS outside of Downtown Houston. Information about the location can be found here . The stellar fashion show will be produced by Élan Raichle Rogers of Élan Styles and FashionHouston.com and feature the work of Internationally acclaimed designer Billy Reid, Project Runway winner Chloe Dao, and Houston based designer Tonshea Yvonne. Strutting their stuff down the runway and showcasing key pieces from these collections throughout the venue will be top models from Houston's premiere fashion agency Neal Hamil Models . The event also will feature a huge silent auction and a...

November 13 - 15, 2009 Open to the public! Cinema Arts Festival Headquarters Alabama Theater 2922 South Shepherd Houston, TX 77098

MFA-Houston hosted the final screening for the 2009 Texas Filmmakers Showcase. Tonights screening started with film curator Marian Luntz addressing the audience followed by the Deputy Director of the Houston Film Commission, Alfred Cervantes then ended with a Q&A featuring Houston filmmakers Travis Johns and Van Blumreich talking about their projects.

Monday - 6 to 8 PM COME TO THE BOOK & MOVIE SWAP Cinema Arts Festival Houston Headquarters 2922 S. Shepherd at W. Alabama - Houston 77098

Dear SWAMP Members and Supporters, We are very excited to be collaborating with the Houston Cinema Arts Society for the 2009 Cinema Arts Festival Houston taking place November 11 - 15, 2009. This is the inaugural year for the festival, and SWAMP was honored to be asked to participate by sponsoring educational programs - including panels with distinguished writers, filmmakers and artists as well as a workshop on art direction called "Setting the Scene" (co-sponsored by Women in Film and Television - Houston and the Houston Film Commission). This event is going to be a wonderful opportunity to showcase not only a number of incredible films you won't see anywhere else, but also our community at large. Many months of planning, preparation and collaboration have been put into making this festival happen. But all the planning in the world won't make it a success. Only YOU can do that! Having a festival of this caliber in Houston will only help our local film community ...

The video or short film works of 10 artists is featured in the H BOX screening device, designed by Didier Fiuza Faustino, a Portuguese/French architect based in Paris. He designed H Box to literally next the moving images in their own setting. The state-of-the-art playback equipment was designed to offer the highest quality of image and sound, providing artists an original venue for their work while guaranteeing an uncompromised presentation to the audience. H Box features a rotating, diverse program of videos by ten internationally renowned artists. All these works were produced over the course of the past three eyars as part of the ongoing H Box commissioning program, a project of the Foundation d'entreprise Hermes started in 2006. H BOX VIEWING NOW OPEN AT FESTIVAL HEADQUARTERS at the historic Alabama Theatre 2922 South Shepherd, Houston 77098 Admission to H Box is Free! Hours: Wed, Thurs, Fri: 1pm - 6pm Sat and Sun: 11am - 6pm Closed on Monday and Tuesday

The Earlybird discount deadline is November 15th, 2009 and the main entry dealine is a month later on December 15th, 2009. For all of Worldfest-Houston information visit http://www.worldfest.org/indexb.html

An experiment in starvation. Hunger is a dark exploration into the breakdown of humanity. How far would you go to survive in the most extreme of circumstances? Five strangers awaken to find themselves trapped in an underground dungeon. They soon realize they are the subjects of one man’s sadistic experiment to test the depths of a human being’s will to survive. As the days go by with no means of escape, their hunger increases as their humanity fades away. Houstonian Steven Hentges feature film is currently screening at the Austin Film Festival.