Bayou City Film News

Tuesday, June 30, 2009, Austin, Texas: On Saturday, June 27, members of Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) convened at Texas State University in San Marcos for their Annual Meeting. Presiding over the meeting was Don Stokes, the third president to lead the young organization. Stokes recognized and celebrated TXMPA’s role, and industry-wide cooperation, in attaining the passage House Bill 873, a measure improving upon Texas’ Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. “This bill was the result of a collaborative effort between our cohesive, statewide alliance, our lobbyists HillCo Partners, and key allies like Representative Dawna Dukes, Senator Bob Deuell, Governor Rick Perry, Comptroller Susan Combs, and the staff at the Texas Film Commission,” said Stokes. “This meeting allows us a moment to reflect on our achievement and to prepare for growth our industry will experience as a result of our successes at the Capitol.” The meeting included the announcement of election results to repla...

PACKAGING AND MARKETING YOUR FILM How you package your film's dvd plays a big part in how well it sells - whether your marketplace is online, in the video store or both. With a growing number of independent filmmakers self-distributing their films, the need for quality packaging is more important than ever. Disc Makers, Inc. offers filmmakers the tools to create, sell and promote their dvds without breaking their budgets. Come learn more at this free salon, and meet Ryan Harris, the local rep for Disc Makers. You may even get a special offer or two!Topics of Discussion Include:1. Replication vs. Duplication2. A description of acceptable packaging types3. Disc Makers Marketing Tips4. Independent Film Distribution For more information about Discmakers and the variety of services they offer, go to http://www.discmakers.com/ . NEW LOCATION! Visual Interactive Dynamics ( map ) 8400 Westglen Dr.Houston, Texas 77063 713-339-4600 6:30PM - Mix, Mingle and Munch7:00PM - Presentation by Ryan ...

The Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival is announcing their call for entries for this year's films. They are also pleased to announce a category for Scripts and Sreenplays. Dates for both categories are open for submissions from February 23rd thru May 1st, 2009. Late entries (subject to Late Fees) will be from May 2nd and due to many requests has been extended to being accepted until July 24th. Scheduled to attend this year's Festival is Jon Lovitz. For additional information visit their website @ http://www.gulfcoastfilmfest.com/

Scott Thurman's film "Smokey" takes an intimate look at Smokey Binion, Jr. of Stinnett, Texas. Employee of the city by day, on his off time Smokey provides Elvis impersonation performances across the Panhandle of Texas.

Message from the President I hope all of you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting in San Marcos this Saturday, June 27. It provides a venue to come together in person, get to know one another better, bond and create a unified team to carry our mission forward. This year's Annual Meeting will take place in the Theatre Center at Texas State University. Check-in will take place from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Prior to the Annual Meeting, beginning at 10:30am, the Industry Board seat for Producers will be selected in their caucus. During the Annual Meeting, a vote will be taken to amend TXMPA's by-laws to add the new Animation/Game/Visual Effects permanent seat to the Board. Should the vote pass, a caucus will take place to elect this representative. It is vital that members from these two disciplines take advantage of this opportunity to come to San Marcos to meet with fellow industry members from all across the State and participate in these elections. It is important to have strong ...

As all of you have probably heard by now former Corpus Christi native and Hollywood icon Farrah Fawcett has passed away after bravely fighting cancer for the past several years. My hearts and prayers go out to the Fawcett family during their time of mourning. Best known for being one of the original Charlie's Angels along with Kate Jackson as well as Texas native Jaclyn Smith. Fawcett also starred in many motion pictures and lets not forget that poster where she was regarded as one of the hottest pin-ups in the 70's....A true angel has returned to heaven.

Meet the At-Large Candidates Online Voting Begins Monday for all paid-up TXMPA Members Craig Berlin After two years on hiatus, I am running for an At-Large seat on the TXMPA Board of Directors once again in order to continue the momentum we established with our victory during this Legislative Session and further the effort to help the TXMPA evolve into a well-funded year-round advocate for film, video and video game production in Texas. It is imperative that we continue to raise money, communicate with members and prospective members to keep everyone involved, as well as build our marketing and infrastructure to establish Texas as THE place to produce. As a Founding Board Member of TXMPA, I spearheaded the initial campaign and we raised over $100,000 in our first year. In each legislative session I have led a team and the legislators visited have a voting record of 100% FOR our legislation including several co-sponsors. For the past two years I have regularly attended and spoken to...

Film Camp July 6-17 10:00-4:00 showcase July 24th WANT TO DIRECT? WANT TO WRITE FOR FILM/TV? WANT TO ACT FOR THE CAMERA?In this camp young film makers get to create a short film and premier it for their family, friends, cast and crew. HADA offers an integrated program of both production and acting. Student film makers will learn to tell a clear story with a beginning, middle and end. Students will have hands on classes in directing, writing, cinematography and production to cover the creative and technical demands of telling a story with moving images. Each student is placed into a small production crew under the supervision and guidance of their instructor. Students will develop creative skills while having tons of fun! For more information or to sign up for classes call 713-316-9800 or click on the hyperlink below!!!

Texas Film Commission Director Bob Hudgins addresses members of Houston's film community on the state revised production incentive program. SWAMP, Southwest Alternative Media Project hosted the event on Wednesday night at Rice University's media center. This is raw video footage so the camera's a little shakey.

FILM HOUSTON How to Receive Funding through the NEW Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program A Special Presentation with Bob Hudgins, Director of the Texas Film Commission Sponsored by The Houston Film Commission and SWAMP When: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 @ 7PM Where: Rice University Media Center, Houston, TX On April 23, 2009, Governor Rick Perry signed HB 873 which established a new and improved incentive program for the film, media and gaming industries in Texas. This new bill increases the amount of funding productions can receive and lowers the minimum budgetary requirements so that local productions, such as commercials, industrials and even independent films, can apply. Want to learn more? Join SWAMP and the Houston Film Commission on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 7pm at Rice University Media Center for an informational meeting with Bob Hudgins, Director of the Texas Film Commission. Bob will discuss the new incentive program with local producers and answer questions about ...

Austin native Ben McKenzie talks about his current television series Southland with Jimmy Kimmel. McKenzie also starred in the television series the OC.

Congrats to the winners of the 2009 Texas Filmmakers Showcase. This year seven Texas Filmmakers will have their work screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 26th, 2009. Color By Number - Marshall Rimmer, Austin TX Fury - Van Blumreich, Houston TX Skip and Lester: Here's The Stapler If You Need It - Lance Myers, Austin TX It's For Her - Travis Johns, Houston TX My Mom Smokes Weed - Clay Liford, Dallas TX Quarter To Noon - Kat Candler, Austin TX Smokey - Scott Thurman, Denton TX The Texas Filmmaker's Showcase is a special screening event consisting of the best of Texas short films and videos under 45 minutes in length, presented to studio executives, agents and producers in the Hollywood film community. The filmmakers whose projects are selected to participate will be flown from Texas to Los Angeles and provided with an evening's accomodation and transportation to and from the screening. The screening is accompanied by a reception where filmmakers and industry p...

Young actors will dive into theatre in the two-week camp where they work on acting, improvisation, stage-make-up, stage combat and production. Students explore all the moving parts which make a theatrical production come alive. Actors are involved in a working production which includes, writing, costumes, lighting, sound and set design. Actors will leave camp with self-assurance while developing an appreciation for being a part of a team! Theatre Summer Camp June 15-26 Just a few spots left! Call today 713-316-9800 or click on the hyperlink below!!

It is my extreme pleasure to report a very successful legislative session for the moving image industry. TXMPA has played an integral roll in the passage of HB 873 which created our enhanced and flexible incentive program as well as HB 2521 which creates guidelines for preferred vendor status for Texas based companies in producing media-related services for the State and SB 1929 which creates media production development zones which encourages the creation and development of production infrastructure like sound stages. Of equal importance, our full funding request of $62 million dollars for HB 873 was passed by both the House and Senate. Congratulations to all of you who assisted in these achievements. None of this would have been possible without our industry coming together and speaking with a singular voice. Thanks again to all of you who participated in Lobby Day and spoke as witnesses in the various committee hearings. We also owe thanks to our friends at HillCo Partners who lobbi...