Bayou City Film News

There was so much good footage to choose from last weeks Q&A with Michael Meredith and Laurie Foxx I wish I could post it all. Here's another clip from Saturday mornings screening that I hope you'll enjoy. Edwin

This was a portion of the q&a with writer director Michael Meredith and producer Laurie Foxx from the feature film "The Open Road" starring Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges. The special screening was at Houston's Angelika theater hosted by SWAMP and WIFT-Houston and moderated by Houston Film Commission deputy director Alfred Cervantes. In this clip Meredith talks about filming a scene from a previous film, what it took it get it done and what happen along the way.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Movies Houstonians Love series was designed to bring the public together with notable Houstonians through a shared passion for movies. The experience encourages audiences to see memorable classics in a new light as each presenter introduces a personal favorite. In a new twist, this year’s Movies Houstonians Love: Meals on Reels series focuses on the favorite foodie films of prominent, local chefs and restaurateurs. Presenters will include Marcus Davis (The Breakfast Klub), Irma Galvan (Irma’s), Michael Kramer (Voice), Anita Jaisinghani (Indika), Scott Tycer (Textile), Robert del Grande (RDG, The Grove), Armando Palacios (Armando’s), Charles Clark (Ibiza), and Monica Pope (t’afia). Museum of Fine Arts, Houston P.O. Box 6826, Houston, TX 77265 www.mfah.org

Early signs are good that the incentive is reinvigorating the moving picture industry in Texas. In a recently released report from the Texas Film Commission, over 56 applications arrived on the Commissioner's desk between April 23 and July 20 of this year. These applications cross industry segments in terms of budget and medium. They include feature films, television projects, commercials, and video games amounting to a total Texas spend of $57,261,217 and 2,947 total cast /crew jobs. In addition, two network television series and two major feature films that are not represented in the above figures are in preproduction and are here in Texa largely due to our incentive program. This is great news not only for the individuals and companies working in the industry, but for the communities, vendors, and ancillary businesses which benefit from the dollars coming to the State. We applaud the foresight of our Legislators, Comptroller and Governor in working with the industry to put...

Regretfully the 2009 Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival has been cancelled. Due to the loss of revenue from our friends and sponsors that were affected by Hurricane Ike, all Festival social events have to be cancelled. Our supporters are dedicated to continuing the film festival tradition in 2010, and we look forward to making the 10th Annual Gulf Coast Film Festival an even bigger and better festival. The submitted films and screenplays will still be judged this month and awards presented to the winners. The winners will be notified by email and awards will be forwarded via regular mail. The winners will appear on the official film festival website, and additional promotional initiatives are in the works. Any tickets already purchased for the social events will be honored at the next film festival. Please check our website in January 2010 for details on the 10th Annual Gulf Coast Film Festival. We look forward to seeing you next September. We regret any inconvenience it may hav...

Southwest Alternate Media Project ( SWAMP ) and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts ( TALA ) present the the 5th Annual Business of Film Conference, a day-long event focusing on the business of making movies. This information-packed conference features panels and discussions with professionals from the film, legal and financial worlds that address a wide range of topics - including starting a production company, funding resources, music rights, distribution and much more! BUSINESS OF FILM 2009 SCHEDULE (Subject to Change) 12 Noon Opening Panel: New Trends In Media Law 1:00 pm Break Out Session I Starting an LLC or LLP for your Production Company Taxes: What Every Independent Producer Needs to Know Casting SAG: Beyond the Contract Ask An Attorney 2:00 pm Break Out Session II IndieGoGo.com - Social Networking for Filmmakers Copyright & Licensing for Film, TV and New Media Ask An Attorney Ask an Accountant 3:00 pm Break Out Session III Music Rights (& Wrongs) Distributi...

The 43rd Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film & Video Festival Before there was Sundance or SXSW, before there was Toronto or Tribeca, there was WorldFest! The 1st Film Festival in the South and the 3rd oldest International Film Festival in North America. "WorldFest is in the business of validating excellence!" - Ridley Scott - Grand Remi Winner 1985. "WorldFest changes lives and careers, it is the major Indie competition for North America!" - David Winning - 12 time Remi Winner - Canada. (WorldFest was founded in April, 1961 - as the Cinema Arts Film Society. It became a Competitive International Film Fest in 1968). You can save $5 for each entry and an additional $5 for each additional competition category! Use this special EarlyBird Discount Coupon, mail your entries on/or before November 15th and we will discount your entry. It is really easy to enter WorldFest! Simply visit our website, click on Enter Film Festival at the top grey bar, then click on ...

In this darkly lit video film critic interviews writer director David Pomes. David's film "Cook County" was screened at the Landmark River Oaks Theater last night. In the clip he talks a little bit about how the film's cast was brought together. "Cook County" is a pretty intense family drama that's definately worth seeing. It screens again on Tuesday, August, 25th at LROT.

Join SWAMP and Women in Film & Television - Houston for a special screening of the new feature film "The Open Road" starring Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake. In this heartwarming comedy, minor leaguer Carlton Garret (Justin Timberlake) takes an unexpected road trip to track down his estranged father, legendary baseball player Kyle Garret (Jeff Bridges) when Carlton's mother (Mary Steenburgen) becomes sick. Knowing his charming yet painfully immature dad's likelihood to disappoint, Carlton enlists his on-again-off-again girlfriend Lucy (Kate Mara) for emotional support. Once reunited, Carlton struggles to deal with the series of misadventures caused by his father's antics, including missed flights, car trouble and bathroom brawls. Years of miscommunication, frustration and comically awkward attempts at bonding come to a head as the mismatched trio make their way from Ohio back home to Houston to reunite the family. Q & A with Director Michael Meredith an...

"Cook County" The award winning film written and directed by Houstonion David Pomes, starring Houston natives: Ryan Donowho, Brandon Smith, Yankie Grant, Allison Norman Austinite Gary Chason, and the late-great J.D. Hawkins. Also Anson Mount and Xander Berkley. A film about a rural Texas town dealing with a crystal-meth epidemic. Rave reviews. Dark, haunting, clever and at times funny. Screenings will be August 20 & 25, 2009 at the Landmark River Oaks Theater.