July 7th, 6:30 pm at The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio, 8th graders from Albany Prep Charter School show off their filmmaking skills in short films they wrote, directed, acted in and edited. They were part of the film program that Kevin Craig West taught during the school year to 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Albany Prep. “With only 20 classes at 50 minutes per class, the students accomplished more than many are able to in some of the 24 and 48 hour film competitions I’ve been to.” The films screened in June at the Spectrum 8 Theatres in Albany. The audience choice films will screen at the July UI meeting.

Also…

Jed Mills will give a presentation. Jed is a recipient of the LOS ANGELES DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD, DRAMA LOGUE and L.A. WEEKLY AWARDS for his portrayal of a Cerebral Palsy victim in the highly acclaimed play “CREEPS’’ as well as two each L.A. WEEKLY and DRAMA LOGUE AWARDS and an OBIE AWARD (in NY) for his work in the critically acclaimed Improvisation Theater Co. “WAR BABIES”.

A veteran of scores of guest starring roles on Television as well as several specials on HBO and the A&E Channel, he was a regular on the TV series “EASY DOES IT”. His Films include Martin Scorsese’s CASINO, plus OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, MY FAVORITE YEAR, and many more.

Jed has recently completed a role in a new picture called, “”PARTNER’S MEETING’’ which he co-wrote. He also played the role of an emcee/comedian in “THE COCK AND BULL STORY” written and directed by Billy Hayes. (Mr. Hayes is the author of the book “Midnight Express” which was made into the critically acclaimed film of the same name).

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Jed has appeared in scores of stage productions in NY, LA and in regional stages on both coasts. He has directed several plays in LA and has recently made his New York directorial debut, with an Off-Off Broadway offering of an original production; “Howya doin’, Frankie Banana’’, hopefully to be produced in LA and Jed has plans to direct the film version.

Jed has been teaching acting for more than thirty years. His extensive credits include:

1971 to Present - Los Angeles-New York: Independently producing and conducting professional acting workshops and classes to aspiring and professional actors. These include weekly classes and three- to five-day intensives, bringing actors to an excellent level of ability and ready to give an improvised performance at the culmination of the intensive.

2003 to 2006 – Los Angeles Community College:

Improvisational theatre techniques to actors and others: ecclectic persons just interested in having fun and wanting to communicate with the world and everyone they know and meet, in a greater way, parents, spouses, doctors, execs, etc. Learning to listen, the key element!

1986 to 2005 - Screen Actors Guild Conservatory.

Improvisational Theater Techniques to professional actors of TV and film.

1998-2001 guest teacher at Chapman University film dept. to Professor Larry Kostroff’s film directors class.

1984-86 - The Academy of Performing and Visual Art at UCLA.

Conducted ongoing acting classes for high school students culminating with an end of term production.

1974 - Harvard University: Summer guest stint conducting improvisation workshop under Professor/Animator Derek Lamb. (Prof. Lamd did the animation for PBS’s “Mystery Theater”)

Jed has worked with many Los Angeles casting directors as a regular part of their programs to train actors in different venues, i.e., TV commercials, soap operas, sit com, stage and films. All requiring somewhat varied techniques.

Come join some of the leading filmmakers, writers and actors in the Capital Region for a series of lectures about the arts that contribute to making film.

All lectures will take place at The Linda - WAMC’s Performing Arts Theater. Presentations will run from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the dates listed below and will cover the following subjects:

• John Holser will discuss Directing Basics and Lighting, Monday 6/15 & Tuesday 6/16
• Mike Camoin and Tom Mercer will discuss The Role of the Producer & Important Components Needed During the Filmmaking Process, on Wednesday 6/17 and the following Wednesday 6/24
• David Bunce will present The Three Act Structure and Other Writing Tools (Outline, Re-Write, Treatments, Synopsis, Logline, etc.), Monday 6/22 and Friday, 6/26
• David Bunce and Yvonne Perry will present Acting Basics and Improvisation, Monday 6/29 and Tuesday 6/30.

Fees for each 2-night lecture will be $25 for Upstate Independents members and $30 for non-members.

Payments must be in cash or check and paid at the door.

Conversation with Kathleen Carroll

Kathleen Carroll is the former chief film critic of the New York Daily News, (1962-1992). She’ll talk with UI about her long career in film criticism and her meetings with Francois Truffaut, Michelangelo Antonioni, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood and others in the film world. In that job she covered numerous film festivals and co-produced the ITV documentary, Diary of the Cannes Film Festival. She has served on the juries of the Berlin, Montreal and Santa Barbara Film Festivals and is a featured programmer (along with Roger Ebert and Richard Corliss) of the Floating Film Festival. A three time chairperson of the New York Film Critics Circle, she has taught film at New York University and St. John’s University. She has also written for numerous publications, including Premiere magazine. She is both the co-founder and the artistic director of the Lake Placid Film Festival.

ALBANY, N.Y. – CAPITAL REGION NATIVES AND RENOWNED FILM MAKERS, THE JERMANOK BROTHERS, HOST ONE DAY CREATIVE WORKSHOP
Renowned Schenectady natives & filmmakers, The Jermanok Brothers (“Passionada”, “Em”), will present a one-day workshop entitled, “The Real Scoop: How to Make A Living Creatively!” from 10am-5pm at The Linda Norris Auditorium in Albany, NY on Saturday, April 25th.

Tickets are only $89 for UI members and $99 for the Capital Region (a genuine $250 value) and this price includes screening and Q & A of their hit film, “Passionada” which follows at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at The Linda on-line at http://www.wamcarts.org/index.html or by phone at 518-465-5233 ext. 4.

The program is a thorough one-day workshop for actors, writers, directors, singers, comedians, musicians and artists. It’s a bottom line and insider’s approach to doing what one needs to do to make a living creatively. It could save one many, many years. And put you on the road to building a real creative career… with a dose of serious motivation.

Using their real-life experiences, the Jermanok Brothers will cover: refining your artistic craft; promoting and marketing yourself; learning and resourcing what you need to know; finding and selling to the buyers; effective networking; and pitching yourself. While there, attendees will also have the opportunity to give the Jermanok’s a 3-5 minute personal pitch.

Award-winning Writer, Director and Producer in film and theater and Schenectady’s own Linton High graduate, Jim Jermanok draws from his current experience as an active filmmaker, and from his prior professional background as an Agent at America’s biggest talent agency, International Creative Management. While at ICM, Jim was privy to understanding how actors, singers, comedians, musicians, writers, directors and producers succeeded. He learned what qualities they had in common in contrast to the majority of creative folks who fail to make a living in their chosen field. At ICM, Jim represented and nurtured the careers of: Alan Arkin, Helen Hayes, Burt Lancaster, Shirley MacLaine, Arthur Miller, Dudley Moore, Harry Reasoner, Andy Rooney, and Henry Winkler, among others.

Jim will be joined by his very accomplished brother, Stephen Jermanok, a working Screenwriter, Journalist and Author. Stephen Jermanok has explored more than sixty countries and written hundreds of articles on a broad range of subjects, from art to adventure. He writes regularly for The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, Art & Antiques, Forbes, Outside, Yankee Magazine, Travel & Leisure, and Town & Country. Steve is also the author of New England Seacoast Adventures and Outside Magazine’s Adventure Guide to New England, among other titles.

Together, The Jermanok Brothers wrote and produced the highly acclaimed romantic comedy, “Passionada” (Sofia Milos, Emmy Rossum, Jason Isaacs, Seymour Cassel, Theresa Russell) which was released in over 100 cities nationwide, including the Spectrum in Albany. It was later released by Columbia Tri Star in over 150 countries. Jim recently produced “Em” a compelling romantic drama. “Em” recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival and The Criterion Collection’s International Inspiration Award. He is currently directing “Agganis” a feature documentary about Harry Agganis, the legendary New England athlete of years past.

On Tuesday, April 7th 2009, Upstate Independents, the largest independent film society in the Upstate region, will held its Annual Spring Gala at The Linda: WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio. The elite of the Upstate film world celebrated in an evening of cocktails, entertainment and honored the shining stars in the indie film world. This year UI  honored Calliope Nicholas, Director of Film Columbia Film Festival and Oscar nominated actress, Melissa Leo. Nicholas and Leo received Upstate Independents’ VN Spirit Award, named for long-time UI supporter Vicki Ngirailemesang. The event was hosted by award winning radio/television/web content producer, Mary Darcy and News Channel 13’s Benita Zahn.

The finest cuisine from the Capital Region’s most prominent restaurants ws enjoyed by all. It was a magical night for producers, writers, directors, cinematographers, actors, musicians and dilettantes in the local filmmaking scene.

The event featured an excerpted screenplay reading through Upstate Independents’ Movies WithOut Pictures program, as well as a showing of clips by Mike Feurstein, Justin Maine and John Yost. A live auction with famed auctioneer, Barry Cherwin, raised money for U.I. programs.

Formed more than 10 years ago, Upstate Independents is an organization of more than 200 local filmmakers who regularly screen each other’s work and collaborate on a wide variety of productions. It is a resource for aspiring young talent, as well as more established filmmakers. In addition to fostering local productions and developing scripts, the group meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio.

Thank you for sharing a wonderful evening with us.

2007 UI Gala Photos

Movies WithOut Pictures rehearsals for Hell’s Acres, a community event including actors from Upstate Independents, Action and Walking the Dog as well as actors from New York City and New Jersey, are underway at Space 360 at 360 Warren St., Hudson NY!

Come and see these actors at the reading of Hell’s Acres
on March 2nd at 7:00 at Time and Space Limited
434 Columbia St,. Hudson, NY.

Movies WithOut Pictures for Upstate Independents presents the Screenplay reading of Hell’s Acres on March 2, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Time Space Limited 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY. Hell’s Acres is set in the mid-19th century, complete with horse thieves, thugs, murders, and innocent farmers. Sound like the Wild West? It’s the “Wild East!”

Join us for an evening of this historical drama based on the events of 1853, in the no-man’s land of Boston Corners.

The Screenwriters Forum will meet next Thursday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Women’s Building, 79 Central Ave. in Albany. The Screenwriters Forum is a place for writers to workshop and get constructive feedback on their scripts. Everyone is welcome regardless of experience.

Also, for our May 14 meeting, we’ll have a special guest: Sheila Curran Bernard, who’s an Emmy Award winner and the Director of Media Programs for the New York State Writers Institute.

The art of make-up has surpassed the grease paint and eyeliner. With the artistry of Rick Baker’s work in American Werewolf in London to the reality of Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald in La Vie en Rose, the craft of make-up design has become a significant addition to a film production. UI’s guest for the March meeting will focus on this ever changing artistry.

Arielle Toelke, key make-up artist for Orion in Midsummer, has made her mold in the world of facial artistry. Her work can be seen in American General, Hell’s Gate and on Spike TV. Ms. Toelke has been sought by MTV and has worked during Fashion Week. Thanks for coming to our March meeting to share the experience with a major trendsetter in the film world. To view her work, check out www.arielletoelke.com.