Film For the People, By the People– Basement Films sponsors round three of its Cinema Publicus series this Thursday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m. Filmmakers, bring your short films (seven minutes max) on DVD, VHS or 16mm for an open-sheet screening at SolArts (712 Central SE) in downtown ABQ. Film watchers, bring your … eyeballs, I guess. Come check out art/garbage/home movies/works-in-progress. You never know what you’ll get at these things. Admission is free, so get there early to claim your seat. For more info, log on to www.basementfilms.org.
Reel World
Extra Special– In The Valley of Elah , a feature film directed by Paul Haggis (writer of Crash ), will film in the Albuquerque area from Dec. 4-Feb. 4. The Gulf War drama stars Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron (and maybe Jason Patric). There will be an open casting call for background talent for this film on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the MCM Elegante Hotel (2020 Menual NE). Background needs are as follows: military types (mostly men, esp. young-looking), young adult amputees and burn victims who may have been injured in combat, military personnel and soldier types, uniformed cops, detectives, cholo types, exotic dancers, Middle Eastern-looking men and boys, and average adults of all ages. (Those are their categories, not mine, people.) Over 1,000 background extras will be used in this film. Agency actors and amputees (their categories, not mine!) will be seen from 9:30-10:30 a.m. All others, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Please bring a head shot if you’ve got one.
Reel World
Filmmakers Conference Fast Approaching– Full schedules are now online (www.nmfilm.com) for the NM Filmmakers Conference. Seminar topics run the gamut from “Marketing and Distributing Theatrical Features” to “Exploring Apple’s Final Cut Studio Workflow for Film and TV.” The first annual Filmmakers Conference will take place Dec. 1 and 2 at Hotel Santa Fe (1500 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe). Hotel Santa Fe is offering a special room rate of $69 plus tax for conference attendees, based on availability. Call (800) 825-9876 if you’d like to make a reservation. This inaugural two-day event, sponsored by the State Film Office, features networking opportunities, plus practical seminars and workshops designed to help NM filmmakers sharpen their craft. Seminars and workshops will be free to attend, but space is limited, so preregistration will be required. Interested filmmakers are urged, once again, to log on to www.nmfilm.com as soon as possible and get their names on the list.
