NY ARTS INDUSTRY IN PERIL Theaters cope with major budget shortfalls as U.S. economy tanks |
| •
Casting: Bomber Jackets |
| THEATER |
| • Off-off-Broadway |
|
NEWS
Its five-year mission: to seek out new plays
Five years ago, Tony Award-winning producer Arielle Tepper Madover, troubled by the lack of opportunities for playwrights in New York City, came up with a simple idea: create a play festival to showcase the work of emerging scribes. While the concept may not seem revolutionary at face value, Tepper Madover’s version employed a formula that was uniquely friendly to undiscovered talent. She charged no application fees, openly encouraged unsolicited submissions, and offered full production support and professional guidance to the chosen playwrights. Additionally, by keeping ticket prices low (a mere $10), she made sure the plays had the most important element of all — an audience......more NY Producers Unfazed by Potential Strike: Despite the looming possibility of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild, whose union contract expired June 30, TV producers in the Big Apple remain unstirred and instead are thrilled with booming business. New York increased its tax incentive to 30 percent in May, sprouting production work throughout the city.....more Death of the Mini
Majors? Summertime typically equals huge motion pictures, like the
much-anticipated “Dark Knight” and “Hancock,” but for us Indiewood lovers, what has happened to our favorite artistic, low-budget films? With bona
fide independent hits like “Juno” becoming more and more scarce, the indie-film industry is feeling the pinch......more
INSIDE INK
By John Rowell
ICE, ICE, BABY!
Anything that even sounds remotely cool, or cold or chilled is enough to pique my interest in these tropically hot days of late. And that’s part of what makes Soho Think Tank’s Obie Award-winning 2008 Ice Factory Festival so... hot. (That, plus talent, plus innovation, plus ambition, plus downtown cred.) It’s the Ice Factory’s 15th Anniversary, actually, and this year’s festival features seven New York premieres, including legendary singer-songwriter Neil Young’s rock opera Greendale, Soho Think Tank Artistic Director Robert Lyons’ red-haired Thomas, and Adriana Shaplin’s media satire Victory at the Dirt Place. Performances begin July 9 at the Ohio Theatre, and the festival continues through August 23. For more info, visit www.SohoThinkTank.org.
Gill Spills About Indie Crisis
Last week at the L.A. Film Festival’s Financing Conference,
Film Department CEO Mark Gill spoke on the current crisis in the independent
film business with a speech entitled, “Yes, the Sky is Really Falling.” The
speech in its entirety is posted at the IFP’s Web
site, but the gist of Gill’s remarks boils down to some basic principles of
surviving in any industry: “smarts, passion and elbow grease.” In a key passage
from the talk, Gill hits on perhaps the most important advice for any indie filmmaker when he says, “Make movies that we
absolutely love. Not ones we like. Not ones we need to do as a favor. Not the
ones we do because they seem like a good piece of business. Not ones we do
because we think, hope or wish that the kids will like them. Not the knock-offs
of the ones that worked at the box office last year. In a word, we should only
pick the films we're passionate about — and that have an audience.” I’m sure a
lot of filmmakers were already going for that (perhaps unsuccessfully), but
it’s nice to hear a big shot articulate the need for quality. To read the whole
speech, visit www.indiewire.com.....more
|
||
|
Home | Casting | Log
In | Archives | Membership |
NY ARTS INDUSTRY IN PERIL
Theaters cope with major budget shortfalls as U.S. economy tanks |
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PERFORMERS
How to find a New York apartment without paying New York prices |
GOOD ACTING PAYS ONLINE
More and more Web sites are paying for videos (but only if they're good) |
ACTORS ARE TOOLS
Why the best performers are the ones who know how to take direction |
YOUR OWN WEB SITE-
IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? The pros and cons of hiring a Web designing service for actors |
REQUIRED READING FOR ACTORS
Show Business picks some new (and classic) books that will help you better understand the craft |
SMALL-SCREEN SCRIBES
Break into the competitive field of TV writing |
SURVIVING MUSICAL THEATER
10 tips that will take you from open call to callback |
LOS ANGELES VS. NEW YORK
Find out when the time is right to make the move out West |
WHY YOU NEED TO SHOWCASE YOURSELF
Put up your show for under $700, and the agents and casting directors will come (if you're good) |
HIGH SCHOOL ACTING PROGRAMS
Why the teenage years are the perfect time to get serious about your acting career |
THE REPRESENTATION ISSUE
How to get noticed (and maybe signed) by a talent agent |
UNDERSTUDIES: THE UNSUNG HEROES OF ACTING
Find out why second best can be a valuable stepping stone for your career |
IMPROVE WITH IMPROV
Take your acting to a higher level by learning to think on your feet |
THE ROAD TO REGIONAL THEATER
Why the best acting jobs aren't always in New York City |
CASHING IN ON COMMERCIALS
How a 30-second spot can keep on paying for years to come |
THE DV & INDIE FILM ISSUE
How D.I.Y. filmmakers bring independence to a new level in New York City |
SUMMER ACTING PROGRAMS
Find an intensive, fast-paced program that will save you time & money |
For
a complete feature archive
Click
Here!
(Members Only)