New blog post: Spring Showcase Opening Night Film: MAO'S LAST DANCER This story about Li Cunxin's journey from poverty in communist China to international stardom as a ballet dancer in the United States.

New blog post: Spring Showcase Opening Night Film: MAO'S LAST DANCER
This story about Li Cunxin's journey from poverty in communist China to international stardom as a ballet dancer in the United States.


Spring Showcase Opening Night Film: MAO'S LAST DANCER |
hiff.org
MAO'S LAST DANCER tells the inspirational true story of a small boy's extraordinary journey from poverty to international stardom. From a grueling apprenticeship as a classical dancer in communist China, to the glory of creative freedom in America. ...

We just posted more photos from our Oscar Night America party, take a look. Thanks to Kyler Kwock and Steven Bern for helping us out with the photography!

We just posted more photos from our Oscar Night America party, take a look. Thanks to Kyler Kwock and Steven Bern for helping us out with the photography!


Oscar Night America 2010 Photo Gallery |
hiff.org
These photos were taken at Hawaii International Film Festival's Oscar Night America party on March 7th, 2010 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Photos by: Kyler Kwock Photography (kylerkwockphotography.com), Steven Bern Photography, and Christopher Hall (HIFF Staff). ...

Watch this ~5 minute video created by Jay Hubert about HIFF. If you volunteered in 2009 you might see yourself in it! Also, HIFF is the featured film festival on AsiaPacificFilms.com.

Watch this ~5 minute video created by Jay Hubert about HIFF. If you volunteered in 2009 you might see yourself in it! Also, HIFF is the featured film festival on AsiaPacificFilms.com.


Asian Films, Foreign Films, Asian Directors - Asia Pacific Films
asiapacificfilms.com
2010 marks the thirtieth year that the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) has been presenting the finest Asian and Pacific Island films to the people of Hawaii and beyond. HIFF’s purpose remains ...

Winners of HIFF's Quick Picks Contest just announced!

Winners of HIFF's Quick Picks Contest just announced!


Winners of Quick Picks Contest |
tr.im
Here are the winners of our Quick Picks Contest. They picked the most winners in 8 Academy Awards categories. These lucky people each won a bundle of 5 tickets to HIFF's Spring Showcase, April 16-22 at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 theaters. ...

Photos from Oscar Night America are now available on the HIFF website, take a look: http://hiff.org/

Photos from Oscar Night America are now available on the HIFF website, take a look: http://hiff.org/

Ezra Weisz, hailed as “the master of improvisation” by the L.A. WEEKLY, has been the director of the bang Improv Conservatory since 2003. Before going through the bang program himself, he taught improvisation at Cal Arts, The Company of Angels, California Migrant Education, and SCRT. He joined bang’s teaching staff in 1999. He has performed improv with many groups in numerous venues around LA, including The Doubtful Guests (which headlined the 2009 Chicago Improv Festival) and bang’s house group iProv. He works as an actor in television, directs voice-overs, and does audience warm-up for several network television shows. Ezra has dedicated his life to improv and finding new and creative ways to present and teach it.

Ezra Weisz, hailed as “the master of improvisation” by the L.A. WEEKLY, has been the director of the bang Improv Conservatory since 2003. Before going through the bang program himself, he taught improvisation at Cal Arts, The Company of Angels, California Migrant Education, and SCRT. He joined bang’s teaching staff in 1999. He has performed improv with many groups in numerous venues around LA, including The Doubtful Guests (which headlined the 2009 Chicago Improv Festival) and bang’s house group iProv. He works as an actor in television, directs voice-overs, and does audience warm-up for several network television shows. Ezra has dedicated his life to improv and finding new and creative ways to present and teach it.


Ezra Weisz (Special - Bang Improv)

What is a TIP at The Actors’ Network, well it is quite simple because it is so individual. A TIP is any person, project, piece of information or angle that crosses your path somehow and you want to pursue. This could be representation, something in a trade, an audition you heard about, or the place where you can find a filmmaker and talk to them. The reality is, there are lots of choices on “how to” do things. Knowing more about yourself, what your limitations are, and what makes you most comfortable will always give you a clear guide on how to proceed when an opportunity falls in your lap. It also helps to know a bit about how to qualify an opportunity instead of just looking at them as all the same or in simple categories. Remember we’re talking about how to pursue projects or TIPS but it really means how to pursue the person attached to it. That is very subjective.

What is a TIP at The Actors’ Network, well it is quite simple because it is so individual. A TIP is any person, project, piece of information or angle that crosses your path somehow and you want to pursue. This could be representation, something in a trade, an audition you heard about, or the place where you can find a filmmaker and talk to them. The reality is, there are lots of choices on “how to” do things. Knowing more about yourself, what your limitations are, and what makes you most comfortable will always give you a clear guide on how to proceed when an opportunity falls in your lap. It also helps to know a bit about how to qualify an opportunity instead of just looking at them as all the same or in simple categories. Remember we’re talking about how to pursue projects or TIPS but it really means how to pursue the person attached to it. That is very subjective.





Pursuing Tips (Topic-KW)

James J Jones is Owner/Head of Adult Theatrical Division Premier Talent Group. "Pro-active Empowerment is the Driving Force of The Premier Talent Group." James Jones has a unique background for a talent agent. He began his career with over a decade of work in state and federal political campaigns and with the state legislature. His emphasis was in communications, and fundraising with a special emphasis in strategic and tactical planning. He spent time working in both Washingtons - our State Legislature and our nation's Capitol. After leaving politics, James spent a number of years working as an executive development officer, focusing on fundraising and communications for non-profit organizations charitable organizations. James began his career in this industry when he opened his professional talent management business and represented a number of radio and television broadcast personalities. He then officially changed his focus to that of an SAG/AFTRA agent and now represents actors in film, tv and commercial work. He also represents professional athletes and radio and television broadcast professionals. Premier Talent's motto is "providing premier representation for premier talent." James believes that it is his strong emphasis of strategic and tactical planning with his principles of empowerment and pro-activity that make his agency a 'premier' agency. By knowing his clients' individual needs and 'seasons of life' he is better positioned to craft an individualized pro-active strategic and tactical approach for each client, which in turn empowers that client to achieve his/her goals. James believes that his success at developing long-term relationships with decision-makers in the field also positions his clients for success in the Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland markets.

James J Jones is Owner/Head of Adult Theatrical Division Premier Talent Group. "Pro-active Empowerment is the Driving Force of The Premier Talent Group."

James Jones has a unique background for a talent agent. He began his career with over a decade of work in state and federal political campaigns and with the state legislature. His emphasis was in communications, and fundraising with a special emphasis in strategic and tactical planning. He spent time working in both Washingtons - our State Legislature and our nation's Capitol.

After leaving politics, James spent a number of years working as an executive development officer, focusing on fundraising and communications for non-profit organizations charitable organizations.

James began his career in this industry when he opened his professional talent management business and represented a number of radio and television broadcast personalities. He then officially changed his focus to that of an SAG/AFTRA agent and now represents actors in film, tv and commercial work. He also represents professional athletes and radio and television broadcast professionals.

Premier Talent's motto is "providing premier representation for premier talent." James believes that it is his strong emphasis of strategic and tactical planning with his principles of empowerment and pro-activity that make his agency a 'premier' agency. By knowing his clients' individual needs and 'seasons of life' he is better positioned to craft an individualized pro-active strategic and tactical approach for each client, which in turn empowers that client to achieve his/her goals. James believes that his success at developing long-term relationships with decision-makers in the field also positions his clients for success in the Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland markets.


James J. Jones (Agent - Premier Talent Group)

Daniel Gamburg is an award winning independent filmmaker, who's latest feature, IPO can be seen on NetFlix. He has worked on the set of Studio 60, Thank God Your Here, The Apprentice, Animal Planet, History Channel, and The Food Network. Having a strong background in acting Daniel has a unique perspective when it comes to teaching acting for the camera. “Daniel is one of the best on-camera instructors in Los Angeles” - Russell Gray, CD for HBO’s “Sex And The City” Class: Film, unlike theater, is a director's medium where the performance is crafted in the editing. In the end what people see is a picture of you acting and the quality of your performance is judged from those assembled moments, and not the performance itself. This class is about understanding and mastering this slender distinction. Every scene is filmed and edited with a before and after feedback. For more info and samples go to: http://www.actingoncamera.org. The TAN workshop will include sample scenes and an edit session from one of the workshops.

Daniel Gamburg is an award winning independent filmmaker, who's latest feature, IPO can be seen on NetFlix. He has worked on the set of Studio 60, Thank God Your Here, The Apprentice, Animal Planet, History Channel, and The Food Network. Having a strong background in acting Daniel has a unique perspective when it comes to teaching acting for the camera.

“Daniel is one of the best on-camera instructors in Los Angeles” - Russell Gray, CD for HBO’s “Sex And The City”

Class:
Film, unlike theater, is a director's medium where the performance is crafted in the editing. In the end what people see is a picture of you acting and the quality of your performance is judged from those assembled moments, and not the performance itself. This class is about understanding and mastering this slender distinction. Every scene is filmed and edited with a before and after feedback. For more info and samples go to: http://www.actingoncamera.org. The TAN workshop will include sample scenes and an edit session from one of the workshops.


Daniel Gamburg (Special - Teacher)

Acting is the use of our minds, hearts, emotions, and the choices of how to align those different subjective aspects of ourselves. However, what most actors never consider is how unexpected things in an office reading can affect their performance. In Kevin’s opinion, your talent is only as good as it can be “in the room” with multiple distractions around and has little to do with how good you are on stage or at class. Come and discuss or at least gain perspective regarding different office spaces, what the room set up may be, what to expect, who runs them, who you read with, using props, stand or sit, being physical, being intimate, etc.

Acting is the use of our minds, hearts, emotions, and the choices of how to align those different subjective aspects of ourselves. However, what most actors never consider is how unexpected things in an office reading can affect their performance. In Kevin’s opinion, your talent is only as good as it can be “in the room” with multiple distractions around and has little to do with how good you are on stage or at class. Come and discuss or at least gain perspective regarding different office spaces, what the room set up may be, what to expect, who runs them, who you read with, using props, stand or sit, being physical, being intimate, etc.


Audition Scenarios (Topic-KW)

Michael Jackson Death Anniversary Sell Off

What better way to celebrate the first anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death than with an auction of his things! And–even things he never saw or touched. http://www.juliensauctions.com/press/2010/music-icons.html Julien’s Auctions of West Hollywood has just announced a three day auction beginning on June 25th in Las Vegas. Most of the items, they say, are furniture that was commissioned [...]

Madonna Did Not Have a Pre-Nup with Guy Ritchie

More Madonna: the popular entertainer appeared on Jerry Seinfeld’s “The Marriage Ref” last night, with Larry David and Ricky Gervais. The show was a classic, on the level, maybe, of David Susskind’s legendary Mother’s Day special a hundred years ago with Mel Brooks, George Segal and David Steinberg. For whatever time is left for “The Marriage [...]

Madonna Charity Paper Trail Back to Cult

Madonna’s Raising Malawi charity has a paper trail now that leads it right back to the Kabbalah Center cult in Los Angeles. Kabbalah Centre is the “religion” that charges on its website $26 for a spiritual red string to be worn on the wrist, and $500 for a “special package” of materials to get started in [...]

Pink Floyd Wins Download Case: Who’s Next?

Pink Floyd has won what could be a landmark case today in the British courts. EMI can no longer sell its individual tracks piecemeal to iTunes and other downloading services. Floyd’s lawyers argued that the group’s contracts with EMI meant that albums like “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” were meant to be [...]

Conan O’Brien Live Tour: Small Towns, Big Cities Will Roll Out Red Carpets

Conan O’Brien’s live tour has been announced officially. I told you about it on March 5. The tour starts on April 12 — I was asked to say “mid-April” because the dates weren’t all booked — and in Eugene, Ore., of all places. (This column said it would be in Seattle or San Diego. At least [...]

‘American Idol’ Producer: Elton Still Best Simon Replacement

This is a pretty good week for Sir Elton John. On Monday night, former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe told me — when I ran into him at the new Beverly Hills Soho House — that he still thinks Sir Elton is the best choice to replace Simon Cowell. “He’s absolutely it,” said Lythgoe, who also [...]

‘Wall Street 2′: Could Be Cannes Closing Night

20th Century Fox has suddenly sent Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” to a Sept. 24 opening instead of its planned April 23th release. There are two reasons for this: one is that they’ve submitted the film to the Cannes Film Festival and are awaiting word. It’s more than likely that Cannes will take [...]

‘Precious’ Wins Should Shame National Board

All the awards and nominations bestowed on Lee Daniels‘ movie, “Precious,” should shame the already shameful National Board of Review. The NBR, a fan-based, fee-paying group, snubbed “Precious” this year. It was not named as the one of the group’s Best Films of the year. The only citation it received was a throwaway nod to Gabby [...]

Kevin Spacey Film Sure to Anger Everyone

Former  —  and disgraced — Congressman Tom DeLay thinks the unemployed should just buck up and take it. “You know,” Delay said on CNN recently, “there is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits keeps people from going and finding jobs. In fact there are some studies that have been done that [...]

Ronald McDonald Kills Michelin Man, Gets Oscar

Ronald McDonald kills the Michelin Man in a short film that won an Oscar on Sunday night for Best Animated Short film. “Logorama” played at Sundance, but it unlikely to be seen in many theaters. It possibly runs afoul of at least a thousand trademark violations by lampooning logos of well known companies from McDonalds to Michelin [...]