Saturday, April 2, 2005 11:30a-1p

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
A wave of conservatism is sweeping the nation. Not only government censorship, but also "implied censorship" has an effect on the independent filmmaker's voice and vision. The panel will discuss U.S. censorship of foreign films, the impact of censorship on the society and maintaining artistic integrity despite a growing list of taboo topics.

Moderator: Steve Montal; Panelists: David Cole, Executive Director, Fox Fullerton Theatre, Ed Stencel, IFP, Hammad Zaidi, Lonely Seal productions, Howard Zuber, UCLA

Saturday, April 2, 2005 2p-4p

LOW BUDGET - HIGH VALUE

Advance planning is of major importance for the independent filmmaker. If you're on a tight budget, you need to assess your real equipment and post-production needs and expenses. Do you need to shoot on 35mm? What are the transfer costs from digital to film? How can you get a quality soundtrack for your project? This panel of experts will discuss allocating your resources and making the most of your production and post-production budget.

Panelists: Mark David, director/musician; Stephen Gill, Sony, Brian McNelis, Lakeshore Records, Illya Friedman, Wexler Video, IVC, Lotay Yang, Bank of America

Saturday, April 2, 2005 4:30p-5:30p

THE SOUNDTRACK

The musical duo, Shankar and Gingger, has scored/performed on many films ( Ali, Queen of the Damned, Peter Gabriel's Last Temptation of Christ ) with the most recent press for them centering around their 8 cue contribution to Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ.   They also contributed to the soundtrack of this year's Academy Award winning film Born Into Brothels.  They bring their extensive experience writing for film and will speak first hand about soundtrack creation and their experience writing with people like John Debney and Mel Gibson. Jonathan Todd of Sabre Entertainment will also talk on soundtrack legal and negotiation, interplay between producers, directors and the legal teams. 

Sunday, April 2, 2005 12p-1:30p

SAG LOW-BUDGET AGREEMENT

Just because your film isn't produced by a studio doesn't mean you can't use professional talent. If you're going to compete with the big boys you need all the help you can get. So go on, and take advantage of SAG's vast pool of well-trained talent for your next project. They can always find their mark, pick up cues and in the end save you time and money. SAG Theatrical Business Representatives will walk you through signing SAG Low Budget Agreements from start to finish.

Speaker: Paul Bales, SAGIndie

Sunday, April 2, 2005 2:30p-4:30p

GOING TO MARKET - DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS

This vital seminar will discuss distribution routes including the self-distribution option, picking events and festivals that are right for your film, gaining media coverage for your film, and getting your film prepared for a distributor.

Panelists: Adam Singer, American World Pictures; Kirk Harris, Rogue Arts; Marty Poole

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 3:30p-5p

SAG DIVERSITY

SAG encourages filmmakers to use a diverse cast in their films. The Diversity In Casting Incentive applies to the Modified Low Budget Agreement and the Low Budget Agreement. If the producer has demonstrated diversity in casting total production cost maximums for the low budget agreemensts may be increased. Learn how you can utilize this incentive to increase your low-budget agreement maximums up to $1 million dollars!
Speaker: Angel Rivera, SAGIndie

Saturday, April 2, 2005 10a - 11:30a 
 
THIS BUSINESS OF ACTING

Michael Wallach teaches this course at UCLA Extension. It is a course designed in order to inform the actor of the business aspects of their career thereby complementing basic acting training classes. The course covers deals (tv pilots, etc.), agents and managers (getting them and getting the most out of them), publicists and self-promotion, unions (protections and insurance), the casting process and the casting director's job, tax deductions and incorporating, marketing tools and strategies, etc. 

Saturday, April 2, 2005 12p-2p

METHOD ACTING WORKSHOP

The Actors Studio member and former Strasberg Institute instructor Ron Gilbert will conduct this interactive workshop in the Method-a physical and emotional process to develop the important subtext needed for any role. Attendees will be introduced to breathing techniques, sensory techniques and improvisation.

Saturday, April 2, 2005 2:30p-4:30p

INTRODUCTION TO THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE

Joanne Barron/DW Brown instruct this interactive workshop on Meisner Technique an alternative to the Method and demonstrate how it is used in improvisation. The class will consist of exercises applied in improvisation and in scene work. The goal is for the actor to be relaxed, alive, spontaneous, and able to unselfconsciously create with truth and imagination scenes for theater, television, or film. Barron & Brown's former students include: Mariska Hargitay, Nicollette Sheridan, Halle Berry, Val Kilmer, Robin Wright Penn, Jamie Kennedy, Kevin Sorbo, and directors Tom Shadyac, Martha Coolidge and Andrew Fleming.

Sunday, April 3, 2005 12p-2p

ACTING/IMPROV TECHNIQUE

Even for the finest actors there are moments when split second choices make all the difference in performance. Learning to be comfortable in those choices is the whole point of learning improv. This workshop conducted by Groundlings founder, Gary Austin, frees the actor to make choices that work by committing to the unknown, getting out of her head, and being in the present moment. That freedom allows the actor to create more vibrant, real performance in both improved and written scenes.

Sunday, April 3, 2005 2:30p - 4:30p

UNDERSTANDING THE METHOD

Taught by William Smithers, Actors Studio member since 1952, and Lorrie Hull Smithers, Ph.D., 12 yr. senior faculty member for Lee Strasberg and American Film Institute Instructor for 5 years. The workshop will be based on the principles of Stanislavski, Strasberg and Kazan, as well as Hull's best selling book, "Strasberg's Method: A Practical Guide for Actors, Teachers, Directors." and the Hull-Smithers' DVD and video, "The Method." The workshop will cover techniques in relaxation, concentration, sense memory, affective memory, and improvisation. Learn to motivate and justify behavior; create a life for a character; develop a character's inner actions, and more. Participants may prepare a memorized scene or monologue and perform it.

Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:30a -12p

ACTING FOR CHILDREN - AGES 6-11

Instructor: George Lindsay, Jr.

Saturday, April 2, 2005 12:30a -2p

ACTING FOR TEENS - AGES 12-15

Instructor: Diana Jellinek

Saturday, April 2, 2005 2:30a -4p

ACTING FOR TEENS - 16-19

Instructor: Marlon Hoffman

Sunday, April 3, 2005 12p-1:30p

STORYTELLING & WRITING STORIES - AGES 12-19

Instructors: Rich Martini & Geoff Pepos

Sunday, April 3, 2005 2p-4p

LIGHTING & SHOOTING A SCENE - AGES 12-19

Instructors: Geoff Pepos & Mark David

The Method Fest Film Festival will conduct The METHOD FEST ACTOR COMPETITION in conjunction with THE JOANNE BARON D.W.BROWN ACTING STUDIO of Santa Monica. The winner will be awarded at the Method Fest's awards ceremony on April 8th 2005. The winner will receive a cash prize, consultations with a high profile talent agent, talent manager, casting director, acting coaching by renowned teacher Joanne Baron, two 6 month V.I.P. memberships at the World Famous Powerhouse Gym of West Los Angeles, a photo shoot, and a meeting with an established feature film director.