When Los Angeles based writer-director Becky Smith chose to return to her home state of Iowa to shoot her first feature film, "16 to Life", she had no idea the film would receive international acclaim. To date, the romantic comedy has earned six “Best Feature” awards, including honors from Landlocked Film Fest and the Iowa Motion Picture Association.
This September, Iowa residents will have the opportunity to view this award-winning film during limited engagements in six Iowa theaters. Waterdog Films has announced that several theaters will showcase "16 to Life" with special appearances by the film’s cast and writer-director. Visit the "16 to Life" blog for a full schedule.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Iowa Film On Immigration To Premiere On Documentary Channel
While immigration is a hot topic in Arizona and other states, a film by an Iowa producer/director and Drake University professor premiering this month on the Documentary Channel focuses on the impact of immigration in one Iowa community.
'"A Little Salsa on the Prairie: The Changing Character of Perry, Iowa,' looks at immigration-related issues that have gained much attention in the national media," said Drake English professor Jody Swilky, who wrote and co-produced the documentary.
"Our documentary examines immigration and culture change over time in a rural Midwestern community, including a bilingual community dialog process on immigration and the future of the community” added producer/director Kent Newman, head of Full Spectrum Productions who also serves as President of the Iowa Motion Picture Association.
The film has had more than 30 screenings in Iowa, California and New York. It has also been shown on Iowa Public Television and will premiere this month on the Documentary Channel, which airs documentaries from around the world, including never-before-seen and independent films. Read more online at http://www.documentarychannel.com. The film will air on the Documentary Channel on:
. Friday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m.
. Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1 p.m.
. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2 a.m.
. Monday, Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m.
The film will continue to be broadcast in rotation on the DOC Channel over the next two years. In addition, the film will be featured for sale by the Documentary Channel's DOC Store, which offers a large selection of quality films available for purchase. Access the DOC Store online at http://documentarychannel.com/store/index.php?main_page=index.
"A Little Salsa on the Prairie" features local Perry residents who emigrated to the rural community from Mexico, as well as Central America and the U.S. It focuses on changes in Perry that began in the 1990s when the largely white community experienced an influx of Latino workers and their families.
Many of the workers traveled to Perry from Texas, California, Mexico and Central America to work in the local meat packing plant. In 10 years, Perry's Latino population increased from 47 to 1,873, with Latinos accounting for 24.5 percent of the population by 2000.
“A Little Salsa on the Prairie” present a historical look at Perry with a focus on immigration, ethnicity and industry, specifically the presence of the meat packing plant as the major employer during the 1960s and the rise and fall of the railroad. The film also addresses the impact of Latino immigration on the economy, society and physical environment in Perry.
The Documentary Channel, which launched in 2006 and is available on Dish, Direct TV and many cable networks, is independently owned and operated. Recently, it featured its first original series, DocTalk@USC, a half hour interview program with filmmakers conducted by Mark Harris of the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. The series, taped at USC with a live audience, will start playing in the fall.
The channel was founded by Oscar nominated and Emmy winning documentarian Tom Neff and is run by President and CEO James Ackerman. It also won its first Emmy Award, for Outstanding Documentary, in September 2007, for "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire."
For more information or to arrange a special screening of the documentary, contact Newman at kent@fullspectrumproductions.com or Swilky at jody.swilky@drake.edu.
'"A Little Salsa on the Prairie: The Changing Character of Perry, Iowa,' looks at immigration-related issues that have gained much attention in the national media," said Drake English professor Jody Swilky, who wrote and co-produced the documentary.
"Our documentary examines immigration and culture change over time in a rural Midwestern community, including a bilingual community dialog process on immigration and the future of the community” added producer/director Kent Newman, head of Full Spectrum Productions who also serves as President of the Iowa Motion Picture Association.
The film has had more than 30 screenings in Iowa, California and New York. It has also been shown on Iowa Public Television and will premiere this month on the Documentary Channel, which airs documentaries from around the world, including never-before-seen and independent films. Read more online at http://www.documentarychannel.com. The film will air on the Documentary Channel on:
. Friday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m.
. Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1 p.m.
. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2 a.m.
. Monday, Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m.
The film will continue to be broadcast in rotation on the DOC Channel over the next two years. In addition, the film will be featured for sale by the Documentary Channel's DOC Store, which offers a large selection of quality films available for purchase. Access the DOC Store online at http://documentarychannel.com/store/index.php?main_page=index.
"A Little Salsa on the Prairie" features local Perry residents who emigrated to the rural community from Mexico, as well as Central America and the U.S. It focuses on changes in Perry that began in the 1990s when the largely white community experienced an influx of Latino workers and their families.
Many of the workers traveled to Perry from Texas, California, Mexico and Central America to work in the local meat packing plant. In 10 years, Perry's Latino population increased from 47 to 1,873, with Latinos accounting for 24.5 percent of the population by 2000.
“A Little Salsa on the Prairie” present a historical look at Perry with a focus on immigration, ethnicity and industry, specifically the presence of the meat packing plant as the major employer during the 1960s and the rise and fall of the railroad. The film also addresses the impact of Latino immigration on the economy, society and physical environment in Perry.
The Documentary Channel, which launched in 2006 and is available on Dish, Direct TV and many cable networks, is independently owned and operated. Recently, it featured its first original series, DocTalk@USC, a half hour interview program with filmmakers conducted by Mark Harris of the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. The series, taped at USC with a live audience, will start playing in the fall.
The channel was founded by Oscar nominated and Emmy winning documentarian Tom Neff and is run by President and CEO James Ackerman. It also won its first Emmy Award, for Outstanding Documentary, in September 2007, for "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire."
For more information or to arrange a special screening of the documentary, contact Newman at kent@fullspectrumproductions.com or Swilky at jody.swilky@drake.edu.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance Workshops 2010 – Workshop #2
Mark your calendars for August 28th!!!
The Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance's August workshop is #2 of three installments for 2010 and will again focus on screenwriting. Take heart all you playwrights! Workshop #3 is in the works for October. Some big plans are being made for this workshop devoted entirely to the art of writing for the theater!
Workshop #2 will feature our special guest, Bruce Elgin!
Bruce has been active in the independent film community for over ten years. He has an MFA in screenwriting and has written nearly twenty feature length screenplays. In addition to producing, he has directed two features and over the years has worked in nearly every position on a movie set.
Here's what will be covered in the workshop:
Attendees are encouraged to send Bruce the first two pages of any screenplay they are working on. Bruce will take a look at your script and provide feedback during the workshop regarding character introductions. Please send your first two pages in a PDF file to filmmakerbruce@hotmail.com
Here's what else you need to know:
Cost: For ISA members - FREE
IMPA members - $20.00
Non-ISA members - $25.00 - BUT HERE'S THE BEST PART: Pay the cost of admission and receive a FREE ISA membership! This will entitle you to FREE or discounted rates to all ISA events in the coming year!
Location: Des Moines Central Library
1000 Grand Avenue
Des Moines
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
We'll break for lunch around 1:00 PM. There are several eating establishments nearby.
Coffee, water and light refreshments will be provided by the ISA.
How to reserve your spot: ISA members should RSVP by e-mail to Terry Daily at luciddreamprod@yahoo.com .
All others make checks payable to Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance and mail to:
Andrew McDowell - ISA Treasurer
5241 Dakota Drive
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Be sure to include a note with your name, home address, and e-mail address - Note on your check "ISA Workshop #2"
E-mail Terry Daily, ISA Vice President, with any questions: luciddreamprod@yahoo.com
The Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance's August workshop is #2 of three installments for 2010 and will again focus on screenwriting. Take heart all you playwrights! Workshop #3 is in the works for October. Some big plans are being made for this workshop devoted entirely to the art of writing for the theater!
Workshop #2 will feature our special guest, Bruce Elgin!
Bruce has been active in the independent film community for over ten years. He has an MFA in screenwriting and has written nearly twenty feature length screenplays. In addition to producing, he has directed two features and over the years has worked in nearly every position on a movie set.
Here's what will be covered in the workshop:
- Screenwriting Basics
- Character and Structure
- Character Psychology
- Heroes and Villains
- Marketing
Attendees are encouraged to send Bruce the first two pages of any screenplay they are working on. Bruce will take a look at your script and provide feedback during the workshop regarding character introductions. Please send your first two pages in a PDF file to filmmakerbruce@hotmail.com
Here's what else you need to know:
Cost: For ISA members - FREE
IMPA members - $20.00
Non-ISA members - $25.00 - BUT HERE'S THE BEST PART: Pay the cost of admission and receive a FREE ISA membership! This will entitle you to FREE or discounted rates to all ISA events in the coming year!
Location: Des Moines Central Library
1000 Grand Avenue
Des Moines
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
We'll break for lunch around 1:00 PM. There are several eating establishments nearby.
Coffee, water and light refreshments will be provided by the ISA.
How to reserve your spot: ISA members should RSVP by e-mail to Terry Daily at luciddreamprod@yahoo.com .
All others make checks payable to Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance and mail to:
Andrew McDowell - ISA Treasurer
5241 Dakota Drive
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Be sure to include a note with your name, home address, and e-mail address - Note on your check "ISA Workshop #2"
E-mail Terry Daily, ISA Vice President, with any questions: luciddreamprod@yahoo.com
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
KCCI: Iowa Film Industry Still In Limbo
Last night, Kent Newman, IMPA Board President, appeared in KCCI's story. "Iowa Film Industry Still In Limbo." Click here to view the story.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Don't miss "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at Salisbury House in Des Moines !
"The Merry Wives of Windsor" opened Thursday night with plenty of merriment (including wine at intermission :) and continues Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night with John Earl Robinson as Sir John Falstaff and Iowa Motion Picture Association Board Member Jay Villwock as Robert Shallow. The Sunday matinee is at 2 PM. This is Shakespeare as he meant it to be enjoyed !
FRI JULY 16 7:30PM
SAT JULY 17 7:30PM
SUN JULY 18 2:00PM
SUN JULY 18 7:30PM
Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda Drive, off Grand Avenue
Click here for more information.
FRI JULY 16 7:30PM
SAT JULY 17 7:30PM
SUN JULY 18 2:00PM
SUN JULY 18 7:30PM
Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda Drive, off Grand Avenue
Click here for more information.
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