November 13, 2019 ~ Multicultural Panel

Multicultural Entertainment Media Panel

Multicultural Entertainment Media Panel

This month we’re featuring a diverse panel of speakers representing filmmaking, festivals, and film appreciation from around the world happening right here in Austin TX.

Alka Bhanot is a producer, and co-founder & former board chair of Indie Meme.
Alka Bhanot Alka emigrated to Austin in 2003, but not before gaining considerable experience producing, among other things, India’s award-winning first Late Night Show. Alka hit the ground running here producing and participating in a score of more award-winning independent films and television shows.
Indie Meme (IM) promotes socially relevant independent cinema from South Asia in an effort to influence cultural consciousness and encourage and facilitate conversations. Last year IM launched a Youth Program, and since 2016 has held screenings throughout the year, as well as an annual film festival here in Austin.

Julia Podgorsek is the founder & director of the Ciné-Club of the Alliance Française d’Austin.
Julia PodgorsekJulia emigrated to Austin TX shortly after graduating from the Sorbonne Nouvelle with a Master’s Degree in English and Film in 2013. Not long after arriving she created the Ciné-Club and began teaching at the Alliance Française d’Austin.
The AFA Ciné-Club monthly screenings that are subtitled, followed by half-hour discussions with the filmmakers or other special guests, are fun, relaxed, lively, and open to anyone.

Jing Yang is a photographer & film director, and Festival Director of the Austin Asian American Film Festival.
Jing YangJing received her MFA in film production at UT Austin. Her documentary and narrative short films have screened, won awards, or entered the market at a number of festivals, including Austin Film Festival, Lone Star Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, Chick Flicks Festival, DC Chinese Film Festival, etc. Jing was a key member of the team that revived AAAFF in 2014, and served as a programmer focusing on documentary feature films before taking on the role of festival director in 2018.
The Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) supports the creative talents of Asian American and Asian artists, and promotes those cultures and experiences by showcasing the best independent cinema from across the globe. The AAAFF holds screenings and special events throughout the year, as well as an annual film festival.

Manuel Ray Garcia is a multimedia producer and founding member of the Austin Chapter of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.
Manuel Ray GarciaManuel started as a graphic designer / illustrator, worked his way through school as a photojournalist, then discovered animation and filmmaking. He has worked with numerous public & private clients including: the State of Texas, Hispanic magazine, Galan Productions, American Airlines, and the Austin Film Festival, and currently runs Lone-Stars Productions.
Although the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) Austin Chapter recently went on hiatus, the national organization has been supporting entertainment media industry content creators, producers, performers, writers, directors, and industry professionals in the Latino community for over 2 decades, and holds annual summits & festivals.

December’s Talent Showcase — Call for Submissions

To enter, read more here and fill in the form. Don’t delay, because only the first 25 completed & confirmed entries will make the program. And the deadline for submissions will be here before you know it: Monday, November 25th.

The Veteran’s Teddy Bear Project continues at this month’s mixer, too, so if you have a stuffed lovie to donate, we’ll be collecting them this night!

Last Month

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to actor, author, acting teacher, and musician Marco Perella for speaking as our guest on Wed Oct 9th! Marco has been working steadily in film and television since the mid-1980s, and offered great insights about acting, timing, improvising, and getting callbacks by giving great auditions. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us, Marco!

See photos here, and more mixer photos here.

Come on the 13th and bring a friend to network and enjoy the show. While there enjoy Opal Divine’s Happy Hour which lasts until 7, then $3 “Three for Texas” beers the rest of the evening. And don’t cook or go anywhere else for a meal or snacks because Opal’s offers a tasty and largely locally-sourced menu of goodies.

Beware both rush hour traffic and any current construction!

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook and invite your friends.
Get on our mailing list and keep up with us on social media:
Like our page & join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Mixing & Networking @ 6:00PM, Announcements @ 6:30, Program @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking

October 9, 2019 ~ Marco Perella

Marco Perella

Marco Perella

 

Many of our attendees are actors, so we will be inviting more highly-credited actors and acting coaches as our guest speakers, continuing with the amazing actor, author, acting teacher, and musician Marco Perella on Wednesday October 9th @ Opal Divine’s Austin Grill! Known well in our industry as a prolific working actor with credits spanning 3 decades, and highly admired and respected, Marco may be best known for his role playing an abusive alcoholic second husband, Professor Bill Welbrock, in Boyhood (2014), as well as for penning his bestselling book, Adventures of A No Name Actor (2001), a humorous autobiography recounting his struggles in the acting arena.

Marco studied at Stanford University, then worked as a construction worker, firefighter, and musician before auditioning for a role in West Side Story. He’s been working steadily in film and television, adding to his professionalism, popularity, and numerous credits, since the mid-1980s.

Marco lives in Onion Creek with his wife, Diane. Besides acting themselves, they offer on-camera acting classes and audition workshops here in Austin at Marco Perella’s Film Actor Workshop. Many actors hire Marco to video their auditions and benefit from his expertise at delivery, covering everything from comedy to intense drama.

The Veteran’s Teddy Bear Project kicks off at this month’s mixer, too, so if you have a stuffed lovie to donate, we’ll be collecting them this night!

 

Last Month

We want to extend our sincerest thanks to the panelists from Austin Film Festival (AFF) for guest speakering in September. The iconic annual Austin Film Festival & Conference known ’round the world transpires here in Austin later this month, and we are extremely grateful that the panel so clearly explained many aspects of AFF, the panels, the films, the screenwriting competition, volunteering, and more. So thanks to all of you!

The annual Austin Film Festival & Conference takes place October 24 – October 31, 2019. Use our special promo code for a $25 discount off any badge:
NAM25

See photos here, and more mixer photos here.

 

Come on the 9th and bring a friend to network and enjoy the show. While there enjoy Opal Divine’s Happy Hour which lasts until 7, then $3 “Three for Texas” beers the rest of the evening. And don’t cook or go anywhere else for a meal or snacks because Opal’s offers a tasty and largely locally-sourced menu of goodies.

Beware both rush hour traffic and any current construction!

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook and invite your friends.
Get on our mailing list and keep up with us on social media:
Like our page & join our group on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Mixing & Networking @ 6:00PM, Announcements @ 6:30, Program @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking