July 12, 2017 ~ Georgetown Film Conference & The Palace Theater

Georgetown Film Conference

 

All the buzz lately has been about this year’s Georgetown Film Conference coming up this autumn, so in true form the Network Austin Mixer is making sure our audience learns all about it and more by featuring a fascinating panel of guest speakers from the conference, as well as the Georgetown Palace Theater, all gracing our stage at Sherlock’s Pub & Grill on Wednesday, July 12th. They will offer vital information about the film conference to which all are invited, as well as a casting opportunity for a couple of upcoming theater productions at the Palace!

Meet this month’s illustrious panel:

Cindy Weigand, Director of the Georgetown Film Conference
Cindy considers herself primarily a writer having written screenplays for 2 feature films and 1 for a short film. She is also writing a novel inspired by the life of her great uncle who was a pilot in the 1920s. President of BAR-O-BAR Entertainment LLC, Cindy is working on a documentary about the formerly incarcerated with a focus on one man’s journey. Cindy’s day job is working as a substitute teacher. For fun, she enjoys hiking and putting on padded spandex shorts and riding on a skinny bicycle seat for 40 miles.

Jackie Villanueva, Director of Social Media & Advertising for the Georgetown Film Conference
Jackie currently works in advertising for the San Antonio Express News. An award-winning film producer, she has served as Public Relations Director for the Austin Latino Film Association, and has volunteered for the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), as well as for film events throughout Central Texas. She can also be seen throughout the ComicCon circuit working as public relations manager, or volunteering in the hope of finally meeting Stan Lee. In her free time, Jackie likes to watch old science fiction and horror films with her cat, Cornelius, whom she named after Dr. Cornelius in Planet of the Apes.

Jonathan Young, MFA, AEA, Certified SAFD Instructor, and Director of Education & Interim Executive Director of the Palace Theater of Georgetown
Jonathan was a NYC-based Equity actor and voice artist before joining the team at the Palace. Now represented by Erin Franklin at Agence Talent, he works right here in Central Texas, recently appearing in spots for TexPress Lanes and in industrials for Texas Mutual Insurance. He holds a BA in Directing from UCSB and and MFA in Acting from Brandeis University. Some roles under his belt and places he’s performed include:
Stage – The Man Who Came to Dinner; Candlelight Pavilion, The Cat and the Canary and Anna Christie, Berkshire Theatre Group; All in the Timing, Theatre 54 NYC
Tours – National Theatre for Children, American Family Theatre, New York Dinner Theatre
TV – 30 Rock, The Onion Sports Network, and Mysteries at the Museum

Next season Jonathan will direct the Santaland Diaries, as well as cast a couple of plays he’s producing utilizing paid non-Equity actors at the Palace. So bring your same-size headshot & résumé stapled back-to-back for his consideration!

Jonathan also staffs the educational programs at the Palace Theater, and invites anyone interested in teaching students ages 3-18 in any and all performing arts disciplines to bring a résumé to this mixer.

Join us at Sherlock’s Pub & Grill on Wednesday, July 12th! Meet like minds, socialize and network, enjoy a great meal and drink, and get important insights from our panel! Our program will end with a Q & A session, so bring your questions for our panel. And remember those headshots & résumés for the casting & teaching opportunities, too. See you there!

 

Last Month

We extend our deepest thanks to Jason Teresi & Ellen Lloyd for their excellent presentation on Wednesday, June 14th, Behind the Scenes: Realities of the Casting Process.
This rare, behind-the-scenes look at the casting process shed light on exactly how casting directors receive and manage submissions, and revealed the most effective techniques actors use to stand out from the crowd and get noticed. Their insights about Breakdown Services and Actor’s Access, along with the visual presentation, were comprehensive and empowering. We deeply appreciate your time and energy, Jason & Ellen!

 

Come on out and join us at Sherlock’s Pub & Grill @ 9012 Research Blvd. (SE corner 183 & Burnet) on Wednesday, July 12th! Sherlock’s is a cool place with great food, drinks, and hospitality. Arrive early for a drink & dinner, network and meet new friends, enjoy a fun-filled evening with other guests, and get great info. Plenty of parking, too!

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
Find this month’s mixer on Facebook.
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, Speakers @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking

February 8, 2017 ~ Talent Agent Panel, Part 2

 

Important Update: CHANGE of VENUE

This month’s mixer will be held at Mister Tramps, located at

8565 Research Boulevard, Austin TX on

Wednesday, February 8, 2017!

Panel of Talent Agents #2

Talent Agent Panel, February 2017

As promised, we have started 2017 just as we start every year: with a BANG!  On Wednesday, January 11th we featured the first of two panels of talent agents. Our next panel takes the stage on Wednesday, February 8th, and will consist of the following agents representing their corresponding agencies:

Jason Wasner, Managing Partner, Acclaim Talent

Erin Franklin, Owner, Agence Talent

Cynthia Robbins, Owner, BLVD Talent

Linda Alcazar, Owner, Condra Artista

Romie Szal, Owner, K Hall Agency

This is a must for everyone in the entertainment industry, and especially anyone serious about an acting career should make it a top priority to attend our mixer on Wednesday, February 8th.

The talent agents will be introduced onstage at 6:45PM and begin by providing a brief overview of their respective agencies & experience, after which the floor will open to an audience Q&A.

Non-represented talent currently seeking representation is encouraged to bring at least 5 sets of same-size headshots & résumés stapled back-to-back for placement at a designated table upon arrival, preferably prior to the beginning of the program, so that each agent can have your submission package to review when they leave.

 

Last Month

We are extremely grateful to the panel of agents who so generously offered their time and insights to our packed house on Wednesday January 11th. We THANK all of you! January’s panel consisted of owners of the following agencies: The Atherton Group (TAG), Collier Talent, DVA Talent, Tory Christopher Group, Variant Talent

 

Texas Production Incentives:

As Texas Entertainment Industry (TEI) has been announcing and as Heather Page, Director of the Texas Film Commission, informed us during her great presentation on Wednesday, December 14th, funding for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) is currently in consideration by the Texas Legislature, so we must all contact our senators & representatives to make sure they realize the importance of this program and the need for additional funding. Also, contact your friends and family in other Texas cities and ask them to do the same. Funding for the TMIIIP depends to a large extent on feedback from Texans throughout the state. Do your part now to help ensure we keep the incentive program and make it better. Read more here, here, here, and here.Thanks!

 

Come on out and join us on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at Mister Tramps. Arrive early for a cold margarita or a special cocktail made just for us. Network and meet new friends with like minds, enjoy a fun-filled evening with other guests, and get the info you need to know about these talent agents, what they do, what they are looking for, landing the roles, upcoming projects and more!

 

Pass along our website and check it for details about each month’s speaker(s)!
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, Speakers @ 6:45
Followed by More Mixing & Mingling and Networking