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November 13, 2019 ~ Multicultural Panel

Posted onAuthorJudith RuderLeave a comment

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

November 12, 2014

Posted onAuthorGary WimmerLeave a comment

Nan Dutton, Casting Director

 Nan Dutton on IMDB

We are proud to have Casting Director Nan Dutton as our Guest Speaker on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12th! Nan’s 35 year career has consisted of casting, acting, and teaching. She began casting in LA as assistant to Casting Director Reuben Cannon, followed by 4 years as an associate with Lynn Stalmaster. While casting both film and television with Stalmaster/Howard, she worked on numerous projects such as Jagged Edge, 9½ Weeks, and The Thorn Birds. In 1985, she established her own company, Nan Dutton Casting.

Nan received 3 nominations for the prestigious Casting Society of America’s Artios Award and was honored twice for EZ Streets and L.A. Law. Her casting resume lists over 60 projects inclusive of series, pilots, movie of the weeks, and films from In the Heat of the Night to Star Trek Voyager, and more recently CSI Miami.

She has worked with some of the most creative and talented producers and directors in the industry, including Paul Haggis, Howard Gordon, Chris Carter, Steven Bochco, Jerry Bruckheimer, Charles Gordon, Adrian Lyne, John Woo, Thomas Carter, Greg Hoblit, and Arthur Hiller, to name a few. In addition, Nan is credited for hiring many actors in their debuts, notably Jared Leto and Channing Tatum, as well as recognizing a myriad of actors in the early stages of their careers.

While acting, she trained at Hedgerow Theatre in Pennsylvania and later Boston University. During her senior year at B.U. she was granted a scholarship to the Arena Stage in Washington D.C., where she met the Tony Award winning director Alan Schneider. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and relocating to New York, Nan studied with the talented Kim Stanley and was hired twice by Mr. Schneider as an actor and assistant director in the Broadway plays Loose Ends and Zalmen or the Madness of God before pursuing casting.

Recently, Nan’s passion for teaching and coaching has become her primary focus. As of 2004, she has taught workshops at various studios, SAG, and lectured at AFI. Having been an actor and casting director, she recognizes a void that exists for most actors. She hopes to close that void by teaching the craft of acting, television/ film camera technique, but more importantly what actors need to know about working in the entertainment business.

Join us on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2014 @ Baby Acapulco’s – 5610 North IH-35, Austin TX 78751, have a cold margarita, network, meet new folks with like minds, enjoy a fun-filled evening with our attendees, and get fresh insights from Casting Director Nan Dutton!

 

Last Month…

We were indeed very lucky to have Heather Page, Director of the Texas Film Commission as our Guest Speaker on October 8, 2014! Our attendees were very impressed with her knowledge, passion and personality, and justifiably so. Heather talked about numerous aspects of the Texas Film/TV/Game industries and how the Texas Film Incentives have helped boost production in Texas. And after her very thoughtful and interesting presentation, she talked to every person who came up to her with comments and/or questions. Heather, we deeply appreciate your time and energy and we are proud that you so effectively fight for and represent the interests of the media communities in Texas.

 

Again, join us on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2014 at Baby A’s, have a cold margarita, network, meet new folks with like minds, enjoy a fun-filled evening with our attendees, and get learn from esteemed Casting DirectorNan Dutton!

Let friends interested in the media worlds know about the Mixers. We put them on to provide opportunities for you folks to network and get information about acting, films, TV, and media.

Come early and carpool! Pass along our website and use it for details about each month’s Speaker(s)!

Get on our mailing list and keep up with us on Facebook:
Like our page and join our group!

NOTICE: PLEASE CARPOOL! Arrive early! If Baby Acapulco’s parking is full, you may park at either the Capital Inn (just north of Baby A’s) for $5 or at Super 8 motel (just south of Baby A’s) for $8. Be sure to pay the desk person at either motel when you park there so your vehicle doesn’t get towed away and DO NO PARK IN FRONT OF DUMPSTERS!