Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Directing Actor Workshop, September 17 &18

Join us at the Zaki Gordon Institute for:


Directing Actors
September 17 & 18, 9am-4pm
DFM105 CRN 32677
Instructor: Shawn Nelson


ACTING COACH TO THE STARS...


Shawn has been one of Hollywood’s top acting coaches for thepast 25 years, and works with acclaimed actors Sela Ward of ‘CSI NY’ (who thanked Shawn when she accepted both of her Emmys for ‘Sisters’ and ‘Once and Again’), Eva Longoria of ‘Desperate Housewives,’ Tamara Taylor of ‘Bones,’ and day time television star Rebecca Budig - Greenlee Smyth on ABC's ‘All My Children!'


Shawn has had the honor of coaching Diane Kruger of ‘National Treasure 2’ and ‘Inglorious Bastards,’ Lena Headey of ‘Game of Thrones’ and 'The Sarah Conner Chronicles', Stephen Collins of ‘No Ordinary Family’, Efren Ramirez of ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ and Adir Kalyan of ‘Rules of Engagement,’ Olivia Wilde of ‘House,’ and entertainment icons such as actor/director Tony Goldwyn, Matthew Fox of the hit ABC show ‘Lost,’ Amanda Bynes of the WB’s ‘What I Like About You,’ as well as legendary actress Ann Margaret, Nastassia Kinski, Jayne Meadows-Allen, actress and supermodel Kathy Ireland, country music star / actor Billy Ray Cyrus, superstar vocalists Gene Simmons, Huey Lewis, Carol Lawrence, Marilyn McCoo, Frankie Valli, and many, many others!


Shawn is a guest lecturer at colleges and film schools and is a member of AEA, AFTRA, SAG and the Directors Guild of America (DGA).


Call 928.649.4276 for more information or visit www.yc.edu to register.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Zaki Gordon Institute Kicks off Fall Semester

(Sedona, AZ) More than 40 students have arrived in Sedona and are already learning
the craft of independent filmmaking. “It’s always exciting to see new students putting
their vision on film,” said Greg Gillespie, Yavapai College’s vice president. “ZGI is an
important part of Yavapai College and the Sedona community. It’s a tribute to the dream of
its founder Dan Gordon.”

ZGI Director Stephan Schultze recently announced his departure for a similar position in
Virginia. “While I’m excited about a new opportunity, I’ll leave a part of me here at ZGI,”
he said. “I’m proud to know that even though I’m making a change, ZGI will continue to
provide an excellent education to each of our students.”

Upcoming ZGI events include:

Screenwriting Workshop
August 27 & 28, 9am-4pm
DFM104 CRN 32674 – Instructor: Dan Gordon
Register at www.yc.edu

Actors Open House
September 9, 2011 from 5pm-8pm
Yavapai College’s Sedona Center for Arts & Technology
Hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided.

Film Analysis class DFM101, CRN 31533
Open to the public.
First class meets Sunday, September 11 at 9 a.m

Directing Actors Workshop
September 17 & 18, 9am‐4pm
DFM105 CRN 32677 – Instructor: Shawn Nelson
Register at www.yc.edu

Interview Techniques Workshop
September 17 & 18, 9am‐4pm
DFM111 CRN 32732 – Instructor: Kurt Lancaster, NUA Associate Professor
Register at www.yc.edu

Camera Coverage Workshop
October 7 & 8, 9am-4pm
DFM106 CRN 32684 – Instructor: Stephan Schultze
Register at www.yc.edu

Editing Esthetics Workshop
November 5 & 6, 9am-4pm
DFM107 CRN 32681 – Co-Instructors: Bryan Reinhart and Micah Johnson
Register at www.yc.edu

For more information, please call The Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking
at (928) 649‐4276.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

'These Amazing Shadows' premieres in documentary series finale Sept. 6


'These Amazing Shadows' premieres in documentary series finale Sept. 6
Sedona Film Festival presents a nostalgic tribute to classic movies; meet the film's editor who will be in town to host this special screening

What do the films Casablanca, Blazing Saddles and West Side Story have in common? Besides being popular, they have also been deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and listed on The National Film Registry. “These Amazing Shadows” tells the history and importance of the Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures that reflects the diversity of both film, and indeed the American experience itself.

“These Amazing Shadows” makes its Arizona premiere in Sedona on Tuesday, Sept 6 as the finale of the Sedona International Film Festival’s eight-week “Docs That Make a Difference” series. There will be two screenings of the film at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres.

The editor of the film, Alex Calleros, will be in Sedona to host the special event and conduct a Q&A discussion following both screenings.

“Anyone who is interested in movies will love ‘These Amazing Shadows’,” said Sagan Lewis, the film festival program director. “This informative documentary not only entertains — it inspires!”

“These Amazing Shadows” is a nostalgic and moving documentary rich with imagery, interweaving clips from America’s most-beloved films (and many rarer treasures) with moving personal tales of how specific films have reflected our culture and changed lives.

The film includes interviews with the Librarian of Congress (Dr. James Billington), famous directors (including Christopher Nolan, John Lasseter, Rob Reiner, John Singleton, Amy Heckerling, and John Waters), producers (Gale Anne Hurd and James Schamus), archivists, admired actors (Tim Roth, Debbie Reynolds, Peter Coyote), and members of the National Film Preservation Board.

“These Amazing Shadows” explores the cultural impact and historical significance of American films and shows us how American cinema is truly our “family album.” The documentary explores why film endures as one of the most important mediums of art and entertainment and describes what is being done to preserve America’s film heritage. It also shows how films create deep emotional connections with audiences.

“American film really transformed the way in which a young nation learned to express itself, express its exuberance, expose its problems, and reflect its hopes,” said Dr, James Billington, the Librarian of Congress: It wasn’t simply a form of entertainment; it was living history — audio-visual history of the Twentieth century.”

For over a century, American movies have forged emotional connections with millions of viewers, providing a portal to our past, defining our present, and imagining our future. American films helped shape a global cultural language, connecting audiences across borders and different belief systems. And, just as our ancient ancestors shared stories to connect and thrive, we too share stories…retelling in our movies the mysterious experience of being alive. “These Amazing Shadows” shows us how movies are part of our history, part of our culture … and part of ourselves.

The Hollywood Reporter calls the film “Inspiring and elegantly assembled”, and Vanity Fair labels it “film montages to end all film montages!” Critics agree that “These Amazing Shadows” is a class act and terribly fun to watch … a film that will make any film geek swoon and will make a film geek out of anyone else!

Join the film’s editor Alex Calleros for a nostalgic look back at movies and the impact film has had on all of us as he joins us here in Sedona for this very special screening and Q&A.

The title sponsor of the event is Turner Classic Movies, whose host Robert Osborne brings classic films to life every week. Osborne has also become a treasured friend of the Sedona Film Festival, bringing a host of classics to the annual festival each year and coming here to share his vast knowledge of film.

The series is made possible by a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Sedona, and the Sedona Community Foundation.

“These Amazing Shadows” will be shown at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members, and will be available starting at 3:00 p.m. that day in the Harkins lobby. Cash or checks only. Film Sedona members can purchase tickets in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office, 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, Suite A3-4, or by calling 282-1177. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.com.


Monday, August 22, 2011

OPEN CALL FOR ACTORS!


Open House at the Zaki Gordon Institute, September 9, 2011

Join us on September 9, 2011 from 5 pm – 8 pm
Meet the new Zaki Gordon Institute filmmakers and get your information into our database. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided.

Actors Open House
Yavapai College’s Sedona Center for Arts & Technology

This is a great opportunity to meet the new class of Narrative and Documentary filmmakers. You will get a chance to sit in front of the camera and tell us about yourself. Students then use these video clips as a reference when they are casting their short films.

Call for more information!
Call 928.649.4276 for more information. The Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking is located at Yavapai College’s Sedona Center for Arts and Technology at 4215 Arts Village Drive in Sedona.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

'Happy' makes Northern Arizona premiere in festival series Aug. 30



'Happy' makes Northern Arizona premiere in festival series Aug. 30
The award-winning filmmaking team behind "Genghis Blues" and "Beyond the Call" brings their next film to Sedona in film festival's "Docs That Make a Difference" series

Go on a journey of discovery across five continents to find the keys to happiness in the new film “Happy” which makes its Arizona premiere in Sedona on Tuesday, Aug. 30. The Sedona International Film Festival presents this one-night-only special engagement as the fifth film in its “Docs That Make a Difference” series. There will be two screenings of the film at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres.

“This is one film that everyone should see — it is extraordinary!” says Beverly Hurff, the film festival events coordinator and board member who discovered the film at the Phoenix Film Festival. “Of course, we have all seen material on what causes depression. This film focuses on what makes us happy. You immediately think about — and look at — how your happiness is fulfilled.”
From Academy Award-nominated director Roko Belic (“Genghis Blues”) and the production team of “Beyond the Call” comes a new cinematic adventure. “Happy” is a feature-length documentary that leads viewers on a journey across five continents in search of the keys to happiness. The film addresses many of the fundamental issues we face in today’s society: How do we balance the allure of money, fame and social status with our needs for strong relationships, health and personal fulfillment?

Through remarkable human stories and cutting-edge science, “Happy” leads us toward a deeper understanding of why and how we can pursue more fulfilling, healthier and happier lives.

“Happy” takes the viewer from the bayous of Louisiana to the deserts of Namibia, from the beaches of Brazil to the mountains of Bhutan. Listen to the wisdom of a Kolkata rickshaw driver, the compassion of a volunteer of Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying and the knowledge of some of the world’s leading happiness researchers.

Witness as middle school students applaud the bravery of their classmates during a moving presentation on bullying. “Happy” combines real-life human drama and science to provide insights into the mysteries of happiness.

In 2005, director Tom Shadyac (Liar Liar, Patch Adams, Bruce Almighty) handed Roko Belic a New York Times article entitled “A New Measure of Well-Being from a Happy Little Kingdom”. The article ranked the United States 23rd on its list of happiest countries. Shadyac — himself dissatisfied with his luxurious Beverly Hills lifestyle — asked Belic to make a documentary investigation into the origins of human happiness and why the U.S. ranks so low. This simple inquiry led to a global exploration of happiness research.

“Happy” was developed under the Creative Visions Foundation, a non-profit organizations which supports creative activists who use the power of media and the arts to affect positive change in the world. Belic has been filming “Happy” for the past four years and has attracted well-known experts such as Ed Diener, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Richard Davidson, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and others. Marci Shimoff, best-selling author of Happy For No Reason and Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul, narrates the film.

Wadi Rum Production films are a collaboration between two Academy Award-nominated brothers Roko and Adrian Belic. Sedona Film Festival has been proud to feature both of their previous productions: “Genghis Blues” (nominated for an Oscar) and “Beyond the Call”, which screened on five continents and won more than 70 international awards.

The title sponsors for this event are Studio Live and Sedona Performers Guild. A pre-film concert by Vismaya (Ingrid Hagelberg) will open both shows. The renowned international singer, songwriter and composer will perform a selection of jazz and cabaret songs to celebrate happiness through song around the world. She will be accompanied by Allen Ames. Plan to arrive early to enjoy the sounds of these incredible performers.

The series is also made possible by a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Sedona, and the Sedona Community Foundation.

“Happy” will be shown at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members, and will be available starting at 3:00 p.m. that day in the Harkins lobby. Cash or checks only. Film Sedona members can purchase tickets in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office, 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, Suite A3-4, or by calling 282-1177. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.com.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Film Festival presents 'Marathon Boy' in documentary series Aug. 23


Film Festival presents 'Marathon Boy' in documentary series Aug. 23

Powerful, acclaimed film makes its Arizona premiere in Sedona; an unforgettable hero's journey that rivals any dramatic thriller

A coach and a slum boy are united by a dream and divided by the world in the powerful, award-winning new documentary “Marathon Boy” which makes its Arizona premiere in Sedona on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The Sedona International Film Festival presents this special engagement as the fourth film in its “Docs That Make a Difference” series. There will be two screenings of the film at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres.

Critics and audiences agree that “Marathon Boy” is one of the top documentaries of the year. Variety Magazine calls the film “epic, artistic and even archetypal”. The Hollywood Reporter says “Marathon Boy” is “an unforgettable documentary that rivals any thriller.”

“Marathon Boy” is the dynamic epic story of a four-year-old boy who is plucked from the slums of India by his coach and trained to become India's greatest runner, but what starts as a real Slumdog Millionaire turns into the stuff of film noir: a tale of greed, envy and broken dreams.

Budhia Singh’s life reads like a Bollywood movie scripted by Dickens. Born in India, next to a railway track, abused and beaten by an alcoholic father, he is sold at the age of three by his impoverished mother to a street hawker. Destined to lead a desperate existence as a beggar, Budhia is then rescued by a concerned local judo coach, who runs an orphanage for slum children.

It doesn’t take long for Budhia to reveal his remarkable talent for running. Biranchi seizes the opportunity to do something much more symbolic for India’s poor, as he has done so many times for other slum children in the judo arena. He embarks on a mission to turn Budhia into a running phenomenon.

Within six months, Budhia has run twenty half-marathons. Within a year, he has run 48 full marathons. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Budhia is still only four years old.

He’s become the darling of the masses, an Indian icon, and is mobbed everywhere he goes. Now Biranchi is convinced that he has the potential to become India’s greatest runner and first Olympic marathon champion.

But with the fame comes the controversies. At the end of his record-breaking 65 km run, he collapses. With the world’s eyes on them and an international storm brewing, the Indian government decides to intervene, accusing the coach of cruelty, and threatening to take his newly-adopted son into care.

Is Biranchi effectively enslaving the boy for his own gain? Has Budhia merely traded slum squalor for sporting slavery? Or is Biranchi the man who saved Budhia from a desperate future, a man who loves Budhia as his own son?

Following Budhia's roller-coaster journey over five years, “Marathon Boy” is a Dickensian tale of greed, corruption, and broken dreams set between the heart-racing world of marathon running, the poverty-stricken slums, and the political intrigue of a modernizing India.

Nothing is what it seems in Budhia and Biranchi's riveting story, and filmmaker Gemma Atwal continually shifts viewer identification to tell both a shocking story of opportunism and exploitation, but also a touching portrait of an authentic bond between a parent and child.

The series is made possible by a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Sedona, and the Sedona Community Foundation.

“Marathon Boy” will be shown at Harkins Sedona Six Theatres on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members, and will be available starting at 3:00 p.m. that day in the Harkins lobby. Cash or checks only. Film Sedona members can purchase tickets in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office, 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, Suite A3-4, or by calling 282-1177. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.com.


Film Festival and City of Sedona team up to present free film Sunday, Aug. 21


Film Festival and City of Sedona team up to present free film Sunday, Aug. 21

Award-winning filmmakers return to Sedona for the Northern Arizona premiere of "Freedom";

Enjoy incredible new documentary, thought-provoking discussion and learn about the city's sustainability efforts


The Sedona International Film Festival is partnering with the City of Sedona Sustainability Commission and the Community Plan’s Citizen Steering Committee to present a free film and discussion on Sunday, Aug. 21. The event will feature the Northern Arizona premiere of “Freedom” — a powerful and entertaining film about sustainability and living a “green” lifestyle. There will be one matinee screening of the film at 3:00 p.m. at the brand new, state-of-the-art Sedona Performing Arts Center at Red Rock High School.


“Freedom” is the follow-up film to the Oscar short-listed and Sundance and Sedona Film Festival award-winner “Fuel” which played to rave audience and critical reviews. Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell will be in town to host the film and discussion, and the “Freedom” bio-diesel bus will also be on display for audience members to tour and explore in an interactive display.

Members of the City of Sedona Sustainability Commission will talk about Sedona’s sustainable efforts and our future in greening the city.


In the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Louisiana native Josh Tickell and his wife Rebecca take an international journey to investigate alternatives to fossil fuels.


“Freedom” offers an array of green solutions. We learn about biofuels like cellulosic ethanol, plug-in hybrids and other sustainable technologies that could fulfill our transportation needs. With insightful and inspirational interviews with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former NATO Commander Wesley Clark, singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, international author Deepak Chopra and actors Ed Begley, Jr., Michelle Rodriguez and Amy Smart, “Freedom” invites people to not just get mad, but get motivated.


Above all, “Freedom” calls for a revolution in how we live. Inevitably we must shift the types of houses and cities we live in. We must rethink the way we work and change the way we treat each other and the planet. And — most importantly — we must transform ourselves.


The Sedona premiere of “Freedom” is part of a nearly four-month North American Clean Energy Tour with a focus on displacing gasoline with renewable alternatives. The Freedom Bus will be in Sedona for the screening, parked in front of the Sedona Performing Arts Center. With 18 solar panels, an E85 bio-fuel engine and power generator, energy efficiency, wind, solar and water displays and much more, the Freedom Bus is a rolling, clean energy laboratory and green mobile entertainment system.


Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell will be in Sedona to offer tours of the Freedom Bus, present the film and host a Q&A discussion following the screening.


The Sedona Sustainability Commission is a group of nine local volunteers, chosen by the Sedona City Council, to serve as an advisory board on issues related to environmental sustainability for our city. The commission was formed in 2010 and began holding monthly meetings in January. Although new, the commission is passionate and dedicated to preserving Sedona’s beauty and bringing positive and thoughtful sustainability programs to our city. The public is welcome to attend its monthly meetings. More information will be available at the “Freedom” screening event.


The Community Plan’s Citizen Steering Committee will share information about the New Community Plan update process and how citizens can be involved in this important effort. The Citizen Steering Committee for the new Community Plan will present a brief summary of the project, of ideas heard from the public to date, and a preview of opportunities for residents to make their thoughts known. These will include some workshops to be held soon on specific topics, and the "Party in a Box" which equips residents to host small meetings with friends to give their own input.


“Freedom” will be shown at the Sedona Performing Arts Center at Red Rock High School on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 3:00 p.m. All tickets are free of charge and can be reserved in advance by calling 928-282-1177 or visiting the film festival office at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, Suite A3 in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.com.

For more information about the City’s Sustainability Commission or the Community Plan’s Steering Committee, contact the Community Development Department at 928-282-1154 or visit www.SedonaAZ.gov.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Alan Arkin - Improv Workshop

Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott and myself, Elyse April are bringing Mr. Alan Arkin and his wife, Suzanne to Prescott College Crossroads Center for:

Alan Arkin - "An Improvised Life"

Friday Night Q & A (tentatively scheduled) at The Crossroads Center, Prescott College Campus
October 14th, 7-8:30PM
$20 Advance tickets, $25 at the door


ALSO: All Day Improv. Workshop Sat. October 15th & Sun. October 16h
10AM - 6PM ( 1 and 1/2 hr. lunch and small breaks)
COST: $300 (includes FREE admittance to Q &A)
LOCATION: (TBA- in Prescott)

* ONLY 20 PARTICIPANTS - We have 7 spots open!

Please call Elyse at 928 -710-5983 for further information.