WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL TAKE OF THE FILM COMMISSION!
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TAKE ONE
Memphis' Only International Film Festival Opens Tonight!
The On Location: Memphis International Film and Music Festival opens Thursday with a feast of films, workshops and parties.
 | | Tom Berenger |
Special guests include actors Tom Berenger (BREAKING POINT) and Jaime Camil (REGRESA), and director Jeff Celentano (BREAKING POINT).
As a key sponsor, the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission endorses the festival as one of the many assets to which the City and County can point when we show filmmakers from around the world what we have to offer.
Among the dozens of films are Tom McCarthy's WIN-WIN, REGRESA, FINDING KIND and BREAKING POINT.
 | | A production shot from Steven J. Ross' DANCING ON A VOLCANO (photo by Craig Leake) |
Films with a local connection include: DANCING ON A VOLCANO, by University of Memphis Professor Steven J. Ross, 100 LIVES by local actor/filmmaker Phil Darius Wallace, JOHN GRAY, SCORNED and documentaries BETTER THAN SOMETHING: JAY REATARD, CHILDREN OF THE WALL by Eric Swartz and BLAZE FOLEY: DUCT TAPE MESSIAH.
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 | | Several of the MG's (the Memphis Group) that attended the AFFT reception |
In late March, the Association for the Future of Film & Television in Tennessee (AFFT) held a reception for state lawmakers in Nashville to encourage passage of MORE COMPETITIVE film incentive legislation. AFFT is Tennessee's only state-wide association for film and television. For more information, go to AFFTTennessee.org. Several senators and representatives attended along with AFFT members who represent all facets of the state's film industry.
Among the Memphians attending the reception were Linn Sitler,
 | | Paul Young and Linn Sitler at the AFFT reception. |
Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commissioner, Jimmy Tashie, Senior Vice-President of Malco Theaters and Board Chairman of The Commission; George Little, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Memphis; TaJuan Stout Mitchell, Administrator of the Intergovernmental Relations Office for the City of Memphis; Johnnie Walker, Commissioner for the Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission, Andy Dean, Principal, Dean Film & Video, Paul Young, Legislative Liaison, Shelby County. Local legislators who were there included bill sponsor Rep. Steve McManus, Sen. Brian Kelsey, Speaker of the House Rep. Beth Harwell, Rep. Mark White, Rep. Jim Coley, Rep. Curry Todd, Rep. Johnnie Turner and Rep. Larry Miller.
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TAKE THREEUNDEFEATED hits SXSW and gets Weinstein deal
 The documentary UNDEFEATED, filmed locally with assistance from the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission, was a hit at SXSW and was picked up by the Weinstein Company.
The film tells the Cinderella story of the Manassas Tigers football team from the perspective of three student athletes from inner city Memphis and a volunteer coach. Here's the story on the Weinstein acquisition. |
TAKE FOUR MEMPHIS HEAT  | | At MEMPHIS HEAT premiere: Scott Bomar, Mike McCarthy, Jimmy Hart and John Beifuss |
"MEMPHIS HEAT: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin'," premiered on March 24 telling the remarkable story of professional wrestlers like Sputnik Monroe, Jackie Fargo and Jerry Lawler. Produced by Sherman Willmott and Ron Hall and directed by Chad Schaffler, the two-years-in-the-making MEMPHIS HEAT opened to hot reviews and a strong local reception. The documentary makers are clients of the Commission.
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TAKE FIVE
Music Video Showcase
 Some 850 people turned out during a weekend in March to experience the 2011 Music Video Showcase produced by Live From Memphis. There were three rounds of screenings, plus workshops and parties to mark the showing of 49 videos at Malco's Studio on the Square.
The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission/MemphisED was a donor to the event that featured several locally produced videos.
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TAKE SIX
THE GRACE CARD
 | | Memphis actor Michael Higgenbottom in THE GRACE CARD |
Commission client THE GRACE CARD opened nationwide on Feb. 25 and made a big impression. Opening weekend, it earned $1,010,299 in 352 theaters and came in at No. 16. Total grosses to date are $2,377,570.
Reviews and audience response nationwide have been strong and positive, including a rave review in Variety.
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TAKE SEVEN
SHORT TAKES
- "Local Color" - the new WKNO-TV program hosted by Mamie Shannon that covers culture and entertainment in Memphis - featured film topics in its March 31 episode. Guests included Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commissioner Linn Sitler, University of Memphis film professor and filmmaker Steven J. Ross, On Location: Memphis International Film and Music Festival president Lisa Bobal and Memphis Flyer performance writer Chris Davis. See the episode here.
- "Memphis," the Tony Award-winning musical on Broadway, will be on big screens nationwide - including Memphis - on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, May 1. It will be presented at the Malco Paradiso along with more than 530 movie theaters nationwide. For more info, go here.
- The Outflix Spring/Summer Movie series is showing SUNSET BOULEVARD on May 19, ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT on May 26, RENT on June 2 and FOOTLOOSE on June 9 at Malco's Studio on the Square. Look up Outflix Spring/Summer Series on Facebook for more info.
- Indie Memphis will hold its 14th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival this year from November 3 to November 6. Screenings and events will once again take place in the heart of Midtown Memphis at the new Playhouse on the Square, Malco Theatre's Studio on the Square, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. For more info, go here.
- Live From Memphis' Bikesploitation film screenings and contest is underway. Deadline for entries is May 2, 2011. For more info, go here.
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AND THAT'S A WRAP!
for this month's issue of The Official Take! To sign up for your copy, just click the link below or email sharon@memphisfilmcomm.org.
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