FUELFILM INDUSTRY EXPO THIS WEEKEND

FuelFilm: Expo is happening Sept. 28-30 and will be of benefit to anyone with an interest in filmmaking and the film industry. The three-day event is the largest film training conference in Memphis & Shelby County. The Film Commission is sponsoring Sunday morning's 9am closing panel, featuring the state film commissioners from Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi -- plus our own Memphis & Shelby County film commissioner, Linn Sitler. Discussion highlights will include states' incentive battles and how incentives have changed the recruitment game. Panel moderator is Jon W. Sparks.

FuelFilm: Expo will feature three conference tracks to address the main components of filmmaking -- The Producer/Filmmaker, The Crew and The Actor.  Workshops and industry panelists will be a part of each track to address different aspects of the various crafts.

The Expo is being held at the Southwest Tennessee Community College -- Macon Campus. Information and registration for the FuelFilm: Expo is online at fuelfilm.org/expo. 

HIRE LOCAL/SHOOT LOCAL

The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission has always encouraged local participation in both hometown and out-of-town productions, but a new Film Commission campaign, Hire Local/Shoot Local, emphasizes the importance of using more local resources when creating local projects. 

Most major Memphis corporations, Mid-South hospitals, and large not-for profit agencies spend a big part of their communications/advertising dollars on corporate videos and commercials. But who's getting the production work? 

With a special grant from MemphisED, the Film Commission's Hire Local/Shoot Local campaign will showcase Memphis/Shelby County production resources to local advertising agencies and corporations. With so many national award-winning production companies and creative individuals in the production community, the campaign of better orientating decision-makers as to "what's here" should be a winner.

LOCALLY MADE FEATURE FILM DEBUTS IN OCTOBER

The all-locally produced feature Tennessee Queer is having two premiere performances on Tuesday, Oct. 2nd, at Malco's Paradiso Theatre - one at 6:30 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. The film was shot here last year and is a client of the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission. Tickets are $10 and can be bought here. 

Except for the last day of shooting, this entire film was made within a nine-mile radius of Union/East Parkway.  The last day of shooting was in Shelby County, near the Wolfchase Mall. The cast and crew are all local and the film, produced by 88/3rd Productions, was written and executive produced by Mark Jones. 

The film has been getting a positive reception as it plays at several film festivals around the country. The comedy looks at what happens when religion, politics, and gay pride clash in a small Tennessee town when out and proud Jason Potts returns home from New York to make life better for the LGBT teenagers.

ON LOCATION: MEMPHIS SEEKING ENTRIES

On Location: MEMPHIS is taking entries for the film festival that will run April 25-27, 2013. Both local filmmakers and filmmakers from around the world are encouraged to submit their best features, documentaries, live action shorts, animation, and music videos to the 14th annual international film and music festival. The Commission is again a sponsor as it has been for all 14 years of the festival. Go here for more information.  

WHAT NOT TO WEAR: MEMPHIS EPISODES

TLC Network's What Not to Wear came to Memphis earlier this year to do several episodes with local women. The show was assisted by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission. Footage was filmed at multiple locations, including the Stax Museum and the Pink Palace Museum.

The premise of the show is to give a makeover to winners who have been nominated by their friends and family. Makeover winners are surprised by the show's hosts, Stacy and Clinton, who take them to New York and get them to rethink their fashion choices.  After selecting a brand new wardrobe, winners also get hair and make-up makeovers before returning home to show off their new look.  

Deborah Patton, co-owner of Backbeat Tours was featured in an episode that ran on August 7th. The show's description said Stacy and Clinton helped her "... rein in the ruffles to find a more appropriate version of her Southern Belle fantasy wardrobe."

See What Not to Wear videos here.

ANIMAL PLANET COMES TO TOWN

The Memphis show's star was a lucky pit bull who had been recently rescued after being stuck in a drain pipe along Memphis' Greenline. As cameras for Animal Planet recorded, Memphis Grizzly Zach 'Z-Bo' Randolph escorted the dog -- now known as "Little Z-Bo" -- to the van that took it to its new home in New Orleans. There, rehabilitation and training will be provided -- thanks to "Z-Bo" and Animal Planet! Look for the episode to air this winter on The Animal Planet Network!

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR

The Memphis-made feature film The Romance of Loneliness by Sarah Ledbetter & Matteo Servente premiered Sept 12th at Malco's Paradiso Theatre with a special concert by Deering & Down. The film, which was assisted by the Film Commission, garnered praise from The Nashville Scene which "highly recommended" the film -- describing it as "subtle yet strangely enthralling ... the way it's communicated is riveting."

The Romance of Loneliness is the feature-debut for co-directors Ledbetter and Servente, the lead debut for musician/actress Amy LaVere, and the third feature film by Memphis production company Paper Moon Films.

The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission has a strong track record in the production industry and is widely recognized for its efforts in making projects go smoothly. See our Website at filmmemphis.org and look at our production guide here.