InSync in St. Louis
In This Issue:
Next MCA Meeting
Mark Your Calendars for March 31
VLAA Business Edge Workshops for Artists
Feature Film Segment Calls it a Wrap in STL
Members in the Spotlight
Next MCA Meeting...
 
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN BROADCAST AND THE INTERNET
 
February 11 at 6:30
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, MO
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
2009
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT

 
PAST PRESIDENT
Michael Ketcher
michael_ketcher@yahoo.com
 

VP-PROGRAMMING
Ginger Routh
grouth@roscor.com
 
 
TREASURER
Jim Trevor
JTrevor@ameren.com
                
 
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Tom Barry
Tom_Barry@ssmhc.com
Gregg Blumenfeld gsbmedia@me.com
Lou Stemmler
SSStudios@aol.com
Vanessa R Roman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In Sync! Editor
Please submit all articles, Production Notes, and Members in the Spotlight paragraphs by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month's issue.  Text should be embedded in the body of your email and pictures should be emailed as J-peg attachments.
 
See you in the next issue!
 
Emilie Barta
Newsletter Editor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bad Dog Pictures 
 
 
 
IATSE

 
 
 
Data Media Products
 
 
 
Modern Communications
 
 
 
Duffe
 
 
 
Roscor 
 
 
 
Bruce Gannon
 
 
 
Silver Streak Studios
 
 
 
 
 
MCA-I Links
MCA-I 
February 2009
Multi Media Duplication 
 
Bridging the Gap Between Broadcast and the Internet - Next MCA Meeting
 

Whether it's re-purposing broadcast programs for the Web or streaming specialized content produced exclusively for the Internet, we're witnessing a massive shift in the way video content is delivered.  At the leading edge of this transformation are the educators of today.  Come to our Chapter's February meeting to see and hear how the experts are balancing the needs and strengths of webcasting with those of traditional broadcasts.
We're assembling a panel of professional educators and production specialists to present an overview of the latest trends and techniques for educating - and entertaining - viewers of all ages.  Our host is Don Goble, Broadcast Technology Instructor at Ladue's Horton-Watkins High School.  Don and Marketing Executive Andrew Arizpe will demonstrate SchoolTube, the recognized national source for moderated, internet media sharing for teachers and students.

The panel will also feature representatives from the City of St. Louis' STL TV - Channel 10 and from HEC-TV, the Higher Education Channel.  With input from corporate media specialists and independent producers, the evening's discussion will present you with the very latest trends and methods to deliver your - or your clients' - message effectively and efficiently.  We'll also tour the school's gorgeous production facilities, including a multi-camera studio, full master control, and Final Cut Pro post-production lab.


DATE: Wednesday, February 11  

TIME:  Networking at 6:30pm, meeting starts at 7:00pm

COST:
MCA members = free
non-members = $10
students & tv/film educators = FREE!!!

LOCATION:
1201 South Warson Road, 63124
between Clayton Road and Conway

DIRECTIONS:
From I-64 West, take the Clayton -Warson exit; left onto Clayton; quick right onto Warson.  From I-64 East, take the Lindbergh exit; right onto Lindbergh, quick left onto Clayton, then left onto Warson.
 
Can't wait to see you there !!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MARCH 31.
WE'RE GOING TO JEFF CITY TO PARTY AND POLITIC
 
If you're available on Tuesday, March 31, then plan to be in Jeff city for MOMMA's Legislative Awareness Day. This is for everyone who works in or supports the Missouri Motion Media Industry (film, video, or related fields). You don't have to be a member of MOMMA to come. We'll have representatives from all over the state. We'll be talking to legislators during the day and will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Missouri Film Commission that evening.

If you're interested in carpooling there from St. Louis, e-mail me at michael_ketcher@yahoo.com. Also, for further updates, check out www.mommaonline.com
VLAA Business Edge Workshops for Artists
 
Business Edge, a seminar series being by St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA), helps artists of all disciplines develop their business savvy.

PERSONAL FINANCE IN HARD TIMES
Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Dealing with debt? Shopping for health insurance? Thinking about writing a will? We'll help you keep your 2009 resolutions. Barbara Archer, Arch Wealth Management; Michael Callahan, Creative Benefits Design; and Attorney Corge Umlauf, Ghasedi & Umlauf, are our speakers.

ANATOMY OF A CONTRACT
Monday, Mar. 2, 2009, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Although many of us still prefer to conduct our business on a handshake, vague verbal agreements can result in ugly misunderstandings. Attorneys James W. Reeves and Kim Kirn will cover the basics, including negotiation skills.

The seminars will be held in the Regional Arts Commission's building, 6128 Delmar, which is located across the street from the Pageant and just west of the Delmar MetroLink station. The advance registration fee is $10. Registration at the door will be $15. For more information, call 314/863-6930, or visit our Web site (www.vlaa.org).

VLAA helps artists and arts organizations with their legal and accounting problems and sponsors a variety of educational programs. VLAA receives financial support from the Regional Arts Commission; the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
FEATURE FILM SEGMENT, MONSTERPIECE THEATRE VOLUME II: "CHRISTMAS STALKING," CALLS IT A WRAP IN ST. LOUIS
 
Local Sponsorships and Product Placements Sought for Future Segments To Be Shot Here

Monsterpiece Theatre Volume II segment, "Christmas Stalking," directed by Bobby Akers, Jr., recently completed production in St. Louis. This is a follow-up to Monsterpiece Theatre Volume I. Both are feature-length, horror anthologies similar to the highly-successful films, "Tales from the Crypt" and "Creepshow."

More segments of the series will be filmed in St. Louis, pending sponsorships, investment, and product placements from the St. Louis area. More information is available from Michael Ketcher(michael_ketcher@yahoo.com), who was co-executive producer and line producer for "Christmas Stalking."

Ethan Terra of Blood Worx Films and John Carl Buechler of Magical Media Industries, recently completed filming the highly anticipated new horror anthology, Monsterpiece Theatre Volume 1." MP-1 is in the same league as "Creepshow" or "Tales from the Crypt: four ghoulishly delightful creature stories, all set to a mixture of comedy, horror, and suspense.

Each story has recognizable genre stars, including: Kane Hodder ("Friday the 13th VII"), Tiffany Shepis ("Night of the Demons 2009"), Leslie Easterbrook ("Devils Rejects"), Eileen Dietz ("The Exorcist"), Bill Allen ("RAD"), John Carl Buechler ("Hatchet"), Caroline Williams ("Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2"), Kathleen Kinmont ("Bride of Re-Animator"), Joe Knetter ("Pajama Party Massacre"), Steve Barton ("Thirsty"), Jose Rosete ("Bullets over Broadway"), Jenna Beth ("Crank 2"), Ashley Bank ("Monster Squad"), Robert Rhine (girlsandcorpsesmagazine.com), as well as many great up-and-coming stars.

With the completion of Monsterpiece Theatre Volume 1, December 20th 2008, Ethan Terra decided to make "Christmas Stalking" part of Monsterpiece Theatre Volume II on December 22nd, 2008. "Christmas Stalking" filmed in St. Louis December 26th through December 29th, 2008. With just hours to make all the necessary changes, Terra produced the production from Arizona.

"We upgraded everything from the monster, to the camera, to the lights, and the sound package, and we even got Saturday Night Live personality, Bill Chott to jump back in at the last second," according to Terra, the Series Producer.

Akers and Terra both like to support the film communities in the cities that they reside in, and they did it superbly. Indeed, "Christmas Stalking" used 24 local actors and extras, 32 local crew members, and art work from several local artists.

Bobby's team was spot-on, executing everything flawlessly. It was independent film making at its finest! Blood Worx Films is knee-deep in negotiations with several mainstream distributors and has been working with top show runners to see that Monsterpiece Theatre is the next hit television series. "Christmas Stalking" is just a taste of what they have in store for fans this 2009.

Director Akers was excited to return home to St. Louis and said, "I want to bring back classic horror movies of the eighties, and making the film in St. Louis is a great step toward promoting the city as the forerunner in the horror film genre."

Akers joined with local companies, such as Fly Vision Entertainment, LLC; At The Cross Productions & Photography, LLC, (Brett Steen, Donny Blake and Mike Ketcher); Newberry Furniture/Green Homes, LLC; SuttonWood Interiors and Antiques, and Al Phillips/DesignScapes Group, LLC, to help make St. Louis a hub for filmmakers and artists alike.

National horror film icon, Joe Knetter, wrote "Christmas Stalking" and also acted in the film. The musical scorings of Lance Warlock (from the "Halloween" franchise) also will be featured. Behind the camera was local filmmaker Anthony Cabral, who co-produced "Streetballers," which was named "Best Feature" at the 2008 St. Louis Filmmakers' Showcase.

"Christmas Stalking" stars local actors Suki Peters and Ben Ritchie and introduces nine-year-old actress Annie Schlesinger. It features a cameo by St. Louis native Bill Chott, who was a principle character in the Fox Searchlight comedy movie "The Ringer," and has been a regular on "Saturday Night Live" and "The Dana Carvey Show."

Knetter will be posting updates on the online horror news source, www.dreadcentral.com
 
Members in the Spotlight
 
Mike Ketcher worked as line producer and co-executive producer for "Christmas Stalking," which is slated to be a segment for "Monsterpiece Theatre II," a feature-length independent horror anthology.