Latinos In The Industry eNewsletter

February 21, 2008

Alex's Rambling Alert! Scroll down or click here to read the latest letter from the editor.

Strategies For Success - Before the Conference Begins!

Kick off your NALIP Conference experience with success! NALIP invites you to inspirational sessions with three charismatic leaders from the Latino community. Come down early for Conference 9 on Friday, March 7, and catch one of these three sessions from 11 am – 4 pm.

First up, Strategies for Success from producer, entrepreneur and activist Moctesuma Esparza. Mr. Esparza will explore the philosophical approach to language and intention that is essential for personal transformation. Pre-registrations have been taken for this session; come at 11 am if you want to be on the waiting list.

Susan Orosco, author of Latino Power: Seven Powers all Latinos Have Upon Which to Build an Empire, will showcase the inner power that all Latinos have that enables them to overcome adversity, and then she will point ways to build a foundation strong enough to hold a multitude of exciting dreams. She brings truth and motivation to all her speeches. We welcome her at 1:00 pm

Mr. Jeff Valdez (pictured) held the vision to found SíTV for many years. Now he is launching two new companies and joining the Boards of two others. With humor and vitality, Mr. Valdez communicates his recommendations for emerging producers and leaders. Take these ideas back to your projects, your chapters and your careers. Join us at 2:30 pm.

Register now to see any or all of these special pre-Conference speakers on Friday, March 7 – Laguna Cliffs Marriott, Dana Point. Details at www.nalip.org/conference2008/

Visit our table at NALIP Conference 9 for
75% OFF our Budgeting and Scheduling software!!!

NALIP members get an extra
10% OFF our already low prices on Software and Books!

Call for Entries: IFP Independent Film Labs

Deadlines: March 7 (Documentary) & April 11 (Narrative)

Given the pivotal role that festivals play in launching emerging filmmakers, IFP's Rough Cut Labs are designed to assist in tackling the creative and technical challenges of completing projects before they are submitted to festivals. Led by seasoned independent producers, the Labs help independent filmmakers achieve the full potential of their material prior to industry exposure by providing four days of feedback and advice on the specific technical, creative and post-production issues such as editing, music selection and scoring, festival and press strategy, sales, marketing and distribution.

The program is open to all first-time, narrative & documentary feature filmmakers who have completed the majority of principal photography. As a commitment to diversity, IFP seeks to ensure that at least 50% of participating projects have an inclusive range of races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities and physical abilities in key creative positions. The Documentary Rough Cut Lab (May 6 – 9, 2008) and Narrative Rough Cut Lab (June 10-13, 2008) are held in New York City.

Full criteria and on-line application available at www.ifp.org/labs

Sancocho Entertainment Opens, Seeks Scripts and Completed Films

We are proud to announce the grand opening of Sancocho Entertainment.
www.sancochoent.com

Sancocho Entertainment is a production company in Los Angeles - founded by NALIP member Diana Romero - with projects that represent everyone by everyone and for the world to see. Like the stew, we mix a little of everything to give you movies of quality and give you a taste of everything. This is where we stir our imagination and hopefully stir yours as well...

We are currently looking for scripts about Latinos with universal themes. We are also seeking finished films for representation. Please contact us at info@sancochoent.com

Cast/Crew: Would you like to be in our files for upcoming projects? Send your headshots/resumes to:
Sancocho Entertainment
Hollywood Production Center
121 W. Lexington Dr. - Suite 352
Glendale, CA 91203

(Please do not send unsolicited scripts. They will be discarded.)

Diana Romero's most recent picture, NIÑA QUEBRADA was greenlit for production and was awarded the inaugural ACE (Animal Content in Entertainment) Production grant. NIÑA QUEBRADA can be seen at the 2008 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 2008 San Diego Latino Festival and at the NALIP Conference 2008. Currently Diana lives in Los Angeles and continues to produce and expand her consulting business.

CINE365 Kicks Off With Made in LA Screening (San Francisco)

The International Latino Film Society's quality program of year round film screenings, CINE 365, is starting up once again!

MADE IN L.A.
Sat. March 1st, 7:00pm.
An award-winning documentary!
Filmmakers in attendance!
Join us for an inspiring documentary detailing the struggle and personal transformation of three Latina garment factory workers.

Brava Theatre
2781 24th Street, San Francisco
Day of ticket sales only. Box Office opens 30 min. before show time.

Made in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from a mega-trendy clothing retailer. In intimate verite style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman's life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice.

Teen Filmmakers Premiere Work at Youth Visions 2008 (San Diego)

Media Arts Center San Diego's 15th Anniversary San Diego Latino Film Festival, presented State Farm Insurance, is proud to present YOUTH VISIONS 2008 an eclectic array of socially conscious documentaries and experimental shorts from media centers and schools throughout the country. In this program youth filmmakers from New York, Colorado, Los Angeles and San Diego lend their perspectives to important social issues such as Immigration, Racism and Community violence that are directly affecting their neighborhoods, homes and lives. Also included in this program are a selection of experimental shorts from young filmmakers who explore the medium of filmmaking.

Come out to support films written, directed, and produced by youth on Tuesday, March 11th, 6 PM at Ultrastar Mission Valley Cinemas @ Hazard Center (7510 Hazard Center Dr., San Diego, CA 92108). Tickets are $9.50 for General Admission and for $7.50 Students.

The following list is a sample of films to be screened:

* Americas Invisible Backbone: Rights vs. Limitations
Students from Educational Video Center (EVC) in New York explore Immigration Policy in the United States. Teen filmmakers ask the question, what would the United States would be like without immigrants? They interview politicians, activists, and new Americans about the current debate on immigration reform and the link between immigration rights and the foundations of American democracy. (Organization: Education Video Center EVC Documentary; 19 min.; New York/NY/USA)

* Pero La Vida Sigue
Documentary Short from In Progress that examines the impacts of teenage suicide on one family. (Organziation: In Progress: Documentary; 5 min.; Carbondale/CO/USA)

* The A-G Requirements: Your Pathway to Californias Colleges and Universities
An 13 minute youth-produced documentary educating Latino parents and students about the need to successfully complete the A-G requirements. The A-G Requirements must be completed before applying to California's colleges and universities. (Organization: MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO: Documentary; 13 min.; San Diego/CA/USA)

* I Want My Parents Back
Teen Producers from the MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO examine the ways the present immigration policy affect the lives of the residents of their community by highlighting the story of the Munoz family The Munoz family were once a local San Diego family, who have now been separated after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid into their community and home. (Organization: MEDIA ARTS CENTER SAN DIEGO: Documentary; 11 min.; San Diego/CA/USA)

For more information on YOUTH VISIONS 2008 contact Farzad Nikbakht at farzad@mediaartscenter.org | 619-230-1938 x 102 or visit www.sdlatinofilm.com.

A Conversation with José Rivera

He swept us around the South American continent with THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES. He transported us to India in THE JUNGLE BOOK: MOWGLI'S STORY. He has written for television ("Eerie, Indiana," "Night Visions") and is taking us "ON THE ROAD" with his adaptation of the Jack Kerouac classic.

Join NALIP Board member Frances Negrón-Muntaner as she talks with this accomplished writer about his pan-Latino perspective on this fascinating body of work, and as he reveals details about his next feature project, which he will direct. Register NOW for NALIP Conference 9 to see this and many other inspiring case studies and key Latino/a filmmakers. Register now on the Conference 9 website.

37th New Directors / New Films Slate Unveiled

The 37th New Directors/New Films will open at The Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, March 26. This year's edition includes 26 features and seven shorts as well as an HBO Films roundtable. Lineup invites NALIP member Alex Rivera and SLEEP DEALER to this presitigious viewing. Curated by MoMA and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, ND/NF has long been considered a premier event spotlighting emerging talent. In all, work from 17 countries are on tap for the series taking place in New York, March 26 - April 6.

"Sleep Dealer," directed by Alex Rivera is set sometime in the not too distant future, when big corporations control the water supply and international borders are truly airtight. In a Mexican village, Memo, a young man who loves to tinker with technology, hacks into the wrong system and finds himself in big trouble. When he runs off to a border town, he finds a job and a girl--but no guarantee of a happy ending. In his debut feature, director Alex Rivera creates a chilling scenario that is not so far-fetched. With the look and energy of a futuristic computer game, the film treats us to a world where migrant workers' nervous systems are plugged into a global network, allowing them to do menial jobs in the U.S. for the same low wages but without setting foot north of the border. A thriller of a ride that is a chilling indictment of global capitalism and a look at the lost promises of the world wide web.

Don't Miss ALEX at NALIP Conference 9 -- Sunday, March 9. Register now on the Conference 9 website.

HBO Hails "Taxi to the Dark Side"
(Variety) - HBO has picked up pay TV rights to the controversial Oscar-nommed doc "Taxi to the Dark Side" after Discovery Channel opted not to run it for now. FULL STORY

Paramount Seals Blu-ray Sweep
(The Hollywood Reporter) - All six major Hollywood studios are now in the Blu-ray Disc camp, a day after Toshiba has pulled the plug on HD DVD and Blu-ray became effectively the only next-gen game in town. FULL STORY

Coen Brothers Poised For Big Oscar Night
(indieWIRE) - With their "No Country Old Men" nominated for 8 Academy Awards, 4 of which are for themselves, Joel and Ethan Coen are heading into Sunday's ceremony in an unlikely position: the overwhelming front runners. FULL STORY

Visit the NALIP Job Opportunities page for all the latest listings.

Casting: Spanish Speakers for UCLA Short
"Inez y Augusto" short film, entirely in Spanish, shooting on March 2nd. FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Casting: Name That Tune, Game Show
We're raising the stakes in this all new version of the classic game show! Now casting contestants. FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Dear Friendos y Friendas (I love the line, thank you Coen bros.),

Tic, toc, tic, toc… you hear it?... tic, toc, tic, toc,… si, estoy seguro you can hear it… It is the sound of opportunity passing you by if you haven’t already registered for the NALIP Conference 9. As you may know, o no, I am bien suertudote to work very closely with the organizers of the Conf, helping with the event image. And as you may also know I am an independent consultant to the organization helping put together this, your newsletter, as one of the editors (just of pinche nombre). And you may also be savvy that I keep very close friendship with members of the board and staff (no mas para apantallarlos). And you may know that I am very grateful to the organization for the many doors and business opportunities that have opened for me. And you may know… oh, carajo, you know the rest.

Regardless of all the above, creanme, camiones, when I say, that one that miss this annual gathering es un TONTEJO de esos grandes.

For those that have never been there: OUTSTANDING NETWORKING opportunities are for aquellos with the shy meter in low (big caca grandes of all the studios, independent distributors and producers stroll the hallways just next to you); there is a great chance that you will come out of it less of a bruto, LEARNING SOMETHING NEW in the many panels and seminars; you will be INSPIRED and MOTIVATED when you realize that you are not the only tarugo con sueños and when you see and hear from those that have achieved theirs; you will make NEW FRIENDOS y FRIENDAS; HAVE A BALL in the fiestas; drink some TEQUILA and PULQUE (somebody will sneak a barrel, I know); and have one of the BEST TACO DE OJO of the year. Whatever sacrifice you need to make to come up with the centavitos necesarios, it is worth it, de veritas, garantizado por su servilleta (and they may still be looking for volunteers, I don’t know, so don’t tell them I told you so).

To those that have been there: Ahi nos wachamos, cause I know that you will not miss it or then you will be a double tontejo... (Donicio, can you hear me?).

This is just a short piece of wisdom from your favorite Guru. Back to work, because the tic, toc, tic, toc is loud and clear for me too, and I need to have everything bien bonito pa tochos ustedes. Chin…on, aqui vamos de nuez!

Su humilde compinche,
Alexito, el bonito…

p.s. Me llego el chisme that there are many, but many, subscribers to this YOUR newsletter, that are still not NALIP members… bueno,… que voy a decir…, el que por su gusto es…

Editor
Alex Mendoza
Alex Mendoza & Associates
AMARTE Design & Digital Printing
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Temple City, CA 91780
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Co-Editor
NALIP
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membership@nalip.info

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The Latinos in the Industry e-Newsletter is a free service provided by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) with the generous assistance of Alex Mendoza & Associates (AMA) in an “as-is” basis for the education and information of users only. NALIP and/or AMA, their principal(s), employees, agents or representatives shall under no circumstances be liable for any loss or damage, including, but not limited to, loss of profits, goodwill or indirect or consequential loss arising out of any use of or inaccuracies in the information. All warranties expressed or implied are excluded to the fullest extent permissible by law. All comments and postings, including those by the Editor, are the responsibility of those individuals posting and no endorsement by NALIP and/or AMA should be inferred. Referral links and individual e-mail forwarding are permitted. NALIP reserves the right to withdraw or delete information or to discontinue this service at any time. All quoted, linked and/or referred information, as well as all copyrights and trademarks, are the property of their respective holders, used here under license and/or “fair-use” rules. © NALIP.