"Auditioning To Be Remembered"

TUESDAY, MARCH 18TH  11AM-1PM

Carmen Martinez, Kathryn Brink, Donn Finn
1st National Bank Atrium

Learn what casting directors are looking for and be remembered at your auditions. Casting Directors Donn Finn, Carmen Martinez and Angelique Midthunder will give techniques and tips for a better audition followed by a Q & A session to answer your questions. Actors, please bring headshots and resumes.                 

Now back in the business, Carmen Martinez has done principals casting, on her own and with major casting directors, for more than 25 studio and independent features, including Disney's "SQUANTO" Mark Rydel’s COWBOYS, Stanley Rubin’s THE TAKE, Sergio Leone’s MY NAME IS NOBODY, and Robert Redford’s MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR, TV series, and national commercials.

Carmen Martinez

New Mexico Casting Director

Kathryn Brink

Casting Director

Trained as an actor and director, Kathryn Brink did her directing internship at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC before becoming an integral part of New Mexico's film community. Kathryn's 25 years, first as a producer of TV commercials and interactive video games, and 15 years as a Casting Director have given her a unique vantage point with which to view the burgeoning film business in NM.

"Years ago, if you wanted to cast Native American actors, you went to the pueblos and met with the tribal councils and spent alot of time searching amongst the families." "It was both exhilerating and time consuming". "I knew every actor in NM". "Now, it's exhilerating and much more like a real film center...casting has changed for the better as actors train with diligence and new actors pour into NM."

Kathryn's select credits include "The Burning Plain", "In Plain Sight", "Wild Hogs", "Tennessee", "Trade", "Love Lies Bleeding",
"Husband For Hire", "Carriers", "Rent", "The Longest Yard". "RX Sin Recita", "Around The Bend".

Donn Finn

Mali Finn Casting, Los Angeles

Donn Finn of Mali Finn Casting will act as moderator. DONN FINN is a casting partner in the office of MALI FINN CASTING and adjunct Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance C.S.U in Fullerton. Current film casting projects include: LUCKY YOU, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES, SERAPHIM FALLS, and a new James Cameron project. Recent credits include: EIGHT MILE, PHONE BOOTH, TITANIC, LA CONFIDENTIAL, GREEN MILE, and WONDER BOYS to name only a few.

"Arturo Ripstein Interview" Hosted by Alan Berger & Kathi Gori

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19TH

11AM-12:30PM

1st National Bank Atrium

Alan and Kathi are screenwriters and have worked at most of the major Hollywood Studios. They have written two original feature comedies "SPAULDING GETS NOTHING" for WALT DISNEY Studios. Kathi was the award winning co-host of Up For Air, on KPFK 1996-2000, and her husband Alan co-produced the show.  Alan & Kathi are narrative judges for this year’s festival. Kathi will be interviewing Arturo Ripstein during his panel.

“Screenwriting Panel” Paz Alicia Garciadiego, moderated by Dr. Sam Smiley

THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH

11AM-1PM

“Behind every great man is a great woman”. Behind the great Mexican filmmaker Arturo Ripstein his wife and screenwriter Paz.  In 1987 Arturo began working with his wife Paz Alicia Garciadiego, a collaboration that produced some of Ripstein's most celebrated films. Of his work with screenwriter Garciadiego, the director once quipped that she, as a Catholic, introduces sin to their scripts, whereas he, as a Jew, provides the guilt.

One of Ripstein's more acclaimed efforts with Garciadiego was Principio y Fin (The Beginning and the End, 1994). Based upon the novel by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz, the film traced the disintegration of a family following the sudden death of the father.  Paz will be giving a panel on screenwriting moderated by Dr. Sam Smiley professor and author of “Playwriting, The Structure of Action”.

"Pitching Your Film to An Investor" Hosted by Elliott Lewitt

THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH
4PM-6PM
1st National Bank Atrium

Elliott is a film producer with extensive experience in the acquisition, development, production, and distribution of studio and independent film.  Elliott has produced such films as "AT CLOSE RANGE" starring SEAN PENN and "THE WATCHER" starring JAMES SPADER. Elliott is one of this years narrative judges. Elliott will be presenting his film "AROUND THE BEND" shot in New Mexico starring  CHRISTOPHER WALKEN and will be giving a panel on "Pitching your film to an investor".

"A Conversation With David Flynn" Hosted by David Flynn

FRIDAY, MARCH 21ST
2PM-4PM
1st National Bank Atrium

David is an established agent representing directors at UTA focusing on movies packaging in the independent market both domestically as well as internationally. David represents such talent as THE COHEN BROTHERS and STEVEN SODERBERGH. David produced "SERAPHIM FALLS" starring PIERCE BROSNAN which will be screened at the festival. David will be giving a roundtable titled, "A Conversation with David Flynn".

"Exploring Apple's Final Cut Studio" Taught by Bill Hanson

Friday, March 21st
10AM-12PM
1st National Bank Atrium

For over 24 years Bill Hanson has worked for Apple Computers, and currently serves as the National Consulting Engineer for US Education Sales. Broad format support along with the real-time performance of Final Cut Studio give filmmakers, production companies, and studios the tools they need to need to implement a complete solution for television and film projects. Editors can now manipulate high-definition video as easily as standard definition. This presentation will cover how to best understand and experience many of the world-class features and capabilities of this industry-leading post-production solution bundle.

Final Cut Studio combines real-time editing, stunning motion graphics, soundtrack audio production, color grading and advanced DVD video authoring. These applications will be highlighted along with extensive, integrated workflows between each tool and real-world examples of professional media production. See the tools the professionals use.  This session will open up new horizons for your digital storytelling goals and possibilities.