tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683319931469261682024-02-18T19:20:39.119-08:00Curtis WayneCurtis Wayne, Austin's Best VillainCurtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-17403364200806894152015-05-28T20:02:00.003-07:002015-05-28T20:10:38.371-07:00Reunion rapture with friends on HBO's "The Leftovers"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1R97z_xyNE8vKEvwcsSiVlzDk6Wepo0oOH5Bh8sepV7JQ33cskuHbwjX1ApI1D5BxJ3881TIKjZ3O5cz04DlJljrqCGq_L4NFkaps9O2vD6Vr0mRHVSLlG2tUEsuw_kYATxE5gOFv/s1600/curtis-david-ben-HBO-leftovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1R97z_xyNE8vKEvwcsSiVlzDk6Wepo0oOH5Bh8sepV7JQ33cskuHbwjX1ApI1D5BxJ3881TIKjZ3O5cz04DlJljrqCGq_L4NFkaps9O2vD6Vr0mRHVSLlG2tUEsuw_kYATxE5gOFv/s400/curtis-david-ben-HBO-leftovers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The biblical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture">rapture</a> has come, and guess who didn't make the cut? These f*%#ers! Shocking, I know.<br />
<br />
The creators (no pun intended) of <i>Lost</i> and <i>Friday Night Lights</i> have brought Austin, Texas another major TV series, this one on HBO. <a href="http://www.hbo.com/the-leftovers#/the-leftovers/about/index.html" rel="nofollow">The Leftovers</a> is a show about what happens when 2% of the population mysteriously disappears in what is presumed to be the great Biblical event, and what happens to the rest of us schlubs.<br />
<br />
I'm pleased to be acting in episodes 202 and 203, directed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001460/?ref_=nv_sr_1" rel="nofollow">Mimi Leder</a>. The show stars <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0857620/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow">Justin Theroux</a> (<i>Parks & Rec, Six Feet Under, </i>yadda yadda), Liv Tyler ('nuff said), and many more excellent actors, plus the always awesome Austin A-crews.<br />
<br />
Filmed in the quaint Austin 'burb of Lockhart (site of my first General Mills cereal commercial!), I was thrilled to catch up with fellow acting mates <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0085893/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" rel="nofollow">David Blackwell</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0852023/?ref_=fn_al_nm_7" rel="nofollow">Ben Taylor</a>. Great guys, and a joy to work with (both are wonderful in their scenes).<br />
<br />
Many thanks to Liz and Jorge at <a href="http://www.tagtalent.com/Main.php?Region=Tx&Branch=Main" rel="nofollow">The Atherton Group</a>, and to Emmy-winning <a href="http://www.austinmonthly.com/AM/October-2014/Channel-Changer-Beth-Sepko/" rel="nofollow">Beth Sepko</a> for the read.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-20795764109421182152014-08-17T10:27:00.003-07:002014-08-19T19:35:33.080-07:00Texas Justice on ABC's "American Crime"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFY_AgeEfCuNv6PQfXMe-LL2VHmffFGb5IVPUYWGnR1KK-wEZkVYKeiMJRqENDC6DKFvvtRBT2ZkLRfgs_pHDjGaFCYEx2mOOD40eVfJvfgaH1GJoc7aSSsa81MgpVoxFVLTR1a_m/s1600/Curtis+Wayne_ABC+American+Crime+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFY_AgeEfCuNv6PQfXMe-LL2VHmffFGb5IVPUYWGnR1KK-wEZkVYKeiMJRqENDC6DKFvvtRBT2ZkLRfgs_pHDjGaFCYEx2mOOD40eVfJvfgaH1GJoc7aSSsa81MgpVoxFVLTR1a_m/s1600/Curtis+Wayne_ABC+American+Crime+103.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I was feeling very Robert Duvall-y in Episode 103 of ABC's <i>American Crime</i>, as the "old bull" cop to Brady Alland's "young bull" cop, as we work the beat, keeping our friend Ziko Farajzada ("Marco" on the show) on the straight and narrow.<br />
<br />
As always, was a pleasure to work with friendly, professional, and capable Austin, Texas crew. Muchas gracias to casting director Beth Sepko for the read, and my homies James and Claudia at TAG for rustling up the biz! Special thanks to Director Gloria Muzio; she created a very comfortable environment for the actors.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dB17TG8y3rVLnFO-9bC88olv5MqONgMzdSnRZbERnp0wubMdsJZ02nTBXlgI8112wTEnGjs_94qqqvIzXBmyKoK_0W275KM_6ayPUsR3bODBiNCDcJn21vRHsEe2UqvCMSBYw5he/s1600/Curtis+Wayne_ABC+American+Crime+103-+Zeko.Brady.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dB17TG8y3rVLnFO-9bC88olv5MqONgMzdSnRZbERnp0wubMdsJZ02nTBXlgI8112wTEnGjs_94qqqvIzXBmyKoK_0W275KM_6ayPUsR3bODBiNCDcJn21vRHsEe2UqvCMSBYw5he/s1600/Curtis+Wayne_ABC+American+Crime+103-+Zeko.Brady.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Best of luck to Brady, Ziko, and muchacho Edgar, all of whom are committed to the acting biz, and have lots of great credits already. No doubt we'll see them in the big time soon!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-54568013085944162022014-05-19T08:05:00.000-07:002014-05-28T08:06:29.849-07:00Going out in a blaze of glory on NBC's Revolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6FwSrTdwQf4/U4X7Pj_z5FI/AAAAAAAAGdw/snUpZUy6Au4/s1600/revo-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6FwSrTdwQf4/U4X7Pj_z5FI/AAAAAAAAGdw/snUpZUy6Au4/s1600/revo-logo.png" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tune in to the Season 2 Finale of NBC's popular sci-fi show <i>Revolution</i>, currently being filmed here in Austin, Texas, to see General Curtis Wayne blasted to kingdom come. Shout out to Beth Sepko and my great agents (James, Liz, Claudia) at TAG for the booking. Had a blast reuniting with Katherine Willis, and meeting some wonderful new friends, like Mark Chavarria and David Lyons.<br />
<br />
If this was the show's swan song, at least we both went out with a BANG!</div>
Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-32558759278277568212013-11-08T18:12:00.002-08:002013-11-08T18:19:37.033-08:00Bright House Loft House and a Day in the Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Enjoyed a day in a way cool loft house over in Elgin, Texas with the team at <a href="http://fueldfilms.com/">Fueld Films</a>, shooting a commercial for Time-Warner subsidiary Bright House cable services. Also got to reunite with one of the <a href="http://hawgfly.com/the-gore-girls/">Gore Girls</a>, Meredith Johns, whom I hadn't seen since we worked together on Mark Vittek's black comedy Meat, and Andi, the 1st AD that I first met back in the red-clay-dog-days of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HSGFWM?tag=curwayboo-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B000HSGFWM&adid=00R695EBYT0C2ZGCVW73&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fcurtiswaynenews.blogspot.com%2F">Prison Break</a> (Season 3).<br />
<br />
We jammed to the sounds of the director on the piano and guitar, talked football with Brook, the 2nd AD, and chowed down on some authentic Elgin BBQ. I got compared by one of the client producers to "a young Pete Rose" and Henry Rollins. You decide.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130408095647-pete-rose-001298472-single-image-cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130408095647-pete-rose-001298472-single-image-cut.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.underthegunreview.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/henry-rollins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.underthegunreview.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/henry-rollins.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Between takes, I was queitly directing global teams for a Fortune 50 company from my cell phone, with no one the wiser. I felt like a super-spy. Acting meets consulting; high-tech and high touch converge in Elgin. <br />
<br />
With BBQ sauce.</div>
Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-43342575522008017342013-02-12T17:52:00.001-08:002013-10-03T06:39:19.042-07:00The Furious and the Fast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITpXyz8aUpMfStrCqT97XqQ6G6cmmRhMJozdThEpdOt5MIvkPr8bX8yK4-QNmBJZdhQ6tsJxYDlt4sfqiJCMkmpOKAVeBnZaK9rwR91Jjm-zqKl5YkZlU0KlX1rcKnHsiQNcIj12L/s1600/324542_10200233195817212_1477103416_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITpXyz8aUpMfStrCqT97XqQ6G6cmmRhMJozdThEpdOt5MIvkPr8bX8yK4-QNmBJZdhQ6tsJxYDlt4sfqiJCMkmpOKAVeBnZaK9rwR91Jjm-zqKl5YkZlU0KlX1rcKnHsiQNcIj12L/s400/324542_10200233195817212_1477103416_o.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
Enjoyed shooting the new Dallas TV series (episode 7: "The Furious and the Fast"), airing on TNT. Tremendous crew, as always in Dallas. Happy to see many familiar and smiling faces in Big D. Very nice cadre of stars, both old and new. And I was gratified to meet and work with Patrick Duffy, who first entered my consciousness as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075533/combined">The Man from Atlantis</a>, one of the coolest sci-fi TV shows ever!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dAIFG1RwjQ29PGqJ0U9LKgjOt8dBEKGfIr8EWuB4xfydI8mRWCl58LbuIkljPLCH1PG3JDZr7oYO8usmtMAeTP2bhffjeRSQvQpf0EZ1e2TgMDcmGo2IxXzjip50JF69-6qhc58s/s1600/Dallas-with-Charles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dAIFG1RwjQ29PGqJ0U9LKgjOt8dBEKGfIr8EWuB4xfydI8mRWCl58LbuIkljPLCH1PG3JDZr7oYO8usmtMAeTP2bhffjeRSQvQpf0EZ1e2TgMDcmGo2IxXzjip50JF69-6qhc58s/s320/Dallas-with-Charles.jpg" width="320" /></a>One really fun aspect was shooting the Texas Motor Speedway, where I got to be part of a gen-u-wiiiine NASCAR pit crew, boyItelluwhut!! Those guys operate like a friggin' SWAT team! Greased. Freaking. Lighting. Boom!<br />
<br />
My thanks to director Rodney Chalmers, Producer Cynthia Cidre, and to Beth Sepko for the read.</div>
Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-80345399687799046742012-08-24T20:20:00.000-07:002012-11-12T20:20:52.547-08:00Black Irish Curtis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Filming a small part in Paul Mignot's next project, with Michael Stahl-David. Enjoyed this dude in The Black Donnellys. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Spent the day with Confederate Airforce bad-asses in Seguin.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Nice change from the consulting world. :-)</span></div>
Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-32566879853457041802012-03-08T21:18:00.003-08:002012-03-10T13:39:03.095-08:00Baby Face Danielle: Supahstah!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/campaign/TV/eng.swf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4MzTyferrowPEnQk_OqSO9NW31VVERmllKZQkusmBnCgh2qOfOW34m1OrNDRSvIU-HpwLGuBhyrtMs2v0VnhfOADTLwHlGeJNNmmgxLw3z48dXJk9zBpNyq_i9oG03ITE84u5tcK/s200/danielle-sma-spot.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Just learned that my oldest daughter's first TV commercial (shot at the ripe old age of 18 months), and featuring her mommy Mary Bucek, is <a href="http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/campaign/TV/eng.swf" target="_blank">on the web here</a>, courtesy of the Sherry Matthews Agency. ALERT: It's for a breastfeeding campaign, so beware of boobies.</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-34737828942688354762012-02-05T09:07:00.000-08:002012-02-05T09:07:03.935-08:00Best of Texas Movies<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/State-Fare-Irreverent-Guide-Movies/dp/0875653677/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328461450&sr=8-1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-myywlDca4O4/Ty62Fo44vSI/AAAAAAAAGRs/Cc2wRN7Lx-c/s320/texas-fare-book.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don Graham's book about Texas Movies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's a fun <a href="http://www.texasmonthly.com/2011-06-01/feature2.php" target="_blank">article from Texas Monthly</a> on making movies in Texas that I just stumbled across. A "panel of experts" (WTF that means, I'm not sure) decides the Top Ten Movies ever Made in Texas. I'm not big on "top 10" lists about pop culture, but the article is interesting more for the details you learn about the particular films, and of course, the predispositions about the people naming them, which may serve some of you aspiring filmmakers well, especially those in our <a href="http://www.texasfilmscene.com/" target="_blank">Texas Film Scene community</a>.<br />
<br />
While the article is from June 2011, the content is evergreen, and I think you'll get a kick out of it. Enjoy!Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-73233330418308746232010-08-19T13:44:00.000-07:002010-09-02T14:22:50.379-07:00Acting class starting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajBeyMBQvUQy1E91SRLvWuTqoX4FREPz6ndJJbJDczQg-ZmnIHLgV8iL7yNzI6v-TuAAC4jCvrpxd6FeFAVTjKLkNk0026ZnKCybPCUb7zlpcAm81-zNM35IVUcSk6SYXMdkP8D1m/s1600/LightsCameraAction-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajBeyMBQvUQy1E91SRLvWuTqoX4FREPz6ndJJbJDczQg-ZmnIHLgV8iL7yNzI6v-TuAAC4jCvrpxd6FeFAVTjKLkNk0026ZnKCybPCUb7zlpcAm81-zNM35IVUcSk6SYXMdkP8D1m/s1600/LightsCameraAction-300x300.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">UPDATE:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://texasfilmmakers.ning.com/page/auditioning-without-agony">This Saturday</a>, I am launching the "beta" version of my on-camera "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Auditioning"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> acting class. This initial class is by invitation only, so if you would like to attend, </span><a href="mailto:curtiswayne@gmail.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">email me</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, and I'll let you know if there are any spots left. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The class will focus strictly upon auditioning, which I believe to be a little bit of a black art, no matter what anybody tells you. Many folks who read this blog are veteran actors, some are newbs, and some are not actors at all. A few of each have signed up for the initial class, so you'll be in good company.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We'll cover some of the following items. The rest we'll cover during the full-length course:</span></span></div><div><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The kind of auditions you should be focusing on for your "type."</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7 things you should ALWAYS do during an audition.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Differences between auditions and on-set performances.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3 things you should NEVER do during an audition.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Owning the room.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How to handle improvised, no-line, and 1-, 2-, or 3-line auditions.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span>Group auditions vs. solo auditions vs. "firing line" auditions.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Role reversal tips.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Taking direction and making adjustments.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Making use of the full frame.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Sit, stand, or lie down? How to handle stage directions.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hot choices and when to make them.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What to wear, and what to NEVER wear!</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Off-book or on-book? Should you memorize your lines?</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Live auditions vs. taped auditions.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Regional casting directors' likes and dislikes.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How to make story-accurate choices.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Bait & Switch- what to do when you are asked to read for a DIFFERENT part.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Using your voice to best advantage.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cold Readings – Sides are given to each actor in the audition class and they have between five and fifteen minutes to prepare for the audition.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Warm Readings – sides are e-mailed to the actors several days in advance and they bring in their prepared auditions.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Text Analysis – Method that teaches how to efficiently break down a scene to create certainty while auditioning.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Improvised auditions.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">How to use your nerves to your advantage.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Transitioning your auditioning skills into a real world audition. Many actors perform fabulously when going over sides on their own, in acting class or with a coach only to have a less than par audition in a real world situation.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How to kick off your audition with "guns blazing."</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Keeping records of your auditions.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Keys for product commercials.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Reading for "non-actor / real people" roles.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">other fun stuff.</span></span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In the course of each audition class, actors will work, and see their work on-screen.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Happy auditioning, everyone! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>P.S. - A shout-out to our friend Karl Anderson, who booked a role on the new TV series </i></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582458/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Chase</i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>. Way to go, Karl!</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-67743156924659657872010-06-12T20:26:00.000-07:002010-06-17T14:42:57.116-07:00Pitching a TV show to Oprah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95b04pHYGJ-D5EiHgVMgsJlFutLyyy41DxyICej1Belqt0rKBiwQnmijFgdds5Zz76HFUlCv_tJOgYr17cvHopUwW7WooCbm2fYtSZ2oDpbHdk4XkkclDkZ9IsAwiKACTfqfAbimi/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95b04pHYGJ-D5EiHgVMgsJlFutLyyy41DxyICej1Belqt0rKBiwQnmijFgdds5Zz76HFUlCv_tJOgYr17cvHopUwW7WooCbm2fYtSZ2oDpbHdk4XkkclDkZ9IsAwiKACTfqfAbimi/s400/IMG_0724.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I'm in Dallas this weekend, for the in-person <a href="http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=add_video&entity_id=208231119">pitch to the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)</a>. As always, there were important lessons to be learned.<br />
<br />
Things like this are always a long shot, but my friend <a href="http://www.kaidupe.com/">Kai Dupe</a> and I met many wonderful people, and enjoyed the experience quite a bit. Props to Mary for clueing us in to the whole event!<br />
<br />
Today was one of the four American Idol-type "cattle call" events. You can also submit online. I did both.<br />
<br />
The online video pitch, which you can find below, allows you to vote easily, with no registration, and as often as you like. I suggest 500-600 times per day, please. :-) I'm shooting for 10,000 votes. Most importantly, though, I'd love to hear your comments and feedback, as I may pitch this to other networks or self-produce, so I'm anxious to hear what you guys think. By the way, much love to Marissa, Roze, James, and L.A. Houston for their great comments. If you're not a member of <a href="http://www.texasfilmscene.com/">Texas Film Scene</a> yet, try joining up, and connecting with others like you, who are doing it for themselves.<br />
<br />
One lesson in this experience has been that you don't get the call if you don't show up. One guy in Kai's group got a call back, so it DOES happen, and we were close. Another lesson is the importance of being "good in a room," that is, knowing HOW to pitch; in other words, sales. So, 20 years later, that communications degree doesn't look like such a bad call, after all! Finally, you have to remember: you're not <i>actually</i> pitching Oprah. Sorry. You are <i>actually</i> pitching a young (like, 25 year old) junior casting associate. So if your pitch falls flat, take heart. Oprah might love your pitch, when she eventually gets to hear it. But to do that, you may have to make your OWN way for a while, until O comes knocking on <i>your</i> door, saying, "Hey, I'm a big fan of your show!" <br />
<br />
Please <b>VOTE</b> if you like the video, and let me know your feedback. Thanks! <a href="http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=9252&promo_id=1">Here's the URL</a>.Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-41818590989001113002010-05-24T03:15:00.000-07:002010-05-24T03:16:04.952-07:00Is your Website ready for Google TV?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/diTpeYoqAhc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/diTpeYoqAhc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="385" height="230"></embed></object></span></span><br />
Google just announced that Google TV is real, and gave a public demo, via YouTube (above). It's been the talk of the digerati for a few months now, but at last it's confirmed. Google also said that by summer of 2011, Google TV will be open-sourced. That's a big deal.<br />
<br />
For one thing, it could pull the life-support plug on AppleTV, which was already reeling from Netflix's partner offerings, like the Roku box, and Amazon's similar service. For another, it pretty much squashes any hope Microsoft had of jumping in with a new dedicated hardware offering and/or service; fortunately, the X-Box 360 is a sanctioned Netflix-streaming device, but that's all MS has got, really.<br />
<br />
I remember a presentation by MIT prof <a href="http://philip.greenspun.com/">Philip Greenspun</a> in 2001 here in Austin. He talked about how these awesome new 3G phones were the rage in Japan. People could websurf on them at ridiculous speeds, and the technology was coming here soon. Corporations needed to prepare their sites by offering a WAP (wireless access protocol), or 'mobile' version. Philip was a little <a href="http://philip.greenspun.com/panda/">ahead of his time</a>.<br />
<br />
Mobile browsing did eventually catch on here in America, much later than Greenspun predicted. Now Google has given the same heads-up: is your Website GTV-ready? I don't even know what that entails, but you can be damn sure I'm gonna find out. Soon.Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-71494782265137078752010-05-01T21:38:00.000-07:002010-05-01T21:38:02.929-07:00Be the Media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bethemedia.com/BeTheMedia2008web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bethemedia.com/BeTheMedia2008web.jpg" /></a></div>David Mathison, former CEO of Kinecta Corporation (purchased by Oracle) has written a book called <a href="http://www.bethemedia.com/">Be the Media</a>. Great title. The content is good, too, though a little shallow. Mathison attempts to cover an ocean's range of subjects, and while the topics are a mile wide, they are only about a foot deep. Actually, more like a yard deep, to be fair. It's a good introduction to several areas, but probably nothing most indie producers don't already know.<br />
<br />
Even better than the book, though, is Mathison's Be the Media Internet radio show on <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/be-the-media">BlogTalk Radio</a>. He's got some impressive guests, and deeper discussions on the topics he scrapes the surface of in the book. Recent guests included Seth Godin and Terry McBride. So far, every episode I've heard has been good. One of the best for filmmakers was <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/be-the-media/2010/04/14/film-consultant-peter-broderick-and-kat-dodds">this one</a>, featuring distribution guru Peter Broderick.<br />
<br />
I like the book, but cannot heartily recommend it. But I do recommend Mathison's BTR podcast. Check it out.Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-48218883792569521422010-04-05T11:08:00.000-07:002012-07-01T13:27:01.894-07:00Instant jam session- just add iPhone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kiBVTzQdsUE" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
Musicians, have you ever felt the urge to have a jam session with some friends, to try out new ideas, or just commune with the muse, but found it too much hassle to get everyone together? Well, check out <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ladida/id326533688?mt=8">LaDiDa</a>, a new iPhone app that applies some old technology in new ways, to let you throw an instant "pickin' party."<br />
<br />
Years ago, when I was playing a lot as a singer-songwriter, I missed the sound of a full band, and the chemistry of trying out new ideas instantly. Digital recording systems are great, but they are very solitary affairs, and require you to not only know how to play your instruments, but also those of the musicians you are replacing with a computer (usually the drummer).<br />
<br />
A clever piece of software called Band in a Box (PC only) used pre-programmed styles and (terrible) MIDI sound files to provide a backing band, complete with notation and arrangement options, but you had to do at least a little pre-planning, entering the number of measures, chord changes, tempo, key, and style for the program to do it's thing.<br />
<br />
LaDiDa is different. You hum. That's it. Literally hum into your iPhone, and LaDiDa figures out everything else on the fly, as you can see in the video. Very, very, very impressive. I'm curious to see if it responds to instruments as well as voice. But even if not, it gives you a great starting point as a songwriter, allowing you to make changes on the fly, and it also gives you motivation to finish the song, since you can easily imagine how great it will sound when complete.<br />
<br />
Check it out, and post some feedback of your experience here on this post. Let me know what you think.</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-21314468392653288982010-04-02T19:06:00.000-07:002010-04-02T19:28:31.261-07:00The Futures of Hollywood<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr70sSvdT1s_QxrRppvfM6zwjop6LwsFHCdxBXk97Jx4wY3XfyfMS1GRyibp3xpBt622YJosibvhx2zHySgAsBlk5B3lNdBsRUWowl7VgDYJMKSs9wQyKagu1PI385keNRhAEOXTwC/s1600-h/cantor_exchange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr70sSvdT1s_QxrRppvfM6zwjop6LwsFHCdxBXk97Jx4wY3XfyfMS1GRyibp3xpBt622YJosibvhx2zHySgAsBlk5B3lNdBsRUWowl7VgDYJMKSs9wQyKagu1PI385keNRhAEOXTwC/s400/cantor_exchange.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sample of movie futures soon to be on offer from the Cantor Exchange.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The <a href="http://www.hsx.com/">Hollywood Stock Exchange</a> has been around for 15 years. It's a game where players bet on the "securities" of Hollywood properties, including make-believe stocks, bonds, and even derivatives. In a truth-stranger-than-fiction move, Cantor-Fitzgerald, a Wall Street investment brokerage and consultancy, bought the HSX. And now they are hoping to make reality out of fiction.<br />
<br />
On April 20, 2010, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) expects to tell Cantor whether they will allow the new company, called the <a href="http://www.cantorexchange.com/">Cantor Exchange</a>, to actually trade movie titles as securities (specifically, as futures). This means we'll all be able to bet, literally, on whether a movie will make money or not.<br />
<br />
This is an interesting twist on the "<a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/putting-crowd-wisdom-to-work.html">internal prediction markets</a>" that are happening at companies like Google, who run an exchange to bet on the delivery dates and health of a particular project or product. Movie returns have always been wildly unpredictable, so it will be interesting to see if commercializing our predictions adds any accuracy, and really makes anyone money (other than the Cantor Exchange, which takes a cut of every transaction), or, if <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_in_the_Screen_Trade">William Goldman was right when he famously said</a>, "Nobody knows anything."<br />
<br />
If, like me, you predicted that <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-3-29-could-hot-tub-time-machine-actually-be-a-box-office-hit">Hot Tub Time Machine</a> would have stunk up the box office, well, you probably would have lost your retirement fund. Who knew?Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-1544586154320621982010-03-26T20:24:00.000-07:002012-07-01T13:34:28.874-07:00The future of movie distribution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Next time you have a free hour and a half, enjoy this treatise on the future of movie distribution. Me and many others have been <a href="http://curtiswaynenews.blogspot.com/2008/11/is-that-thing-loaded.html">saying the same thing for a few year</a>s now, but it's interesting to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Mai is a former distributor sales agent.<br />
<br />
Thanks to <a href="http://texasfilmmakers.ning.com/profile/LorieMarsh">Lorie Marsh</a> for hipping me to this presentation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20591082" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/20591082">Thomas Mai Presentation ETMA, Strasbourg</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4708955">Thomas Mai</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<br /></div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-62445884557683014672010-03-05T17:38:00.000-08:002010-03-05T17:41:40.811-08:00My sentiments exactly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/dreams.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 757px;" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/dreams.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Amen.Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-91594772262876520592010-03-03T19:03:00.000-08:002010-03-03T19:07:32.967-08:00Stu Maschwitz set to direct Psy-Ops movieStu Maschwitz, author of the <span style="font-style:italic;">DV Rebel's Guide to Making Action Movies on the Cheap</span>, and the incredible resource blog Prolost (get the RSS feed of this blog on our <a href="http://www.texasfilmscene.com/">Texas Film Scene</a>) has been tagged to direct the new biggish-budget film <span style="font-style:italic;">Psy-Ops. </span><span>Excsssssellent</span><span style="font-style:italic;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">I'll be there.</span></span><div><br /></div><div>Attention, Movie Tech Geeks: Great interview with Stu on why 24p rocks, <a href="http://www.macvideo.tv/camera-technology/interviews/index.cfm?articleId=3213230">here</a>. Sorry, it's not embedable video (boo!).</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-14628312914639417062010-02-14T14:25:00.000-08:002010-02-14T14:28:00.691-08:00Amazing art!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/518XP8prwZo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/518XP8prwZo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>Next time you think your movie needs lots of talky dialog, watch this video, and remember that we trade in a <i>visual</i> medium.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-54735725365073870672010-02-06T20:12:00.001-08:002010-02-06T20:33:55.904-08:00Straight to Audience, not Straight to Video<div>I love <a href="http://multihyphenate.blogspot.com/2010/02/straight-to-audience-not-straight-to.html">this post</a> by Sherri Candler, a Los Angeles-based low-budget film marketing advisor, where she suggests that we change the term "straight to video" (or straight to DVD) to "straight to audience." Amen!</div><div><br /></div><div>Filmmakers have been doing this for decades, now, probably as far back as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053270/">John Cassavetes</a>. But the difference now is the presence of <i>The Great Disintermediator</i>- the Internet. Search engines, YouTube and it's ilk, and social networks have made it possible to find an audience simply by posting your content online. Doing that and only that will not necessarily gain you much traffic, or any money, but it can help you find what Kevin Kelly calls <a href="http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php">1,000 true fans</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>With such a core audience, you become your own distribution company, for whatever content you produce- movies, music, books, blogs, podcasts, speeches, etc. It's an approach I've been advocating for sometime here on this blog, and on the Texas Film Scene, and is also the thrust of a book I'm writing on entrepreneurship in the digital age (if you're interested in knowing when this book is shipping, <a href="mailto:curtiswayne@gmail.com">email</a> me). </div><div><br /></div><div>Straight to audience is not as sexy as a box office release, but considering that most indie filmmakers now only score a box office release if they (a) get chosen by the Festival Gods, or (b) pay for their own 4-walling, it certainly is a lot cheaper. Straight to audience has also helped Texas filmmakers like Blake Calhoun and Mike Maden score pretty sweet Hollywood production deals on the strength of their <a href="http://curtiswaynenews.blogspot.com/search?q=pink+the+series">straight-to-audience work</a>. Besides- and I know this is heresy- on most nights, I would <i>rather</i> enjoy a movie on my dirt-cheap home theater system than pay $20+food+gas+babysitter for a movie ticket. At $35 per outing, it takes only 25 movies to recoup the cost of my 47-inch LCD. <i>Avatar</i> or <i>Star Trek</i> is a different story, of course.</div><div><br /></div><div>Straight-to-audience also scares people because it sounds like <b>sales</b>, which it is. It's time for artists to stop fearing sales, and start embracing it. If you love what you're selling, then selling is no chore. If you don't, why are you making that movie, again?</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-44099036759761137062010-01-06T12:48:00.000-08:002010-01-06T13:04:24.114-08:00$50 horror flick 'Colin' takes Cannes by storm<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rkhEkejf0Bg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rkhEkejf0Bg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><div><br /></div>Well, actually it was fifty pounds (Sterling), but I don't have the British keyboard settings enabled. Still, pretty cheap.<div><br /></div><div><i><a href="http://www.colinmovie.co.uk/trailer.html">Colin</a></i> is a no-budget movie by London director Marc Price, which tells the story from the zombie's perspective. A nice twist, playing on the <i>American</i> <i>Werewolf </i> theme. </div><div><br /></div><div>Price took 18 months to organize (and write?) the project, cast and staffed entirely with volunteers from his Facebook group. The project garnered acceptance to Cannes, and awards at many smaller festivals worldwide. It has done so well, in fact, that it has an extensive theatrical release schedule! Not bad for fifty bucks.</div><div><br /></div><div>No doubt many in Hollywood will trash the movie, and call attention to all it's low-budget production faults, instead of focusing on what a determined young director was able to do with no money. Smart studios will see this as a great way to mitigate their risk. As with Texas' own <i><a href="http://curtiswaynenews.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-tfs-podcast-mike-maden-of-pink.html">Pink: The Series</a></i>, and the <a href="http://texasfilmmakers.ning.com/forum/topics/dream-big">recent Uruguayan director</a> who made a 5-minute version of <i>War of the Worlds</i> for $500, studios are making big offers to small indy filmmakers who prove that they can attract eyeballs in the vast Internet wasteland, and proving once again that it doesn't have to cost millions of dollars to make good movies; Hollywood just doesn't know any other way.</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-48787660428670519592009-12-21T11:19:00.001-08:002009-12-21T11:27:30.185-08:00Stay at home actor<a href="http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2009-12-21/" title="Dilbert.com"><img src="http://dilbert.com/dyn/str_strip/000000000/00000000/0000000/000000/70000/7000/300/77350/77350.strip.gif" border="0" alt="Dilbert.com" /></a><br /><br />I love this. Reminds me of the <a href="http://snltranscripts.jt.org/01/01oupdate.phtml">Tonya Harding vs. Paula Jones sketch</a> on SNL a while back. Thanks to <a href="http://www.duganland.com/">Robert Dugan</a> for the link.Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-14469563902222821412009-12-08T16:42:00.000-08:002009-12-15T09:26:37.162-08:00Austin's funniest villain? Find out Dec. 14!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c4lIH0ADW9Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c4lIH0ADW9Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br><br><br />I had a blast doing my comedy debut at <a href="http://www.capcitycomedy.com/">Cap City Comedy Club</a> back in November. Now, I'm ready to go back for seconds. Come join me and several dozen of my closest friends on Monday, December 14, at 8 p.m., for a great lineup of some 20 rookies, and a veteran headline act. It's a fun night out. Besides, after all the fiscal doom and gloom this year, who couldn't use a good laugh?Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-62384252136176288412009-11-08T23:11:00.000-08:002009-11-09T07:48:55.375-08:00Comcast-NBC deal on the brinkCable provider Comcast is eyeing NBC-Universal for a price of about $30 billion, according to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a.2Zpi2.H4z4">Bloomberg</a>. In a <a href="http://curtiswaynenews.blogspot.com/2009/05/no-more-fat-pipes.html">previous post</a>, I predicted this would happen, since it makes since for cable companies to find ways to add value to customer, beyond just being a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfga4bFIUoc&feature=related">series of tubes</a>.<div><br /></div><div><b>What about you?</b></div><div>What does this mean for filmmakers, actors, writers, and directors? As with vertical integration in any industry, it should stabilize the demand for content, and those artists and skilled tradespeople who provide it... for a while. Let's face it: if you want to create art that takes $40 million of stars and special effects, you need a big studio behind you. Hollywood will continue to consolidate not only structurally, but in terms of content, too: big, comic-book, tent-pole movies will become <a href="http://curtiswaynenews.blogspot.com/2008/07/hollywoods-only-competitive-advantage.html">Hollywood's main (perhaps ONLY) competitive advantage</a>. There will be fewer shows made, probably, and they will likely continue to skew young. So if you're 18 and hungry, you should still plan on moving L.A. to jump start your movie-making career.</div><div><br /></div><div>Regardless of NBC's short-term fate, the industry still faces larger issues, including a business model that doesn't depend on traditional commercial advertising and DVD sales. The music business highlights the importance of finding new ways to monetize digital content. NBC-Universal is a player; Universal Music Group, which bought BMG, is the largest of the "big 4" major labels.</div><div><br /></div><div>So if you don't fit the major studio demo, or want to make movies outside that niche, try looking to the indie music industry, which is finding ways to <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090519/1939174937.shtml">redefine what business they are actually in</a>.</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-59419645441416437472009-10-30T05:57:00.000-07:002009-10-30T11:18:02.520-07:00Epic development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb38ThY8TUUgb5E7EXsZ6ii7gFxzmPxoVpz1EUaGuet9xS61chPAqFo7DQLcA42nXwRKKfQFTQSVmBIh6syV7J_8m8SeJ-oq-IGob7-_Rey4OZnGXBBqzOZbKosld9aH1do11nu9x/s1600-h/epixhd.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb38ThY8TUUgb5E7EXsZ6ii7gFxzmPxoVpz1EUaGuet9xS61chPAqFo7DQLcA42nXwRKKfQFTQSVmBIh6syV7J_8m8SeJ-oq-IGob7-_Rey4OZnGXBBqzOZbKosld9aH1do11nu9x/s400/epixhd.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398458931523041362" /></a>Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM have launched a new TV network called <a href="http://www.epixhd.com/">EpixHD</a>. It will feature movies that are still in the "pay TV window"; that is, after their theatrical run has finished, but before the DVD release. <div><br /></div><div>What sets the new network apart, though, is that it will bundle an on-demand Internet streaming service, similar to <a href="http://www.netflix.com/">Netflix Streaming</a> or <a href="http://www.hulu.com/">Hulu</a>, allowing users to watch 720p high-def movies from the Epix catalog on demand, rather than be subject to run-of-schedule, like HBO subscribers, who are forced to endure the latest episode of <i>Curb Your Enthusiasm</i> 56 times in a week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Originally, the company wanted to have cable providers like Time-Warner and Cox bundle the service with existing cable packages, shifting the burden of payment from subscribers to cable providers. Verizon, for one, said <a href="http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/10/studios-launch-epix-high-def-on-demand-movies-site-and-we-have-invites.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">no thanks</a>. They will offer EpixHD on their FiOS TV network, but at a $9.99 premium charge. Other cable providers and ISPs are likely to follow suit.</div><div><br /></div><div>To combat that move, EpixHD is offering a <a href="http://www.epixhd.com/invite/">free 30-day pass</a> on their site. No doubt they will use information they get from you to lobby the ISPs and cable providers to bundle the channel, and to spam you with offers. But hey, it'll save you $10 or so!</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2568331993146926168.post-83019198816410594002009-09-03T10:32:00.000-07:002009-09-03T11:15:42.020-07:00iPhone Bluetooth Keyboards?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4sfc5rltX0/SqAHXhAvBdI/AAAAAAAAGDU/5Y_CQq9yCeU/s1600-h/iPhone_btk.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T4sfc5rltX0/SqAHXhAvBdI/AAAAAAAAGDU/5Y_CQq9yCeU/s200/iPhone_btk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377306055660209618" /></a>They're here! Sort of.<div><br /></div><div>Some innovative companies have announced portable <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5351895/why-wont-apple-let-me-use-xskns-bluetooth-ikeyboard-with-my-iphone">Bluetooth keyboards</a> for the iPhone! (Way to be cutting edge, Apple. Palm had this kind of stuff 10 years ago for their PDAs and smart phones. Yeeesh.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, but wait- they don't actually <i>work </i>yet. Apple has not released drivers for the iPhone, so consumers can't enjoy this very useful technology unless we hack our phone. I <a href="http://easytechzealot.blogspot.com/2009/02/one-step-closer-to-star-trek.html">wrote about the need for iPhone keyboards</a>, and the available hacks a while back on my <a href="http://easytechzealot.blogspot.com/">Easy Tech Zealot blog</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suspect the reason is that Apple doesn't want to cannibalize possible "<a href="http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/54503">MacTablet</a>" customers. Truth is, most die-hard Macheads that I know would buy both. I think Apple is missing an opportunity to cement the iPhone as the platform of choice for many users, especially with Android phones <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5351329/htc-hero-hits-sprint-oct-11-with-new-face-180-price-tag">hot on their heels</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Google's Android is free, with many different suppliers, phone vendors, and price points. It's hard to compete with free, and even harder to compete with Google. Remember Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and MS-Office? Google has supplanted or is rivaling all of those once-leading products. It will take time, but many phone users will choose "cheap and good enough" over "expensive and elegant." Many already have. So, lighten up, Apple. Give us the BT keyboard, already!</div>Curtis Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05238731061566691433noreply@blogger.com0