The first annual Marcus Ruscitto Emerging Filmmaker Awards

The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Pittsburgh Filmmakers, is pleased to announce the first annual Marcus Ruscitto Emerging Filmmaker Awards.

The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation was established as a legacy to an energetic young leader and visionary who devoted his time to helping people grow and pursue their dreams. The friends and family of Marc are proud to continue with his work – inspiring others to live life with passion and purpose.

The Emerging Filmmaker Awards will highlight and recognize the creative energy of the region's emerging filmmakers. A panel of judges will select a group of finalists whose works will be exhibited as part of the Third Annual Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Golf Invitational on July 28, 2008. All finalists will receive awards of $250. A grand prize winner will be selected by audience choice at the exhibition and will receive an additional $750, for a total award of $1,000.

The submission guidelines and selection criteria are as follows:

• Entrants are to be either currently enrolled students at Pittsburgh Filmmakers or to have been enrolled at Pittsburgh Filmmakers within the last five years.
• Works are not to exceed 12 minutes in running time.
• Submissions must be made in DVD format. Submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• Submissions may be in any genre. Works will be evaluated based on artistic merit. Special consideration will be made for work that relates to the advancement and celebration of the Pittsburgh region.
• As the Golf Invitational is a family event, submitted work should be G, PG, or PG-13 in nature.
• Work submitted must have been completed no earlier than January 2006.
• Submissions must be postmarked by May 15, 2008, and are to be sent to: Shirley Zafris, ALCM, 350 Arona Road, New Stanton, PA 15672
• The title of the work and name of the entrant must be on all mailing containers, mailing labels, and submitted media.

Pittsburgh Filmmakers and the The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation reserve the right to use submitted materials (including the possibility of capturing a still frame from the work submitted) for promotional purposes related to the award and the exhibition event. The act of submitting a work constitutes acceptance of these guidelines of the Marcus Ruscitto Emerging Filmmakers Awards.

Pittsburgh Filmmakers Announces 6th annual Film Kitchen Contest

Film Kitchen, the monthly showcase of regional independent film and video art, announces the theme for its annual contest: photo-romans. While previous contests have included appliance films, coffee films, and music videos, this year organizers put a call out for local visual and sound artists to submit original three-minute-long photo roman videos. A photo-roman (pronounced: ro-MAHN) uses a series of still images accompanied by a technically sophisticated soundtrack. Selected entries will be screened on June 10 at the June Film Kitchen. Reception begins at 7:00; screening begins at 8:00. Winners are announced that night, and cash prizes are awarded.

Though its roots are literary, the term photo-roman is most closely associated with experimental filmmaking. One of the most famous examples of the photo-roman style is Chris Marker's La Jetée, from 1962. An astonishingly powerful experiment with word and image, his film is made from a fast-paced series of stills and a voice-over narration that tells a futuristic story of post-World War III. To see other examples of photo-romans visit http://mediastorm.org.

For more details on submitting work, contact Ross Nugent at 412-681-5449 x231 or nuge@pghfilmmakers.org. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 24.

Media Technologist sought

Actors Theatre of Louisville seeks Media Technologist (MT) to head Video department. Media Technologist is responsible for all technical aspects of video/multimedia production for the theatre. This includes all production and administrative season programming needs requiring Video/Multimedia support. The MT works w/ Resident and Guest Designers to realize multi-media design concepts while designing and programming playback systems for said designs.

Season design assignments may be possible based on experience. The media technologist works in association with the Communications Department to capture and edit video of productions, events and other theater related activities for a variety of promotional and marketing purposes. Successful candidate has proven experience as dept. manager and experience w/ video production, design and programming for live theatrical use, promotional broadcasts and website features. Full time position w/ benefits. Salary competitive. Start date June 2008.

Resume and references to: Frazier Marsh, Prod. Mgr., 316-320 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202. Email fwmarsh@actorstheatre.org. EOE.

Artists Television Access call for submissions

The ATA Film & Video Festival was founded in 2006 to showcase some of the best short works by independent and experimental film and video artists exhibiting locally, nationally and internationally. The festival includes several nights of screenings and installations in our Mission District storefront gallery and a lunch for the filmmakers. Throughout the year, work from the festival is broadcast to the San Francisco community on ATV, ATA’s weekly cable-access television show, and screened in other
national and international venues.

Artists' Television Access is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer, artist-run, experimental media arts gallery that has been in operation since 1984. ATA hosts a series of film and video screenings, exhibitions and performances by emerging and established artists and a weekly cable access television program.

Experimental Shorts
20 mins and under
Video, Super 8 and 16 mm
Preview on VHS, miniDV or DVD
Deadline: May 15, 2008
Entry fee: $10

http://www.atasite.org/festival/

PCA Shop Media Section: call for artists

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is currently screening new consignment artists to launch a Media Section in the Shop at PCA to complement the existing mix represented. The Media Section will feature published media, film, video, and audio art. Only artists living or working within a 150-Mile radius of the Center will be considered.

Applications must be postmarked on or before February 15, 2008. Artists must include samples or documentation of their work. In some cases a follow-up appointment to review artwork will be set. We are seeking your:

Published Media (books, zines, catalogs) – Editions of any size (min of 5) are acceptable. Please submit actual sample if possible. Otherwise, images may be submitted on CD or DVD (no more than 10 images. Must be in .JPG format at 72 dpi).

Film, Video, Animation, Multimedia productions – on DVD. If possible please submit DVD with packaging, as it would be sold in the shop. Otherwise, work samples for an unfinished production are acceptable for submission. DVD must be formatted for viewing with QuickTime™ Version 7.1.2, Player Version 7.1.2. If accepted, DVD with packaging must be completed by April 1st.

Audio and Sound Art – on CD. If possible please submit CD with packaging, as it would be sold in the shop. Otherwise, work samples for an unfinished production are acceptable for submission. If accepted, CD with packaging must be completed by April 1st.

You must use this application form. If you cannot access this form, contact the PCA Shop at 412-361-0873. Notification for inclusion in the launch of the Media Section will be by mail, postmarked on or before March 14th, 2008. Timeline if accepted: Inventory Check-in is April 1st, and the launch date is May 1st, for the first of its kind in city to promote & distribute work by media artists.