“The Wayman Tisdale Story” to premiere at Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 5, 2010

June 3, 2010 by

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame will be the host of the Tulsa premiere of “The Wayman Tisdale Story” at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5, 2010, at the Jazz Depot, 111 East First St. Upper Level in Tulsa, OK. 
“The Wayman Tisdale Story” is a documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Tisdale, who was a Tulsa, OK, native, three-time all-American, gold-medal Olympian, former NBA basketball player and world renowned jazz musician. The film is directed by Emmy-nominated Brian Schodorf and produced by Hunter, Seamons, Linda Mensch and Rahman Ayi. 
Doors will open at 7 p.m., reception/live music by Tulsa group WALLSTREET (winner of the Wayman’s Challenge held at the Depot in 2008) at 7:30 p.m. and finally, the showing of the film at 8:30 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. For more information, call the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame at (918) 281-8603, (918) 281-8605, (918) 281-8609 or go online to www.okjazz.org.

Filed Under: film, movies, music, Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, tulsa, United States, Wayman Tisdale

Silent film “Louis” to premiere with five-city tour in late August

May 20, 2010 by

                (Actor Anthony Coleman as a young Louis; photo credit: Peter Sorel)


According to a news release, “Louis,” a silent film directed by Dan Pritzker and starring Jackie Earle Haley, Shanti Lowry and Anthony Coleman, will premiere in the U.S. in late August with live musical accompaniment by Wynton Marsalis, renowned pianist Cecile Licad and a 10-piece all-star jazz ensemble, including Sherman Irby, Victor Goines, Marcus Printup, Ted Nash, Kurt Bacher, Vincent Gardner, Wycliffe Gordon, Dan Nimmer, Carlos Henriquez, Ali Jackson, and conductor Andy Farber. 

Marsalis will play a score comprised primarily of his own compositions. Licad will play the music of 19th century American composer L.M. Gottschalk. The group will perform live with the film in a series of special performances in New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, and Philadelphia on August 25-31. Partial proceeds from the five concerts will benefit Providence Saint Mel School in Chicago, IL, in honor of Paul J. Adams III
 Shot by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond as a modern re-imagining of early silent film, “Louis” is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music. The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6-year-old Louis as he navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Young Louis’s dreams of playing the trumpet are interrupted by a chance meeting with a beautiful and vulnerable girl named Grace (Lowry) and her baby, Jasmine. Haley, in a performance reminiscent of the great comic stars of the silent screen, plays the evil Judge Perry who is determined not to let Jasmine’s true heritage derail his candidacy for governor.
 “The idea of accompanying a silent film telling a mythical tale of a young Louis Armstrong was appealing to me,” Marsalis says in a news release.  “Of course, calling it a silent film is a misnomer – there will be plenty of music, and jazz is like a conversation between the players so there’ll be no shortage of dialogue. I look forward to playing with Cecile. The contrast between Gottschalk’s music and jazz can be a revelation to those unfamiliar with Gottschalk’s music and jazz.”  “Louis” is a companion piece to Pritzker’s “Bolden,” starring Anthony Mackie, Wendell Pierce and Lowry. “Bolden” will be released theatrically in 2011.
Filed Under: film, jazz, Louis Armstrong, movies, music, United States, world, Wynton Marsalis

BareBones International Film and Music Festival continues through April 25, 2010, in Muskogee, OK

April 21, 2010 by

The 11th annual BareBones International Independent Film and Music Festival, is setting an historical milestone as it continues through to April 25, 2010, in Muskogee OK. The 11-day festival has welcomed its 1,000 independent film producer to Oklahoma. 
According to a news release, no other Oklahoma film festival comes close to that record.
The grassroots cultural festival, inaugurated in 1999,  has seen steady growth in attendance and quality of films despite its aversion to court major studios and celebrities. 
“We have nothing against Hollywood stars or movies, we have just chosen to focus our attention on the next generation of stars and star makers, and on helping to grow independent film makers in the state as we help to grow the industry here,” said ShIronbutterfly Ray, executive director and founder of the film festival in a news release.
While the festival is well-attended by working actors, directors, cinematographers and screenwriters from both coasts, it typically hosts film makers from all over the world who are making their first foray into moviemaking. “Some of the film makers have been in the industry for years as actors, or screenwriters, or stunt people, or cinematographers who decided they wanted to take their engagement in the industry to the next level and then others are novices or students who had an idea for a movie and decided they would make it, pretty much by any means necessary,” said Oscar Ray, festival marketing director and independent film producer. 
The festival will exhibit more than 170 films from 35 cities and 13 foreign countries, conduct workshops on acting, screenwriting and independent motion picture production while welcoming to Oklahoma and Muskogee more than 200 actors, screenwriters, directors and producers. The event is open to the public, and advanced tickets can be purchased online. For more information, go to www.barebonesfilmfestivals.org.
Even without courting celebrities, many have attended the festival and have shared in impromptu settings their wisdom and knowledge about the industry and moviemaking. Oklahoman Ryan Merriman (“Final Destination II,” “Lonesome Dove, “Comanche Moon”), Tonya York of York International, along with television producers, soap stars and successful screenwriters have given a nod to this one-of-a-kind film showcasing event. The festival has been twice named by Movie Maker magazine as one of the “top 20 film festivals in the U.S. to attend.”

Filed Under: arts, BareBones International Independent Film and Music Festival, festivals, movies, Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States, world

Casting Call for “The Last Trick-or-Treater” by Dennis McDonald

June 17, 2009 by

Deadline: June 20, 2009

-Headshot required
-Performing resume and previous theatrical or TV/film experience
preferred
-Shooting to begin end of June / beginning of July 2009
-Talent will be contacted if a further audition is required
-There will be no foul language, blood effects or nudity associated with this casting.

***For flashback group photo w/ possible flashback scene – YOUNG ROWDY BOYS: Need
4-5 boys who look about 10 years old with a slender build and not too tall for their age…should have an early-1960s “tough and mean look.”

***For flashback scene with bit speaking lines – ROWDY BOYS (Alex, Paul
& Tanner):
Need 3 boys who look about 16 years old with a slender build and are
5’9″ or shorter … should have a mid-1960s “tough and mean look.” These boys are bullies and jerks and should be played as such if cast.

Please send your information to:
Scott Gaffen – (918) 406-0360 – and
Dana Pike – (918) 740-3688 – .

For more information, go online to http://www.NextMonkey.com.

Next Monkey Horror Films is a Tulsa-based, multiple award-winning movie production company with three feature films in worldwide distribution plus short films, Internet and music videos to their credit. NMHF completes all of their projects,and talent will receive a screening party and copy of the film once completed.

Filed Under: film, movies, Next Monkey Horror Films, Oklahoma, theater, Theatre Tulsa

Kyle Eastwood ready to release “Metropolitain”

May 3, 2009 by


Bassist/composer/arranger Kyle Eastwood returns on June 2 with his fourth release, “Metropolitain,” on Mack Avenue Records. Recorded at Studio Ferber in Paris, France and co-produced by Erin Davis (son of Miles Davis) and by Eastwood’s longtime writing partner, Michael Stevens, “Metropolitain” features pianist Eric Legnini, trumpeter Till Brönner, drummer Manu Katché, and special guest, French vocalist Camille.

For jazz fans who are familiar with him, Eastwood grew up in Carmel, California and is the son of actor-director Clint Eastwood. While doing his homework, Kyle remembers listening to records of jazz icons such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Miles Davis. Clint Eastwood had been attending the Monterey Jazz Festival since it began in 1958, and when his children were born, it became an annual family outing.

Kyle’s projects include 1998’s “From Here To There,” 2004’s “Paris Blue,” and 2006’s “Now.” He has also contributed to the scores for six of his father’s films: “The Rookie” (1990), “Mystic River” (2002), “Million Dollar Baby” (2004), “Flags Of Our Fathers” (2006), “Letters From Iwo Jima” (2006), and “Gran Torino” (2008).

This release should be a fun listen.

Filed Under: festivals, film, jazz, June, Kyle Eastwood, Mack Avenue Records, movies, music, releases

Good Friday Traditions

April 10, 2009 by


Today is Good Friday, and through the weekend, Christian families will gather together for church services, Easter dinner, egg hunts and other activities. Here is a brief list of many Easter films that focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“The Passion of the Christ” (R): Chronicles the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Starring James Caviezel as Jesus and directed by Mel Gibson, the film was originally released in theaters in 2004. The film is portrayed in the biblical Aramaic and Latin languages with subtitles in English.

“Amazing Grace” (PG): Focuses on William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Played by Ioan Gruffudd as the zealous believer in God, human rights activist and British member of Parliament, who battled through discouragement and illness for two decades to end the slave trade in England. In a time of personal crisis, Wilberforce is inspired and encouraged in his long fight to abolish slavery by the former slave ship master, John Newton (Albert Finney), who wrote the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” following his conversion to Christianity.

“The Greatest Story Ever Told” (G): A classic epic film that recreates the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, from his birth in Bethlehem to his baptism by John (Charles Heston), the raising of Lazarus, the Last Supper and finally his death, burial and resurrection. Starring Max Von Sydow as Jesus and directed by George Stevens, the film was originally released in 1965.

Filed Under: Christianity, Easter, Good Friday, holidays, movies

Film Festival to Convene Soon in Oklahoma

April 8, 2009 by

In Oklahoma, the 10th annual BareBones International Independent Film and Music Festival prepares to get under way April 16-26 in Muskogee. The festival is founded by Oscar and ShIronbutterfly Ray, (shown in photo).
Named by one of the top industry magazines, Movie Maker, as one of the nation’s top 25 film festivals, the grassroots effort has grown from a two-day event that showed only 35 films in its first year to an impressive 11-day event that will screen almost 200 movies from around the world. Action, romance, Medieval adventure, sci-fi, horror, Western and drama are just some of the genres that will be represented.
The event will also feature workshops on acting for the camera, screenwriting, selling story ideas to movie producers, moviemaking, movie directing, stunt performing, special effects makeup, live screenplay readings, musical performances and the first ever Stars, Cars and Guitars Parade.
The closing day of the festival will feature an Academy Awards-style ceremony with red carpet, paparazzi, and live musical and dance performances along with awards presentations for best movie, best actors and best screenplays.
The not-for-profit event is open to the public and tickets can be purchased online or call (918) 616-1335.

Filed Under: actors, BareBones, festivals, film, movies, music, Muskogee, Oklahoma