Category Archives: EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Jun 05 2012
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS, THOUGHTS

DOHA TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

First let me start by wishing my great friends Miguel and Anastasia Hayes (and their unborn :-D ) a safe journey to DoHa Qatar where they will be living for next few years.  Wishing them much success and a great adventure.  Most people are aware of film industry success in of course America but the the industry has grown extremely in several countries one being the richest country in the world, Qatar.  I often attend the Tribeca Film Festival and several years ago I learned about the DoHa Film Institute while there.  They definitely have made themselves known over the years and are definitely major players in TIFF and film industry.  Starting in 2009, the Tribeca Film Fest and its founder, Robert De Niro, teamed up with Qatari to produce the DoHa Tribeca Film Festival. The Doha Tribeca Film Festival offers an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate cinema, culture, education and community in Qatar. Established and emerging filmmakers, entertainment industry luminaries and the Qatari community come together in Doha, Qatar’s capital, to take part in an exciting cultural exchange of ideas.

Cool teaser from the first DTFF held in 2009.

Here is a video that I came across sometime ago that speaks on the history and culture of the Qatari…

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Mar 30 2011
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL – OASIS

For all of you procrastinators planning to attend the 2011 Cannes Film Festival but still haven’t booked your hotel and flight, don’t worry.  The Yacht Company (YCO) has you covered!  They have announced the opportunity to charter their sleek ‘Oasis‘ yacht specially for the Cannes Film Festival from May 11-22.

The Oasis is a 60m masterpiece of design and performance, with all the luxuries of a 5-star resort, including accommodations for up to 12 guests, a spacious exterior for soirees up to 75 guests for a cocktail reception, a private chef, to touch on just a few.

The yacht is also home to the latest water toys: two wave runners, a laser sailing dinghy, two two-person man kayaks, paddleboards, diving equipment, segways and bicycles, kites and windsurfing equipment.

In addition to the beauty and allure of the yacht, a highly experienced crew of 15 members ensures exceptional service onboard for all. Guests will have the luxury to enjoy their own dive and jet ski instructors, masseuse and world class chef. With a guaranteed berth next to the Palais des Festivals, guests will be in the heart of the event and celebrations both on board and off.

Oasis is available for charter during the Cannes Film Festival starting at only $487,243.50 per week. For more information about Oasis, visit: 
http://www.ycoyacht.com/YachtDetails/Charter/oasis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jan 10 2011
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS

ANDY WARHOL: MOTION PICTURES

If you are a fan of ANDY WARHOL as I am be sure to check out MoMA’s ANDY WARHOL: Motion Pictures Exhibition.  It is on until March 21, 2011.

Andy Warhol: Motion Pictures focuses on the artist’s cinematic portraits and non-narrative, silent, and black-and-white films from the mid-1960s. Warhol’s Screen Tests reveal his lifelong fascination with the cult of celebrity, comprising a visual almanac of the 1960s downtown avant-garde scene. Included in the exhibition are such Warhol “Superstars” as Edie Sedgwick, Nico, and Baby Jane Holzer; poet Allen Ginsberg; musician Lou Reed; actor Dennis Hopper; author Susan Sontag; and collector Ethel Scull, among others. Other early films included in the exhibition are Sleep (1963), Eat(1963), and Kiss (1963–64). Twelve Screen Tests in this exhibition are projected on the gallery walls at large scale and within frames, some measuring seven feet high and nearly nine feet wide, while Kiss is shown at the rear of the gallery in a 50-seat movie theater created for the exhibition.

This exhibition is organized in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh. It was first conceived at The Museum of Modern Art, by Mary Lea Bandy, then Chief Curator, Department of Film and Media, and exhibited in 2003 as Andy Warhol: Screen Tests. With the addition of Warhol’s silent films, the show debuted asAndy Warhol: Motion Pictures at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, in 2004. Over the past five years Klaus Biesenbach has organized the tour of the exhibition to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Miami, Moscow, and Prague.

- TY WALKER

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Jan 08 2011
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS

MARGARET RIVER SHORTS: Margaret River – AUSTRALIA March 26 to 27, 2011

The 5th Annual MARGARET RIVER SHORTS (MR Shorts) will be taking place March 26th & 27th in the southwest region of Western Australia against the backdrop of some of the most breathtaking countryside on the planet, MR Shorts offers an ideal, isolated location for short-form filmmakers who desire to have their film showcased to an audience that possesses a fascination for the unique, the interesting, and the diverse.

MR Shorts offers cash prizes in five distinct categories: Best Film walks away with a cash prize of $5,000 AUD; Best Southwest Film, awarded to a film about, set in, or created by a resident of the southwest region of Western Australia takes home a $2,500 cash award; Best Surf/Sports Film receives a $1,000 cash award; and Best Grommet Film ($1,000) is awarded to a film crafted principally by a person under the age of 18. Additionally, each film selected to screen at MR Shorts is eligible for the Best Audience Reaction Award, which offers a $500 cash prize. Each winning filmmaker also receives a stunning, handmade, blown glass trophy.

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Jul 12 2010
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COMMERCIALS, EVENTS & FESTIVALS, TELEVISION, THOUGHTS

2010 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup

So I’m sitting outside a lounge in SOHO off West Broadway in NYC with a few of my buddies and the streets are bananas! On one block there is a sea of red and yellow (Spain) and a block down you can see orange and blue (The Netherlands).  For the past few weeks that I have been here in New York, I have noticed tons of paraphernalia being sold and purchased, flags being waved, friendly arguments over who the best players and/or teams are, and it seems like more than ever the media has played a huge roll in publicizing the games.   Now, I know that soccer is one of the biggest sports in the world and that the World Cup Final is the most watched event on the planet, but this year seems EXTRA HUGE!  ”We don’t want to speculate in numbers but we’re hoping this will be the biggest event ever,” Niclas Ericson, FIFA’s director of television said.  In 2006, it was said the over 700 million people tuned in.  I think Niclas Ericson may be right.  Kevin Alavy, a director of Futures Sport + Entertainment, a global sport research and evaluation consultancy said, ”The most watched events in history, by some margin, are the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games and the World Cup final. Historical events, like the inauguration of Barack Obama or the funeral of Princess Diana for example may be important from a cultural and historical perspective, but they simply don’t have the same scale of television audiences that mass sport events can generate.”

Personally I have enjoyed this year’s World Cup.  From watching all of the entertainers that have played a part in the festivities to simply being happy that South Africa was able to host the event, the WC has indeed been dope. I have occasionally been able to speak to my friend and South African resident, Shamiel X about the vibe and he said that it has been amazing.  Of course any of event of this magnitude is going to have a few problems but for the most part the people of South Africa have definitely benefited from the event.   All that being said, what has really stuck out for me were the commercials and print advertising.  Here are a few of my favorites.  Check em’ out..  Oh!  And congrats to Spain!!!!

TY WALKER

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This is an older advertisement, but it’s great!

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Jun 26 2010
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS

TIFC @ The American Black Film Festival (ABFF): Highlights pt.2

TIFC is well into day two of the American Black Film Festival and we have one thing to say:  last night’s party was RI-DIC-U-LOUS.  While I don’t have much to recap from the day’s events I do have a few pics from last night as promised.  A lot of us struggled to get up this morning but it was well worth it as you can see.  I ran into a lot of old friends, peers and some family in the business, some of whom I managed to snap a few shots with as the celebration carried on throughout the night.

Sylvain White and I.  White is director of “Stomp The Yard” and “The Losers”

D- Nice and Idris Elba killed it!   They kept the entire place rocking non- stop from 11pm – 5am!

The beautiful Kenya Moore (actress, model, producer and of course Miss USA 1993) and I.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with Moore over the years and she’s good people to be around.  That’s up and coming actress Natasha Mays behind us workin’ the dress.

Super Entertainment Attorney Keisha Perry and I

We kicked it with good friends Will Packer and Rob Hardy of Rainforest Films (“Obssessed”, “This Christmas”, “Stomp The Yard 1 & 2″ and “Takers”).  They were gettin it in!

Good friend Reggie “Coldfinger” Harrison and I.  This guy is a phenomenal film editor.

My old buddy Melyssa Ford and I.  We worked together on “Three Can Play That Game” in 2007. I was 2nd Unit Director and she played the role of Candy.

My partner  – the extrodinary writer, producer, director, filmmaker – Condra “Condraversy” Magee!!

Condra and Isaac Keys (NFL Star turned Actor Model)

My mentor, friend, big brother, director, producer, the man who gave me my first gig in the business…Mr. Rob Hardy.  It’s about 4AM and after a countless number of drinks here we are keeping up with the live energy at a live event.  What’s better?  Tonight we’ll probably do it all over again.  Let’s go!

Follow us! >>>>  twitter.com/tycorfilms

TY WALKER

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Jun 25 2010
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS

TIFC @ The American Black Film Festival (ABFF): Highlights pt.1

Our first full day at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has been an eventful one to say the least!  We attended a few screenings, networked a bit and bumped into a few familiar faces along the way.   The above pic is of Jamie Hector (he was a beast in The Wire!) and I.  He has two great films premiering at the festival this weekend, which I am sure you’ll be hearing more about in the near future.

This morning Cliff Charles led a master class on cinematography which offered a wealth of information.  Charles is a GREAT DP (Director of Photography) who is most remembered from Spike Lee’s “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts”.  We also attended several Narrative and Documentary  Screenings and checked out the Q&A held by the talented Idris Elba.  There was a Nickelodeon Symposium with Emmy Award winning creator Janice Burgess (The Backyardigans) later in the afternoon;  followed by happy hour at Segafredo Cafe where we reconvened to discuss the day’s activities and relax.  Here are a few more snap shots from today’s inter-minglings…

A peer and I discussing what we’re hoping to learn from this year’s itinerary.

Ruth Paul (Screen Actors Guild) and I stopping for a quick flick.  It’s always great to have a S.A.G. rep like Ruth on your speed dial.  She’s great at what she does, always ready and willing to assist.

L to R: Publicist Julie Griffith, Good Friend Miguel Hayes, a few other attendees and I wind down at the Ritz Carlton – The ABFF Host Hotel

And me, finally taking a quick breather from the long day before showering and heading out to the HBO® Short Film Competition tonight.   Hosted by Tamara Tunie, five finalists will screen their films in hopes of winning a $20,000 grand prize.   After that we’re stepping out to the Official FILM LIFE after party and 10th year anniversary celebration at LIV at the Fontainebleau.  The event will be hosted by Idris Elba, this year’s ABFF ambassador.   Hopefully we’ll see you there!

Miami dwellers and fellow festival attendees hit us up! >>>>  twitter.com/tycorfilms

TY WALKER

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Jun 23 2010
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS

TIFC Attends the 14th Annual ABFF (American Black Film Festival)

For the past seven years TIFC has supported the American Black Film Festival.   And every year we attend, the experience becomes even greater, bigger and better.   I think its important that festivals who are solely dedicated to the progression of Black filmmaking exist. Without established outlets such as ABFF,  the majority of us would be muddling through a murky pool filled with heavyweight fish and less than equal opportunity.   This is why I have the utmost respect for Founder Jeff Friday as he has worked tirelessly over the years to establish a legit platform for Black motion picture hopefuls to exhibit their work.   Also founder of the Acapulco Black Film Festival, Friday is known as  a “champion of social change and a proponent of diversifying the images of African Americans in film.”  We’d have to agree with that notion.

Taking place in in the Southern hotspot  city of Miami, The 14th Annual American Black Film Festival will host a packed agenda of screenings and  events between June 23-26, 2010.  The Opening Night film will be “Takers” directed by John Luessenhop, and the Centerpiece Screening will premiere “Stomp The Yard Homecoming” directed by Rob Hardy.   The festival will show a total of 10 feature-length films and five short films created by or about Black Americans.   Also big shots out to my big brother Kenny Burns who will have his documentary “B.U.R.N.S Documentary” featured this year as well.  Among other things, ABFF will launch the Pro-Hollywood Initiative (PHI), a pilot program created to encourage professional athletes to explore careers in the motion picture industry.  In a recent interview with Black Voices Friday states that,”One of the things I try to do every year is bring in something conceptually new.   For the last three to four years, we’ve had a lot of pro athletes call us up, and they want to come to the festival.  There are some who looking to start film companies and some of these guys are not even 30 yet.  One player is Terrell Suggs, who came last year, attended Robert Townsend’s “The Ultimate Pitch” Master Class, and is now financing the film for the person who won the script’s contest. What do black filmmakers need most? They need people with money. Black athletes are resources to increase the pipeline of black films. If you combine them with young filmmakers and producers, something may come of it.” PHI’s main objectives are to stimulate athletes’ interest in the movie business, connecting them with talented filmmakers, educating them about the workings of the industry and promoting their involvement in the production of quality independent films.

For more info about ABFF and this years screenings, go to:  http://www.abff.com/festival/

Or you can Twitter me if you’re in Miami…we might just bump into each other!  http://www.twitter.com/tycorfilms

TY WALKER

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