CTAAF 2010 Community Accomplishments

2010 is coming to a close and we would like to take this time to reflect on the good amongst the community for theater, film and TV this past year. With your help, we would like to compile a list of all your accomplishments. This list includes completed items that have been viewed by the public. This is your time to brag and simply let the world know you've been active over the past year.

Here are some of the accomplishments of 2010 based on the entries on our Facebook page:



"Kings of the Evening":

• Filmed in Bartlett, Texas, Released on DVD
• 2011 Black Reel Awards Nominee -  Outstanding Indie Feature Film

Ya'ke Smith:

• "Katrina's Son" - Director - 2010 Austin Film Festival Winner Jury Prize Narrative Short
• "Katrina's Son" - Director - 2011 Black Reel Awards Nominee - Outstanding Indie Short Film

Herman Whitney III:

• "Katrina's Son" - Actor

Gina McCauley:

• "Namaste" - short film - Director
• The Root 100 List of Young Achievers and Pace Setters

Kelley Phillips-Glover:

• "U Better Sing" - web series

Timeca Seretti:

• "Drama" - short film - Austin Film Festival official selection

Will Martin:

• "East of the Highway" - short film, Director

Henry Smith III:

• "East of the Highway" - actor

Armsteady Nguvu:

• Fox Living Room Wars
• "Steady Shooting" - short film

Angela Burns:

• Casting assistant - Beth Sepko

T.K. Henderson:

• Started CTAAF
• "Triad" - actor 

Jay Curtis:

• PBS National Commercial
• "Another Days Journey" - Producer
• "Dark Rise New World Order" - Producer

Rakeda Lashae:

• "The Fix" - Director

Mariah Robinson:

• "Can't Take It With You" - Stage play - Actor

I know I've missed plenty of accomplishments. Help me by documenting names, info, and links in the comment section or you can send the info to me at (quincy dot minor at gmail).

Free Millennium Theatre Holiday Movie Matinee

The Millennium Theatre will be screening 'The Grinch That Stole Christmas' for free on Saturday, December 18th 10:15 am. I would honestly say that I have never visited this theatre. I haven't simply avoided it, but it only screens one movie at a time and its closed Sunday through Tuesday. Currently, 'Unstoppable' is playing in the theatre. I actually want to see this movie so this may be my ticket to get there.

African American Creative Arts/Community Happy Hour

Harold McMillan posted this on our Facebook wall and I thought it was one of those important networking events that everyone should know about.

DiverseArts invites you, The African American Creative Industry/Arts Community, to join us for an early evening Happy Hour gathering at our gallery.

This is not a meeting, but a social hour, networking event, reunion, conversation opportunity, time to relax and enjoy a wine-tasting Happy Hour (sponsored by Twin Liquors). There will be informal discussion on the new African American Cultural Heritage District in East Austin and ways we might come together to collaborate on programming opportunities within the District.

As well, DiverseArts has a visual arts gallery appropriate for meetings, classes, screenings, poetry readings, receptions and such. We also have access to performance venues, The Historic Victory Grill and Kenny Dorham’s Backyard on East 11th Street. We want to do what we can to facilitate and, collaborate on, cultural programs within the District that showcase the creative talents of our community of African American Artists. We want to work with you! Perhaps conversations begun at this monthly Happy Hour Series can move us, together, in that direction.

DiverseArts Culture Works • New East Arts Gallery • 1601 E. 5th, Suite 106 • Austin, TX 78702

Thursday, Dec 16th, 2010,

6:00pm to 8:00pm

RSVP Appreciated, but not required

Contact: Harold McMillan director@diversearts.org • 512.477.9438

TXMPA Says Incentives Are Working

TXMPA President Don Stokes recently sent a letter to its members about the projected shortfall in our state's budget and its leadership is already meeting with key legislators to make them fully aware of the successes of the program. To assist them in effectively conveying the message, they have contracted with an advocacy firm Greenburg Traurig, LLP and Lawrence Collins.

Upcoming plans for Lobby Day 2011 are already underway to build upon the success from previous lobby days. Stokes also states:

"To date, our state incentive program has generated over $610 million dollars in new in-state spending and has accounted for over 55,000 jobs for Texans. An independent economic impact study will show how this equates in actual dollars returned to the state. We feel confident that our program and this report will prove the viability of our efforts. Still, we need to make improvements to the program in order to grow and spread the work across the entire state."

Currently, TXMPA is enjoying an all time high in membership, but it only represents a small fraction of industry professionals across the state. It needs more financial resources to see through the legislative session and they are encouraging you, friends, colleagues and everyone in the industry to be a paid member.

The 82nd Texas Legislative session begins January 11, 2011.

2010 Black List Released

The Black List is a snapshot of the collective taste of the people who develop, produce, and release theatrical feature films in the Hollywood studio system and the mainstream independent system.

An annual list of Hollywood's most liked unproduced screenplays published on the second Friday of December each year, THE BLACK LIST began in 2004 as a survey with contributions from 75 film studio and production company executives. In 2009, over 300 executives contributed their opinion.

The list was created by Franklin Leonard when he was a development executive at Leonardo Dicaprio's company, Appian Way. He was drowning in so many bad screenplays, that he sent an email to other executives asking for good script suggestions. He compiled the many replies into what is now called the Black List. This year marks the sixth annual release of the list. Leonard is now working for Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment. He was recently at the Austin Film Festival to present the script reading of Maggie Carey's 2009 Black List script "The Hand Job".

To download the list, click here. The Black List

Night Catches Us and Black Swan in Theaters

Night Catches Us and Black Swan hit theaters this weekend on December 3rd. Both films have had wonderful runs throughout select film festivals this year. I had a chance to see Black Swan at the Austin Film Festival and it was a treat unlike anything I have ever seen.  If you have seen one or both of these movies, take a moment to comment on the films below.


In 1976, after years of mysterious absence, Marcus (Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker") returns to the Philadelphia neighborhood where he came of age in the midst of the Black Power movement. While his arrival raises suspicion among his family and former neighbors, he finds acceptance from his old friend Patricia (Kerry Washington, "Ray," "Lift") and her daughter. However, Marcus quickly finds himself at odds with the organization he once embraced, whose members suspect he orchestrated the slaying of their former comrade-in-arms. In a startling sequence of events, Marcus must protect a secret that could shatter everyone's beliefs as he rediscovers his forbidden passion for Patricia.

BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Wesley Snipes ordered to prison

A federal judge has ordered Wesley Snipes to report to a federal prison for his tax conviction.

The U.S. Marshalls office issued a notice ordering Snipes to voluntarily surrender at the Federal Correctional Institute McKean in Lewis Run, Pennsylvania by noon December 9th the Associated Press reports.

Snipes has been free on bail while appealing his 2008 conviction for willful failure to file income tax returns.

He has starred in the Blade trilogy, Demolition Man, New Jack City, Passenger 57, among others.

Texas Film/TV Productions In Jeopardy

The state will be making budget cuts which could affect media productions in the State of Texas. Last April, the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program went into effect after a smaller incentive program was established during the 2007 legislative session.

Before the new program, Texas' previous incentive project was ranked among the worst for the amount of money and number of jobs offered. Paul Alvardo-Dykstra, Central Texas Representative of TXMPA says,

"Since April 2009, we've seen a tremendous uptick in the amount of film, television, game production and commercial production in Texas."

However, the local media industry can be unsteady. "Friday Night Lights" finished shooting its final season and two other Texas-based productions, "My Generation" and "Lone Star," were both canceled after two episodes.

"Especially in a downturn, this isn't something we want to cut off. We want to maintain and keep it going because it's working. Three out of four major networks now have been making TV in Texas and that's huge for us,"

Alvarado-Dykstra said.

To read the entire article click here News8Austin