MFA in Screenwriting: Cal State Fullerton

California State University Fullerton is now accepting applications for its graduate program in Screenwriting.

The Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting is an intensive, two-year degree program in writing for narrative feature film, short films, television dramas and comedies, as well as new media. Writing classes are small and taught in a seminar atmosphere by professors with professional experience in the entertainment industry. 

Entry into the program is competitive, based on acceptance into California State University Fullerton as well as the applicant's submission of materials to the Radio-TV-Film graduate program. A total of 42 units are required to finish the M.F.A. program. Classes begin fall 2012.

Deadline for applications: March 1st.

See full details

Santa Monica Artist Fellowship

The City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division is pleased to announce the third year of the Santa Monica Artist Fellowship program. Five annual fellowships are available to Santa Monica-based artists to nourish and stimulate the creation of new work, acknowledge our community's regard for creativity and innovation, and recognize excellence.

Three 2012 Project Fellowships of $3,000 each are now available by application. Santa Monica-based artists seeking funding for study, individual exploration, in-depth exchange or creative opportunities related to the development or presentation of new work may apply. For updated guidelines and an application, visit the Fellowship page on the website.

Two Fellowships of $20,000 will also be awarded to Santa Monica artists via a nominations process.

Deadline for applications: 5:00 pm, January 30, 2012.

BAD SANTA

PEN Center USA & Dirty Laundry Lit

present

"BAD SANTA"

A Seasonal Offering Of The Naughtiest Lit South Of Santa's Pole

Saturday, December 3rd

7 p.m.

Little Temple

4519 Santa Monica Blvd

Los Angeles 90029

Join PEN Center USA and Dirty Laundry Lit for an evening of readings by Darrel Alejandro Holnes, Preston Witt, Christopher Ross, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Richard Lee Warren, and Jo Robbins; hosted by Jeff Eyres and live music by DJ Cazel.

See full details

 

A Tribute to Spaulding Gray

Writers' Bloc Presents:

A Tribute to Spalding Gray  

With Nell Casey, Peter Gallagher, David Ulin and others

Tuesday, November 8th

7:30 p.m.

If you had the great good fortune to see Spalding Gray perform his unforgettable monologues, then you fell under his confessional spell, and you subsequently arrived at the logical conclusion that he bared his heart, soul and guts to you. His suicide in 2004 left a gaping hole in our national literary landscape.

In The Journals of Spalding Gray (masterfully edited and explained by Nell Casey), the reader realizes that an enormous opportunity has just been dropped in front of us: the opportunity to see a bit inside the heart and soul of the man who brought us so much. What Spalding Gray didn't deliver to us in his performances, Nell Casey delivers to us now. Check out the excerpt in the New York Times Magazine from October 6, 2011.

Writers Bloc hosts Nell Casey (editor of the bestselling Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression), in conversation with David Ulin, book critic for the Los Angeles Times, and actors, including Peter Gallagher, who will read from the journals.

Tickets, $20. Laemmle Sunset 5 Theaters. 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Free parking with validation. To make a reservation, click here.

Steve Jobs: Words of Wisdom

Steve Jobs' Stanford commencement speech in 2005...

Call For Writers: Artist Residency

CALL FOR WRITERS

Artist Residency at the

Annenberg Community Beach House  

The City of Santa Monica, Cultural Affairs Division, seeks applications from writers living in Los Angeles County for a residency at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica. The Artist Residency offers a large private office in the historic Marion Davies Guest House for ten weeks to complete a work in progress.

The Residency begins Monday, January 16, 2012 and concludes Monday, March 26, 2012 for a total of 10 weeks. As an acknowledgment of the public benefit of the Resident to the community, an honorarium of $1500 is offered.  
 
Application Deadline: Friday, November 4th, 2011 @ 5 p.m. For questions about the Residency, please leave a message for Naomi Okuyama, Cultural Affairs Coordinator at 310-310-0187 or email isanaomi.okuyama@smgov.net

String Theory

STRING THEORY
 
With Special Guest David Poe
 
At the 
The Ford Amphitheatre
  
Thursday, September 15th
8:30 p.m.
 
Purchase Tickets

Experience a truly one-of-a-kind performance as the cutting-edge music and dance ensemble known as String Theory transforms the entire Ford Amphitheatre into a harp-like sonic sculpture. Extending the entire length of the venue, the audience will literally be sitting inside the instrument while enjoying an evening of eclectic music, video installations and dance. 
  
Singer/songwriter and composer David Poe guests, as String Theory premieres new works ranging from Renaissance to rock and electronica to experimental, accompanied by a series of contemporary dances. They'll also premiere their latest film collaboration with filmmakers Shane and Sean McAllen ("Mission of Monkeys"), performing the score live. Get a taste here

String Theory accompanies their harps with cello, Theremin, violin, saxophone, bass, guitar, keys, saw, accordion, tablas, flute, samples, a myriad of exotic and invented percussion, and vocals. Their music ranges from 15th century Renaissance to rock, electronica and experimental.

The evening will also include a special performance by students in the Education Through Music program which serves disadvantaged youth in the LA area. Audience members are encouraged to bring unwanted cellos, guitars or violins to the event to donate to the organization.

Kick off this intriguing event under the stars by bringing a picnic dinner to enjoy on the grounds before the show.

Don't miss String Theory in this rare public performance. Buy your tickets today!  

* * * * * 

String Theory was founded by instrument designer/builder and composer, Luke Rothschild; choreographer/director, Holly Rothschild; and cellist, composer, Joseph Harvey. They have performed at the 2010 TED conference, The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, the 2006 Grammy's, for the Opening Festivities of The Walt Disney Concert Hall, and  at The Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC.

Trans Artists

Trans Artists is an online hub for artist-in-residence opportunities that offers full details about international artist-in-residence programs as well as other places for artists to stay and work elsewhere 'for art's sake'. It operates mainly from the artists' perspective and usually cooperates with a wide range of partners in all world regions, increasingly in more depth with European countries. Trans Artists makes the enormous worldwide residential art labyrinth accessible and usable to the artists through its website, newsletter, research and workshop programs.

JK Rowling: Words of Wisdom

JK Rowling's Harvard commencement speech:

On the fringe benefits of failure, and the power of imagination.

Watch it here 

Getting to the Core

The 7th Annual Topanga Film Festival

July 28-31, 2011

Topanga, California

In addition to the slate of films, here's a salon discussion you don't want to miss:

"Getting to the Core" Salon Discussion - Friday, July 30th, 3-4:30 p.m.
Church of Cinema, 269 Old Canyon Blvd., Topanga 90290
Panelists: Karin Gutman, Laura Milner, Joan Schekel, and Dr. Robert M. Bilder

This salon discussion explores the human urge toward story, and how to go about unlocking the stories that need to be told. The panelists will offer various perspectives on the creative process from the very inception of our story ideas through their cultivation and development into a form that can be shared with others. Dr. Bilder, a neuropsychologist and the Director of the Tennenbaum Center for the Biology of Creativity, will describe what is going on in our brains during this creative process.
See full details and buy tickets