MCFC Press Release Blog

News / MONTEREY COUNTY FILM COMMISSION
Dec. 5, 2011 Update 26 Jan 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Karen Nordstrand
Director of Marketing & Film Production
831-646-0910 / Karen@filmmonterey.org

Monterey County Film Student $2,000 Scholarship & Awards Program
Now Open for Monterey County Applicants

The deadline for film students to apply for the fifth annual Monterey County Film Commission Film Student Scholarship & Awards Program is Feb. 17, 2012.

The winner of the $2,000 award (or two $1000 awards) will be announced March 31, 2012.

Eligibility information and application forms may be downloaded at www.FilmMonterey.org, or contact the film commission office at 831-646-0910 or info@filmmonterey.org.

The scholarship program was created to provide financial aid and incentive to students of film and beginning filmmakers who reside in Monterey County, or who are currently enrolled in a community college or university in the county.  The fund was established as a permanent endowment with the Community Foundation for Monterey County.  It is designed to help a film student work towards a career goal, with the funds going directly to the student to be used for Capstone or other film projects.

“The Monterey County Film Commission is proud to be able to provide this kind of assistance to young filmmakers,” said Jeff Clark, chairperson of the scholarship committee. “These funds provide students with the added dollars they need to take their film from being a good project to becoming a great project.”

Last year’s winner was Dominic Parisi, a student at California State University, Monterey Bay, in the Teledramatic Arts and Technology department.  His production titled, “Derby” takes a behind-the-scenes look at the sport of female roller derby.

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The Monterey County Film Commission was created by and is funded in part by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.  It works to market Monterey County as a destination for the motion picture, television and related industries, for the purpose of stimulating economic development, creating jobs, providing and supporting educational opportunities in those areas.

NEWS / Monterey County Film Commission
Contact:  Karen Nordstrand, 831-646-0910 / 831-594-9410 cell
Karen@filmmonterey.org / www.FilmMonterey.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 18, 2011

 “Big Sur” film location manager Peter Newfield and team
win top California On Location Award

Peter Newfield, a location manager from Soquel, was named winner of a prestigious California On Location Award (COLA) at the 17^thAnnual COLA event held Oct. 16 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.  The prized trophy was given in the category of Location Team of the Year, Independent Feature Film, for “Big Sur,” a film based on Jack Kerouac’s book that was shot at Big Sur locations this spring.  The California On Location Awards event is the premier awards ceremony honoring film location professionals for excellence while filming within the state of California.

Peter Newfield photo-credit Karen Nordstrand

The Monterey County Film Commission nominated Newfield, who managed the Big Sur area film locations, along with the film’s San Francisco Bay Area-based team members, Gail Stempler, Peter Moody, and Daniel Lee who coordinated the San Francisco locations. It’s the first time a Northern California film location team won in this category, and the recognition came before a crowd of 500 film industry professionals in the hotel’s ballroom.

“Hard-working location managers like Peter Newfield and this team are most deserving of this recognition,” said Karen Nordstrand, director of marketing and film production for the Monterey County Film Commission.  “They are the people who work well with our film office and local residents and jurisdictions, and can make such a difference in the decisions on where film projects end up going.  We want them to continue to help bring productions to Monterey County year-round for the economic boost it brings to our communities.”

Big Sur movie filming on Big Sur beach

The filming of “Big Sur” in Monterey County brought weeks of economic benefit to the local economy with hotels being filled, local crew being hired, and increased income for retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants. Both private and public properties in the Big Sur area, including Rocky Creek Bridge, were used as locations. The film is expected to be released next year.

The COLA event is a project of Film Liaisons in California Statewide, a network of film commissioners and others seeking to promote and facilitate filming in the state.

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For more information see the COLA website, www.californiaonlocationawards.com.  For more on the Monterey County Film Commission, www.FilmMonterey.org.

The MCFC is a nonprofit organization, created by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in 1987, to boost the local economy through film production on-location.

NEWS / Monterey County Film Commission
Oct. 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Karen Nordstrand, Director of Marketing & Film Production
831-646-0910 / Karen@filmmonterey.org
www.FilmMonterey.org

Monterey County Film Commission brings Special Benefit Screening of “Becoming Bert Stern” to Monterey on Nov. 4

The Monterey County Film Commission and the Museum of Monterey presents a new film about celebrated photographer Bert Stern, plus
Q&A with its Hollywood filmmakers

Go into the world of an unconventional documentary about the bad boy, original “mad-man” photographer Bert Stern, when the Monterey County Film Commission brings the film “Becoming Bert Stern” to the Museum of Monterey theater on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Bert Stern By Irving Penn

Stern is famous for having made the world’s most gorgeous and sensual women his subject for 50 years, including Marilyn Monroe in her “last sitting” photographs.  In this film, he becomes the subject, revealing his untold wild life story to his long-time muse.

The special benefit screening is a collaboration with the Museum of Monterey at the 5 Custom House Plaza location at the edge of Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey (former Maritime Museum). Tickets are $10 and may be reserved by calling 831-646-0910.  Members of Reel Friends of the Film Commission receive free admission.  Students are admitted free if space is available.  More information is available at www.FilmMonterey.org.

Stern’s career began at Look magazine, where he was friends with staff photographer Stanley Kubrick.  Stern’s success and the Golden Age of Advertising would coincide, as he became a legendary figure in contemporary and commercial photography by age 25.  He was sought after by Madison Avenue, Hollywood and the international fashion scene.  He photographed such celebrities as Jean Shrimpton, Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Twiggy, Liz Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.  His “Driest of the Dry” campaign for Smirnoff sold more vodka than Smiroff dreamed, making America a vodka drinking country for the first time.

Along with Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, Stern minted the concept “photographer” as a star in his own right.  In this film, he reveals himself, his loves and his fall from grace.

Shannah Laumeister’s documentary directorial debut uncovers not only Stern, but also their unique long-time relationship.  “Becoming Bert Stern” is a story of self-creation:  rise, fall and reinvention.  It explores creativity, celebrity, and desire through the eyes of a man who got nearly everything he wanted.

“Becoming Bert Stern” was an official selection at the Telluride Film Festival 2011.

Laumeister, along with the film’s producer Gregory McClatchy, have been invited to attend the screening and be available for question and answer time.  McClatchy worked with Kaleidoscope Films Inc., at the time one of the most prolific motion picture marketing agencies in Hollywood.  Now he has his own motion picture advertising company, Motor Entertainment.  He has produced the documentary “Terror in the Aisles” and “Get Bruce.”  His work in motion picture advertising has allowed him to work with such filmmakers as Jody Foster, Steven Speilberg, David Fincher, Warren Beatty, Caleb Deschanel and more.

Laumeister’s acting credits include “Bullets Over Broadway,” “The Brady Bunch” and TV shows including “NYPD Blue” and HBO’s “61.”

This educational screening is part of the “Focus on Film” series of the film commission, offering insights into the world of filmmaking and film jobs.  The event is funded in part by the Arts Council for Monterey County, with support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

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MEDIA NOTE:  Photos and press notes are available upon request.

The Monterey County Film Commission is a non-profit organization proactively marketing Monterey County as a destination for the motion picture, television and related industries,

 for the purpose of stimulating economic development, creating jobs, providing and supporting  educational opportunities in those areas.

NEWS / Monterey County Film Commission
Contact:  Karen Nordstrand, 831-646-0910
karen@filmmonterey.org / info@filmmonterey.org
www.FilmMonterey.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / Oct. 10, 2011

Monterey County Film Commission names
long-time Board Director Richard Tyler as “Director Emeritus”

Monterey resident Richard Tyler, who has served on the board of directors of the Monterey County Film Commission since 1991, was named the film commission’s first-ever Director Emeritus, an honorary title recognizing his long-time involvement with the nonprofit organization.

Richard Tyler

The presentation of an official certificate to Tyler was made at a private reception at his home on Friday, Oct. 7.

“I am very honored to be designated the Monterey County Film Commission’s first-ever Director Emeritus, just as the MCFC begins to celebrate its 25^th anniversary year,” said Tyler.  “It has been a pleasure to have been a part of the film commission’s progress for 20 of those years.”

Tyler has served numerous terms as an elected board officer, from treasurer and president to board chairman.  He has contributed as the chair of such committees as bylaws, finance, personnel, and the advisory board.  He actively participated in fundraising efforts including screenwriting competitions, Oscar Night galas, the MCFC Reel Friends support organization, and film industry educational programs and lectures.

Tyler has played a significant role in guiding and helping to strengthen the film commission, enthusiastically promoting its important role in bringing an economic boost to Monterey County through the film industry and on-location film production.

The retired former cultural director for Carmel’s Sunset Center will continue to provide advice and expertise to the film commission while moving on from active board involvement.  Tyler has also been affiliated in the past with other nonprofit boards including Arts Habitat, the State Theatre Preservation Group, and Actors Equity.

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NEWS / Monterey County Film Commission
831-646-0910 / info@filmmonterey.org

2011 Steinbeck Festival “Friends and Foes” expands to include Hollywood film professionals on “Villains Panel” this Saturday

In its first collaboration with the Monterey County Film Commission, the National Steinbeck Center presents “The Villains Panel: Bad Guys and Why We Need Them” as the Saturday, Aug. 6 event of its 31st annual festival with this year’s theme of “Friends and Foes.”

From 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., several award-winning screenwriters and producers fromHollywoodwill join together to celebrate villains in literature and film and to explore the human impulse to create “us” and “them.”

One of the four panelists is David Peoples, the Oscar-nominaated screenwriter for “Unforgiven,” Clint Eastwood’s Academy Award-winning Western film. Peoples, who also wrote “Blade Runner,” will by joined by his wife Janet Peoples.  They have numerous writing credits as writer or co-writer of documentaries and features, including “Leviathon,” “Day After Trinity,” “Hero,” “Salute of the Jugger,” and “Twelve Monkeys.”

Panelist Walon Green has written more than 20 feature films:  “Sorcerer,” “The Border,”  “Eraser,” “Dinosaur,” and “Hi-Lo Country.” As a writer/executive producer of episodic television drama, his credits include “Hill Street Blues,” “NYPD Blue,” “ER,” and “Law and Order.”

David Milch will also participate.  He is perhaps best known for creating the hit HBO television drama “Deadwood”, but his career in TV began as a writer for “Hill Street Blues” and, later, he was a co-creator of “NYPD Blue.” A former lecturer in English at Yale University, he runs RedBoard Productions.

The panel will be moderated by Susan B. Landau, the head of Thompson Street Entertainment and the executive producer of dozens of films including “Road, Movie,” the “Great American Songbook” (hosted and narrated by Michael Feinstein), “Princess of Thieves,” “An Ideal Husband,” and “Cool Runnings.”

The Villains Panel will be held at the National Steinbeck Center in downtownSalinas.  Ticket prices: $18 non-members/$10 members. Wine will be available for purchase before and after the event, sponsored by Poppy Wine.

Current members of “Reel Friends of the Film Commission” may reserve their discounted ticket by calling the film commission at 831-646-0910 by Aug. 5.

For more on the National Steinbeck Center’s annual Steinbeck Festival events, go to www.steinbeck.org or www.FilmMonterey.org Tickets are available by phone at 831-775-4721.