So that others may live.

USCG Rescue Swimmer Training from Nicolas Cianca on Vimeo

Michael Jackson – Beat It

PomplamooseMusic YouTube Channel

The campaign to raise standards in non-fiction TV won its first major victory this month.   
As you’ve probably heard, the writer/producers at Atlas voted by an overwhelming majority to join the Writers Guild! The Atlas election was the first time ever that the WGAE has participated in a National Labor Relations Board election to represent writers in non-fiction. Atlas producers did an amazing job of staying united and voting yes. This victory sets the pace for the movement to win improvements for all writers and producers working in non-fiction across the East coast.  

Our Campaign’s Anniversary
One year ago, writers and producers of non-fiction TV from across NYC met and set a plan to raise standards in their industry. After many years of working long hours with little or no benefits, writers and producers decided it was time to come together and organize. After dozens of meetings and conversations, we are now well on our way to winning the right to collective bargaining at several companies. In just one year, you have built a citywide network across dozens of companies.  

More Upcoming Elections
In the next few weeks, writer/producers at ITV, Optomen and Sharp will all have the opportunity to vote to begin collective bargaining. If you are eligible to vote in one of those elections you have probably heard from us already. We are still in negotiations with Lion TV and we hope to have an update on voting dates soon.   If you are not voting in one of these elections, you can help by passing on words of support and encouragement to any friends or colleagues you know who may be working there. They are likely to be under significant pressure from their bosses to vote against unionizing.   

Campaign to get Employers to Obey the Law
We are also launching a campaign that will initially be focused on True Entertainment and Original Media (both subsidiaries of media giant Endemol). In this campaign, we will alert the government’s appropriate enforcement agencies of the many violations of labor law that have been reported to us by employees of both companies. From blatant violations of overtime rules to interfering with fair election proceedings, we will be aggressively pursuing a strategy to get these companies to obey the law.

Next Steps
Having union elections at these locations and creating a network of several hundred supporters in just one year is truly remarkable progress. But we can’t stop here. Writers and producers across the entire industry are determined to win the basic benefits that they deserve. We have heard from people in many more companies and we expect to be engaged in campaigns in many more locations next year.  

Our website has lots of new information about the movement to raise standards. Check it out for updates.

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/grandmas-superhero-therapy-18

I’ll be posting more soon, including cycles, vehicles and other assets.

Fox Searchlight Pictures Presents

BLACK SWAN

Friday, November 19 at 7:00pm

Followed by a conversation with Producer SCOTT FRANKLIN, Director DARREN ARONOFSKY, Screenwriter MARK HEYMAN and Actors NATALIE PORTMAN and MILA KUNIS

DGA Theater
110 West 57th St.
Btwn 6th & 7th Ave.

Producers: Mike Medavoy*, Arnold W. Messer, Brian Oliver, Scott Franklin*
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay by: Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz & John McLaughlin
Starring: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder
*PGA Member

A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, BLACK SWAN stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). A Fox Searchlight Pictures release by visionary director Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER), BLACK SWAN takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the Swan Queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.

Running Time: 103 Minutes
Release Date: December 3, 2010
Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language, and some drug use

As a courtesy to Mr. Franklin, Mr. Aronofsky, Mr. Heyman, Ms. Portman and Ms. Kunis, please do not RSVP unless you intend to stay for the entire Q&A.

]]> http://cianca.com/wp/black-swan/feed/ 0 http://cianca.com/wp/the-2010-non-fiction-job-forum/ http://cianca.com/wp/the-2010-non-fiction-job-forum/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:49:33 +0000 Nicolas Cianca http://cianca.com/wp/the-2010-non-fiction-job-forum/ The PGA East Employment Committee invites you to:

THE 2010 NON-FICTION JOB FORUM

Tuesday, November 16

6:30pm SHARP – Registration
7:00pm – 9:00 pm – Speed Interviewing

PGA Members Only

Event will start promptly with or without you.
If you are late, you will not be able to participate.

MPE Penthouse
432 West 45th St.
Btwn 9th & 10th Ave.

Refreshments Served

Work in unscripted production? Ready to meet your next potential employer? Then mark your calendar: the PGA EAST NON-FICTION JOB FORUM will take place on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet those who are hiring Producers, APs, Post Supervisors, Production Managers, and Coordinators, plus network with fellow PGA members, too, all in an informal and fun environment.

Here’s how it works: “Speed-interviewing!” It’s like speed-dating, but you’re courting your next big employer. The panelists rotate to tables of 5 participants and spend 10 minutes with each group, hearing from each person individually. It’s a rare opportunity to pitch yourself to top executives in the field. You’ll surely leave a lasting impression: execs leave with a binder full of resumes to draw on. Past job forums have landed several members jobs – some within weeks of the forum; some months later.

These are meetings with some of the biggest production employers in the city that might otherwise take you weeks or months to set up.

Representatives from top East Coast networks and production companies across all non-fiction genres and media platforms (spanning TV, long-form docs, and the web) will take part. The following are already confirmed:

AETN (History Channel, Biography, A&E Network)
CBS EYE Productions (The Next Food Network Star; 24 Hour Restaurant Battle)
The Dr. Oz Show
The Nate Berkus Show
Screaming Panda, screamingpanda.com
ITV Studios (Four Weddings, Steven Seagal: Lawman)

More companies will be added soon, for a total of over ten companies!

Twentieth Century Fox Presents

LOVE & OTHER DRUGS

Saturday, November 13 at 7:00pm

Followed by a conversation with Producer & Screenwriter CHARLES RANDOLPH

Florence Gould Hall Theater
55 East 59th St. between Park and Madison Ave.

Producers: Scott Stuber*, Edward Zwick*, Marshall Herskovitz*, Charles Randolph, and Pieter Jan Brugge*,
Director: Edward Zwick*
Screenplay by: Charles Randolph and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria, Josh Gad, Gabriel Macht
*PGA Member

Anne Hathaway portrays Maggie, an alluring free spirit who won’t let anyone – or anything – tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales. Maggie and Jamie’s evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love.

Running Time: 112 minutes
Release Date: November 24, 2010
Rated R for sexual content, nudity, pervasive language, and some drug material

As a courtesy to Mr. Randolph, please do not RSVP unless you intend to stay for the Q&A.

The Weinstein Company Presents

THE KING’S SPEECH

Sunday, November 7 at 7:00pm

Followed by a conversation with Producers IAN CANNING, EMILE SHERMAN and GARETH UNWIN, Director TOM HOOPER, and Actors COLIN FIRTH and HELENA BONHAM CARTER

School of Visual Arts Theatre
333 West 23rd St.
Btwn. 8th and 9th Ave.

DON’T FORGET: Sunday is the start of Daylight Savings time, so make sure to set your clocks back by one hour earlier that day.

Producers: Ian Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
Director: Tom Hooper
Screenplay by: David Seidler
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, Derek Jacobi, Jennifer Ehle, Anthony Andrews, Claire Bloom, Eve Best, and Michael Gambon

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle.

Running Time: 118 minutes
Release Date: November 26, 2010
Rated R for some language

As a courtesy to Mr. Canning, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Unwin, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Firth and Ms. Bonham Carter, please do not RSVP unless you intend to stay for the Q&A.

Fox Searchlight Presents

127 HOURS

Tuesday, November 2 at 7:00pm

Followed by a conversation with Producer, Screenwriter & Director DANNY BOYLE, Producer CHRISTIAN COLSON, Screenwriter SIMON BEAUFOY, Actor JAMES FRANCO, and ARON RALSTON

Regal Union Square Stadium 14
850 Broadway at 13th St.

Producers: Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, John Smithson
Director: Danny Boyle
Screenplay by: Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy
Starring: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara, Clémence Poésy, Kate Burton, Lizzy Caplan

127 HOURS is the new film from Danny Boyle, the Academy Award® winning director of 2008′s Best Picture, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. 127 HOURS is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s (James Franco) remarkable adventure to save himself after a falling boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated slot canyon in Utah. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers (Clémence Poésy), family, and the two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara) he met before his accident. Over the next five days Ralston battles the elements and his own demons to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, descend a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he is finally rescued. Told with a dynamic narrative structure, 127 HOURS is a visceral, thrilling story that will take an audience on a never before experienced journey and prove what we can do when we choose life.

Running Time: 90 minutes
Release Date: November 5, 2010
Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content/bloody images

As a courtesy to Mr. Boyle, Mr. Colson, Mr. Beaufoy, Mr. Franco, and Mr. Ralston, please do not RSVP unless you intend to stay for the Q&A.

MASTER CLASS

TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING: THE NEW ENTERTAINMENT PARADIGM

Tuesday, October 26 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Theresa Lang Center
The New School
55 West 13th St. at 6th Ave.

Transmedia development, production and implementation is now fully in practice at the highest levels of companies such as Disney, Saban, Microsoft and Mattel. Around the world, visionaries are generating stunning multi-platform endeavors based on the principles of transmedia.

Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, is the world’s foremost expert at developing entertainment properties and premium brands into highly successful transmedia franchises. He has worked on such properties as Pirates of the Caribbean, Avatar, Coca-Cola’s Happiness Factory, Halo, Transformers and the upcoming Tron Legacy. In this, his first Master Class after this September’s revelatory TED talk in Geneva, Switzerland, Jeff will candidly share his latest experiences in the field, expanding upon the vanguard technique of funding, planning, creating and producing highly engaging story worlds that maximize both the creative potential of your work, equity participation and subsequent revenues. Case studies will include analysis of some of the biggest entertainment franchises of today, and the discussion will include advice on how to apply these concepts to your own projects, large or small, fact or fiction.

Refreshments will be served. Members are strongly encouraged to bring qualified prospective members as their guests.

Jeff Gomez
CEO, Starlight Runner Entertainment
Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, is the world’s foremost expert at developing entertainment properties and premium brands into highly successful transmedia franchises. As a creative consultant to Fortune 500 companies, he contributes strategic planning and production for the cross-platform implementation of content.

Jeff conceived, co-wrote and produced one of the most successful transmedia storylines of the decade with Mattel’s Hot Wheels comic books, videogames, web content and animated series. He has gone on to work with such franchises as Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron Legacy for The Walt Disney Company, James Cameron’s Avatar for 20th Century Fox, Halo for Microsoft, Happiness Factory for The Coca-Cola Company, Transformers for Hasbro, and most recently Men in Black 3 for Sony Pictures.

Jeff is a member of the PGA East Executive Committee and serves on the national board of the PGA New Media Council.

Brent Weinstein
Head of Digital Media, United Talent Agency
Brent is one of the leading figures in the digital media industry, helping develop content deals for broadband, videogame, and mobile platforms. He formed the digital media practice at United Talent Agency in 2003, where he leads a team of dedicated digital media agents to identify and evaluate opportunities for UTA clients: actors, writers, directors, producers, and recording artists, in addition to many business-to-business and consumer-oriented technology and corporate clients. Brent, with UTA co-founder and partner Jeremy Zimmer, also formed UTA Online, a dedicated broadband division that finds and represents the next generation of web-based content artists. In 2007, Brent served as the CEO of 60Frames, a privately-held, venture backed company dedicated to financing, ad sales and syndication of original professionally produced entertainment content for the internet. The company was incubated by United Talent Agency and Spot Runner, an innovative internet-based advertising agency.

During his tenure at UTA, Weinstein made digital media deals for many of the best known artists in entertainment, including Johnny Depp, Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as well as top digital media artists such as Big Fantastic (“Prom Queen”), AskANinja (askaninja.com), and others.

Special thanks to Terra Fossil for providing premium wines for New Media Council events.
Event hosted by Producers Guild of America New Media Council East.

For the most up-to-date information on the PGA New Media Council East, please visit the blog at http://pganmc.blogspot.com
For more information about the PGA and to access a membership application, please visit: http://www.producersguild.org
Previous events from our event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at: http://www.scribemedia.org/pga

IN MY LIFETIME “The Trinity Blast” July 16, 1945

Thursday, October 21 at 7:00pm

PostWorks Conference Room
100 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
Btwn Grand and Watts St.

PGA Members only
Light snacks/ beverages will be available

Producer & Director: Robert E. Frye*
Co-Producer & Editor: Andrew Ford
Executive Producer: Diane Love
*PGA Member

“In My Lifetime,” a feature length documentary is a presentation of The Nuclear World Project based on a two year sojourn. The story is told through the eyes and voices of a photographer, a nuclear physicist, a woman who was a physicist and became a political activist, a diplomat from Sri Lanka who has dedicated his life to the abolition of nuclear weapons, the daughter of a Naval nuclear scientist who was involved in the development of the atomic bomb. Presented as an impressionistic film, weaving together the voices and images to present this morality play seeking answers to this continuing struggle, waged over the past six and a half decades to rid the world of nuclear weapons with the last act to be determined.

Film Type: Feature Length Documentary
Running time: 120 minutes