I apologize for the poor formatting below. I'm trying to work on it.
-Anup


LOCAL TSUMANI RELIEF EFFORT AT THIN - SD

Learn more about the cultures of the regions devastated by tsunamis
while
helping to save lives through your donation. Join SDAFF at Thin,
Wednesday
Jan. 12th, for an evening of films from Thailand and India and to
hear the
personal story of a local survivor. All proceeds from the event will
be donated
to Direct Relief International, ranked by Forbes as one of the most
efficient
U.S. charities. The event is open to the public (21 and over) and
there is a
minumum $25 donation. Plus, there will be food donated by Star of
India and
$4 Skyy Vodka drink specials.

* When:  Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005, 8 p.m.–midnight
* Where:  Thin Bar, 852 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter (21 and over
only)
* Cost:  Minimum $25 donation to Direct Relief International

The evening will feature Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, a fast-paced
action
Thai thriller showcased at the latest SDAFF feature film lineup.
Local
filmmakers will also show short documentaries exploring cultures of
South
Asia, with Cheryl Kenkar's Pyramid of Women on India and Dawn
Poomee's
Ma-Nang on Thailand. Attending the event will be special guest and
local San
Diegan, Brandon Behle, who will share his firsthand account of
escaping the
tsunami in Ko Phi Phi,Thailand.

more info: http://www.sdaff.org & http://www.cinemasocial.com
___________________________________________________________

ARTWALLAH CALL FOR ENTRIES (CFE)

Deadline: Feb 15th
Entry Fee: $0
Types of work: All (incl. Film, music, dance, etc)
Date of Festival: July '05
More Info:
http://www.Artwallah.org

___________________________________________________________

NETFLIX FRIENDS

Netflix is trying to find another way to lock in its customers with
this new
feature. I think it will be an interesting avenue to discuss films
or just see one
another's taste. So, if you're a member and want to try this let me
know via
email. Yes, you do have to be a member for this.
-Anup

___________________________________________________________

...AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...

Film Crane Creators to Get Oscars

The creators of two camera crane systems that allow directors to film
wide,
sweeping action sequences without pushing a camera along static sets
of
tracks will be honored with Oscars for their achievements.

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/ap/20050108/110521944000.html
___________________________________________________________

NEVER COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU

indieWIRE's Top 15 Undistributed Films of 2004
http://movies.yahoo.com/news/iw/20050103/110477406000.html
___________________________________________________________

2004 INDIE RECAP

Considering Some of the Successes and Disappointments at the 2004 Box
Office


"...On the tougher side, THINKFilm's Urman finds that companies are
aggressively competing for a small audience that does not want
challenging
films. "Good alternative films will always find an audience," he
noted," But
tricky, risky, demanding ones are reaching fewer and fewer people in
theaters..."

"... it is challenging to "break through the clutter" in the crowded
marketplace
today, adding "There seems to be an increasing 'feast or famine'
routine for
(indie) films that is cutting out the middle class..."

"... a number of major newspapers are 'lost in translation'" -- they
are trying to
reinvent their editorial content to connect with a larger younger
demographic -
- this process has also impacted the entertainment sections of the
paper and
here is the real rub! The younger set are less influenced by
newspapers in
making their moviegoing choices and read less. Therefore, it no
surprise that
newspapers are losing even more of their readers..."

"...The attractiveness of home theatres combined with DVD's has made
theatrical distribution seriously more challenging in a very short
time period.
This is especially true for the 25-45 audience which is the bread and
butter
audience for independent films..."

"...It's a great time to be in independent film," they said via
email, "Studios are
churning out more and more standardized fare for global consumption,
and
audiences in general, and upscale audiences in particular, are
exhausted by
them. 'The Passion', 'Fahrenheit', and 'Super Size Me' are
spectacular
demonstrations of this and I know more are coming."

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/iw/20050105/110495064000.html
___________________________________________________________

ONLY CERTAINITY IN LIFE: FILM AND TAXES

Bloomberg Signs Tax Incentive Legislation to Lure Productions to NYC

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/iw/20050106/110503224000.html