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Actor Dan Butler from TV’s “Frasier” will be the keynote speaker, Thursday, August 7, 2008

PROVIDENCE, RI. First introduced in 1998 by the Rhode Island International Film Festival, The Rhode Island Film Forum returns for a special symposium on the art and craft of filmmaking in Rhode Island. Positioned as a call to Rhode Island Filmmakers, Film Production Crews, Film Students, Artistic Directors, Film Vendors, Civic Organizations, Historic and Preservation Groups, Property Managers, Recreation Managers, Hotel Managers, and Rental Agencies, the Forum addresses the nuts and bolts of film production, from location scouting, licensing and production to marketing, new technologies and the internet.



Over the course of two mornings, August 7th and 8th, participants will have an opportunity to discover how they might become a part of this multi-million dollar industry in Rhode Island and southern New England. The Forum will be held at the Brown University, Carmichael Auditorium in Hunter Laboratory, 89 Waterman Street on the East Side of Providence. The event is sponsored in part by the Brown/RISD Hillel, the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Warwick Tourism.

The cost each day is $45 with a special two-day discount of $75. A keynote address by actor Dan Butler (Frasier) takes place on Thursday, August 7th at 1:00 p.m

Dan Butler's film, “Karl Rove I Love You,” is playing in this year's festival (Wed, Aug 6 2008, 9:30 pm | Columbus Theatre Arts Center, Cinémathèque). Born on December 2, 1954 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Butler is both an actor and a director. He was on the show “Frasier” in beginning in 1993 where he played the part of Robert "Bulldog" Briscoe. He also directed an episode of “Frasier” in 1998. Film work has included “The Enemy of the State,” “Chronic Town” “Rising Sun” and “Silence of the Lambs.” He has made frequent appearances on television including "Just Shoot Me" “Ally McBeal” “Supernatural” and the "X-Files.”

According to Michael Morgenstern, the Film Forum Coordinator for the Rhode Island International Film Festival, “The two-day forum will bring together leaders of the film industry from all creative arenas. This year’s presenters come from all over the globe and will be sharing their knowledge and experience, making a for a truly dynamic program.”

Some of the topics addressed over the course of two mornings include: “Changing Technologies in Film,” “Online Distribution for Indies/Withoutabox,” “Financing your film/tax credits: What New England has to Offer” “Rhode Island Film Making/Local Documentaries,” “Directing Actors and Creating Exceptional Character,” “Visual Effects: From Retouching to Revolution,” and a focus on “Alternative Cinema.”

The film industry in Rhode Island has grown enormously over the past several years with Rhode Island being used as the backdrop for major motion pictures to the critically acclaimed Showtime Network series, “The Brotherhood.”

This Rhode Island Film Forum was created to help facilitate a better understanding of the needs of the industry and the wants of the community to make Rhode Island the most film friendly state; as well as spur the growth of a film making infrastructure which has a long-term vision of job creation and growth.

Representing tourism and marketing for the Rhode Island communities are; Kristin Adamo, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor's Bureau; Kathryn Farrington, the V.P. of Marketing at the Newport, Rhode Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, 
and Karen Jedson, Director, Warwick Tourism. SueEllen Kroll Program Officer for the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities will address issues of funding.

The expanding list of participants includes Dan Trezise, Visual Effects producer for "Matrix Revolutions", "The Golden Compass", "The Hulk", “Fun With Dick and Jane” and “Spiderman;” Chris Jones, Director and author of the popular “The Guerilla Film Makers Movie Blueprint” and Kodak Best Short Film Award, 2008 (as of July 31st) for his film “Gone Fishing” which will have its World Premiere at RIIFF; Eric Latek of Phantazma Pictures, recently named one of the Top 25 Upcoming and Coming Filmmakers by Filmmaker Magazine; Carson Grant, Actor/Director; Kevin Sheridan, Actor, know for his recurring characters on such shows as “American Dreams” and “Veronica Mars.” Some of his other notable credits include “Boston Public,” “Judging Amy,” “Without A Trace,” “Justice,” and “The Closer;” Peter Rosen, Producer/Director with over 100 full-length films and television programs to his credit, he has worked directly with some of the most important figures in the arts such as Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes, Stephen Sondheim, Alexander Godunov, Midori, Leonard Slatkin, Martha Graham, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Van Cliburn, Skitch Henderson, Claudio Arrau, I. M. Pei, and Garrison Keillor; Michelle LaMura Meek's who pioneered the development of NewEnglandFilm.com, the premiere magazine and resource for indie filmmaking in the northeast in 1997 and founded BuyIndies.com, an international community for buying and selling films; Cynthia Close, the Executive Director and currently is acting President of Documentary Educational Resources, (DER) a Watertown Massachusetts; Stefanie Budiman, a Partner Liaison in the Festival Department at Withoutabox, Inc. from California; Laura Belsey has directed hundreds of commercials and several narrative and documentary shorts. She has won numerous international awards, including a Cannes Gold Lion; Kalani Queypo actor/director, starting from roots in New York theatre to coveted projects like the Oscar Nominated Terrence Malick film, “The New World;” and Tom Gustafson whose directing credits include the side-show inspired short film, “The Need,” and the prolific, award-winning short musical film, “Fairies,” which inspired his feature directorial debut: “Were the World Mine.” Tom has worked as the location, casting director on many Hollywood films including “Pirates of the Caribbean II & III,” “The Good Shepherd” & “The Dark Knight.”

A complete roster of participants can be found on the RIIFF website at http://www.film-festival.org/RIForum.php

It is also expected that many of the filmmakers who will be attending this year's Rhode Island International Film Festival will be participating in the Forum. The Rhode Island Film Forum is designed to provide a networking platform, spur dialogue and get answers to your questions from those who make decisions.



This event is sponsored in part by grants from the Brown/RISD Hillel, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Warwick Tourism, Brown University and support from URI's College of Arts and Sciences, URI's Feinstein College of Continuing Education, and the URI Film Media Program.



For more information about the Rhode Island Film Forum or to enroll, please go to the website for the Rhode Island International Film Festival at www.film-festival.org/RIForum.php where application forms are available for download or call the RIIFF office at 401.861.4445.


ABOUT THE RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) discovers and empowers filmmakers.  Held in Providence, and locations throughout the state of Rhode Island, RIIFF is one of only a handful of festivals worldwide that is a qualifying event for the Academy Awards (i.e. “Oscars”).  RIIFF incorporates gala celebrations, premiere screenings, VIP guests, industry seminars, educational programs, and award ceremonies into a weeklong extravaganza.  Cited as one of the "Best International and Short Film Festivals in the United States," RIIFF is New England’s largest film festival, screening a record 300 films.  Its innovative programming, cultivated industry ties, and loyal audiences have made the Festival a strategic and desirable platform for film premieres, drawing hundreds of independent filmmakers from around the globe. This year’s Festival takes place August 5-10, 2008.

For more information, write RIIFF, P.O. Box 162, Newport, RI 02840. Telephone: 401-

861-4445. E-mail: info@film-festival.org, website: www.RIFilmFest.org

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