October 28, 2005

The Best of the T Tauri Film Festival will be screened at the Eureka Springs Digital Film Festival on Saturday, November 12, at 3:00 p.m. Information is available at www.eurekafilms.org. The program will also be shown on Saturday, November 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the Gem Theater in Heber Springs. Admission is $6, $5 for adults 55 and over and students. Children 12 and under admitted free. Organizers Bob Pest and Judy Pest will be present at both screenings to discuss the programs.

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August 25, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

T Tauri Film Festival Seeks Entries from Young Filmmakers

 Deadline April 1 for July 2006 Festival

The 2006 T Tauri Film Festival is seeking entries.  The festival, a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, is open to filmmakers age 18 and under.  The festival takes its name from the astronomer’s term for a new star. The second annual festival will be held July 25-29, 2006 on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.  In addition to the official competition, the festival includes workshops in Digital Video Basics and Acting on Camera.

Entries will be judged by local peer panels at two grade levels: 7-9, and 10-12.  Entries are being accepted in the following categories: narrative, documentary, music video, public service message, and animation/experimental.  Awards will be given for the best film at each grade level in each category.  Awards will be presented and all of the winning entries will be shown at a special Awards Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday evening, July 29, in Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.  Winners receive the T Tauri trophy, an original ceramic work created by Becki and David Dahlstedt of Mountain View Pottery.  Award-winners and other films selected by the judges will be included in a “Best of T Tauri” regional touring program.

Entries should be sent to T Tauri Film Festival, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove AR 72550.  Entries may be in either VHS or DVD format.  There is no length requirement or limit.  Films must be family-friendly. The deadline for entries is April 1, 2006.  There is no entry fee, but entries will only be returned if adequate return postage is included.  Entrants should also include a brief biography and contact information.

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August 10, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

“Best of T Tauri Film Festival” Set for Market Street Theater 

Program Showcases Young Filmmakers

“The Best of the T Tauri Film Festival,” a program of short films by filmmakers 18 and under from across Arkansas and around the country, will be screened at Little Rock’s Market Street Cinema, 1521 Merrill Drive, on Saturday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m.  The T Tauri Film Festival, held in Batesville July 27-30, is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest devoted to showcasing, encouraging, and facilitating the work of young filmmakers.  The festival takes its name, “T Tauri,” from the astronomer’s term for a new star.  

More than 80 films from across over the country were entered in the festival competition, judged by peer juries from schools in the area.  Awards were presented in five categories (Music Video, PSA, Animation/Experimental, Narrative, and Documentary) in two age groups (7^th-9^th grade and 10^th-12^th grade) at a ceremony held July 30.  Twelve films are included in the touring program, including all of the award winners and several Director’s Selections.  Among the films set to be screened are: Arkansas’ Forgotten Japanese American Internment Camps, a documentary by Horace Mann Arts and Sciences Middle School EAST Lab students from Little Rock; Bigfoot, a comedy by John Carey of Mountain View, Missouri; Gun in Hand, a music video by Korey Hughes of Batesville, Arkansas; The Walker House, puppet animation by John Irwin of Fayetteville, Arkansas; The Ballad of King Jimmy the Monkey, animation by Alex Babich of Perrysburg (Ohio) High School; and  Just Try to Stop Us: A Portrait of Four Youth Activists, by Youth Media Urban Dreams Video Project students in Oakland, California. Several of the filmmakers will be present to discuss their work.

“The Best of the T Tauri Film Festival” screening is co-sponsored by Little Rock NPR affiliate KUAR and the Market Street Theater.  Admission to the screening is $6, $5 for adults 55 and over and students.  Children 12 and under are admitted free and KUAR members will receive a $2 discount off any admission.

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June 28, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

T Tauri Awards Saturday Celebrates Young Filmmakers 

Several Eureka Springs Films Featured

The first annual T Tauri Film Festival celebrates young filmmakers, especially those from Arkansas, on Saturday, July 30.  All events will be held at Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

Activities get underway at 1:00 pm with “Eyes on Arkansas: Young Arkansas Filmmakers,” a program of 10 films by filmmakers age 18 and under from eight communities around the state.  All of the films in “Eyes on Arkansas” are also entered in the T Tauri competition and eligible for awards.  Many of the filmmakers will be present to discuss their work. 

Two films with Eureka Springs connections are in the “Eyes on Arkansas” program:  Alone, created by students in the Main Stage Creative Community Center filmmaking program (formerly Lane House), and EAST Conference 2005, by Maxine D’Ambrosia and Callie Smith with the Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab.  Visions of the Tell Tale, also from Main Stage, is also entered in the competition.  The Main Stage Creative Community Center is also one of the organizations highlighted in the festival print program as one of the nation’s top youth filmmaking programs.

Other films in the “Eyes on Arkansas” program:

ü        The Walker House. John Erwin, Fayetteville.  Animation.

ü        Arkansas Forgotten Japanese American Internment Camps.  By Aaron Campbell, Esther Im, Kaitlin Kilbury, and the

          Horace Mann Magnet Middle School EAST Lab.  Little Rock.  Documentary. 

ü        Batesville:  Have a Ball and See It All.  Southside High School EAST Lab. Documentary.

ü        Gun in Hand.  Korey Hughes, Batesville. Music Video.

ü        Randolph County: A Natural Way of Life.  Randolph County 4-H “Reel Rascals.” Documentary.

ü        Change the World.  Chris Brinlee and the Mena High School EAST Lab.  PSA.

ü        Don’t Smoke.  Charles McKnight, Jr.  Little Rock.  PSA.

ü        Central Avenue: The Heart of Hot Springs.  Garland County EAST Lab Students and the Hot Springs Documentary

          Film Institute. Documentary.

Admission to “Eyes on Arkansas” is $4/$3 for students and adults 55 and over.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation will be screened at 3:30 pm.  The film is a shot-by-shot remake of the Spielberg blockbuster made by three Mississippi teenagers over a seven-year period in the 1980’s. It was finally unveiled to the public in 2003 at a screening at the famed Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas, and gained national attention when it was featured in a March 2004 Vanity Fair article titled “Raiders of the Lost Backyard”.  Director Eric Zala will be present to introduce the film and answer questions from the audience. Admission to Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is $6/$5 for students and adults 55 and over.

At 7:30 pm the festival will hold its official Awards Ceremony.  The T Tauri trophy will be awarded to nine filmmakers or groups in two age groups (7^th-9^th grade and 10^th-12^th grade) and five categories (narrative, documentary, music video, public service message, and animation/experimental).  There were no entries in the narrative category from the younger age group.  All of the winning entries will be screened and many of the filmmakers will be present to discuss their work.  The T Tauri is an original ceramic work created for the festival by Becki and David Dahlstedt of Mountain View Pottery.  Admission to the awards ceremony is $6/$5 for students and adults 55 and over.

A Day-Pass providing admission to all events on July 30 is available for $12/$10 for seniors and students.

Information about the complete line-up of T Tauri Film Festival programs is available online at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.

The T Tauri Film Festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, a non-profit educational corporation founded in 2001.  Major support for the T Tauri Film Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, WRD Entertainment, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Lyon College.

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June 27, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

T Tauri Awards Saturday Celebrates Young Filmmakers 

July 30 Events Include Screenings and Awards Ceremony

The first annual T Tauri Film Festival concludes on Saturday, July 30 with a day-long celebration of young filmmakers.  All events will be held at Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.

Activities get underway at 1:00 pm with “Eyes on Arkansas: Young Arkansas Filmmakers,” a program of 10 films by filmmakers age 18 and under from eight communities around the state.  All of the films in “Eyes on Arkansas” are also entered in the T Tauri competition and eligible for awards.  Many of the filmmakers will be present to discuss their work.  Films to be screened:

ü        The Walker House. John Erwin, Fayetteville.  Animation.

ü        Arkansas Forgotten Japanese American Internment Camps.  By Aaron Campbell, Esther Im, Kaitlin Kilbury, and the Horace Mann Magnet Middle School EAST Lab.  Little Rock.  Documentary. 

ü        Alone.  Main Stage Creative Community Center.  Eureka Springs.  Narrative.

ü        Batesville:  Have a Ball and See It All.  Southside High School EAST Lab. Documentary.

ü        EAST Conference 2005.  Maxine D’Ambrosia and Callie Smith with the Eureka Springs High School EAST Lab.  Documentary.

ü        Gun in Hand.  Korey Hughes, Batesville. Music Video.

ü        Randolph County: A Natural Way of Life.  Randolph County 4-H “Reel Rascals.” Documentary.

ü        Change the World.  Chris Brinlee and the Mena High School EAST Lab.  PSA.

ü        Don’t Smoke.  Charles McKnight, Jr.  Little Rock.  PSA.

ü        Central Avenue: The Heart of Hot Springs.  Garland County EAST Lab Students and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute. Documentary.

Admission to “Eyes on Arkansas” is $4/$3 for students and adults 55 and over. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation will be screened at 3:30 pm.  The film is a shot-by-shot remake of the Spielberg blockbuster made by three Mississippi teenagers over a seven-year period in the 1980’s. It was finally unveiled to the public in 2003 at a screening at the famed Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas, and gained national attention when it was featured in a March 2004 Vanity Fair article titled “Raiders of the Lost Backyard”.  Director Eric Zala will be present to introduce the film and answer questions from the audience.  Admission to Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is $6/$5 for students and adults 55 and over.

At 7:30 pm the festival will hold its official Awards Ceremony.  The T Tauri trophy will be awarded to nine filmmakers or groups in two age groups (7^th-9^th grade and 10^th-12^th grade) and five categories (narrative, documentary, music video, public service message, and animation/experimental).  There were no entries in the narrative category from the younger age group.  All of the winning entries will be screened and many of the filmmakers will be present to discuss their work.  Awards will be presented by members of the peer juries.  The T Tauri is an original ceramic work created for the festival by Becki and David Dahlstedt of Mountain View Pottery.  Admission to the awards ceremony is $6/$5 for students and adults 55 and over.

A Day-Pass providing admission to all events on July 30 is available for $12/$10 for seniors and students.

Information about the complete line-up of T Tauri Film Festival programs is available online at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.

The T Tauri Film Festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, a non-profit educational corporation founded in 2001.  Major support for the T Tauri Film Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, WRD Entertainment, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Lyon College.

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June 20, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

Two Days of Free Screenings at T Tauri Film Festival Showcase Youth Filmmaking

Major National Youth Programs Represented

The T Tauri Film Festival will offer two consecutive days of free screenings showcasing work by young filmmakers from around the country.  The four-day digital event is designed to encourage, facilitate, and showcase the work of filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers aged 18 and under with a combination of screenings, workshops, an official competition complete with peer juries, and the awarding of the first

T Tauri awards to competition winners in two age groups and five categories.  The festival takes place July 27-30 in Batesville, with the Music for the Moving Image Workshop in Mountain View July 27. 

Public screenings begin on Thursday evening, July 28 with two free programs at Lyon College’s Nucor Auditorium.  At 7:00 pm, an all ages program featuring films from the Big Picture Alliance (Philadelphia), DCTV (New York), and the Appalachian Media Institute (Whitesburg, Kentucky) will be shown.  The Big Picture Alliance is a partnership of professional filmmakers, teachers, businesses, and students creating career opportunities in media for urban youth.  DCTV in New York City is a leading advocate of community-based electronic media.  The Appalachian Media Institute is a division of Appalshop, a frequent collaborator with Ozark Foothills FilmFest. Titles to be screened include A Day in the Life, Banjo Pickin’ Girl, and Hip Hop: Ma Life.

A second free public program at 8:00 pm on the same evening at Nucor Auditorium showcases work by young filmmakers from Light House Studio in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Lighthouse is an independent media education center for teenagers who want to make movies with an emphasis on personal expression and local stories.  Some of the films in this program contain some mild obscenity.  Films explore teen perspectives on censorship, gun violence, patriotism, movie-star crushes, rollerblading, and a variety of other issues.  Titles include Cardboard Tube Ninja, Censor This!, Gong Fu, and Note to Self.

At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at Independence Hall on the campus of the Community of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, guest curator and presenter Hathalee Higgs of Fledgling Films in Vermont will introduce an all ages program including The Ballad of King Jimmy the Monkey by Alex Babich of Perrysburg, Ohio; Early to Rise, a look at family farm life in Vermont and Dinner, a domestic comedy, both from Fledgling Films; and “Do the Right Thing,” a group of public service announcements from the AnimAction program in Hollywood, California. Fledgling Films is a division of Jay Craven’s Kingdom County productions and works to focus and express the imaginative power of young people through hands-on media arts workshops and production.  AnimAction helps children of all ages develop communication skills and address social issues through the creation of short animated films.

At 8:15 the same evening in Independence Hall, Higgs will present a group of films that includes three works from Fledgling Films—Paul and Yoko, Ralph, and Das Panik Factory.  The program also includes

A Memoir to My Former Self, a narrative film from Scenarios USA about a smart, popular girl struggling with the psychological and physical effects of an eating disorder.  Scenarios USA in Brooklyn aims to inspire teens to make healthier and safer decisions by offering them a creative approach to thinking through their lives and choices. This program is not recommended for pre-teens

The two days of free programs lead up to T Tauri Awards Saturday, featuring screenings of films by young Arkansas Filmmakers, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation, and the T Tauri Awards ceremony.

Information about the complete line-up of T Tauri Film Festival programs is available online at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.

The T Tauri Film Festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, a non-profit educational corporation founded in 2001.  Major support for the T Tauri Film Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, WRD Entertainment, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Lyon College.

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June 10, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

Cult Raiders of the Lost Ark “Adaptation” Will Screen in Batesville

Director Eric Zala Is Featured Guest at T Tauri Film Festival July 30

The first T Tauri Film Festival will be joining the select list of organizations to screen the film sensation Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation.  The film, a shot-by-shot remake of the Spielberg blockbuster made by three Mississippi teenagers, gained national attention when it was featured in a March 2004 Vanity Fair article titled “Raiders of the Lost Backyard”.  It will be shown at Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville on Saturday, July 30, at 3:30 p.m.  Admission is $6/$5 for adults 55 and over and students. Director Eric Zala will be present to introduce the film and answer questions from the audience.

Zala and his collaborators Jayson Lamb and Chris Strompolos began the film as twelve-year olds in 1982 and finished seven years later.  It was unveiled to the public in 2003 at a screening at the famed Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas.  Due to rights issues involving the title, the film can only be screened in a non-profit situation when one of the filmmakers is present. 

The film has been praised for the tenacity, originality, and skill demonstrated by the trio.  The Sprockets Film Festival program noted:  “The film is a testament to childhood wonderment and imagination and, for better or worse, the power of the movies.” 

The first T Tauri Film Festival takes place July 27 to 30 with workshops in Batesville and Mountain View and screenings in Batesville. Other screenings feature films made by young filmmakers from established filmmaking programs around the country, as well as films by young Arkansas filmmakers. Information is available at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.

The T Tauri Film Festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, a non-profit educational corporation. Major support for the T Tauri Film Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, WRD Entertainment, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Lyon College.  Proceeds from the screening benefit Ozark Foothills FilmFest education and outreach programs.

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June 6, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

Enrollment Open for T Tauri Film Festival “Digital Video Basics” Workshop 

Four-Day Program Set for July 27-30

The T Tauri Film Festival, scheduled for July 27 through 30, will host a digital filmmaking workshop for young and aspiring filmmakers.  The festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, an educational nonprofit corporation. The Digital Filmmaking Basics workshop will be held on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.  The 4-day workshop, open to students in grades 4 through 12, will cover the basics of filmmaking--including screenwriting and storyboarding, production planning, acting (fiction films) or interviewing skills (non-fiction films), shooting, sound recording, and editing.  The workshop will be held Wednesday through Friday, July 27 through 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  The cost for the 4-day workshop is $50, which includes all equipment and supplies. Students who have their own cameras are encouraged to bring them.

Lead faculty member for the workshop is award winning independent filmmaker Will O’Loughlen. O’Loughlen studied in the Department of Film/Communications at the University of Memphis.  He is a faculty member in the Memphis public school system, where he teaches digital filmmaking and television production to elementary through high school students.  He has produced five independent films, including Small Timers, South Dakota Trilogy, and Tea and Cigars.  South Dakota Trilogy was an official selection at the 2005 Ozark Foothills FilmFest.

The registration deadline for the workshop is July 15, 2005. Space is limited and registration is on a first come, first served basis.  All workshop participants receive an official T Tauri Film Festival t-shirt.  Students should plan to provide their own brown bag lunch and beverages for the workshop. Registration forms and additional information are available at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.  Major support for the T Tauri Film Festival is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, WRD Entertainment, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Lyon College.

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May 9, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

T Tauri Film Festival Offers “Music for the Moving Image” Workshop in Mountain View 

Two Members of The Mavericks Will Teach Young Musicians and Composers

The T Tauri Film Festival, set for July 27 to 30, will include a one-day workshop on film scoring, “Music for the Moving Image” for young musicians and composers ages 18 and under. The workshop will be held Wednesday, July 27, at the Ozarka College Center in Mountain View. 

Film scoring is the process of writing music to accompany visual productions, including motion pictures, television shows, commercials, public service announcements, and even video games. To write a score for a movie, a person must possess the same basic skills required of any composer. In addition, he or she must be able to work with many musical styles and have a sense of drama and an understanding of music's ability to enhance a film's dramatic effect. Film scoring also requires technical skill in the area of timing and synchronization.

Workshop instructors Scotty Huff and Robert Reynolds will begin by looking at how structure, melody, and lyrics work together to create a well-written song. They will talk about sources of inspiration for a song and the fundamentals for turning the inspiration into a fully-realized song. They will then provide a look at the ins and outs of writing songs for movies, including how to tailor a song for a scene, music/film synchronization techniques, and what makes a good End Credit song.

Scotty Huff and Robert Reynolds are members of the Nashville country band The Mavericks, which has released seven albums. They have received numerous awards from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and a Grammy in 1996. Scotty and Robert have co-written the scores for several animated children's films for Weston Woods Studios, a division of Scholastic Books. The have also teamed up to conduct "music clinics" at high schools across Scotty's home state of Maine.

The workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost is $30.  Participants will receive an official T Tauri Film Festival t-shirt.  Participants should plan to bring their own brown bag lunches and beverages.  The registration deadline for the “Music for the Moving Image” workshop is July 15.  Space is limited to 20 and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Additional information and registration and parental consent forms are available on line at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.   Payment of the course fee is required with registration.

The T Tauri Film Festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, a non-profit educational corporation founded in 2001.  Major support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Lyon College, and WRD Entertainment.  Additional support is provided by the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust, Ozarka College, Tommy’s Famous, and the Canon Corporation.

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May 2, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

“Acting On Camera” Workshop Enrollment Open 

Session Set for July 28 and 29 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville

The T Tauri Film Festival, scheduled for July 27 through 30, will include a two-day workshop for aspiring actors and actresses aged 18 and under.  “Acting On Camera,” most recently presented at the Nashville Film Festival, equips talented young performers for making the big jump from the school play to performing on television, in movies, or in commercials. Acting for the camera is dramatically different from performing on the stage, and this workshop focuses on bridging that gap and easing the transition for young performers.

The workshop will be conducted by director Julie Alexander and actress Stacey Shaffer-Bishop.  Alexander’s credits include acting and directing in both Broadway and off-Broadway productions. She directed Boxcar Children and won a Tennie Award in 2003 for Best Director for Last Summer at Bluefish Cove.  Stacey Shaffer-Bishop has acted in numerous television commercials and series, including Diagnosis Murder and The Young and the Restless. 

Workshop participants will receive monologues and scripts to memorize a few weeks prior to the workshop, so they will be able to get the most from the intensive two-day experience.  The workshop will include:

·         A monologue and film scene session that teaches young actors how to read a script, take direction, and act in front of a camera.

·         A commercial session covering the techniques of commercial acting with real commercial scripts.

·         Coaching on audition techniques and audition etiquette.

·         A question and answer session with parents about the how-to's of being in show business.

·         The opportunity to act in a short film that will be shot during the workshop.

·         A DVD of the workshop participant's work on camera during the workshop.

The workshop will be filmed by a crew headed by award-winning independent filmmaker Michael Merritt, director of Light Lies, and composer/audio engineer Oliver Thomas.

“Acting on Camera” will take place in Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville on Thursday, July 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, July 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $70.  Participants will receive an official

T Tauri Film Festival t-shirt.  Participants should plan to bring their own brown bag lunches and beverages.  The registration deadline for the “Acting on Camera” workshop is July 15.  Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Registration and parental consent forms are available on line at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189.  A non-refundable deposit of $35 is required with registration.

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April 27, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

T Tauri Film Festival Acting, Filmmaking, and Music Workshops Announced 

New Festival Is a Division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest

The T Tauri Film Festival, scheduled for July 27 through 30, will host a number of workshops for area youth interested in acting, digital filmmaking, or composing music for movies.  The festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, an educational nonprofit corporation. All of the workshops are being taught by accomplished professionals in their respective fields. The Digital Filmmaking Basics and Acting for the Camera workshops will be held on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.  The Music for the Moving Image workshop will be held at the Ozarka College Center in Mountain View.  Where relevant, workshop participants will work with groups of their own age and experience level.

The Digital Video Basics Workshops are 4-day workshops, open to students in grades 4 through 12, that cover the basics of filmmaking including screenwriting and storyboarding, production planning, acting (fiction films) or interviewing skills (non-fiction films), shooting, sound recording, and editing.  The workshops will be held Wednesday through Friday, July 27 through 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  The cost for the 4-day workshop is $50, which includes all equipment and supplies. Students who have their own cameras are encouraged to bring them.

The Acting on Camera for Kids Workshop is a 2-day workshop open to students in grades 4 through 12 that encourages kids to use their natural talent in a creative atmosphere. Acting for film or television is decidedly different from performing on stage, and this workshop explores the unique challenges and opportunities of being “on camera.” Julie Alexander, an Off-Broadway actor/director who has conducted workshops from the director's point of view for children for over ten years, heads up the workshop, assisted by Stacy Shaffer-Bishop, an established television actress. The two regularly conduct an “acting for the camera” workshop for young people at the Nashville Film Festival. The workshops will be held Thursday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost for the workshop is $70.

Music for the Moving Image is a 1-day workshop open to students in grades 8 through 12 who have a music background. Taught by Scotty Huff and Robert Reynolds, two members of the country band The Mavericks and composers of award-winning scores for children's videos, the workshop offers an overview of the process of writing dramatic music for motion pictures, television, and videos.  The workshop will be held at the Ozarka College Center in Mountain View on Wednesday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost for the workshop is $30.

The registration deadline for all workshops is July 15, 2005. Space is limited and registration is on a first come, first served basis.  All workshop participants receive an official T tauri Film Festival t-shirt.  Students should plan to provide their own brown bag lunch and beverages for all workshops.

Registration forms and additional information are available at www.ttauri.org or by calling 870-251-1189. 

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April 21, 2005

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

Youth Jury Members Sought for Upcoming T Tauri Film Festival

The 2005 T Tauri (tee TAR-ee) Film Festival is seeking kids and teens to participate as Youth Jury members. The festival, a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, is open to filmmakers age 18 and under. It will be held July 27-30, 2005 on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, with additional screenings at Lyon College.

The winners of the T Tauri Film Festival competition are selected by peer juries. Youth in grades 4 through 12 are eligible to be on the youth juries. Two juries, one for students in grades 4 through 8 and one for those in grades 9 through 12, will develop the judging criteria and select all winners of the

competition. In addition to selecting the winners, jurors will attend the awards ceremony on Saturday evening, July 30; present trophies to the winners; and act as ambassadors at festival screenings and events. They will also receive a free T Tauri Film Festival t-shirt to wear at the awards ceremony. There is no cost to be a member of a T Tauri Film Festival Youth Jury. Jury members must be able to attend the discussion and screening sessions listed below. The youth juries will meet on the campus of Lyon College in Batesville.

Jury Members in grades 4 through 8 will meet on Saturday, May 7, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, May 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Jury Members in grades 9 through 12 will meet from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on three consecutive Fridays: June 10, June 17, and June 24.

To become a juror, interested youth or their parents should call the festival office at 870-251-1189 or visit www.ttauri.org. Those interested will be required to complete a Registration Form and a parent or guardian must complete a Risk and Consent Form. Both forms should be mailed to

T Tauri Film Festival, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove, AR 72550. The registration deadline is May 4, 2005.

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January 10, 2005

Contact:  Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

T Tauri Film Festival Website Launched 

Site Contains Information about Entering, Judging, or Attending New Youth Festival

The first T Tauri Film Festival will be held July 27-30 in Batesville on the campuses of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville and Lyon College, with additional events and programs in Heber Springs and Mountain View.  The festival, a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc., is intended to encourage, facilitate, and showcase the work of young filmmakers.  It draws its name from the astronomer’s term for a young star. The event will include three major components:

·         Hands on workshops for young people interested in learning about digital filmmaking.  Workshops will be organized by age and will be open to youth from grades 4 through high school senior. 

·         Screenings of films made by young people working with other youth-oriented groups around the country designed to demonstrate the creative potential of young filmmakers.

·         A regional film competition for filmmakers age 18 and under.  Entries will be divided into age groups and will be judged by peer panels of interested area youth.  All of the winning entries and all entries from area youth will be screened at a gala awards ceremony on the final evening of the festival.

A new (www.ttauri.org) website has been launched with preliminary information about the festival, including a Call for Entries and official Entry Form.  Interested area youth can also learn more about becoming festival judges, participating in digital filmmaking workshops, and attending the various public programs scheduled during the festival.  The site also includes a valuable links section with valuable information for young and aspiring filmmakers.

Ozark Foothills FilmFest is a non-profit educational corporation founded in 2001.  Presenting sponsors for the T Tauri Film festival are First Community Bank of Batesville and Searcy, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Lyon College, and WRD Entertainment.  Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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October 28, 2004

Contact: Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

Call for Entries 

T Tauri Film Festival Targets Young Filmmakers

The 2005 T Tauri Film Festival is seeking entries.  The festival, a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, is open to filmmakers age 18 and under.  The festival takes its name from the astronomer’s term for a new star. The festival will be held July 27-30, 2005 on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. Additional screenings and programs will also be held on the campus of Lyon College and at the Gem Community Theater in Heber Springs. In addition to the official competition, the festival will include screenings of films from other youth-oriented film festivals and programs around the country, including Fledgling Films in Vermont, the Appalshop Media Institute in Kentucky, and Indie Memphis.

Entries will be judged by peer panels at three grade levels: 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12.  Entries are being sought in the following categories: narrative, documentary, music video, public service message, and animation/experimental.  Awards will be given for the best film at each grade level in each category.  Awards will be presented and all of the winning entries will be shown at a special Awards Ceremony and Celebration on Saturday evening, July 30, in Independence Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.  Award-winners and other films selected by the judges will be included in a “Best of T Tauri” regional touring program.

Entries should be sent to T Tauri Film Festival, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove AR 72550.  Entries may be in either VHS or DVD format.  There is no length requirement or limit.  The deadline for entries is May 1, 2005.  There is no entry fee, but entries will only be returned if adequate return postage is included.  Entrants should also include a brief biography and contact information.

Pronunciation guide:  tee TAR-ee

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July 26, 2004

Contact:  Bob Pest or Judy Pest

870-251-1189

Ozark Foothills FilmFest Launches Second Festival for Young Filmmakers

 Unveiling Set for Batesville Fundraiser September 29

Ozark Foothills FilmFest will launch a second, youth-oriented festival in 2005.  Details about the

T Tauri (tee TAR-ree) Film Festival will be unveiled at a Fundraising Dinner at Josie=s at the Lockhouse in Batesville on Wednesday, September 29.  The new four-day event, set for the summer of 2005, gets its name from the astronomical term for a star at the dawn of its existence, T Tauri.  Festival organizers chose the name to signify the festival=s focus on young and aspiring filmmakers at the beginning of their own creative paths.

Ozark Foothills FilmFest is a non-profit educational corporation, founded in 2001, dedicated to expanding film culture in north central Arkansas.  The organization hosts the annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest every spring and regular monthly screenings at the Gem Theater in Heber Springs, as well as presenting the touring Arkansas Filmmakers Showcase, a program of award-winning films by Arkansas filmmakers.  The 2005 festival, set for April 1-17, will feature programs in Batesville, Heber Springs, Searcy, and Melbourne.  Festival organizers see the T Tauri Film Festival as complementing the annual spring festival and as the first step in developing a strong filmmaking community in the region.

Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette film critic and columnist, will be the special guest speaker for the event.  Other members of the Arkansas film community will also attend to show their support for the initiative, including Democrat-Gazette film critic and features editor Karen Martin, Joe Glass of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development Film Office; and Little Rock's Market Street Cinema operator Matt Smith. 

The first T Tauri Film Festival will take place on the campuses of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville and Lyon College, with additional workshops in other foothills communities based upon interest.  The event will include three major components: 

·         Hands on workshops for young people interested in learning about digital filmmaking.  Workshops will be organized by age and will be open to youth from grades 4 through high school senior.  Workshop fees will be affordable and scholarships will be available.  Workshop topics will include shooting, editing, scripting, and composing original music for film.  Workshops consist of three or four half-day sessions. 

·         Screenings of films made by young people shown at other youth-oriented festivals around the country, designed to demonstrate the creative potential of young filmmakers. 

·         A regional film competition for filmmakers age 18 and under.  Entries will be divided into age groups and will be judged by a peer panel of interested area youth.  All of the winning entries and all entries from area youth will be screened at a gala awards ceremony on the final evening of the festival.  A “Best of the Festival” program will also be screened at the new EpiSphere Digital Theater at the Aerospace Education Center in Little Rock and at other festivals in the region. 

A number of award-winning independent filmmakers have expressed interest in serving as festival faculty.  Directors of several established youth-oriented festivals have agreed to serve as consultants for the project.  Details--including dates, faculty, public programs, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, and entry information for the competitive element--will be announced at the benefit dinner and will be available on the festival website www.ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org.

The T Tauri Fundraising Dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29 at Josie=s at the Lockhouse.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Admission is $20, which does not include dinner or beverages.  Advance tickets are available by calling 870-251-1189.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to the T Tauri Film Festival equipment fund to purchase digital cameras and other equipment needed for the workshops.  Contributions to the T Tauri equipment fund may be sent to Ozark Foothills FilmFest, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove, AR 72550.  All contributions, including tickets to the event, are tax-deductible.  Presenting sponsors for Ozark Foothills FilmFest programs are First Community Bank, Lyon College, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and WRD Entertainment.