If there was ever any doubt that Philadelphia was a film loving town, it was easily dispelled when we introduced PIFVA's Philadelphia Film Calendar. From Academy Award-winning animators stopping by the Franklin Institute to casting workshops, pirate movies on the river, screenwriting competitions and cutthroat evenings of movie quizzo, if it's film, video or media related and based in the Greater Philadelphia area, it's here on our calendar.

Some of our upcoming favorites are: Scribe Video Center's upcoming Scriptwriting for Fiction class with Tanya Hamilton, The Big Sheet screening of old Electric Company episodes at Mugshots Coffeehouse, PLAY! A Video Game Symphony at the Mann Music Center, and Make It A Film Night's 30th anniversary screening of Rocky. (Stallone had us when his Rocky told shy Adrienne that he'd named his pet turtles Cuff and Link.)

PIFVA member Deron Albright helped put together Ardmore, PA's first open reel this past Wednesday night at Milkboy Coffee on Lancaster Avenue. We've got our fingers crossed that it will become a regular event. Got news of your own? Remember to keep PIFVA in the loop by phone or e-mail!

We hate to be a nudge, but there's only one week left to apply for the PIFVA Cash Subsidy Grant. Who couldn't use that final bit of funding to bring their project to completion? Check the Web site for details and send your materials in by Friday, June 23th. (Yes, that's a postmark deadline, not necessarily an arrival time.)

Want more? Our next two E-Bulletin will have expanded job listings and funding opportunities, member updates, news on upcoming PIFVA events, new member benefits, and more. But don't wait for us to tell you what PIFVA's up to. A few members gave us some input via the PIFVA survey on our Web site, but we're always eager to hear more.

• Kathy Wickline Casting's Casting & Directing Talent Seminar
  Call Stephanie at 215-739-9952 or e-mail stephwickc ast@yahoo.com to register.
  
  Kathy Wickline, one of the city's leading casting directors will guide you through coordinating actor specifications for casting, open casting calls, directing casting sessions, union and non-union talent, talent rates, using talent in various media... and more, followed by a Q&A session.
• Grant Writing Workshop
  Saturday, June 17, 2006, 10am – 4pm, Calvary Center for Culture and Community, 215-724- 1702
  
  Need to write your way into some grant money? Penn Alexander Community School and Calvary Center for Culture and Community have teamed up to sponsor this free workshop teaching the basics of writing grant proposals for arts and community-themed projects. Morning and evening sessions are separated by a lunch break.
• Orientation to Scribe
  FREE. Thursday, June 22, Monday, July 10 or Wednesday, July 12: 6:30 - 7:30 PM
  
  Thinking about taking an upcoming workshop or two at Scribe Video Center? A sampling of everything Scribe offers, this orientation session will direct you to the resources, workshops and programs that can get your project off the ground. Scribe staffers will be on hand to answer your questions and to give details about the Center and their fall workshop offerings.
• Filmmakers Retreat Seminars
  The Center for Independent Documentary and The Kopkind Center are sponsoring this week-long retreat (Aug 6 - 13, 2006 in Guilford VT) for seven filmmakers/digital media workers along with mentors and special invited guests. The theme for the morning seminars is Filmmaking and Diversity: how and why we should incorporate into our films and digital media works authentic representations of class, race, gender and sexual orientation without being didactic.
  
  Apply for the retreat by sending an email to Susi Walsh and John Scagliotti ( john@afterstonewall.com) explaining where you are from, what media work you have done and how you could contribute to the theme of the seminar. Also describe briefly the 20-minute visual media you would be bringing to the "film slams."

• Access Phillywood
  Philadelphia Weekly, with a little help from PIFVA board member and Scribe Video Center program director Gretjen Clausing, reports on City Council's failure to prevent a cable franchise takeover by Comcast and demand public access.
• Philadelphia Natives Explore The 4th Dimension in Film Threat Magazine
  And they give shout outs to local favorites like Temple's film school, Eugene Martin and Diane Heery Casting.
• Camera. Action. Edit. Now Await Reviews.
  The New York Times takes on new services like Jumpcut, Eyespot, Grouper, Motionbox and VideoEgg that allow folks to edit entirely on the Web -- no editing software or cutting rooms needed.

Remember, we're big fans of e-mail, but feel free to give the PIFVA office a call Mondays through Fridays between 12pm and 4pm.

Thanks for reading!