Indie Watch

SYNAESTHESIA

Tucson's Pan Left Productions is presenting "Synaesthesia," a multimedia performance event at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, March 24, at Solar Culture Gallery. There will be four sets, each featuring video segments produced by Pan Left members, with improvised music and performance art by the Human Arts Ensemble, Jose Saavedra, Nick Luca and other local musicians and artists. (The full lineup was not available at press time.) Solar Culture is at 31 E. Toole Ave.; tickets are $5-$10. See the Pan Left Web site for updated information.


TEN ESSENTIAL DIRECTORS

The Hanson Film Institute at UA presents "Ten Essential Directors From Hollywood's Golden Age" from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 3, in the auditorium at UA's Center for Creative Photography. Widely respected and published Washington, D.C.-based film historian Max Alvarez will highlight the careers and art of 10 filmmakers and examine why their work has withstood the test of time. Filmmakers profiled include Buster Keaton, Billy Wilder, John Ford, Orson Welles, Preston Sturges and five others. Admission is $30 for one, $50 for two, and $25 for students and seniors. Call 626-9825 for more information or reservations, or email Vicky Westover. The CCP is at 1030 N. Olive Road, on the UA campus.


LOCAL MOTION

Local production company Jon Proudstar Productions is set to debut an entertainment video magazine, Local Motion, focusing on Tucson-based filmmakers and (eventually) musicians. Proudstar plans to have Local Motion up on YouTube sometime in March. Anyone with ideas or materials to submit for consideration can call Jon Proudstar at 808-2388 or e-mail him. Check out dudevision.com for more information on the production company.


ACCOLADES FOR 'MERCY'

Local filmmaker and producer Patrick Roddy, who is also producer in residence at the UA's Department of Media Arts, is getting widespread accolades for his dark psychological horror film Mercy. Independent film maven Roger Corman calls it "visually stark and severe, a very good film," while Cinephelia.com, Videoscope magazine, Rogue Cinema and many others are all saying great things about it. All of the recent press can be read at Roddy's Web site. DVDs can also be purchased and the trailer viewed through the site.


CASTING CALL

Ben Lopez from the National Association of Latino Independent Producers is putting out a casting call for Latino male actors between 8 and 15 years old for an upcoming independent short-film project, to be filmed in Southern Arizona in May and June. Inquiries and résumés can be emailed to him.


TRAVELING COFFIN

Sarah Sher's film about Bisbee-based artist/activist Dale Clark, Traveling Coffin, has been picked up by Al Gore's TV network, Current TV. Traveling Coffin--originally titled Have Coffin, Will Travel--won the Best of Tucson prize at the Pura Inspiración festival that was part of the Puro Mexicano Tucson Film Festival in November. Traveling Coffin follows Clark as he hitchhikes around the country with a coffin to draw attention to the deaths of children in Iraq, Afghanistan and other current war zones. Sher is filmmaker and owner of the Red Eagle Post (a post-production studio). Visit the Current TV Web site to see the film. Sher can be reached via email.


EMERALD DISTRIBUTION

Local film production company Emerald Elephant Entertainment LLC is now helping facilitate the shopping and presentation of local films to national and international film distributors. For further information, contact Brian Mulligan at 349-8249, or e-mail him. Further information is available at the Emerald Elephant Web site.


SHORTFEST DEADLINE

The deadline for submissions for the Second Annual TucsonFilm.com ShortFest is March 24. The ShortFest will be held on April 14 at the Gallagher Theater on the UA campus; Star Trek writer/producer Andre Bormanis is the keynote speaker at the event. Tickets will be $10. Check the TucsonFilm.com Web site for complete information on submissions, etc.


IFASA MEETING

The March meeting of the Independent Filmmakers Association of Southern Arizona (IFASA) will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, March 5, at Access Tucson, 124 E. Broadway Blvd. This month's guests are the producer and director of The Decoy, John Higgins and Justin Kreinbrink (see their Web site), who will discuss what they have learned about the legal and technical requirements of major film distribution. For further information, contact Brian Mulligan at 349-8249 or by email, or check the IFASA Web site.


EVENTS AT THE LOFT

· First Friday Shorts: The monthly short film contest is Friday, March 2, at 9 p.m. $5.

· Brats filmmaker in person: At 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, filmmaker Donna Musil will be at the Loft to introduce her new documentary film about "military brats," Brats: Our Journey Home. $5.

· 48 Hour Shootout: Local teams have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a film. The shoot runs from 7 p.m. on Friday, March 9, to 7 p.m., Sunday, March 11; films will be screened at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 27 ($5). Entry fee is $50, and the grand prize is $500. Rules and entry forms are at the Shootout Web site.

·Cine Mexico Film Festival: Several recent films from Mexico screen Thursday, March 29, through Sunday, April 1.

The Loft Cinema is at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Call 795-7777 or check the Web site for a full schedule of films and events and further information.

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