Hi Folks,
Details of the panel discussion that I am putting together in LA, next Thursday.
Panel Discussion on Casting Agents/Producers in LA (aka the folks
who can really, really) make all the difference in your creative life:
WHERE and WHEN: Thursday, Nov 1, 2007, in Los Angeles.
Tanzore Restaurant / www.tanzore.com
Gaylord Special Events / www.gaylordla.com
50 North La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills CA 90211 .
COST: $12, Inclusive of Soft Drinks and 3 Appetizers, & OPEN
bar Drink Specials
Hosted in Haveli room
PANELISTS:ROBERT BALLO, Producer & Cinematographer
Robert Ballo is an image-maker and storyteller. He has established an
environment at Shadowland where interesting scripts can be developed
and made into even more interesting movies. His role is guiding the
company artistically in finding, developing and creatively making
movies as well as ensuring the financial success of the company for
both its investors and its employees.
In addition to supervising creation of the North American version of
Jackie Chan?s The Myth, Robert co-produced and served as director of
photography on Shadowland's debut feature film, Spectres. His credits
also include co-producing and shooting the feature film Runnin at
Midnite and serving as director of photography on the feature comedy
Starving Artists. As president of GOAL, he serves variously as
producer, director and cinematographer. Producer-director credits
include numerous broadcast and corporate programs for the Tournament of
Roses, a series of hot air ballooning specials for Discovery Channel,
and The Great Year, a PBS television documentary examining the
connection between astronomy and the history of civilization. As
cinematographer, Robert shot Dirty Harry: The Original, a 30th
anniversary retrospective television special for the Encore cable
network, and DVD featurettes for Clint Eastwood's Space Cowboys and
10th anniversary release of Unforgiven. Robert continues to produce
DVD behind-the-scenes documentaries for a variety of Hollywood film
producers.
More than two decades of filmmaking and management experience includes
featured segments for dozens of popular national programs, including
Good Morning America, Leeza, Sci-Fi Buzz, Hollywood's Greatest Stunts,
Caryl & Marilyn, Movie Magic, Running and Racing World, How'd They Do
That and many more. In 2000, after working as an integral part of the
GOAL team for 18 years, Robert took over ownership of GOAL Productions
from founder Jack Oswald. Robert is also a member of the professional
faculty at USC?s School of Cinema-Television and is an active
contributor in the movie industry through his memberships in the
International Cinematographers Guild and the Academy of Television Arts
& Sciences.
BUD ROBERTSON, Writer-Producer
Bud Robertson adds to the creative mix at Shadowland as both writer and
producer. Most recently he supervised the English dubbing and re-edit
of Jackie Chan's The Myth for North American release by Barking Cow
Distribution. He wrote and produced the mother-daughter ghost story
Spectres for Shadowland, then wrote, produced, and directed The Rose
Parade: A Pageant for the Ages for Shadowland?s parent company GOAL
Productions. Additional writing credits include the big screen action
adventure Prey of the Jaguar and the vampire thriller The Embrace as
well as several episodes of the Japanese superhero fantasy television
series Ultraman.
Bud's ability to manage production staff has been honed by years of
experience as both a producer and assistant director in the feature
film arena, where he earned a reputation for completing independent
film productions on time and on budget. Other producing credits
include the astronomy documentary The Great Year for PBS, the
educational feature Life in the Spotlight, the vampire thriller The
Embrace and countless behind-the-scenes documentaries for DVD release.
Bud also served as line producer of the revolutionary war project The
First Day.
As first assistant director, Bud supervised numerous feature films like
Route 666, Cold Heart, Blood Money, Under the Influence, The Secret
Agent Club, Prey of the Jaguar, Firestorm and others. He also directed
additional scenes for the science fiction feature Assault on Dome IV.
No stranger to television, Bud served as 1st AD on the critically
acclaimed AMC cable series The Lot and coordinated network sitcoms
Ellen and Temporarily Yours. Bud has a degree in Motion
Picture/Television production from UCLA.
ROBERT KNOTEK - Casting Agent - Manager
Robert Knotek started his career with Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures
followed by Jim Schmier Productions where he worked in various areas of
the entertainment industry, including motion picture development,
production, and post production.
From 1989 -1997, Mr. Knotek worked for Castle Rock Entertainment in
various capacities on dozens of films and Television Productions
including, A Few Good Men Shawshank Redemption Misery When
Harry met Sally and Seinfeld. .His mentor at Castle Rock was Alan
Horn, current COO and President of Warner Bros. Additonally, Mr. Knotek
has worked with some of the most important writers and directors in
Holywood, including Rob Reiner, William Goldman, Stephenb King, Frank
Darabont, Billy Crystaql, Client Eastwood, etc
In 1999, Mr. Knotek and Mr. McCann founded Granite Entertainment to
develop and produce television and motion pictures. Currently, Granite
Entertainment has several motion pictures and television series
projects in various stages of development.
HANK MC CANN-Manager - Producer - casting agent
Hank McCann is a founding member of the CASTING SOCIETY OF AMERICA. He
has cast several dozen of the Industry's most important Motion Picture,
Television and Theatre Productions, including Steel Magnolias Ask
The Dust Pennies From Heaven The Day After (The highest rated
movie in televion history). Additionally, Mr. McCann cast seven films
in five years the either won the Emmy Award or was nominated for an
Emmy Award.
Mr. McCann has worked with some of the most important writers and
directors in the film and television industry, including Herbert Ross,
Michael Mann, Greg Hoblitt, Robert Towne, Paul Verhoeven, Phillip
Noyce, Neil Simon and Nicholas Meyer.
In 1999, Mr. McCann joined Robert Knotek to form Granite Entertainment,
where they have several projects in development and production
Importantly, Mr. McCann has extensive experience working in
Europe---England, France, Italy and Germany.
RAYMOND C. REED--Producer & Entertainment Attorney
Raymond C. Reed was president of Akausa Holdings, Ltd. during its 1989
acquisition of Harvey Comics Entertainment. While at the helm of
Akausa, he oversaw the acquisition as well as the subsequent sale of a
minority interest in Harvey to MCA, and the formation of film
production and distribution agreements with MCA and Amblin
Entertainment for Universal Casper and with Warner Brothers for
Richie Rich. Ray was counsel for Akausa through the initial public
offering of Harvey Entertainment on NASDAQ in 1993.
As Senior Legal Counsel and principal of Raymond C. Reed & Associates,
Ray provided legal counsel and representation for entertainment
professionals including Shaquille ONeal, Bill Duke, John Singleton,
Neema Barnette, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon Regina King, Arthel Neville
and author, Bebe Moore Campbell, just to name a few. In the area of
music Ray has represented old school groups such as Charles Wright
and the Watts 103rd St. Band (Express Yourself), Mandrill (featured
on the upcoming film score for Civil Brand), to hip-hop artists such as
the group H-Town (Knockin Da boots).
A Columbia University graduate with a UCLA M.B.A., Ray has moved from
targeting entertainment companies for acquisition, to representing
talent, and now to producing. He serves as advisor to the principals
of Orbit Satellite TV Network and its related production & broadcast
facilities throughout Northern Africa, Southern Europe and the Middlest
East. His involvement as co-producer of Disney's Max Keeble's Big
Move began in 1995 when he helped structure the original deal for the
underlying property and continued through its release in 2001. Most
recently Ray was producer of the upcoming comedy Cuttin Da Mustard
with Sinbad and Executive Produce a low budget dramatic work entitled
Truth Hall due to be released in 2008.
SPECIAL GUEST: Bollywood actor, Barkha Madan (the Bhoot of Ram Gopal's
Film), other credits, Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi (Akshay, Raveena, Rekha). 4th in Miss India 1994, just
behind Sush and Ash, and also Miss Tourism Intl that same year.
Television serials include, Saat Phere, Ghar Ek Sapna, etc. Barkha has also come in an Indo Dutch film, Driving Miss PalmeLead in BLOOD MONEY which will mark the film script debut of Vivek Kumar, SAAFA
co founder.
RSVP : vivek@saafa.org or ritu@saafa.org
Vivek "yes the breakthrough is tough, but if you don't get into action nothing will be achieved" Kumar
