Looking to create your own vehicle to success? Tangerine Entertainment, a production company founded to support women in film, is now accepting applications from female actor-writers for the Tangerine Fellowship until the regular deadline on July 1 and the last-minute deadline on August 1. Recipients will receive one full year of mentorship, a ticket to the 2017 Spring Writers’ Retreat, a free copy of Final Draft 9—the industry standard for screenwriting—and more. This season’s mentors include Austin Chick (“Xx/Yy”), casting director Ellen Parks (“Secretary,” “Sideways”), Parts & Labor development executive Lauren Haber (“Adventureland”), award-winning creative and executive producer Paul Miller (“Lone Star”), and producer and production counsel Jonathan Gray (“The Birth of a Nation”). “We are pleased to expand our work with Stowe Story Labs and offer this important opportunity to emerging women writers,” said Tangerine partner and creative producer Anne Hubbell in a statement. “The Labs and Retreat help emerging...
- 5/27/2016
- backstage.com
Peter Guzzardo -- who is now representing the long lost film American Blue Note, written about recently in SydneysBuzz and Tribeca Film Institute's Reframe Collection Blog — and I first met in New York at the Ifp's Independent Film Market where we were introduced by Randi Stein sometime in the 80s, perhaps after he had finished his first feature, Rocky Point, (a love story about a guy a girl and a band which featured the music of the Smithereens) or later on, when he worked as director of marketing at Fries Entertainment. We would see each other at the various markets year after year along with Debra Brown, Ken Schwenker, Jim Dudelson et al.
Because we go so far back, nostalgia is always good game for us. Today he is writing about James Gandolfini, how he discovered him and cast him in his first starring role in a feature film, Italian Movie also starring Rita Moreno as Isabella. The worldwide distributor was MGM. "This is the first of many Jimmy stories I can give you if you'd like, " he says.
I met James Gandolfini in late 1992 when he came to a casting call for a feature film I was producing called Italian Movie. Not much was being produced in New York back then, so we had the good fortune of access to the top preproduction, production, and post production talent including the remarkable casting director Ellen Parks. During auditions, I would sit between Ellen and director Roberto Monticello and feed the lines to the actors as they tried out one by one. This was a special project, written by Marco Cristino, an air conditioning contractor with a personal story to tell about his adventures as a young Italian immigrant and small business man in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, when it was still “Mobbed Up” and debts were paid in more ways than one.
The part we were casting for that day was the lead role of the shake down artist, the gentle, but ruthless villain who never let a debt go unpaid. We had read 5 or 6 actors that day, some with names you might know, but none of them seemed right. That was until a humble thirtyish young man looking ten years older than he was walked in.
“Hi, I’m Jimmy. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try out for this part.” He sat down looked at the sides for a few seconds, and then asked me if it would be Ok if he went into the other room for a few minutes.
When he came back Ellen explained the part in more detail and asked if he was ready. He nodded. I read him the first line. Then, in the blink of an eye, he transformed from a humble gentle man into a very very frightening one. By the reading of the second line, I realized I was witnessing something very special. A rare moment when you know you are around greatness.
When the audition was over, just as quickly as he had disappeared, the gentle humble soul who was James Gandolfini reappeared, took a breath, gave a broad smile, thanked us again for the opportunity and sheepishly walked away.
The room was filled with awe and silence. This man had so much talent, it was hard to believe no one had every noticed it before. The three of us looked at each other, like the Kodak clients in Mad Men after hearing Don Drapper’s pitch on the Kodak Carrousel . There was no need to look at anyone else.
“Let’s sign him up before someone else does!!"
The process that followed in order to accomplish this is another very interesting very Hollywood story…
James Gandolfini.
The gentle giant who years later, after he became rich and famous, would still call out to me or lay his hand on my shoulder whenever he would see me on the street in Greenwich Village. I remember the first time he did it -- well after Tony Soprano became a household name..
“Mr. Guzzardo, right?" he said. “I can’t believe what they are doing with me, it’s crazy.... Thank you…”
(Italian Movie is James Gandolfini’s first starring role in a feature film and is still being distributed by MGM. Peter's company is The Speckled Trout Moving Picture Company.)...
Because we go so far back, nostalgia is always good game for us. Today he is writing about James Gandolfini, how he discovered him and cast him in his first starring role in a feature film, Italian Movie also starring Rita Moreno as Isabella. The worldwide distributor was MGM. "This is the first of many Jimmy stories I can give you if you'd like, " he says.
I met James Gandolfini in late 1992 when he came to a casting call for a feature film I was producing called Italian Movie. Not much was being produced in New York back then, so we had the good fortune of access to the top preproduction, production, and post production talent including the remarkable casting director Ellen Parks. During auditions, I would sit between Ellen and director Roberto Monticello and feed the lines to the actors as they tried out one by one. This was a special project, written by Marco Cristino, an air conditioning contractor with a personal story to tell about his adventures as a young Italian immigrant and small business man in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, when it was still “Mobbed Up” and debts were paid in more ways than one.
The part we were casting for that day was the lead role of the shake down artist, the gentle, but ruthless villain who never let a debt go unpaid. We had read 5 or 6 actors that day, some with names you might know, but none of them seemed right. That was until a humble thirtyish young man looking ten years older than he was walked in.
“Hi, I’m Jimmy. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try out for this part.” He sat down looked at the sides for a few seconds, and then asked me if it would be Ok if he went into the other room for a few minutes.
When he came back Ellen explained the part in more detail and asked if he was ready. He nodded. I read him the first line. Then, in the blink of an eye, he transformed from a humble gentle man into a very very frightening one. By the reading of the second line, I realized I was witnessing something very special. A rare moment when you know you are around greatness.
When the audition was over, just as quickly as he had disappeared, the gentle humble soul who was James Gandolfini reappeared, took a breath, gave a broad smile, thanked us again for the opportunity and sheepishly walked away.
The room was filled with awe and silence. This man had so much talent, it was hard to believe no one had every noticed it before. The three of us looked at each other, like the Kodak clients in Mad Men after hearing Don Drapper’s pitch on the Kodak Carrousel . There was no need to look at anyone else.
“Let’s sign him up before someone else does!!"
The process that followed in order to accomplish this is another very interesting very Hollywood story…
James Gandolfini.
The gentle giant who years later, after he became rich and famous, would still call out to me or lay his hand on my shoulder whenever he would see me on the street in Greenwich Village. I remember the first time he did it -- well after Tony Soprano became a household name..
“Mr. Guzzardo, right?" he said. “I can’t believe what they are doing with me, it’s crazy.... Thank you…”
(Italian Movie is James Gandolfini’s first starring role in a feature film and is still being distributed by MGM. Peter's company is The Speckled Trout Moving Picture Company.)...
- 7/1/2013
- by Peter Guzzardo
- Sydney's Buzz
Casting directors came out from behind the curtain to be honored by their peers last night at the 25th Annual Artios Awards. The bi-coastal awards, which were held simultaneously at the new Times Center in New York City and the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, are presented yearly for outstanding achievement in casting in theater, film, and television categories on the criteria of originality, creativity, and contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project.Celebrity awards presenters in New York were Patrick Wilson ("Little Children," "Angels in America"), Carrie Preston ("True Blood"), Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road"), Jennifer Morrison ("House"), Bill Pullman ("Oleanna"), Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens"), Vincent Kartheiser ("Mad Men"), and Elizabeth Reaser ("Twilight"). Stanley Tucci and producer Daryl Roth presented the New York Big Apple Award to Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, whose "Love, Loss and What I Wore" recently opened Off-Broadway to rave reviews.
- 11/3/2009
- backstage.com
"Star Trek," "Tropic Thunder," "Milk" and "Up" were among the films honored Monday night as the Casting Society of America held its 25th Artios Awards.
At simultaneous ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City and the New York Times Building in New York, "Mad Men" and "Flight of the Conchords" were singled out in the TV series categories.
The awards, which recognize originality, creativity and quality in casting, were hosted by actor John Michael Higgins.
A career achievement award was presented to producer Laura Ziskin. Nora and Delia Ephron received the New York Apple Award, and John Frank Levey was the recipient of the Hoyt Bowers Award.
On the film side, the winners were April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg for "Star Trek" in the category of studio feature, drama; Francine Maisler for "Tropic Thunder" (studio feature, comedy); Maisler and Nina Henninger (location casting) for "Milk" (indie...
At simultaneous ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City and the New York Times Building in New York, "Mad Men" and "Flight of the Conchords" were singled out in the TV series categories.
The awards, which recognize originality, creativity and quality in casting, were hosted by actor John Michael Higgins.
A career achievement award was presented to producer Laura Ziskin. Nora and Delia Ephron received the New York Apple Award, and John Frank Levey was the recipient of the Hoyt Bowers Award.
On the film side, the winners were April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg for "Star Trek" in the category of studio feature, drama; Francine Maisler for "Tropic Thunder" (studio feature, comedy); Maisler and Nina Henninger (location casting) for "Milk" (indie...
- 11/3/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Producer Laura Ziskin, writer-director Nora Ephron, writer Delia Ephron and casting director John Frank Levey will be honored at the Casting Society of America's 24th annual Artios Awards.
Simultaneous awards ceremonies will be held in at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the New York Times Building in New York on Nov. 2.
Ziskin is set to receive the group's Career Achievement Award. The New York Apple Award will be presented to Nora and Delia Ephron. Levy is this year's recipient of the Hoyt Bowers Award.
Representing 425 members in the United States, Canada, England and Australia, Cas also announced its nominees in film TV and theater on Thursday.
In the category of big budget feature drama, Ellen Chenoweth scored two noms for "Changeling" and "Duplicity." The category nominees are John Papsidera for "The Dark Knight"; April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg for "Star Trek" and Avy Kaufman for "State of Play.
Simultaneous awards ceremonies will be held in at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the New York Times Building in New York on Nov. 2.
Ziskin is set to receive the group's Career Achievement Award. The New York Apple Award will be presented to Nora and Delia Ephron. Levy is this year's recipient of the Hoyt Bowers Award.
Representing 425 members in the United States, Canada, England and Australia, Cas also announced its nominees in film TV and theater on Thursday.
In the category of big budget feature drama, Ellen Chenoweth scored two noms for "Changeling" and "Duplicity." The category nominees are John Papsidera for "The Dark Knight"; April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg for "Star Trek" and Avy Kaufman for "State of Play.
- 9/17/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's a good day for funny people, especially if your name is Tina Fey or Seth MacFarlane.
Fey's series, 30 Rock, was handed 22 Emmy nominations this morning, which stands as a record for a comedy series. She and Alec Baldwin were also nominated for acting awards. Plus, for the first time some of the other actors on NBC's laffer were recognized. Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan all picked up supporting nominations.
MacFarlane's Family Guy was also nominated for best comedy series, the first time an animated show has cracked that category since The Flintstones in 1961. Two years ago MacFarlane decided to pull his show from contention in the animated series category to have it considered for best comedy.
Mad Men, the drama about the advertising world in the sixties, picked up 16 nominations in the drama categories, including a best actor nod for Jon Hamm. Hamm is also nominated as...
Fey's series, 30 Rock, was handed 22 Emmy nominations this morning, which stands as a record for a comedy series. She and Alec Baldwin were also nominated for acting awards. Plus, for the first time some of the other actors on NBC's laffer were recognized. Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan all picked up supporting nominations.
MacFarlane's Family Guy was also nominated for best comedy series, the first time an animated show has cracked that category since The Flintstones in 1961. Two years ago MacFarlane decided to pull his show from contention in the animated series category to have it considered for best comedy.
Mad Men, the drama about the advertising world in the sixties, picked up 16 nominations in the drama categories, including a best actor nod for Jon Hamm. Hamm is also nominated as...
- 7/16/2009
- CinemaSpy
Sarah Halley Finn and Randi Hiller took home the award for feature film drama casting for their work on Crash at the 21st annual Artios Awards, while John Jackson and Ellen Parks were recognized for feature film comedy casting for their work on Sideways. The Casting Society of America's honors were handed out at simultaneous events held Tuesday evening in Beverly Hills and New York. The CSA's coveted Hoyt Bowers Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Casting Profession was presented to Marcia S. Ross by Jennifer Garner.
- 11/3/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.