Write Your State Senator/Representative About Extending the Film Tax Credit

If you do any professional film/TV work, it's been a very quiet time in Pennsylvania. I worked on some interesting but ultra-ultra low budget projects in Ohio (meaning - lunch provided) and a day for pay on Veep in Maryland (the episode "Running" which will be on HBO on June 16 - I play a race spectator). This is mostly because the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit ran out months ago. Despite the fact we have great locations, crews and extras, Hollywood projects rarely come our way without a film tax credit.

State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi is in the process of getting co-sponsors for a bill to uncap the PA Film Tax Credit, which could help bring film/TV projects back to Pennsylvania. More film projects mean more rental dollars, more hotel dollars, more salary dollars and more tax dollars to the state. The film tax credit makes money for Pennsylvania and for Pennsylvanians.

Ask your State Senator to be a sponsor of this bill. Help bring film work back to Pennsylvania again.

Pittsburgh-Filmed Movie to Be on ABC Family in April

A few years ago, ABC Family shot a musical in Pittsburgh called Elixir starring Jane Seymour. Now renamed Lovestruck: The Musical, it will be on TV on April 21. Click this link for a short teaser trailer.

Steeltown Film Factory Script Competition Events

The Steeltown script competition has three events over the next three months:

• March 23: The Writer's Pitch, University of Pittsburgh
• April 21: The Director's Pitch, Point Park University
• May TBD: And the Winner Is..., Carnegie Mellon University

Check the Steeltown Film Factory site for more information and to buy tickets for these events.

These annual events are a fascinating way to watch the development of a short film, from the writer's initial script through funding for production.

Lend a Hand to Hollywood Theater

Dormont's Hollywood Theater has been trying to raise money to buy a digital projector. Hollywood Theater is the home repertory cinema and many unique screenings and events. For the Hollywood Theater to be able to remain viable in the future, it needs a digital projector to be able to show current or future films. Please make a donation to Hollywood Theater's Indiegogo fundraiser.

A Look at the Oscars 2013

Oscars

Perks Wins an Independent Spirit Award!

Pittsburgh's own Stephen Chbosky took the "Best First Film" Independent Spirit Award for The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Complete winners list.

Hollywood Theater Oscar Party - 2/24, 6:30pm-

I love Oscar parties.

That is, I love them when I can watch the show.

Over 20 years ago, I went to an Oscar party at a bar with a big screen in Worcester, MA. Got my Dad to go along. It was the year that Silence of the Lambs won a bunch of Oscars, and Billy Crystal came onstage as Hannial Lector, mask, restraints and all.

In 2004, I went to an Oscar party in Hollywood itself (only about a mile away from the then Kodak Theater) to join about 1,000 Lord of the Rings fans to celebrate the many nominations for Return of the King. That turned out to be the loudest Oscar party ever, when ROTK won all the Oscars for which it was nominated.

In 2012, I bought a ticket for "Lights, Camera, Oscar," an annual gala fundraiser for the Pittsburgh Film Office. While this party was a great idea in principle, it's a horrible party for the true Oscar fans. You couldn't sit down and watch the show. Once I realized that, I went home and got back in time to watch the whole show.

So, this year, I was pretty sure I was going to stay home and watch the show, but just found the Hollywood Theater in Dormont is having my kind of Oscar party - watching the Oscars on a big screen with movie fans. So I've bought my ticket and I'm going.

Amazing Racer (formerly Shannon's Rainbow) Premiered in Pittsburgh

KDKA reports Amazing Racer recently premiered at the Waterfront. It's now available on DVD. It was filmed in Western Pennsylvania in early 2008.

Perks of Being a Wallflower Nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award

Perks of Being a Wallflower was been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay by the Writers Guild of America. Pittsburgh native Stephen Chbosky wrote the novel, adapted the screenplay, and directed one of the best movies of 2012. Perks was shot in the Pittsburgh area in 2011.

Annual Steeltown Short Script Contest

Steeltown's annual short script contest