May Media & Showbiz Industry Networking Events

The 2006 Black Film and Media Conference opens in Philadelphia on May 4-7. The BFMC will offer a series of film screenings, workshops, expert panels, along with exposition, education/career fair, and networking events for its attendees. Alameda Writers Group meets this month on May 6 in Glendale, presenting Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Vorus, creators and executive producers of “Sleeper Cell” to discuss writing and producing for television. At the “Good In A Room Workshop” the focus will be for writers, producers and directors on how to communicate ideas quickly and effectively in high-pressure situations. The two-day session opening May 6 is in Culver City. The British Academy of Film and Television holds its TV Awards May 7 in Grosvenor Square, London, presenting BAFTA masks to its winners. The 27th Blues Music Awards (formerly the Handy Blues Awards) celebrate the best in blues recordings and performances from last year when it gathers for the May 11 celebration in the Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis. For Second Annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert benefiting the fund, the Recording Academy honors co-founder of Metallica James Hetfield and concert promoter and manager Bill Silva, in Hollywood on May 12.

“Colour Me Bad: Third Coast Hip Hop” and “black girls face: r. kelly” are student documentary film presentations on May 12 under the auspices of the New School Media Studies program in New York. Q&A and refreshments follow the screenings. The Indie Impact Seminar on May 13 is a day-long series of panels and workshops focused on independent artists and labels, and with a music showcase featuring indie rock and urban artists in Downtown Memphis. The Village Voice newspaper holds its 51st Annual Village Voice Obie Awards in New York on May 15. A ceremony for the BMI Pop Awards happens May 16 in Beverly Hills. Actress, dancer, choreographer Zina Bethune will be honored as the first recipient of The USA TODAY Hollywood Hero Award on May 17 in Beverly Hills. Vincent Cassel will be the Master of Ceremonies of the forthcoming Festival de Cannes. He will launch the 59th edition on May 17 running till May 28, in Cannes.

ASCAP and MySpace.com have teamed up to present showcases across the country while providing local artists with an opportunity to perform at high-profile music showcases in their hometowns, and enabling them to share this music globally through profile pages. Another showcase takes place May 18 at 12th & Porter (name of the venue) in Nashville. At the 16th Annual Cologne, Germany Conference and Screenings, numerous receptions and evening events enhance a week of already interesting programs, and form the social highlight of the TV and film festival that runs from May 18-24. The Cable Center and University of Denver host conference on the key issues surrounding intellectual property rights in “Inaugural Intellectual Property and Digital Media Summit” running May 22-23 in Denver. The 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted by Reba McEntire and will be broadcast live from Las Vegas over the CBS network on May 23. On May 25 in Las Vegas, VH1 debuts the first ever show to pay homage to the legends who influenced the sound of hard rock with the first annual “VH1 Rock Honors,” at which this year’s celebration will honor the music and influence of KISS, Queen, Def Leppard and Judas Priest.

The above events are only a sampling of what is listed. Many of the events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the “Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events” page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Experience the newly relaunched message board on The Actor’s Checklist which now permits user profiles and private messaging which you can find at http://actorschecklist.com/phpBB2/.