CRAZY 8S NOW 50 PERCENT CRAZIER
If Vancouver's film industry is still a little slower than it should be, Crazy 8s isn't. The jury for this year's edition of the local shorts competition sifted through a whopping 154 applications before announcing its six finalists last week-a 50 percent increase over the previous year.
http://www.straight.com/movies/569796/crazy-8s-now-50-percent-crazier

IMAGEWORKS MOVING MORE OF ITS WORKFORCE TO INCENTIVE-FRIENDLY VANCOUVER
Sony Pictures Imageworks - headquartered in Culver City with additional facilities in Chennai, India and incentive-friendly Vancouver, BC - held a staff meeting Tuesday afternoon signaling that it intends to move even more of its workforce to Vancouver, while leaving jitters surrounding the potential for layoffs.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/imageworks-moving-more-workforce-incentive-673141

ACADEMY LAUNCHES ONLINE ONLINE VOTING FOR CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television has launched a new website with the latest information about special activities planned for Canadian Screen Week.
http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/academy-launches-online-voting-for-canadian-screen-awards/1002875541/

DO WE NEED CANCON FOR MOVIES?
It's not for lack of talent, but the Canuck film industry-for anybody living outside of Quebec, at any rate-is clearly just as anemic as it ever was. Will there ever be a solution to this dreary state of affairs? Don Davies hopes to address this question with a town hall at the Trout Lake Community Centre, on Thursday January 23.
http://www.straight.com/movies/572256/do-we-need-cancon-movies

LOW LOONIE LIFTS B.C. FILM INDUSTRY [VIDEO]
Business resurgence linked to Canadian dollar's flagging fortunes
http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/BC/ID/2430569189/

CASTING EXTRAORDINARY ACTORS
Every actor strives to find the spark of truth in every action and every word spoken. The goal is to "act" without showing you are "acting." This is a truly an extraordinary task. It is important for actors to realize that just as hard as they work to get the part, the casting director will have worked equally hard to find them.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/casting-extraordinary-actors/

POWELL RIVER FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE INDEPENDENT AWARD-WINNING FILMS AND FILMMAKERS
For the past twelve years every February, the Powell River Film Festival has showcased independent award-winning films and filmmakers.The newest and best feature films, documentaries and shorts, selected from Canada and beyond, often can only be seen through festival exposure.
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/culture/film/powell-river-film-festival-showcase-independent-award-winning-films-and-filmmakers

THE OSCARS LOVE TO NOMINATE ACTORS WHO PLAY REAL PEOPLE
Actors eager for an Oscar on their mantelpiece would do well to look to the real world for their next role.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambvary/oscar-nominations-for-playing-real-people

JESSE CAMACHO IS MORE THAN HUMBLE
Montreal native Jesse Camacho is up for a Canadian Screen Award as best lead actor for his role in Less Than Kind, which recently ended its four-season run. "I'm already feeling very nostalgic about it."
http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/television/Less+Than+Kind+Jesse+Camacho+more+than+humble/9413431/story.html

THE SECRET TO ACHIEVING A BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR CAREER
It doesn't matter if what we want shows up right away or it looks like we thought it'd look. The breakthrough simply occurs in doing it. Sitting around and having thoughts about something isn't the same as actually taking that something and moving into the world with it. So, if you want to have a breakthrough year, stay open.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/secret-achieving-breakthrough-your-career/

STANDARD AMERICAN DIALECT AT GO STUDIOS
Dialect is one of the main concerns of US producers. Learn the specific skills you need to work on US and Canadian productions and never let your accent be an obstacle in you achieving your acting goals. Just because it is cast in Canada does NOT mean it should sound like it. Ongoing classes at GO Studios Saturday's 10am to 1pm with Elizabeth McLaughlin
Contact us at: 604-568-5668 for more information
Find ongoing classes at www.schoolcreative.com

ANTHONY MEINDL'S ACTOR WORKSHOP VANCOUVER
AMAW is now open in Vancouver! With some of TV's hottest shows being shot in Vancouver you will learn how to master the demands of tv/film acting from the acting studio that is producing the next generation of Hollywood stars. The on-going Vancouver acting classes focus on our exciting non-method way of working and will get you working the muscle of the moment and help you to trust your instincts, stop over-thinking, and do naturally what you always thought acting should be: easy, fun, empowering.
Classes are Mondays at 6PM. Email assistant@anthonymeindl.com to register.
http://www.anthonymeindl.com

INTENSIVE WITH MATTHEW HARRISON
February 8 & 9
This workshop is renowned as an awesome experience. Hundreds of actors have proclaimed that their career, artistic, and even life perspective has shifted at this workshop. It's where Matthew discovered and defined The Three Pillars of Acting. Through intensive focus exercises, the actor is drawn out, into what the Foundry calls being 'vectors-out', the natural place where the performer can live truthfully in the scene. Actors receive scenes and scene partners in advance, rehearse and fully prepare scenes, and apply the work to focal exercises, preparatory exploration, and scene presentation.
http://actorsfoundry.com/foundryintensive/

DIALECT COACHING | TONY ALCANTAR
Hollywood producers trust Tony Alcantar with their stars: Oscar-winner Halle Berry, Stellan Skarsgard, Sam Rockwell, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Banks, etc. You can trust him too! Tony is Vancouver's #1 dialect coach, recommended by agents and casting directors. Learn with confidence the most requested dialects and accents required for the Vancouver market. Book that role!
Contact: 604-418-1192, tonyalcantar1960@gmail.com

SOUNDSWRITE
Work From Home in Your Fuzzy Slippers!
*Intro to Voiceover Intensive: Feb. 22 & 23 Learn to set up a home studio and voice commercials, narrations, audiobooks, animation & ADR for film. Find out where to get work & get a produced spot for your demo. 5 students = max booth time.
*DEMO Building Workshop - on now! Build your pro demo through coached sessions one spot at a time as your budget allows, or get a produced demo in a week!
Register at www.soundswrite.ca or call 604-985-5532.

PUSH INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
January 14 - February 2
The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival engages and enriches audiences with adventurous contemporary works in a spirit of innovation and dialogue.
http://www.pushfestival.ca

CANADA'S TOP TEN 2013
January 17-29 | The Cinematheque
The year's best Canadian films are in the spotlight in The Cinematheque's annual presentation of Canada's Top Ten.
http://www.thecinematheque.ca/canadas-top-ten-2013

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL
February 7-15
The Festival was initiated with the objective to bring to North Vancouver unique outdoor and mountaineering films that would otherwise not be seen in the city, and to bring together communities of filmmakers and outdoor enthusiasts in a forum where they can discuss topics of mutual interest.
http://www.vimff.org