The Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is hosting a two-day Arts and Entertainment Conference which will include workshops, social events, vendors and film screenings for fans, film students and professionals alike.
The event will kick off with an opening reception complete with a film screening on Friday, April 12 and will conclude with a Gala and awards presentation on Saturday evening, April 13. Both events are being held at the Holiday Inn at Valley View Mall. Film and theater enthusiasts will also be able to find the missing gem in their memorabilia collection by browsing the vendors who will be on hand.
A number of entertainment professionals and guest stars will be on hand to lend their talents and wisdom to the well thought out and informative workshop. Opportunities to meet, interact and talk with the Guest Stars will also be available. Topics such as: film making for newbies, acting for camera, making documentaries, the child actor; pitfalls to avoid, producing for web, dealing with writer’s block, show me the money and acting in front of the camera LA style are just a handful of the topics to be covered.
Workshop leaders are comprised of Hollywood professionals appearing both on screen and off. Nancy Stafford has made a name for herself as an actress and author, appearing on Matlock, Christmas with a Capital C and Season of Miracles. George D. Escobar is a powerful force in Hollywood as a director, writer, producer and co-founder of the Advent Film Group. Jerry Franks is an Emmy Award winning casting and stage director. Jenn Gotzon has created a buzz in the industry with her acting abilities and has appeared in Alone, Yet Not Alone, Frost/Nixon, Hulk, The Screenwriters, and Doonby. Torry Martin is a talented actor, screenwriter and filmmaker whose credits include Adrift, Stalling, and Boxed Lunch. Mike Snyder is a talented producer and co-founder of the Advent Film Group. Sandra Van Natta will be recognized by fans of The Notebook. Her other credits include acting, teaching and writing. Currently rounding out the mix is Actor and Screenwriter Rusty Whitener.
All workshops will take place at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology located at 1760 Roanoke Blvd in Salem.
For additional information, a full schedule of events and ticket pricing and purchasing visit www.RoanokeCountyParks.com or contact Wendi Schultz at [email protected] or call (540) 387-6078 ext. 0
