Another UNBROKEN woman

This article came to me from my friend Chuck. The story is not my own-I only copied and pasted it. I am unaware of the original author as it was an email fwd. But I had to share this great story. You meet AWESOME people everyday. See below!

Jessica Cox, 25, a girl born without arms, stands inside an aircraft. The girl from Tucson , Arizona got the Sport Pilot certificate lately and became the first pilot licensed to fly using only her feet.




Parrish Traweek runs PC Aircraft Maintenance

and Flight Services and has trained many pilots,

some of whom didn't come close to Cox's abilities.


Jessica Cox of Tucson was born without arms,

but that has only stopped her from doing one thing:

using the word "can't."



WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A Way

How awesome is she??!!!!!



Jessica Cox of Tucson was born without arms,

but that has only stopped her from doing one thing:

using the word "can't."



Her latest flight into the seemingly impossible

is becoming the first pilot licensed to fly

using only her feet.



With one foot manning the controls

and the other delicately guiding the steering column.

Cox, 25, soared to achieve a Sport Pilot certificate.

Her certificate qualifies her to fly a light-sport

aircraft to altitudes of 10,000 feet..

"She's a good pilot. She's rock solid,"

said Parrish Traweek, 42, the flying instructor at San Manuel's Ray Blair Airport .


"When she came up here driving a car,"?

Traweek recalled, "I knew she'd have no problem

flying a plane."



Doctors never learned why she was born without arms,

but she figured out early on that she didn't

want to use prosthetic devices.




So, the next time you are ready to tell yourself,

"I can't possibly..." remember this amazing young woman

and change your vocabulary.

Section 181 and MISINFORMATION

Recently I was told in a seminar for Filmmakers that Section 181 was still in effect.

I was shocked as I consider myself to be pretty educated on incentives (seeing as I do my best to receive the benefits from them). I followed the renewal process pretty darn closely until, like many, I realized that until Health care passed or failed, nothing else would be voted on or passed.

When I heard this tidbit, I jumped on the internet to verify the gossip.

Guess what? Still not verified. The "signs point to no" as I shake my magic 8 ball AKA: IRS Tax code. I have browsed through SEVERAL blogs, legal websites, government sites, and Filmmaker resource sites. The only EVIDENCE I have found states this:

"According to our source at the IRS (the original author of the section), 181 is not only not going to be extended, but it is not likely to be reintroduced for several months or even years. The last hope for 181 was its inclusion on the most recent Tax Extender Act. Unfortunately, due to major political issues like the Stimulus Package and Health Care, 181 was left on the cutting room floor.

So what can film makers do when making a pitch to potential investors? The best suggestion we have is to rely on the state tax credits. There are still a lot of healthy packages and incentives out there in quite a few states including Michigan, Illinois, and Louisiana. When seeking funds through private placement, language can still be added to the documents highlighting these state tax credits which, when applied for correctly, can lead to real dollars. Those dollars can either be used toward the production budget itself or to immediately pay back your investors."

This comes from a legal website that assists musicians and filmmakers alike.

You can see for yourselves, at this legal website how it went down: http://www.stahlcowen.com/?t=40&an=1381&format=xml

This is a resource to get your filmmaker voice heard next time a bill is before Congress: http://www.popvox.com/

IF ANYONE CAN PROVE OTHERWISE, PLEASE DO!!!! (You must include links to sources.)

Thank you for reading-we need to keep helping each other out. :) CJ

Fall brings new life to Cow Town!

I just wanted to post a quick note to stay tuned and "follow" Cow Town here and on FB and Twitter. We will have a few announcements coming out soon, and we want you to stay in the "know". We will be launching a couple of contests and we are developing new projects as we type.

If you are a film artisan (actor, gaffer, camera operator, etc) Please subscribe for the latest in casting and crew notices.

Thanks!
CJ

Cow Town Film Productions/ Obscure Planet Productions win Music Video Award

The producers of Cow Town are pleased to announce that the Zaragoza video they created with Obscure Planet Productions has been awarded Runner Up for Best Music Video in the SacMusicSeen portion of the Sacramento Film and Music Festival 2010. To see the video please visit our website and click on Music Videos or use the link above. We would like to thank all of those who contributed to the video. They are listed below.

Executive Producer Carlos Hernandez
Executive Producer Christina Marie
Directed by Christina Marie
Brandon Leyton Assoc Prod
Norm "Swirl" Sadler 1st AD
RJ Dale 2nd AD
Jeff McPhee DP/ A CAMERA
Scott Miller B CAMERA
Jason Clark 1st AC A CAMERA
Annette Humphreys Key Make-up/ Body Paint
Deepti Kalsi Set Design
Sterling Running Stream Phillips Location Manager/Costume Designer
Craig Fouts Gaffer
Matt Baker Editor/Green Screen FX
Josie Garcia Craft Guru
Jocelyn Pindar Hair and MU
Candace DiGiordano Hair and MU
Justine Jemmings Hair
Martin Valladares PA
Fidel Castro PA
Seth Neil 2nd AC
Danielle Maruna 2nd AC
Amy Lawrence PA
Joseph Arthur Special Thanks
Clubhouse 24 Special Thanks
John Tate Special Thanks
Jeff McPhee Special Thanks
Jameson Media Group, Inc Special Thanks
Sarah Evingham Special Thanks
CAST
Patrick Steichen Rocker Dude
Melissa Dillard Rocker Chick
Ana Maria Perales Dominatrix
Steven Barnes Bondage dude
Dylan Nelson Pool Boy
Leslie Goodman Executive Lady
Matt Walker Painted Man
Christina Chadaris Painted Woman
Rae Wright Girlfriend 1
Stephanie Hyden Girlfriend 2
Kenyon Page Glamour Girl
Phillip M. Kampel Paparazzi
Lee Miller Paparazzi
West Ramsey Paparazzi
Derek Schnabel Paparazzi
Sarah Siminski Paparazzi
Monica Toohey-Krause Paparazzi
Josie Garcia Club Girl
Diana Mandujano Club Girl
Stephanie Mackey Club Girl
Sarah Williams Club Girl
Briana Porter Club Girl
Adriana McManus Club Girl
Julianne Gabert Club Girl
Lisanne Zaragoza The Keeper
David Zaragoza Himself
Thomas Dodson The Other Man
Christina Marie Ex-girlfriend

NorCal Screenwriter’s Expo-A new door open to Northern California Screenwriters

The NCS Expo held its first annual event in Napa Valley last weekend at the beautiful Silverado Golf Resort and Spa. The 3 day event had celebrity speakers, great writing workshops, and a frenetic Pitch Fest on day three. One of the major highlights was Oscar winner, Bobby Moresco’s candid discussion on his experience making Crash and Million Dollar Baby. He shared with the audience his woes of making a film that was turned down by every studio. Obviously his tenacity overcame every obstacle and he took home the Oscar…twice. He was very humble and unassuming in sharing his experience. He stated, “This is not about me. This time is for you. Ask me anything you want.” When I met him in the hallway, he was very kind and encouraging. For more information on the interview conducted by James Dalessandro, please visit NorCal Screenwriter’s website.

Speaking of Mr. Dalessandro, his epic novel, 1906, is now a script in pre-production with Warner Brothers. He has years of pitching experience and has been serving the film and television industry for over 27 years. His seminar on pitching was inspiring and gave several writers a swift kick in the butt. “Writer’s are so long winded. Sum it up with who, what, when, where, and why?” He encourages writers to speak from the heart. His message was: Passion sells. Victoria Wisdom, another heavy hitter in LA, put more of a succinct note on it. “Who can pitch me in four words?” After the crowd moaned and groaned, she came back at them with, “James Bond with Amnesia.” It’s the Borne Identity. Brilliant.

Barbara Bitela was by far the most energetic speaker. Her words rang true with the others. “Speak to me in Haikus.” She was engaging and a true crowd favorite. She also shared some very candid advice that most people wouldn’t think to share. Her overall message to the crowd was: Always say yes to your agent. If they want a re-write, you say, “yes”. If they want to sell your script for $10,000, you say, “yes”. The more yeses you say the farther your career goes.

Pitching opportunities were plenty with such companies as Lionsgate, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Silver Bitela Agency, Lifetime, CAA, HBO, Lawrence Bender Productions, and more. Overall, the event provided opportunities that Northern California would not otherwise see. Only time will tell if Hollywood will return again for next year’s Expo, but the latest word is several screenwriters gained representation and had scripts taken for review.

Need a 501c3 sponsor?

We recommend the Documentary Foundation if you are doing a Doc. They're professional, competent, and very friendly! See their website at www.documentaryfoundation.org.

Special Film Advocacy Meeting

California Film Commission Executive Director to Address Sacramento Filmmaking Community
Amy Lemisch of the state’s film agency to discuss the state of film and video production in California at February 16 advocacy meeting

Sacramento – California Film Commission Executive Director Amy Lemisch will discuss the state of film and video production in California with local professionals on Tuesday, February 16, 2010. The meeting is hosted by the Capital Film Arts Alliance, a local nonprofit dedicated to advancing film and video production, and will take place at the Art Institute of Sacramento starting at 7:00 p.m.
“Film and video production provides thousands of jobs in the state, including in the Sacramento region,” said Laurie Pederson, chair of the Capital Film Arts Alliance board. “We’re looking forward to hearing how local filmmakers can help keep creative jobs in California and promote our local talent and professionals in the industry.”
“If you are involved in or a supporter of the filmmaking community and Sacramento's burgeoning industry, you need to attend this meeting and learn about the future of filmmaking in Sacramento,” added Pederson.
Local film advocates and professionals will be on hand to discuss how to promote film production in Sacramento. The Mayor's film committee chair Don Roth, Executive Director of the Mondavi Center, will present the findings of his committee on recommended steps to developing the regions film industry and profile. Also attending will be the film commissioners from Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado Counties: Lucy Steffens (Sacramento), Beverly Lewis (Placer) and Kathleen Dodge (El Dorado). Mayor Kevin Johnson has also been invited and has tentatively agreed to attend if scheduling allows.
The February 16th meeting is one of a monthly speaker series from the Capital Film Arts Alliance. Experts in the filmmaking field – from camera and sound to contracts and funding – are asked to share their expertise and insights to Sacramento are filmmakers. The upcoming meeting is the second annual advocacy meeting aimed at furthering film production in the region. Last year former Assemblyman Paul Krekorian addressed a standing-room-only crowd on the state of film-production incentive proposals in the state Legislature.
About Amy Lemisch, Executive Director, California Film Commission
Amy Lemisch was appointed Executive Director of the California Film Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in May 2004. As Director of the Film Commission, Ms. Lemisch works to support California’s vital film production industry by offering support services, providing filmmakers with low-cost alternatives when filming in the state, and educating decision makers about the value of filming in California. She coordinates with all levels of state and local governments to create film-friendly guidelines, reduce costs, and to eliminate restrictions with the goal of encouraging more film, television, and commercial productions to choose California as their premiere film production destination. She was instrumental in the successful creation of film and television tax incentives and administers the program for the state.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Lemisch was a Producer for Penny Marshall’s company, Parkway Productions, at Universal Studios and Sony Pictures. She was responsible for overseeing physical production on all Parkway projects as well as selecting new material for the company to produce.

In her fifteen-year long association with Marshall and Parkway, Ms. Lemisch has worked on nine feature films. Her past credits include: producer on the independent feature film With Friends Like These; co-producer on Riding In Cars With Boys (starring Drew Barrymore), The Preacher’s Wife (starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston) and Renaissance Man (starring Danny DeVito); associate producer on Awakenings, A League Of Their Own, and Calendar Girl. She was also the associate producer on the television series A League Of Their Own, which was adapted from the movie.

Ms. Lemisch is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.


The CFAA 2010 annual Film Advocacy meeting featuring California Film Commission Executive Director Amy Lemisch will be held on February 16, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., at The Art Institute of Sacramento, 2850 Gateway Oaks Dr., Sacramento. The meeting is free to CFAA members; normal meeting attendee rates for non-members is $5, but the CFAA board voted to make the film advocacy meeting fee a voluntary contribution. CFAA membership rates are $35 for individual members and $15 for students; business and corporate sponsor members available as well. Contact the CFAA at info@capitalfilmarts.com for more information.

An offer you can't refuse!!

Just wanted to touch base and let you know what is going on with UNBROKEN.

The trailer is finished and up on the net. We are audience building as we speak, and our distributor would like to see the demand that we can build between our website and YouTube. We have a “demand it” feature on the Cow Town website, and a viral trailer will definitely communicate the interest for distribution.

You can help us by simply watching the trailer and FORWARDING it to all of your address books. YouTube has offered us a partnership based on the popularity of the trailer already. We have pay-per-click ads on the trailer, and each time an ad is hit, we earn money for development costs, etc.

You can also become a fan on Facebook and get the inside track to what is going on. Fanning on Facebook also qualifies you for prizes associated with the making of the film.

If you really want to support Indie, you can grab the embed code from YouTube and insert it in your blog, website, profile, or email the trailer from YouTube as an attachment.

So what’s in it for you? The person who forwards the trailer to the most people will get an all expenses paid trip to the premiere and red carpet experience with the celebrities of the movie. This includes airfare, hotel, limo, dinner with celebrities, tickets, and VIP after party passes for you and a guest of your choice. (Hint: to qualify for Sundance, we must “Premiere” there!)

Intrigued? Great! All you have to do is CC or BCC cj@unbrokenthemovie.com every time you forward the email to a friend. It doesn’t matter if you forward it to the same friends more than once, each address will still be counted as one point each time you forward it. We will also count 5 points each time someone “demands it” on the website and references your name as the referral. If you go the extra mile and embed the trailer on your site, blog, or profile, simply send me an email with the link and you will get 100 points toward your score.

I sincerely thank you for your ongoing support! Without you, I only have a dream. Thank you for being an active part of making this a reality!

The amazing Ruby Sketchley

I just wanted to take some time to recognize an unsung hero in Sacramento, CA. Ruby Sketchley is an incredible actress who never stops working. It is only a matter of time until she becomes wickedly famous for her skills. She did some Voice Over work for UNBROKEN recently, and I must say her ability to take direction and deliver was second to none. You can hear her voice in our trailer as she sets the tone with, "There's been an accident" Ruby is also very active in the Filmmaking community. She is a board member of the Capitol Film Arts Alliance and does an incredible job with the script reading circles they provide. To learn more about Ruby, visit the links here, or go to her IMDB listing.

Does AdSense make cents?

Recently I added Google AdSense to my Youtube Video UNBROKEN in a effort to help monetize the video. Since the beginning of this month I have made $3.11. I guess that's not bad seeing as the ads have only been clicked 7 times. I was hoping use the pay-per-click money to help pay for production costs of the movie. Does anyone have suggestions on how to improve pay-per-click earnings without harassing family & friends to click on the ads after watching the video? Being an Indie I have to squeeze out every penny I can to realize this beautiful movie. Thanks for any suggestions!

Please help Haiti

You can text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. Or you can go online to organizations like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps to make a contribution to the disaster relief efforts. Cow Town Film Productions has done so as well as the executive board members. Clinton has put out a statement that this is the best way to help immediately. Will you please join the humanitarian effort? These people desperately need our help.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to All! 2010 brings new goals & challenges for Cow Town Film Productions. What are your goals or resolutions?