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2008 Cedar Rapids Independent
Film Festival

April 4-5, 2008
Collins Road Theatres
Marion, Iowa 52402
319-377-4555

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Special Guest Seminars
Saturday, April 5


J. Douglas Miller
Motion Picture Production in Iowa: A History
7:49 p.m.

(Courtesy of IMDB) J. Douglas Miller is a 4th generation Iowan, born, raised and educated in the Quad Cities. He began his career in the movies as an usher at the RKO Orpheum Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. Doug, as he is known to his friends, also served as a production assistant for GMT Productions, the leading theatrical promotion company in the Quad Cities at the time. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and worked as a production coordinator for the Bob Hope Christmas Show while assigned to the Commanding General at Support Command Headquarters in Da Nang.

Upon his honorable discharge from military service Doug continued his education at the Palmer Colleges in Davenport, studying chiropractic, the basic sciences and mass media. Doug began working as a production assistant at the WOC Broadcasting Company, a pioneer radio and television firm affiliated with the NBC Network in Davenport. He eventually became a producer and the Director of Community Relations, and was promoted to Director for Corporate Development of WOC's parent company, Palmer Communications Inc. in Des Moines. While in that position he assisted the company with community and governmental relations on a local and national level. Doug co-founded a media company which owned WOC AM and KIIK FM (now KUUL) as well as Signal Hill Productions. Doug is now the President of Two Rivers & Associates, Inc. which through its affiliate Motion Pictures Midwest has been involved in many capacities with numerous productions including motion pictures, television and special events with such clients as ADM, I-Wireless, John Deere, QVC, ABC, VH-1, RAI, Filmauro, the State of Illinois, the Library of Congress and the White House.

Doug has served as a production director for the award winning Italian director, Pupi Avati of Duea Film, Rome. He has worked with Avati on nine motion pictures, some of which have been "in competition" at the Cannes Film Festival ("Bix") and at the Venice Film Festival ("Brothers & Sisters"). Doug served as the field producer of "Mississippi, River of Song" for the Smithsonian and PBS. He also was responsible for the commission of and produced the first public performance of the symphonic suite "Rhapsody for Bix" with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with composer, conductor and motion picture scorer Lalo Schifrin of "Mission Impossible" fame. Doug recently was the co-production manager of the motion picture "The Hideout", directed by Pupi Avati and starring Laura Morante, Treat Williams, Burt Young and Rita Tushingham. He also recently served as a field producer for the motion picture "Sugar", produced by Journeyman Pictures, whose other productions have included "Half Nelson" and "Maria Full of Grace."

Mr. Miller served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Department of Economic Development and as such was instrumental in creating the state film commission now known as the Iowa Film Offic,e as well as being elected as the founding President of the Iowa Motion Picture Association and receiving one of the first Iowa Film Awards. He later played a leadership role in passing motion picture production incentive legislation for Iowa. Doug has served on the Board of Directors of the Quad City Development Group, the Quad City Labor Management Council and Quad City Arts and has been active with numerous other community and political organizations.


Deb Copeland
Acting for the Camera
3:28 p.m.

So what are the differences between camera and stage? This workshop covers the differences in acting styles, the basics of a good headshot and performance resume, and basic auditioning skills. Participants will work in front of the camera to enable immediate feedback as they develop their audition technique.

Copeland will then hold auditions Sunday for “Peacock,” which begins shooting in Des Moines in May. Auditions are open to all from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit http://www.pmscasting.com/casting-peacock.html, or e-mail copelandcreative@qwest.net.

Deb Copeland of Copeland Creative Talent is a talent agent and casting director in Des Moines, Iowa. While working as a producer on local projects, she saw a need for an agent who understood good acting skills as well as the needs of the producers. She started with the premise that there are many talented people in the state. And, she has been proven right by booking actors and models in hundreds of shoots over the past 13 years. Work includes film, television, industrials, commercials and print with clients too numerous to mention. Currently, she is casting Iowa talent for the film South Dakota.


Gerard Estella
Music and the Mix II
11:32 a.m.

Estella will lead a seminar on using music to set the mood, and achieving an ideal final audio mix. Estella is an audio expert, having spent several years producing recordings, playing with major recording artists and designing soundscapes for commercial and entertainment film and video productions. Estella owns North 40. We need to tell you, up front, for your own safety, that Gerard is a dangerous man. His legacy of blowing the roof off theatres across the country has left behind a pathetic trail of stunned audience members who thought they were out for an evening of wholesome, family entertainment. His guitar and keyboard playing have been outlawed in 12 of the original 13 colonies and he has been forbidden to sing as far south as Juarez, Mexico. No matter what people say, Gerard Estella is one of the most fun guys there is to work with. He combines the excitement of a five year old at Disneyland with the raw musical talent of a veteran rock star. Gerard and his genius are well represented our CDs, The Holotones Live at Liars #1 and Janelle Lauer Live at Liars, as well as on Ms. Lauer's latest recording, Turning the Corner.


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