Premier Beverly Hills Film Finance Professional Joins the 1st Annual Houston Black Film Festival Panel to Look at Potential Projects

The 1st Annual Houston Black Film Festival & Book to Film Screenplay Search Festival is June 22-26th 2005, at the Omni Houston Hotel Four Riverway, Houston. This is the first ever Black film festival in the fourth largest metropolis in the United States. According to Rick Ferguson, Executive Director of the Houston Film Commission, over 150 films have been shot in and around the great filming Mecca of Houston, Texas.

(PRWEB) June 8, 2005 -- New Panelist Announced - Some of our diverse panel guest include well-known Hollywood decision-making executives as Kathy Busby, Sr. VP Head Development Carsey- Werner-Mandabach, Fox Pictures Producer, Dawn Carter, UPN's Andrea Wiley, executive director of the Parkers, HBO's Real Women Have Curves producer, Marilyn Atlas, Mark Hernandez, Cresenda Entertainment and many others who will converge on Houston for a roundtable discussion and to review screenplays derived from works by nationally known best-selling novelist. We hope to generate the end product, a number of quality screenplays that will result in a better selection of projects for filmmakers, actors and actresses as well.

Panelist newcomer, Brenda Doby, is Vice President, Senior Account Relationship Manager , Union Bank. Ms. Doby is one of the premier finance professionals in the entertainment industry. She has utilized her expertise to finance over 50 films during the last ten years,that have ranged from independent ventures such as director Peter Bunches's "Butter" and "Behind the Red Door" staring Keifer Sutherland to blockbusters such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". She has also financed studio Negative Pick-up transactions with all of the major studios.

Special guest and honoree, filmmaker, producer and director Jordon Walker-Pearlman will be honored for his quality independent productions. Walker is the producer of 'The Visit' and most recently, 'Constellation.' Also being honored, the talented actor Hill Harper, & Book to film honoree, Jacquelyn Thomas.

Screenings, Authors

We have a ground breaking agenda with the launch of our Book to Film Screenplay Search where novels by nationally known best-selling authors have been nominated for film development by book clubs, bookstores, and book reviewers across the nation. The festival also encompasses discussion panels, pitch sessions, on site casting opportunities, the screening of features, documentaries and shorts screenings by major film makers as well as well films produced on shoestring budgets. We have a host of superior entries including independent films such as "Industry" by the Russell Simmons (Simmons Lathan Media Group) "Intersection", "Au Pair Chocolat," "Endangered Species" and more. Also a celebrity golf tournament at Hermann Golf Course, a celebrity fashion show, comedy showcase, and gospel jamboree culminating with an awards gala jun 25th at the Hobby Center in Houston, in the Grand Ballroom sponsored by U.S. Concepts.

There are several panels planned including a pitch fest, on site open casting call and more. The Page to Stage panel will be hosted by Houston's dynamic duo, Executive Producers, Gary Guidry & Je'Caryous Johnson of I'm Ready Productions. www.imreadyproductions.com. I'm Ready Productions brought us the stage production adaptation of Michael Baisden's "Men Cry In the Dark," & "Maintenance Man." They are currently producing, Carl Weber's "Married Men," & Eric Jerome Dickey's "Friends & Lovers." Nationally know best selling authors as Pat G'Orge- Walker and others will be on hand to sign their works. Authors interested in signing at the event or businesses interested in vendor space may contact us at info@houstonblackfilmfestival.org

Vendor Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsorship, vendor opportunities, product sampling etc., feel free to contact us for questions or clarifications regarding any aspect of the upcoming festival, at: Sheba Media Group, Renee Byrd at 1-888- 898-9297 ext 84. To obtain media credentials email us at press@houstonblackfilmfestival.org

About Houston Black Film Festival

The Houston Black Film Festival was founded in 2004 to bring a collective, cohesive and creative environment for the Houston, Texas Film Mecca; the fourth largest metropolitan city in the nation. Our focus is to proactively enhance the process of developing, producing and distributing films by black filmmakers. Its goal is also to bring a unique dominion to films by providing a program that will directly impact the viability of the quality of films introduced to the market by the implementation of such 'special projects' as The Book to Film Screenplay Search Project which aims to become an amenable bridge between proven published authors and filmmakers to bring a book to film adaptation and final projects into fruition.

Request Media Credentials

Sheba Media Group

Letty Garza Clemmons

PR

email: lettygclem@prweb.com

phone: 888-898-9297 ext 81

Sheba Media Group

Renee Byrd

PR

email: press@houstonblackfilmfestival.org

phone: 888-898-9297 ext 84

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