Back Stage® Presents the 13th Annual Actorfest® New York

Back Stage, the industrys foremost informational business resource for the aspiring and established actor, is proud to present its 13th annual industry conference, ACTORFEST NEW YORK, Saturday, November 20 from 9am - 5pm at the New York Marriott Marquis (Times Square, 1535 Broadway, 5th floor). ACTORFEST NEW YORK, the countrys most significant conference dedicated to the actors career, annually draws over 2,300 people.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 31, 2004 -- Participating agents, casting directors, managers, producers and directors help to attract actors from all across the country to learn essential career know-how regarding film, TV, theatre and other performing arts disciplines.

Special Charitable Events
This year marks the third annual Adopt-a-School event, which is a joint program between ACTORFEST NEW YORK and Inside Broadway (www.insidebroadway.org), Broadways Not-for-Profit Educational Organization. This program was originally initiated to help support New York Citys public school children by promoting arts in education and building relationships between individuals, groups, corporations and their local communities. A portion of the proceeds from ACTORFEST NEW YORK are given to New York Citys own P.S. 142 on the lower east side.

Special Promotions
This year all attendees will have a chance to enter several exciting sponsor drawings during the event with great prizes including:
Procter & Gamble Productions Inc., producers of As The World Turns and Guiding Light. Two winners will each be granted an interview/audition with a casting director from one of these soaps and a guided behind-the-scenes tour.

Actorfest Los Angeles
Two packages each include: round-trip tickets courtesy of JetBlue Airways®, two-night hotel stay at the Hilton Los Angeles Universal City, and an all-day pass to ACTORFEST LOS ANGELES.

Exhibitor Packages
Several packages with various items/services donated by our exhibitors will be raffled off throughout the day in the exhibit hall. Sign up for this and all drawings at the drawing table.

All attendees are eligible to enter the drawings. Attendees must be present to win the sponsor drawings held at 4:30 pm in the Career Seminars room. Employees of Back Stage, event staff, and exhibiting companies and their staff are not eligible to participate in the drawings.

This years event includes:
Career Seminars (9AM -- 4:30PM): Three 90 minute seminar/panel discussions. This years seminars: Working in Commercials: Does Training Matter; Working in Independent Film: How to Zoom In on the Opportunities; and Going Both Ways: Adapting Yourself in Auditions for Screen and Stage. Each panel is moderated by an entertainment industry professional.

Focus Sessions (9AM -- 4 PM): 27 different one-hour question/answer sessions. Attendees interact with an agent, casting director, manager, or niche professional. Topics this year include: Marketing Yourself: The Uniqueness Factor, How to Get an Agent, Whats Hot in Commercial Types, On Camera Auditioning: A Practical Guide, Surviving the Audition Process, and more.

Free Exhibit Hall (9:30 AM -- 5 PM): Over 90 booths of industry professionals from all aspects of the business; acting schools/coaches -- casting services -- childrens performing arts & education consultants -- health services -- income tax -- online services -- photo services -- photographers -- promotional materials -- publication/book publishers -- speech/diction -- talent unions/guilds -- temporary employment services -- voice mail/answering services -- voice-overs -- web design/hosting/development and more.

As well as sharing a booth in the Exhibit Hall, representatives from AEA, SAG and AFTRA will conduct a joint Focus Session titled The Hows, Whys and Whens of Joining the Unions. This is always a popular and an informative discussion for anyone with questions about unions.

Sponsors include: FOCUS FEATURES, National Sponsor; JETBLUE AIRWAYS®, Gold Sponsor; PROCTER & GAMBLE PRODUCTIONS, producers of As The World Turns and Guiding Light, Silver Sponsor; and INSIDE BROADWAY, Benefit Sponsor.

For more information or to register please visit www.backstage.com/actorfestny, call 646-654-5706 or email at actorfest@backstage.com.

Members of Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will receive $5 off the regular advance-sale price: please note union affiliation on registration form.

ACTORFEST NEW YORK is produced by union member actor/producer Jeff Riebe. The Career Seminars and Focus Sessions are produced by Back Stages Editor-in-Chief, Sherry Eaker.

www.backstage.com/actorfestny

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