Free movie industry training begins Monday

Southern University at Shreveport will offer free classes in film accounting (Nov. 3-25) and production assistant training (Nov. 14-15 or Nov. 21-22). The courses aim to give students exposure to the basics of the movie business.

The film accounting course will focus the day-to-day operations of production accounting. Students will learn about accounting procedures, preparing payroll, production accounting software and preparing weekly cost reports. The course meets Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The production assistant boot camp course will cover the day-to-day operations of a movie set. Students will learn about set communication and set control. The course meets 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Both courses will also offer assistance in resume writing, applying for jobs and “dressing for success.” Students will also learn about set etiquette.

All courses will take place at the SUSLA Metro Center, 610 Texas St., in downtown Shreveport.

They are being presented in conjunction with CERT, the City of Shreveport, SUSLA’s Division of Community and Workforce Development, Louisiana Production Consultants, and Millennium Films.

To register, call (318) 670-6669.

Times unearths Halloween horror show

This was the view from my desk at about 9 this morning: A parade headed by a hippie, entranced by a Trekkie, and flanked by a flock of Elvi. (That's plural for Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich Man, right?)

And just so my colleagues aren't the only ones putting fright in your Friday, below is yours truly and his wife at Bill Joyce's Halloween Party.

Join 'Donnie Darko' freaks tonight at RFC

Apparently, the Robinson Film Center's Friday Night Freak-Out is a freak fest. At least the sexy doorman behaves as such. (No offense, but somebody get that guy a straight jacket. Or some body oil.)

You can catch a screening of "Donnie Darko" tonight at 10. Arrive early. Wear your bunny costume.

Scene Screened: 'Raised on Rice and Gravy'

Documentarians Allison Bohl and Conni Castille are bringing their latest project, "Raised on Rice and Gravy," to the Robinson Film Center Saturday.

As part of the monthly Scene Screened dialogue series, I'm hosting post-screening Q&As after each 30-minute screening (5 p.m. and 6 p.m.).

Admission is free so come on down, eat vicariously and ask some questions!

The folk flick profiles lunch plate houses in Lafayette, La. The team's last effort, "I Always Do My Collars First," was an illuminating look at ironing. (Yes, ironing, and it earned them the Louisiana Filmmaker Award at last year's New Orleans Film Festival.)

"Raised on Rice and Gravy" examines the role these lunch places play in local, daily life. It's all about the importance of comfort food, community and amateur food criticism, apparently.

If you go
WHAT: screening of "Raised on Rice and Gravy."
WHEN: 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 25).
WHERE: Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St., Shreveport.
COST: free.
INFO: (318) 424-9090 or www.robinsonfilmcenter.org.

1983 called ...

... and it wants its roller skaters back. Too bad I'm not 25 years and 125 pounds younger. Fly, I think the word was. Or was it rad? Certainly wasn't dope. I remember that much.

But I digress ...

The independent movie "Skateland" is looking for roller skaters, boys and girls ages 10 through 19, to work as extras. (And roller skater means roller skater, not rollerblader.) Work begins Nov. 5.

If you can wheel, email a recent picture to Jay DeFelice of Glorioso Casting: jay@gloriosocasting.com. To register with Glorioso, you can also click here.

PHOTO: Wikipedia Commons.

The Big Easy rockin’ with production

Here's the latest update from the state film office, organized by location:

Welcome to (225) 342-FILM, the official hotline of Louisiana Entertainment. Here's what's happening for mid-October 2008:

NEW ORLEANS

The HBO television series "Treme" will begin shooting in New Orleans in the first quarter of 2009. Resumes for CREW ONLY are being accepted by fax at (410) 986-0029.

The independent feature film "My Own Love Song" starring Renee Zellweger and Forest Whitaker is in pre-production in New Orleans and in central Louisiana with shooting scheduled from October 20 – December 13. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at myownlovesong08@gmail.com.

The Scott Free Productions feature film "Welcome to the Rileys" starring James Gandolfini and Kristen Stewart is shooting in Jefferson Parish through November 11. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at welcometotherileys@mac.com.

The Faulkner McLain Entertainment feature film "Alabama Moon" starring John Goodman is in pre-production in Covington with shooting scheduled from October 27 through December 16. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by email at info@faulknerproductions.com.

The Mandalay Lifetime Network television movie of the week based on the Nora Roberts book "Midnight Bayou" is shooting in Jefferson Parish through November 13. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at Gary@imagepictures.com.

The Mandalay Lifetime Network television movie of the week based on the Nora Roberts book "Tribute" is in pre-production in Jefferson Parish with shooting scheduled from November 20 – December 16. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at Gary@imagepictures.com.

The Horizon Entertainment football documentary television series is shooting in New Orleans with production scheduled into December. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at info@horizonent.tv.

The Seven Arts feature film "Night of the Demons" starring Shannon Elizabeth and Edward Furlong is shooting in Jefferson Parish through November 1. Resumes and inquiries can be emailed to Liz@voodoopicturesllc.com or faxed to (504) 582-5152.

SHREVEPORT

The Sony Pictures feature film "The Year One" is back for reshoots in Shreveport through October 24. For extras casting, please visit www.gloriosocasting.com.

The independent feature film "Skateland" is shooting in Shreveport through December 3. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at skatelandproductions@gmail.com.

The Millennium feature film "Leaves of Grass" starring Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon and Tim Blake Nelson is shooting in Shreveport through November 13. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at Leavesproductions@gmail.com.

BATON ROUGE

The Sony Pictures feature film "Zombieland" starring Woody Harrelson will begin pre-production in Baton Rouge during the last week of October. Details are coming soon.

LAFAYETTE

The Bullet Films feature film "House of Bones" is in pre-production in Lafayette with shooting scheduled from October 27 through late November. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (337) 706-8971. For casting, please e-mail casting@bulletfilms.net.

And for more information about the film and television industry in Louisiana please visit us online at www.louisianaentertainment.gov and at www.lafilm.org.

New Orleans Film Festival dishes out awards

NOFF handed out its prizes last week. Below is the list. If you attended the fest, I hope you had a chance to see one of the following.

I'm back from a mini-vacay, by the way. My wife and I were away seeing a little man about a diaper. The scary truth is that yours truly is an uncle now, and frightfully unprepared for all things excretory and digestive. (No "W." jokes, please.)

19th Annual New Orleans Film Festival awards

Helen Hill Best Animation Award (Sponsored by Showbiz Software)
"Chainsaw"
Director: Dennis Tupicoff

Best Narrative Short Award (Sponsored by CineFilm Lab):
"Glory At Sea"
Director: Benh Zeitlin

Best Documentary Short Award (Sponsored by Showbiz Software)
"Elegy For The Elswick Envoy"
Director: Nancy Willis

Best Experimental Award (Sponsored by Showbiz Software)
"Home"
Director: Matt Faust

Best Documentary Feature Award (Sponsored by Panavision)
"Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story"
Director/Producer: Jeffrey Schwarz

Best Narrative Feature Award (Sponsored by Swelltone Lab)
"Goodnight Irene"
Director/Writer: Paolo Marinou-Blanco

Louisiana Filmmaker Award (Sponsored by Panavision New Orleans & Kodak):
"The Zeppelin Parable"
Director: Kristian Hansen
Producer: Jimmy Ferguson

Get ready for 'W.'

Hope everyone has an entertaining weekend: "W." opens, and it looks nice. Is it good? My review hits tomorrow. Oh, and Brolin and Stone are still sharing. I'll be back in the office Wednesday. Got a little vacation to

Documentary holding open auditions

Jim McCullough Jr., who's been making movies in Shreveport before Hollywood did, is hosting auditions for a new TV pilot. It is "based on the sometimes painful, sometimes funny, always empowering process of learning to write (and read) more effectively."

If you think you fit the bill, call (318) 218-3456 to arrange audition. No acting experience necessary.

Learn about special f/x

The animation and visual effects program at LSUS will host a talk on advanced computer graphics at 11 a.m. Oct. 20.

The guest is Raffaele Scaduto-Mendola. He's worked at DreamWorks, Digital Domain, Rhythm and Hughes and Omation, and his movie credits include "Barnyard," "I, Robot" and "A Shark's Tale." He's an expert in advanced rigging for 3D characters and pipeline production tools, says LSUS's John Miralles.

For more info, email avei@lsus.edu. Talk will take place in LSUS's Techonology Center 209.

Driving to Dallas tonight to review 'Dubya'

I'm heading to Dallas today for an advanced screening of "W." Should be pretty fun, and I'm looking forward to it.

The movie is generating tons of buzz right now with the morning talk shows. Brolin makes an appearance tonight on Letterman. (This weekend, SNL. That could be really fun.)

While all the arrest controversy stuff has been, well, distracting for a movie critic, I'm interested to finally write about "W." on its merits alone.

Early reviews have been mixed but nevertheless intriguing. Lots of critics are singling out Brolin's performance as solid, and anyone who saw "No Country for Old Men," "In the Valley of Elah," "American Gangster," and, yes, "Planet Terror" knows he is on one serious hot streak. In a word, the guy was brilliant in "No Country."For a really good interview about craft, listen to last night's edition of Fresh Air. (If you missed it, Kathryn Usher made a funny comment about that.) "W.'s" going to be a very, very big film for Brolin's career, I think. Stone has a history of getting the best from his leading men. (Don't believe me? Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner, Val Kilmer and James Woods arguably gave their career bests for Stone films. We should expect nothing less from Brolin.)

Lots of early reviews, too, suggest the movie is incomplete, that we don't know enough about the legacy of the Bush presidency to fictionalize it. Hmm. I'm always wary of criticisms that take on a film for what it "isn't," but we'll see. That's a tough question to answer when it comes to portraying a well-known, well-documented subject.

So far, the best thing I've read so far is the advance from The New York Times' Richard L. Berke. This insight might be key to understanding "W.": "... all in all, the straightforwardness of 'W.' suggests that Mr. Stone set out to make a critical biography but was somehow spooked. The director who has built a career on vowing to unearth hidden truths made a movie that feels more familiar than revelatory."

Are we to criticize Oliver Stone because he's not conforming to the artist we know as Oliver Stone? Don't know yet. Interesting question, though.

For early reviews, check out these:

Time (love this review)
Newsweek
London Times
Hollywood Reporter
The Guardian
Screen Daily
Variety
L.A. Times (critics' roundup)

Mine comes Friday.

PHOTO: Josh Brolin as the Decider in Chief. Scene filmed at Independence Stadium. (Sidney Ray Baldwin/Lions Gate Entertainment)

'Year One' reshoot still needs extras

"The Year One" returns to Sibley, La., Oct. 20-29 for reshoots. Movie stars Jack Black and Michael Cera. Extras -- anyone 18 or older -- are needed for all dates. These are paid positions.

For more info: www.gloriosocasting.com and click "get into the scene."

Actors' showcase happens Thursdays

On Thursdays beginning at 8:30 p.m., the Actors Café (1401 Fairfield Ave.) holds an actors' showcase. Local actors are invited to perform a prepared scene or monologue, no longer than 5 minutes.

Winners are chosen nightly, and the best can win a contract and photo shoot with the club's proprietor, Jeffrey Nightbyrd, who also runs Acclaim Talent agency. The contest runs 10 weeks.

More info:(318) 373-9998, actorscafe@gmail.com or www.myspace.com/laactorscafe.

Louisiana bites back at 'W." ... ?

Apparently, not all stories about "W." are of the cops-and-filmmakers ilk. Nature got into the act while Oliver Stone's George W. Bush biopic was shooting here.

Here's an excerpt from USA Weekend: "During the filming in Shreveport, La., the set was intruded upon by snakes, including a 7-foot water snake and a poisonous copperhead, which bit a cameraman. On the lighter side, Josh Brolin, who plays Bush, found a puppy under his trailer and adopted it. The pup, christened Budrow, now lives with Brolin in Los Angeles."

PHOTO: George W. Bush (Josh Brolin, front) and Karl Rove (Toby Jones) in "W." (Sidney Ray Baldwin/Lions Gate Entertainment)

Oliver Stone joins war of words

Apparently, the new issue of Men's Journal features an interview with Oliver Stone. Stone offers his take on the Josh Brolin/Jeffrey Wright/Stray Cat/Shreveport Police controversy.

Here's an excerpt from an article summary on IMDb.com/WENN:

"He tells the new issue of Men's Journal magazine, "I saw Jeffrey being arrested. I guarantee you, that man was not drunk, and he was not disorderly.

"There was a white bartender who had taken a dislike to him a few days prior... and he's (Wright) not going to take s**t from anybody.

"He was escorted out of the bar and treated in a rough manner by these policemen. That's when Josh and his group went out to protest.

"The cops said, 'Step back, sir!' Josh said, 'Sir, why are you arresting him?' and then, boom, (they) maced him in the eyes. They tasered Jeffrey twice... and they beat up my assistant."

Stone admits he stayed inside the bar because he knew he'd get arrested if he joined the fracas.

He adds, "These people were really rough."

This unsolicited PSA is brought to you by G.A. ...

Is your job affecting your performance? Does what you do change what you really want to be? Does your working life have you coming up short in the love department? Fear no more, you poorly performing sack of regret. "Just One of the Gynos" comes to a theater near you this weekend. ...

Former Shreveporter Brandon Olive brings his short film "Just One of the Gynos" to the Robinson Film Center Sunday. It was funded by Shreveporters, and takes place in Shreveport.

It's playing in RFC's small theater (48 seats) beginning at 5:30 p.m., and he might have an overflow screening at 6:15 p.m. Cost is FREE. (If you haven't been invited, the 6:15 might be your best bet.)

As you've probably noted, the above trailer is pretty funny. The short also features one of my favorites: Kyle Gass of Tenacious D fame. Dude is drop-dead hilarious.

Here's an excerpt from an email from Olive: "It's about a young gynecologist who becomes 'overexposed' at work and loses his ability to view his wife sexually. Pretty unique, damn funny. It's currently screening all over the country (over 15 fests), taking Best Short Film at the Malibu International Film Fest and Best Short Film at The Big Water Film Fest. We also took Best Lead Actor for the entire Malibu Intl' FF, something that certainly helped further my acting career and has created multiple opportunities for me to date. ...

"I'm originally from Shreveport, graduate of Captain Shreve High, now living and pursuing an acting/filmmaking career in Los Angeles. It has been great to see Shreveport grow from all the work that has come that way, and especially neat for me to have had the opportunity and support to make a film with the help of loved ones back home."

Check out more at http://JustOneoftheGynos.com.

Mayor Glover says Josh Brolin 'blurring' reality

I just received an e-mail response from Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover regarding Brolin's arrest story, which was published on Hollywood Elsewhere.

Here's Mayor Glover's email response, in full:

"There is an interesting presumption of privilege in Mr. Brolin’s comments. He appears to be blurring the line between reality and his on screen persona. As Southerners we inherently go out of our way to make our guests and visitors feel welcome and at home. However, the expectation that legitimate charges would be summarily dismissed by me, the Chief of Police or the City Attorney is not in line with the way this administration is leading the city of Shreveport. At every level, from City Hall, to our faith community, to our neighborhoods, we are working diligently to make all of Shreveport safer and better. Crucial to that effort is the equal and consistent application of the law.

"But make no mistake, we treasure and value all that the film industry has brought to our community. We will continue to pursue every opportunity available to bring this industry to our region. And we will continue to make all those who come feel wanted, appreciated and welcomed."

Cedric B. Glover
Mayor of Shreveport

Josh Brolin speaks to blogger about arrest: 'There was no defiance, no struggle. There was no fight. There was no resistance'

Blogger and film journalist Jeffrey Wells reportedly interviewed Josh Brolin yesterday at the Four Seasons. The "W." star shared details about his arrest in Shreveport, which happened during a wrap party for the Oliver Stone film (which opens Oct. 17).

Here are two excerpts from the post, which you can find here. Wells offers an mp3 of the interview. There's supposed to be a cellphone video of the incident, too, which could be released.

Brolin: "What we were really waiting for was for them [the Shreveport authorities] to dismiss it. We were waiting for them to do the right thing. The mayor, prosecuting attorney, whomever. I don't know everything that happened. I do know there was no fight. None. I do know that I was maced and that Jeffrey Wright was tasered. There was no defiance, no struggle. There was no fight. There was no resistance."

Brolin: "[But] none of us were drunk, we had just finished shooting three or four hours before. We were out...in the beginning, it was like [smacks hand] okay! It was time! We did it! We were so proud, what an accomplishment!...and then this fucking happens. To me it was ridiculous. I have never seen...I have never ever, ever, ever, ever seen an escalation of paranoia and abuse like that...ever. And I know a lot of cops. Everybody knows I have a checkered past and I've been in situations that are kind of tough. I've never ever been treated like that by cops. Ever."

Again, here's the link to Wells' reporting.

UPDATE

On July 22, Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover defended the actions of the police.

“Each person conducted themselves in a manner that is, without question, beyond reproach,” Glover said at a city council meeting. He also told the council members he had reviewed six to seven hours of police video and audio recordings of the arrest.

After verbal and official public records requests by The Times, the city of Shreveport city, on behalf of its police department, is refusing to release the audio and video recordings from their patrol units documenting the events around the arrest incident at Stray Cat, 222 Travis St.

City attorney Terri Anderson-Scott explained the information, “In the opinion of this office, is not subject to disclosure pursuant LLS-R.S. 44:3 of the Louisiana Public Records Act.”

PHOTO: George W. Bush (Josh Brolin, left) and Don Evans (Noah Wyle) in W. Photo credit: Sidney Ray Baldwin/Lions Gate Entertainment.

Make a 'W.' mashup

Create a "W." mashup. Be judged by Oliver Stone. Become a YouTube stud.

I expect many local entries, now. Click the following for details.

http://www.youtube.com/wthefilm

'Killing Room' pops up on AFI radar

"The Killing Room," which was shot in The Shreve (particularly at Mansfield Studios), will debut Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 at the 29th American Film Market in Santa Monica, Calif. Click here for more. We should learn soonafter AFI when the Timothy Hutton starrer will be released.

Guessing by the subject matter and film synopses, it has some serious thrill potential. From the AFI catalogue:

"From the Director of the hit prequel 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning' and the writer of 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' 'THE KILLING ROOM' blends the thrilling mental edge of 'Panic Room' and 'The Game' with the intensity of 'Memento.' Fast-paced, claustrophobic and full of twists and turns, this unrelenting psychological thriller will keep you pinned to your seat.

"We're post 9/11 -- just -- and four individuals (Kerry, Tony, Crawford and Paul) have signed on for a human research study as a way of making a quick buck -- although none of them know what it is they are being tested for. At first all seems relatively normal. The Doctor directs them to a small room and explains that the experiment is designed to explore the limitations of the human psyche, and the nature of human endurance. Payment is a healthy $250 for a day's work and its an elimination process -- the study starts with four subjects, and is narrowed down to 1. That's all they know.

"Then the doctor pulls out a handgun and blows one of their brains out, before leaving the room and locking the door behind him.

"The remaining three frantically attempt to figure out what the hell just took place, and as they watch the blood drain from the exit wound in the back of the first victims skull, a hatch in the wall opens, and a gun falls onto the floor in front of them, containing only one bullet. Quickly followed is a note with a question -- and a ticking clock. Whoever is furthest from the right answer will be the next casualty. If anyone fails to answer the question, all subjects will be terminated.

"Who the hell are these people? Is this really an experiment? What do they want from the subjects? Is there any way to get out of there alive? An escape route? Anything?!

"Paranoia, fear and mistrust escalate amongst them as they are forced to try to work out what the question means. All the while, from behind the one-way mirror, every word and action is recorded.

"The captives have no clue as to who might be the orchestrator of this horrifying experiment. Could it be foreign terrorists on American soil? Is it a U.S. secret Agency hired by the government to weed out Traitors? Or could it be something even more chilling?

"Played out like a high-octane chess game as the subjects attempt to outwit each other and their unseen captors, 'THE KILLING ROOM' reveals what man is capable of when faced with certain death."

'Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds' out on DVD today

Dimension Extreme released "Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds" on DVD today at Blockbuster. It's one of five horror projects shot here by Neo Art & Logic and Weinstein Co. during late 2007/early 2008.

I'll let the press release blurb speak for itself: "From the writers/director of 'Feast' comes the next chapter in this new classic horror series. It's the morning after the initial attack and the nasty flesh-eating monsters are invading the nearby town. Those lucky enough to have survived the night join a twisted group of locals whose only goal is to stay alive -- no matter the cost. Featuring a motley group of characters -- including an all-girl biker gang and a tag team of ass-kicking Mexican wrestlers -- 'Feast II: Sloppy Seconds' serves up twice the blood, twice the body parts and twice the fun!"

Reminds me of high school.

Film group meetup to feature Gregory Kallenberg

WHAT: Shreveport film industry meetup featuring Gregory Kallenberg and Mark Bullard.
WHEN: 7 p.m. tonight (Oct. 7).
WHERE: Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St.

At tonight's meetup, documentary filmmakers Gregory Kallenberg and Mark Bullard will discuss their current Haynesville Shale project. They have some crew needs, so show up if you want to learn about the opportunities.

Kallenberg and Bullard recently collaborated on "Eating Levi," a doc about a tamale-eating champion. See here for more info.

Any questions about the meetup, call the film center's Clare France at (318) 459-4117.

PHOTO: Gregory Kallenberg at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. (Special to The Times)

‘Year One’ needs extras for reshoots

Glorioso Casting will handle extras casting for "Year One" reshoots, which are scheduled Oct. 22-29. The movie stars Jack Black and Michael Cera.

The shoot will take place in Sibley, La. If you want work, click here to register. Don't call their office. You need to register online.

'True Blood' gets trashy ... you like?

If you missed it, "True Blood" was picked up for a second season. While I haven't see a fan-bar called Fangtasia pop up in The Shreve, it appears the HBO series will be sucking up viewers for months to come.

That's interesting locally because the show's done a bit of second unit work here. (The show's also set in north Louisiana and makes weekly references to Monroe and Shreveport.)

Have you been watching? I'm a bit baffled so far, really.

I'm usually a sucker for darkly comic humor, but these scenarios involving sex, blood, drugs and desire sometimes seem juvenile and symbolically obvious. While I'm not expecting a Southern gothic series to be big on subtlety, I am expecting its treatment of carnality to be a bit more mysterious, a bit less corny.

I might be misreading the tone, though.

The recent episodes have played with the sexual proclivities of Jason (Ryan Kwanten, pictured), Sookie Stackhouse's permanently horny brother. He's become a murder suspect because the last two women he slept with ended up dead. (The dumbie didn't do it, but he's getting dangerously close to jail time.)

Last week, Jason scored a whole vial of vampire blood (called V, which is sold as an illegal sexual stimulant) in the hopes of being a bigger stud. V is essentially black market Viagra and is supposed to unlock human inhibitions in a decidely vampish way.

Being completely dumb, Jason downed the whole bottle -- instead of the recommended drop or two -- in the back of a cop car. The mistake cost him eggplant-style swelling, a nasty blister, a trip to the emergency room, and a needle in the ... I can't even write it, it's so painful.

While initially funny, the episode burned about 20 of its 45 minutes on the below-the-belt crisis. Overkill, methinks.

This week, Jason again scored more V and this time took the right amount. By the end of the episode, he ended up behind a bar dumpster with a fresh divorcée. Caught in the act by his crusher Tara -- who sprung him from police custody -- Jason and his fling ended up covered in barroom trash and howling for more.

Again, funny. But I'm not sure what the show's shock-and-yuck tactics are all about.

On the one hand, all the emphasis on taboo reads like a desperate grab for viewership. Unapologetically objectifying its subjects and giving us no real insights into sex and desire.

On the other, the treatment can be read like playful exploration of modern vampire mythology. Vampires have always loved gettin' down and dirty. "True Blood" is just taking a convention and retelling it with a sense of the absurd. I can appreciate that.

What's your take on the show so far? Too much battabingbattaboom? Subversive and funny?

Lemme know.

Congrats to Sasha Alexander, 'The Last Lullaby'

Jeffrey Goodman left the San Diego Film Festival with some great news. Over the weekend, the Shreveport director's movie "The Last Lullaby" took home two solid prizes: the audience award for best feature and a best actress award for Sasha Alexander.

Not too shabby. Congrats, all makers of "The Last Lullaby."

The movie's festival run continues Oct. 12 with a screening at the New Orleans Film Fest.

PHOTO: Actress Sasha Alexander tries to keep warm on location during the filming of "The Last Lullaby" on Feb. 13, 2007, in Shreveport. (Greg Pearson/The Times)