Casting director Cynthia Fritts Stillwell will be holding an open casting call on Saturday, March 2^nd at The SoChi Gallery in downtown Macon.

Stillwell is a casting director, producer, arts consultant, writer, performer and teacher based in New York City. She is a graduate of the CTI program of professional Broadway producers. She has cast more than 100 television and film productions including REMEMBER THE TITANS, ROAD TRIP, THE ROSE AND THE JACKAL, GLORY, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES and I’LL FLY AWAY. She has cast over 250,000 people during her career.

Stillwell was invited by the Macon Film Festival to conduct a casting workshop at last week’s festival.  “I was encouraged by all the local talent during my weekend at the Macon Film Festival and decided to return to hold a casting call. I’m in the process of opening a Georgia casting office and am looking for talent,” said Stillwell.

The casting call is for film, television, theatre and voice over work. Fee is $25. The fee will cover initial registration and first 6 months in the Cynthia Stillwell Casting database, as well as giving first access to events, classes and workshops.

Open Casting Call    

Saturday, March 2^nd

9a – 6p

The SoChi Gallery

534 Second Street

Macon, Georgia 31201

Event information available at www.facebook.com/TheSoChiGallery/events.

For more information, info@TheSoChiCompanies.com or 478-238-6630.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 6, 2012
Media Contact: Terrell Sandefur
SoChi Services
478-319-0243

It’s Lucky #7 for the Macon Film Festival

Macon, GA – The 7th Annual Macon Film Festival will launch on February 16th at the Cox Capitol Theatre, The Douglass Theatre and The 567 Center for Renewal in historic downtown Macon. With 125 film submission screenings and 4 special screenings, organizers are gearing up for the biggest event to date. The film festival will continue daily through Sunday, February 19th.

Each year the Macon Film Festival continues to live up to its reputation of being a true filmmaker focused festival with workshops, screenings, and networking opportunities for local and visiting filmmakers. The 2012 festival is proud to be screening 125 independent films from over 15 countries including films made in or produced by Central Georgia filmmakers. Festival audiences will have the ability to watch some of the best in independent film from multiple genres (documentary, narrative short, narrative feature, animation, student, and experimental), and have the opportunity to meet and interact with visiting filmmakers from around the world.

The 2012 Macon Film Festival special guests include actress Beth Grant, who can currently be seen in theaters across the country in the multi award winning and Oscar nominated film ‘The Artist.’ Jay Carson, a Central High School graduate and the inspiration for the Ryan Gosling character in the highly acclaimed “The Ides of March.” Grammy Award winning music video producer, executive producer and Dublin, Ga native Joseph Uliano will be showcasing a collection of his work. Macon native Carrie Preston will appear via Skype for a Q&A following the screening of “That’s What She Said,” which premiered last month at Sundance Film Festival.

The Macon Film Festival was created to celebrate the art and craft of the moving image, and to introduce independent films that rarely appear in Macon, Georgia. Macon Film Festival is dedicated to entertaining, educating, and inspiring audiences and filmmakers alike by offering innovative and imaginative films both mainstream and independent in nature. We also strive to introduce visiting filmmakers and guests to the Central Georgia community, and to promote film production in the area. The festival is open to filmmakers working in all media, genres, and themes.

2011 Macon Film Festival – Special Screenings & Special Guests
Thursday, February 16th @ 8:15p “Wondros Music + Vision” with Joseph Uliano
Friday, February 17th @ 8:15p “The Ides of March” with Jay Carson
Saturday, February 18th @ 8:15p “Donnie Darko” with Beth Grant
Sunday, February 19th @ 7:45p “That’s What She Said” with Carrie Preston via Skype
Q&A Session to follow each special screening with special guests.
*All special guests are confirmed but subject to change.

Macon Film Festival will take place February 16th – 19th at the Cox Capitol Theatre, The Douglass Theatre & The 567 Center for Renewal. Tickets, programs and merchandise will be available at The Opening Act, which will serve at festival headquarters, is located at 567 Cherry Street, in downtown Macon will be open Wednesday – Sunday, February 15 – 19. For ticket information contact tickets.maconfilmfestival@gmail.com or 478.256.3809.

Tickets are available online. Day passes are free to college students with a valid college ID – every day. They do not provide admission to the Special Screenings or After Parties. For more information or to view the full screening schedule, go to maconfilmfestival.com and on Facebook @MaconFilmFestival.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 19, 2011
Media Contact:
Terrell Sandefur
SoChi Services
Phone: (478) 238-6630
E-Mail: terrell@thesochicompanies.com

MACON ANTHEM RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

MACON, GA – Macon’s newest anthem “A Little More Soul” is now a national award winner. Gateway Macon and Bright Blue Sky Productions are the proud recipients of multiple 2011 Bronze Telly Awards that were presented on April 12th in Las Vegas. “A Little More Soul” won an impressive four Telly awards in the Charitable/Non-Profit, Award for Sound/Sound Design, Videography/Cinematography, and Campaign/Non-for-Profit categories.

The music video “A Little More Soul” is just one of the innovative approaches that the Gateway Macon initiative is using to promote the city of Macon with their “It’s Hotter Here” campaign. The Gateway Initiative, funded by the Peyton Anderson Foundation, is a community collaboration of 36 organizations that are collectively promoting Macon’s creative edge, uncommon spaces, and unique opportunities.

The award winning video was filmed entirely on location in Macon and was co-produced by Elliott Dunwody of Bright Blue Sky Productions and Tabitha Walker of Big Hair Productions using local talent and crew including Director of Photography, Stephanie Shadden. The original song, “A Little More Soul”, was written by Tony Reyes who provides the lead vocals, along with Sonny Spoon who wrote & performed the hip hop segment. The song, recorded at Macon’s Muscadine Studios, was produced and arranged by percussionist, Steve Moretti who is also heard on drums. The string section is comprised of Robert McDuffie, Amy Moretti and the students from the McDuffie Center for Strings. Complete credits and artist bios, including Chuck Leavell and Peter Stroud, are provided online. The song can be downloaded for free on the Gateway Macon website http://www.ItsHotterHere.com, which provides a link to the music video. It can also be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KprZI5EL3FM

The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. The Gateway Macon entry was judged by past Telly award winners who are among the country’s top advertising and production professionals.

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For More Information on the Gateway Initiative Contact:
Beth Dunwody
The Gateway Initiative
577 Mulberry Suite 830
Macon, Georgia 31201
478.314.2231
beth@gatewaymacon.org

SoChi’s Red Carpet season left me with a bad case of Carpet Burn! The ADDY Awards, Macon Film Festival, Reader’s Choice Awards & The Foodies are all within a 3 week period. All in the midst of organizing a #WINNING film festival.

The 6th Annual Macon Film Festival was a indeed Better, Stronger, Faster thanks to the $6 million dollar team consisting of Tabitha Walker, Elliott Dunwody, Stephanie Shadden, Julie Wilkerson, Diana Sullivan, Sylvia Boykin, Priscilla Esser, Blaine Whittle, Craig Coleman, Tony Long, Tony Long, Jr, BJ Dunwody & Terrell Sandefur (me).

1,500+ attendees, 114 independent films, 6 Special Screenings (“Freedom Riders“,”Black, White and Blues“,”The Fat Boy Chronicles“, “The Kid“, “Get Low” & “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels“), 3 screening venues (The Cox Capitol Theatre, The Douglass Theatre and the Macon Marriott City Center), Workshops @ The 567 Center for Renewal, a first year Festival Headquarters @ 567 Cherry Street, After Parties each night (Le Galerie, The Emerson Brownstone & The SoChi Gallery) where the famous MAGAtinis flowed. (Factoid: The MAGAtini, the signature cocktail of the Macon Film Festival, is known amongst filmmakers throughout the world!)

Over 75 filmmakers from as far away as Los Angeles, New York, Japan, Spain and London made the trek to Macon for the 4 day fest. “It may not be the biggest festival in the world, but it certainly is the friendliest” repeatedly stated by British director, Nick Moran who’s film “The Kid” was Saturday night’s special screening. Moran is better known for his acting roles including his turn as “Eddy” in Guy Ritchie’s “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels” and “Scabior” in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

Filmmakers call the Macon Film Festival ”The Friendliest Effin Film Festival in the Country” and we work hard at making that tag line a reality. Bottom line, filmmaking is Economic Development. Macon has everything (except a sound stage) to attract filmmakers to consider us a location for their projects. A BIG thank you to all the sponsors, attendees, volunteers & media who participated in this year’s fest … Combined, we all make this place more attractive to the folks who will bring their next film project here.

March is here and SoChi’s Red Carpet Season is now behind us. The Carpet Burns have almost healed.

FUTURE LOVE PARADISE

Pink Decadence Party. March 19th @ The SoChi Gallery.
Cherry Blossom Festival. March 18 – 27.
OMD @ The Loft in Atlanta. March 14th. 8pm
EyeCon-The Vampire Diaries March 25-27
Macon Gardens, Mansions & Moonlight. April 29 – May 1, 2011
Echo & the Bunnymen @ The Masquerade. May 5th. 8pm

Gilroy Garlic Festival. Gilroy, California. July 29 – 31, 2011. The 33rd annual “Ultimate Summer Food Fair”; three days of incredible food, beverages, arts & crafts and live entertainment. 30 miles south of San Jose off Highway 101.

Heroes Music Festival Sept. 8 – 11.

Quip worthy of a Facebook post:
“Go where you’re celebrated, not where you’re tolerated.”

YOUR COMMENTS ARE AMUSING & WELCOME!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 25, 2011

MACON FILM FESTIVAL SET TO REEL IN FILMMAKERS & MOVIE BUFFS

Macon, GA – The 6th Annual Macon Film Festival will launch on February 17th at the Cox Capitol Theatre, The Douglass Theatre and the Marriott City Center in historic downtown Macon. With over 100 film submission screenings and 4 new categories of awards, organizers are gearing up for the biggest event to date. The film festival will continue daily through Sunday, February 20th.

The Macon Film Festival was created to celebrate the art and craft of the moving image, and to introduce independent films that rarely appear in Macon, Georgia. Macon Film Festival is dedicated to entertaining, educating, and inspiring audiences and filmmakers alike by offering innovative and imaginative films both mainstream and independent in nature. We also strive to introduce visiting filmmakers and guests to the Central Georgia community, and to promote film production in the area. The festival is open to filmmakers working in all media, genres, and themes.

2011 Macon Film Festival – Special Screenings
Thursday, February 17th @ 7:30pm “Freedom Riders”
Friday, February 18th @ 8:15pm “Black, White and Blues”
Saturday, February 19th @ 10am “Fat Boy Chronicles”
Saturday, February 19th @ 8:30pm “The Kid”
Sunday, February 20th @ 7:00pm “Get Low”
Q&A Session to follow each special screening with special guests.

Macon Film Festival will take place February 17th – 20th at the Cox Capitol Theatre, The Douglass Theatre & the Marriott City Center. 478-257-6391.
For more information or to view the full screening schedule, log on to www.maconfilmfestival.com or Facebook event page @6thAnnualMaconFilmFestival.
Tickets are now available online at www.maconfilmfestival.com/festival/ticket-information
Admission for the Thursday day blocks is free thanks to a grant from the City of Macon administered by Macon Arts Alliance. Free admission to all day blocks for students with a valid college ID.

Terrell Sandefur, Media Contact
terrell@terrellsandefur.com
478.319.0243
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I checked the Macon Telegraph Obituaries this morning and mercifully my name wasn’t listed. Michael Jackson’s “Working Day and Night” is on replay in my head. Too many irons in the fire does not even to begin to explain the situation.  That illuminated moth that flutters through the Lunesta commercial is a personal hero of mine.

Kudos to Stephanie Folsom who packed the house for the Grand Opening of Fab’rik on Forsyth Rd. “Real Housewife of Atlanta” Lisa Wu Hartwell & NFL’r Ed Hartwell made an appearance to promote the opening.  Lisa’s fashion line CLOSET FREAK will be available at the new boutique.  Hartwell’s Atlanta publicist asked Priscilla Esser & I to show them SoChi following the opening. We took the  ‘Real’ couple for a late night dinner @ Lemongrass Thai Bistro where the streets were buzzing about the celebs in town.  Post dinner we popped into The Hummingbird where songstress Molly Stevens serenaded them with “Dock of the Bay” & “Midnight Train to Georgia.”  The Hartwells were feelin’ Macon!

Macon Arts’ FIRED WORKS once again proved that nobody can throw a pot party like they do.  This event has become the preeminent ceramics show in the state.

“Easy like a Sunday morning” just about sums up the Ocmulgee Expeditions canoe trip down the river.  We spent “family day” floating down the Ocmulgee … and I will say, it was the first of many.  I can’t recommend this highly enough.  It not only washed off the pollen but it really helped drain some stress all while upping my “cool factor” in the eyes of  my 11-yr old twins.

The underground supper club, SoChilicious, has been launched.  Mysterious clues led diners to the L. Alexander Shelko Gallery on Vineville Avenue where guests enjoyed a multi-course dinner prepared by mystery chefs Lee Clack of Kudzu Catering & pin up princess Ashley Croft of Allie May Bakery.  Guests got a sneak peak of Macon’s newest comic MACON MAN created by famed comic illustrator Craig Hamilton & The SoChi Companies.

Macon Me Crazy!  Cesare Mammarella’s latest & greatest club, Asylum, opened this weekend.  I’ll just say, he picked the right name – the place is INSANE.  Very reminiscent the NYC club scene of the 90’s with a very modern twist.

If you need a little ambient music for a cocktail party check out this new internet station CHILLTRAX http://www.chilltrax.com

Happy 13th Anniversary Kim! Thanks for putting up with me & my insanity…and a Happy Birthday to Groovy Girl Onie Sanders!

FUTURE LOVE PARADISE

Macon Gardens, Mansions & Moonlight. April 30^th – May 2^nd. Combination Tour Ticket (includes Secret Garden Tour, Historic Homes Tour and Moonlight Tour): $40 in advance, Secret Garden Tour: $15 in advance, Historic Homes Tour: $15 in advance, Moonlight Homes Tour: $15. Tickets: go to the Hay House or online http://www.georgiatrust.org/historic_sites/hayhouse/macon_gardens.php

Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 1st.  Do you have your derby hat?  If not, Petals Flowers & Gifts & SoChi Services are coming to your emotional rescue with mint juleps in-hand! Friday, April 30 from 4p-7p. Petals Flowers & Gifts, 2380 Ingleside Avenue. Hats, Flowers & Mint Juleps included!

Cost: $25 to register, click here: http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1424900509542&sk=messages#!/event.php?eid=110859362287029&ref=mf

Saturday, May 1^st:  A Trio of Fitness Events will take place in Tattnall Square Park beginning with a Community Workout @ 9am. The Macon Cycling Classic begins @ 10am and races throughout the day. The day at the park ends with the Bragg Jam Moonlight Miles 5k race. 

Kentucky Derby Party @ the Cox Capitol Theatre.  May 1^st.  5-10p.  $10 admission.  Cash Bar, Mint Juleps, Fried Chicken baskets. Throw on a big ‘ole hat and come stomp the grass.

COMMENTS ARE AMUSING & WELCOME!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 6, 2010

SoChi Invites You to “Millionaire’s Row”

MACON – It is time to jockey up. The SoChi Companies and Cox Capitol Theatre present a Kentucky Derby Theme Party designed to celebrate “the most exciting two minutes in sports”. Festivities will include the stomping of the grounds and a celebration of hats. A cash bar and food will be available for purchase.

Event: Kentucky Derby Theme Party
Date: May 1, 2010
Time: 5:00pm ~ Until
Location: The Cox Capitol Theatre, 382 Second Street Macon, Georgia
Attire: Kentucky Derby Chic
Cost: $10 at the door
Signature Drink: Mint Julep

Visit this event on Facebook: http://bit.ly/bcyZHT <http://bit.ly/bcyZHT>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MACON – SoChi Companies is starting the new year with a cocktail party intended to bring out the honky-tonk in all of us. On January 29, SoChi Companies will host an “Urban Cowboy “ themed party. To get into a western groove, dance classes are available prior to the event with Pilar Wilder at the reins. A mechanical bull will be available to assess your ridin’ skills. Come join us for a rootin’ tootin’ time!

This is just the first of a variety of events planned for 2010.

Event: Urban Cowboy Theme Party
Date: January 29, 2010
Location: SoChi Gallery, 534 Second Street, Macon, Georgia
Attire: Cowboy Duds
Cost: $10 at the door. Cash Bar.
Signature Drink: The City Slicker
Music: DKH Entertainment

Visit the Urban Cowboy Facebook Events Page: http://bit.ly/6G9gd7
The Dance Class Page: http://bit.ly/8kKgZ6
To register for line dance class: http://bit.ly/5aE8Dt
Dance Classes are held at the SoChi Gallery every Wednesday until the event. The class time is 6:15pm – 7:15 pm.

About The SoChi Companies:

The SoChi Companies is a multifaceted lifestyle and entertainment group dedicated to offering a wide range of services, from event planning to marketing and promotions, as well as cultural activities and theme parties.

The SoChi Companies office is located at The SoChi Gallery, 534 Second Street in downtown Macon, Georgia.

For more information, contact Saxy Butler, Director of Communications and Outreach for The SoChi Companies at 478-238-6630, or on Facebook.
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