Have you ever wondered what it might be like to serve as an extra in a movie or to delve into acting? Are you interested in learning more about the many facets of the film industry including production, music, songwriting for films or listing your property for consideration in productions? Perhaps you’d enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek at the happenings from Hollywood to Hollywood south? Art of the Film: Louisiana Film Industry Expo is a two-day event that will cover all of this and more. The two-day event will be held Friday and Saturday, January 20 and 21 at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public with preregistration on the Expo website, https://NorthshoreCEC.org/ArtOfTheFilmExpo.

The event will kick off with the Business of Film luncheon featuring keynote speaker Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser on Friday, January 20 at noon in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Doors open at 11:00 am. Tickets to the luncheon are $40, also available on the website.

Art of the Film Expo speakers include Christopher Stelly, Executive Group Director, Louisiana Entertainment & Digital Media; Trey Burvant, President, Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association; Carroll Morton, Director, Film New Orleans | Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy; Ed and Sue Poole, Hollywood on the Bayou, film accessory researchers; Linda Thurman, Hollywood veteran, author and Movie Poster Archives executive director; DeAnna Charett, Founder, Bad Habitz Organization veterans filmmaker training program; Reid Wick, Membership and Industry Relations, Recording Academy/GRAMMYs; Jay Weigel, Composer, producer and conductor; Greg Barnhill, Composer, songwriter and master vocalist; Donovan Williams, Chief Technology Officer, JammAround music collaboration platform; Veleka Gray, Master acting coach; Eric Lamulle, SAG actor; Kody Chamberlain, Writer and story artist; Hunter McHugh, CSA, Casting director, On the Hunt Casting; Dan Zweben, Location scout; Mickey Lambert, Location manager/scout; Roberta Carrow-Jackson, St. Tammany Film Commissioner, featuring Reel Scout; and Dr. Ben Redwine, Classical and jazz musician and composer.

Sessions will cover a broad spectrum of topics including Louisiana film industry’s economic impact and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities; the state’s film and digital entertainment tax incentives; music production, collaboration and songwriting for movies; scouting for talent; location scouting: intellectual property; scoring silent films; and entertaining presentations celebrating the state’s rich history in film. The complete event schedule and speaker bios are available on the website.

The event will lead into two Expo After Hours live entertainment events, Friday from 7 to 8:30 at The Wine Garden, featuring Greg Barnhill and friends, sponsored by Ozone Songwriters Festival and Saturday, 6:30 to 7:30 pm, with the Northshore Community Orchestra, sponsored by the City of Slidell. Concurrently, Hollywood on the Bayou and Movie Poster Archives will present “Art of the Poster,” an exhibition of uniquely designed movie posters, hosted by the City of Slidell in the George Dunbar Gallery in the Slidell Cultural Center at City Hall, directly across the street from the auditorium, with extended viewing hours during the Expo.

Art of the Film is presented by Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition and the City of Slidell, with title sponsor St. Tammany Tourist and Convention Commission. Additional event sponsors include St. Tammany Corporation, Northshore Media Group/WYLK 94.7 FM, Slidell Magazine, The Northshore Collaborative, New Orleans Entertainment Coalition and Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board.

This event is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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