BookShorts Newsletter March 2008

Ramping up for Book Expo Canada and America

Retailers as content producers; shorts and interviews and trailers and more; a virtual explosion in the use of on-screen media; validation indeed. From the ChaptersIndigo online Community initiative, to Borders installation of digital download stations in-store, to Barnes & Noble's original series "Tagged' and "Obsessed," the year is shaping up as the tipping point in book-to-screen media.

BookShorts is right up front, where we've been for years. With the help of our sponsors BookExpo Canada and King Products (interactive touchscreen kiosks) the BEC BROADCAST PROGRAM will premiere titles just launched and to be launched.

The BEC Broadcast Program will be produced on disc too, for take-away by booksellers and librarians who come by the BOOKSHORTS LOUNGE, on the BEC Toronto show for our fourth year.

We'll be offering the SCRIPT TO SCREEN program at BEA and BEC '08, where authors and publishers commission author videos by means of our turn-key solution. We script, shoot, post and distribute video interviews on site at BEA May 29 - June 1 and BEC June 15-16.

FOR INFO ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN BOOK EXPO PROGRAMS ... contact MEISNER, DE GROOT & ASSOCIATES, or visit BookShorts' websites BookExpo Canada and Book Expo America

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Food, Sex and Salmonella Launches Campaign

Dr. David Waltner-Toews is a natural teacher, passionately curious. He is an intrepid traveler, in a search for better balance amongst the world's food supplies and a growing population's desire to appease its whims for every food imaginable. It is, in many ways, like sex.

Director KATE HOLLETT brings the character of Dr. Waltner-Toews personable and informative writing to the screen with the just-finished FOOD, SEX AND SALMONELLA: HOW OUR FOOD IS MAKING US SICK. Watch the short, then grab the book -- its in bookstores now.

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Bravo!FACT supports Quarrington's "Pavane"

Come and celebrate all kinds of things on March 19, when Paul Quarrington launches THE RAVINE at Pages TINARS event at The Gladstone Hotel, accompanied by his truly with PORKBELLY FUTURES.

Its a double-hit event also marking the release of the band's second recording, also called Porkbelly Futures, and their just-dry contract with fast-growing label Cordova Bay.

OK, one more thing to celebrate -- Quarrington's BookShort received a vote of confidence from Bravo!FACT who have awarded us support and its premiere broadcast (conditional on the finished work of course, as with all such broadcaster deals) - we'll invite you all to that launch too!

More about the event >> http://www.pagesbooks.ca

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Reminder MSFF Regular deadline March 15

Lots of films in so far, andm more on the way - make sure yours are postmarked MARCH 15 to qualify for regular submission deadline! Guidelines and info at MOVINGSTORIESFILMFEST.COM

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Opening the Book on Film Conference BC

People in BC are really nice. And talented. And open to new ideas. Those are some of the first thoughts I had as BookShorts took part in OPENING THE BOOK ON FILM, a conference produced collaboratively by BC Film, the Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia and CFTPA BC Producers' Branch.

What the organizers accomplished was one of those forehead-slapping good ideas - put a bevy of publishers representing hundreds of great books in a big beautiful room with accomplished TV and film producers, add a generous dose of facilitated discussion and voila; no doubt there will be a rash of projects hitting screens of all sizes in no time at all.

We couldn't talk fast enough to connect with all the folks on both sides of the equation, though we tried. On the producing side, BookShorts was reaching out to those who make screen-media inspired by the written word. On the publisher side, BookShorts was reaching out to those who are ready, willing and eager to use this media to spread the word to new audiences. It definately feels like a home run on both fronts - our sincere thanks to all who indulged the BookShorts song and dance.

With gratitude to organizers Liz Shorten who invited us (by way of early BookShorts CBC ZeD champion Sue Biely, now of Nimble Media) Lodi Butler of BC Film who kept us on time and connected. Super special creds to dedicated colleague Andrea Oberdieck - despite broken toes and uncomfortable shoes, Andrea represented us with grace and aplomb!

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