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Valley Film Fest Showcases Local Talent

North Hollywood The El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood becomes the center of San Fernando Valley filmmaking next month when it plays host to the 7th annual Valley Film Festival. This year’s event taking place Sept. 12 to 16 will screen the most feature films in the history of the festival, said organizer Tracey Adlai. A Valley native who attended film school at New York University, Adlai created the festival as a way to promote the area as a rich environment for filmmakers. “It is overlooked as a contributor to Hollywood,” Adlai said. The festival includes nine feature films, 40 short films and two featurettes from all genres. Many were shot in the Valley by local filmmakers. On the drawing board is a screening of “Fast Times At Ridgemont High,” the classic comedy filmed in the Valley, including the old Sherman Oaks Galleria. The film’s director Amy Heckerling is an NYU alumnus. Happy hour shorts screenings on Sept. 13 and 14 will be preceded by cocktails. The festival is funded through donations, sponsorships and out of pocket money. It has broken even the past two years, Adlai said. The festival is administered by Community Partners, a not-for-profit organization. Monthly screenings at the Two Road Theatre in Studio City help raise money to put on the festival. New potential sponsors from the entertainment industry approached Adlai in July but were too late to be included in this year’s festival. Instead, Adlai said she would work the businesses in starting in October with the resumption of monthly screenings at the Two Roads Theatre. Past films shown at the festival have been picked up for DVD distribution. Studio City filmmaker John Putch, director of “Mojave Phone Booth” that was shown last year, is in negotiations for cable and DVD release of the film. She does get contacted throughout the year by distributors wanting more information about films that were screened, Adlai said. The timing of the festival precludes more distributors from attending because of the Venice International Film Festival, Adlai added. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Chatsworth Musical: Youth who attended the Chatsworth Recreation Center Theater Class will be strutting their stuff Friday and Sunday in two performances of “Grease.” Show time is 7 p.m. both evenings. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 5 to 12. Children under four are free but must be accompanied by a parent. Refreshments will be available for purchase in the auditorium which is located at 22360 Devonshire St. North Hollywood Films: Submissions are being accepted for the 5th Annual Hollywood International Student Film Festival taking place Nov. 14 to 18 in North Hollywood. Entries must be submitted by registered students by Aug. 31. If a recent graduate, the film must have been made while a student. More than one entry can be submitted. For more information call (818) 203-4179 or visit www.isffhollywood.org. Award: Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie, star of Fox-TV’s hit show “House M.D.” will receive the Clinic’s Visionary Award by Valley Community Clinic on October 10. Also receiving an award for Corporate Visionary Award will be Vince Liuzzi, senior vice president/regional president of San Fernando Valley Community Bank Wells Fargo and Company. This award ceremony is VCC’s 4th annual fundraiser called “Laughter is the Best Medicine” benefiting VCC. Included at the event will be cocktails, a Celebrity Doodle Silent Auction, dinner, and entertainment. Tickets for the 499-seat event are $250 each. For more information call Michael Teta at (818) 906-0240. Northridge Lecture: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center’s Karl Kaplan, MD and board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics, will give a lecture called “The Circle of Life” on August 23 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Kaplan will discuss the circle of life as a pie, with slices representing our mental, emotional, physical, social, behavioral and spiritual aspects of our lives. Located at the Wilkinson Senior Center, this lecture is free and no preregistration is needed. Tarzana Aircraft: Worldwide Aeros Corporation confirmed participation at the National Business Aviation Association, Inc.’s 60th Annual Meeting & Convention on September 25 to 27, 2007 in Atlanta, GA. During the event, there will be an official announcement for the launch of the Aeroscraft ML866 program. Built on the basis of a new concept of flight, the Aeroscraft’s versatility allows it to be used as a private air yacht, corporate air vehicle or commercial commuter. “We are coming to the NBAA show because we have reached a level where we can solicit an input from the customer community to ensure the Aeroscraft will change the way executives travel and do business outside of the office,” Aeros Vice President Fred Edworthy said in a written statement. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Packets: The City of Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone’s employer voucher application packets are available to help city businesses in the zone file for hiring tax credits. The packet includes step-by-step instructions for employers on how to complete the voucher application forms, as well as the guidelines for determining the eligibility of employees. Applications are available online at www.santa-clarita.com and at City Hall in the city’s Economic Development office, Suite 210, 23920 Valencia Blvd. ANTELOPE VALLEY Fair: The 69th annual Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival begins its 2007 festivities on August 24 with the 11-day festival continuing through Labor Day. The fair will feature carnival rides, animal exhibitions, craft competitions, educational expositions and concerts. The Robertson Palmdale Honda concert series line-up includes country music queen, Reba McIntire; country phenoms, Lone Star with fiddler, Charlie Daniels; rock passionistas, Heart; power pop band, The All-American Rejects with Alana Grace; and rocker Daughtry. Ticket prices for the fair vary. Festival: The City of Lancaster will be sponsoring Celebrate! Downtown Lancaster, a free festival at Lancaster Boulevard and Forn Avenue. Activities include wine tasting, arts and crafts, miniature train rides and a free concert by The Funk Brothers on Sept. 15 between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. SIMI VALLEY Mixer: A Multi-Chamber Mega Mixer will occur on August 23 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. by the Simi Valley, Moorpark and Chatsworth/Porter Ranch chambers. The theme of the mixer is “As American as Apple Pie” and it will be located at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library-Air Force One Pavilion. Admission is $5. To RSVP call (805) 526-3900 or (805) 529-0322 CONEJO VALLEY Unveiling: Janss Marketplace will be unveiling its newly re-designed community fountain at an event Saturday, August 25 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Festivities will include Chumash Native American dancers, a live band, crafts for the kids, face painting, a balloon artist and a bounce house. The Marketplace is located at Moorpark Rd. and Hillcrest Dr. in Thousand Oaks.

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