SHEFFIELD-C. Thomas Howell joins the panel discussions about his life in front of the camera. From E.T. and The Outsiders to Criminal Minds, The Amazing Spider-Man, and more, Howell’s film credits span over 300 productions. Joining Howell will be Darren Dalton, who played Randy in The Outsiders.
Cypress Moon Studios hosts The Full Moon Series for four days, August 27-30, to develop and promote filmmaking in Northwest Alabama. Tonya Holly, Writer, Producer, Director, and Studio Owner, hopes to build a talent base to attract film and Television to the area. The four-day series brings professionals from all over the country and as far away as the UK to the area.
“We have people that have worked on over 2000 productions combined coming in to speak on the panels,” Tonya Holly says. There will be panels about music in film, sound editing, wardrobe design, stunt coordinators, food stylists, casting directors, an agent, screenwriters, music supervisors, a special effects supervisor, and multiple actors. The panelists have worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Cage, Jean-Claude Van Damm, Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, and hundreds more. Some of their credits include The Walking Dead, The Hunger Games, Walk the Line, Red Dawn, The Gangs of London, Wonka, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and 42: The Jackie Robinson Story, to name a few.
Tonya Holly, owner of Cypress Moon Studios for 21 years, hopes that people will learn about the making of a film and understand the number of jobs that are created to make these productions happen. “There’s so many opportunities when a film is shot in your area. Not only for actors, but behind the scenes as well,” Holly says. “For example, painters, carpenters, electricians, props, drivers, costumers, seamstresses, set design, production assistants, camera crew, editors, musicians, songwriters, and the list goes on and on. Hotels are used, along with restaurants, antique shops, hardware stores, paint stores, clothing stores, car dealerships, security firms, printing companies, motor home companies, and so many more businesses.”
Film production can enhance tourism, as well. Tourists like to visit locations where films are shot. Steel Magnolias was filmed in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1989. The town has built a tourism attraction around that one film, which brings in thousands of tourists annually. This happens around the world with film towns. The Outsiders was filmed in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1982. The house where it was filmed is now a museum and generates thousands of visitors annually. These are only two examples.
The Full Moon panels and workshops are open to the public and to aspiring actors, filmmakers, and anyone interested in the making of a movie. We are bringing the movie industry professionals to The Shoals. Hear the stories and meet the people that bring the movies and television shows to life.
The Full Moon Series will be at Cypress Moon Studios, 1000 Alabama Ave, Sheffield, Alabama. Full Weekend passes and Day Passes are available. Day passes are, $125.00, Advance Full Weekend Passes are $275, and “Day-of” Weekend Passes are $325. Visit www.cypressmoonstudios.org for tickets
Thursday August 27
11:00-12:30 pm
Music For Film and TV- What are the music supervisors looking for?
Rick Hromadka, Andrew Weaver and John Paul White
Tonya Holly, Moderator
1:00-2:30 pm
The Music Behind the Magic- The Melody That Brings the Story to Life
Rick Hromadka
Tonya Holly, Moderator
3:00-4:00 pm
Behind the Screams – A New Chapter of Independent Horror Films
Alexander Gunn, Kevin Wayne and Lily Holly Retherford
Tonya Holly, Moderator
4:30-6:00 pm
Special Effects – From Wonka to Gangs of London
Alexander Gunn
Tonya Holly, Moderator
Media Release/Amanda Perry/Production Assistant, Cypress Moon Series
