Monterey Pop Foundation adds $1,000 to MoCo Film Commission scholarship award

The Monterey County Film Commission's film student scholarship has been increased to $2,000 this year, thanks to a donation from the Monterey Pop Festival.
The commission's annual scholarship award money has doubled from its original $1,000. Applications can be downloaded at www.FilmMonterey.org. Applications are being accepted until Feb. 17.
The Monterey International Pop Festival Foundation, headed by festival founder Lou Adler, said the donation was made in the spirit of the festival.
“The Monterey International Pop Festival Foundation cannot think of a more ideal place to support than where the festival was born and where it continues to live,” Adler said in a statement.  “An additional incentive for our involvement is the fact that the Monterey County Film Commission is proactively marketing Monterey County as a destination for the motion picture, television and related industries, for the purpose of stimulating economic development, creating jobs, and providing and supporting educational opportunities in these areas.”
You can read the full press release after the break.

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"Bordertown" film producer visits CSUMB on Feb. 22

Filmmaker and activist Barbara Martinez Jitner visits CSU Monterey Feb. 22 to talk about the women's crisis in Juarez, Mexico.
Jitner will talk at 7 p.m. at the World Theater. The event is free. Reservations and more information is available at csumb.edu/speakers. 
Jitner's topic, “Femicide at our Border: To be a Woman in Juarez is a Death Sentence,” will examine reports of more than 400 women who have been found raped, mutilated and murdered in the border town.
The film “Bordertown,” starring Jennifer Lopez, addressed the issue. Jitner was a producer on the film.
Full press release can be read after the jump.

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“Don't Fence Me In” Americana music tribute Feb. 29 at CSU Monterey Bay's World Theater

Wylie & The Wild West, Los Texmaniacs, The Quebe Sisters, North Bear, and Paul Zarzyski are among the performers scheduled for “Don't Fence Me In” Feb. 29 at CSU Monterey Bay's University Center.
The concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29. Tickets are $10-$50 and can be purchased at http://csumb.edu/worldtheater or by calling the box office at 582-4580
The concert features a variety of music, poetry, high plains yodeling, western swing fiddle and vocal harmonies, all inspired by the country western experience.
Full press release is available after the jump.

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"Body of a Dancer" author D'Aoust visits Big Sur Library

Author Renee D'Aoust visits Big Sur Library Feb. 18. 

D'Aoust will read excerpts from her book “Body of a Dancer.” The book has been praised for its honest depictions of life as a modern dancer in New York City. D'Aoust writes about her experiences training at prestigious dance schools and clawing her way through the competitive world of professional dance. 

This program is free to the public. Refreshments will be served. Seating is first come, first served. Call the library at 667-2537 or stop by the library desk for more information.

Full press release is available after the jump.

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Today is last day to donate to HARA Motion Picture Conservatory's Indie GoGo campaign

Hara Motion Picture Conservatory, based at Access Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, is making one last push to raise funds for their next student film project. 

The details of the project, along with links to donate, can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/zFcpsR. 

The group has raised just over $4,000 toward their goal of $7,935. Donors have until midnight to contribute. The group will receive the total amount of donations made toward their goal. 

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Country Star Alan Jackson performs July 21 at California Rodeo in Salinas

Country Star Alan Jackson will perform at the 2012 California Rodeo in Salinas.
The concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 21 at Salinas Municipal Stadium.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 8 at the Salinas Sports Complex Box Office at 1034 N. Main St., Salinas, or by visiting www.tickets.com. Tickets are $35 general, $75 VIP.
Jackson has sold nearly 60-million records and is one of the biggest selling-artists of the modern recording era. He has written 24 No. 1 hit singles, placing him in rarified company with Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
 Jackson's Salinas performance is part of a national tour to promote an upcoming album. The first single, “So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore,” is currently making the rounds on country radio and video outlets.
For more information, visit www.carodeo.com. 

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Lujan & The Yard Stylee Allstars - Make A Change

Lujan & The Yard Stylee All Stars performing "Make A Change" @ Moe's Alley last week. Some Salinas irie vibes to get you going on this sunny Thursday morning!

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Video: The Saurus vs. Defron (filmed in Australia)

Monterey's finest The Saurus battles his biggest Stan, Defron, in a touching struggle between father and son (that joke will make more sense after you watch the battle).

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Monterey to Big Sur re-booked for Jan. 28-29 at Lighthouse Cinemas

Filmmaker John Harris's “Monterey To Big Sur” has been re-booked for another weekend of screenings in Pacific Grove.
The film screens at 1 & 5 p.m. Jan. 28-29 at Lighthouse Cinemas, 525 Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove.
The film captures the Monterey Peninsula in rich high definition that pops off the screen.
Tickets are $10 general admission. For information, call 375-7534 or visit www.johnharrisfilms.com. 

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Paper Wing Theatre Presents "Sweet-Tarts Valentine Burlesque!"

“Sweet-Tarts Valentine Burlesque” is the latest naughty but nice offering from The Paper Wing Theater.
A tart-y toss up of dancing, singing and sexy performance, the performance is the theater company's Valentine gift to the community.
Tickets are $20 general, $17 seniors, students and military. Visit www.PaperWingTheatre.com or call 905-5684 for more information. The theater is located at 320 Hoffman Avenue, Monterey.

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Ed Dickinson back on the air at KYAA 1200 AM

Popular radio personality Ed Dickinson is back on the air  on radio station KYAA 1200 AM on the dial.
His "Way Back Now" show airs from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sundays on KYAA.
Dickinson suffered a broken hip late last year that kept sidelined for an extended period. He returned at the end of 2012 and is going strong. His show "Way Back Now" features music from the big band era.
Dickinson has a Facebook fan page here. 

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St. Olaf Band performs in Salinas Feb. 1

The nationally renown St. Olaf Band performs a special concert with the Youth Orchestra of the Salinas Valley (YOSAL) Feb. 1 at the Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture in Salinas.

Founded in 1891, the St. Olaf Band is an ensemble noted for superb musicianship.

Timothy Mahr, St. Olaf Band conductor and professor of music at St. Olaf College, is a nationally recognized composer with more than 60 works to his credit, including “The Soaring Hawk,” for which he received the ABA/Ostwald Award.

The St. Olaf Band is the oldest music organization at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, a campus internationally renowned for its high caliber of musical ensembles.

The concert is free for students, $10 adults. Tickets canb e purchased at www.stolaftickets.com, or by calling 1-800-363-5487. 

View the full press release below

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Chuck D of Public Enemy visits CSU Monterey Bay Feb. 7

Chuck D of Public Enemy

Public Enemy frontman Chuck D will speak on "Rap, Race, Reality and Digital Music" Feb. 7 at CSU Monterey Bay to help celebrate Black History Month.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. in the University Center on Sixth Avenue. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. 

Chuck D founded the influential hip-hop group Public Enemy. With albums like "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" and "Fear of a Black Planet," the group helped define politically edged music in the early 1990s. Artists ranging from Rage Against the Machine to Ben Harper to M.I.A. In 2009, VH1 named their single "Fight The Power" the number one hip-hop song of all-time. 

Chuck D has been a staunch supporter of digital media and file sharing since the late '90s. 

Read the full press release after the jump.

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Langston Hughes tribute scheduled Feb. 13 @ CSU Monterey Bay

The Ron McCurdy Quartet performs "The Langston Hughes Project - Ask Your Mama" Feb. 13 at The World Theater on the CSU Monterey Bay campus. 

McCurdy, a USC music professor, wrote the composition to accompany the Hughes poem "Ask Your Mama," an ode to the Civil Rights Movement and the Freedom Riders who were heading south. 

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at http://worldtheater.csumb.edu or by calling the World Theater box office 582-4580.

The event is sponsored by Student Activities and Leadership Development, Associated Students, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the World Theater.

For more information, call Tim Bills at 582-4645.

A full press release can be read after the jump.

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Live Music is Alive (Once Again) at Plaza Linda in Carmel Valley

Just got an email from Kiki Wow, talent booker at Plaza Linda restaurant y cantina in Carmel Valley. The restaurant recently was forced to shut down live music at the venue after receiving a complaint.

Last week, Kiki was told she did not have to cancel any shows. The decision was made official this week. 

Live music is back on for good this week. Kiki sent out an email alert informing people of this week's schedule. She also sent this message.

“RECEIVED LETTER FROM COUNTY CONFIRMING WE ARE 'GRANDFATHERED' IN FROM PRIOR USE  OF LAND, DELFINO PLACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAIN THOROUGHFARE FOR THE VILLAGE HOSTING ANNUAL PARADES, FESTIVALS, BALLGAMES, RECREATIONAL PRIOR TO 1953. 

 I ALSO HAD 2 LOCAL ELDERS CONFIRM THE LAND USE AS WELL AS GOT SIGNATURES OF SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS THAT THE MUSIC WAS NO BOTHER AND THAT PLAZA LINDA HAS BEEN FOREVER KNOWN FOR LIVE MUSIC IN THE VILLAGE SINCE THE BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1960.

 I AM HAPPY TO CARRY THAT MUSICAL TORCH AS THE VILLAGE WAS VERY THIRSTY FOR QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT.

Congrats to Kiki and Plaza Linda for getting live music back in Carmel Valley.

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Monterey County Film Commission announces "No Show" Academy Awards campaign for 25th anniversary celebration

Bypassing its annual Oscar Night gala event, the Monterey County Film Commission is asking its supporters to help the cause by not showing up this year.

Instead, the commission is asking attendees to donate $100 to $250, the regular cost of dress, dinner and transportation to the event, directly towards the commission.

In a statement, the film commission wrote “The film commission’s main annual fundraiser for the past 21 years has been a glamorous gala in a ballroom, celebrating the Academy Awards® presentations with a big-screen live telecast. This year the commission is doing a different fundraising appeal, inviting local residents to be “No Shows” on going out, and instead tune into the Feb. 26 broadcast on their televisions in the comfort of their own homes.”

Contributors will be entered into a benefit drawing for a movie themed prize basket.

 “To be most effective (film commission), we need stronger funding support to leverage the county’s contribution and be more proactive in marketing and reaching film decision-makers,” said Karen Nordstrand, commission marketing director, “and be more available to assist them when they consider filming here.”

For more information on the “No Show” fundraising campaign and to donate to the Monterey County Film Commission, contact the office at 831-646-0910 or email info@filmmonterey.org.

The full press release can be read after the jump

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