News from Tracie Laymon

	9/19/2010 - I haven't been able to update much lately because I have been so busy! I spent the summer writing an American version of a film by Polish director Jacek Bromski, who has directed 20 feature films and is also the President of the Polish Filmmakers association. Working with him was such an incredible and educational experience! I made a lot of new friends during my visit and completely fell in love with Poland. I flew back just in time to attend the 3rd annual Feel Good Film Festival at the Egyptian and then director of photography Ivan Corona and I quickly loaded his car up with gear and drove up to Seattle where I directed a promo at the Seattle Space Needle. I'm now back in LA working on another rewrite. Next month I'm also slated to direct another darkly comedic short, which will be produced by America Young, April Wade and Louis J. Wilson (Merit Pictures). I've also just signed up to direct 6 episodes of the comedic series "Goodnight Burbank", created by Hayden Black and starring Laura Silverman ("The Sarah Silverman Program"). You can read more about it at www.goodnightburbank.com. Ivan is joining me again for this one as well. It's really nice to be working with such great people. Life is pretty good and it seems to only be getting better! :-) 05/02/2010 - IFC was kind enough to include me in the IFC "Icons" portion of their website! Here is the link, check it out: "http://www.ifc.com/icons/tracie-laymon.php They also interviewed me on camera, so please also look for a 3 minute vignette that should be on the Independent Film Channel in the next few weeks. I love IFC, so I was really honored to be a part of this. 03/25/2010 - Just got word that I got a rewrite/polish job on a script being produced by an established European filmmaker. Very excited about this story! I'll most likely be working on that for the next month in Austin and then returning to LA after the initial work is done! The Independent Film Channel also contacted me about interviewing me and showing clips of my past work on a piece about independent filmmaking. More info to come... :) 03/20/2010 - I attended SXSW film and music again and had a great time! A few highlights were meeting Academy Award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (21 Grams, Babel, Brokeback Mountain, Motorcycle Diaries) and seeing old friends/colleagues Mark and Jay Duplass premiere their new film Cyrus to a sold out theatre with cast John C. Reilley and Jonah Hill in attendance. Congrats guys! I also thoroughly enjoyed the documentary screening and panel on comedian/musician Bill Hicks! The film festival provided the opportunities for me to catch up with writer/director David Gordon Green, producer Michael Peyser and some of my favorite Austin film people, including editor Sandra Adair, composer Ludek Drizhal, Austin filmmakers Geoff Marslett, Bob Ray, director/cinematographer Jen White and Brian Poyser who was screening his new film LOVERS OF HATE. Also very special thanks to John Wildman for the shout-outs in his MovieCity blog: http://moviecitynews.com/festivals/sxsw_2010/100314_wildman2.html I also saw some of Charlie Sotelo's incredible 3D still photography and got to make a lot of new friends along the way! Enjoyed live comedy by Margaret Cho and live musical performances by Uglysuit, the Walkmen, and The Whigs... Was definitely a great year at South by Southwest! 10/30/09 - We had two screenings abroad this month! Unfortunately, we weren't able to attend these two, but I hear both screenings went over extremely well! Falling From Mars recently had a very successful international premiere in Japan at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market! sapporoshortfest.jp. Also INSIDE had it's UK Premiere at Sheffield's First Horror Fest last week. You can read more about Sheffield in this article from Fangoria: http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/10-events/4319-celluloid-screams-in-the-uk-at-sheffields-first-horror-fest.html I also want to add that Fantastic Fest was the coolest, most well-put together and filmmaker-friendly festival I've ever attended. Both of our screenings were full and a good time was had by all. I also saw a lot of really great films that I never normally would have seen. I'm truly grateful to Tim and Carrie League (Alamo Drafthouse) Harry Knowles ("Ain't It Cool News"), Tim McCanlies and Paul Alvarado-Dykstra for founding and running such an incredible festival. Thank you to Jill Lewis, Zack Carlson and everyone else at Fantastic Fest who made our stay in Austin extra special. 8/15/09 - I attended the 2nd annual Feel Good Film Festival, which took place at the Egyptian theatre last weekend and focuses on films with uplifting messages, happy endings and films that make you laugh. The whole fest was very well-run by my friends Kristen Ridgway and America Young. I served as a producing consultant for the festival both years and was very proud to be a part of something so positive. You truly do leave this film festival feeling good! This September, "Inside" will be screening at the SoCal Film Fest in Huntington Beach, CA and Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX. I'll be attending both festivals and look forward to seeing y'all at our US and Texas Premieres! Screening times still TBD. For more information, you can visit the festival sites directly at: http://www.socalfilmfest.com/ and http://www.fantasticfest.com/ 4/15/09 - "Inside" has been nominated for Best Short Film at this year's Milano International Film Festival Awards (www.miff.it) We are incredibly honored as these awards are referred to as the Italian "Oscar of Independent Cinema". I will be attending and visiting Italy for the first time! Please send us travel tips and suggestions! 3/31/09 - I have partnered w/Merit Pictures (out of Texas) to develop and produce my latest feature-length script. Very excited about this new joint venture! www.meritpictures.com (coming soon) 1/13/09 - Last summer and fall I created a story and wrote a script for a 3D extended PSA/promotional film that helps teenagers learn how to deal with difficult situations. The piece, tentatively entitled "Choices" mainly revolves around several teenagers who are faced with life-changing decisions and emphasizes how the decisions we make directly influence not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. The project was commissioned and is funded by Turning Point Educational Experience, a non-profit organization that helps young people learn how to deal with difficult situations. TPEE plans to exhibit "Choices" in high schools and use it as a promotional piece to gather interest for future outreach projects. You can learn more about TPEE on their site: http://www.turningpointex.com/ Production is slated for this upcoming weekend in Sylmar, California and will be directed by Jessica Landaw ("Cold Case", "Bones", "Judging Amy"). 3ality Digital ("U23D") is a partner in this endeavor and will also be providing the 3D technology for the production.

9/19/2010 - I haven't been able to update much lately because I have been so busy! I spent the summer writing an American version of a film by Polish director Jacek Bromski, who has directed 20 feature films and is also the President of the Polish Filmmakers association. Working with him was such an incredible and educational experience! I made a lot of new friends during my visit and completely fell in love with Poland.

I flew back just in time to attend the 3rd annual Feel Good Film Festival at the Egyptian and then director of photography Ivan Corona and I quickly loaded his car up with gear and drove up to Seattle where I directed a promo at the Seattle Space Needle.

I'm now back in LA working on another rewrite. Next month I'm also slated to direct another darkly comedic short, which will be produced by America Young, April Wade and Louis J. Wilson (Merit Pictures). I've also just signed up to direct 6 episodes of the comedic series "Goodnight Burbank", created by Hayden Black and starring Laura Silverman ("The Sarah Silverman Program"). You can read more about it at www.goodnightburbank.com. Ivan is joining me again for this one as well. It's really nice to be working with such great people.

Life is pretty good and it seems to only be getting better! :-)

05/02/2010 - IFC was kind enough to include me in the IFC "Icons" portion of their website! Here is the link, check it out: "http://www.ifc.com/icons/tracie-laymon.php They also interviewed me on camera, so please also look for a 3 minute vignette that should be on the Independent Film Channel in the next few weeks.
I love IFC, so I was really honored to be a part of this.

03/25/2010 - Just got word that I got a rewrite/polish job on a script being produced by an established European filmmaker. Very excited about this story! I'll most likely be working on that for the next month in Austin and then returning to LA after the initial work is done!

The Independent Film Channel also contacted me about interviewing me and showing clips of my past work on a piece about independent filmmaking. More info to come... :)

03/20/2010 - I attended SXSW film and music again and had a great time! A few highlights were meeting Academy Award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (21 Grams, Babel, Brokeback Mountain, Motorcycle Diaries) and seeing old friends/colleagues Mark and Jay Duplass premiere their new film Cyrus to a sold out theatre with cast John C. Reilley and Jonah Hill in attendance. Congrats guys!

I also thoroughly enjoyed the documentary screening and panel on comedian/musician Bill Hicks!

The film festival provided the opportunities for me to catch up with writer/director David Gordon Green, producer Michael Peyser and some of my favorite Austin film people, including editor Sandra Adair, composer Ludek Drizhal, Austin filmmakers Geoff Marslett, Bob Ray, director/cinematographer Jen White and Brian Poyser who was screening his new film LOVERS OF HATE. Also very special thanks to John Wildman for the shout-outs in his MovieCity blog: http://moviecitynews.com/festivals/sxsw_2010/100314_wildman2.html

I also saw some of Charlie Sotelo's incredible 3D still photography and got to make a lot of new friends along the way! Enjoyed live comedy by Margaret Cho and live musical performances by Uglysuit, the Walkmen, and The Whigs... Was definitely a great year at South by Southwest!

10/30/09 - We had two screenings abroad this month! Unfortunately, we weren't able to attend these two, but I hear both screenings went over extremely well! Falling From Mars recently had a very successful international premiere in Japan at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market! sapporoshortfest.jp. Also INSIDE had it's UK Premiere at Sheffield's First Horror Fest last week. You can read more about Sheffield in this article from Fangoria: http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/10-events/4319-celluloid-screams-in-the-uk-at-sheffields-first-horror-fest.html

I also want to add that Fantastic Fest was the coolest, most well-put together and filmmaker-friendly festival I've ever attended. Both of our screenings were full and a good time was had by all. I also saw a lot of really great films that I never normally would have seen. I'm truly grateful to Tim and Carrie League (Alamo Drafthouse) Harry Knowles ("Ain't It Cool News"), Tim McCanlies and Paul Alvarado-Dykstra for founding and running such an incredible festival. Thank you to Jill Lewis, Zack Carlson and everyone else at Fantastic Fest who made our stay in Austin extra special.

8/15/09 - I attended the 2nd annual Feel Good Film Festival, which took place at the Egyptian theatre last weekend and focuses on films with uplifting messages, happy endings and films that make you laugh. The whole fest was very well-run by my friends Kristen Ridgway and America Young. I served as a producing consultant for the festival both years and was very proud to be a part of something so positive. You truly do leave this film festival feeling good!

This September, "Inside" will be screening at the SoCal Film Fest in Huntington Beach, CA and Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX. I'll be attending both festivals and look forward to seeing y'all at our US and Texas Premieres! Screening times still TBD. For more information, you can visit the festival sites directly at: http://www.socalfilmfest.com/ and http://www.fantasticfest.com/

4/15/09 - "Inside" has been nominated for Best Short Film at this year's Milano International Film Festival Awards (www.miff.it) We are incredibly honored as these awards are referred to as the Italian "Oscar of Independent Cinema". I will be attending and visiting Italy for the first time! Please send us travel tips and suggestions!

3/31/09 - I have partnered w/Merit Pictures (out of Texas) to develop and produce my latest feature-length script. Very excited about this new joint venture! www.meritpictures.com (coming soon)

1/13/09 - Last summer and fall I created a story and wrote a script for a 3D extended PSA/promotional film that helps teenagers learn how to deal with difficult situations. The piece, tentatively entitled "Choices" mainly revolves around several teenagers who are faced with life-changing decisions and emphasizes how the decisions we make directly influence not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. The project was commissioned and is funded by Turning Point Educational Experience, a non-profit organization that helps young people learn how to deal with difficult situations. TPEE plans to exhibit "Choices" in high schools and use it as a promotional piece to gather interest for future outreach projects. You can learn more about TPEE on their site: http://www.turningpointex.com/

Production is slated for this upcoming weekend in Sylmar, California and will be directed by Jessica Landaw ("Cold Case", "Bones", "Judging Amy"). 3ality Digital ("U23D") is a partner in this endeavor and will also be providing the 3D technology for the production.