News from our members

Massachusetts-Based Filmmaker Will Begin Filming in Fitchburg, Mass. on July 15

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Massachusetts-based independent filmmaker Jennifer Potts will film her latest project, The
Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop, in Fitchburg, Mass., from July 15 through 18, 2017.
Set in 1974 rural New England, this enchanting story moves through the days of Cecily, a
seven-year-old girl who, after the death of her baby sister, lives in a world with no music, no
color, no laughter, no love—that is, until a magical imaginary friend shows up and joins Cecily
on the quest to save her family from the grief that is destroying them. Jennifer Potts wrote the
feature film script The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop in 2014, and this short version is
based on the first 15 pages of the feature film script. This short film will be produced as a proof
of concept to raise funding for the feature film.
In addition to enlisting at least 80 percent of her cast and crew from the New England region,
Potts is also committed to building a crew with at least 50 percent women. Some highlights to
Potts’ crew include Director of Photography Katherine Castro, originally from Boston and now
living in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Co-Producer Erica Hunter of Fairfield, Conn.; Steadycam Operator Lisa
Sene, of Boston, Mass.; Editor and Set Dresser Luisa Pina of Swansea, Mass.; and Gaffer,
Sam Robinson of Erving, Mass. All crew bios are available at
http://www.cecilyblinkstop.com/filmmakers.
Playing the lead role of Cecily Blinkstop is eight-year-old Colbi Gannett of Waterboro, Me. Her
brother, six-year-old Emmett Gannett, also from Waterboro, Me., will play the role of Cecily’s
younger brother, Barney. Six-year-old Molly McCarthy of South Easton, Mass., will make her
film debut in the role of Amanda Jane, Cecily’s magical friend, and Patricia Fitzgerald, a
13-year-old actress from South Yarmouth, Mass., will play the role of Cecily’s older sister, Kim.
Ava Gaudet of Providence, R.I., will play the role of Helen Blinkstop, Cecily’s mother. Will
Bouvier of Shirley, Mass., will play the role of Kevin Blinkstop, Cecily’s father. All cast bios are
available at http://www.cecilyblinkstop.com/cast.
Visit The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop at www.cecilyblinkstop.com, Facebook page:
Cecilyblinkstop, and Twitter handle @cecilyblinkstop.
Jennifer Potts is a Massachusetts-based screenwriter and film director. She is living proof that
life does not need to slow down when you get to the middle. After graduating from Drew
University in 1992 with a BA in Theatre Arts, she co-founded and ran Cornerstone Performing
Arts Center in Fitchburg, Mass., where she oversaw a small non-equity theatre company and
directed multiple productions every year. In 2012, at age 41, Potts returned to school to study
film/video production at Fitchburg State University, where she wrote and directed two short films
and was awarded 2014 Film Student of the Year. In July 2016, Potts received an MFA in Writing
for the Stage and Screen from New Hampshire Institute of Art. Potts’ most recent short film
Charlie & Poppy was selected to screen at 17 film festivals around the world and won two “best
of” awards. Potts’ feature script, The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop , won the grand
prize of the New England Spotlight section of the Rhode Island International Film Festival’s
2016 Screenplay Competition. Potts resides in Fitchburg, Mass., with her husband of 27 years
and has five grown children. www.jenniferpotts.com

Delicious event planned for Fitchburg

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By Elizabeth Dobbins,

FITCHBURG — It’s not just about the food at Al Fresco Fitchburg, a new Main Street event promoting locally owned restaurants.

It’s also about the scene.

“You’re going to have eight restaurants cooking in front of you,” said Joel Kaddy, organizer and Ward 3 City Councilor. “You’re going to have beautiful dinner music. You’re going to have the smell of the food.”

During the event Thursday evening, diners will sit down at tables set up in Main Street to watch chefs cook multiple course meals and dine, Kaddy said.

“The whole idea is to provide outdoor dining and to support locally owned restaurants,” he said.

The event — a collaboration between Kaddy, Fitchburg Pride and the city’s economic development office — will temporarily shut down Main Street between Prichard and Oliver streets.

Tables of six, two for each restaurant, will be seated at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and diners will eat as soft music is played.

Craft beer and other alcohol will be available at a cash bar until 10 p.m. and afterward diners are encouraged to visit other downtown businesses, like The Boulder Cafe, for drinks.

“I would like some of our customers to visit some of our other locations,” he said.

Unlike many “taste of” events, diners will eat food at the event from only one restaurant — the place where they purchase the ticket.

Tickets are available at Dario’s Ristorante, Zapata Mexican Cocina, The Fay Club, Dickie’s Grillin, Slattery’s, Oak Hill Country Club, Beemers Pub & Grill and Il Ricordi.

Zapata’s offerings will include ceviche, rice, beef, guacamole and smoked churros, owner Michel Coronado said.

A preliminary menu from Slattery’s includes chilled gaspacho, a salad of roasted red and golden beets and a roast tenderloin of beef.

“We’ve always been involved in the city,” Slattery’s owner Dave Celuzza said. “It’s the good will. It’s being part of it with the rest of the city.”

The restaurant’s 24 seats at the event were almost all purchased as of Friday afternoon, according Celuzza.

Kaddy said he hopes diners are inspired to try new restaurants from the food they see at the event.

“We have some wonderful restaurants and some wonderful people running them,” he said.

In the event of rain, Al Fresco Fitchburg will be moved to July 27.

Follow Elizabeth Dobbins on Twitter @DobbinsSentinel
Read more: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_31124849/delicious-event-planned-fitchburg#ixzz4mQtzVERR

Fitchburg Art Museum Seeking VOLUNTEER Tour Guides

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Do You Love Art?

Interviews are now being scheduled for anyone interested in becoming a Tour Guide (Docent) at the Fitchburg Art Museum. Participants do not need to have a background in art, but should have an interest in art and a strong desire to learn and share with others.

Docents are trained by Museum staff and outside experts on art history, the museum’s collections, special exhibitions and tour techniques, acquiring the skills to give engaging tours to visitors of all ages. They are required to make a two-year commitment of museum service upon completion of the course. The New Docent Training Program begins September 13th.

Contact Ann Descoteaux, Director of Docents, at (978) 345-4207 x302 or .

Docent Recruit poster 2

 

AUDITIONS PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Pinkalicious can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament. PINKALICOUS THE MUSICAL is about learning the power of self-control and the importance of moderation.

Director – Kyle Carlson

Music Director – Katrina Baer

Choreographer – Emily Smith

CAST REQUIREMENTS – Ensemble of teens (ages 14 and up)

WHERE AND WHEN

Where? Mount Wachusett Community College, room 182

When? Monday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 26 at 6:30PM sharp – no appointment needed

Performance Dates: Show at the Mount on October 28 at 2:00pm; on tour October 5, 6, 19, 20, 27 (Tour dates are weekdays – performers should plan on missing school on these dates)

Tentative Rehearsal Schedule: Sunday afternoons, Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning August 13.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AUDITIONERS WILL BE ASKED TO SING A SHORT VOCAL SELECTION THAT WILL BE TAUGHT AT THE AUDITION; AND THERE WILL BE A DANCE AUDITION, (combination also taught at the audition) FOR ALL ROLES AND CHORUS (wear appropriate clothing and footwear). Some performers will also be asked to do cold-readings from the script.

TV & Movie opportunities for carpenters, welders and artists

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The Career Center is assisting several production companies to fill carpenter, Welder and artist positions for multiple projects throughout central Mass.  If you know of any tradespeople with any of these skills, please ask them to forward a resume to me.

Over the next several weeks, we are looking to identify a dozen or more highly skilled carpenters who could become propmakers, a half-dozen highly skilled welders and up to ten scenic artists.

The target date for the hiring is July 11th, so we’re looking for candidates who can start immediately.  All work is project based and pay around $30/hour and include benefits. People work from production to production. Work can last a week or several months.

There are some key factors to consider when selecting candidates:

Flexible-re: worktimes, hours, etc. Can work 7-12 hours each day 6-7 days each week.  Good transportation is a must along with a valid driver’s license.

Reliable- zero tolerance for no shows or lateness and good attitude is required. Movie sets and shops can be intense pressure. Mature attitude, respectful and safety conscious.

Propmaking is not carpentry- props are temporary, often need to be moved and only care about what the camera will see. So, a painstaking craftsman will have a big adjustment.

Thanks in advance for getting the word out — resumes or questions can be sent to: 

NORTH CENTRAL CAREER CENTER SUMMER JOB FAIR

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The NORTH CENTRAL CAREER CENTERS (a non-profit agency) and the North Central MA Chamber of Commerce have partnered for a July 19th job fair at the Doubletree Hotel in Leominster.   All of the 70 companies who will participate are hiring – the Career Center estimates there will be well over 200 jobs posted for this event. 

Job fairs provide a tremendous networking opportunity for job seekers and employers to discuss current openings and potential future prospects.  Employers have the opportunity to encounter several hundred diverse candidates with a variety of skill sets.

To help job seekers prepare to meet employers, the Career Center offers a full calendar of workshops, including Preparing for a Job Fair in their Leominster and Gardner locations.

To pre-register or questions, please contact the North Central Career Center at 978-534-1481, X209 or 978-632-5050. 

An updated list of employers is available at www.ccncm.com

Job Fair details:

WHEN: Wednesday, July 19, 2017  9:00AM to 12PM

WHERE: Doubletree Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA

COST: Free for job seekers / $75 for employers

Leominster Credit Union Sponsors Two CCUA Essay Contest Finalists

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two finalists of the 2017 Cooperative Credit Union Association Student Essay Contest, Mia Houle and Alyssa LeBlanc, both of Clinton Middle School. Houle and LeBlanc were two of eight top essay finalists who received an award and $250.

The essay contest was open to all Massachusetts seventh and eighth grade students. The students were asked to submit an essay on “Save, Spend, Share and Learn. What could you teach an adult to form better savings and spending habits.”

John O’Brien, President and CEO of Leominster Credit Union stated, “LCU is proud to sponsor this essay contest. The students did a great job. We congratulate all who participated.”

The Wachusett Dirt Dawgs returned to their winning ways Sunday night defeating the Pittsfield Suns by a final score of 8-4 at Historic Doyle Field.

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The Basics
Score: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 8, Pittsfield Suns 4
Records: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (17-8) | Pittsfield Suns (12-14)

How it Happened
Edward Baram (Adelphi) turned in a solid outing on the hill for the Dawgs tossing 6 innings and giving up three earned runs. Sam Steeves (Franklin Pierce) picked up the win in relief for the Dawgs tossing one inning and picking up three strikeouts. Kyle Cala (Wagner) came through with the big bat for the Dirt Dawgs and was 3/5 with 7 RBIs and two runs scored. Cala launched two three-run home runs, while also mixing in an RBI single. Kyle Pangallo (SNHU) also chipped in with the bat going 2/3 with an RBI single and three runs scored.

Pittsfield struck early in the game taking a 1-0 lead on a solo shot by Justin Cook (Oklahoma) in the third then chipping two more runs across in the fifth with a pair of RBI singles by Kevin Donati (SUNY Albany) and Sean Phelan (Pennsylvania).

The Dirt Dawgs wasted no time answering and tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on one of Cala’s three-run dingers. After a quiet sixth for both teams Cala struck again for a three-run homer and doubled the Dawgs lead to 6-3. Then once again the Dawgs struck in the seventh notching two runs on an RBI single by Pangallo and another by Cala.

The Suns would notch one more run in the ninth on an RBI single by Scott Holzwasser (Northeastern) but that would be all as Joe Simeone (UConn) would finish the game by way of the K striking out 3/5 batters he faced in the last inning.

Inside the Numbers

The Dirt Dawgs have fared well on their late Sunday games winning both games they have played. The Dawgs look to build up another win streak on the season and have another full week of games in which they play six games in the next seven days.

Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs return to action tomorrow night hosting the Seacoast Mavericks at 6:35. Pittsfield returns home to play the Brockton Rox on the 4th of July at 6:35.

The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop Begins July 15th!

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First, we are again saying thank you to all the amazing people who supported our crowdfunding campaign. We would not be here without you! We are now busy getting all our ducks in a row to ensure the production runs smoothly. We are constructing sets, formulating shot lists, purchasing costumes. renting equipment, attaching final crew, and getting all legal paperwork and contracts in place.

Synopsis:

Set in 1974 rural New England, this live-action family drama is about Cecily, a 7-year-old girl who, following the death of her baby sister, lives in a world with no music, no color, no laughter, no love. That is, until a magical imaginary friend shows up and joins Cecily on the quest to save her family from the grief that is destroying them.

Crew Updates
We are welcoming some new additions to our crew.

Katherine Castro

Director of Photography

After studying architecture and photography while living in the Dominican Republic, Katherine Castro returned to Boston in 2008 to continue her studies in photography. She began working in film and TV, gaining a love for visual storytelling and invaluable experience on productions of all size and scale. Her love for architecture, design, and photography lend to a unique style and viewpoint.

Evan Schneider

Audio Mixer/Boom Operator

Evan is the founder of Hop Top Films. Known for his versatility on and off set, he has worked professionally in the film and videography industry for the past eight years following his graduation from Boston University with a Certification in Digital Filmmaking. Currently producing large quantities of business promos for Yelp & Zillow and gathering independent filmmaking awards at Film Festivals across the nation, he has big plans for Hop Top Films. Putting his all into his craft, Evan has built up his company arsenal of professional gear and loyal, talented casts and crew.

Sam Robinson

Gaffer

Sam is a Massachusetts-based filmmaker and graduate of Emerson College. In addition to working in Boston, Sam has worked on projects around the world, including Beijing, China, and Lima, Peru. He is fiercely dedicated to all things lighting/grip.

Cast Updates

Molly McCarthy (Amanda Jane) and Colbi Gannett (Cecily Blinkstop) bonded at a cookout.

This duo will certainly melt hearts!

Commitment to New England:

We are committed to hiring 80% of our cast and crew from the New England region. Paid film jobs in the New England region are hard to come by. We are working hard to provide employment to local filmmakers.

 

Commitment to Women:

We are committed to building a cast and crew with at least 50% women. Women represent 50% of the students graduating from film school and, therefore, our set will reflect and honor that statistic.

 

About Jennifer Potts:

Jennifer Potts is an independent Massachusetts-based filmmaker who proves that life does not need to slow down when you reach the middle. After receiving her BA in Theatre Arts, she spent years directing and producing theatre. At the age of 41, she returned to school to study Film and Video Production at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the past five years, Jennifer has written and directed three short films. Her last short film, Charlie & Poppy, screened at 16 film festivals around the world and won three best of category awards. Jennifer wrote The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop during her first semester in graduate school and is shooting this short as a proof of concept for the feature film. The feature film script won the Grand Prize of the New England Spotlight section of the 2016 Rhode Island International Film Festival’s Screenplay Competition.

 

Dawgs streak goes to 7, but snaps in night cap

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Game one was a pitching duel, while game two was a defensive struggle as both teams combined for six errors, as the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs and the Nashua Silver Knights split the doubleheader.

 

The Basics
Scores: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 2, Nashua Silver Knights 0 | Nashua Silver Knights 7 Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 5

Records: Wachusett Dirt Dawgs (9-6) | Nashua Silver Knights (10-6)

 

How it Happened

Dirt Dawgs 2, Nashua Silver Knights 0

 

Eddie Baram (Adephi) got the start for the Dawgs, going 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three. Joe Jumonville (Northern Ill) was the lone Dirt Dawgs with multiple hits in game one, going 2-for-3 at the dish with a singled and a key double in the sixth inning.

 

StigErik McElhinney (Nichols) was the solid on the mound for Nashua, going 5.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, and striking out five.

 

Baram was able to get out of trouble a few times during the game. In the first inning, he allowed runners to reach first and second with just one out, but then forced two 1-3 ground outs to escape.

 

The Silver Knights In the top of the fourth inning, Don Walsh (Post) sent the 2-2 offering over the right field wall to make it 1-0 Dirt Dawgs.

Wachusett extended their lead in the top of the sixth. After back to back hits from Kyle Pangallo (SNHU) and Jumonville, Sean Webster (SNHU) laid down a successful suicide squeeze, plating Pangallo from third.

 

In the bottom half of the sixth, Mike Demarest (Adephi) shut down the Silver Knights rally, inducing a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. Joe Simeone (UConn) came into the game in the bottom of the ninth to close the door, after allowing a runner to get into scoring position.

 

Nashua Silver Knights 7, Dirt Dawgs 5

 

Eddie Santiago (Mitchell) went 4.0 innings, giving up four hits, but struck out four batters. Offensively, Jeff Korte (Eastern Florida) led the way at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance in his Dirt Dawgs debut, including driving in two runs in the sixth inning.

 

Nashua was lead by Shane Kittila (Franklin Pierce) who picked up the win after going 4.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one run. At the dish, Cam Cook (Nichols) went 3-for-4, with two runs scored out of the two hole for the Knights.

 

The Silver Knights got things started in the bottom of the first inning, scoring one run despite loading the bases with zero outs. Webster tied the game up at 1-1 in the top of the third inning, as the to-be senior at Southern New Hampshire, hit his first homerun of the season to left field.

 

In the bottom half of the frame, Nashua plated three runs on just one hit, capitalizing on two Dirt Dawgs errors. The lead quickly expanded to 7-1, as the Knights scored three runs on three hits, and two more Wachusett errors in the fifth.

 

The Dirt Dawgs rallied in the sixth inning, scoring four times on three hits. Two runs scored on Korte’s base knock to left field, and he scored on a Kyle Cala (Wagner) single to left. The Dawgs would draw within two on a Christian Fedko (UConn) sacrifice fly to center field.

 

In the top of the ninth, Wachusett would get the tying run to the plate, but would unable to score the game tying run.

 

Inside the Numbers

  • With their win in game one, the Dirt Dawgs set a franchise record seven game winning streak. It was the leagues’ third longest streak this season.
  • In the last three games, Wachusett has hit five homeruns.

Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs head home as they take home the Seacoast Mavericks tomorrow night, with first pitch slated for 6:35pm. Nashua takes to the road on Friday, as they travel to Worcester to take on the Bravehearts, starting around 7:05pm.