Hollyshorts Secures Latv’s Viviana Vigil As Host For 3rd Annual Short Film Festival

July 24, 2007 - PRLog -- HOLLYWOOD, CA  July 24, 2007---The organizers HollyShorts (hollyshorts.com) announced today popular LATV network VJ Viviana Vigil will host the 3rd Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, which takes place August 11-12 at Cinespace Digital Superclub in Hollywood. Vigil can currently be seen hosting several shows on LATV, the nation's first bilingual music/entertainment network, including “Drive Thru” and “LATV Does Hollywood.”

The organization also confirmed Hip Hop legend Biz Markie will headline as the DJ for the festival’s closing night reception on Sunday, August 12. The HollyShorts opening night reception featuring the Hollywood premiere of Adrian Grenier’s short film “Euthanasia” takes place on Friday, August 10 at Nacional in Hollywood.

In making the announcement, Festival Director and co-founder Daniel Sol said: “It’s a testament to the growth of HollyShorts to have an esteemed host such as Viviana Vigil and the legendary Hip Hop impresario Biz Markee spinning at the event. We are looking forward to providing the industry, filmmakers and community of film enthusiasts with an action packed weekend of panels and networking opportunities.”

HollyShorts Film Festival will also feature two high profile industry Super Panels.  

Saturday, August 11 at 3pm, the festival will host:
“How Making or Acting in a Short Film Can Affect Your Career”
Moderated by Elliott Kotek, Editor of Moving Pictures Magazine. Panelists: Actor Joey Naber (Academy Award Winning short film “West Bank Story”); Award winning animator Michael Attardi; Casting Director Ivy Eisenberg; Actor Richard Riehle (“Office Space”); Actor Alex Sol (“Taking Lives”, “American History X”) and Writer/Director/Producer Alex Ferrari.

On Sunday, August 12, at 3:50pm, the festival will host:
“Packaging, Promoting, Marketing and Distributing Your Project in the Digital Era”
Moderated by Stuart Altman, Vice President, Film Industry Network. Panelists: Mark Stoloraf, instructor, No Budget Film School, Entertainment Power Lawyers Greg Bernstein, Law offices of Greg Bernstein), Paul Battista, Esq., Partner, MindFusion Law Corporation and Mychal Wilson, Esq., Partner, MindFusion Law Corporation.

The organizers of HollyShorts have also confirmed this year’s official festival jury. The HollyShorts 2007 jury includes the following:

Writer/Director Philippe Casseus (“Sleeper”); Peter Facer Productions founder Peter Facer; Independent  Film Producer Evan Ferrante (“Across The Hall”); Writer Elliott Owen (Produced and Directed "The Chamelion"); Chill Films’ Ariana Jackson; Actor Joey Naber; Writer/Director Producer Vince Parenti (“The Longest Yard Sale”); Founding editor and creative director of Stash Magazine Stephen Price; ReelWorld Film Festival Co-Founder, Vice President Ramona Ramtej; and Independent Filmmakers Alliance (IFA) Head of Media Relations Naomi Wiggins.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the opening night reception by emailing: (RSVP@hollyshorts.com). Advanced tickets are available now and can be purchased by visiting www.hollyshorts.com. Festival passes are $20 per day. For a limited time only, festival attendees can take advantage of the online exclusive two-day pass for $30.

While working as a children’s social worker for Los Angeles County Viviana tried out for LATV’s Be a VJ contest in 2001. Although she didn’t win the contest, producers asked her to work on the show anyway.  Viviana hosted “LATV Live”, Los Angeles’s only live music video show, from 2003 until 2005. “LATV Live” provided Viviana the opportunity to interview various Latin artists during the live show and interacted with the live in-studio audience. This incredible experience allotted Viviana the perfect forum to showcase her natural ability to capture the attention of both the viewers at home and the in studio audience with her entertaining, intelligent and quick witted personality. Viviana has also hosted various shows through KJLA including “Instant Request” a Live video request show where viewers would call into the show live or chat online to request videos and interact with both her and her co-hosts. The show was enormously popular pulling in over 3 million viewers on some occasions. Recently Viviana appeared in the film “The Oakley 7”, a new horror film set to release this March.  Currently Viviana is the host for the popular “Drive-Thru” show on LATV. The show’s target audience is 13-25 year olds who utilize email and Myspace to request their favorite videos. In addition to “Drive Thru” Viviana also hosts the Best of LATV and “LATV Does Hollywood” covering movie premiers and press junkets and “LATV en Concierto” which features performances and interviews from established and up and coming latino artists. Viviana has recently started writing and producing her own segment titled “Tu Voz”. “Tu Voz” is a politically themed segment aired on LATV’s “Rockamole” and soon to be featured on the new “LATV LIVE”. “Tu Voz” captures the voice of the Latin community focusing on important community issues in the Los Angeles area such as the May Day March and the plight of the South Central Farmers.

Biz Markie is a hip-hop legend. He has been making hip-hop history for more than 15 years. Known worldwide from New York City to Japan for such catchy songs as Just a Friend The Vapors  and Make the Music (with your mouth),Biz Markie is one of
the most celebrated entertainers in the industry. Born Marcel Hall in Harlem USA, Biz Markie stepped onto the scene in 1985, at age fourteen, as the beat box backup for Roxanne Shant of the Juice Crew.He then adopted his alias Biz, a name his mother used to call him because he was such a busybody and Markie, short for Marcel, was his neighborhood nickname. Today, Biz Markie's unique style is easily recognizable and well received.   In 1988 , Biz Markie signed his first record deal with Prism/Cold Chillin' Records and subsequently with Cold Chillin' Warner Bros. During his 5-year upward success with Warner Brothers Records, Biz made hip-hop history that made a lasting impact on the music industry. He was the first rap artist to be sued for sample clearance. As a result, the album, 'Need A Hair Cut' was removed from the shelves and the Biz Markie Sample Law was instituted. He been through it all but is "going to keep it moving until I can do it anymore". Biz Markie demonstrated his resilience when he started BizMont Entertainment a production company with manager and longtime friend Monte Wanzer.  With one of the largest number of collective works, Biz has over 30,00045-records and over 50,000 12"inch albums. Because of his longevity in this business, Biz has an enormous collection of music. "He can spin for crowds of all colors,ages and backgrounds and will leave them in awe every time", says Wanzer.  
The The Spin Master has performed for such celebrity meg-events as The Grammy After Parties, The Pre-Oscar Party, The Essence Festival, The Magic Johnson Foundation Parties, Soul Train Music Awards, Sinbad's Soul Fest, and a recent performance for Diana Ross' private birthday party. "That will be one of my most memorable performances ever, there were so many legendary entertainers in the house, and I was the controller of the celebration. It was a birthday celebration for Ms. Ross, but a celebration of incalculable things for me", says Biz. His musical M.C. roster also includes parties for Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Puffy, Andre Harrell, Jermaine Dupri, Shaquille O'neal, and Kobe Bryant to name a few.  

The schedule and complete lineup of this year’s festival is available on www.hollyshorts.com.

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About HollyShorts
HollyShorts, Short Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events. The HollyShorts, Short Film festival showcases the top short films produced 30-minutes or less. For more information, please visit www.hollyshorts.com.

Website: www.hollyshorts.com