The Skinny

While there might not be too much going on in the way of film production these days, there's still a buzz of activity in Los Angeles. Networking opportunities abound, and a little schmoozing always helps keep the mind sharp, even during the hazy days of summer.



Baby Steps

On Thursday, July 3, Club DIY will present "A Conversation With CDBaby.com founder Derek Sivers," at the Derby. The discussion will be moderated by DIY Convention chairman Bruce Haring. Sivers, a former professional musician, will discuss the secrets behind CDBaby's success, which has seen the company sell more than $3 million in independent music in its short history. The discussion will commence at 8 p.m., preceded by a networking cocktail party at 7 p.m. Selections for screening and music performance slots for future Club DIY dates in Los Angeles and other cities are done through the 2004 DIY Music Festival (www.diymusicfestival.com) and the 2004 DIY Film Festival (www.diyfilmfestival.com). Potential candidates can also bring their material to the Derby and sign up. The Derby nightclub is located at 4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles.



Tyra's Top 10

Led by UPN and Tyra Banks, America's Next Top Model is conducting a nationwide search for around 10 young women, ages 18 -27, who want to make it in the world of modeling. Finalists will live together and vie for the grand prize in weekly tests that determine who can cut it as America's ultimate model. To find out more or to fill out an application, visit www.upn.com/shows/top_model/#.



All Actors Are Created Equal

National Treasure will be the next big film to come out of Jerry Bruckheimer's production company. The film will begin production in early September and stars Nicolas Cage as an archeologist and descendent of Ben Franklin who believes that a map for hidden treasure is written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. The casting director is Avy Kaufman.



In the Palm of Your Hand

Palm Pictures, in collaboration with Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, and Chris Cunningham, is releasing The Directors Label, a director-created and director-compiled DVD series featuring music videos, shorts and commercials, and special features, including interviews, alternate versions, unseen short films and documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, and commentaries from various featured artists and collaborators. Each release will be specially packaged and will include a 52-page book of never-before-seen photographs, storyboards, drawings, and interviews. The first Directors Label release will be the work of director Jonze (Adaptation., Being John Malkovich) on Aug. 26, to be followed in near-monthly intervals by the works of director Cunningham (music videos include Bjork's "Human Behaviour"; the Rolling Stones' "Like a Rolling Stone"; Beck's "Deadweight," and Radiohead's "Knives Out") and the work of director Gondry (art films Flex and Monkey Drummer and music videos including Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy," Bjork's "All Is Full of Love," and Portishead's "Only You"). Additional directors label volumes in the ongoing DVD series are slated for release in spring 2004.



Ugly Americanos

Americano is set to begin production in July. The Spirit Lake Pictures feature will star Dennis Hopper, Ruthanna Hopper, and Josh Jackson. Shooting will be in Los Angeles and Spain. For more information, check out www.americanothemovie.com. The casting director is Karen Meisels.



Take a Memento

BBC Films is taking on Me Again, a psychological thriller about a man who wakes up with amnesia and discovers a corpse in his hotel room. Unsure of whether he's a hit man or the potential target, he teams up with a female detective to solve the mystery. Filming will begin in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Diane Lane is set to star, but no other cast members have been named. The casting director is Debra Zane.