Albuquerque Film Festival Kicks Off Summer with Screening of The Cool School

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) May 17, 2011

Though the Albuquerque Film Festival doesnt launch until later this Summer on August 18st 21st, festival director and Film 4 Change founder Rich Henrich is kicking-off the season on June 7th by presenting a remarkable film called The Cool School as a part of Savor Albuquerques event line-up.

Why The Cool School? Film 4 Change seeks to present films and the related arts that celebrate story and the art of being human. The story of The Cool School is a quintessential example of how creativity creates change and impacts economy through a dedication to the arts and a persistence of vision. The fact that we have a world-famous artist such as Larry Bell, who is featured in the film, willing to share his perspectives and stories about how this group of artists who created the scene in Los Angeles, is a huge opportunity for all of us who are engaged in the continued growth of the arts in Albuquerque, says Henrich. (Larry Bell splits time between L.A. and his studio in Taos).

About The Cool School: From 1957 to 1966, the Ferus Gallery was the catalyst of modern art in Los Angeles. Launching the careers of luminaries like Warhol, Ruscha and Lichtenstein, Ferus built an art scene from scratch and transformed the cultural climate of the West Coast.

The Cool School also includes commentary from two other famous transplanted New Mexican artists/actors who are also very close to the festival the late Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell. Hopper was the 2009 recipient of the AFF Lifetime Achievement Award. Last year, in 2010, Henrich did not give out the award due to Hoppers passing on May 29th and in turn, renamed it The Dennis Lee Hopper Award in his honor. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in film and the related arts and is awarded to an individual with a persistence of vision that reflects the independent spirit of Dennis Lee Hopper. This year, Henrich is proud to announce that Dean Stockwell, a close friend to the late Dennis Hopper and Larry Bell, has been selected as the 2011 award recipient.

Were delighted that Mr. Stockwell has agreed to accept this award and we are planning to screen a retrospective of his work including his personal favorite Married to the Mob, which he was nominated for an Academy Award and David Lynchs Blue Velvet which he stars opposite Dennis Hopper. This years festival promises to be as exciting and surprising as the last two years, says Henrich, with incredible films and people from New Mexico and around the globe.

Were also adding some genre films and are happy to screen The Dead Inside, a supernatural zombie musical that is sure to entertain. We will be screening films at The Guild, The Kimo, The Cell and the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ABQ, a producing sponsor of the Albuquerque Film Festival and host hotel for our panels, workshops and parties. Todd Jefferson, Director of Marvel Games will return to AFF to host his popular panel on Games, Comics and Movies and share insights from ComiCon.

Workshops will cover technical aspects of filmmaking from camera to post-production as well as screenwriting, social media marketing and film financing. Panels will feature Hollywood insiders, agents, executives and a yet to be announced actors panel hosted by a very special guest.

Were also thrilled to announce that actor Michael Madsen of Reservoir Dogs fame will be attending the festival in August and we are extremely pleased to announce our opening night film, Amigo, written and directed by John Sayles and starring Chris Cooper. As part of our film series on art and creativity, we will also screen Philip Pearlstein: Naked Vision, a documentary about the controversial artist whos dedicated over 60 years of his life to painting nudes. Art and Culture critic Dave Hickey will lead a discussion following the film. The rest of our programming is still in the early stages with the next deadline for submissions of narrative features, documentaries, short films, music videos and multimedia projects set for June 5th and the final late deadline will be June 30th.

For more information on upcoming events, submitting, volunteering or attending this years festival as well as more information on the screening of The Cool School, Larry Bell, Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell please visit http://www.ABQfilmfestival.com or find us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/abqfilmfestival for the latest updates.

Event: Albuquerque Film Festival and Savor Albuquerque present

The Cool School Followed by Q & A with artist Larry Bell

When: Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 7pm

Where: Kimo Theater, 423 Central Avenue Northwest,

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Tickets: Fundraiser for Film 4 Change and the Albuquerque Film Festival, open to the public with a suggested donation at the door.

About Film4Change and The Albuquerque Film Festival:

The mission of Film 4 Change is to transform community through the power of story, laughter, art and music. We produce, promote and present socially conscious media and present an annual festival of film and the related arts that celebrates the art of being human and the craft of being an artist and storyteller. At Film 4 Change, we believe stories shape and transform who we are and what we do both individually and collectively. We strive to work with filmmakers, storytellers, artists, musicians and change-makers to bring about a more tolerant and compassionate world through educational workshops, lectures, screenings and responsible use of community resources while sharing the unique character of the Southwest on screen, in print and on stage.

Now in its third year, The Albuquerque Film Festival is establishing itself as a first-rate festival that represents diversity, innovation and creative achievement in film. Their programming includes art exhibits, one-act plays, music, comedy and engaging workshops and panels with industry leaders and of course, lots of great films along with parties and unforgettable personalities. The festival looks for sci-fi, comedy, fantasy, animation, documentaries (especially lost technology and conspiracy theories),

music docs, webisodes and TV Pilots.

Media inquiries please contact Wendi Gelfound, Marketing Director, Albuquerque Film Festival at: marketing(at)abqfilmfestival(dot)com

or call 575-770-2895.

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A Better Way for Scheduling Summer Church Events, Programs: Online Scheduling Software from Appointment-Plus Helps Automate, Improve the Booking Process

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) June 23, 2011

Churches and other houses of worship worldwide provide a wealth of activities, events, programs and volunteer opportunities during the summer months and throughout the year for its congregation members. And regardless of the type of services offered, appointments and reservations are usually required. Over-the-phone appointments and paper schedule books usually come up short, which is why a growing number of churches and other houses of worship are turning to Appointment-Plus online scheduler calendar for their appointment-booking needs.

Offering online scheduling solutions to churches and other houses of worship since 2001, Appointment-Plus online scheduler calendar helps these groups automate, streamline and improve the way they accept and manage appointment and member information for a variety of different services, programs and activities, including:

Photo sessions for individuals and families.
Counseling.
Volunteer opportunities.
Community-outreach projects.
Workshops and classes.
Events.
Room scheduling.

As a leading provider of online scheduling software, Appointment-Plus offers a feature-rich platform of functionality to help church administrators and staff quickly and easily manage these appointments and reservations. Among the more popular ones are:

Online self-scheduling, which allows individuals to book their own appointments and reservations when its most convenient for them, 24 hours a day.

Automated e-mail and text message reminders sent by the system prior to a scheduled appointment or reservation time.

Robust record-keeping and reporting capabilities for managing appointment and contact information.

E-marketing through iContact.

Because of its flexibility, Appointment-Plus online scheduler calendar is perfect for a variety of different programs and activities, such as scheduling individual and family photo sessions, booking sessions with church counselors, and scheduling volunteers for events, activities and programs.

Managing appointments can be a tedious and burdensome task for church administrators and staff, especially if they still rely on a paper appointment book and pen, says Bob La Loggia, CEO of Appointment-Plus. Our leading online scheduling program makes this process simple by giving church members the ability to schedule their own appointments and reservations on their own without having to call them in.

Church offices that incorporate Appointment-Plus into their operating procedures can expect almost immediate and positive results.

Appointment-Plus online scheduler calendar makes it easy for churches and other houses of worship to accept online appointment and reservations by providing them with a Schedule Now button and unique URL link to add to their Web site, social media page (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), newsletters, programs, e-mail messages and other forms of communication. This link allows access to the online scheduler, where church members can view services, check availability and book their appointments and reservations.

Because its Web-based, Appointment-Plus online scheduling software requires only an Internet connection, with no downloads, installations or additional hardware required. Appointment-Plus also provides all the technical support so that church IT staff or contracted service need not worry about any maintenance, upgrades or updates to the system, as these are done automatically.

Pricing starts at $ 39 per month, with no long-term contracts. All signups receive complementary training with a professional set-up coach during their 15-day free trial period.

Appointment-Plus online scheduling software is a technology that both church staff and members will appreciate.

Our technology can play a dual role in church operations: Improve the internal scheduling process for administrators and staff and make it easier and more convenient for church members to schedule their appointments and reservations, La Loggia adds. Its a win-win for everyone.

For more information on how Appointment-Plus online scheduler calendar can improve your appointment- and reservation-scheduling processes, click here.

About Appointment-Plus: Appointment-Plus is the leading online appointment-scheduling system, serving organizations in 11 countries ranging from one-person businesses to Fortune 500 companies. With over 10 million end users across 100 industries, Appointment-Plus is the preferred scheduler for colleges and universities, holistic practitioners, salons, shipping docks, government agencies, health care providers, financial institutions, tour operators, and many other types of organizations. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., over 70 million appointments have been booked through Appointment-Plus since its launch in 2001.

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A Perfect Pain Reliever: A Growing Number of Acupuncturists Turn to Appointment-Plus Online Scheduling Software for Booking, Managing their Summer Acupuncture Sessions

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) June 28, 2011

Unlike the scores of people worldwide who take time off to enjoy the warm weather, activities and relaxation of the summer months, pain and body aches dont go on vacation. Acupuncturists nationwide and throughout the globe are busy meeting with patients and providing remedies to help relieve them of their nagging symptoms. Unfortunately, acupuncturists and their staff may be feeling a pain of their own if they still rely upon inefficient scheduling procedures to book and manage their patients appointments and information. Thanks to proven online scheduling software from Appointment-Plus, these professionals are automating and improving this tedious and time-consuming process.

Appointment-Plus online business calendar understands the unique needs acupuncturists have for scheduling their sessions. In fact, the leading scheduling software provider has seen a significant increase recently in the number of acupuncture offices choosing it as their online scheduling solution. Among the features theyre utilizing are:

Online patient self-scheduling, whereby individuals can book their own appointments at their own convenience and at any hour of the day.
Automated e-mail and text message reminders sent prior to a scheduled appointment time.
Online customer payment options.
Robust record-keeping and reporting capabilities that make it easy for practitioners to extract patient information and pull reports.
E-marketing solutions through iContact.

Other features popular among acupuncturists include repeat customer reminders, which the system sends out after a specified time between visits elapses; and gift certificates to purchase and send to friends, families and colleagues who could benefit from a stress-relieving acupuncture session.

Like all service-based businesses, acupuncturists rely on accurate appointment-scheduling to run their operations efficiently and profitably, says Bob La Loggia, CEO of Appointment-Plus. Taking appointments over the phone and managing information in a paper schedule book or spreadsheet can be inefficient and burdensome for acupuncturists and staff members, which is why our online scheduling software is becoming a common fixture in acupuncture offices, wellness centers, holistic practices and day spas nationwide and around the globe.

The key to automating appointment-scheduling procedures is by offering online self-scheduling to patients, a process Appointment-Plus online business calendar makes easy by supplying each new signup with a Schedule Now button and unique URL link to add to a business Web site, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media page, newsletter, e-mail message and other forms of communication to patients. The patients then access the online business calendar in the same manner as any other Web site. They can view services, select specific practitioners and choose which days they want to come in for their session. Once booked, the online scheduling system does the rest without any additional action from the acupuncturist and his or her staff.

Because its Web-based, Appointment-Plus online scheduler calendar requires only an Internet connection to use, without any downloads, installation or additional hardware necessary.

Pricing starts at $ 39 per month, with no long-term contracts. All signups receive a complimentary training session with a professional coach during their 15-day free trial period.

Scheduling patient appointments and managing information should not be a time and monetary drain on an acupuncture practice, La Loggia adds. Let Appointment-Plus online scheduling software streamlines this necessary task so that you and your staff can spend less time on the phone and more time with your patients.

To learn more about Appointment-Plus online scheduling calendars and how they can improve your patient-booking processes, click here.

About Appointment-Plus: Appointment-Plus is the leading online appointment-scheduling system, serving organizations in 11 countries ranging from one-person businesses to Fortune 500 companies. With over 10 million end users across 100 industries, Appointment-Plus is the preferred scheduler for colleges and universities, holistic practitioners, salons, shipping docks, government agencies, health care providers, financial institutions, tour operators, and many other types of organizations. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., over 70 million appointments have been booked through Appointment-Plus since its launch in 2001.

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