Beloved Nashville Actor/Singer/Songwriter J.Karen Thomas Dies

Editor's Note: We lost the beautiful, wonderfully talented actor/singer/songwriter J.Karen Thomas on March 26, 2015. I will never forget her performances at my "Tunesmithing" events... She was a lovely, giving and graceful lady in every way. It's hard to believe she's gone. Joe Pagetta, a writer for the blog How To Play Nashville, wrote an excellent article about her. She will definitely be missed. -- Chuck Whiting, MCAU Editor

From the Blog, How To Play Nashville:

            J. Karen Thomas, a beloved and vital member of Nashville’s theater, film, television and music communities, died this morning at age 50, her longtime partner of almost 20 years, Colette Divine, has confirmed.  She was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in January and had been undergoing treatment.

            A native of Nashville and graduate of Mississippi State, Thomas was a professional SAG actress, singer-songwriter and voice-over artist best known to contemporary television viewers for her role as Audrey Carlisle, the wife of mayor Coleman Carlisle (Robert Wisdom) in the first season of ABC’s "NASHVILLE". She was also on "Drop Dead Diva" and "Army Wives". Her numerous other television credits include guest appearances on "Criminal Minds" and "Ellen".  Her film career included working alongside Robin Williams in the Nashville-shot "Boulevard", as well as roles in "The Identical" and "Captive". She and Divine were also in the documentary, "Who Killed the Electric Car?".

            As a theater performer, she was most recently in the Nashville Repertory Theatre’s 2015 production of "Company". In 2013, she was awarded the  Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress as Shug Avery in "The Color Purple Musical".

            As a singer, she released two CDs and shared the stage with Keb’Mo, Cliff Richmond and The Time Jumpers. Her performance at the Ryman Auditorium as a guest soloist with Nashville in Harmony garnered her a standing ovation. She also sang at Cannes Film Festival’s AmPav and performed in shows for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Disney Sea in Tokyo.

            Thomas was a dedicated community volunteer. Among the many organizations she donated her time to were TreePeople, Outfest, GLADD, Plug in America, ANSA, Nashville Film Festival, POWER UP, Artists for a World without HIV, Fort Campbell’s Barsanti Elementary and SAG’s BookPALS. She and Divine were also avid supporters and frequenters of the Belcourt Theatre.

J.Karen Thomas performs
at "Tunesmithing in December 2015.

            Bo Sebastian, an actor, writer, life and health coach and friend of Thomas’, wrote on Facebook this morning that she passed this morning “at the height of her beautiful singing and acting talent.

            “I had the pleasure of working with her often enough to know her heart and her inner voice,” he continued. “My soul aches at the loss of her humanness.”

            It is asked at this time that flowers and plants not be sent. A GoFundMe Page that is still active was set up in January to help fund Thomas’ rising medical costs. Arrangements have not yet been announced.

-- Joe Pagetta (March 26, 2015)

http://www.howtoplaynashville.com/nashville-based-actress-and-singer-j-karen-thomas-dies-at-50/

Benefit Concert on April 17 in Nashville to Raise Funds for Family of Late Musician/Actress J.Karen Thomas

            NASHVILLE – Lance Hoppen, Ester Nicholson, Jill Colucci, and other musicians will perform at the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville at 7 p.m. April 17 (Friday) to help raise funds for the family of the late J.Karen Thomas. 

          The acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress died recently from a rare form of blood cancer. All proceeds will go to her surviving partner/wife, Colette Divine, to help offset memorial costs, temporary loss of income, and living expenses. Admission to "Cause de Célèbre: Honoring the Late J.Karen Thomas" is $35, with VIP tickets available for $100. VIP tickets include special seating and a meet-and-greet with performers before the show.  

          To learn more or to buy tickets for the fundraising concert, visit http://www.cslnashville.org/benefit-concert-for-j.-karen-thomas.html .

          CSLN is located at 6705 Charlotte Pike in West Nashville. Individuals with questions can call (615) 356-0174 or send an e-mail inquiry to info@cslnashville.org. 

 

          A Memorial Service honoring the artist will occur in the church sanctuary at 2 p.m. April 18 (Saturday).

           Thomas was a Nashville native who starred in a recurring role as Audrey Carlisle on ABC-TV’s hit series "Nashville". She guest starred on more than 40 other TV shows including "Criminal Minds".  She appeared in the 2014 feature films "The Identical", starring Ashley Judd; "Captive", starring David Oyelowo; and "Boulevard", starring Robin Williams.  Thomas is the 2013 recipient of The Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress as Shug Avery in "The Color Purple Musical".  Locally, she sang with Keb’ Mo', Jimmy Church, The Time Jumpers, and many others. Her CDs, "Love Just Happens" and "Live @ CSLN", are available at cdbaby.com.  

          To make a donation to the "J.Karen Eternal Love" fundraising campaign, visit http://www.gofundme.com/jkareneternallove . 

Actors Learn the Auditioning Ropes at Nashville Film Festival

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            Some of Nashville's most successful actors provided invaluable insights to fellow actors during a special interactive session ("The Art of Auditioning") during the Nashville Film Festival. Leading the panel were moderator Susannah Devereaux, JesseJames Locorriere, Christopher Close, J.Karen Thomas, Jason Marsden, and Robin Dougherty. Following is an overview of what we learned (in their own words):

* Before the Audition:

            "Don't over-rehearse." -- JesseJames Locorriere

            "If you are preparing for a period piece, they might ask you to use a foreign accent. Conduct research to know what the scene is about. IMDb is an excellent online resource for information and trailers." -- Christopher Close

            "Take it seriously, and be prepared (but find a back story so you can be playful). When I rehearse, I read the script five to 10 times. It's important to understand the relationship between the character you're portraying and the other characters in the story. Know who's going to be there, learn more about them, and understand the style of the movie or show. That helps you build relationships." -- J.Karen Thomas

            "Don't obsess." -- Jason Marsden

            "Your agent's reputation is on the line, so be accountable. Do your research. You don't want to be seen in a bad light. Don't share audition news on Facebook. What if you don't land the part?" -- Robin Dougherty

* When You Audition:

            "Sometimes casting directors have pet peeves. Some hate things like flip-flops and smoking." -- Susannah Devereaux

            "Know why you're being seen for this role. They want to see who you are. You aren't competing. The stakes are higher when you're auditioning live in front of a casting director. Always go 'live' if you can. When you're nervous, you often do better. Taping can make you lazy. Show them your easy-to-work-with side." -- JesseJames Locorriere

            "If they say do it bigger, then go bigger. Otherwise, don't. Be natural. Sometimes the casting director knows if you're right for the part the moment you speak. Don't shake hands when you come into an audition (unless they extend theirs). Use your nerves to make your audition better." -- Christopher Close

            "In the movie 'The Identical', I portray a poor, uneducated black Southerner in 1936. It's important to allow the muse or emotion to flow through you. During rehearsal, I spoke her line with a crack in my voice. The crack came naturally. I used it again during the audition and landed the part. Don't change the words. Stick with the text. But be prepared if you're instructed to ad lib." -- J.Karen Thomas

            "Nashville auditions are warmer than LA, which can be brutal. The only thing you should pay for is gas (and occasionally a meal). Never review your audition." -- Jason Marsden

            "Listen to what they tell you to do. Always follow directions (don't do it your way). Don't go to the audition in character. An agent once had an actor go to an audition with cow udders, and it was a disaster." -- Robin Dougherty

How to Handle Rejection:

            "When I get a part, it means others have been rejected, too." -- JesseJames Locorriere

            "Sometimes you know (if you got the part) right away, but most of the time you don't. Don't stew if you don't land it. It's a one-in-a-hundred kind of thing. Most of the time, you're not going to get it. When I don't, I just tell myself they had poor judgment in not casting me. Don't take it personally. Go canoeing. Then get back to your job. You can't get it right every time." -- Christopher Close

            "I take the Zin point of view: Do your best, and let it go. Remember that you've made an investment. Something even better will come along. Enjoy the process." -- J.Karen Thomas

            "Sometimes you think you did everything right, but you still don't get the part. You have to move on." -- Jason Marsden

On Self-Taping:

            "You will need a 6-foot tripod. You can buy them at Consumer Depot for only $13." -- JesseJames Locorriere

            "If you have to shoot with poor quality (when you're on the road), then do it. Performance is the most important thing." -- Christopher Close

            "Don't worry about outdoor scenes (most of the time). They like an even playing field, so taping in a room is fine. The set is not as important. They are looking at the acting." -- J.Karen Thomas

            "Have a good agent, and be able to self-tape. Don't use an iPhone (if it's unsteady). You will need decent lights and clamps to hold them. You can find painters' lights at low prices at area hardware stores. You will need a good camera with quality sound. Dollar Tree sells smaller tripods. Wax paper can be used to tone down the lights. Shoot 'tits up' (not the whole body)." -- Robin Dougherty

Other Tips:

            "The Internet is huge. It's important to have a great site." -- JesseJames Locorriere

            "I have agents in both Nashville and Atlanta." -- J.Karen Thomas

            "It's a good time to be an actor with an affectation (like a stutter). Embrace it. Be endearing with it." -- Jason Marsden

           

            For more information about the Nashville Film Festival, visit www.NashvilleFilmFestival.org.

Auditioning, Voiceover Acting, Music Licensing Among Panel Topics at NaFF

            NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Film Festival will offer a number of informative panels for composers, actors, music publishers, screenwriters, producers, directors and others. Here's a list with topics, dates and times.

            * "Music, Movies And TV: Sag-Aftra Explains It All" - April 18 (Friday) at 4 p.m.

            Whether you're writing songs for film and television, wanting to know what it's like to be a regular on a network series, or working behind the scenes with Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, let professional members of SAG-AFTRA and IATSE help you understand the ins and outs of today's entertainment landscape. Join acclaimed singer-songwriter/producer (Toby Keith's' "White Trash With Money") and actress ("Cast Away", "No Regrets") Lari White, actor Ed Amatrudo (Glenn Goodman on ABC's "Nashville", "NYPD Blue" and AMC's new "Halt And Catch Fire") and two-time Academy Award nominee for sound mixing Peter F. Kurland ("Inside Llewyn Davis" and "No Country For Old Men") for a unique and informative entertainment industry discussion. 

            * "The Art Of Auditioning" - April 19 (Saturday) at 10 a.m.

            J.Karen Thomas (actor, ABC's "Nashville," Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva," and 2014 NaFF selections "Boulevard", "The Identical"), Robin Daugherty (audition coach, actor, 2014 NaFF selection "Chasing Ghosts"), Jessejames Locorriere (Cinemax's "Banshee," "Turn," for AMC, and Showtime's "Homeland"), Christopher Close (actor, ABC's "Nashville", CBS's "Without A Trace," and "Unspeakable Indiscretions") and Jason Marsden (actor, "Blue Like Jazz") will walk participants through the current trends in auditioning for the camera, finding an agent, self-taping for auditions and other issues in the business, using demonstrations and panel discussions. Moderated by Susannah Devereux (actor, 2014 NaFF selection "Chasing Ghosts").

            * "Voiceover Acting" - April 20 (Sunday) at 1 p.m.

            Jason Marsden shares the secrets of successful voice-over acting. His deep resume includes the voice of Impulse on DC Nation's "Young Justice", Conrad "Duke" Hauser in "GI Joe: Renegades", various Disney characters - including Haku in the Academy Award -winning "Spirited Away" - and on-screen appearances in "Full House", "Step By Step" and "Will and Grace".

            * " Music Licensing 2014" - April 24 (Thursday) at 3 p.m.

            A panel of industry experts in film, television, advertising and branding will address the current industry trends and hot topics in the world of music licensing.  A must-attend for directors, producers, music providers, artists, songwriters, labels and publishers. 

            * "The Writer's Hustle" - April 25 (Friday) at 12:30 p.m.

            Four Industry professionals who have seen scripts shopped, shot, sold and dropped share anecdotes about what writers are in for after their scripts are written: "The Hustle". How do you get your script read? What happens on set once the scripts in the actors' hands? Where do you stand in Hollywood once your script is being shopped around? Join actor-writer Richard Speight Jr. ("Thank You For Smoking"), David Alford (ABC's "Nashville"), Hollywood publicist and creative marketing consultant Harold Loren, and filmmaker and screenwriter Nick Egan ("Red Light Runners", "Oasis: Definitely Maybe") for the inside scoop.

            * "Song Stories" - April 25 (Friday) at 11 a.m.

            Each piece of music that appears in films, television and advertising has a unique story of how it made the final cut.  Music supervisors in the film, television, advertising and branding industries will share clips and stories of how songs, score and production music made it into their projects. This panel provides a great opportunity to learn how the process works by example.  

            To learn more about the NaFF panels, visit https://www.nashvillefilmfestival.org/2014-festival/schedule/.

Nashville Film Festival Announces Full Line-Up of Feature Films

            NASHVILLE - The Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) has announced the full line-up of feature films in competition and special presentations for the 45th annual festival, April 17 - 26.

            NaFF is one of the largest film festivals in the U.S., attracting more than 3,100 submissions. The festival drew more than 100,000 attendees in 2014.

            The Nashville Film Festival, named one of the top five in the U.S. by Brooks Institute, and an Academy Award Qualifier for short films in three categories (animations, narratives and documentaries), has become one of the premier showcases for the best new work of American and international filmmakers.  The festival screens films that represent the creative risk filmmakers take to tell powerful and important stories innovatively.

Added Films:

Special Presentations:

            * "Boulevard" | Director: Dito Montiel. USA. 100 minutes. Starring: Robin Williams, Kathy Baker, Roberto Aguire, Bob Odenkirk, Giles Matthey, J. Karen Thomas.

            While Nolan Mack (Robin Williams) and his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) wake up under the same roof each morning, separate bedrooms underscore the disparate worlds they are living in. This steady disconnection prevails in his job at the bank and deserving promotion— emptiness is the essence of Nolan’s life. His emotional journey begins to unfold with a drive down a desolate city street where he encounters a troubled young man named Leo (Roberto Aguire). As lost time slowly awakens Nolan’s secret life, he realizes that truth is opportunity for change.

            * "Calvary" | Director: John Michael McDonagh. Ireland / United Kingdom. 100 minutes. Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Marie-Josée Croze.

            Father James is a beloved priest in his village, driven by his spiritual integrity. One day, while taking confession, an unseen man tells him that he has only a week to live. The man is going to kill him for the simple fact that he’s done nothing wrong. As he prepares himself for his fate, he continues to care for the souls of his parishioners - a few of them possible suspects. Complicating matters is a visit from his daughter - who has troubles of her own. A Fox Searchlight Release.

            "The One I Love" | Director: Charlie McDowell. USA. 91 minutes. Starring: Mark Duplass, Elisabeth Moss, Ted Danson.

            Ethan and Sophie are a couple whose relationship is on the verge of ending. Their therapist recommends a getaway weekend as an attempt to salvage what’s left of their love. What begins as a relaxing retreat becomes a baffling and bizarre weekend forcing them to embrace the unexpected and find their better selves. A Radius-TWC Release.

            * "The Identical" | Director: Dustin Marcellino. USA. 107 minutes. Starring: Blake Rayne, Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta, Seth Green, and Joe Pantoliano. Also appearing in the film: J.Karen Thomas and Lynn Wilbanks.

            "The Identical" is about twin brothers separated at birth during the Great Depression. Despite their very different upbringings, the boys' shared passion for music causes their lives to unknowingly intersect as they experience a powerful and mysterious connection often felt by twins. One becomes a rock and roll legend, while the other struggles to find balance between his love for music and trying to please his adoptive father who has very different plans for his life. This film, spanning from the 1930's through the 1970's, is a captivating journey about the restoration and the reconciliation of a family broken apart by culture, creed and tradition.

World Cinema:

            * "Bethlehem" | Director. Yuval Adler. Israel / Belgium / Germany. 99 minutes.

Starring: Tsahi Halevi, Shadi Mar’i, Hitham Omari, Michal Shtamler.

            Razi is an Israeli secret service officer. Sanfur is his Palestinian informant, the younger brother of a senior Palestinian militant. Razi recruited him when he was just 15, and developed a very close, almost fatherly relationship to him. Now 17, Sanfur tries to navigate between Razi’s demands and his loyalty to his brother, living a double life and lying to both.

Documentary Competition:

            "Happy Valley" | Director: Amir Bar-Lev. USA.

State College, Pennsylvania – home to Penn State University – is nicknamed Happy Valley and its most revered citizen was PSU head football coach, Joe Paterno. But in November, 2011, longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested on 40 counts of child sexual abuse and this serene setting became a hotbed of accusations.

Complete List of Feature Films:

Special Presentations:

American Commune | Directors: Rena Mundo Croshere, Nadine Mundo. USA. 90 minutes.

Boulevard | Director: Dito Montiel. USA. 100 minutes.

Calvary | Director: John Michael McDonagh. Ireland / United Kingdom. 100 minutes.

Dom Hemingway | Director: Richard Shepard. United Kingdom. 93 minutes.

Field of Lost Shoes | Director: Sean McNamara. USA. 94 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

Happy Christmas | Director: Joe Swanberg. USA. 78 minutes.

Ida | Director: Pawel Pawilkowski. Poland. 80 minutes.

Locke | Director: Steven Knight. United Kingdom. 85 minutes.

Lucky Them | Director: Megan Griffiths. USA. 97 minutes.

Obvious Child | Director: Gillian Robespierre. USA. 83 minutes.

The One I Love | Director: Charlie McDowell. USA. 91 minutes.

Words and Pictures | Director: Fred Schepisi. USA. 111 minutes.

World Cinema:

The Amazing Catfish | Director: Claudia Sainte-Luce. Mexico. 89 minutes.

Bethlehem | Director. Yuval Adler. Israel / Belgium / Germany. 99 minutes.

Butter on the Latch | Director: Josephine Baker. USA. 63 minutes.

Long Way Home | Director: Måns Nilsson. Sweden / USA. 87 minutes.N. AMERICAN PREMIERE

Manakamana | Director: Stephanie Spray, Pacho Velez. Nepal / USA. 117 minutes.

Metro Manila | Director: Sean Ellis. United Kingdom / Philippines. 115 minutes.

A Story of Children and Film | Director: Mark Cousins. United Kingdom / France. 101 minutes.

Vic + Flo Saw a Bear | Director: Denis Côté. Canada. 95 minutes.

When the World’s On Fire | Director: James Clauer. USA. 70 minutes. WORLD PREMIRE.

Narrative Competition:

The Animal Project | Director: Ingrid Vininger. Canada. 90 minutes.

Buzzard | Director: Joel Potrykus. USA. 97 minutes.

Club Sandwich | Director: Fernando Eimbcke. Mexico. 82 minutes.

The Enemy Within | Director: Yorgos Tsemberopoulos. Greece. 107 minutes.

Grace. | Director: Heath Jones. USA. 95 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

The House That Jack Built | Director: Henry Barrial. USA. 90 minutes.

The Identical | Director: Dustin Marcellino. USA. 88 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

The Invisible Collection | Director: Bernard Attal. Brazil. 89 minutes.

Little Brother | Director: Seric Aprymov. Kazakhstan. 97 minutes.

Love Me | Directors: Maryna Gorbach, Mehmet Bahadir Er. Turkey | Ukraine. 90 minutes.

Maryan | Director: Ganapathy Bharat. India | Namibia. 150 minutes.

Noble | Director: Stephen Bradley. Vietnam | United Kingdom. 101 minutes.

Peace After Marriage | Director: Ghazi Albuliwi. USA. 86 minutes.

Something Necessary | Director: Judy Kibinge. Germany | Kenya. 85 minutes.

Test | Director: Chris Mason Johnson. USA. 89 minutes.

Thou Wast Mild and Lovely | Director: Josephine Decker. USA. 94 minutes.

Undiscovered Gyrl | Director: Allison Burnett. USA. 100 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

New Directors Competition:

1982| Director: Tommy Oliver. USA. 80 minutes.

9 Full Moons | Director: Tomer Almagor. USA. 103 minutes.

As It Is in Heaven | Director: Joshua Overbay. USA. 86 minutes.

Before I Disappear | Director: Shawn Christensen. USA. 94 minutes.

Chasing Ghosts | Director: Josh Shreve. USA. 93 minutes.

Congratulations! | Director: Mike Brune. USA. 90 minutes.

Drunktown’s Finest | Director: Sydney Freeland. USA. 95 minutes.

Forty Years from Yesterday | Director: Robert Machoian, Rodrigo Ojeda-Beck. USA. 76 minutes.

I Believe in Unicorns | Director: Leah Meyerhoff. USA. 80 minutes.

Medeas | Director: Andrea Pallaoro. Italy, Mexico, USA. 97 minutes.

OJ: The Musical | Director: Jeff Rosenberg. USA. 90 minutes.

The Resurrection of a Bastard | Director: Guido van Driel. Netherlands. 89 minutes.

Trap Street | Director: Vivian Qu. China. 93 minutes.

White Shadow | Director: Noaz Deshe. Tanzania / Germany. 117 minutes.

Documentary Competition:

Art War | Director: Marco Wilms. Egypt, Germany. 84 minutes. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

Besa: The Promise | Director: Rachel Goslins. Albania / USA. 90 minutes.

Blackout: On Swan Pond | Director: Scott Colthorp. USA. 95 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

Butterfly Girl | Director: Cary Bell. USA. 76 minutes.

The Case Against 8 | Directors: Ben Cotner, Ryan White. USA. 112 minutes.

Farmland | Director: James Moll. USA. 70 minutes.

Fight Church | Director: Daniel Junge, Bryan Storkel.  USA. 84 minutes.

Freedom Summer | Director: Stanley Nelson. USA. 113 minutes.

Happy Valley | Director: Amir Bar-Lev. USA. 98 minutes.

The Human Experiment | Director: Dana Nachman, Don Hardy Jr. USA. 80 minutes.

Kidnapped for Christ | Director: Kate S. Logan. USA / Dominican Republic. 85 minutes.

The Overnighters | Director: Jesse Moss. USA. 100 minutes.

Point and Shoot | Director: Marshall Curry. USA / Libya. 83 minutes.

SlingShot | Director: Paul Lazarus. USA. 97 minutes.

A Spell to Ward Off the Darkness | Director: Ben Rivers, Ben Russell.  France / Germany / Estonia / USA. 98 minutes.

The Starfish Throwers | Director: Jesse Roesler. USA. 83 minutes.

Stream of Love | Director: Agnes Sós. Hungary / Romania. 70 minutes. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

This Time Next Year | Director: Jeff Reichert, Farihah Zaman. USA. 83 minutes.

WHITEY: The United States of America v. James J. Bulger | Director: Joe Berlinger. USA. 130 minutes.

Music Films / Music City Competition:

The 78 Project Movie | Director: Alex Steyermark. USA. 98 minutes.

Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory | Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett. USA. 73 minutes.

The Ballad of Shovels & Rope | Director: Jace Freeman. USA. 72 minutes.

Béla Fleck: How to Write a Banjo Concerto | Director: Béla Fleck. USA. 97 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

Brasslands | Director: The Meerkat Media Collective. USA / Serbia. 84 minutes.

A Film About Kids and Music | Director:               Ramon Tort. Spain. 101 minutes.

Glen Campbell…I'll Be Me | Director: James Keach. USA. 116 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

I Lay Where I Fall | Director: Andrew Stubbs. USA. 88 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty | Director: Greg Oliver. USA. 80 minutes.

Led Zeppelin Played Here | Director: Jeff Krulik. USA. 90 minutes.

The Road to Fame | Director: Hao Tu. China / Netherlands / Denmark / United Kingdom. 80 minutes.

Take Me to the River | Director: Martin Shore. USA. 95 minutes.

The Winding Stream | Director: Beth Harrington. USA. 90 minutes.

Tennessee First:

Banjo Romantika: American Bluegrass Music & The Czech Imagination | Director: Shara Lange. USA. 65 minutes.

Beautiful Jim | Director: Rex Jones. USA. 53 minutes.

Closer to God | Director: Billy Senese. USA. 84  minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

A Decade With an Unsigned Rock Band | Director: Criss Cheatham. USA. 81 minutes. WORLD PREMIERE.

Riser: Dierks Bentley | Director: Wes Edwards. USA. 45 minutes.

Something, Anything | Director: Paul Harrill. USA. 88 minutes.

Graveyard Shift:

Blood Tokoloshe | Director: Jordan Harland. South Africa. 72 minutes. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

Borgman | Director: Alex van Warmerdam. Netherlands. 113 minutes.

The Congress | Director: Ari Folman. Israel / France. 122 minutes.

Proxy | Director: Zack Parker. USA. 120 minutes.

The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears | Director: Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani. Belgium. 102 minutes.

Wetlands | Director: David Wnendt. Germany. 105 minutes.

Wild Domestic | Director: Kyle Komline. USA. 74 minutes.

You and the Night | Director: Yann Gonzalez. France. 98 minutes.

            To see film times and descriptions, visit www.NashvilleFilmFestival.org.

Amy Allen to Join All-Star Band for Nashville Concert on Feb. 7

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 2014) – Blues-accented country/pop/Americana singer-songwriter Amy Allen will take the stage for a special "Someday Is Today" concert from 8:30-10 p.m. Feb. 7 (Friday) at the CoCreators Coffeehouse at the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville, 6705 Charlotte Pike in Nashville.

            Opening for Allen from 7:30-8:15 p.m. will be singer-songwriters Taylor Giese, Chris 'Freight Train' Floyd, and Denny Martin. The artist will be joined onstage at 8:30 p.m. by an all-star cast of Nashville musicians, including Joel Atkins, Lance Hoppen, Max Niederle, Sean O'Shea, Rick Perry, J.Karen Thomas, Jody Lopez-Robinson, Susan Shann, and Mike Wagel. Admission is free; donations support the non-profit Global Village Education Foundation through the Just Give Movement.

            Allen is celebrating the recent release of her second album, "Someday Is Today". The title track from the project recently hit number 15 on the STS Main Country Chart.  "Josie Rae", a mid-tempo country/pop song about motherhood, was released to radio nationally on Jan. 6.

            Hoppen is the co-founder of the legendary rock/pop band Orleans, and Thomas has starred in movies and TV shows, including ABC-TV's "Nashville". O'Shea serves as the music director for the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville. Other musicians on the bill have performed extensively at venues and recording studios across the country.

            "It's an honor to perform with some of Nashville's most successful musicians," said Allen, who will perform in various cities during 2014, including a Blue Ridge Mountains tour in late September. "Every note I sing or every note or chord I strum is given with all of the love I have for the song I am performing. My voice is the voice of someone who has been down many different roads."

            Allen's surprising success follows a long break from the music industry. In the late 1990s, she landed a recording contract and opened for acts such as John Conlee, Patty Loveless, and Brooks & Dunn -- even performing at The White House and the Ryman Auditorium. Health-related issues and the decision to become a mother prompted her to leave Nashville for her hometown of El Dorado, Ark. Her family recently encouraged her to write, sing and record again.

            To learn more about Amy Allen, visit http://www.TheAmyAllen.com. For information about her upcoming concert, visit http://www.CoCreatorsCoffeehouse.org.

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'Tunesmithing' to Feature Internationally Known Singer/Actress J.Karen Thomas on Nov. 19

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The monthly "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase will spotlight 11 professional and emerging songwriters from 8-10:30 p.m. Nov. 19 (Tuesday) at The Row Kitchen & Pub, 110 Lyle Ave. in Nashville (near Music Row).

     Taking the stage for the "Professional Songwriters Segment" at 8 p.m. will be the country/pop/R&B trio The House, the pop/country/inspirational duo Sean & Laurie O'Shea (music director at the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville), and the internationally known singer and actress J.Karen Thomas (portrays Audrey in ABC-TV's "Nashville"). 

     The "Emerging Songwriters Segment" at 9:30 p.m. will feature Summer Collins, Brooke McBride, Benjamin Bogue Pranger, Machaela Sullivan, and Baylor Wilson. Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Publicist Chuck Whiting and comedian Paulina Combow will emcee the show. Songwriter/audio engineer AJ Bigler will handle sound. "Tunesmithing" is sponsored by Whiting Publicity & Promotions, Music City Arts Update, and Shine Time Records and Books. Other upcoming shows include Dec. 17 (Amy Allen, Lisa Aschmann, and M Callahan). 

     "Tunesmithing" was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters. The event offers mentoring, career growth and networking opportunities for tunesmiths at all levels. For more information about "Tunesmithing", call (615) 423-9857, write Info@Tunesmithing.com, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com.