Local Film Industry Receives Grant for ‘Band Boy’
Lee—The Columbia Arts Team received a $5,000 grant from the Berkshire Film and Media Community Film Fund toward their production of the musical comedy film ‘Band Boy.’ ‘Band Boy’ was written and directed by Lee resident Sandy McKnight, and produced entirely in Berkshire County.
‘Band Boy’ is the story of a fictional rock group in the early 80s, led by an idealistic young man from the rust-belt town of Ypsilanti, Michigan. The band has a series of misadventures on the road, ending up in a New York recording studio with a washed-up producer and a clueless manager. The story is based on McKnight’s experiences as a musician, producer and songwriter.
The feature-length film was shot in Sheffield, with local actors Marc A. Contento, Andrew Joffe, Mary Adams, Michael Siktberg, Sherman Howard, Seth Keyes, Tony Carrano, Liv Cummins, and a special appearance by Wanda Houston. Beth Carlson and Kip Beacco of Stockbridge-based Silo Media did the cinematography and editing. The film presents 12 new songs, written by McKnight and sung by the cast. The recordings are being produced by McKnight at local area studios. Post-production has begun, with Carlson and Beacco editing the footage shot this past summer in and around Sheffield’s historic Dewey Hall.
‘Band Boy’ is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2023, with screenings planned in Great Barrington, Pittsfield, North Adams, Albany, NY and Hudson, NY, as well as New York City and Los Angeles. It will also be entered in major film festivals, and made available to national Theater companies for live production.
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Find New Opportunities at Volunteer Fair
Pittsfield— Berkshire United Way and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires are holding an in-person Volunteer Fair in partnership with RSVP from noon to 3 p.m. on November 4 at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Woodlawn Avenue in Pittsfield.
Sponsored by Berkshire Bank, this free event features 30 diverse nonprofit organizations sharing information about their mission, programs, and volunteer needs.
To register, visit npcberkshires.org/volunteer-fairs/.
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Jacob’s Pillow Dances At Home
Becket—Jacob’s Pillow introduces new on-demand free and paid digital streams from now through next spring, available at watch.jacobspillow.org.
The newly-streamlined platform hosts commissioned films, short dance documentaries, PillowTalks, and excerpts from our 90th Anniversary presentation of America(na) to Me—plus, special monthly releases of full-length performances, beautifully shot and edited by Nel Shelby Productions.
In addition to free content, each monthly release will be available to stream for $15, with unlimited access to watch for six weeks. This series begins with an encore presentation of Dorrance Dance Plays the Pillow, streaming November 7.
Pre-Sale is now open for seven full-length performances, which will be released monthly from November through May. Access to watch each full-length performance in this digital series is $15. Featured artists receive a fee for the right to broadcast their work as well as $5 from each streaming ticket sold. An all-access streaming pass for all seven films is available for $100 for a limited time. Gifting options are available as well. Access can be purchased directly at watch.jacobspillow.org, or through the Pillow’s main website at jacobspillow.org.
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Berkshire Community College In-person Open House
Pittsfield—Berkshire Community College’s Fall 2022 Open House is on Saturday, October 29 at 9 a.m., followed by a financial aid workshop at 10 a.m. The event takes place on BCC’s main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield.
Prospective students and their guests are invited to meet one-on-one with BCC representatives from various offices. Participants can speak with faculty about the programs that interest them, take a campus tour and learn about paying for college, transferring to a four-year school, internships and career opportunities. All attendees will receive a breakfast, a discount at the BCC Bookstore and a chance to win BCC swag.
To register for the free event, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/openhouse.
In other upcoming admissions events, two free virtual info sessions will be held in the month of November: Wednesday, November 2 at 4 p.m. and Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m.
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Berkshire Art Center Announces New Board
Stockbridge—Berkshire Art Center is pleased to announce the appointment of a new chair and three new members to its Board of Directors this fall. This brings the number of board members to five.
The three new members appointed to Berkshire Art Center’s Board of Directors include Elissa Haskins-Vaughan, Michael Ibrahim, and Marie Rudden. Mike Zippel was appointed to the Board Chair position.
Berkshire Art Center’s Board of Directors meets quarterly to further the organization’s goal of growing and sustaining artists in Berkshire County. For more information on Berkshire Art Center’s programming and initiatives or to make a donation visit www.berkshireartcenter.org.
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Local Author Releases New Children’s Book
North Egremont—Local award-winning author Linda Bryce launches Children’s Book Old Oak and Little Pumpkin.
Based on an original story created by her late husband as he tucked in their children at bedtime, the book engages youngsters from ages 2-8 with butterfly hunts, vibrant inclusive illustrations, and lyrical language.
Autumn arrives and Halloween nears. Children do not pick Little Pumpkin, who feels left out, and afraid of what will happen when winter comes. Happily, Old Oak offers a calming, comforting life lesson.
Linda Bryce, is an author, long-time educator, and mom of four, one of whom has a Little Pumpkin of his own. She has published children’s activities and materials for home and classroom and writes adult seasonal and spiritual study materials.
Bryce’s award-winning book, The Courage to Care: Being Fully Present with the Dying, was published in 2021.
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CATA hires Wes Buckley and Beth Liebowitz in new staff and faculty positions
Great Barrington—Community Access to the Arts (CATA) announces the appointment of Wes Buckley and Beth Liebowitz in new roles as staff members and faculty artists. Wes Buckley joins CATA as Music Specialist and Faculty Artist, and Beth Liebowitz as Dance Faculty and Performance Projects Manager.
In recent years, CATA has dramatically expanded the breadth and impact of its programs serving people with disabilities. In their new roles, Wes and Beth will bring their teaching skills to arts workshops in the CATA studio and throughout Berkshire and Columbia Counties. They will also support CATA Program Directors Jeff Gagnon, Kelly Galvin, and Kara Smith in working to grow programs and performance opportunities for artists with disabilities.
“We are excited to welcome Wes and Beth in these new, expanded roles at CATA,” says Margaret Keller, CATA Executive Director. “These new positions will make it possible for us to pilot new programs and art forms for CATA artists, to produce new performances of all scopes and sizes, and reach more artists with disabilities across our community.”
Wes Buckley is a musician, songwriter, instrument builder, and educator. Since joining CATA as a Faculty Artist in 2018, Wes has taught music and songwriting workshops in every area of CATA’s programming—including middle schools, high schools, day-habilitation programs, community spaces, and elder care settings. In his new role, Wes will explore creative new approaches to music-making and create opportunities for artists with disabilities to collaborate across artforms.
Beth Liebowitz is a dancer, choreographer, and movement therapist who has newly relocated to the Berkshires after seven years as the Program Director at The Greens at Greenwich in Connecticut. In her work with elders and artists with disabilities, Beth is focused on supporting artistry through the incorporation of embodied social justice and the intentional integration of socially just practices. In addition to bringing this work to schools and day programs throughout CATA’s service area, Beth will also help produce CATA performances and sharings.
CATA is at an especially exciting stage, with a beautiful new building, robust community partnerships, and expanding programs. CATA has cultivated strong partnerships with 50 community-based organizations, including disability agencies, residences, and schools to serve over 800 people with disabilities through 1,800 annual arts workshops. The nonprofit successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic financially and artistically, deepening its commitment to artists with disabilities by piloting new art forms, dramatically growing programs for students with disabilities in local schools, and strengthening equity and inclusion initiatives.
