NASHVILLE ANIMATOR WINS THREE TV DEVELOPMENT DEALS FROM THE NEW YORK TELEVISION FESTIVAL

NEW YORK, NY – The New York Television Festival was held September 19-24, 2011. Nashville animator Mike Salva left the festival with three development deals for his comedic animation work, more than any other artist received at the festival this year.

The New York Television Festival provides unprecedented access for emerging television artists looking to showcase new and innovative ideas for television programming.

Bing “Decisions” Project

NYTVF teamed up with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and Ben Silverman’s Electus studio to develop a new show created by a member of the NYTVF community. Mike Salva’s cartoon “Death Row Diet” won this competition, receiving a $25,000 development deal.

“Death Row Diet” stars Jonathan Katz (best known for Comedy Central’s “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist”) and Tom Leopold (who wrote episodes for “Seinfeld”, “Cheers”, “Will & Grace”, others) about a man who is on death row and Weight Watchers.

MTV’s “Voice and Vision” Awards

MTV offered two development deals at the television festival for comedic animation submissions. The awards, each valued at $5,000, were to be presented to an outstanding comedic writer (“Voice”) and animator (“Vision”). Although the awards could have been given to separate entrants, NYTVF gave both awards to Mike Salva for his “Pound Dogs” cartoon.

“Pound Dogs” was a 100% Nashville-based production, with Nashville standup comedians Ryan Williams and Sean Parrott in the lead roles. Williams and Parrott play comedic cartoon dogs that live in an animal shelter. The cast also includes Andy Merrill (Brak from Adult Swim’s “Space Ghost Coast to Coast”; “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”), Samantha Newark (best known as Jem & Jerrica on the 80s animated series “Jem”) and Nashville filmmaker/singer/producer Steve Taylor.

More information about the New York Television Festival can be found at www.nytvf.com. More information about Salva’s animation work can be found at www.projectmeatball.com. Find Ryan Williams online at MyBlisteringHell.com and Sean Parrott can be reached on Facebook.

In March we told you about POUND DOGS, the new cartoon from award-winning Nashville-based animator Mike Salva, which features Nashville comics Sean Parrott and Ryan Williams in addition to Atlanta’s Andy Merrill (who played Brak on Space Ghost, and Oglethorpe on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and some other Adult Swim shows).

Clay animated characters are the stars of this comedy about two dogs in an animal shelter. Blue Dog is showing Yellow Dog the ropes, when they find out that Blue Dog is going to be put to sleep if he is not adopted by the end of the day.

Last time we checked in, Mike had set up a Kickstarter project to raise funding for the production of the new film. Well, we have good news.. and then even better news:

The good news: The Kickstarter project was successful and production of the film was finished a few weeks ago. Here’s the trailer:

The even better news: “Pound Dogs” has been selected as a finalist in this year’s NY Television Festival pilot competition. The cartoon will be competing against a handful of other cartoons for two cable network development deals, one for the cartoon, and one in the writing category. This is fantastic news for this 100% Nashville production. Congratulations to all involved!

For more info about “Pound Dogs” or Mike Salva, visit the Project Meatball website, or check out the Pound Dogs imdb.com page.

AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Storyis a captivating animated documentary drama on the legendary Texas outlaw comic Bill Hicks, whose profound observations on American life changed the face of comedy forever. The film will be playing at the Belcourt Theatre May 2-5, preceded by sets from Nashville-based comedians Chris Crofton, Chad Riden, James Austin Johnson, Gary Fletcher and Sean Parrott.

The film has been called:
“a deeply perceptive, fittingly honest tribute…”
- London Film Festival

“inventive and daring…one of the few great docs for 2010 that has balls.”
- SheffDocFest

“Visually fantastic….completely absorbing and incredibly entertaining”
- Aint It Cool News

Here’s the official trailer:

If you are unfamiliar with Bill's work, here's a quick way to get up to speed. Bill Hicks: The Essential Collection is.. well, essential to any comedy collection.

Bill’s “outlaw” comic reputation and his relentless search for truth with such a brilliant comedic mind has inspired and infuriated comedians at every level of success. Go to any open mic and you can spot young comics who have been listening to his albums – the same way you can identify a HUGE Mitch Hedberg fan or someone who watches a lot of Daniel Tosh. You can spot that influence in comics who haven’t figured out the unique way they are funny yet.

Among seasoned comics, there are guys who can rant about soulless politicians, corrupt religions, bullshit advertising, the ratings obsessed eye-candy media, and evil global corporations.. but not many can do that while being as hilarious and original as Bill Hicks was. Hicks was so good at what he did, it makes me constantly look at my act and think, “what crap!” (BTW, no need to write ‘yeah, me too’ in the comments, I KNOW.) It’s humbling when you take a look at how fantastic stand-up comedy can be.

Bill is such an iconic figure in the world of comedy.. and his story resonates with me on a personal level. I’m a stand-up comic from the South who has zig-zagged across the country doing shows at the Chuckle Huts in the Shithole type towns for years.. and I’ve felt that same frustration and desperation first hand. Bill’s story isn’t just hate-fueled drunken rants, though. The film covers his entire life – sneaking out of the house as a young teenager to go perform at the local club, his struggle on the road, his hate for Los Angeles, his success in the UK, his spiritual journeys and inspiration via psilocybin mushrooms, his fight with cancer, his sobriety, his success and eventual censorship on David Letterman’s show and his redemption when Letterman finally made that right. It’s an incredible film about a legend whose work is still very relevant today.

The film will be playing at the Belcourt Theatre May 2-5, preceded by sets from Nashville-based comedians on the different showings. Tuesday is Chris Crofton night. Wednesday’s late night showing has no special presentation at this time. Thursday night’s two showings will be presented by NashvilleStandUp and feature myself (Chad Riden) and James Austin Johnson at 8pm and Gary Fletcher and Sean Parrott at 10:20.

Monday 5/2/2011
9:40pm: AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story (film only)

Tuesday 5/3/2011
8pm: Chris Crofton, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story
10:20pm: AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story (film only)

Wednesday 5/4/2011
10:30pm: AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story (film only)

Thursday 5/5/2011
8pm: Chad Riden, James Austin Johnson, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story
10:20pm: Gary Fletcher, Sean Parrott, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story

The Belcourt Theatre
2102 Belcourt Avenue
(Hillsboro Village behind Pangaea and the Villager Tavern)
http://www.belcourt.org/events?id=75440
(615) 383-9140

A final word from Bill:

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase @ Zanies Comedy Showplace – a showcase of the funniest comedians based in the Nashville area, plus guest sets from traveling comics, and Chad Riden’s IRON COMIC comedy competition with jokes written on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Follow and reply to @IronComic to play along at home.

The April 19th show lineup includes: Nashville’s John Thornton Jr., Matt Buechele, Sean Parrott, Sean Staggs, Brian Bates, and Gary Fletcher; plus Knoxville’s Sandy Goddard; and Chicago’s Drew Michael.

Here’s a sketch from Gary Fletcher, John Thornton Jr. & Brad Edwards:

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase featuring Iron Comic
Tues., April 19, 2011
doors open: 6:30pm
showtime: 7:30 pm

Zanies Comedy Showplace
2025 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204

tickets:
$5. available at the door, online, or at the Zanies box office at: 615-269-0221

Facebook event:
Tues., April 19, 2011 – 7:30 pm

More info about the N’Sup Showcase @ Zanies is available at: http://NashvilleStandUp.com/showcase/

Nashville based comedian / radio personality / musician / podcast producer / awesome person Mark Anundson has released a new BIZRQ album.

BIZRQ is: Mark “biz” Anundson and John “birq” Bradley. Mark puts together the beats, synth and vocals. John provides all of the guitar parts including but not limited to electric, acoustic and ukulele. Special Appearance by Sean “Dead” Parrott on Bacteria.

“Glass Half Meatballs” is now available for download at iTunes and CD Baby. Just in case you missed the first BIZRQ cd, “We Be Doomed,” here’s a video for their first hit single, “Robot Poop”:

Buy BIZRQ: “Glass Half Meatballs” at iTunes and CD Baby NOW!