I don't know if anyone can use this information; but today on the Fox website they have this announcement: FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES A UNIT OF FOX FILMED ENTERTAINMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES LAUNCHES FOX SEARCHLAB Innovative digital production unit aims to discover and nurture new filmmaking talent LOS ANGELES, CA - January 2001 - Fox Searchlight Pictures has created a new digital production unit, Fox Searchlab, it was announced today. The unit will provide equipment, financing and mentoring to emerging filmmakers.

Fox Searchlab will select 40 candidates over the course of a year. Each filmmaker will be given complete creative freedom to create a digital short film with a view to broadcasting on Fox Searchlight's Web site and The Fox Movie Channel. The candidates will be given first look deals.

PETER RICE President, Fox Searchlight Pictures: "Searchlight is proud of it's heritage in working with first time directors like Kimberly Peirce, Tamara Jenkins, Peter Cattaneo, Mark Romanek and Jonathan Glazer. Searchlab is an expansion of this search for exciting new cinematic voices."

Fox Searchlab will educate and nurture it's candidates through it's mentoring program, which will include lectures and technical tutorials. Lectures will be hosted by directors, educators and filmmakers such as Steven Soderbergh, Baz Luhrmann, Geoffrey Rush, Mark Isham, Ron Bass, Andy Nelson and David Rubin.

The Lecture series will be filmed on digital cameras by the candidates and shared with the filmmaking community on the Searchlight Web site.

Searchlab members will have full discretion to pick their own material and production crews.

Fox Searchlab selects filmmaker candidates from disparate backgrounds and experience levels: from short and low budget filmmakers, novelists and comedians to established commercial and video directors.

Potential director candidates can apply by mailing a sample of their work, a compelling reason or a resume to:

Susan O'Leary, Director Fox Searchlab 10201 W. Pico Blvd Building 667 - Suite 5 LA, CA 90035

Information is also available at FoxSearchlight.com.

Fox Searchlight Pictures is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), February 10, 2002

Answers

O.k, Mat what's with this Mark Romanek guy?

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), February 18, 2002.

Oooh, Mark Romanek...

-- Mat Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.

He's a music video director recently turned to feature-length projects. I like him for his eye candy, mainly... I really have no idea how he'd fare with a story, but visually, his work drives me wild. He's done videos for Michael Jackson, Madonna, NIN, a ton of others. Very dreamlike style (I mentioned him about a year ago when we were discussing "the Cell" -- personally, I think he'd do a better job than Tarsem Singh when it comes to longer projects, but who's to say). Lately he seems to have a film out staring Robin Williams in a creepy dramatic role, "One-hour Photo" I think it's called.

-- Mat Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), February 19, 2002.

I would love to see a photo of him.

-- ginny (gerrish94@erols.com), February 20, 2002.