The October issue is a present to myself. I am a Libra and believe that it is truly the best month of the year to present the Imagine special "women in the industry" issue. This is our third one. And while I am always hoping that the time will come when a special issue won’t be necessary to balance the gender ink, I believe that time will be some time in coming.

Our pages are filled with wonderful stories about incredible women who work in our industry. I wish to extend my personal thanks to our guest editor, Rebecca Richards, who has dedicated countless hours and her most appreciated talents to this project for a second year. September is a challenging month to be filled with imposing deadlines for creative work and for that I wish to extend my gratitude to Rebecca, and to all the women she selected to be profiled and the women who captured and wrote the stories. Read it with relish, as it is truly quite special.

Surprise guests at the Boston Film Festival Press Luncheon were The Broken Hearts Club Director/Writer Greg Berlanti and the film’s star Dean Cain. An Imagine Photo by Erika Hahn

Once again, the Boston Film Festival delighted its audiences and friends with a round of sophisticated parties, dazzling guests and a most impressive line up of 150 short and 100 feature films. For all of Boston I want to say thank you to Susan Fraine, the Managing Director, and Mark Diamond, the Creative Director, for their inspiring week of pure movie magic and fun. The 16th Boston Film Festival Film Excellence Award went to Jeff Bridges, star of THE CONTENDER (read Vinca Jarrett’s take of the screening on page 9). The party honoring Jeff held at The Lenox Hotel in the Dome Room found Jeff and THE CONTENDER Writer/Director Rod Lurie there from beginning until end. A Film Excellence Award also went to Ellen Burstyn, star of REQUIEM FOR A DREAM.

The Massachusetts Film Office Awards Ceremony for the Seventh Annual Screenwriting competition was held at a luncheon at the Grand Staircase at the State House in Boston. Rod Lurie and Jeff Bridges announced the winning Screenwriter after a welcoming by Robin Dawson and remarks from Governor Paul Cellucci. The winning screenwriter is 23-year old Kris Johnson of Hopkinton, MA for his screenplay WRITTEN IN WATER. Mark Diamond and Susan Fraine presented the Boston Film Festival Screenwriting Award.

It’s time to renew or order your subscription to Imagine! This month Imagine begins its first subscription campaign. Unless you have subscribed or renewed your subscription recently, you have been receiving a courtesy copy of Imagine, which has been mailed to you via bulk mail. I am sure you know that bulk mail takes forever to get to you. And, beginning in January 2001, it will not come at all. When you subscribe, your Imagine NewsMagazine will be mailed to you first class and you will receive it on a timely and more useful schedule (events, workshops, etc.).

PASSAGE TO PARADISE Director Antonio Biaocco and Producer Massimo Cristaldi are special guests at the mass Film Office Awards Ceremony Luncheon for the Seventh Annual Screenwriting Competition held at the State House. Here they are chatting with Anne Marie Stein, Executive Director of BFVF and Writer/Producter Laura Bernieri of Brighton Avenue Productions. An Imagine Photo by Erika Hahn

When you subscribe, we have some terrific gifts for you! Everyone will get a copy of our collectible Imagine 2000 Poster featuring Christy Scott Cashman. It’s the first in a series and has a $34.95 value this year, but will only go up. Next, there are two incentive options to choose from, each with a one year and two year opportunity. Option one: for a one-year subscription you will receive your choice of one of The IFILM series of Professional reference directories, the most comprehensive, current compilation of film industry credits and contacts available in print (a $65 - $90 value). For a two-year subscription, you will also receive two tickets to Landmark’s Kendall Square Theatre (a $16.00 value). That’s a potential value of $140.95 for a two-year subscription!

Option two: for a one-year subscription you will receive two tickets to Landmark’s Kendall Square Theatre and for two years, your choice of one of The IFILM series of Professional reference directories. Of course, this option includes a collectible Imagine 2000 Poster. Again, a value of $140.95 for a two-year subscription! See our ads in this issue and become an Imagine First Class Subscriber today.

Ellen Burstyn, this year’s Boston Film Festival Excellence Award Recipient, Carol Patton and Kevin Fennessey find a minute to talk about her film in the festival REQUIEM FOR A DREAM during a party in Ellen’s honor at The Lenox Hotel. An Imagine Photo by Erika Hahn

Imagine continues to do important work that contributes to connecting industry participants. This magazine’s primary goal is to encourage, create, grow, support and stabilize the film, video, television and the new media production in New England. Imagine is dedicated to what is destined to become a reality here in our own region: IVYWOOD, a multimedia industry worthy of the talent and technologies that are born here.

Next month we’ll examine the issues and politics necessary to make IVYWOOD happen. We’ll talk to some of our political leaders like Governors Paul Cellucci and John Rowland. We’ll catch up with Mayor Vincent A. (Buddy) Cianci, Jr. and we’ll look at important legislation in Rhode Island and Connecticut designed to encourage industry growth. We’ll also turn to the industries top business leaders for their insights and ideas for the future. If you have an idea, please send it to Imagine.

I can’t believe that it is already time to say Happy Halloween. Happy Halloween everybody!

W elcome to the third annual issue of Imagine devoted to local women working in film, television and new media. I am delighted to be back as your guest editor for this special issue for the second year in a row. Once again, we are showcasing an eclectic group of women working both in front of and behind the camera. While the group represents only a fraction of the many talented women here in New England, I hope it gives you a sense of the variety and scope of the many creative individuals living and working in our area.

I want to thank the contributing writers who made time in their busy schedules to write the stories you’ll find in these pages. Their professionalism and poise under tight deadlines made my job all the easier. Big thanks to my fellow Women in Film and Video/New England board members for their ongoing dedication to supporting the work of women filmmakers. And thank you Carol Patton for your commitment to women filmmakers. It’s truly appreciated.

I hope you’ll all make a point in the next year of seeking out the work of women writers and directors. Life only gets more interesting when there are other voices to be heard and new stories to be told.

Enjoy.

Rebecca Richards

Guest Editor