North Hollywood When the International Student Film Festival kicks off on Nov. 14, the five-day event will be more than screening films from young, aspiring moviemakers. For organizer Robin Saban, the festival is a cross-cultural exchange between filmmakers from around the globe. “Having films coming from other countries is a way for the student filmmakers in the United States to see (foreign students’) techniques and their way of making films,” Saban said. The festival features 105 films from 13 countries screened at the Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn in North Hollywood. A.C. Lyles, a senior producer at Paramount, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival’s closing gala. In a city never lacking for film festivals, why would Saban put on yet another one, now in its fifth year? While other festivals may accept student entries there was no single event just for student filmmakers. So Saban, who has worked as a writer and editor, started the international festival as a means to give exposure to up and comers of the next generation. The students range from university and college age to middle schoolers. A new category for this year’s event is claymation shorts from elementary school students. Their work reflects their worldview and what is important to them, Saban said. “We can see all this through their films,” he added. The event does attract distributors and agents as well as those interested in seeing what different film programs are producing. The films to be screened were pared down from 350 submissions. A panel of judges will award prizes in multiple categories. Area schools represented in the festival’s competition include California Institute of the Arts, Grant High School, Calabasas High School, and Providence High School in Burbank. The festival is supported by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, the Universal City-North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and is promoted by the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley as a Valley of the Stars event. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Burbank Benefit: Blogger Will Rogers hosts “Burbank: Confidential, a humorous look at the events, stories and scandals he has written about as a journalist in Burbank and Glendale on Dec. 6 at the Colony Theatre. The show benefits the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. Tickets are $30. Rogers is a former columnist with the Burbank Leader newspaper and now brings his observations to his website, willrogers.com The Colony Theatre is at 555 N. Third St., Burbank. For tickets and more information contact the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, (818) 846-3111. North Hollywood Space: Orbital Outfitters unveiled its next generation space suit in October at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The Industrial Suborbital Space Suit-Crew is designed for test pilots and other crew members of commercial sub-orbital flights. It can keep the wearer alive in the event of cabin de-pressurization and return them to Earth safely. “It is by intent a bit conventional in appearance, if not retro although the technology inside of it is definitely 21st Century,” said Chris Gilman, chief designer of Orbital Outfitters, which has a facility in North Hollywood. The first customer for the spacesuit is XCOR Aerospace, a developer of rocket propulsion systems in Mojave. Panorama City Education: Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Julie Korenstein and Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarc & #243;n recently joined Panorama City residents for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the construction for Valley Region Early Education Center #1. The Center will serve 175 children between the ages of two and four. The project, scheduled for completion in 2009, is located next to Chase Elementary School. The center will include seven new classrooms, a food preparation area, an administration building, playfields, surface parking, and operate on a two-semester calendar. Valley Region Early Education Center #1 is part of LAUSD’s $20 billion school construction program to build 132 schools by 2012. Information: www.laschools.org. Sun Valley Honor: Metro maintenance employee Paul Rankin was among the six employees honored Nov. 2 at “Night of Stars” recognizing the achievements of Metro employees. Rankin is a warranty equipment mechanic in the Sun Valley division and was honored for being an integral part of ensuring the safety and reliability of the division fleet. Rankin has worked for Metro for 23 years and lives in Valencia. Calabasas Write: Scriptwriting software firm Final Draft announced the winners of its annual Big Break screenwriting contest on Oct. 19 in Wes Hollywood. The Calabasas company received 3,500 entries, choosing ten finalists and three winners. The winners were Robert Frisbee, of California, for “Cityfall;” Geraint Horwood, of Buckinghamshire, England, for “Knight Knight;” and Tony Urgo, of California, for “The Wizard Joe.” Woodland Hills Hospital: Kaiser Permanente’s Woodland Hills Medical Center will host 45 students from Columbus and Lawrence middle schools in the West Valley who will become “physicians for day” during an interactive tour in which students will don surgical caps and gowns, peer through microscopes, watch how a cast is made and learn how to take their blood pressure. The students are part of Kaiser Permanente’s Hippocrates Circle Program, created to promote diversity among health care professionals by encouraging middle school students of all socioeconomic backgrounds to become physicians. Highlights of the four-month program include a visit the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and attendance at a graduation ceremony. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Sushi: The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center will offer sushi classes Nov.12 and Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Haru Nikaido will teach the making of California Rolls (comprised of rice, cucumber, avocado, sea weed, and imitation crab). Class size will be limited to 10 students per session. Cost will be $10, plus $2 for the mats needed in making sushi. R.S.VP. between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with Elaine at (661) 259-9444. ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Haunted: “Mystery, Murder and Mayhem,” the Palmdale City Library’s Mystery Book Discussion Group will discuss Erin Hart’s book “Haunted Ground” Nov. 19, 7 p.m., at the Palmdale City Library, 700 E. Palmdale Blvd. The event is free. Information: (661)267-5600. Roundtable: The City of Palmdale and the Palmdale Playhouse Writers’ Roundtable are accepting entries for the 12th annual Short Story Contest through Nov. 29, 5 p.m. The contest has two age categories: youth (14 and under) and adult (15 and over). There is a $10 fee for each entry. The theme for this year’s contest is “Current Environmental Concerns.” Submissions must address the theme; be typed and double-spaced on plain white 8 & #733;” x 11″ paper; include the entrant’s name, address, age (if under 15), e-mail address, phone number and story title on each page; and not exceed 2,000 words. Entry fee checks should be made payable to City of Palmdale and include driver’s license number and expiration date. Send submissions to the Palmdale Playhouse, Writers’ Roundtable Short Story Contest, 38334 10th St. E., Palmdale, CA 93550. Information: (661) 267-5684. Auditions: The Palmdale Playhouse will hold auditions for its 13th annual Cultural, Historical and Educational Drama Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. and Nov. 17 at 10 am. The Playhouse is looking for men and women who can portray ages 30 to 60 in a powerful drama. All audition materials will be provided at the time of the audition. “This year’s drama features ‘The Exonerated’ by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen,” said Playhouse Marketing Manager David Smith. “It’s a collection of true stories of wrongfully convicted survivors of Death Row as told in their own words.” The show will run March 14 through March 16, 2008, with two additional weekday morning performances for high schools March 12 and March 13. Palmdale Playhouse is at 38334 10th St. East in Palmdale. Information: (661) 267-5684. Painting: The Palmdale Playhouse Visual Arts Group will hold its second oil painting workshop Nov. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Playhouse, 38334 10th St. East in Palmdale. The workshop fee is $5 for members of the Palmdale Playhouse Visual Arts Group. Admission for nonmembers is $15. One of a series of visual arts workshops presented during the season, Oil Painting II will instruct beginning to intermediate students in oil painting techniques. Participants should bring the following supplies: tabletop easel, a picture you wish to duplicate, oil colors to complement the chosen picture, brushes, odorless Turpenoid and a canvas board. Information: (661) 917-8141. CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Lecture: Jim Cathcart, an inductee of the Council of Peers Award for Excellence Speaker Hall of Fame, will give a free lecture titled “How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Success” Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., in Lundring Events Center of California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. During the lecture, Cathcart will share techniques for speaking with confidence, capturing attention and motivating listeners. A past president of the NSA, Cathcart has also received the group’s Cavett Award for demonstrating the spirit of sharing, guiding and inspiring other professional speakers. Toastmasters International honored him with the Golden Gavel award in 2001. The Cathcart Institute founder and president has delivered more than 2,600 presentations around the world and written 14 books, including “Relationship Selling” and “The Acorn Principle.” R.S.V.P: (805) 988-0196, ext. 110, or [email protected]. Groundbreaking: Officials from the City of Palmdale have broken ground on a new recreation center to be located at Marie Kerr Park, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd. The new facility will include a 17,643-sq.-foot recreation center with a gymnasium that will function as a sports court for basketball and volleyball, as well as a rental facility for functions. It will feature a multipurpose hall with kitchen, fitness studio, youth game area, lounge and vending machine area. The building will also be designed for use as an emergency facility. Information: (661) 267-5611. Float: More than 450 individuals have registered to decorate the City of Palmdale’s third Rose Parade entry, “Celebrate the World Through Reading.” Several decoration days are already full. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. No special skills or talents are required. Decorators will be provided with a free commemorative T-shirt and meal during their shift. Round-trip bus transportation from the Palmdale Transportation Center to Duarte is available on certain decoration dates for $5. Information: (661) 267-5611 or www.palmdalerosefloat.com. Halloween: More than 300 children, teens and their parents participated in Halloween festivities at the City of Palmdale’s Neighborhood House Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. The event was hosted by the City of Palmdale and Golden Steps Youth and Family Foundation as part of the City’s Partners for a Better Palmdale program. Festivities included pumpkin decorating, a backyard haunted house and maze, indoor games and crafts, refreshments and candy giveaways. Golden Steps Youth and Family Foundation’s mission is to steer at-risk youth away from destructive behaviors and toward activities that lead to success in school, career choice, and life. Partners for a Better Palmdale is a communitywide program designed to better Palmdale by bringing together the resources of businesses, neighborhoods, community groups, individuals and government. Mousetrap: Tickets are available for the City of Palmdale Parks and Recreation Department’s bus excursion to Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” Nov. 17 at the Glendale Centre Theatre. The excursion fee includes round trip transportation and admission. Palmdale resident fee is $22 per person; nonresident fee is $27 per person. Register online at www.PlayPalmdale.com or visit the parks and recreation office at 38260 10th St. East, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Information: (661) 267-5611. CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Lecture: Jim Cathcart, an inductee of the Council of Peers Award for Excellence Speaker Hall of Fame, will give a free lecture titled “How to Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Success” Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., in Lundring Events Center of California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. During the lecture, Cathcart will share techniques for speaking with confidence, capturing attention and motivating listeners. A past president of the NSA, Cathcart has also received the group’s Cavett Award for demonstrating the spirit of sharing, guiding and inspiring other professional speakers. Toastmasters International honored him with the Golden Gavel award in 2001. The Cathcart Institute founder and president has delivered more than 2,600 presentations around the world and written 14 books, including “Relationship Selling” and “The Acorn Principle.” R.S.V.P: (805) 988-0196, ext. 110, or [email protected]. Presentation: Three California Lutheran University students will present their research before a group of professional bioengineers and medical researchers Nov. 14, 7 p.m., in Richter Hall in CLU’s Ahmanson Science Center. Thomas Estus, a sophomore bioengineering major, will summarize his research on molecular diffusion, which he hopes to translate into new drug delivery systems for diabetes patients. Chase Linsley, a senior bioengineering major, will discuss his work on synthetic bone materials, which he hopes has the potential to improve healing in patients with a variety of bone defects and diseases. Tiffany Linville, a senior exercise science/sports medicine major, will discuss her work developing an in-home training program to improve balance and reduce falls among the elderly. The public is welcome. Information: (805) 493-3296 or [email protected]. Sherman Oaks HEADER:Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent David Brewer will speak at the Valley and Industry Commerce Association’s Newsmaker Connection Nov. 14, at the VICA Building, 5121 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. During the event, the state of LAUSD, as well as proposed changes for the school district, will be discussed. There will be a complimentary breakfast for Circle of Influence members. Others must pay $10. Street parking is available. R.S.V.P.: (818) 817-0545.