New Entertainment and Communications Technologies Focus of Sarasota County Film Office Mixer Feb. 22

Sarasota, Fla. (February 17, 2010)-- The Sarasota County Film and Entertainment Office (SCFEO), a division of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, will hold a networking mixer and panel discussion about new entertainment and communications technologies for community members and film, television, and media production professionals on Monday, Feb. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Ct., Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Panelists include:

• Jim McCampbell, department head, Computer Animation, Ringling College of Art & Design. Ringling College was recently named by 3D World Magazine as having the No. 1 computer animation program in North America for the second year in a row, and it continues to produce some of the most sought-after talent in the 3D Animation world.

• Bob Girard, former Twentieth Century Fox/MGM Studios film executive. Girard has in-depth industry experience in digital media, on-line gaming, film financing and media business development.

• Rich Swier Jr., local entrepreneur and founder of The HuB, a private business incubator.

• Russ Crumley, new media author, trainer and creative facilitator.

Gold Coast Eagle Distributing and Boar’s Head are the sponsors of the event, which will include hors d'oeuvres and special tastings of Stella Artois beer.

Advance registration is $10 at www.edcsarasotacounty.com/calendar.asp. Admission is $12 at the door. For more information, call (941) 309-1200 ext. 104.

 The Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office (SCFEO) is a division of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.  It seeks to attract film, television, commercial, documentary and other media production to create content, produce and shoot on location in Sarasota County, as well as  to serve the region’s resident production community, improve and expand its resources, provide intergovernmental liaison and proactively market and promote Sarasota County’s assets to the entertainment industry as a whole.  The SCFEO is a member in good standing of the Association of Film Commissioners International, Film Florida and other industry organizations. www.filmsarasota.com.