CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Efforts are under way to revitalize Iowa’s film industry after a scandal over the state’s film tax credit program shut it down in 2009 and sent moviemakers and investors looking elsewhere.

read more

Read our exclusive interview with stage and independent film actress Tanna Frederick, who’s set to reprise her role of Pandora Isaacs in the upcoming film ‘Just 45 Minutes from Broadway.’ She originally portrayed Pandora in the stage version in 2009 at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Los Angeles. The film follows Pandora as she has to move back in with her parents, who are both successful stage actors, after her latest relationship ends. However, her sister Betsy has no interest in the family business, and moves to start her own life. Frederick discusses with us, among other things, why she wanted to reprise her role in the film, and what she finds so appealing about theater.

Santa Monica Baykeeper is an environmental non-profit that works to protect and restore the Santa Monica Bay, San Pedro Bay and adjacent waters through enforcement, fieldwork, and community action. They are hosting Project SOS: SURF 24, which is an all out celebrity surfathon to benefit Santa Monica Baykeeper, Waves for Water, Inside the Outdoors and Tumelo Home.

Celebrity surfers include Sam Trammell (True Blood), Tate Donovan (Damages), John Slattery (Mad Men), Jesse Spencer (House), Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives), Chad Lowe (24), Gregory Harrison (One Tree Hill), Michael Munoz (Amazing Race), Zoe Bell (Death Proof), Pat Parnell (Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit), Chris Bruno (Dead Zone), Galen Gering (Days of our Lives), David O’Donnell (Air Force One), Peter Brinkerhoff (Daytime Emmy winning director), Preston Davis (Entourage), John Philbin (Point Break) and Kathy Zuckerman (Gidget).

Former world champion surfer Shaun Tomson and Project SOS founder/actress Tanna Frederick will co-host the Fourth Annual Project SOS: SURF 24, a celebrity surfathon to benefit Santa Monica Baykeeper, Waves for Water, Inside the Outdoors and Tumelo Home.

Celebrity surfers include Sam Trammell (True Blood), Tate Donovan (Damages), John Slattery (Mad Men), Jesse Spencer (House), Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives), Chad Lowe (24), Gregory Harrison (One Tree Hill), Michael Munoz (Amazing Race), Zoe Bell (Death Proof), Pat Parnell (Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit), Chris Bruno (Dead Zone), Galen Gering (Days of our Lives), David O’Donnell (Air Force One), Peter Brinkerhoff (Daytime Emmy winning director), Preston Davis (Entourage), John Philbin (Point Break) and Kathy Zuckerman (Gidget).

Read more: read more

TV and cinema celebrities will meet up for the 4th Annual Project SOS: Surf 24, a celebrity surf marathon held to benefit Santa Monica Baykeeper, Waves for Water, Inside the Outdoors and Tumelo Home.

Shaun Tomson, former world surfing champion and Tanna Frederick, actress and founder of Project SOS: Surf 24, will co-host the annual fund raising event scheduled to October 15th-16th, at Lifeguard Tower 28 in Santa Monica, just south of the Santa Monica Pier.

read more