Lights, camera, Calabasas
Most Southern Californians are proud to have Hollywood in their midst, but did you know that some of the film industry's top producers, directors, actors and writers live in nearby Calabasas?

Not surprisingly, "Little Hollywood" became the logical choice when the Method Fest film festival went looking for a new home three years ago.

March 29 through April 5 will feature a week's worth of movie showings, seminars, workshops, awards and gala celebrations that help give the independent film festival its unique star quality. It's the most anticipated entertainment event of the year in our community. Paid attendance jumped from 10,000 in 2005 to more than 11,400 last year.

Unfortunately, film festival and movie industry officials have been unable reach an agreement that would return the screenings to The Edwards Theater at The Commons. The site was perfect when the event debuted in Calabasas in 2005. Last year, the Motion Picture and Television Fund's Louis B. Mayer Theater and Viewpoint School's Carlson Theater proved to be excellent alternatives for the deep lineup of Method Fest events, but The Commons represents the heart of the community and should once again be center stage.

More than 700 films from American and international filmmakers were submitted for this year's ninth annual festival. Of those, only 28 feature length movies and 45 shorts were chosen for screening: films about angst, conflict, love and betrayal- strong new scripts that promise to breathe fresh life into the old Hollywood ways.

Named after the famous school of acting, The Method Fest is the only major film festival in the U.S. that celebrates the actor. Breakout roles from the past have been delivered by such stars as Naomi Watts, Portia De Rossi, Cameron Richardson and Calabasas' own Kelli Garner. This year's shorts and feature length films include roles by Christopher Plummer, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Laura Linney and Carrie-Ann Moss.

Visit www.methodfest.com for a complete lineup of films and locations. The Calabasas Chamber of Commerce welcomes the festival with a reception today at 5:30 p.m. at the Agoura Hills/ Calabasas Community Center.