THE PURPOSE OF THE TRADEVINE IS TO ENCOURAGE THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY TO READ THEIR TRADES: VARIETY, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, BACK STAGE, ETC. ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY.

EACH FRIDAY, THE TRADEVINE SEEKS OUT A FEW OF THE INFORMATIVE TRADE ARTICLES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED. VISIT THE TRADE, ITSELF, FOR THE ENTIRE ARTICLE.

Hi everybody, I’m Roxy Shih of the Actors Reporter and welcome to the TradeVine. It’s been a beautiful week in Hollywood. We’ve collected some great articles. Our goal at the TradeVine is to help you stay informed and to keep up with some of the entertainment news you may have missed in the Trades, such as The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, and Backstage.

Back Stage, May 1st – In the Advice section, Marc Warzecha Recommends Improv for Actors. When Marc Warzecha refers to “improvisation,” he is referring to the type of comic improvisation that one would learn at The Groundlings, iO, The Second City, UCB, or any of the other great improv training programs around the world. While most of these theaters have different areas of focus in their advanced levels, the foundational principles are the same. So what does this style of improv do for the actor? 1. You loosen up. Improv training begins with the idea of playfulness. 2. Improv instills fearlessness. In improvisation, one learns to get up onstage and perform for an audience with no planned setting, character, or dialogue. And, 3. It’s about playfulness and truth. Most new improv students are surprised at how little focus there is on comedy. Trying to be funny is death in improv.

The Hollywood Reporter, May 2nd – Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom: Inside the Wild Life and Dramatic Fall of the Nerd Who Burned Hollywood, by Daniel Miller and Matthew Belloni. He wanted to be the next Steve Jobs and talked about starring in a reality TV show. But the outrageous ex-hacker and self proclaimed Dr. Evil, who collected yachts and $400,000 supercars as his file sharing website amassed 180 million users, faces 50 years in prison as showbiz braces for the nastiest piracy fight ever. The 38-year-old had become an online celebrity, as much for his over-the-top lifestyle, supermodel hot-tub parties and the slick YouTube video in which he raps about Megaupload: “It’s a hit! It’s a hit!” Dotcom was a natural target for U.S. authorities, which are believed to have looked into Megaupload partly at Hollywood’s urging.

The Hollywood Reporter, May 2nd, – Amazon Studios to Develop Original Comedies and Kids Series, by Lacey Rose. Much as it has done in the film space, Amazon is attempting to democratize the TV development process by letting creators submit their proposals for audience review. Amazon Studios is pushing into television development with original comedy and kids programming. Since Amazon Studios’ late-2010 launch, more than 700 test movies and 7,000 scripts have been submitted; 15 movie projects are currently in development. With its TV foray, being led by Joe Lewis, formerly of 20th Century Fox and Comedy Central, and National Geographic Kids’ Tara Sorensen, Amazon Studios intends to option one new project to its development slate each month.

Well, that’s it for the TradeVine this week. I’m Roxy Shih. Thank you very much for watching. And remember, You heard it through the Tradevine!