Filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar of Yellow Springs are excited to learn that their current project, “Reinvention Stories,” has been selected for the prestigious Sundance Institute New Frontiers Story Lab. The lab, which will take place from Oct. 21-26, is an intensive residential retreat which offers creative support for the six projects selected.

As described in the Sundance release, the film “is a transmedia project telling stories of people from a hard-hit post-industrial Ohio town as they struggle to start over in the wake of economic collapse.” The creative endeavor uses technology “to deepen story and engage audiences,” and combines radio, documentary cinema and online interactive storytelling.

“Going to this lab will help the project hugely. We’re in uncharted waters as storytellers working in this new online medium which we’ve never done, so it’s exhilarating and scary all at once,” Bognar said. “This will help elevate it and make it something really special.”

From WYSO 91.3, the team includes Neenah Ellis, Sarah Buckingham, Emily McCord, Jerry Kenney, Wayne Baker, Juliet Fromholt, Niki Dakota. The project’s producers also include veterans of Wright State University’s award winning Motion Pictures program: Emily Evans, Eric Risher, Shawndra Jones, Liz Cambron, Megan Hague, Kyle Wilkinson.

The new Antioch College is represented in this project by students Jennifer Carlson and Zeb Reichert.

WYSO’s Community Voices veterans, newly minted radio producers, are also part of the team: Jude Whelley, Basim Blunt, Tracy Staley, Kristen Wicker and Alexis Larsen. Local producer Leslie Fogle rounds out the team.

Culture Works publishes regional arts guide

A new arts publication, “Culture Creates Community: A Guide to Arts & Culture in the Dayton Region,” was introduced Thursday night at the Culture Works annual meeting.

The full-color 40-page booklet contains all of the season offerings for major institutions in the region as well as listings by genre of other types of arts organizations.

President and CEO Martine Collier said the publication is designed to be an economic development tool that will be made available to realtors and those in human resources. Major Culture Works donors, who contribute at least $250 to the organization, will receive a free copy of the publication by mail.

The guides are available for $3 at Ticket Center Stage at the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton, the Dayton Art Institute, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and Dayton History at Carillon Historical Park. For more information: www.cultureworks.org

Short Film Festival Slated for Nov. 8

The “Media That Matters Short Film Festival” will be presented by DATV at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at The Neon Movies, 130 E. Fifth St., in downtown Dayton.

The festival, presented by Merrill Lynch, features 12 jury-selected short films that tackle a broad range of social issues in 12 minutes or less. Attendees will receive a “Take Action Guide” that gives information about how they can take the messages of the films and make a difference in their daily lives.

Tickets to the festival are $10 and may be purchased online at www.datv.org, at the Neon Movies box office, or at DATV’s Public Access Center located at 280 Leo St. in Dayton.

Proceeds from the event will benefit DATV. The station’s mission is “to be a community forum that empowers all citizens to learn, create and express their ideas through electronic media.” To accomplish its mission DATV provides the training equipment and facilities for local residents to create their own noncommercial cable TV programs.

WYSO to launch fund drive

Public Radio station WYSO 91.3FM will hold the on-air portion of its fall fund drive beginning the morning of Wednesday, October 10. It will run until 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 14.

Special on-air guests will include Dayton Daily News’ Ron Rollins, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Neal Gittleman, and local filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar. This year’s goal is $220,000.

The theme for the fund drive is “Where Else But WYSO?” to reflect the station’s blend of local, national and international news, entertainment and music programming. Limited edition t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and stickers with the “Where Else But WYSO?” logo will be offered as thank you gifts to donors during the drive.

The station is licensed to Antioch University.

Tipp City Hosts Plein Air paint out and sale

Plein air artists enjoy painting out-of-doors. Members of the Ohio Plein Art Society are planning a full day of art and activities in Tipp City on Saturday, Oct. 20. They’re inviting anyone interested to come — either to paint or observe.

The day gets under way with an artist sign-in from 8-9 a.m. at Tipp Monroe Community Services, 3 E. Main St. The paint out will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations with live models at specific locations.

A Wet Paint Exhibit and Sale will be held from 2:30 - 4 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, corner of Third and Main streets. There will be a 4-6 p.m. Plein Air Reception at the Studio 14 Gallery, 14 E. Main St.

For information: www.tippcityartscouncil.com