Author: Alfredo Casuso

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com  

By Popular Demand Extended One Week ‘til August 16!

17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival Continues Virtually with

Reconnecting Summer 2020

Featuring all 54 Films, plus online panels, discussions and audience Q&A
July 30 – August 16

http://www.intloceanfilmfest.org/

2021 Festival Slated for In-Person Viewing March 11 -14, 2021

6 August 2020 – San Francisco, CA. Not even finished with its original run, the 17^th Annual International  Annual Ocean Film Festival’s First-Ever Online Virtual Presentation – Reconnecting Summer 2020 – announces a one week extension. Originally slated to end August 9, the virtual experience showcasing all of the official selections of this year’s films will now continue through Sunday August 16.   In addition to the online screenings of all 54 films during the unprecedented now 18-day event, the festival will host livestream interviews, Q&A sessions and panel discussions with filmmakers.  Tickets and information are available on the Virtual Film Festival page at www.intloceanfilmfest.org/ioff2020

“The response has been overwhelming,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival.  “Next year for our 18^th Annual Festival, currently slated for March 11 – 14, 2021, we plan on offering a combination of in-person and virtual online experience. These past few months have shown us how to connect with new audiences around the globe, helping us save the world’s oceans one film at a time.”

The virtual festival includes feature length films, a new program of 14 shorts and nine themed programs: Adventure & Ocean Sports; Coastal Culture; Environment & Conservation ; Innovations in Ocean Sustainability; CineMare International Ocean Film Festival Kiel, Germany; Marine Sciences and Wildlife; Sharks; Surfing and Whales. All films will be eligible for a first ever Global Audience Choice Award – which will now be announced on Sunday, August 16, 2020.

Prices for the Reconnecting Summer 2020 virtual film festival are: Feature Films: $10; Themed Programs: $12; Shorts Program: $12; Special Screening: Pay what you can.  Festival passes are available at the following levels:

• All Access VIP Pass: $100: Includes access to watch all 10 feature films, nine themed programs, shorts program, special screenings and Q&As throughout the duration of the virtual film festival.
• Blue Whale Pass: $60 Includes access to watch each of the nine themed programs.
• Sea Turtle Pass: $45 Includes access to any five feature films and three themed programs of the viewer’s choice.

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental activists. Since then, the Festival has presented over 600 films from 50 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Current sponsors for the 17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, BigBus of San Francisco, Gray Line Tours, SSA, Alcatraz Cruises, the Port of San Francisco, the Consul General of Canada, Blue and Gold Ferry, RBC Wealth Management, Heidrick & Struggles, Pacific Gas & Electric, Troutman Sanders LLC and newly onboard is RingCentral.

The International Ocean Film Festival encourages its patrons, supporters and partners to follow the most current advice from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for preventing the further spread of the COVID-19 in Northern California and beyond, and to stay tuned for announcements about International Ocean Film Festival events once the threat level is reduced. The 18th Annual International Ocean Film Festival is currently scheduled to take place March 11 – 14, 2021 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit. www.intloceanfilmfest.org and social at: 

• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest

Media Contact:
David Perry & Associates, Inc/David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Hotel Council of San Francisco Releases COVID-19 Prevention & Enhanced Cleaning Guidelines Developed over Three Months of Work in Consultation with Dozens of Health & Industry Experts and Cal/OSHA Recommendations Exceed  CDC Requirements

6 August 2020 — San Francisco, CA:  The Hotel Council of San Francisco (www.hotelcouncilsf.org) today released its COVID-10 Prevention & Enhanced Cleaning Guidelines designed to make sure that all hotels are fully ready to re-open when regulations allow. The 44-page document, the result of more than three months of intensive meetings, input and interaction with hospitality industry leaders, health and safety experts including Cal/OSHA, the CDC, guidelines from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the California Hotel & Lodging Association in addition to the San Francisco Department of Health & Human Services is available online at:

https://hotelcouncilsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/4-COVID-19-Prevention-Enhanced-Cleaning-Guidelines-for-Hotels-Hotel-Council-071720-HBO-Clean.pdf

“San Francisco’s hotel family is known around the world for their hospitality and their dedication to the health and safety of our guests, employees and visitors,” said Kevin Carroll, Hotel Council President and CEO. “While our protocols for cleanliness and hygiene have always been superior, in light of COVID-19 we have rededicated ourselves to going even further. These new guidelines actually build upon what is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.”

The coordinating leadership of the committee, convened on a weekly basis since mid March 2020 via online video conference, was comprised of  Kelly Powers, Director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco, along with committee cochairs Karlene Holloman, CEO of Point Hospitality Group (www.pointhospitalitygroup.com) and Dan Richards, Vice President of Ideal Restoration (www.idealsf.com) and certified industrial hygienist Brent Weisbrod of Oakland-based company Peak Environmental Health Safety Engineering (www.peakohs.com) 

“Hotel businesses recognize that in a COVID- 19 world, the two most important words for our teams and our guests, are health and safety,” said Powers.  “Pre- COVID, as an industry, we were committed to these values. Now, living with COVID we have taken immediate action to research enhanced, scientifically based- cleaning protocols to protect our employees and guests. Our guiding principals were educate, protect and prevent.”

As soon as COVID-19 impacted California, it became clear to the Hotel Council that while there was a wealth of information online about what to do to protect individuals from the virus, there was a need for more information.  . As a certified healthcare remediator in the cleaning industry, Ideal Restoration was the obvious choice to take part.

“The goal for these guidelines is to provide the tools to easily adhere to the protocols that are created for their facility.” said Richards of Ideal, a leader in providing COVID-19 disinfection.  “The Hotel Council of San Francisco put together the ideal committee, from the industrial hygienists who developed protocols to follow, the healthcare remediator to provide best practices, the legal counsel to ensure that participants are legally compliant and dozens of hotel general managers to ensure that this can all be done realistically and practically. “

Over the last few months, the Hotel Council has hosted numerous educational webinars for its membership and others to fully explain the protocols and their practical application.

“As a professional who champions for worker and public health, partnering with the Hotel Council of San Francisco has been an absolute pleasure,” said Weisbrod. “They are fully committed to ensuring their members have the most current information and guidance pertinent to their industry so they can reduce risk of transmission and protect both workers and guests.

About the Hotel Council of San Francisco:
The Hotel Council of San Francisco is a non-profit membership-based organization advocating for the economic and social vitality of the hospitality industry in San Francisco. Their membership roster includes over 200 hotels, allied members, and partner organizations. The Hotel Council is dedicated to protecting the San Francisco hospitality industry and connecting its members to support the growth and success of the industry. As the largest industry in San Francisco, hotels and tourism directly impact the success of many businesses throughout San Francisco, supporting over 105,000 jobs.

Media Contact:
David Perry & Associates, Inc. /David Perry: (415) 676-7007/ news@davidperry.com       

MORE THAN 10,000 SAN FRANCISCO HOTEL WORKERS UNEMPLOYED

Almost half of city’s hotels remain closed; hurt by new “Healthy Buildings” ordinance

3 August 2020 — SAN FRANCISCO, CA: More than 10,000 San Francisco hotel employees are out of work and nearly half of the city’s hotels are closed representing more than half of all guest rooms, according to state data compiled through July 31 as San Francisco remains one of only four California counties not allowing hotels to reopen, the Hotel Council of San Francisco announced today.

The 10,899 employees furloughed, temporarily laid off and, increasingly, permanently laid off, represent 44 percent of San Francisco’s 25,000 hotel workers while the 92 closed hotels represent 42 percent of the city’s 215 hotels. The data was compiled by the California Employment Development Department and with the Hotel Council’s own statistics.

Hotels have not been allowed to be open for tourists since mid-March and now face increased health risks for employees imposed by the Board of Supervisors’ “Healthy Buildings” ordinance signed by Mayor Breed on July 17. The ordinance demands the daily cleaning of guest rooms even when the guest stays a second night, increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission, which is counter to all public health recommendations. 

“The new so-called ‘Healthy Buildings’ ordinance has made a bad situation worse,” said Kevin Carroll, President and CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco. “San Francisco’s hotels already are prepared to have the most-stringent cleaning protocols in the nation. Many of our hotel jobs will never come back as some hotels will be forced to close forever.”

San Francisco hotels have worked closely with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, Gov. Newsom, California Department of Public Health, Cal/OSHA and San Francisco’s public health office to develop health safety standards that exceed any other industry, short of hospitals. Those Clean + Safe guidelines were issued more than two months before the Healthy Buildings ordinance became law. The hotel health standards for employees include:

• Customized COVID-19 plans to include all areas of a hotel’s operations
• Employee safety trainings in English & Spanish
• Clear and appropriate social distancing signage
• Delivery and use of personal protective equipment for employees
• Cleaning directions that keep employees and guests safe

The hotel standards follow the CDC, CDPH and Cal/OSHA recommendations that have been utilized as guidance for reopening by 54 of 58 California counties.

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

Dezart Performs Nominated for 27 Desert Stars Awards
Honors Will Be Announced Online By The Desert Theatre League October 4

www.dezartperforms.org 

3 August 2020 – Palm Springs, CA: Following a the most successful and critically acclaimed, but COVID-enforced shorter than expected 12^th season, the celebrated Dezart Performs (www.dezartperforms.org)  has secured 27 nominations for the annual “Desert Star Awards” including the categories of Outstanding Director of a Comedy, three nominations for Outstanding Production of a Comedy/Drama, The Michael Cruickshank Award for Outstanding Director of a Drama,  plus Outstanding Set, Sound Design and Props and Special Effects shout outs. Dezart Performs also achieved an almost unprecedented domination of all the major actor categories, including eight  for Outstanding Lead Actor/Actress and seven for Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress nominations.

 The winners of the 33rd annual Desert Theatre League “Desert Stars” Awards will be announced online October 4, 2020.   It was the second highest number of nominations ever for Dezart Performs, all the more incredible because of the truncated season for all companies in the Coachella Valley and beyond.

“This moment of celebration comes at a much-needed time for our theatre community,” said Dezart Performs Founding Artistic Director Michael Shaw. “With the shutdown, and cancellation of so many shows, this moment reminds us of the great work that we were all in the middle of accomplishing. Bittersweet, yes, but affirming, as we are all look forward to the future and reemergence of live theatre.”

The complete list of “Desert Star Awards” nominations for Dezart Performs are as follows: 

Outstanding Director of a Comedy – Professional 

Michael Shaw – Hand to God 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy – Professional

Eddie Vona – Hand to God 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy – Professional

Yo Younger – Hand to God 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy – Professional

Roy Abramsohn – Hand to God 

Danny Gomez – Hand to God 

Outstanding Production of a Comedy/Drama – Professional

Daniel’s Husband 

Hand to God 

Sweat 

The Michael Cruickshank Award for Outstanding Director of a Drama – Professional

Darin Anthony – Daniel’s Husband 

Michael Shaw – Sweat

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama – Professional

Cortez Johnson – Sweat 

Corydon Melgoza – Sweat

Michael Shaw – Daniel’s Husband 

David Youse – Daniel’s Husband 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama 

Desireé Clarke – Sweat 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama – Professional

Theresa Jewett – Sweat

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama 

Miguel Arballo – Sweat

Mike Truelock – Sweat

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama – Professional

Hanz Enyeart – Daniel’s Husband 

Cary Thompson – Sweat

Chuck Yates – Daniel’s Husband 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama 

Melanie Blue – Sweat

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama – Professional

Deborah Harmon – Daniel’s Husband 

Outstanding Set Design – Professional 

Thomas L. Valach – Daniel’s Husband 

Outstanding Sound Design – Professional 

Clark Dugger – Daniel’s Husband 

Clark Dugger – Sweat

Outstanding Props and Special Effects 

Cecilia Orosco – Sweat

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.

Details about the upcoming 13^th Season for Dezart Performs will be announced later this summer. For more information go online at www.dezartperforms.org, or call (760) 322-0179.