WOW - Women on Writing
Tiffani Thiessen, the woman behind the accomplishments

When we interviewed Tiffani, our expectations were met and more. We found a woman that made us feel like close friends -- she opened her heart and shared what went into making her successful. You'll find that everything wasn't always easy. She's talented, a very hard worker, has a great ability to focus, and feeds her spirit by engaging in helping others.
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“Just Pray” Qualifies for Official GRAMMY Nomination Consideration

The National Academy of recording Arts & Sciences Committee has placed Paul Doucette’s Score from “Just Pray” on the official ballot for the 2007 Grammy Awards. Doucette and the film earned nomination consideration in the following categories: Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. The official Grammy nominees will be announced later this year.

“Just Pray” Honored with Prestigious ARTIOS Award

The Casting Society of America recognized the cast of Just Pray with a coveted Artios Award at its 22nd annual awards show in Los Angeles on November 1, 2006. The organization (www.castingsociety.com) presents yearly awards for outstanding achievement in casting based on originality, creativity and the contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project. The term Artios is from the ancient Greek word meaning “perfectly fitted” and in 1985, the Casting Society established the awards to recognize the significance of casting to the success of a movie, television or theatrical production. Bonnie Zane, who cast the film, accepted the award for the film and her agency.

Tit 4 Tat Duo Featured in
“My South” Campaign

Johnson, a native of South Carolina, and Thiessen, a native “Southern” Californian and self-professed “Southerner at Heart” were recently featured in the Turner South Network’s “My South” promotional campaign along with other noted celebrities including Angela Bassett, Morgan Freeman, Mimi Rogers, Mary Steenburgen, Raven Symone,.Nancy O’Dell,and Fannie Flagg among others.

Johnson wrote and Thiessen directed “Just Pray,” the award winning, live action narrative set in the South. Johnson is also the author of “Life. Be There At Ten ‘Til.”, a collection of twenty five non-fiction stories of life in the South.

Turner South, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour regional entertainment network, presents a mix of original programming, movies, regional news and sports to cable and DBS affiliates in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and regions of North Carolina. The 24-time Emmy-winning network also offers games from the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks and is the official home of the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers.
For more information, access the Web site at turnersouth.com.

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Just Pray Selected to Open Full Length Screening at Bahamas International Film Festival
10-15-2005

When the Bahamas International Film Festival kicks off on December 8th, “Just Pray” will add another kudo to its growing list of accolades. The film has been selected to screen before the presentation of the foreign film, “Discovery.” On Saturday, December 10th at the Galleria JFK at Paradise Island, the Thiessen-directed “Just Pray” is slotted to preview at 3:00 pm and “Discovery,” directed by Andres Faucher, will immediately follow. Because both films capture and explore diversity as it relates to the human spirit, the pairing seemed a natural fit. This is the fist time “Just Pray” has been honored to open a full length presentation.

In just its second year, the Bahamas International Film Festival is playing host to a powerful combination of industry professionals, filmmakers, celebrity guests, film enthusiasts and the local community. This year, world-renowned and award-winning director and actor, Spike Lee, will receive the inaugural Career Achievement Award. This noted commendation award will honor Mr. Lee’s innovative style and his profound effect on cinematic artistry. During BIFF the tribute to Spike Lee will open with an onstage interview with the director, during which we will present clips of his films. The Tribute Ceremony will be moderated by distinguished film critic and journalist, Karin Durbin.

Bahamas International Film Festival

Just Pray selected as first runner up for "Best Live Action"
9-30-2005

The 2005 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market (ShortFest), highly regarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and considered the largest short film festival and market in North America, celebrated their 11th year with a closing night ceremony and awards show in which a total of 22 festival awards in 13 categories and six audience favorites were announced. Among those receiving a coveted Jury commendation was “Just Pray.” Selected as the runner up to First Place finisher “Tama Tu,” of New Zealand in the Best Live Action over 15 minutes category, the announcement carried a nod of approval and high regard for the film as it was awarded by a Jury of very distinguished film and industry professionals.

More than 500 filmmakers and industry representatives from around the world participated in this year’s Festival held from September 20-26, 2005, which screened 324 short films in competition and included more than 2,400 of the filmmaker submissions, from over 45 countries, in the film market.

Award winners receiving a first place prize are automatically eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award consideration: the Festival presented six of last year’s short film Academy Award nominees, including two winners. Over the past ten years, the Festival has presented 46 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations.

www.psfilmfest.org

Just Pray Awarded Best Score at Rhode Island International Film Festival
8-17-2005

The 2005 Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the winners in this year’s film competition and Just Pray received the jury prize of Best Score. Significant to this win is the film’s automatic submission to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ annual Grammy Awards for nomination consideration. RIIFF is also the only film festival in the United States to have an affiliation with the Grammy Awards. Additionally, the film was selected by RIIFF to appear in its annual festival follow-up series known as “The Best of the Best 2005.”
www.film-festival.org

Just Pray Accepted into the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival
8-05-2005

Entering its ninth year, LA Shorts Fest is the largest short film festival in the world and one of the few recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. Last year's festival garnered over 1,100 film entries and drew more than 10,000 moviegoers, filmmakers and entertainment executives. Through film screenings and panel discussions our filmmakers have an opportunity to interact with their peers, to network with the industry and to entertain audiences.

LA Shorts Fest attracts the highest caliber of short films made each year. Since its' inception, twenty festival participants have gone on to earn Academy Award nominations and six have won the Oscar for their films.

www.lashortfest.com

Just Pray Accepted into the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films
8-01-2005

The Palm Springs International Festival Of Short Films and Film Market will present over 350 short films on three screens with concurrent Film Market facilities featuring over 2,400 shorts, making it the largest short film festival and market in North America. The Festival offers 20 awards in ten different categories, featuring cash prizes and/or film stock. All submitted films are eligible for film market participation for no additional submission fee. Winning films in Live Action and Animation categories are automatically qualified for nomination consideration by AMPAS in the short film categories. There is also a special student film section with awards and reduced entry fees.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues to honor the integrity of the decisions made at this Festival by making this one of the few qualifying festivals for their Best Short Film Awards. Last year’s ShortFest featured the Premiere of Andrea Arnold’s Wasp, which received the 2004 Best of the Festival Award and an Academy Award in the Best Live Action Short Film category. The Best Animated Short Film Academy Award winner, Ryan, also screened at the Festival and received first place in the Best Animation category. In total, 6 of last year’s short film nominees were premiered or presented at the Festival.

www.psfilmfest.org

Just Pray Accepted into the Rhode Island International Film Festival
7-11-2005

With over 1500 film submissions from around the globe, the prestigious Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) has selected Just Pray as an official entry in the 9th annual competition. Noted for its independent spirit in film, the festival has become a haven for independent filmmakers from throughout the world. Of special note is that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected to recognize the Rhode Island International Film Festival as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the Annual Academy Awards. With more than 1950 film festivals worldwide, only 47 have this recognition. As of 2004, RIIFF also became a nominating festival for best score & composer through its affiliation with the Grammy Awards.
www.film-festival.org

Seattle International Film Festival
5-03-2005

"Just Pray" was selected as an official entry into the prestigious Seattel International Film Festival. More info. to come.
www.seattlefilm.com

Vail Film Festival - Vail 90210
4- 12-2005

At an extra screening on Sunday morning, Tiffani (formerly Amber) Thiessen and her screenwriter and producing partner, Dean Johnson, discussed her directorial debut, the short Just Pray. Tiffani had more or less dared Dean to write the script, but revealed that she hadn’t originally intended to direct it.
See the entire article

Vail Daily News - The flipside of Tiffani Thiessen
4- 1-2005
article by: Laura A. Ball of Vail Daily News
Tiffani Thiessen took a leap to the other side of the camera this year for her directorial debut, "Just Pray." Well, maybe it was more like a step.

The veteran actress has been in front of the camera since the age of 9, best known for her roles in "Saved by the Bell" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," experience that helped her real-life role as a director.
See the entire article

"Just Pray" receives Honorable Mention!
2-28-2005

"Just Pray" received the "Honorable Mention" commendation in the Independent Narrative competition at the 28th Annual Carolina Film and Video Festival held in Greensboro, N.C. Taking top honors was the full length feature, Shelter, by Benno Schoberth.
www.carolinafilmandvideofestival.org

Tribeca Film Festival has selected "Just Pray" as an official entry into this year's prestigious event !
2-28-2005

Founded by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, the Tribeca Film Festival has selected "Just Pray" as an official entry into this year's prestigious event scheduled for April 19th through May 1st in New York City. This year marks the festival's 4th Annual celebration.
www.tribecafilmfestival.com

The Vail Institute and The Vail Film Festival officially Invites Just Pray !
2-21-2005

The Vail Institute and The Vail Film Festival have officially selected Just Pray to participate in their second annual competition which garnered rave reviews from festival goers and industryites in last years inaugural festival.
www.vailfilmfestival.org