The latest edition of Smart Family now offers a variety of new features including two that spotlight inspirational and thought-provoking local women.Three Daniel Island Moms were spotlighted in the Summer 2008 edition of this unique magazine, published by a local resident, Kathleen Ricciardi and her husband, Peter. 

Previously printed twice each year, its immediate success has resulted in a new quarterly schedule for Smart Family. Designed to help local women live, laugh and learn, it includes dozens of invaluable information-based SmartPages as well as many new features. "Our readers were anxious to connect with other local women and through our new ‘Local Inspiration’ and ‘In Her Words’ features, they certainly will," explained Ms. Ricciardi. "It’s hard not to get excited, motivated and inspired when you become acquainted with these stories and the encouragement offered by each of the first 10 women we placed the spotlight on."

It should come as little surprise that Daniel Island was well represented in these new features. Tracey DeWitt, an All-American tri-athlete, offers her thoughts and suggestions on finding the time and motivation to stay fit. As a business owner, wife and Mom of two young children, her advice is well worth heeding. Two other ‘Islanders’, Terry Haas and Shana Meyer, were featured because of their inspirational stories. Terry, the mother of a newborn son, is now a star of HGTV’s hit series Designed to Sell after spending more than a decade in the real estate industry. Shana Meyer has long been an advocate for all children having been selected to be part of Oprah Winfrey’s Kindness Challenge. "Daniel Island and the entire Lowcountry have many moms whose stories deserved to be shared. We look forward to doing just that in each upcoming edition and welcome ‘nominations’ from our readers," Ms. Ricciardi concluded.

Smart Family prints and distributes 25,000 free copies each season through both direct mail and through hundreds of family-friendly businesses including grocery stores, doctors’, dentists’ and real estate offices, attractions, hospitals and retailers. It is also available in its entirety in page-turning format at www.smartfamily.net.

The South Carolina Film Commission, a division of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, is accepting submissions for the third year of filmmaking grants through its South Carolina Film Production Fund.

The fund was created to develop collaborative projects in film, video and multimedia between motion picture professionals and institutions of higher learning in South Carolina. Up to $300,000 in production grants will be awarded in 2009. 

To further promote development of in-state film crews, the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and Trident Technical College have formed the South Carolina Film Consortium with the South Carolina Film Commission. Independent producers and other professionals in motion picture-related fields are able to partner with one or all of the Consortium members, working with their students to help South Carolina build its knowledge pool and improve the skills of those already involved in the industry.

South Carolina filmmakers requiring more information on the application process can go to the Film Production Fund Web site at www.filmsc.com. These pages contain an overview of the South Carolina Film Production Fund, along with specific grant requirements.

A producers’ seminar will be held in Charleston the weekend of Aug. 16 for applicants to the Production Fund and other interested media professionals. For more information, call Tom Clark at (803) 737-0498 or contact him at tclark@scprt.com.

 "By allowing students to produce indigenous film projects from script to screen without having to rely on out-of-state expertise and facilities, we elevate the filmmaking skills of South Carolinians and create synergy between independent producers and South Carolina colleges and universities," said South Carolina Film Commissioner Jeff Monks.

"The industry benefits by having a ready-to-work crew; graduates benefit by being better prepared to gain employment; and South Carolina benefits from the income and the prominence generated by a successful in-state entertainment industry," Monks said.