Sync Weekly Photos of Launch 

Create Little Rock, the Little Rock Regional Chamber's new talent initiative, officially launched Thursday, January 28, 2010. Presented by Entergy Arkansas, the event was hosted by the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. 435 pre-registrants signed up for the event.

Featured guest was Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Little Rocker-by-choice Ray McKinnon ("Deadwood," "O Brother, Where Art Thou").

With his Arkansas native wife and producing partner, Lisa Blount ("An Officer and a Gentleman," "Great Balls of Fire"), a Golden Globe-nominated actress, McKinnon moved to Little Rock in 2005. Along with their Ginny Mule Pictures producing partner, Walton Goggins ("The Shield"), McKinnon and Blount won the Academy Award for "Best Live Action Short" for "The Accountant" in 2002. Their first feature was the critically acclaimed "Chrystal," shot in Eureka Springs, starring Blount and Billy Bob Thornton, and written and directed by McKinnon. They followed with the feature comedy, "Randy and the Mob," which McKinnon wrote, produced, directed and starred as twins Randy and Cecil Pearson. Recent acting credits include "Coach Cotton" in the current box office hit "The Blind Side" and "Lonzo Choat" in the award-winning "That Evening Sun," which he also produced. For his performance opposite Hal Holbrook's "Abner Meecham," McKinnon has been nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Spirit Award - considered the Oscars of independent film.

At the launch, Little Rock's Epiphany produced the multi-artist entertainment, representing the "Flavor of the Rock." Acts include DJ g-force, Epiphany & One Night Stand, Riverbilly and Velvet Kente.

Literal flavor was provided by All American Wings, Boulevard Wine & Spirits, Blue Coast Burrito, Capriccio Grill Italian Steakhouse, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Arkansas, Golden Eagle of Arkansas, Inc., Harbor Distributing Company, Premium Refreshment Service, Rumba - Revolution, Rx Catering, and Taziki's Greek Fare.

Jones Film Video/CJRW debuted a :30 second We All Create Little Rock spot, while JM Associates/Career Sports & Entertainment premiered its "I Create Little Rock" series.

In addition to streaming the event live, Station X recorded members' and guests' own 'I Create Little Rock' spots.

Leopard Productions, Inc. will provided production support, while signs and banners were produced by Magna IV Color Imaging, Inc.

The purpose of Create Little Rock is to keep, attract and grow talent for Little Rock and the region. Already almost 100 founding members are meeting and planning the year's offerings.

While the group will produce and participate in events, projects and programming to further its mission, its primary role will be to shine light on what individuals and groups are doing to create Little Rock and provide the means for its individual members to connect and partner with other vision-sharing members to tackle disparate issues and projects.

To become a member of Create Little Rock, click here, complete and submit the online application. Membership, which runs through 2010, is $35 for representatives of Chamber member businesses/organizations and $50 for representatives of prospective Chamber members.

Create Little Rock is chaired by Chris Marsh (Entergy Arkansas) and presented by Best Buy Co., Inc., in partnership with Centennial Bank and Pulaski Technical College. Additional partnership marketing opportunities are available by contacting Barri Bridges, 377.6014. Follow development of Create Little Rock on Twitter (@CreateLR), Facebook, and Linkedin.

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