Where the Buoys Are in a Sinking Economy

As we continue to sift through the rubble that is the current state of economy, There is, believe it or not, good news out there--but you have to look for it. That's where we come in.  

WEEEEE! VID MAKERS UPBEAT: Video games continue to represent the strongest area of potential growth for actors. According to two reports in THR over the weekend, videogame makers are optimistic sales will remain strong for 2009; meantime, the sales reports for videogame hardware and software were very promising: an 18 percent increase. Strong sales of Nintendo's Wii console helped fuel the rise.

A KILLER DEAL: Killer Films, the New York-based independent production company that brought you Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven and I'm Not There, as well as Kimberly Peirce's Boys Don't Cry, sold a 50 percent equity stake to The GC Corp., a venture capital firm. Also, Randy Manis will become chief executive officer after the deal is done. Manis is a founder of ThinkFilm and a former vice president at Lionsgate. Finding funding in this economy is outstanding news, especially for a company with 14 films in development and largely uncast, according to IMDBpro.com. Laura Rosenthal has done some of the casting for Killer Films, including I'm Not There.

DIGITAL CONTENT BOOMING: According to a study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, the rate of growth for digital content services--particularly social networking and online video--has more than doubled in the past year. Also, respondents favored an ad-supported model for online content by 3-to-1 compared to pay-per-view or on-demand models. This is good news for advertisers, and if they're happy, they're more likely to fund projects that keep actors working. Though there is expected to be a falloff in online advertising in 2009, this could mean the overall foundation is solid.

THEATRE AVAILABLE: In mid-2009, Westbeth, the new artists' housing community in the West Village, will open a 4,410 square-foot, 78-seat theatre for short- and long-term leasing. Asking $8,000 a month. For more information, contact Charles Gross at (212) 243-9090 x236.

TY'S THE ONE: Playwright and Obie Award-winning actor Ty Jones has been named the new board chair at Classical Theatre of Harlem. Check out his fund-raising campaign, built on the idea of $10 donations.

--Andrew Salomon