Martin Scorsese teamed up with the Rolling Stones to produce an intimate concert film, "Shine a Light," which opened the annual Berlin film festival yesterday.

"The nature of the music is something that has inspired me constantly throughout the years," said Scorsese, who captured the veteran rockers at New York's Beacon Theatre in 2006.

Scorsese said he had long discussed possible projects with Mick Jagger. "Whenever I saw the show I'd get excited -- I want to get a camera up there," the 65-year-old director said at a news conference. "We tried to get as close as possible to the energy of a live concert."

He already has another movie in the pipeline: a portrait of the late George Harrison. "It's going to be a straight documentary on his life," Scorsese said.

Twenty-one movies are competing for the main Golden Bear award at this year's Berlinale, the first of the year's major European film festivals. The festival runs through Feb. 17. "Shine a Light" is showing out of competition.

(Associated Press)

Nancy Mosser Casting has been hired to do local casting for "The Road," an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel that will start shooting in Western Pennsylvania later this month. It will star Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and young Kodi Smit-McPhee and be directed by John Hillcoat.

Given the movie's setting and subject -- a beleaguered man and his son struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world -- the cast is small. Mosser is looking to fill eight local speaking roles and to hire 30 extras.

Being very slim and not muscular is a plus this time around. Men who can grow long hair and beards will have an advantage and women with long hair and wiry builds will have an edge.

The movie also calls for a thin man of any ethnicity who is missing one or both legs. No previous acting experience needed for that role.

Actors and extras should be between ages 18 and 50. Preference for speaking roles will be given to Screen Actors Guild members or those with acting resumes. Extras do not need experience.

Go to www.mossercasting.com to register or call the casting office at 412-434-1666 for information.

(Barbara Vancheri, PG movie editor)

On Feb. 20, Pittsburghers can see Oscar-nominated animated shorts, attend a free dessert and drinks reception and get a sneak preview of the 32nd Cleveland International Film Festival.

Screening starts at 7:45 p.m. at the Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave. ($7 admission applies) and dessert and drinks will be served at nearby Legume, 1113 S. Braddock Ave., starting at 9:30 p.m.

At that event, patrons can win a pair of festival passes and an overnight stay at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Cleveland. Festival program guides also will be available, and you can look for them at Dollar Bank branches after Feb. 20.

If you plan to attend the post-movie event, festival organizers ask that you send an e-mail with the subject line "RSVP Pittsburgh" to regional@clevelandfilm.org.

The Cleveland festival, showcasing 290 films from 60 countries, will be March 6-16 at Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland. It will open with "Then She Found Me," a romantic comedy based on the Elinor Lipman novel and directed by Helen Hunt.

Tickets for the opening night gala are $125 per person ($100 if you belong to the Cleveland Film Society). They include the film at 7 p.m. and a 9 p.m. party with Lipman.

For information on the festival, go to www.clevelandfilm.org. Tickets go on sale to members of the film society Feb. 18 and to the general public Feb. 25.

(Vancheri)

If seeing short films by, for and about women and helping two good causes -- preventing homelessness and breast cancer -- weren't enough, "Lunafest 2008" has another incentive for patrons.

Save your ticket stub from "Lunafest" and get a 10 percent discount at Ambiance in Regent Square. It will be good on Sunday, when the store will be open from 5 to 8 p.m., or Tuesday through Saturday.

Ambiance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bethlehem Haven, a nonprofit organization that supports homeless women and will benefit from "Lunafest," a traveling film festival with nine short films.

It will stop at Pittsburgh Filmmakers' Regent Square Theater, 1035 S. Braddock Ave., Edgewood, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or at Filmmakers' headquarters at 477 Melwood Ave., Oakland, at any of its three theaters or Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 6300 Fifth Ave.

Net proceeds go to charity, with 85 percent directed to Bethlehem Haven. The balance will go to the Breast Cancer Fund.

Ambiance, which has a second location in Oakmont, carries new and consigned designer clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, jewelry, home furnishings and some furs and gowns.

"Lunafest," which has raised more than $250,000, is funded by Luna nutrition bars for women. Go to www.lunafest.org or www.pghfilmmakers.org for details.

(Vancheri)