Austin-based actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (“Friday Night Lights,” “Fletch,” “Sex and the City,” “Tombstone”) is teaching a series of film acting classes starting Saturday at Nia Space, 3212 S. Congress Ave.

“She will bring over 25 years of acting experience in television and film to bear on this nine week course for aspiring actors of all levels of experience. … Dana’s course, which offers a mix of monologue and scene study along with improvisation ‘workouts,’ will teach you lessons useful throughout your career.”

Dates are Saturday through June 20, 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

For complete details and costs, write Nick Holden at njh31@hotmail.com.

This cracked me up…I’d fly to Austin just to get a Long Island stirred up by Taylor Kitsch.

Last night, the Austin Film Festival hosted a party at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in downtown Austin–a short walk from where we live. The celebrity tending bar was Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, shown here on the right. The lovely lady on the left is Wendy, Ruth’s Chris’ professional bartender.

Ms. Nicholson is probably best known for her role in “Fletch,” where she played the love interest of, yes, Fletch. She has also been in episodes of Seinfeld, Law & Order, Sex and the City and Boston Public. Central Texans know her best as “Tyra’s mom” in Friday Night Lights, the terrific series filmed here in our area.

Austin Film Festival got a lot of good pr out of the party. There is still time to sign up for the Festival and for the Film & Food party, possibly the best bargain in town. For $85, you get unlimited food from twenty top restaurants and open bars. 7-10 pm, Wed, Oct. 21 at The Driskill. 478-4795 or http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/film_food. The auction will even have tickets to see American Idol and The Late Show with David Letterman.

SOURCE: AustinTexasDailyPhoto.Blogspot.com