Breaking the Mold
Join us for a discussion about experimental filmmaking techniques and bold stylistic choices with Film Fatales members Emily Cohen Ibañez (Fruits of Labor), Mariah Garnett (Trouble), Olivia Peace (Tahara), and Penny Lane (Hail Satan?).
Hear from filmmakers forging a path with their uniquely creative voices. Learn where they find inspiration, how they cultivate their style, and how they maintain it in the fast-paced and ever-changing landscape of the film industry. Do bold choices help you stand out or are they something you have to fight to hold onto? How do you maintain your artistic integrity? How do you choose which aesthetic compromises to make?
Recommended Reading:
Can a Documentary be So Bad it’s Good by Penny Lane
How to Talk Experimental Film: A User’s Guide by Minhae Shim
Inhabitable Worlds: Troubling disability, debility, and ability narratives by Emily Cohen Ibañez
In Tahara A Black Queer Jewish Teen Navigates Grief and Toxicity by Daniel Reynolds
Mariah Garnett by Risa Puleo
Meet Emily Cohen Ibanez by Vicki A. Lee
Military Utopias of Mind and Machine by Emily Cohen Ibañez
Notes on Quotes by Penny Lane
She didn’t go to Hebrew school, but she she made an extremely accurate movie about it — a conversation with Olivia Peace by Irene Katz Connelly
Ten Masterpieces of Experimental Cinema by Justin Remes
Trouble artist book by Mariah Garnett
When It Comes to Gender, Let Confusion Reign by Holland Cotter
Women Texas Film Festival Review: Olivia Peace’s Tahara by Tony Ruggio
Additional Resources:
Filmmaking on a Budget
Join us Friday April 2nd 2pm PT for a discussion about low budget feature filmmaking with Film Fatales members Alana Barrett-Adkins (Asunder, One Flesh Divided), Claudia Cifuentes (After the Wedding), Patricia Vidal Delgado (La Leyenda Negra) and Veronica McKenzie (Nine Nights).
Hear from experienced filmmakers as they discuss their unique experiences, and sometimes unorthodox approaches, in the world of low budget filmmaking. We will explore how to overcome numerous obstacles presented in development, financing, casting, crewing, shooting, and post-production. We'll also offer marketing and distribution strategies for scripted feature films made on minimal budgets. Learn how each of these filmmakers found creative ways to overcome challenges specific to low-budget filmmaking to bring their visions to the screen.
Recommended Reading:
A Massive List of Spring 2020 Grants All Filmmakers Should Know About from No Film School
3 Tips on How You Can Encourage Diversity on a Low-Budget Set by Oakley Anderson-Moore
How to Complete a Large Format Film on a Low Budget During a Pandemic by Mari Walker
10 Tips for Successfully Producing a Micro-Budget Feature by Jennifer Westin
Zero Budget Filmmaking Tips: 7 Steps on How To Get That Hollywood Look by Studio Binder
Additional Resources:
Film Fatales Social Mixer: Building Connections
Members of Film Fatales are invited to a virtual social mixer for feature film and episodic television directors around the world. Join us for a community discussion around inclusive language, authentic authorship and ethical filmmaking practices as we continue to work towards decolonizing the film industry. Let's stand in solidarity against systemic racism and gender-based violence as we make space to listen to each other and build deeper connections within our community.
We will begin with a grounding ritual and group conversation led by co-hosts Amy Marquis (Ara, Untamed), Chelsea Hernandez (Building The American Dream) Donna Wheeler (Death of a Saleswoman), and Rijaa Nadeem (Scandal Made me Famous), before dividing up into smaller discussion circles to deepen our relationships based on a series of guided prompts.
Further Reading:
A Reckoning by Sonya Childress
Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit by RespectAbility
How to be Human by Healthline
Interrupting Bias: Calling Out vs. Calling In by Rebecca Haslam
Rest is Resistance by The Nap Ministry
Stop Using “Female-Identified” by Jack Verzuh
Stop using the phrase 'womxn' by Canela López
The Financial Activist Playbook by Jasmine Rashid
This Work isn’t For Us by Jemma Desai
Unapologetic by Charlene Carruthers
Who is Telling Whose Story by Lisa Valencia-Svensson
What to Watch:
Authentic Authorship panel with Film Fatales
James MacTaggert lecture with Michaela Coel
The Big Conversation: The Story of Us with Sundance
The Urgency of Intersectionality with Kimberlé Crenshaw
Your Elusive Creative Genius with Elizabeth Gilbert
Additional Resources:
The Creative Spark
Join us for a round table discussion about maintaining your Creative Spark while releasing a film during a pandemic with Film Fatales members Anna Kerrigan (Cowboys), Christina Faith (Love You Right), Daniela De Carlo (The Blackout), and Jessie Barr (Sophie Jones).
Filmmakers discuss their individual journeys from project development through distribution. Where do you find inspiration? How do you keep your creative voice alive throughout? What strategies help you push through to the finish line? How does the creative process vary from the writing stage to production and post? What are techniques for building audiences in Virtual Cinemas? Hear from four accomplished Writers and Directors who have recently released their feature films about the trials and tribulations it took to get where they are today.
Recommended Reading:
Capturing All the Feels in Sophie Jones written by Stephen Saito
Christina Faith talks Single and Anxious written by Aramide A Tinubu
Daniela De Carlo talks Directing written by Brittany Frederick
How the Movie Industry is Fighting Lockdown written by Sarah Atkinson
How to Get Your Film Distributed written by Jason Sirotin
Meet Anna Kerrigan written by Cody Corrall
10 Film Distribution Basics written by Eliott Grove
Additional Resources:
Making The Leap
Join Film Fatales on March 12th 2pm PT for a discussion about Making the Leap from independent feature to the studio world with Ekwa Msangi (Director, Farewell Amor), Laura Terruso (Director, Work It), Lena Khan (Director, Flora & Ulysses), and Leslye Headland (Showrunner Russian Doll).
How do you make your "leap"? Was it worth it and what do you have to sacrifice? What is it like working for hire as opposed to being in complete control of your project? What does the industry look like from that vantage point in terms of representation? How do you hold the door open for others or make a dent in your own way? Come get answers from four fantastic filmmakers who are blazing the trail for us all.
Recommended Reading:
Ekwa Msangi Wants to Tell a Familiar and Moving Story of Immigration written by Valentina Valentini
Hollywood has never been quick to change, especially when it comes to diversity: Ekwa Msangi written by Alaka Sahani
INTERVIEW: Director Lena Khan on Diversity, Financing, Disney and More written by Sabina Giado
Interview: Laura Terruso on Putting Together a Class Act of Lowbrow Humor in “Good Girls Get High” written by Stephen Saito
Lena Khan Interview: Flora and Ulysses written by Jezzer Reyes
Leslye Headland Hits Her Stride as Writer -Director and Co-Creator of “Russian Doll” written by Caroline Framke
Leslye Headland on Russian Doll, Her Harvey Weinstein Play, and Why New York Is a ‘Graveyard’ written by Kathryn VanArendonk
Why ‘Fits and Starts’ Director Laura Terruso Thinks You Should ‘Say Yes to Everything!’ written by Oakley Anderson - Moore
Additional Resources:
All Eyes on Women
Join Film Fatales and Cinemarket for a Virtual Market and Live Pitch Event during the 2021 Berlinale Film Festival.
Watch as filmmakers seeking distribution present their feature films to an industry panel of international buyers and distributors and stick around after for a Q&A.
The filmmakers presenting their projects are: Cristina Ibarra (The Infiltrators), Iram Parveen Bilal (I’ll Meet You There), Khadifa Wong (Uprooted), Kavery Kaul (The Bengali) and Yi Chen (First Vote).
Followed by a discussion with Amanda Trokan (HBO), Elise McCave (Kickstarter), Jackie Sayno (Encore), Nele Willaert (Gaumont), Opal Hope Bennett (DOC NYC), Sarah Lash (Condé Nast), and Sophie von Uslar (Constantin Film). Moderated by Alece Oxendine (Columbia University).
Recommended Reading:
A Pakistani-American Tale Upends Expectations Onscreen and in Life written by Sopan Deb
Amanda Trokan on Film Programming written by Taylor HessDistribution Fact Sheet 2021 written by Liz Manashil
Film Distribution Explained written by Amy Clarke
First Vote examines Asian American voters written by Gary M Kramer
Help Your Kickstarter Project with Elise McCave written by George Edelman
How Booking Agents Work: Movie Booking Agents written by Dave Roos
How to Pitch Your Film: A Step-By-Step Breakdown written by Oakley Anderson-Moore
Power and Visibility written by Alex Rivera
Producer’s Guide: Film Distributors written by Phillip Paquette
Standing on the Shoulders of a South Asian Woman written by Kavery and Usha Kaul
Stepping back: the film that relaims the true story of jazz dance written by Lyndsey Winship
The Complete Guide to Film Distribution written by Erin Pearson
We Spoke to Dozens of Distributors written by Liz Manashil and Rebecca Green
7 Tips on How to Find and Work with Sales Agents written by Magda Olchawska
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