From Shorts To Features
Join us for a discussion about expanding a short into a feature film with Film Fatales members Cidney Hue (Ovum), Deb Shoval (AWOL), Erin Vassilopoulos (Superior), and Sonejuhi Sinha (Stray Dolls).
This round table discussion will amplify creative voices who have used their short films to support their feature work. Directors will discuss how to use a short film as a “calling card” to find funding for the feature and build a creative team.We will also address the logistical and creative challenges of expanding a short into longer form content. Do you write the feature first and shoot the first act? Do you write the short script and then expand? Learn how to take your short form content to the next level from filmmakers who have been there before.
Recommended Reading
Directors Talk Turning Their Short Films Into Features by Nick Romano
Five Questions with AWOL Director Deb Shoval written by Paula Bernstein
How Erin Vassilopoulos Forged Her ’80s-Set Twin Thriller ‘Superior’ by Max Gao
Interview with Director Cidney Hue by Michelle Chiapetta
Interview With Sonejuhi Sinha on STRAY DOLLS by Lindsay Pugh
Sleeping Beauty's Long Nap to the Exoplanet Odessa by David Latchman
5 Awesome Tactics for New Filmmakers by Jason Brubaker
10 Tips on Turning Your Short Film Into a Feature written by Kat Delby
14 Way to Get Your Independent Short Film Seen by Thomas Verdi
Additional Resources
Behind The Curtain
Join Film Fatales for a discussion about what filmmakers need to know about inclusive casting with Casting Directors Erica Hart (Enemies of the State), Jennifer Ajemian (Feeling Through), Victor Vasquez (X Casting). Moderated by Film Fatales member Stavroula Toska (Beneath the Olive Tree).
Ever wonder what really goes on in the mind of a casting director before deciding to work with a director? How do you, the director, know you have hired the right casting director for your project? What is the difference between "color-blind casting" and "color-conscious casting?" What are best practices for casting inclusively? Join us to hear about all this and more from three of the busiest casting directors on the East Coast.
Recommended Reading
Actors With Disabilities Are Ready, Willing, and Able to Take More Roles written by Alexis Soloski
A Short Review of "Feeling Through" written by Roque Renteria
Are Colour-Blind Period Dramas About To Become The Norm? written by Radhika Seth
Bridgerton's Racially Diverse Cast Was Found Using an 'Inclusion Lens' written by Sean O’Grady
Colour-Blind vs Colour-Conscious Casting on TV written by Lily Boag
Centering Trans and Non-Binary Voices in Film and TV written by Kate Bove
Inclusive Casting in Fantasy written by Rosie Knight
Moving Beyond Color-blind and Color-Conscious Casting written by Lavina Jadhwani
Rerouting the Casting Pipeline written by Jerald Raymond Pierce
Additional Resources
Going Paperless
Join us for an interactive workshop about Going Paperless on set with Film Fatales member Valerie Weiss (Director of Mixtape, Outer Banks and Prodigal Son).
Valerie Weiss discusses how Scriptation can empower you to navigate the new world of digital scripts, shorter work days, remote collaboration, and social distancing without compromising your production workflow. Through a demonstration of the app’s tools like Note Transfer, Script Annotation, Bookmarking, and Facing pages, Valerie shows you how she uses Scriptation successfully on set. Gain insight into her process and see how she works within the new production safety guidelines. Workshop participants will receive one month complimentary access to Scriptation.
Recommended Reading
Behind Every Film Production is Environmental Wreckage by Kyle Fitzpatrick
Director Valerie Weiss' 95 Show Range in Film, TV by Brett Tomlinson
Environmental Documentaries We All Need to See by Adrian Lobb
Hollywood Considering Paperless Scripts by Kelvin Childs
Rosser Goodman speaks to Filmotomy by Robin Write
Scriptation App Revolutionizes Screenplay Notes by Jason Hellerman
Scriptation Completes Series B Funding Round by Mike Fleming Jr.
That's a Wrap on Waste: Going Green On Set by Meri Hilalian
13 Best Apps for Screenwriters in 2021 by Alex Diantgikis
13 Steps Towards Green Film Production by H. Nelson Tracey
Additional Resources
Philadelphia Latino Film Festival Panel Discussion
Join Film Fatales and the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival for a conversation with Film Fatales members Angela Tucker (Belly of the Beast), Chithra Jeyaram (Foreign Puzzle), Emily Cohen Ibañez (Fruits of Labor), Lorena Manriquez (Siqueiros: Walls of Passion), and Raquel Cepeda (La Madrina: The Savage Life of Lorine Padilla) as they discuss their creative journeys, advice for emerging filmmakers and the importance of community building to their creative practice.
Music On Film Mixer
Members of Film Fatales and Alliance for Women Film Composers are invited to a private networking mixer for directors and composers.
Eager to meet creative collaborators? Excited to share details about your latest passion project? Missing the company of like-minded artists? We will begin with a group “getting to know you” exercise facilitated by Composer Catherine Joy, President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers, Leah Meyerhoff, founder of Film Fatales, and Composer Starr Parodi, board member and former president of Alliance for Women Film Composers, before dividing up into smaller discussion circles for meaningful conversations based on a series of guided prompts.
Recommended Reading
44 Women And Non-Binary Filmmakers We Loved In 2020 by Rachel Williams
Eight Exciting Trans and Gender Noncomforming Filmmakers Shaking Up Hollywood by Jude Dry
Empowering Female And Nonbinary Filmmakers by Alice Murphy
Female Composers Are Trying to Break Film's Sound Barrier by Tim Greiving
Five Female Composers Reshaping the Film Industry by Laura Studarus
Minding Your Beats and Cues: Tips for Working with a Composer by Miriam Cutler
More Women Than Ever Are Directing Major Films, Study Says by Cara Buckley
Sisters With Transistors: How Women Pioneered Electronic Music by Glenn Kelly
Ten Female Composers Who are Writing Great Film Scores by Nicole Ackman
Why Are There So Few Female Film Composers? by Natasha Jagger
Women Who Score: The Alliance for Women Film Composers by Adryan Russ
Additional Resources
Thinking Outside the Box
Join Film Fatales for a discussion about Thinking Outside the Box with episodic television directors Jennifer Arnold (Younger), Jennifer Phang (Resident Alien), Kelly Park (Punky Brewster) and Ro Haber (Pride).
This dynamic discussion with working episodic television directors will cover prep, production and post in a fast-paced environment; what happens in a tone meeting; how to communicate with actors on set; and each speaker's unique career path. How do you break into directing television? How do you prepare to helm an episode of a popular show? What is it like being a “guest” on set? As productions resume and we return to set, can we also use this opportunity to create a more inclusive, humane and thoughtful work place?
Recommended Reading
5 Tips to Ensure a Great DP/Director Relationship written by Tanner Shinnick
11 Essential Location Scouting Tips written by Arnon Shorr
8 Exciting Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Filmmakers Shaking Hollywood written by Jude Dry
Better Together: Life Melds on and Off-Set written by Libby Slate
‘Black Don’t Crack’ Kelly Park To Direct written by Nellie Andreeva
FX's Pride Docuseries to Tell 60+ Years of LGBTQ+ History written by Mey Rude
How are TV Shows Filming During a Pandemic? written by Roger Catlin
How Film Directors Can Use Improv on Set written by Amanda Pendolino
How Today’s Female Directors Broke Out of ‘Movie Jail’ written by Steve Rose
Jennifer Phang Talks Bringing Feminist Sci-Fi to the Screen written by Alex Heeney
On Directing Kids written by Jean Schiffman
The Hollywood Gender Gap Statistic No One Talks About written by Laura Delarato
TV Director and Showrunner Responsibilities in Episodic TV written by Scott Myers
Women Directors Breaking Down Barriers written by Debra Birnbaum
Additional Resources