Let the Write One In
Join us for a virtual Screenwriting Workshop led by Film Fatales members Deborah Goodwin (Snaeland) and Julia Camara (In Transit).
In this interactive workshop you will discover all the necessary steps you need to take in preparation for writing your feature screenplay. What is pre-writing and how do you use it to your advantage? What are the best practices for outlining a script? How do you find the most useful research for world building and character development? Come find out how these veteran screenwriters lay strong foundations for their work.
Recommended Reading
Female Writers of Color on Creating Entertainment written by Keli Goff
How to Conquer Writer’s Block written by Meredith Woerner
How to Write a Film Treatment written by Masterclass
How to Write Better Action Lines written by Robert Chomiak
PayUpHollywood Explained written by Nardine Saad
Writer-Directors on Their Socially Relevant Heroines written by Caryn James
Writing Tips From Shonda Rhimes written by M. Olchawska
6 Rules of Screenplay Research written by Stephanie Joalland
Additional Resources
Born Curious
Join Film Fatales for an interactive workshop about applying for an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film Grant with Rebecca Katz, the current Sloan Consultant at Sundance Institute and Film Independent. Moderated by Film Fatales member and Sloan grant recipient Annie Howell (Co-director, Small Beautifully Moving Parts).
Launched in 1996, the Sloan Film Program aims to influence the next generation of filmmakers to tackle science and technology themes and characters, increase visibility for feature films that depict this subject matter, and develop new work that can be produced and released theatrically. Sloan’s Film program has awarded grants to over 700 film projects from some of the nation’s most innovative filmmakers and has created a film development pipeline of multiple program partners. Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has partnered with six of the top film schools in the country–including AFI, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, and USC– and established annual awards in screenwriting and film production. The Foundation also supports artist development programs at the Sundance Institute, the Tribeca Film Institute, the Black List, SFFILM, the Athena Film Festival, and Film Independent.
Recommended Reading
A Massive List of Winter 2021 Grants written by Oakley Anderson-Moore
How To Succeed At Grant Proposals written by TFINY
Managing Grant Expectations in a Tough Funding Landscape written by Daniel Cardone
Tips for Successfully Producing a Micro-Budget Feature written by Jennifer Westin
The How-Tos of Grant Writing written by Joy Dietrich
The Ultimate Film Grants List for Every Filmmaker in 2021 written by Herman Wilkins
5 Tips to Perfect Your Grant Proposal written by Rounak Maiti
Additional Resources
Cast to the Future
Join us for a panel discussion about inclusive casting with casting consultant Ava Rigelhaupt (Two Countries), filmmaker Alaa Zabara (Salahy) and talent agent Gail Williamson (KMR Talent). Moderated by Film Fatales member Khadifa Wong (Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance).
The question of who should tell stories of marginalized and underrepresented voices has been much discussed, sometimes leading to heated stances over artistic freedom, cultural appropriation and accusations of censorship. And yet, disabled stories are sorely lacking in representation. Twenty percent of people have a disability while on-screen representation hovers around three percent, with no meaningful change in the last five years. While more attention is being paid to hiring disabled actors for disabled roles, what about opportunities for disabled actors to play nondisabled characters? And who should be writing these roles? What are best practices for inclusive casting and accessible sets?
Reading List
Being Different Is Badass written by Alex Barone
Disability representation in Hollywood written by Marissa Martinelli
Doc Filmmakers with Disabilities on Building Careers and Disproving Stereotypes written by James LeBrecht
Entertainers discuss disability representation in Hollywood written by Lindsey Bahr
For the Disabled in Hollywood, Report Finds Hints of Progress written by Cara Buckley
Hollywood Continues To Overlook Disability Community written by Shaun Heasley
Hollywood’s Diversity Efforts Can’t Ignore Disability written by Marina Fang
How to Make Your Workplace More Accessible to People With Disabilities written by Kat Boogaard
Meet Gail Williamson, Agent for Actors with Disabilities written by Including You
New Film 'Selahy' Tells the Story of a Deaf Girl in War-Torn Yemen written by Lauren Appelbaum
On the Representation of Disabled Women in Cinema written by Kristen Lopez
Study Shows More Disability Stories Onscreen, but Few Disabled Actors written by Sarah Baur
The Actors With Disabilities Redefining Representation written by Mark Harris
The Oscars Love Movies About Disability, Not Disabled Actors written by Sophia Stewart
TV Lags Far Behind Film in Disability Representation written by Michael Schneider
What Ignoring the Disability Community Costs Hollywood written by Kerry McLaughling
Yes, I'm Jewish: An AAPI Month Reflection written by Ava Xiao-Lin Rigelhaupt
5 ways to make your venue more accessible for D/deaf people written by Julie Ryder
Additional Resources
Bring Your Own Producer
Film Fatales, Latino Filmmakers Network and Chicana Director’s Initiative invite you to a panel discussion and networking mixer for filmmakers of all backgrounds.
We will begin with a panel discussion with producers Candy Ibarra (Forward Motion Entertainment), Gabriela Gonzalez (Words Unspoken), Maylen Calienes (The Three Bilinguals), Miguel Ferrer (Multi Studios), and Sandra Varona (Shine) moderated by Eileen Faxas. Afterwards, we will divide up into smaller discussion circles for intimate conversations based on a series of guided prompts.
Recommended Reading
Hollywood’s treatment of Latinos is an open wound. Healing it requires a reckoning written by Daniel Hernandez
How Film Fatales are Tackling Hollywood's Inclusion Problem written by Melissa Silverstein
How new grass-roots networks are boosting diversity on Hollywood film and TV crews written by Anousha Sakoui
Interview with Kayden Phoenix: Founder of Chicana Director's Initiative written by Entertainment Network Live
Latinos Are Underrepresented in Hollywood, Study Finds written by Laura M. Holson
Long underrepresented in film and TV, Latinos are falling further behind written by Vanessa Martinez and Aia Ylanan
Meet Maylen Calienes written by VoyageATL
Producer vs. Director: Who's the Boss? written Careers in Film
The Director-DP Relationship written by Trevor Hogg
Why Are US Latinos Invisible in Media? written by Manuel Betancourt
Why is progress so slow for Latinos in Hollywood? written by Jessica Wolf
Additional Resources
Story Metamorphosis
Join Film Fatales and WIF for a case study on adaptation with the creative minds behind the hit Netflix show SHADOW AND BONE. We'll explore the steps of translating a written work to the screen with Series Writer Leigh Bardugo, Producer Christina Strain, and Executive Producer Shelley Meals. Moderated by Film Fatales and WIF member Drew Denny.
Together we will learn more about the ins-and-outs of developing movies and television that respect the original work while rebuilding it in a new medium. This conversation will tackle the things you need to know about the adaptation process when working with pre-existing IP like books, documentaries, short films, podcasts, articles, and more. If you’re the creator of an original IP or are a filmmaker with questions about the roles of production companies and distributors, tune in to this fascinating panel to learn what makes for a successful adaptation.
Recommended Reading
A Gleam Off the Samovar written by Laini Taylor
A new podcast explores something we need to discuss more: domestic violence in LGBTQ relationships written by Peter Knegt
Adapting plays for the screen can be tricky, or touchy written by Gary Goldstein
‘Finding ‘Ohana’ Review: A ‘Goonies’-Inspired Adventure for the Geocaching Generation written by Courtney Howard
From Screen-to-Screen: Adapting Games to Film/TV moderated by Simon Pulman
Greta Gerwig On Her 'Little Women' Film Adaptation interview by Michel Martin
How Does a Book Get Adapted for TV or Film? written by Chaya Bhuvaneswar
How to Read the 'Shadow and Bone' Grishaverse Novels in Order written by Lauren Puckett-Pope
How TV Adaptations Are Changing Fiction written by Alexander Manshel, Laura B. McGrath, and J. D. Porter
Interview: Leigh Bardugo on her inspiration for 'Shadow and Bone,' set visits and foster puppies written by Tyler Doster
Netflix Investing in the Next Generation of Female Storytellers written by Bela Bajaria
Popular Podcasts That Became TV Shows and Inspired Specials written by Sophia Mitrokostas
Shadow and Bone Netflix Review: Series Smartly Deviates From Books written by Caroline Framke
The IP in VIP: How Intellectual Property Will Make Your Writing Career Soar written by Jon James Miller
Additional Resources
Strike While The Iron Is Hot
Is all money created equal? When is the right (and wrong) time to apply for grant funding? How do investors work? Join us for an informal fireside chat about film financing with Tribeca Film Institute’s former Director of Scripted Programs Bryce Norbitz and filmmaker Dyana Winkler where no question is off limits as we look honestly at how savvy filmmakers have to be in order to get our films funded and made. Moderated by Film Fatales member Sharmila Ray.
Bryce currently serves as the Program Director for the Athena Screenwriting Lab and the Director of Stowe Launch, an Advanced Development Program for Stowe Story Labs. She is the former Director of Scripted Programs at Tribeca Film Institute. Dyana spent the first half of her career working inside funding organizations including the Sundance Documentary Film Program and Tribeca Film Institute where she learned who gets money, what gets into festivals and why. Her films have gone on to receive funding and support from Sundance, IFP, Film Independent, Chicken and Egg, Fledgling Foundation, New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA), California Humanities, Threshold Foundation, Doc Society (formerly Brit Doc), Women in Film, the Sloan Foundation and many others.
Recommended Reading
A Child's Quest written by Fabian Garcia
Challenges Facing Independent Filmmakers written by Elliot Grove
How to Build Values-Based Documentary Funding Strategies written by Rounak Maiti
How the ‘United Skates’ Directors Made the Film Everyone Said Was Impossible written by Liz Nord
One of 2019’s Most Exciting HBO Documentary Debuts written by Mary Alice Miller
Massive List of Spring 2021 Grants All Filmmakers Should Know About written by Oakley Anderson-MooreMeet Sharmila Ray of Saywhatfoo Films in Echo Park written by VoyageLA
New-look North Fork TV Festival wants to turn your idea into a hit show written by Sarah Austin
The Ultimate Film Grants List for Every Filmmaker in 2021 written by Herman Wilkins
Tips for Successfully Producing a Micro-Budget Feature written by Jennifer Westin
United Skates Review: A Rallying Cry for Black Roller Skating Culture written by Teo Bugbee
Documentary Producers Alliance Unveils Guidelines for the Documentary Waterfall written by Marilyn Ness
Additional Resources