Directing TV Movies
Join Film Fatales for a discussion about Directing TV Movies with Marianne Wunch (Executive Producer, Evil Stepmom), Ricki Maslar (Casting Director, Deadly Misconduct), and Taylor Harris (Script Supervisor, Wicked Moms Club). Moderated by Film Fatales member Tamar Halpern (Director, Sinfidelity).
Recommended Reading
From Guilty Pleasures to Emmy Awards written by Emily Yahr
Getting Work Has Never Been Harder written by Molly Blackall
How Filmmaker Tamar Halpern Directs TV Movies in 12 Days written by Lunacy Staff
How Lifetime Became One Of The Best Places In Hollywood For Women written by Laura Goode
How Lifetime Taught Me to Be a Feminist written by Robyn Bahr
Is 2021 The Year For Female Film Directors To Even The Score? written by Maureen Kedes
Lifetime Network’s Hiring of Women Directors Far Surpasses Industry Averages written by Laura Berger
Lifetime Network Touts Above-Industry-Average Number Of Female Directors written by Rosy Cordero
The Untold Truth Of Lifetime Movies written by Lisa Flowers and Brittany Brolley
This Changes Everything written by Terry Gross
What is a TV Movie in 2020, Anyway? written by Ben Travers
Why are women directors ‘excluded’ from cinema history? written by Ana Maria Bahiana
Why Black Biopics Reign at Lifetime written by Rebecca Sun
Why Women in Genre Filmmaking are so Important written by Erin Brady
On The Small Screen
Join us for a discussion about Directing Episodic Television with Film Fatales members Lisa France (Queen Sugar, Roll With Me) and Neema Barnette (Genius, Black Lightning, Jane the Virgin).
In this inspiring discussion, accomplished episodic television directors and producing directors will share their unique journeys to the small screen and illuminate the many stages of television production, including how to break into television and tips for building a sustainable career. How do you build rapport with actors? How do you serve appropriately as a “guest” on a set while bringing your style to the table? What is it like to step into a popular show? What can we do to create more equity and humanity in this fast-moving environment?
Recommended Reading
10 Things Indie Filmmakers Need to Know About Directing for Television written by Shipra Harbola Gupta
52 Films Directed By Women To Watch In 2021 written by Lena Wilson
Ava DuVernay Opens Up About How Queen Sugar Season 5 Became a Time Capsule for Black People in 2020 written by Mekeisha Madden Toby
DGA: Women Director of Color Still Marginalized in Television written by Kristen Lopez
Female directors in Hollywood are still underrepresented, but the gap is narrowing written by Anousha Sakoui
Here's how gender stereotypes are plaguing Hollywood films despite progress written by Douglas Brown
Inequality in 1,300 Films: Examining Portrayals of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, LGBTQ & Disability from 2007 to 2019 written by Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
More Women Than Ever Working In Film - But Men Still Dominate Key Roles written by Andre Wheeler
Panel of Top Five Female TV Directors on Breaking Barriers written by Debra Birnbaum
Percentage of Women Working as Film Directors, Producers Hasn't Budged Much in 20 Years written by David Oliver
Promising Young Women: the Best Women Directors of the 1970s written by Joy Press
‘Queen Sugar’ director Lisa France on a ‘miraculous’ season revamped to address COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter written by Daniel Montgomery
‘Queen Sugar’: Director Neema Barnette is Ava Duvernay’s Secret Weapon In Shattering the Glass Ceiling written by Chris O’Falt
Representations of Women in Popular Film: A Study of Gender Inequality in 2018 written by Ian Kunsey
Why Aren't There More Women Film Directors? written by Harriet Constable
Women TV Directors Can Call the Shots, But ‘Don’t Have the Luxury to Fail’ written by Libby Hill
Additional Resources
Director's Intuition
Join Film Fatales for an interactive Directing Actors workshop with Judith Weston moderated by Film Fatales member Daniela De Carlo (The Blackout).
For many filmmakers, collaborating with actors is the last frontier—the scariest part and the part they long for—the human part, the place where connection happens. Come witness legendary acting and directing coach, Judith Weston, school us on the challenges of the actor-director relationship, the pitfalls of “result direction”, how to break down a script, how to prepare for casting sessions, and when, how, or whether to rehearse. Judith’s students have included Alejandro G. Iñárritu, (The Revenant, Birdman) Ava DuVernay, (When They See Us, Selma), Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok) and Hanelle Culpepper (Star Trek Picard, The Flash).
This workshop will be a fully interactive session. Capacity is extremely limited. The registration link will be shared the day of the event and a video replay link will be shared after. We are committed to creating a safe space where filmmakers can support one another. Please join us as fully as if we were in person together. See you soon!
Recommended Reading
Act or Die: Be More, Do Less written by Rick Edelstein
Acting in Film written by Michael Caine
Acting with Impact written by Kimberly Jensten
Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus written by Maria Calderone
A Challenge for the Actor written by Uta Hagen
Changing Directions written by Lenore de Koven
Chicago Med’s Daniela de Carlo talks directing The Space Between Us written by Brittany Frederick
Directing Actors written by Judith Weston
Directing Great Television: Inside TV's New Golden Age written by Dan Attias
Directors Tell the Story written by Bethany Rooney
Do the Right Thing directed by Spike Lee
Film Director’s Intuition written by Judith Weston
How to Book Acting Jobs 3.0 written by Cathy Reinking
How to Stop Acting written by Harold Guskin
Hollywood’s Colorism Problem Can’t Be Ignored Any Longer written by Tiffany Onyejiaka
I’ll Be in my Trailer written by John Badham
Improvisation for the Theater written by Viola Spolin
In Her Voice written by Melissa Silverstein
On Acting written by Sanford Meisner
On Directing written by John Badham
Respect for Acting written by Uta Hagen
Shooting Film and TV Sex Scenes: What Really Goes On written by Melena Ryzik
The Art of Acting written by Stella Adler
The Art of Film Acting written by Jeremiah Comey
The Dos & Don'ts of Directing Actors written by No Film School
The Filmmaker Podcast written by John Badham
The Present Actor written by Marci Phillips
There is No ‘Right’ Way written by Erica Fae
Wanda directed by Barbara Loden
You Can Act on Camera written by D.W. Brown
Additional Resources
Prisma Cannes Showcase
Join Film Fatales, Prism and Cinemarket for a Virtual Market and Showcase during the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Filmmakers Emily Cohen Ibañez (Fruits of Labor), Raquel Cepeda (La Madrina: The Savage Life of Lorine Padilla), and Larissa Lam (Far East Deep South) share their latest projects available for acquisition during the Cannes Film Festival and discuss their unique distribution journeys. Moderated by Concordia University professor Dipti Gupta.
Film Fatales, Cinemarket, and Prism are coming together to host PRISMA, a virtual showcase and panel discussion to honor the work of filmmakers of all marginalized genders. What are the challenges women and gender nonconforming filmmakers face in finding distribution in Europe? Can we break down barriers between the international market and US-based filmmakers of color? Join us for a conversation about the state of the industry and explore the Virtual Market of feature films available for acquisition throughout the festival.
The Selection Committee includes Alice Riva (Visions du Réel), Dayan Kodua (Actress), Francesca Tiberi (True Colours), Klaudia Malota (Lower Silesian Film Center), Lidia Damatto (More Than), Manuela Buono (Slingshot Films), Maral Mustafazade (Filmotor), and Rita Stanelyte (Litauisches Kino Goes Berlin, Mata Hari Comm).
Recommended Reading
A Passion for Justice Through Filmmaking written by Sandra Hercegova
Becoming Latina: An Interview with Raquel Cepeda written by Kelli Korducki
Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes Film Festival written by Huriyyah Muhammad
Cannes Disappoints Yet Again written by Melissa Silverstein
Cannes Remains Male-Dominated written by Kate Erbland
Director Larissa Lam On Embracing Undiscovered Family Roots written by Monique
Distribution Fact Sheet 2021 written by Liz Manashil
Film Distribution Explained written by Amy Clarke
How Lack of Diversity Impacts What Films Get Released written by Juliette Verlaque
Interview with Fruits of Labor Director Emily Cohen Ibañez written by Madelaine Russo
Media Program Boosts Diversity and Reach of European Cinema written by Nick Vivarelli
Producer’s Guide: Film Distributors written by Phillip Paquette
The Complete Guide to Film Distribution written by Erin Pearson
We Spoke to Dozens of Distributors written by Liz Manashil and Rebecca Green
What’s Wrong With This Picture written by Dr. Amanda Coles
7 Tips on How to Find and Work with Sales Agents written by Magda Olchawska
10 Film Distribution Basics written by Eliott Grove
Additional Resources
The Write Stuff Mixer
Members of Film Fatales and alumni of The Writers Lab are invited to a private networking mixer for feature film directors and screenwriters of all marginalized genders.
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 Leah Meyerhoff, founder of Film Fatales, and Elizabeth Kaiden, co-founder of The Writers Lab before dividing up into smaller discussion circles for meaningful conversations based on a series of guided prompts. Co-hosted by directors Julia Camara (In Transit) and Saila Kariat (The Valley) along with screenwriters Catherine Craig (Suspended Belief), Christine Hoang (Fly Girl), and Nichole Abshire (Imposter Impersonator).
Recommended Reading
Cate Blanchett's Dirty Films Supports The Writer's Lab U.K., Ireland written by Naman Ramachandran
Females in Film written by Max Casero
Female Screenwriter Non-Profit The Writer's Lab Goes International written by Jeremy Kay
Film Fatales is Tackling Hollywood Sexism, by Getting on With the Job written by Sarah Illingworth
Meryl Streep Praises Hollywood's "New Time of Possibility for Women" written by Thelma Adams
The Movies are a Boys' Club, So Break it Up written by Zoe Margolis
Women in Film On How to End Hollywood's Toxic 'Casting Couch' Culture written by Kimberley Lawson
Writers Lab Created For Women Screenwriters Over 40 written by Suzanna Bowling
Additional Resources
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