The Write Stuff
Join Film Fatales on Friday May 27th 2pm PT for a panel discussion about The Art of Screenwriting with writer/directors Jessica Sharzer (A Simple Favor), Laurie Collyer (Sherrybaby), Mora Stephens (Zipper), and moderated by Jamie Burton-Oare (African/American). Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from heavy hitting screenwriters as they discuss what it takes to write a successful script. Where do they find inspiration, how do they discover and maintain their creative voice, what tools and routines help them to get over the finish line, how do they give and get feedback, how do they get their scripts into the right hands, and much much more! With support from community partners Breaking Through The Lens, New Filmmakers LA, Stowe Story Labs, The Jane Club and The Writers Lab.
Recommended Reading
Fix Problems in a Surgical Way written by Brock Swinson
Female Writers of Color on Creating Entertainment written by Keli Goff
How Public Obsession Led to Sundance Thriller 'Zipper' written by Mora Stephens
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
On The Ground written by Brianna Nargiso
The State of Inclusion in TV Writing Report written by Think Tank For Inclusion
Unsung Auteurs: Laurie Collyer written by Erin Free
What Showrunners Look for written by Priyanka Mattoo
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
Back to the Roots Mixer
Join Film Fatales on Friday May 20th at 2pm PT for a filmmaker community mixer to celebrate AAPI Heritage month! We will begin with a group discussion about identity and how it shapes our responsibility as storytellers led by Film Fatales members Roxy Shih (List of a Lifetime), Meera Menon (Ms Marvel) and Allie Cuerdo (Ulam: Main Dish), before dividing up into breakout circles for meaningful conversations based on a series of guided prompts.
Recommended Reading
24 Asian American and Pacific Islander Women Making Waves Behind the Scenes in Hollywood written by Lauren Thoman
Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond: AAPI Filmmakers Explore Identity Through Family and Community curated by World Channel
“I Am Not A Fetish Or Model Minority”: New Study Examines AAPI Roles In Hollywood Films written by Patrick Hipes
AAPI Netflix Execs Weigh in on Hollywood's Representation Problems: 'An Enormous Amount of Work to Do' written by Elaine Low
Farah Goes Bang: Tribeca Review written by THR Staff
Roxy Shih's 'Painkillers' Confronts the Horrors of Loss, PTSD, and Addiction written by Waylon Jordan
Everything About Alexandra Cuerdo is All That We Ever Wanted written by Dino Takashi
Additional Resources
Episodic Prep
Join Film Fatales on Friday April 29th 2pm PT for a panel discussion about Episodic Television Prep with directors Christine Swanson (P-Valley), Valerie Weiss (Outer Banks) and Bola Ogun (Raising Dion).
Come hear from prolific episodic television directors as they discuss what it takes to prep before day one of shooting. What happens in a tone meeting? How do you communicate with actors before you get on set? How do you prepare to helm an episode of a popular show? What is it like being a “guest” on set? How can you use this opportunity to create a more inclusive, collaborative and mindful workplace? With support from community partners The Black TV & Film Collective, Ghetto Film School and Minorities in Film.
Recommended Reading
3 Reasons Why Great Directing Hinges On Prep Work and Pre-Production written by Noam Kroll
10 Things Indie Filmmakers Need to Know About Directing for Television written by Shipra Harbola Gupta
Ava DuVernay Opens Up About Queen Sugar Season 5 written by Mekeisha Madden Toby
Christine Swanson on Making the Miki Howard Movie written by Nell Minow
Directors Tell the Story written by Mary Lou Belli
Meet 22 Black Directors Who Answered Hollywood's Call written by Essence
Panel of Top Five Female TV Directors on Breaking Barriers written by Debra Birnbaum
The Magical World of Bola Ogun written by Destiny Jackson
The Science of Filmmaking written by Ann Hall
The Ultimate Pre-Production Checklist written by StudioBinder
Women Are Directing More TV Shows, but Minorities Aren't written Cara Buckley
Women TV Directors Can Call the Shots’ written by Libby Hill
Women Directors on Breaking Down Barriers written by Debra Birnbaum
Women Director of Color Still Marginalized in Television written by Kristen Lopez
Additional Resources
Earth Care as Self-Care Mixer
Join Film Fatales online on Friday April 8th 5pm PT for a filmmaker community mixer to celebrate and amplify eco-friendly pathways to action! Excited to meet creative collaborators? Missing the company of like-minded artists? We will begin with a group discussion about sustainable sets led by Film Fatales members Elza Kephart (Slaxx) and Mai Iskander (Words of Witness), before dividing up into breakout circles for meaningful conversations based on a series of guided prompts. Open to filmmakers and film lovers of all backgrounds.
Additional Resources
Documentary Development
Join FILM FATALES, DOCLANDS, and DOC NYC on Friday March 25th 2pm PT for a panel discussion about Documentary Development with Daresha Kyi (Mama Bears) and Iliana Sosa (What We Leave Behind). Moderated by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan (Águilas).
Listen in as documentary filmmakers straight off their SXSW premiers discuss their creative and practical processes for developing documentary features. How do you choose a compelling subject and see it through with authenticity, creativity, and sensitivity? Where do you find funding and how do you build trust with your subjects and audience? How do we address implicit and explicit biases and make efforts to decolonize docs? Learn how to take action on your inspirations from these accomplished artists.
Recommended Reading
A Question of Ethics: The Relationship Between Filmmaker and Subject by Wanda Bershen
Bridging the Credibility Gap - Drawing the Line on Manipulation in Documentary written by Lisa Leeman
Documentarian Kristy Guevara-Flanagan by Erin Prather Stafford
Finding the Storyline in a Documentary Short written by Paula Bernstein
How Close is Too Close? A Consideration of the Filmmaker-Subject Relationship by Lisa Leeman
Moms Who Love LGBTQ Kids Create “Mama Bears” Documentary by Drew Howard
Navigating the River: The Hidden Colonialism of Documentary by Edwin Martinez
POV vs. Objectivity by Assia Boundaoui
The Documentary Future: A Call for Accountability by Sonya Childress & Natalie Bullock Brown
Structuring a Documentary Narrative written by Ken Burns
Understanding Narrative Structure in Documentary written by Jennifer Peedom
‘What We Leave Behind’ Was the Surprise Masterpiece of SXSW by Cat Cardenas
When Perspective Unseats Objectivity in Documentary Filmmaking by Sabaah Folayan
When Reality Meets Narrative written by Tamara Krinsky
Whose Story? Five Doc-Makers on (Avoiding) Extractive Filmmaking by Lauren Wissot
Who Is Telling Whose Story, To Whom, and Why? Lisa Valencia-Svensson
Additional Resources
SXSW Meet-Up
Join us for an in-person gathering in support of filmmakers of all marginalized genders and those interested in amplifying underrepresented voices in the industry to make connections and build their network. This will also be an opportunity to hear from members of Film Fatales who have directed feature films premiering at SXSW including: Paula Eiselt (Aftershock), Sarah Dosa (Fire of Love), Julie Cohen and Betsy West (Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down), Daresha Kyi (Mama Bears), Maureen Bharoocha (The Prank) and many more! Open to all festival badge holders. No RSVP required.