Ready Set Prep
Join Film Fatales for an interactive workshop with writer/director Catherine Hardwicke (Cabinet of Curiosities, Mafia Mamma, Twilight, Miss Bala, Lords of Dogtown, Thirteen).
Celebrated writer and director Catherine Hardwicke discusses her journey from pre-production to final screening in this interactive workshop. Ready Set Prep takes us through her detailed preparation process for film and television projects, including clips, storyboards, shot lists, rehearsal practices, drawings, and more. You’ll leave with the tools to set yourself up for success on your next project. With support from community partners Film Independent, Film at Lincoln Center, Ghetto Film School, The Cherry Picks, The Jane Club, and The Wrap.
Recommended Reading
Catherine Hardwicke’s Gender Report Card on Hollywood written by Catherine Hardwicke
Cinematography: Theory and Practice written by Blain Brown
Director Catherine Hardwicke on Breaking Down Gender Walls written by Lou Vanhecke and Lilly Howell
Essential 10 Step Guide to Shot Lists with Free Templates written by Jackson Kingsley
How today’s female directors broke out of movie jail written by Steve Rose
Miss Bala Interview written by Joe Deckelmeier
What is a Storyboard and Why Do You Need One? written by Vyond Team
3 Reasons Why Great Directing Hinges on Prepwork written by Noam Kroll
46 Storyboard Examples From Movies with Free Storyboarding Templates written by SC Lannom
Additional Resources
Documenting Together
Join Film Fatales online for a filmmaker mixer in partnership with DOC NYC!
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 founder of Film Fatales Leah Meyerhoff and DOC NYC Director of Industry and Education Malikkah Rollins, before dividing up into smaller discussion circles for meaningful conversations based on a series of guided prompts. Co-hosted by Film Fatales members CJ Russo (Lady Buds), Dami Rock (Malcolm's Echo) and Leila Jarman (Voice of the Valley).
Recommended Reading
A Question of Ethics written by Wanda Bershen
Can Socially Conscious Documentaries Inspire Real Change? written by Radhika Seth
Finding the Storyline in a Documentary Short written by Paula Bernstein
How Close is Too Close? written by Lisa Leeman
The Documentary Future written by Sonya Childress & Natalie Bullock Brown
Understanding Narrative Structure in Documentary written by Jennifer Peedom
When Reality Meets Narrative written by Tamara Krinsky
Who Is Telling Whose Story, To Whom, and Why? written by Lisa Valencia-Svensson
Additional Resources
Money Matters
Join Film Fatales for a discussion about Fundraising for Independent Film with Mynette Louie (Producer, The Population), Tamir Muhammad (Founder, Populace), and Viviana Zarragoitia (VP, Three Point Capital). Moderated by Film Fatales member Fanny Grande (CEO, Avenida). The constant search for funding is one of the hardest aspects of creating a film. Come hear from highly successful film producers and investors who will discuss different ways they have found financing for their films. We will demystify the process and answer your burning questions about how to find money for your projects. With support from community partners WIP, NALIP, Pano and The Gotham.
Recommended Reading
A Cheat Sheet For Approaching Distribution by Distribution Advocates
Challenges Facing Independent Filmmakers by Elliot Grove
Crowdfunding Tips for Independent Filmmakers by Patricia Marcoccia
Essential Guide: Film Financing by Loring Weisenberger
Film Project Markets, Dissected by Mynette Louie
How to Complete a Large Format Film on a Low Budget During a Pandemic by Mari Walker
How To Finance An Independent Film by Brian Sullivan
How to Find a Producer by Scott Macaulay
How To Get A Minimum Guarantee For Your Independent Film by Tom Malloy
Independent Film Financing: Past, Present, Future by Sundance Co//ab
Indie Distributors so White? By Juliette Verlaque
International Presales by Evan Littman
Meet Fanny Veliz Grande by VoyageLA
Pitfalls To Avoid When Working With Tax Incentives with Viviana Zarragoitia
Tamir Muhammad Inks New First-Look Deals by Nellie Andreeva
Tips for Successfully Producing a Micro-Budget Feature by Jennifer Westin
Tips to Ace Your Kickstarter Campaign by Kira Simon-Kennedy
Ways to Get Funding for Your Film by MasterClass
Additional Resources
Writing Without Limits Mixer
Members of Film Fatales and alumni of The Writers Lab are invited to a private networking mixer for feature film directors, screenwriters and producers 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 and Nitza Wilon, co-founders of The Writers Lab, before dividing up into smaller discussion circles for meaningful conversations based on a series of guided prompts. Co-hosted by Film Fatales members Charise Studesville, Stacie E. Hawkins and Donna Bonilla Wheeler.
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
Summer of Rage
Join Film Fatales on Friday, June 24th at 2pm PT/5pm ET for a discussion about Reproductive Justice on Film with Cynthia Lowen (Battleground), Emma Pildes (The Janes), Tracy Droz Tragos (Abortion: Stories Women Tell) and Angela Tucker (Belly of the Beast).
With so many fundamental human rights currently under attack in this country, we’re gathering to listen, to learn and to take action. Join us for a conversation with documentary filmmakers who have been on the front lines of Reproductive Justice in the United States. We will hear what they’ve seen, what they’ve learned, how they feel about the current situation and what they, and we, as artists, can do now. And why we must continue to tell these stories. We look forward to holding space with you all to collectively work toward a more free and equitable society. With support from community partners Women Make Movies, New York Women in Film and Television, BVAC Media and rePro Film.
Recommended Reading
A Reckoning written by Sonya Childress
Abortion on screen: how film and TV depictions have changed over time written by Adrian Horton
Belly of the Beast: Doc on the Illegal Sterilization of Women of Color written by Carlos Aguilar
Feminist Documentaries that Changed my Perspective written by Sadie Lee
Goodbye Stigma Movies written by Holly at Planned Parenthood
Is This A Golden Era For Socially Conscious Feature Documentaries written by Wendy Mitchell
What reproductive “choice” looks like in prisons and jails written by Katie Rose Quandt and Leah Wang
The Ethics of Documentary Production written by Carrie Lozano
The Horrors of Criminalized Abortion written by Julie Miller
This Magazine Can Help You Get an Abortion written by Priyanka Mantha
Tracy Droz Tragos tells stories of humanity written by Lis Joyce
Who Is Telling Whose Story, To Whom, and Why? written by Lisa Valencia-Svensson
21 Social Justice Documentaries to watch on Netflix written by Johnny Brayson
Additional Resources
Tribeca Cocktail Hour
Join Film Fatales and Tribeca Studios for Tribeca Industry Cocktails on the Roof Terrace of Spring Studios to celebrate the films directed by Film Fatales members that will be premiering at the Tribeca Festival this year!