Saturday Workshops
Finding the Right Film School
Presented by Dr. Jason Scott, Professor ASU
​
Saturday January 19th, 9:30am-11:00am @ Chandler Downtown Library
There has never been a better time to go into the field of film and media production - it's one of the fastest growing job sectors, with lucrative careers available to qualified creative artists in what is now a truly global industry. What is the best way to prepare for a career in the new digital era? What kind of skills and technology do you need to master in order to find your way towards a successful future? Dr. Jason Davids Scott, head of the Film and Media Production program at Arizona State University, will give you an overview of the various ways that you might study film production, from trade schools to community colleges to university and graduate programs. Topics to be discussed include various types of degrees (BA or BFA?) and professional certifications; assessing a program's faculty, resources, and facilities; dispelling myths about outdated film school reputations; and how best to prepare for success in and out of school as a filmmaking artist.
About the Expert
Dr. Jason Davids Scott earned his undergraduate degree in Cinema Studies from New York University, before beginning a career as a film professional which lasted nearly two decades. He later earned his MA and Ph.D. from the University of California Santa Barbara, and his publications include contributions to critical collections on Wes Anderson, Hal Hartley, and Robert Downey, Jr., as well as an upcoming textbook on professional writing for the entertainment industry to be published by Cognella. As the assistant director for film at the School of Film, Dance, and Theatre at ASU, Dr. Scott oversees a student body of over 650 and more than a dozen full-time faculty and staff. He's also the co-founder and chair of the AZ Transfer Task Force on Film and Media, working with Arizona community colleges on creating more productive and affordable pathways to Arizona's universities.
Register here for this FREE workshop!
DISTRIBBER FILM DISTRIBUTION POWER WEBINAR - LIVE
Presented by Jason Brubaker, Distribber
​
Saturday January 19th, 12:00pm-1:30pm @ Chandler Downtown Library
More than ever, filmmakers are taking on the role of distributor, as traditional opportunities continue to dwindle. Simultaneously, the number of next-generation sales channels is growing astronomically. This live seminar will provide content creators with a roadmap for 2019 and beyond...
Revenue now comes from multiple sources under many different terms and reporting schedules. Deciding what to do, when, can be overwhelming. This seminar will provide you with step-by-step guidance.
Tracking your sales can be near impossible without the right systems and tools in place. Producers can lose their shirts. This seminar will show you how to avoid this pitfall...
This LIVE seminar will give you an overview of platform strategy, marketing tactics, and best practices that pave the way to profitability for today’s savviest producers.
Bring your questions, and be ready to take plenty of notes. We will have a post-seminar AMA immediately after...
About the Expert
Jason Brubaker is the Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Distribber. He spends his days speaking to success minded filmmakers who want to understand how to leverage modern distribution tactics.
Register here for this FREE workshop!
Editing: The Invisible Art Form
Presented by Jacob Bricca, ACE
​
Saturday January 19th, 2:30pm-4:00pm @ Chandler Downtown Library
Behind every film lies an editor who turns raw scraps of footage into dynamic scenes and disconnected words and phrases into a finished "performance" from the actors. In this illuminating session, veteran editor Jacob Bricca, ACE breaks down scenes from a variety of films into their constituent parts and shows how they were built from the ground up. How do editors select and synthesize material for greatest emotional impact? How do they work with directors to realize their vision? This is a must for any director seeking to get the most out of their footage, as well as for any film lover looking to gain insight into the form.
About the Expert
Jacob Bricca is an award-winning film editor, director and teacher. He has edited over a dozen feature films, including the international theatrical hit Lost In La Mancha, the New Yorker Films theatrical release Con Artist, the Independent Lens Audience Award Winner Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew and the 2016 Sundance Special Jury Award Winner The Bad Kids. His directing credits include Indies Under Fire: The Battle for the American Bookstore; Pure, which premiered at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival; and Finding Tatanka which premiered at the 2014 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. A member of the American Cinema Editors, his book Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice was published by Focal Press in January and contains interviews with seven of the top American documentary editors working today. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona’s School of Theatre, Film and Television.
Register here for this FREE workshop!
Sunday Workshops
Make Your Characters Real
Presented by by S.S. Wilson, Screenwriter
​
Sunday January 20th, 1:00pm-2:30pm @ Chandler Downtown Library
Are you forcing your characters to say unrealistic lines in order to give needed information to the audience? Are you making them do ridiculous or dangerous things no one in their right mind would ever do in order to advance your plot? Join S. S. Wilson as he offers some techniques for solving the inevitable plot and character motivation problems that can lead to these painful character moments. The session will allow plenty of time for questions, so bring your current script problems!
About the Expert
S.S. WILSON has always been a storyteller with a love of fantasy. His high school science project was an animated dinosaur that demonstrated the concept of persistence of vision, the “flaw” in human optics, which makes movie watching possible.
As a teenager, he made backyard stop-motion animation “epics” with 8mm film, and went on to study film and television at Pennsylvania State University and the USC graduate film program, where he met writing partner Brent Maddock. He and Maddock landed early jobs writing for animation giants Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng on television specials featuring the Road Runner and Daffy Duck.
Wilson also wrote a book on special effects stop-motion animation, PUPPETS AND PEOPLE.
In 1983 Wilson and Maddock sold their spec script, SHORT CIRCUIT. Directed by John Badham, it was their first produced feature. In quick succession, they wrote SHORT CIRCUIT 2, BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED, GHOST DAD; and served as consultants on Steven Spielberg’s animated THE LAND BEFORE TIME.
Register here for this FREE workshop!
Crowdfunding to Build Independence
Presented by Gerry Maravilla, Head of Crowdfunding at Seed & Spark
​
Sunday January 20th, 3:00pm-4:30pm @ Chandler Downtown Library
Seed&Spark is the world’s only streaming and crowdfunding destination, supporting inclusive films and film-related projects with funding, audience building, and distribution.
At the heart of our popular “Crowdfunding to Build Independence” workshop is our dedication to connecting creators with their audiences. Identifying and then enthusiastically engaging your supporters is essential to a career of successfully funding and distributing your films. That's why in our class, we teach you how to find and engage your fans, run an effective crowdfunding campaign, and then distribute your film—all while preparing you to make your next film. Because after all, this class isn’t about crowdfunding: it’s about career building. Your film career starts here!
About the Expert
Gerry Maravilla is an LA-based filmmaker and the Head of Crowdfunding at Seed&Spark. Gerry has made several award-winning shorts, including Cross, which he funded on Seed&Spark and went on to screen at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and many more. His work has been featured in press outlets such as Business Insider, Pitchfork, Remezcla and more. Find Gerry on social media for the real scoop: @gerrymaravilla
Register here for this FREE workshop!
The Craft of Directing
Presented by Ron Underwood
​
Sunday January 20th, 4:00pm-5:30pm @ Chandler Community Center
We will explore what the role of the director is in motion pictures and television. We will discuss choosing projects, pre-production, shooting, post-production and all the skills needed to excel at the craft of directing. What do you need to know to have a successful career in either medium? What are the responsibilities of the director?
About the Expert
