INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER DAY
JUNE 23RD & 24TH, 2021 EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 23RD
Film/ TV Panel Discussions 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM EST Panel Discussions: Hear from industry experts on a variety of topics in film/tv including: acting, directing, producing, film funding, distribution, social media, product placement, post-production, entertainment law, and more. Each panel lasts one hour and includes Q&A from the audience. When you register on Eventbrite, you will receive an email 3 days before the event to register on Zoom, which will provide the Zoom link.
3:00 - 3:50PM EST: IFD Excellence in Filmmaking Award Ceremony: We are showcasing filmmakers for their excellence and ability to bring films to life during this difficult era of COVID-19.
We are honored to present the IFD Award to the The Creative Coalition for their work in bringing to the screen short films with an impact purpose, You Just Big Boned, [fat] life, and St. Nick.
Kelly Jenrette, David Gallo, and Greg DePaul will engage with our audience on a discussion of the making of their films and Q&A with the audience.
You Just Big Boned
Film Synopsis: Black women have the highest rates of obesity with 4 out of 5 being impacted. In a community that prides itself on being "thick," a young Black girl wants to free herself from her family’s "big boned" label. Shelly is from the Deep South where fatback, oxtails, and all things greasy are a way of life. You Just Big Boned follows a young Black woman's spiraling battle with obesity and its cultural acceptance. “Baby, You just big-boned like all the other women in the family." "Carry that weight like a badge of honor." "God didn’t intend for everybody to be skinny. Besides, I like you as my big-boned beauty.” The film spotlights the complexities of the Black community's relationship to weight, food, acceptance, family, and community.
Featuring: Kelly Jenrette, Emmy Award-nominated actor, The Handmaid's Tale, All American: Homecoming EVENT PROGRAM 3:00 - 3:50PM EST: JUNE 23RD
[fat] life
Film Synopsis: [fat] life is a silent musical that celebrates the legacy of physical comedy greats such as Buster Keaton, Jackie Chan, and Carol Burnett with a magnificent score, a diverse cast, and original choreography to craft a love letter to a time when jokes were told without words and playful sound effects, brilliant music, and the audience’s laughter provided the only needed sound. The charming couple known only as HIM and HER take the audience on a comedic, but sensitive and sincere tour through the joys, difficulties, and humiliations of life as overweight everypersons. The film touches on milestones from childhood, young adulthood, courtship, and marriage, but the couple’s romance screeches to a halt when their obesity prevents them from having children. With handmade cardboard scenery, old-school vintage film strip projection, and innovative shadow play effects, the world of [fat] life is filled with ramshackle charm and wit, taking its cue from the work of Ed Wood, Bob Ross, and Banksy.
Featuring:David Gallo, Emmy and Tony Award-winner: Sesame Street, Blue Man Group, Drowsy Chaperone, August Wilson’s Jitney, Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill; Creative Director: Phish
St. Nick
Film Synopsis: It’s Christmas Eve, and Frank, a single father who struggles with obesity, is working overtime. When wealthy, clueless Nick jumps in Frank’s Uber on the way to his next lavish vacation, and says something Frank can’t ignore, it’s time for a detour. When Nick puts all the blame on obesity sufferers for their condition, Frank hits the brakes and steps out of the car to tell Nick some hard truths. Frank says he has struggled mightily with his weight all his life, trying various diets and exercise. And while he’s never won the battle, he’s still fighting. Frank disposes of the notion that somehow obesity sufferers are just lazy or indulgent.
Featuring: Greg DePaul is a writer and director, who wrote the screenplay for the movie Bride Wars, starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway, and co-wrote Saving Silverman, starring Jack Black and Amanda Peet. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 23RD
4:00 - 4:50 PM EST - Funding Strategies - How do I Find Funding for my Film/TV Project?
1) Viviana Zarragoitia - Viviana is a Vice President in Three Point Capital's lending division, which finance tax incentives and distribution agreements for film/TV. Viviana has been involved in the financing of over 100 independent films and received over 20 Executive Producer credits. She is an entertainment finance professional with over 14 years of experience in the entertainment industry.
2) Susan Webber Gatto - Following an extremely successful career in Print including 10 years at Conde Nast as an Associate Publisher, Advertising Director and Executive Beauty Director across multiple titles in the Young Women’s/Contemporary Lifestyle genre, Susan made the move to TV landing at A&E Networks as VP Business Development for Lifetime progressing to VP of Branded Content across the A&E Programming Portfolio. Now an Independent Product/Sponsorship Consultant for Film and TV, Susan's clients include: A+E, AMC, CBS, Crackle, CW, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, and NBC.
3) C.R. Capers - CR Capers is the Founder and CEO of Harlem Film House, a 501(c) (3) corporation, providing filmmakers services and resources to ensure longevity in careers in film, theatre and related entrepreneurial pursuits in underserved communities around the world. In her role as Executive Director, CR creates and produces film & music festivals, operates year-round workshops, theatre productions and live events, and oversees thriving streaming network, 247films.tv. The programs she produces provide an ecosystem with marketing and strategic partnerships between filmmakers, activists, businesses, entrepreneurs and the community at large. She is the founder and director of the award-winning Hip Hop Film Festival, named “BEST NEW FILM FESTIVAL THE UNITED STATES”. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 23RD
5:00 - 5:50 PM EST - The Business of Music in Film/TV - How do I monetize my music and place music in film/tv?
1) Barry Coffing - Barry is an Emmy Nominated Musician, who represents over 17,000 record labels and publishers for film and tv licensing as part of his company Music Supervisor, Inc. He has placed over 200 tracks in movies and TV (including The Blind Side, Pretty Little Liars, and Dexter). He continued to be the voice behind the scenes in movies like Moulin Rouge, The Brady Bunch Movie & Win nie The Pooh's Grand Adventure, He wrote TV themes for California Dreams, The Pyramid (Starring Donny Osmond) & The Heights. His song "How Do You Talk To An Angel" went on to become a number one hit and sell over 500,000 copies worldwide.
2) Darice G - Darice is the CEO and founder of Synapse Publishing & Entertainment, LLC. Darice has been a performer, dancer, innovator, musician, speaker, award winning author and entrepreneur creating multiple international businesses and developing software over the past 35+ years. Synapse Publishing & Entertainment creates and provides original music compositions and lyrics with staff songwriters as well as partners and coordinates with multiple artists, producers, arrangers, and publishing licensors across genres in a boutique fashion to fit the vision of each individual project. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 23RD
6:00 - 6:50 PM EST - Producing and Marketing Film Strategies - How do I Produce and Market My Film?
1) Celine Rattray - Film producer who co-founded the production company Maven Pictures. In 2010, she won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for The Kids Are All Right. In 2020, Rattray launched Maven Screen Media with Trudie Styler, a multi- platform UK production company. Celine has over 40 independent films under her belt as a producer, including 18 premiering at Sundance and 16 premiering at TIFF.
2) Patrick Jerome - Since launching his career as a producer and director with the real life based drama Deportation in 2001, Jerome has written and directed the feature length films Holla At Me (2007) and Open Vacancy (2012) and the short films Day By Day (2012) and The Last Delivery (2015). He has also served as executive producer on the 2008 film Walls Have Ears and Assassin's Bullet, a 2012 drama thriller starring Christian Slater and Donald Sutherland. Patrick is also the Founder of Boston International Film Festival.
3) Ruth McCartney - Originally a British musician, and the stepsister of Paul McCartney, is now an internet, digital and new media entrepreneur holding the titles of CEO of McCartneyMultimedia.com, a creative digital agency; Co-Founder of fan management software company iFanz.com; and partner in her mother Dr. Angie’s company Mrs. McCartney’s Organic Teas. Developing and designing web sites and online campaigns for their clients at first, Ruth now focuses her attention on all the methods of online marketing and social media interaction with celebrities, products, corporations, educational institutions and brands. Topics range from social media to marketing, pop culture and PR and all things digital. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 23RD
7:00 - 7:50 PM EST - A Fireside Chat with Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett Jr. is one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. Gossett was the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable performance as drill Sergeant Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." Among his other awards are an Emmy fo r Outstanding Lead Actor for his portrayal of Fiddler in the groundbreaking ABC series "Roots," a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for "The Josephine Baker Story" and a Golden Globe for "An Officer and a Gentleman." He has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, one Academy Award, five Images Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards and in 1992 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
8:00 - 8:50 PM EST - Music in the Entertainment Industry - How do I promote music and leverage business opportunities?
1) Larry Braggs - World-renowned entertainer, soulful vocalist and songwriter. Larry was the lead singer of Tower of Power from 1999 to 2013 and The Temptations from 2015 to 2019. Now as a solo artist, he is becoming one of the most sought after singers in the business. Touring almost two hundred days out of the year, Larry is a powerful force of talent to see.
2) Ethan Lader - Successful Music Video Director who has worked with Bruno Mars, Wiz Khalifa, Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Will.I.Am, Ricky Martin, and various others. His work has been recognized by the MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards Video, BET Hip Hop Awards, amongst others. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 23RD 9:00 - 9:50 PM EST - Hollywood Journeys Presented by the Cordillera International Film Festival
1) Ellen Goldsmith-Vein is a Producer, Manager and Founder of the Hollywood based management and production firm, The Gotham Group; which is the only major Management/production company owned solely by a woman. The Gotham Group represents Directors, Writers, Producers, Authors, Animators, Illustrators, Publishers and Actors and also actively produces major film projects such as The Maze Runne r Franchise, Kodachrome and The Spiderwick Chronicles. Ellen serves on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and P.S. Arts and on the advisory boards for Young Storytellers and 826LA, arts education nonprofit organizations based in Los Angeles. Ellen also serves on the Board of the National Democratic Party Finance Committee and has served on the National Finance Committee for Joe Biden.
2) Peter Menzies Jr., ACS is an Australian Cinematographer, Peter Menzies Jr., is known for his diverse and critically acclaimed body of work spanning feature films, commercials television movies and mini- series. Peter's films include; Shooter, A Time to Kill, The Incredible Hulk, The General’s Daughter, Lara Croft Tomb Raider, Four Brothers, The 13th Warrior, Peter Rabbit, All Eyez on Me, and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Peter is a member of the Int'l Cinematographers Guild, the Australian Cinematographers Society and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
3) Kristoffer Polaha - Actor and Producer, Kristoffer Polaha was born in Reno, Nevada where he first discovered his passion for the industry while on the set of a visiting production. After years of performing on the stage and graduating from NYU's Tish School for Arts, Kristoffer entered the world of television, where he quickly made a name for himself. Kristoffer is known for starring roles as Jason Matthews in North Shore, Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile in Life Unexpected, and Henry Butler in Ringer, Six Hallmark movies and a 7-part series of Hallmark Mysteries. He's also made appearances in over 20 top television shows including Bones, Angel, Mad Men and Roswell. Kristoffer's feature film credits include Where Hope Grows, Devil's Knot and DC's Wonder Woman 1984 and the highly anticipated Jurassic World: Dominion. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 24TH Expert Roundtables 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM EST Your opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from experts in the film and tv industry about your specific project. We will have a total of three different Expert Roundtables with a different expert at each table (limited to one hour and only 15 attendees per expert). When you register on Eventbrite, you will receive an email 3 days before the event to register on Zoom, which will provide the Zoom link.
2:00 - 3:00PM EST: Expert Roundtable 1
Kristen Bedno: Kristen is the Vice President of Distribution and Marketing at Vision Films, overseeing producer and platform relationships and launching 3-5 films across VOD and DVD in the US and Canada each month along with spearheading national publicity, social media campaigns, and international VOD windows. In her seven years with Starz and Lionsgate, Bedno oversaw sales operations and international marketing and publicity strategies for the Worldwide Distribution group, launching Starz Original series such as Emmy® Award-winning Black Sails, Power (Executive Produced by Courtney A. Kemp and Curtis “50” Cent Jackson), The Girlfriend Experience (starring Golden Globe®-nominated actress Riley Keough), and Ash vs Evil Dead (created by legendary Director Sam Raimi).
3:15 - 4:15PM EST: Expert Roundtable 2 Barry Coffing - Barry is an Emmy Nominated Musician, who represents over 17,000 record labels and publishers for film and tv licensing as part of his company Music Supervisor, Inc. He has placed over 200 tracks in movies and TV (including The Blind Side, Pretty Little Liars, and Dexter). He continued to be the voice behind the scenes in movies like Moulin Rouge, The Brady Bunch Movie & Winnie The Pooh's Grand Adventure, He wrote TV themes for California Dreams, The Pyramid (Starring Donny Osmond) & The Heights. His song "How Do You Talk To An Angel" went on to become a number one hit and sell over 500,000 copies worldwide.
4:30 - 5:30PM EST: Expert Roundtable 3 David Rubenstein is an Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. Most recently, David helped raise funding for the acclaimed film, 1917, which won 3 Oscars, and also served as a Producer's Consultant on the highly regarded film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 24TH
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM EST Seminar: Master Your Pitch! Prepare for the Pitch Competition with this special pitching seminar by Entertainment Lawyer and Producer David Rubenstein . You will learn: 1. What a producer, agent, or manager is really looking for when they hear a pitch.
2. How to succeed at pitching if you're shy!
3. The 3 keys to every successful pitch.
4. How to avoid the 5 most common pitching mistakes.
5. How to find "pitchable" elements even in a "low concept" or "character driven" project.
6. How to find your hook and make producers salivate without "selling out!"
7. Unique pitching techniques specifically designed for pitch fests.
About David Rubenstein: David Rubenstein is an Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. Most recently, David helped raise funding for the acclaimed film, 1917, which won 3 Oscars, and also served as a Producer's Consultant on the highly regarded film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival. EVENT PROGRAM JUNE 24TH
Pitch Competition: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM EST
Your opportunity to Pitch your film/tv project for a chance to win over $40,000 in in-kind services to help make your project. Each pitch is limited to 3 minutes in a "shark-tank" style format before a panel of 3 judges. The fourth vote will be comprised of an audience member vote, so bring your family and friends to cheer you on for your best chance to win! (limited to only 40 pitches on a first come first serve basis)
Judges include: 1) Jennifer Wallace - President of Artists United, a community of over 30,000 artists in all disciplines coming together to empower each other and to be a force for social good in our world.
2) Mike Anderson - Mike is one of the Co-Founders of OpenGate Entertainment. OpenGate Entertainment is focused on disrupting the traditional entertainment model by helping creatives polish, package, pitch, produce and distribute their ideas for scripted and unscripted television, movies and short films.
3) David Rubenstein - Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. Most recently, David helped raise funding for the acclaimed film, 1917, which won 3 Oscars, and also served as a Producer's Consultant on the highly regarded film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.
4) Audience Vote
Virtual After Party 10:00 PM - 11:30 PM EST
Party and Network with your fellow attendees and panelists in a virtual setting using the popular app TapRoom. You will be emailed the download instructions and link to join after buying a ticket.
211 S Hill Dr Suite A, Brisbane, CA 94005
littlegiantlighting.com
ABOUT THE TEAM
David Rubenstein: Founder Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. David counsels film clients on all aspects of their productions to help them achieve their goals. Most recently, David helped raise funding for the acclaimed film, 1917, which won 3 Oscars, and also served as a Producer's Consultant on the highly regarded film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.
Eric Vollweiler Producer Eric has been producing IFD during the Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. Eric has been producing and marketing film festivals, parties at major film festivals, movie premieres, trade shows, conferences and concerts going on 16 years. Eric's work has been in 10 states in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. Some of Eric's work includes the New York State International Film Festival, the Hip Hop Film Festival, the Winter Film Awards International Film Festival, the Garden State Film Festival, the Boston International Film Festival, the Woods Hole Film Festival, the Kansas City Film Fest International, The Artemis Woman in Action Film Festival, Culver City Film Festival, Marina del Rey Film Festival, the San Pedro International Film Festival the Moving Pictures Magazine party during the Tribeca Film Festival and the Artists United party during the Sundance Film Festival.
Katya Leibholz Marketing & Sponsorships Katya Leibholz is the Founder & CEO of marketing and branding agency Heart for Art. Heart for Art specializes in creative marketing for entertainment, real estate, CPG, and tech. She is based in New York City.
Tammy Reese Public Relations Tammy Reese is an Award Winning Actress and Writer. She is also a Filmmaker, Journalist and Publicist. Currently she serves on the Communications Committee for New York Women in Film and Television, she's a contributor for Vocal Media, and Founder of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media. In 2019 Tammy was honored with the WCNY Makers: Women Who Make America Award. This is Tammy's 4th time as Publicist for Independent Filmmaker Day.