The Annapolis Film Festival, running for four days from March 27th to 30th, is presenting five panels of interest to filmmakers. These include:
Making Your Movie in Maryland
Friday, March 28th, 10:30-11:30am, O’Callaghan Hotel, 4th Floor
What do HBO’s VEEP, Game Change and The Wire have in common with Netflix’s House of Cards and feature films Jamesy Boy and Better Living Through Chemistry? All were filmed in Maryland! We are the third largest production community right behind LA and New York City. Tax credits and more than 650 IATSE members, 3000 SAG members, and hundreds of producers and skilled craftspeople in residence all make Maryland an ideal place to shoot. Discover the various elements that go into making one’s movie here with our panel of local experts.
Panelists are: Ken Arnold, actor: film and television; Jack Gerbes, Director, Maryland Film Office; Kimberly Skyrme, House of Cards, Kimberly Skyrme Casting; Tim White, producer,Jamesy Boy, Star Thrower Entertainment; and Trevor White, director, Jamesy Boy, Star Thrower Entertainment. The moderator is : Robert Neal Marshall, SAG-AFTRA actor: film and television. Introducing the Panel is Dan Kavanaugh, AFF Education Co-Chair.
Crowdfunding and Indie Film Financing:
Friday, March 28th, 12:30-1:30pm, O’Callaghan Hotel, 4th Floor
Creative funding sources and online portals are making the dreams come true of many filmmakers who, just a few short years ago, had few means to get projects funded. This session focuses on the “crowdfunding” resources available such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter, Seed and Spark, and local producers who have successfully pulled together funding for films.
Panelists are: Scott Glosserman, CEO, Gathr.US; Kristi Jacobson, producer/director, A Place at the Table, Election Day, P.O.V., Toots; Hilary Linder, director, Indivisible, Kudzu Films;
Wayne Rogers, producer, Jamesy Boy, Synergics Film; and Tim White, producer, Jamesy Boy, Star Thrower Entertainment. The moderator is Kiley Kraskouskas, President, Thinking Forward Media and Board of Directors, Docs in Progress. Introducing the Panel is Felicia Barlow Clar, AFF Education Co-Chair.
Screenwriting
Friday, March 28th, 2:00-3:00pm, O’Callaghan Hotel, 4th Floor
Screenwriting isn’t something learned in grammar school. It feels more like a mysterious dark art, but the truth is that screenwriting is within the grasp of all who are interested. If you’ve ever told a story in your life, you already have the basic knowledge needed to write a movie. Our acclaimed panel explores the difference between the literary and visual mediums, with guidance on how to find your unique voice and work within a creative team.
Panelists are: David S. Ward, Oscar® winning screenwriter, The Sting and Sleepless in Seattle; Lane Shadgett, screenwriter, Jamesy Boy and Perkins ’14; and Jeanne Veillette Bowerman, Editor and Online Community Manager, Script Magazine. The moderator is Michael I. Miller, writer, producer, member of Writers Guild of America; and Advisory Board, Annapolis Film Festival. Introducing the Panel is David Joyner, AFF Education Committee. This panel is sponsored by Dwight and Debra Fortier.
New Directions in Distribution
Friday, March 28th, 3:30-4:30pm, O’Callaghan Hotel, 4th Floor
Filmmakers used to be at the mercy of large studios and film distributors — those who formally marketed movies, set theatrical release dates for viewing, and typically reaped all the rewards, as well as the rights. Not anymore! With an emerging internet-era approach to releasing movies and self distribution, filmmakers can now control their work, their rights, and their fan base.
Panelists are: Jill Burkhart, Director of Documentary Programming, EPIX; Wendy Cohen, Partner/Principal, Picture Motion and former Senior Director Film Campaigns, Participant Media; Scott Glosserman, CEO, Gathr.US; and TBA, SNAG/IndieWire. The moderator is Peter Broderick, film strategist/consultant, Paradigm Consulting (via Skype). Introducing the Panel is
Karen Whalen, AFF Education Committee.
Everything Documentary
Saturday, March 29th, Noon-1:00pm, O’Callaghan Hotel, 4th Floor
Documentary films have enjoyed a huge resurgence during the last decade. The digital revolution has made documentaries even more accessible to the general filmmaker, as has online funding and distribution methods. With the availability of inexpensive equipment and smaller cameras, coupled with the sharing of information and festivals catering to the genre, this is the perfect time for new filmmakers to emerge.
Panelists are: Poull Brien, director, Charles Bradley: Soul of America; Steve Burns, producer, Rollercoaster Road Productions and former Senior Executive, Discovery and National Geographic channels; Wendy Cohen, partner/principal, Picture Motion; Kristi Jacobson, producer/director, A Place at the Table, Election Day, P.O.V, Toots; Winona Meringolo, Senior Director of Development, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel; and John Stanton, director,Wood•Sails•Dreams, Shouldered Oar Films. The moderator is Marianna “Mimi” Edmunds, professor of journalism, Emerson College and Advisory Board, Annapolis Film Festival. Introducing the Panel is Patti White, Co-Creative Director, Annapolis Film Festival.
The full schedule with ticketing information, synopses and schedule is online at www.annapolisfilmfestival.net. Tickets are $95 for a Festival pass with single tickets and day passes also available. Sign up to receive our e-letters and Like our Facebook to receive up-to-the minute information.
