• Writing Winning Business Plans for Independent Filmmakers with Louise Levison May 2011
• WIF.D Hosts WIFTI Showcase March 2011
• SPOTLIGHT ON: Crafting the short screenplay
• Feb. Program: Actors, Crew & Musicians – You Can’t Produce Without Them
• Marketing and Monetizing Your Product Through New Media
• The Secrets Of Unscripted TV: Creating, Pitching & Selling A Reality TV Show

Writing Winning Business Plans for Independent Filmmakers with Louise Levison May 2011

Come to this workshop with Louise Levison, author of "Filmmakers and Financing: Business Plans for Independents." She takes the mystique out of creating a winning business plan to raise film financing. From the executive summary to the financial plan, participants learn how to research, organize, and present their case to investors. Whether you are making one film or several, this seminar is for you.

Louise Levison has been creating business plans for films and film companies, as well as consulting on other aspects of the independent film business, for 25 years. Her clients have raised money for low-budget films such as The Blair Witch Project, the most profitable independent film in history, and for companies raising as much as $300 million.

Louise Levison, President of Business Strategies (moviemoney.com), has been a financial consultant in the film industry for more than 20 years. She specializes in creating business plans for film and consulting on other aspects of independent filmmaking and distribution. She is the author of Filmmakers & Financing: Business Plans for Independents (Sixth Edition, October 2009, Focal Press) and publisher/editor of The Film Entrepreneur: A Newsletter for the Independent Filmmaker and Investors. Levison's clients have raised money for low-budget films such as The Blair Witch Project, the most profitable independent film in history, and for companies raising as much as $300 million. She also is Co-Executive Producer of Blood for Blood. Other clients' projects include Crimebusters, Black, White and Blues, Moving Midway, Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman, High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story, Protecting the King, The Open Road, Dinner Rush, Paradise (aka Little Chicago), The First of May, Michael Winslow Live and California Dreaming. Among her corporate clients are Danny Glover's Louverture Films (2008 nominee for Best Documentary Academy Award Trouble the Water, Toussaint) and his Louverture Film Fund I, The Pamplin Film Company, Majestic World Entertainment, Summitworks Film Fund 1, Audience Alliance Motion Picture Studios (Broken Hill), Monterrey Pictures Entertainment, Tokuma International Ltd (Shall We Dance, Princess Mononoke) and the Ilya Salkind Company. Levison is also an affiliate of the Berlin-based consulting company Peacefulfish (peacefulfish.com) and writes an industry blog for Baseline Intelligence (baselineintel.com), a division of Baseline StudioSystems.

Levison is an Instructor in the Extension Program at UCLA and has been a Visiting Professor at the Taipei (Taiwan) National University of the Arts, Chapman University (Orange County, CA) and the University of Montana (Missoula). She has presented seminars and/or been on panels at the Sundance Film Festival (including "Financing Your Film: Avoiding the Pitfalls from Business Plan to Distribution" in 2010 and 2011), Los Angeles Film Festival, Film Independent (FIND), , Producer's Guild of America, Galway (Ireland) Film Fleadh, National Association of Broadcasters, Hollywood Black Film Festival, Florida Media Market, American Black Film Festival, National Association Of Latino Independent Producers, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts, Austin Film Festival, Georgia Film and Video Center, Austin Film Festival, Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, Cincinnati Film Commission, Arizona Film Commission, Independent Cinema Expo, Women in Film, California Lawyers for the Arts, Nashville Film Festival, The Learning Annex (New York and Los Angeles) and others.

Watch the WIF.D website and Facebook page for further details coming soon.

WIF.D Hosts WIFTI Showcase March 2011

A collection of shorts you won't see anywhere else -- March 10!

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day this month, WIF.D's Chick Flicks invites you to a special showcase of short films from women around the world. The Women in Film and Television International (WIFTI) Short Film Showcase features filmmakers from California, Canada, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. Described by Chick Flicks Chair Lisha Brock as "fresh, funny, unexpected, controversial, quirky and visually stunning, the showcase has something to please men and women alike."

Please join us for this special night of short films you won't see anywhere else in town. The evening will also include an array of silent auction items you won't want to miss either. Proceeds from all Chick Flicks events go to fund WIF.D's annual scholarship program.

WIFTI Short Film Showcase
Thursday, March 10
7 p.m. Meet & Greet / Screening begins at 8 p.m.
LaGrange in Deep Ellum, 2704 Elm St
FREE to WIF.D members / $8 at the door for the general public. RSVP through Facebook here 

It was 100 years ago when the United Nations put forth a day to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of Women past, present, and future. In places such as China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a National Holiday. This marks the 6th year WIFTI joins in that celebration with our Short Film Showcase. These films have first been selected by the participating WIFTI Chapters from submissions created by their members. Each Chapters' selections were sent to the WIFTI screening committee to compile this, the 2011 Showcase Program. The films were all truly wonderful and WIFTI congratulates all the filmmakers on their efforts. We hope this inspires you to make your own film for next year's celebration.

What Kind of Planet Are We On? / 4 minutes Director/Co-Writer: Varda Hardy
Chapter: Los Angeles, USA www.wif.org
Film Synopsis: An alien applies for social security benefits. She is so happy to qualify, but an unexpected hitch turns her life upside down.

Participating WIFT members;
Varda Hardy-Writer, Director/WIFLA
Jamie Bullock-Producer/WIFLA
Karen Lavender - Producer/WIFLA


Abandon ME /19 minutes Writer/Director: Sayer Frey
Chapter: Minneapolis, USA www.MNWIFT.org
Set in 1947 rural America, a desperate woman haunted by childhood memories abandons her aging mother in a cornfield. Abandon ME represents a deeply internalized form of visual storytelling rich with metaphoric layers and symbols, which elegantly unfold into a message of hope and empowerment for women.

Participating WIFT members;
Sayer Frey- Writer, Director, Editor/ MN WIFT
Wei K. Pun- Director of Photography/NY WIFT
Erin Rasmussen- Executive Producer/MN WIFT


Picking Up Feets / 3 minutes Writer/Producer Illustrator: Debrainna Mansini
Chapter: New Mexico, USA www.NMWIF.com
Feets, an adventurous cat, teaches a family of girls about challenging the order of things and the magic of a hug. Picking UP Feets is an animated short based on the children's book Picking Up Feets by Debrianna Mansini and Anne Litt, illustrated by Debrianna Mansini.

Participating WIFT members;
Debrainna Mansini-Writer-Producer-Editor-Illustrator-Actor/NMWIF
Lori Romero-Producer/NMWIF


This is Her/12 minutes Director: Katie Wolfe
Chapter: New Zealand www.wiftnz.org.nz
In life there are no fairytale endings, one woman's account of what the future holds for her. Katie wanted to do a film that took a cliché problem and present it in a new light. "The passing of time makes the implausible a reality."

Participating WIFT members;
Katie Wolfe - Director/WIFTNZ
Kate McDermott-Writer/WIFTNZ
Ginny Loane- Cinematographer/ WIFTNZ
Lisa Hough-Editor/WIFTNZ
Felicity Letcher-Producer/WIFTNZ
Rachel Lorimer-Producer/WIFTNZ


BraveHeart / 5 minutes Writer/Producer: Khadijah Kuranga
Chapter: The Foundation for Women in Film and Television in Nigeria
BraveHeart is a small portion of a Television Docudrama series about people in the midst of poverty that have refused to be burdened, clamed down, affected or loose focus. In this piece Mama Emma, a recent Widow & Mother of three, has had all the money her husband left her stolen from her. Now she must find a way to survive.

Participating WIFT Nigeria members:
Khadijah Kuranga- Writer-Producer/ WIFT Nigeria
Muna Iyanam- Associate Producer/WIFT Nigeria
Grace Babasoia- Writer/WIFT Nigeria


Sis /11 minutes Writer/Director: Deborah Haywood
Chapter: UK www.wftv.org.UK
What happens when the older sister in charge of them ignores two innocent young girls? This daring look at the life of our children today offers us a cautionary tale of neglect.

Participating WFTV UK members:
Deborah Haywood-Writer-Director/ WFTV UK
Tina Pawlik-Producer/WFTV UK
Numerous crew members


Small Currents /19 minutes Director/Producer: Carolyn Combs
Chapter: Vancouver, Canada www.Womeninfilm.CA
Tabitha, a single mom, has moved to a larger city to start again. Caught between a desire for intimacy with Hassan, a new acquaintance, and her sense of tradition and responsibility as the daughter of a fundamentalist Christian, she relies upon the insight of her six year-old daughter to help change her life.
Participating WFTV members:
Carolyn Combs-Director-Producer/ WFTV
Kirsten Slenning-Actor-/WFTV


Leger Probleme (Little Inconvenience) /9 minutes Writer/Director: Helene Florent
Chapter: Montreal, Quebec Canada www.FCTNM.CA
The life of an ordinary man becomes very different on a day that seemed like every other.

Participating FCTNM members:
Helene Florent-Writer-Director/FCTNM


WIFTI would like to thank the following for making this DVD possible:
- Media Central for sponsoring the WIFTI trailer.
- HDNM Entertainment for creating the WIFTI trailer.
- LIghtningwood Pictures for compiling the Short Film Showcase.
- Legacy Filmworks for providing FedEx delivery.

For more information on any of these Films, Filmmakers or their Chapters, click here. Full bios of these wonderful filmmakers can be obtained online.

Our first in a series of intimate workshops that enrich, educate and entertain!

SPOTLIGHT ON: Crafting the short screenplay!

WHEN: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 7pm to 9pm
WHERE: SMU Campus, Dallas. Space is limited. Please RSVP by clicking here.

Free and for Members only! This workshop explores the difference between crafting features and short films, focusing on the characteristics of what makes a good short. Several films will be screened for discussion.

Writer/Director, Paula Goldberg hosts this event on the short screenplay. Paula has written, directed and produced several short films, as well as written 5 produced screenplays. Her most recent. THE PERFECT FAMILY, is currently in post production and stars Kathleen Turner, Emily Deschanel, Jason Ritter and Richard Chamberlain.

Feb. Program: Actors, Crew & Musicians – You Can’t Produce Without Them

Purchase your ticket now for this awesome program!
 

On February 17, Women In Film.Dallas brings the unions behind these people to show producers first-hand how to work productively with these key members of any film, television, commercial, industrial, video game, new media, theatrical or musical production.

Representatives from AFTRA, SAG, AEA, IATSE, TEAMSTERS, and AFM will be on hand to present and answer your questions about what areas each union covers, what support the unions can offer, how to hire their talented members and why it could be to your advantage to "go union."

What: WIF.D Program "Actors, Crew & Musicians - You Can't Produce Without Them"
Where: The Studios at Las Colinas, 6301 Riverside Dr, Irving (MAP)
When: Thursday, February 17
6:30 p.m. mix & mingle
7 - 9 p.m. panel discussion

Cost: Free for WIF.D Members- another great benefit of membership! Only $15 for Non-members (pay via Paypal link below) RSVP at rsvp@wifdallas.org or on our FaceBook page. Free food and wine.

Panelists include:
David Beard, Teamsters
Stephen Beasley, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
Pam Dougherty, Actors Equity Association (AEA)
Linda Dowell, Regional Branch Division Executive Director, Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
T.J. Jones, Texas Regional Director, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
Karen Schnackenberg, American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

VISIT OUR EVENT SPONSORS:
The Studios at Las Colinas
www.thestudiosatlascolinas.com

Marketing and Monetizing Your Product Through New Media

Thursday, November 4
Marketing and Monetizing Your Product Through New Media
MPS Studios, 141 Regal Row Dallas, TX 75247 (MAP)
6:30 p.m. Networking/ 7 p.m. Program

Discover how you can maximize profits, get your projects seen as widely as possible by distributing across multiple platforms using the web, mobile, games, social and other new media. There are many exciting opportunities for filmmakers. Learn about emerging trends and technologies to help you find, capture and profit from your audience. As scripted entertainment moves from the big screen to small screens, learn how you can be at the forefront of this convergence. You won't want to miss this panel of innovative thinkers.

Bring your friends; guests are welcome! Our programs are open to everyone! Free food and wine!
Members FREE (another great benefit of membership) RSVP to Facebook

The Secrets Of Unscripted TV: Creating, Pitching & Selling A Reality TV Show 

Our June 10th program is gonna knock your socks off! RSVP now to reserve your seat!

Got a great idea you want to sell? Join us for the Women in Film.Dallas June program. Our panel of experts will talk about pitching to producers, the pros and cons of casting real people, finding a distributor, staying attached to a project, and the legal issues of clearances and protecting your ideas.

Thursday, June 10
AMS Pictures, 16986 North Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX (map)
6:30 p.m. networking, 7 p.m. program
Members free; Non-members $15
Seating is limited, so please RSVP at rsvp@wifdallas.org or on our Facebook page.

Our panel of experts:
April Bennett, our moderator, is a producer having worked on such shows as CBS' Emmy award winning "Amazing Race," "Big Brother," MTV's "Taking The Stage" and Style's "Fat Free Fiancés." Other television credits include TV Land's "Family Foreman," MTV's "Laguna Beach" and FOX's "Texas Justice" and "Judge Alex." April is the new Title Producer for FUNimation Entertainment where she is currently overseeing two Anime films.

Tammy Nguyen Lee is a multi-faceted producer and filmmaker who currently serves as the Director of Development for Original Programming at AMS Pictures, where she takes the lead on the creating, pitching, and selling shows. She has developed television projects for WEtv, HGTV and truTV. Tammy also produced and directed her first independent documentary feature, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, which has screened and won many awards at numerous film festivals nationwide.

Kim Clemons has produced talk and reality shows in New York for NBC Universal, A&E, SciFi and the USA Network. In 2004, Kim moved back to Texas and freelanced produced for the WE Network ("John Edward Cross Country" and " Bridezillas"), and Style! ("Whose Wedding is it Anyway"). Kim currently works as a senior producer and writer for original programming at AMS, for shows including "Yoga for Life" on Veria, "A Colored Life," and most recently "Girl Meets Gown" for WE TV.
 

Attorney David A. Small advises and represents clients involved in media, business and the arts, with an emphasis on clients in music/ film and television. In the areas of reality programming, he has represented talent and production facilities in contract negotiations for "American Idol", "So You Think You Can Dance", "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?", "Mothers and Daughters of Dallas", "The Pussycat Dolls Presents", and many others. Services include advice and representation in the licensing of intellectual property, contract negotiation, film options and financing, music publishing issues, royalty issues, copyright protection, and infringement disputes.
 
Casting director Tisha Blood's company Buffalo Casting, has handled the Texas casting searches for "The Apprentice," "Fear Factor," "Biggest Loser," "Queer Eye," "Alaska Discovery Channel Adventure," "Beauty and the Geek," "Cowboy U" and "Discovery Kids Endurance Seasons 5 & 6." Blood is also a filmmaker; her documentary Torey's Distraction was awarded a 2009 Women in Film Foundation Finishing Fund Grant and is currently screening on the festival circuit. Prior to her work on Torey's Distraction she produced several award winning 35mm short films that have screened both nationally and internationally.
 
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