Seattle Film Summit Week 2

November 8 - 14, 2020

*Panelists, panel descriptions, and schedule will be updated consistently from now to November. Please check back frequently.

Digital Program

You can download the digital program above.

Submissions for 2021 are now OPEN! - Film Freeway

SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 8

10–12 PM

Creating Opportunity in UNDERSERVED Communities

Sponsored by: Seattle Office of Film & Music and Rising Reels

Moderator: Ben Leiataua (Rainier Arts Center)

Panelists: Trina Griffin (Seattle Film Summit) Tiffany Bennett (Media Specialist), Obadiah Freeman (Actor - Topo Swope), Brett Benson (Media Entrepreneur)

Every culture and ethnicity has unique stories to tell. But many of these voices are not being fostered or heard. Let's listen in to local leaders who are doing everything in their power to change this and build the visual storytelling voices in these communities.

1–3 PM

FILMMAKER Showcase

LIVE ONLY - NO REPLAY AVAILABLE

Participating Companies: Triple Squirrels, Mutiny Pictures, First Focus International, Glass House Distribution, The Fantasy Network, Seattle Media Ventures, 5x5 Productions, Less Bland Productions

Filmmakers will get three minutes to pitch to distributors and producer reps. There will be no feedback. Distributors will be provided the contact information for all pitching filmmakers, and they will reach out if interested. (Stay tuned for list of distributors and producer reps)

*Completed digital content only - features, short films, web-series etc. There will be no feedback. Bring your ‘A’ game!

*This will not be publicly broadcast to summit attendees. Private to those pitching.

3–5 PM

ACTOR SHOWCASE

Sponsored by: Mighty Tripod Acting Studio

Agencies: Nike Imoru Casting, Cast Iron Studios, All About You Talent, The Actors Group, Jodi Rothfield Casting, Big Fish NW Talent, Mighty Tripod Acting Studios, Kalles Levine Casting, Morning Lark Productions, Tom Todoroff Studio, Magnussen Media Group, Topo Swope Talent, TCM Models & Talent

Actors will share monologues in front of regional CDs, Agents, and Managers. (Stay tuned for list of agencies and registration information)

*This is now a public event and will be part of normal summit programming.

6–8 PM

FEATURE SCREENING: A CONVERSATION WITH AMERICA

FEATURE FILM

MONDAY - NOVEMBER 9

3:30–5 PM

BLOOD AND FX

Moderator: Abie Ekenezar (Man in the High Castle, Strowlers)

Panelists: Abby Hartung (TINT Instructor), Tim Pierson (Journey Quest, Z-Nation), Kenneth Calhoun (The Shape of Water, Captain Marvel), Seth Wolfson (Evil Dead 2 Escape Room)

Special Effects are optical tricks used in various creative platforms. Let's talk to the experts about the skill and craft that it take to bring another reality to your digital project.

5–6:30 PM

What creative industries can do for your state!

Sponsored by: Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce

Moderator: Lisa Brown (Washington State Commerce Director)

Panelists: Tom Skerritt (Top Gun, Alien, Picket Fences), Manny Cawaling (Inspire Washington), Karen Hanan (Washington State Arts Commission), Kate Becker (Office of King County Executive Dow Constantine)

When it comes to creativity in the public eye, it's not just about money and tourism. It's about the intangible energy artistic endeavors bring to the community. A vibrancy. A sense of excitement that brings people together. For instance, when people travel to California, they think of movies. New York is theatre. For a short moment, Washington was known as a music hub. Where do we go now with art in our state? How can we leverage the creatives who live among us to revitalize the economy? It's time for Washington to draw it's creative line in the sand.

6:30–8 PM

IMPORTANCE OF COSTUME DESIGN: AND WHY YOU'LL NEVER FORGET DOROTHY'S RUBY RED SLIPPERS

Moderator: Andrea Hays

Panelists: Ronald Leamon (Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film), Bernadette Banner (The Staymaker’s Tale, YouTube Sensation), Marie Q Kramer (Teatro ZinZanni), Marion Boyce (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries)

Learn from insiders how costume design can make or break a film project and why attention to the smallest detail is so important.

8–10 PM

DrAma/historical - SHORT FILM BLOCK

AGORA (6:13) Filmmaker: Krister Persson - Agoraphobia: a paralyzing fear of the outside world and social interactions. Watch as Melvin deals with this disorder when he is offered something he can’t refuse and must leave his yard. GROUNDED (11:44) Filmmaker: Brandon Petersen - Grounded is the story of understanding hardship through perspective, courage, and being willing to start fresh. RAGE (10:00) Filmmaker: Goldie Jones - Maya's life is turned upside down when a brain tumor turns her father into a complete stranger and gives them both an unexpected second chance. WHERE THE ENDS MEET(7:30) Filmmaker: Alex Sylvester - When her options start dwindling, Tracy, a single mother, must do whatever necessary to feed her daughter. SUCH AN HONOR (9:04) Filmmaker: Nicole Pouchet - Set in the year 2050, SUCH AN HONOR is a short sci-fi film about an aging actress who is pressured to upgrade into a synthetic body. IT’S HIDDEN WITHIN (12:19) Filmmaker: Angela DiMarco - Hidden within Evelyn are voices that will do anything to be heard. Evelyn must choose to remain numb or take matters into her own hands. LAYLA’S RAIN (14:02) Filmmaker: Kit Wilson - 1935 Dust Bowl storm rages as a mysterious carnival gypsy sacrifices everything to rescue a deserted blind girl. BLIND SPOT (12:00) Filmmaker: Kira Sipler - A story of love, loss, and making the right choice even if it means losing everything. THE VELVET ABSTRACT (6:21) Filmmaker: James Hughes - A Short Film About the Environmental Age from a Team Spanning Six Continents. ANNA, A STORY ABOUT STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE (13:23) Filmmaker: Ioannis Damopoulos - Anna faces a form of structural violence that threatens her basic needs. Injustice, immigrants and death are all themes in this film. FORGIVE US YOUR DEBT (15:00) Filmmaker: Howard Mitchell - "WARNING: This video may potentially trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised." A terrified 14-year-old African American boy in a first-generation African household hides foreclosure notices from his family only to have his worse fears realized.

*No Q&A for this film block

WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 11

5–6:30 PM

PRODUCTION DESIGN, SET DEC, AND ART DIRECTORS: FROM DREAMS TO REALITY

LIVE ONLY - NO REPLAY AVAILABLE

Moderator: Lisa B Hammond (President - Women in Film Seattle)

Panelists: Wing Lee (Paper Tigers), Rachel M Thomson (Grimm), Gerald Sullivan (Moonrise Kingdom), Karl Lefevre (Shrill, Chad, Trinkets), Mimi Gramatky (Miami Vice, LOST)

If Production design is the gold dust that allows the audience to escape into the magical world of a film, Art Direction is the adhesive that keeps it in place take after take.

From period pieces and low budget indie favorites to kung fu comedies, SFX fairy tales and grand hotels in the alps, it is thanks to a strong collaboration between these creatives and their teams that we get to experience other worlds in film.  A round table on challenges and rewards that drive these creatives.

6:30–8 PM

Pitching Your Project

LIVE ONLY - NO REPLAY AVAILABLE

Panelists: Stephanie Yuhas (Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Angry Video Game Nerd), Matt Conant Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour, Mystery Science Theatre 3000)

Just finished your killer script. Now what? Do you know what a pitch bible is and if you need one? How do you know which company's looking for what? How do you find management or agents? How do you pitch on somebody else's IP? Wait, that's even a  thing? Most importantly, how much of this can you do from home in your pajamas? Yeah, it's complicated. Award-winning writers Stephanie Yuhas & Matt Conant (Mystery Science Theater 3000, American Goulash) have sold a TV show to Amazon Studios, almost sold two others to HBO Max and Nickelodeon, and had a half-dozen projects optioned by various studios. Join us as they attempt to share five years worth of data in an hour and break down the complicated world of pitching into less-stressful, bite-size niblets!

8–10 PM

FEATURE SCREENING: THE RIVER

FEATURE FILM

FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 13

5–6:30 PM

Sound Design: Do You Hear What I Hear?

LIVE ONLY - NO REPLAY AVAILABLE

Moderator: Peter Barnes (Formosa Interactive)

Panelist: Amy Denio (Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame), Shana Pennington-Baird (Seattle Voice Academy), Brendan J Hogan (Prospect, Safety Not Guaranteed), Jamie Hunsdale (Portal 2, Never Alone)

We rely on our five senses to navigate our world. Sound is one of the most important aspects of film, giving it depth and a richness that can elevate your heartbeat and imprint a specific scene on your memory for life. Join us as we explore the most critical elements of sound design for film.

6:30–8 PM

Indie Films: Crowdfunding For Success

LIVE ONLY - NO REPLAY AVAILABLE

Presenter: Alejandro Montoya (Rebel Without a Crew: The Series)

Indie film is something everyone can be a part of. Alejandro Montoya has successfully crowdfunded 2 feature films and will provide tips on how to take advantage of social media and reach a larger audience to get your indie film funded.

8–10 PM

FEATURE SCREENING: A LONG WAy home

SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 14

10–11:30 AM

The Gaming Industry Check-In

Moderator: Matthew Burke (Gears of War, Halo)

Panelists: Jeff Grub (Dragonlance, Star Wars, Marvel Universe), Brannon Boren (Halo, Matrix, Crimson Skies), Miriam Wilson (Family Guys, The Sims Mobile)

Learn how to start and build a career as a game writer from top talents in the video game and tabletop roleplaying game industries.

1–2:30 PM

The Business of Acting

Sponsored by: Seattle VO Academy

Moderator: Jason Connelly Panelist: Nike Imoru (All Those Small Things), David Hogan (Grimm, Z Nation), Gordon Adams (Big Fish NW Talent)

To be a successful actor, you need to treat acting like a business. What does that mean? What do you need to do? Join us for a frank discussion on the finer points of making money as an actor.

2:30–4 PM

Acting in Larger Markets

Moderator: Genevieve Trainor (Obsession, Retribution Proxy 2.0)

Panelist: Lukas Hassel (The Blacklist, Elementary, Limitless), Catherine Jones (The Night Shift, Better Call Saul, Preacher), Devielle Johnson (Grimm, Aftermath, The Crossing), Rachelle Henry (Woodstock or Bust, My Summer as a Goth)

Let's face it. Trying to land a gig in Los Angeles, New York, or even Vancouver, B.C. isn't easy. Competition is fierce, and it takes some ingenuity and smarts to stand out from the crowd. Come and learn what could make or break your career.

6–8 PM

SPEED NETWORKING - GAME NIGHT EDITION!

Sponsored by: Spokane Film Project

Let's face it, everyone needs a good game night now and then. Spokane Film Project believes that there's nothing better than scoring connections with other artists, so we're excited to sponsor a social night where participants will roll the dice, spending 10 minutes getting to know each other in a breakout room before they're thrown into a new group to make even more connections, again and again. We'll have some unique games that will either bring us all closer or get someone benched for unsportsmanlike conduct!

8–10 PM

FEATURE SCREENING: last call for tomorrow