Spring Edition: Camera, Sound, Lighting Workshop

The second weekend in February marks the spring edition of the Women In Cinema Camera, Sound, and Lighting Workshop.  This workshop is a great opportunity for all to refresh their film knowledge and network with others participating in the workshop.  So how do you get in on all the fun?  Simply email utwomenincinema@gmail.com to reserve your spot at this event.

DETAILS

Saturday, February 9th

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

@ 701 Tillery St., Picturebox Studio

Facebook Event

Workshop costs $5 for Women In Cinema members and $15 for non-members.  Lunch provided at workshop.  If you need transportation to and from the workshop, please email to let us know.

PLEASE BRING:

-Gloves to handle lights (if you have them)

-Something to write notes on

-Do not wear open toed shoes

Can't wait to see all your lovely faces there!

Screenwriting Panel

Folks, it's that time of year again.  Classes have started back up, syllabi handed out, and students already back into study mode.  The start of the spring semester also marks the start of our monthly panels.  This month, we're happy to announce a fantastic screenwriting panel featuring some kick ass ladies and gents from the Austin area.  Check out the panelists' bios below and we hope to see you at our next meeting and panel on January 30th.


Screenwriting Panelists

JILL CHAMBERLAIN is the Founding Director of The Screenplay Workshop, Austin’s only dedicated screenwriting instruction program. As a screenwriting coach, story consultant and instructor, she’s helped hundreds of writers find the best trajectory for their story ideas and given them the tools they need to fully execute professional screenplays. Jill is also a professional screenwriter and script doctor whose work has been seen in theaters across the U.S. and on three continents. Jill studied in the MFA film program at Columbia University, where she also received her undergraduate degree in English.

MATT DY (Screenplay Competition Director at Austin Film Festival)
Matt attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science in Radio/TV/Film in 2005. During his time there, he served as the Co-Director for the University Filmmakers’ Alliance Film Conference and first worked for Austin Film Festival as an intern for the Screenplay Competition Department. After his internship, Matt continued working for AFF by helping evaluate First Round scripts as a reader for the Screenplay Competition and eventually was hired as the organization’s Office Manager. After two years in that position, he assumed the role of Screenplay Competition Director, where he helped facilitate over 4400 screenplay entries in 2010. This is his second year as the Director of the Competition. Matt has also written several short and feature screenplays and a stage play that was performed at FronteraFest in Austin.

MICHELLE MOWER (Writer/Director)
Michelle Mower received her B.A. degree in Radio/Television from the University in Houston in 2000. After graduation, Michelle went to work for an NBC affiliate as Associate Producer for the morning news program where her primary job was writing news copy. In 2003, Michelle left broadcast news to work for Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), a non-profit media arts organization based in Houston. Her primary function as Program Coordinator was to organize SWAMP’s professional development workshops, youth programs, film screenings, monthly filmmakers salons and special events. Through her work with SWAMP, Michelle started Lights! Camera! Action! Summer Moviemaking Camp for teens and the annual Business of Film Conference, which takes place annually at Rice University. She has served on the boards of Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA), Women In Film and Television (WiFT) and currently sits on the advisory board for Houston Community College’s Department of Film and Audio Production. Michelle has written, produced and/or directed a number of short films and music videos, as well as two feature films. Her debut feature film The Preacher’s Daughter premiered on Lifetime Movie Network on August 31, 2012 and garnered the highest ratings of any movie on the network in 2012. Michelle’s next project is a yet-to-be titled suspense thriller which will begin production in April, 2013.

Writer and performer OWEN EGERTON is one of the talents behind the award-winning The Sinus Show and Master Pancake Theater at the Alamo Drafthouse Theatre. Egerton has written screenplays for Fox, Warner Brothers, and Disney studios. The screenplay Bobbie Sue, which he co-wrote with his partners Russell Sharman and Chris Mass, was honored on the 2008 Blacklist before being purchased by Warner Brothers. Voted Best Local Author of 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012 by The Austin Chronicle, Egerton is also the author of the novel The Book of Harold, which is currently in development as a television series with Warner Bros. Television. His new novel, Everyone Says That at the End of the World will be released this April.


PANEL DETAILS
Wednesday, January 30
WIC Meeting: 7 - 7:30 pm
Screenwriting Panel: 7:30 - 8:30 pm
CMA 3.120, Free Admission
Facebook Event

Film Festival Scholarship Winners

On December 17th, Women In Cinema awarded three Film Festival Scholarships to three hard-working ladies at UT.  The jurors were incredibly impressed with their films and we can't wait to see the future work of these three directors.  Congrats Ladies!

Martha! - Directed by Haley Anderson

Synopsis: Martha, a shy Catholic schoolgirl, experiences an immaculate conception after listening to rock n roll.

Jenny and Steph - Directed by Elizabeth Chatelain

Synopsis: When Jenny’s older sister Steph decides to throw a party, Jenny witnesses first-hand what keeps the two girls at an ever increasing distance: Steph and her friends smoking meth.

Plateau - Director Catherine Licata

Synopsis: Melody deals with the aftermath of a breakup while celebrating her best friend’s upcoming wedding.

A big thank you to our two jurors Producer Megan Gilbride (Lovers of Hate, Where Soldiers Come

From, The Bounceback) and Director Elizabeth Mims (Only the Young). Each winner will receive waived submission fees to the following film festivals: Los Angeles Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, Aspen Shorts Fest, deadCenter Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival. Be sure to check our blog later in the spring semester when we announce the spring Film Festival Scholarship!

Art Department Panel Recap

November wrapped up our last panel of the semester, The Art Department Panel. This panel featured 3 well-known, incredibly sweet ladies from the Austin creative community. Check out our recap below and what each panelists had to say.

Top 3 Takeaways
1. BE NICE. BE RESPECTFUL!
2. Even in the creative, artsy department, organization is a requirement.
3. Thrift Town and Thrift Land are two of the best places to find treasures to make your set stand out.

Kari Perkins, a long-time costume designer, began her career by simply knowing how to sew. She jumped into the Austin community theater scene and soon after made her film debut with Dazed and Confused.  To this day, Kari still works with director Richard Linklater on many of his projects.  Her most challenging film experience to date? Working with 20 principle actors and 250 extras; all had 10 costume changes. We know what you're thinking, and yes, our jaw dropped too.  But she championed through with patience and teamwork: five people dressing extras, one person in the trailer, and three people dressing on set. Hats off to you, Kari!

Caroline, an MFA alum of The University of Texas at Austin, got her start in the fine arts world. She graduated from art school with a degree in photography and printmaking.  After attending graduate school at UT, she jumped into the Austin film scene and has since worked on films like Lovers of Hate (nominated for an Independent Spirit Award) and The Bounceback. Oh, and Kari gave a special shout out to Megan Gilbride (featured in our producing panel here) and Bryan Poyser for being such a great team to work with.  Caroline also shared some advice for students looking to gain more film experience: "If you admire someone's work, shoot them an email and ask to intern or work for them so you can see the department."

Yvonne, currently art director for the ABC Family Show The Lying Game, comes from a diverse background of architecture, dance, and set design.  Having worked both on film (Machete, Black Metal) and TV sets, she emphasised the differences between the pre-production process for film and TV.  Working on a TV set, Yvonne usually has 6 days for pre-production (sometimes less - yikes!), as opposed to on a film shoot where she has a longer pre-production period, usually 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the project.  Her advice for someone working in the art department?  “When going over budget, always communicate with the producer.”  We’re pretty sure the ladies from our producing panel would agree with that!

Dazed and Confused

Lovers of Hate

Machete

We want to give a big thanks to everyone who attended the Women In Cinema panels this semester.  We have great things planned for 2013 so keep an eye out. Cheers to the New Year!