All panel discussions will take place in the Art Museum of Southeast Texas cafe area on Saturday, May 16.
10 AM - GUERILLA TACTICS
Is it possible to make a feature-length film in Southeast Texas on a shoe-string budget? Hear from four local filmmakers who recently did just that. They will discuss the tips, tricks and tragedies of guerilla filmmaking on the front lines. Panelists include: Paul Bloyd (moderator), Christopher Dombrosky, Tiana Hailey and Derek Womack.
Noon - POST POST PRODUCTION
So you've finished your film. The hard part is done. Or is it? Get the scoop on where indies go after leaving the editing room. Be it short, feature, doc or narrative, how do you get your movie seen? What festivals are for you and what do programmers look for? Panelists include: A.C. Abbott, Andy Anderson (moderator) and Kelly Williams.
2 PM - CONCEPT TO CREATION: THE PATH TO GETTING YOUR FILMS MADE
From your pen touching the paper to the cutting-room floor, there are an amazing number of steps that must be taken to get your picture on the screen. And even more if you want to make a career out of it. Learn from those who can tell you how to do it (without losing your sanity or your soul). Panelists include: Andy Anderson, Lacey Baldwin, Shawn Welling and Kelly Williams (moderator).
4 PM - CAST AWAY
Where do you find actors to be in your movie? Or how do you make the leap from acting in community theater productions to commercial film projects? And do you need the Guild for either of them? This panel will discuss all things casting related, and then some. Panelists include: Andy Anderson, Paul Bloyd (moderator) and Karen Hallford.
A.C. Abbott was born and raised in Southeast Texas. She is a graduate of Boston University’S M.F.A. film program. Before completing her graduate degree in May of 2007 she attended the University of Texas at Dallas. There she was awarded a scholarship for outstanding achievement from WOMEN IN FILM DALLAS. A.C. is currently the Managing Director of VideoFest, the oldest and largest video festival in the country, headquartered in Dallas, TX. She is also an instructor in Film Appreciation at El Centro College in downtown Dallas. She has acted in several short films and is now directing. Her first feature film, Disowning Claire, was made in 2008/2009 and will be screened at the 2009 Boomtown Film and Music Festival.
Filmmaker Andy Anderson has written and directed four independent feature films, including the 1988 indie hit Positive I.D. (Universal Pictures). His most recent theatrical release, Detention, was released on DVD as Learning Curve in 2003.
Andy has directed commercials for Ford Motor Company, MasterCard and the Peace Corp, and has written screenplays for Universal, Paramount Pictures, Hyperion Pictures and Eddie Murphy Productions. His screenplay "Look It Up" was invited to participate in the Sundance Institute director's lab.
Andy currently teaches film at the University of Texas in Arlington
Karen Hallford is a Casting Director with 20+ years of experience working in the Film, Commercial, and Advertising industry both in front of and behind the camera. She took over the helm of Casting Works LA the summer of 2007, bringing excitement and marketing expertise to Casting Works LA which bridges the gap between the business and creative sides.
She is adamant about staying focused on the future of Film in Texas by being involved in the Legislative process. As an elected political officer and election judge, she stays close to the heart of the issues. She works tirelessly to make Texas competitive with other markets by creating coalitions with Producers and Directors, and is the Charter Vice President of the Austin Producers Association, sister chapter to the very successful Dallas Producers Association. She strives to understand the issues and collectively insure that our future is bright.
Houston native and UT alum Shawn Sterling Welling started his career by performing & choreographing for NBA, NFL and NHL half-time shows, as well as concert openings, stage productions, and music videos. In 2000 Welling founded the Planet Funk Academy, a multicultural dance studio located in Houston which specializes in urban hip-hop that was featured on Bravo network in a 5 week series. He and his company has performed with Cirque du Soleil and he's co-hosted two 2 ABC dance specials.
Shawn's latest endeavors have been in film production. His 2006 debut feature "House of Dreams" won a gold award at the WorldFest International Film Festival and the platinum highest honor as director for best docu-drama full feature film. Shawn's second film "The Messenger" will be playing at the 2009 Boomtown Film and Music Festival.
Since 2004 Kelly Williams has been the Film Program Director of the Austin Film Festival, where he programs features and shorts as well as oversees the full scope of the festival’s programming. He was awarded the International Film Festival Summit Excellence Award for his "significant contribution to the success of the festival" in 2007. He has produced numerous award-winning short films, including the Student Academy Award nominee “Perils in Nude Modeling”, and also wrote and directed the short film Richard and the doc short “Sid Smith for Congress”. He is an active member of the Austin Media Arts Council, attended the writing program at the Second City in Chicago, graduated from the film program at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1995.
Copyright 2009
Boomtown Film and Music Festival
An Art Studio, Inc. Event