All actors are invited to showcase their skills! Please prepare and bring your best 1-minute monologue* to present Live before the class and a panel of acting and casting professionals. Actors will take turns doing their sprint while our panel (led by casting director Beverly Holloway) settles in for the marathon. You will receive written evaluation and feedback on your performance, as well as a link to an upload of your clip** for additional review. Producers, directors, and others scouting talent for future projects are welcome to come watch!

*Sign up on the provided sheet at Guild registration on Monday to determine order. Monologue content must be appropriate for all audiences, as all ages are welcome in the class. You may write something original or choose from existing Film/TV material (editing out other characters' lines as needed). Please come ready to slate with your name and location (city/state).

**Link and online hosting services are sponsored by FaithBasedCasting.com

We’ve all had that moment when our footage looks terrible. Someone forgot to white balance, or there are multiple cameras that don’t match. Or maybe you just want the footage to look different for story purposes. The art of color grading helps fix problems, and when used strategically, it complements the story and creates a consistent look for the audience. This session will cover the overall process of color grading and the tools to use.

Come on a journey with producer/director Donald Leow to the country of Mongolia, the birthplace of Genghis Khan. Be one of the first to watch clips of his latest film, Once Upon a Time in Mongolia. Learn about producing and directing a feature in a foreign land!

In this session, Rich will talk about what he feels are several keys to becoming a better Director, discussing the two main areas of preparation Directors should focus on, as well as speaking about Scene Blocking, Camera Axis, and a vital key in shooting Close Ups. Finally, there will be a conversation about the Director’s role in Casting, Editing and Leadership, as well as some visual examples presented during the discussion.

Michelangelo once posited that the sculptor's job is to discover the statue that already exists, hidden, within a block of stone. Benjamin Botkin is no Michelangelo, but in this talk he will attempt to explain the process of discovering and developing the great film score that will uniquely complement your film. Learn about story analysis, developing themes and motives, picking musical ideas that are appropriate for the scene, and more. Do not expect to learn much about sculpting.

One of the most important and unique relationships on a film set exists between an Actor and a Director. This relationship is essential to realizing the character’s full potential in a film. In this workshop Brett Varvel will guide attendees through his process of character preparation, and development, but also offer insight in his experience from working with directors to bring the character to life. Attendees will gain insight on when it is proper to speak on behalf of the character and when to speak on behalf of yourself (the actor).

Sound and music play an important part in the visual process. They materialize the invisible and make believable the impossible. They are also the voice of subtext. This workshop will look at the role of sound in filmic media, create a vocabulary for its dissection, and discover how to use sound to make your audience BELIEVE the story you are telling.

A practical class on using paint to give your movie an amazing look without killing your budget. We will share actual samples of simulated wood, stone, metal, and cement, with step-by-step instructions and helpful tips.

Kyle Justice's father was an amateur filmmaker who encouraged his sons to go into film. Kyle and his wife, Dawn, now foster their eight children to follow the dream God has put on their heart to do, some in film and some not. Kyle will give practical advice for moms and dads on how to encourage their kids in a film and TV career, including the pitfalls and good foundations that can be set for a successful and impactful career.

What camera should I buy? How do I make my work look more cinematic? How can I make money doing film? We've all wondered these questions at one point or another. Join Andrew and Hannah Bartlett, who run their own creative agency full time, as they take you through an overview of creating a project from pre-production to post. They'll also answer those common questions, have an extended Q&A time, and give you the opportunity to join them in making a short narrative commercial during the guild!

With over two-dozen titles in self-distribution, we have found some great places to get our titles out on the market. From DVD, VOD, broadcast, and social media, the opportunities are incredible. Kyle will share what platforms are open to new content as well as ways to set up your own distribution platforms. He will also touch on how to create new markets that never existed before, as well as new emerging markets for product.

From effective job searching and professional-quality crew applications (whether you have experience or not), to department hierarchies and workflows on set, come learn pro-tips for excelling in your position and being remembered (i.e. asked back) for the right reasons. First time producers will also learn strategies for assembling and communicating with a working team, and which jobs can potentially be combined for a skeleton crew.

Every project is immensely difficult, but faith-based films present unique challenges. Why? Because often you have a mix of believers and non-believers, and it's vital to create a set atmosphere that is welcoming, comfortable, and exciting for everyone. Dallas takes you through a day of filming and covers topics such as proper set etiquette; directing different kinds of actors; keeping every department happy even when they oppose one another; being the general while still giving your team freedom; and of course, how to handle prayer and devotionals. Even if you're not a director, this workshop will help you be a better contributor to each project.

Over 60% of people rely on the trailer when deciding whether or not to see a film. So you don’t just need a good trailer, you need a great one! This session will cover practical ways to make a trailer that is visually interesting, isn’t confusing, and leaves people counting down the days to your film!

Cinema is a unique artform, as it is both an aural and visual medium. One of the craftsman within this medium is the Cinematographer, or Director of Photography (DP). A few things the DP must consider are: camera type (genre/style considerations), camera support, movement, camera operation (f-stop, shutter, filters, frame rate), composition, lighting, shooting for the edit, sound, and much more. Join us as we sort out the nuts and bolts of cinematography.

Much of the artistry in cinematography is the ability to control the lightness and darkness within the frame -- every frame exposed properly as it relates to the world of the story. What affects exposure? How is it controlled? What should be conveyed? Additionally, there are many choices for gear. What is a basis for deciding what is needed? This workshop will focus on equipment use, lighting technique, and theory.

After big success in producing network programming, Kyle Justice didn’t want to spend so much time away from his eight kids, so he came up with a way to produce as a family. They started off producing the Awesome Science series as a family one summer. This led them to buy an RV and begin traveling around the country to shoot documentaries and kids shows. Kyle will give input on how you can start up your own family production team to produce titles that are marketable. He’ll also share what he’s learned about making the family business fun and getting everyone involved!

Learn how to option books, find the ‘core’ story within the story, and balance the tension between ‘what really happened’ against using ‘dramatic license’ to tell a more dramatic story while remaining faithful to the spirit of people and events. Discover which structure and scene-by-scene templates or workflows can work for you.

Christian films (aka faith films) get a bad rap, sometimes justified. Learn how to avoid preachiness and predictability by turning ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ upside down and sideways. There is greater scrutiny and challenge in making stories of faith organic and authentic, rather than dogmatic. This is the course to learn how that’s done.

Learn how to identify who your target “consumer” is in advance of making a film, as well as what a distributor needs (creatively and technically) to properly market and sell your film. Q&A encouraged!

Editing is more than knowing which buttons to push…it’s knowing when to push them. From cutting dialogue to creative scene transitions, we’ll discuss techniques that can enhance the journey for your audience.

A collection of top tens for anyone interested in art or production design. Lists include Top 10 Tools, Top 10 Apps, and Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid. These down-to-earth, rapid-fire suggestions will share some of the biggest lessons we've learned about what to do...and what NOT to do.

After 35 years running a post facility, Paul Long has learned a thing or two. In a Q&A format Paul will discuss important concepts to consider during pre-production and production that will inevitably save time and money while producing maximum results during post-production.

What makes an actor "good to work with" from the crew's perspective? How do you balance technical needs with immersion in your craft? Understanding how to be a team-player will help you look your best, maximize your screen time, and can even produce life-long industry friends. From camera & sound to make-up & wardrobe, come learn practical tips and strategies to help you interact more effectively with each department! Q&A and interaction will be encouraged throughout.

In modern culture, the artistic world is all too often steered by those that care little to nothing for God’s glory.  This workshop will explore the Biblical mindset on artistic expression and give inspiration and practical insight on how to effectively wield your artistic gifts and creative talents for the clear and untainted glory of Jesus Christ.