SIMI Film Fest 2024 Industry Panels
We are excited to welcome this year's esteemed industry panelists to the SIMI Film Fest!
Friday, Sept. 6th, 5:30pm - Theater 4
From Script to Production
With Paul Tamasy and Jordan Gertner
Explore the journey of crafting a feature film from concept to completion, following Paul and Jordan's latest collaboration on the Paramount Pictures release, Depravity, starring Dermot Mulroney & Victoria Justice, coming October 2024.
PAUL TAMASY - is a British-American writer, producer and director known for the film series “Air Bud”. In 2010, he wrote and co-produced the Oscar-winning movie “The Fighter” (Christian Bale). He has also written several screenplays including “The Finest Hours” (Chris Pine, Casey Affleck), “Patriots Day” (Mark Wahlberg), & wrote/exec-produced “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” (directed by Guy Ritchie), which was in theaters earlier this year.
JORDAN GERTNER - is a film producer known for his work on distinctive indie films such as "Buffalo '66," "The Virgin Suicides," and "Spring Breakers." He recently expanded his creative portfolio by directing "Sheroes," a female-driven action film. Gertner often collaborates closely with filmmakers and actors to bring unique, compelling stories to life that challenge conventions and spotlight diverse narratives.
Friday, September 6th, 6:15pm - Theater 5
Overcoming Rejection and Failure In Hollywood
Gain insights from those who have paved the way before you. Dan has interviewed hundreds of filmmakers who began in the indie scene and made it to Hollywood, discovering the resilience that fueled their success.
DAN RUTSTEIN - is a co-host of the podcast "Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss," where he and writer Noah Evslin explore the challenges and setbacks faced by professionals in the entertainment industry. With over 130 episodes, the podcast delves into themes of failure, rejection, and resilience in Hollywood, featuring interviews with writers, producers, directors, and other industry professionals who share their personal stories of overcoming adversity. Dan brings a unique perspective as a former diplomat and journalist, offering listeners an honest and candid look at the less glamorous side of the entertainment world.
Saturday, September 7th, 5:30PM - Theater 5
Creativity As A Business
with Sean McNamara and Bernice Howes
Essential tips for building a lasting career in the film industry, from mastering your pitch to flawlessly executing your creative vision.
Sean McNamara - is a versatile filmmaker with over 30 years in the industry. He has directed and produced films such as "Soul Surfer," "The Miracle Season," and "Raise Your Voice." His upcoming feature, “Reagan,” starring Dennis Quaid, partially filmed in Simi Valley, will release just before the SIMI Film Fest. McNamara is known for his compelling storytelling and ability to inspire, earning him critical acclaim and a loyal audience.
Bernice Howes - is an accomplished producer with credits including the Oscar-nominated "Greyhound" (Tom Hanks), Emmy-winning projects for National Geographic, and the Grammy-winning "Dis Is Da Drum" music video. As VR Producer for Spielberg's "Raising a Rukus," she currently leads digital production at Walt Disney Imagineering, focusing on Marvel and Epcot theme park projects. With 25+ years of experience, Bernice excels in managing all aspects of production using innovative workflows.
Saturday, September 7th, 6:15pm - Theater 5
Fix It In Pre!
Real World Tools to Prepare Better Prepare You For Production
Why wait for post to fix your film when you can get it right from the start? Join VFX Supervisor Bud Myrick, ShotDeck’s Cassandra Nicholson and Scriptation’s Laura Noxon, as they share expert insights and tools to perfect your project during pre-production.
Bud Myrick has been in VFX for 30+, working on “The Quest” for Disney+, “Mayans M.C.” for FX, and “The Dropout” for Hulu. As a CG Supervisor, he contributed to series such as “The Good Doctor” and “Ozark.” At FuseFX, Bud developed innovative VR projects and led Smithsonian’s “Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways to Mars”. He has also worked on “Serenity” and “Men in Black II.” Currently, Bud is in pre-production for his own short thriller.
ShotDeck is a vast library of high-definition movie images, offering filmmakers searchable visual references for every production stage created by Oscar-nom cinematographer Lawrence Sher. Scriptation is an Emmy-winning PDF annotation app for film, TV, and video production, allowing filmmakers to manage script revisions & organize documents digitally with features like annotation layers, cloud syncing, and actor line highlighting.
