The Art of Film Funding

Gael Chandler, based in Los Angeles, was nominated twice for a Cable Emmy for comedy editing and has trained hundreds of professionals on digital editing systems and students on editing systems, practices, and theory. Additionally, she taught editing practices and history at Loyola Marymount University and California State Universities at Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Northridge. She is the co-writer of the topic of the show, Scripting a Sermon. The Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan is Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. This year she is celebrating 25+ years of ordained ministry and the publication of a new book, Scripting a Sermon:Using the Wisdom of Filmmaking for Impactful Preaching (WJKP, 2024) co-authored with filmmaker, Gael Chandler. Scripting a sermon is a book for preachers encouraging them to look at and try the techniques film makers use to reach and impact audiences in creating their sermons. For more information about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Our special guest today is Karla Murthy, an Emmy-nominated producer who has been working on news documentaries for over 15 years. She began her career working for the veteran journalist Bill Moyers and has been a producer, cinematographer, and correspondent for several news programs on PBS. Her award-winning work was described in the Columbia Journalism Review as “compelling, informative, and compassionate.” Her directorial debut, the feature documentary The Place That Makes Us screened at numerous film festivals and had its national broadcast premiere on America ReFramed. She is now working on her next feature documentary film called The Gas Station Attendant, a co-production with ITVS for public television. Karla is of Filipino and South Asian descent. She grew up in Texas studying classical piano and graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in Religion and Computer Science. Today we'll discuss her recent short film Love, Jamie, about a transgender artist incarcerated in Texas.

Adam Heyes is a multidisciplinary creative and business developer, working primarily with filmmakers, artists, authors, transformational teachers, and non-profit organizations. Adam has worked with From the Heart Productions for over a decade, helping the organization and its clients with pitch decks, design, editing, film and event production, website development, marketing, course design, and fundraising. He worked extensively with two award-winning From the Heart documentaries, Ground Operations about sustainable farming for veterans, and Take Back Your Power about the dangers of smart meters. Adam graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA's Honors Program with a degree in Psychology, and holds a Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. He also runs a thriving heart-centered counseling practice in Seattle. To reach out to Adam send an email to adamdheyes@gmail.com, or visit http://www.adamheyesdesign.com To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Our special guest today is Eleanor Church, a UK based award-winning filmmaker and photographer who has been making films and using photography to tell stories for the past 20 years. She has worked on a wide range of projects, both documentary and commercial, with a particular emphasis on stories that focus on society, environment, women, human rights, migration and supply chains. Among her accomplishments, Eleanor is pleased that her filmmaking work has led to policy change. Today we'll discuss her first feature film, X Trillion. It's a documentary about an all-female team including sailors and scientists led by environmental activist Emily Penn, as they sail across the North Pacific Ocean to carry out cutting edge microplastics research.

This program is for creators of color in documentary filmmaking or nonfiction new media who identify as living with a disability. We seek to bring visibility to creators who are oftentimes overlooked through our 10 yearly grants of $5000.00 each.   To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Remi Kessler began documenting homelessness in Los Angeles in 2015. He produced and directed THE ADVOCATES, a full-length feature documentary providing a sweeping look at the history and causes of LA's homeless crisis and an intimate view of the tireless work of advocates striving to create better lives for their homeless clients. The film premiered at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Festival, followed by a successful festival run, multiple community screenings frequently moderated by Remi, and worldwide distribution and streaming. Since THE ADVOCATES, Remi produced and directed a series of six films for UCLA and the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health which are utilized to educate social workers and graduate students on mental illness and homelessness. He is currently producing "Homele$$, Inc" on the high cost of housing and why is it so high?  For more information about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Our special guest today is John Onderdonk, the Co-Founder and CEO of Flume TV, an innovative ad-supported streaming service dedicated to independent content. Prior to founding Flume TV, John accumulated five years of media strategy experience at Comcast NBCUniversal. During this tenure, he held roles in Corporate Development, Corporate Strategy, Cable FP&A, and NBCU Corporate Strategy and Business Development, with a focus on forming the company's direct-to-consumer streaming strategy. Currently based in Palo Alto, California, John is originally from Dallas, Texas. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Highest Distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently pursuing an MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he also serves as the Student Body Co-President, leading various initiatives to enhance the student experience and foster a vibrant community. Today we'll discuss Flume TV.

Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema revolutionizes how films are distributed, opening new opportunities for filmmakers and studios to reach their audiences and maximizing revenue through screening tours, virtual events, and TVOD. Christie has won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune's Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company's Most Creative People in 2021. Currently she is managing Kinema and has just released the Distribution Playbook for filmmakers.  https://thedistributionplaybook.notion.site To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Jonathon M. Smith, is an actor/writer/producer who has been involved in the film industry for over 15 years Recently he produced, starred, and wrote an independent feature that is part of the Amazon Prime catalog called "Broken City." At this time, Jonathon is currently producing and starring in a vertical series called "Collapse of America." He hopes to discover new trends with the series and show the industry a fresh way to deliver content and great stories to modern audiences. It will be released in all major social media platforms next month.  Free Class: Jonathon also has a special promotion for From The Heart members. It's an exclusive free film financing course that will teach you different ways to raise money for your short films and features.  Click the link, click I want this, and enter "FROMTHEHEART" as the discount code to receive it for free: https://malibucinema.gumroad.com/l/filmfunding   

The information that Largo provides is an invaluable tool for pitching your film to investors and distributors, hiring crew, and making casting decisions. A recent case study found that having a Largo report can improve salability of a project by up to 300%. We believe that major streaming platforms are increasingly prioritizing projects that have strong analysis based financial forecasts and other key metrics the system provides.  The information in the report lets a potential distributor or investor know exactly what the project might be worth to them and how to most successfully package it. Largo can tell you how an audience will react to your film and characters emotionally, which is a strong indicator of audience engagement that all distributors want. It can show you if the emotion dips in a certain scene or if your characters are likable and relatable or not. It will show how your film compares to other similar films in many different metrics so that distributors can clearly see the market potential.  If you would like to contact Alex reach out through his email at info@largo.ai To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Brynn Lucas is an award-winning producer with extensive expertise in post-production supervision, delivery, electronic press kit (EPK), and feature film development and production. She has led numerous successful projects to completion, leveraging her deep knowledge in music videos, film production, and documentaries. Her client list includes Independent Filmmakers, Studios such as WB, Universal, and Paramount, Major Streamers like Hulu, Netflix, and Apple, and Sales Teams/Distributors such as Studio Canal, S&R Films, Saban Films, and Lionsgate. (blucas@frbpictures.com) To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Our special guest today is Sarah Moshman, an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and TEDx speaker whose work has been featured on Netflix, PBS, Upworthy, Marie Claire, CNN, and Good Morning America. Sarah has directed and produced 3 feature-length documentaries: The Empowerment Project: Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things, Losing Sight of Shore, and Nevertheless. She has also directed several narrative shorts including Unbound and A Mother is Born. Sarah is dedicated to telling stories that uplift, inform and inspire as well as showcase strong and complex female role models on screen. Sarah is honored to be the Artistic Director of the non-profit arts and filmmaking organization Look what SHE Did! and the leader of their newest filmmaking program for women over 30: Look what SHE's Doing! Today we'll discuss her career and focus on her documentary, Losing Sight of Shore.

Meet filmmaker Gillian Greenfeld who holds a BA in anthropology from the University of British Columbia and an MFA in documentary from Ryerson University.  Currently, she is just finishing up co-directing "Phoolan," a feature documentary on the life of Phoolan Devi, India's celebrated feminist “Bandit Queen.” The film is now in post-production and set to be released in the new year (https://phoolandevimovie.com/). Gillian is also the president of Cielo Films, a newly-launched independent film company aiming to produce thought-provoking films on women's rights. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Fred Siegel is an indie film, tax, and business consultant and founder of Fred Siegel, CPA (1997, NYC), a premium, boutique consulting/CPA firm specializing in key tax and business issues for producers and dealing with the business of film, from development through distribution.  Primary practice areas are Consulting, Financing, Deal Structures, Film Tax Credits, Taxation, Accounting.  Working almost entirely with indie filmmakers and their production and development companies, and with a focus on consulting, the firm provides a range of "niche" film tax, tax credit, accounting, and business services for indie filmmakers throughout the U.S.. Fred has worked with indie filmmakers for over 30 years, including highly acclaimed filmmakers such as Christine Vachon ("Past Lives;" "Still Alice;" "Boys Don't Cry"); Chris Smith ("Branson;" "Sr.;" "Tiger King;" "100 Foot Wave;" "Fyre;" "American Movie");  Debra Granik ("Winters Bone,") and many others, as well as filmmakers in the earlier stages of their careers.  Fred is a graduate of Columbia University and began his public accounting career at a "Big 4" firm. Earlier in his professional life, Fred was a jazz musician and an entrepreneur, those experiences infusing his professional work today with an independent spirit, conceptual approach, and artistic bent and an understanding of the life of an artist/producer and the world of business and the interplay between the two.  To learn more about Fred Siegel visit www.fredsiegelcpa.com For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com 

In his nearly 35 years in the media, Tony has repped luminaries such as Stan Lee and William Shatner, written speeches for Bill Gates and various CEOs/public figures and worked on high profile national PR campaigns. He has produced documentaries, such as Marvel Then and Now: An Evening with Stan Lee and worked on numerous not-for-profit campaigns for The Hero Initiative and Consent Florida. He is a former award-winning journalist and currently a columnist on various pop culture and political news outlets. In recent years, he has developed various properties for film and television, and acted as a publicist for several feature film productions. Today Tony supports and works with independent filmmakers to create Marketing and public relations plans to attract your audience during production. For more info abou Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Director So Yun Um, discusses her Sundance supported documentary, Liquor Store Dreams. The film is about two Korean American children of liquor store owners reconciling their dreams with those of their immigrant parents, against the backdrop of struggles for racial equity in Los Angeles.

Helen Hall's music has been performed and broadcast internationally, in festivals such as New York's Bang on a Can, the Subtropic Music Festival in Florida, and in prestigious venues such as Merkin Concert Hall in New York. Her writing and research has been published by Leonardo Magazine (MIT Press), and her music is published by Da Vinci Edition (Japan). She is currently in production with Pictures of Infinity. The film is based on more than 20 years of her original research and received the Roy W. Dean award in 2013 for this important historical film. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 
  

Our special guest today is director and producer Nancy Svendsen. A passionate storyteller since her childhood in rural Iowa, Nancy recently turned from the healthcare field to filmmaking. Her first feature documentary, "Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest," tells the story of the indigenous trailblazer Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, who battled racism, gender discrimination, and political opposition in her quest to become the first Nepali woman to summit Mt. Everest. Nancy is related to Pasang by marriage. Her film played at numerous festivals worldwide and received many accolades including winning the Charlie Fowler Best Adventure Film at Mountainfilm and the Clio Visualizing History Prize for the Advancement of Women in Film at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. The film also won best documentary and best mountaineering film awards in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, the UK, and South Korea and India. Today we'll learn more about Nancy's journey telling Pasang's story.

Filmmaker and Author Rona Edwards, shares tips from her book, The Complete Filmmaker's Guide to Film Festivals: Your All Access Pass to Launching Your Film on the Festival Circuit, soon to be in its 2nd edition.

Breaking Boundaries: Diversity and Humor in Television with Hollis Rich. To contact Hollis send your email to hollisrichwrite@gmail.com.  To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Our guest, Rachel Elizabeth Seed, is a DIRECTOR/PRODUCERoriginally from London, and is a Los Angeles and Brooklyn-based nonfiction storyteller working in film, photography and writing. Join us as Rachel talks about her feature documentary Photographic Memory. She says this about the film ... "After a decade+ of shooting, editing, and producing, my debut feature documentary A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY, was launched this month at the True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri to standing ovations and with RogerEbert.com calling it one of the best docs they've seen this year! A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY is an intimate, genre-bending portrait of my attempt to piece together a portrait of my mother, Sheila Turner Seed, an avant-garde journalist I never knew. Uncovering the vast archive she produced, including lost interviews with photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Gordon Parks, Cecil Beaton, Lisette Model, and others, the film explores memory, legacy, and stories left untold. It feels amazing to finally share this passion project with the world and to see people connecting with it in meaningful ways. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was witnessing audience members see new possibilities for connecting with departed loved ones, as I do myself in the film."   To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

For years, Steve Kaplan has been one of the industry's most respected and sought-after experts on comedy. His first book, The Hidden Tools of Comedy is a best-seller in its field, and his second book, The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films was recently released in an audio version. In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other universities, Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. In addition to development projects for HBO, he has taught workshops at companies such as DreamWorks, Disney Animation, Aardman Animation, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and others. For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Join us as Christie Marchese shares about how Kinema helps audiences discover & watch great films in creative places, and in community with others. Kinema provides an operating system for filmmakers to manage their screening tours, and developing partnerships with mixed-use spaces in real life and community leaders & influencers online - all to reach audiences everywhere.  To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Introducing Mark Mori: Renowned Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker and Emmy Award-winning TV producer, Mark Mori is at the forefront of social justice storytelling. As the former chair of the Non-Fiction and Documentary Committee of the Producers Guild of America, East, and a seasoned union activist, Mark has consistently used his lens to capture powerful narratives. Currently, he is directing "The Baristas vs The Billionaire," a groundbreaking documentary showcasing the generational uprising of Millennials and Gen Z as they courageously battle Starbucks owners for their right to unionize. This film sheds light on the plight of America's disappearing middle class and their resolute stand against corporate oppression, offering a gripping portrayal of a community fighting for its future.  

Chris White: Exploring the Rich Legacy of American Documentary To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Kelly Galindo has a passion for filmmaking and she has done some extraordinary work.  She has been in war torn countries documenting sex trafficking with the help of service men to protect her.  She has used some wonderful new ways of marketing her film.  She is making shorts and a feature and a multi-part series on sex trafficking.  Learn how to expand your film and use current footage to market and find your audience in this informative interview. To find the documentary visit Epoch TV https://www.epochtv.shop/26seconds and 26secondsdoc.com    To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Our special guests today are Sara Newens and Mina T. Son. Sara is an award-winning filmmaker and editor who received Primetime Emmy nominations for her work on Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields and Allen v. Farrow. She also served as editor and writer for On the Record. Mina is a Korean American filmmaker who is currently in post-production on a documentary about Japan's 2011 tsunami. Sara and Mina have co-directed two feature documentaries together through their company, Wild Pair Films.Their first documentary, Top Spin, streamed on Netflix. Their new documentary, Racist Trees, will air on PBS.

Learn the benefits of working with the Film Festival Doctor.  Dr. Rebekah Smith will tell us how she finds good fits for films and has a high acceptance rate for the filmmakers. In both domestic and foreign festivals. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Ben Steinbauer and Joe Pickett discuss their documentary, Chop & Steele.  Ben Steinbauer directed the film, which premiered at Tribeca. Joe Pickett is featured in Chop & Steele, along fellow comedian, Nick Prueher. Joe and Nick pranked morning TV news shows by posing as part of a fake strongman duo. One appearance resulted in a federal lawsuit that Fast Company magazine called “the dumbest First Amendment battle” of the year. 

Join Jenny Waldo as she teaches us how she successfully made her first feature and got it distributed.  She shares some great ideas she learned and pitfalls to watch out for.  She also became an expert at crowdfunding and now mentors other filmmakers on how to crowdfund your film. For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Join Karen Everett from New Doc Editing who shares her 30 years of experience in editing.  She explains how to solve a multitude of common editorial problems and discusses her accelerated documentary editing at an excellent price.   Carole & Karen discuss our challenges with AI coming into the film industry like a freight train. How do we survive and thrive? To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Join Trudi Angell for insights in making money on documentaries. For more information about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Jonathon Smith shares his journey using Largo AI reports as back up for his investor pitch.  He shares the essentials for funding, creating your pitch and your deck.  He also explains how an AI program helped him with marketing and funding his film.  He was able to pitch his film in the Largo AI event at NAB. For more information about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Wolf's inquiring mind has delved into the relationship between human consciousness, psychology, physiology, the mystical, and the spiritual. His investigations have taken him from intimate discussions with physicist David Bohm to the magical and mysterious jungles of Peru, from a significant meeting with Werner Heisenberg to the hot coals of a firewalk. For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Empowering Women in Film: Laura & Film Fatales.  To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Our special guest today, award winning filmmakers Camilla Hall, will discuss her documentary, Subject, which premiered at Tribeca in 2022. The film explores the life-altering experience of sharing one's life on screen through the participants of five acclaimed documentaries and ponders the ethics and responsibility inherent in documentary filmmaking. Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall are the Co-Directors and Producers of Subject. They met at the Tribeca Film Festival during the premieres of their previous films A Suitable Girl (by Tiexiera) and Copwatch (by Hall). They formed a connection based their filmmaking experiences and their feelings about the industry and decided to co-direct Subject.  

Learn how to use films to inform and engage communities to take on critical issues.  To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Sharing Intergenerational stories of connection.  For more info about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Corky shares information on Tax incentive 181 and 168.  To learn more about Caroel Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Marah Strauch is a director, producer, and writer of documentary films, unscripted TV, branded content, and commercials. Her films have screened at TIFF, Hot Docs, Tribeca, and many other festivals worldwide. Her debut documentary feature, Sunshine Superman, provides a breathtaking tribute to Carl Boenish, the creator of BASE jumping. The New York Times hailed it as a "masterful debut," and Indiewire called it "one of the best docs of the year." CNN picked up Sunshine Superman as a "CNN film." Her most recent feature documentary, Vice Versa: Chyna, offers a complex portrait of the late and groundbreaking wrestler Chyna. It premiered on Vice to over 2 million viewers and can currently be seen on Hulu. Strauch holds a degree in fine art from RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), which informs her aesthetic approach to both film and commercial work. She is a dual Austrian American citizen, bringing a global perspective to her work. We will discuss her approach to documentary filmmaking.  

Gary Hankins, author of The Power of the Pitch shares an outline of how to pitch your film. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Join us as our guest Hugh Rogovy discusses the Rogovy Foundation and how they contribute to education & environmental films. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Jewish Story Partners Impactful Film Funding Initiatives with With award-winning Roberta Grossman. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Join Patrick Martin and learn how to use ChatGPT for filmmakers. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.

Ann Thomas manages Transgender Talent Agency for Films & TV. To learn more about From the Heart Productions visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com

Join us to learn how to make successful films for Netflix with Michael Mendelsohn and Natalie Perrotta.  To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit FromtheHeartProductions.com

Tune in to learn how to build conflict in your film script. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Lean about critical early stage mentorship & film funding.    To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com. 

Filmmaker Brendan Bubion, a Digital Video producer at KCET, has a passion for telling stories in local communities that often go untold or unseen. He discusses how to make impactful short documentaries, citing his own films, “Growing Up Behind Barbed Wire,” about the experience of two Japanese-American girls who were forced to live in incarceration camps during WWII and “Con Su Pluma en Su Mano,” about the life and work of LA Times journalist Gustavo Arellano.

The Redford Center, programs, and benefits for filmmakers with Heather Fipps. Heather Fipps shares criteria for support. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.   

Join us and learn marketing and media strategies for Indie films, plus dynamic publicity ideas from C.M. Conway. C.M. Conway, filmmaker of "How to Successfully Fail in Hollywood" now available on Prime Video and FunnyFailureFilm.com. To learn more about Carole Dean and From the Heart Productions please visit www.FromtheHeartProductions.com.