Filmmakers who have been through the struggles of financing, producing and distributing have come up with a way to offer their expertise to help up and comers and provide a space for seasoned professionals to connect.
The first South Florida Film Forum, Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30, will be held at Mad Arts in Dania Beach. The weekend event offers the opportunity to connect with film industry professionals through panels, screenings, and networking opportunities. Throughout the weekend, attendees can also enjoy a lounge, live music, themed cocktail hours, parties, and free drinks.
Programmed by local industry leaders Eddy Moon and Ashley Rose, co-founders of WEG Films; Marco Mall, founder of Florida Film House and the Urban Film Festival; and Broward County Film Commissioner Sandy Lighterman, president of Film Fort Lauderdale, the forum organizers say that anyone, from emerging artists to industry veterans, will benefit from attending.
Moon, co-founder and head of programming of WEG, a collective of film and digital media artists working in the industry, said that the forum was carefully designed to meet the needs of those working, or aspiring to work, in the film industry.
“We’re filmmakers ourselves so we know what’s lacking in the space and we designed programming to fill those gaps,” said Moon..
There are knowledge gaps when it comes to financing movies, distributing movies, producing low budget movies and making connections with cast members and directors, according to Moon.
“So, we designed programs that fill in that knowledge and give access to filmmakers and to industry leaders,” he said.
Mall said that at film events and festivals, participants often don’t have the opportunity to connect with decision makers.
“We purposely chose people that I call ‘elevators’ because they’re the people that can help elevate your career.”
Appearing at the forum will be Nika King, an actress known for her role as Leslie Bennett in “Euphoria,” as well as producers Andrew Hevia, Oscar-winning producer of “Moonlight,, Jamin O’Brien, executive producer of the coming-of-age film “Eighth Grade” and Ana Leocha, executive producer of “Sorry, Baby” for A24.
Also scheduled to speak are industry executives Jay Roewe, HBO’s senior vice president of production, global incentives, and production planning; Mike Mogadas, head of production finance at MarVista/FOX; Buz Walick, director of physical production at FOX; Mikey Moral, vice president of production finance at MRC; and Joe Chianese, senior vice president and production incentives practice leader at Entertainment Partners.
The invited industry leaders are more than just executives, according to Mall.
“They’re the kind of people that can say yes and make a difference in your career,” he said. The panels will also include immersive discussions and industry professionals will be accessible during networking opportunities at the forum, according to Lighterman.
“They are all willing to have these conversations and that’s not always the case with global Hollywood,” says Lighterman who worked for producing giant Viacom. . “It’s a really cool event where there will be access not just to the panels, but to conversations.”
Lighterman said that access to these decision makers and professionals who have so much knowledge of the industry is immeasurable.
“Access like this does not always happen. At most events, speakers literally run out the door but the people we have want to have the discussions. They want to help. They want to be around the creators to hear what people have to say and, you know, I’ve seen this happen with events like this, which are rare, where this kind of access can make people’s careers.”
With a deliberate focus by organizers on keeping the film forum event accessible, day passes are available for $30, forum passes for $50, and student day passes for $20. Additionally, residents from six of the most economically challenged zip codes in Broward County, known as the “prosperity zip codes,” can register and attend the forum for free.
“A lot of time these events, people don’t feel invited, right? They don’t feel like it’s for them,” said Mall, who is working with the county and community leaders to promote the events in the prosperity zip codes.”
Lighterman hopes that anyone working in the industry or hoping to break in will take advantage of this opportunity to learn and connect.
“It’s about how they navigate their future in this industry—whether they’re just beginning or they’re successful, right? It’s an ever-changing industry and having the people that actually make those decisions in the room and being able to, not just see them on a panel, but to interact with them because this will be an intimate enough event that they’ll be able to have conversations with these people. That’s immeasurable.”
‘Scenes in Paradise’ at FLL
The South Florida Film Forum is one of several initiatives to support film in Broward County. “Scenes in Paradise,” also in partnership with Film Lauderdale, as well as the Office of Economic and Small Business Development, is a curated exhibit that opened on Wednesday, March 12 in Terminal 3, Concourse F of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The exhibit features posters of films and television shows filmed in Broward County, reflecting the importance of the screen production industry for the local economy.
At a ribbon cutting ceremony of the exhibition, Mark Gale, chief executive officer and director of aviation at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, stood in front of the display and shared that this opening was only the first segment of the exhibition that is expected to expand throughout the airport.
“This new poster display is a way to celebrate a long-time partnership highlighting the benefits that film-induced tourism brings to Broward County and to shine a spotlight on the history of filmmaking here in Broward County. We’re looking forward to this exhibition growing as we continue to add to it and find locations to showcase all that is Broward County and the rich history that it has on the screen,” said Gale.
Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero said at the event that the county had realized “$180 million in production revenue for this industry in this year alone. That is huge and we continue to promote and provide incentives . . ..”
The posters feature description cards underneath along with QR codes that are meant to be scanned. The codes identify a location where the projects were shot and take viewers on their cellphones to a scene that was shot in Broward County.
Lighterman mentioned a few locations that are included, one of which is the landfill in Pompano Beach where the Hollywood sign was constructed for the movie “Rock of Ages.”
“From the highjinx of ‘Caddyshack’ or the mysterious waterways in ‘Cape Fear’ or the sparkling beaches of ‘Where the Boys Are,’ these posters represent just a few of the many film and television projects that have played a role in shaping the persona of Broward County to the rest of the world and showing off our diverse locations and area,” said Lighterman.
WHAT:
South Florida Film Forum
WHEN:
Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30
TICKETS:
Weekend pass $50, day pass $30, student weekend pass $30, student day pass $20, prosperity zip code pass $0
WHERE:
Mad Arts, 481 S. Federal Highway, Dania Beach
INFORMATION:
www.southfloridafilmforum.com
