FRESNO FILMMAKERS FORUM - 7 Days Away!

7 Days until the Fresno Filmmakers Forum on Saturday, October 27th, 2007!

We've added speakers to our creative panel:

Jon Carroll, Director of DevelopmentJon Carroll currently serves as the Director of Development for the Fresno Metropolitan Museum and is directly responsible for marketing, public relations, membership, development and legislative advocacy for the museum. He moved from Los Angeles to Fresno in 2000 to begin work for the Fresno Metropolitan Museum after a 16 year career within the performing and visual arts.

Cherrie Franklin, Acting Coach & ActressCherrie Franklin has been a professional actress for thirty years appearing in numerous films, television series and commercials. But Ms. Franklin is not just an actress. She’s also a highly respected on-set dialogue coach.

Jeff Hall-Jeff Hall founded Maximus Recording Studios in 1985 with a personal goal of having his work heard around the world within five years. Today, his company’s work is broadcast to every continent every day of the week. Maximus is the largest world-class recording studio between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

John Kelly, Director of Photograph! A graduate of Montana State University with a B.S. degree in Cinema, John Kelly has twenty-five years of experience as a writer, director, and cinematographer of commercials, feature films, short films, music videos, documentaries, and corporate and information films — working extensively in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Central California.

Jerry Lee, Vice President of Programming & PartnershipsJerry Lee is a 38-year veteran of radio and television in markets large and small from Omaha to San Diego to San Francisco and Fresno. Currently Jerry is Vice President of Programming and Partnerships at Valley Public Television.

Robert Thissen, Writer/DirectorDirector Robert J. Thissen was recently featured on the Sci-Fi Channel Television Show "Exposure" as a national finalist in a film contest in collaboration with Sundance.

Kerry Yo Nakagawa, Author, Historian, Producer, Filmmaker, and EducatorKerry Yo Nakagawa can be considered a "5 Tool" talent in some very lofty artistic and educational pursuits. He’s currently a standout as an author, historian, producer, filmmaker, and educator.

Brainstorming Session: Creating a Film Industry in the Valley

If our collective goal is to grow the local film and video production industry, then we need to provide access to people and resources. We need to find out what people and businesses want out of others and resources. We also need to figure out what people have to offer.

The morning session is focused on getting people’s juices flowing to brainstorm and come to a conclusion on needed activities before talking about next steps.

-What are the opportunities?-What are the obstacles/bottlenecks? Let’s collaborate and work together to make the entire industry stronger.

Facilitated by Ashley Swearengin Director of Community and Economic Development at California State University, FresnoAs the Director of Community and Economic Development at California State University, Fresno, Ms. Swearengin works with industry, economic development officials, and elected and community leaders in an eight-county area on efforts to improve the economy and quality of life in the region.

Film Screening: American PastimeFollowed with Q&A with Producer Kerry Yo Nakagawa. A powerful story about the dramatic impact WWII had in the home-front as Japanese American families were uprooted from their every day lives and placed into internment camps in Western US in the early 1940s. Faced with a country that now doubted their loyalty and struggling with their new situation, they turn to baseball as a way to handle their plight and find the strength to stand up for themselves becoming a true symbol of honor and pride.

Register & get your tickets now >>

Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments.

Advanced tickets: $10 At the Door: $15 Film Screening Only: $5

But wait... there's more...Learn all about the Fresno Filmmakers Forum at www.FresnoFilmmakersForum.com.