Oscar-Winning Producers, Ivy League Faculty and Film Industry Pros To Share Inside Knowledge with Locals

Oscar-Winning Producers, Ivy League Faculty and Film Industry Pros To Share Inside Knowledge with Locals
Local indie filmmakers will learn to produce and finance their own independent features from industry insiders at two NOVAC events held at Dillard University in April.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ashley Charbonnet
Phone: 504-940-5780
Email: ashley@novacvideo.org

The New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) is holding two events in April designed to promote the growth of the local independent film scene.  Hosted by Dillard University School of Mass Communication’s film program, Producing the Indie - two day seminar (April 13 – 14, 9am – 5pm) will give independent filmmakers the tools to produce their first feature.  It will be followed ny Get Funded! (April 14 at 7pm), an evening panel discussion designed to demystify the world of film financing for the feature producer.

With a commitment to cultivate a sustainable local film community, NOVAC is thrilled to offer programming for local indie filmmakers. “Recognizing the local independent film community is an essential piece to our growing cultural economy, Film New Orleans supports organizations like NOVAC who provide outstanding opportunities to local filmmakers,” says Katie Gunnell, Director of Film New Orleans Office, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy. “Training like this contributes to the growing number of locals telling their own stories and adding their stamp to this 115 year-old motion-picture conversation,” says NOVAC Filmmaker Program Coordinator, Ashley Charbonnet.

Producing the Indie taught by the producer of the Oscar winning documentary, Man on Wire and upcoming feature Bomber, this seminar will cover the producer’s role from pre- production to post production. The seminar will focus on everything from development, legal procedures and fundraising to production, post-production and managing project deliverables. Ms. Ryan and notable guest speakers such as Larry Meistrich, Oscar award winning producer of Sling Blade and You Can Count on Me, will also cover pitching, distribution and managing the film’s festival life. Tuition for Producing the Indie is $275 for current NOVAC members and $325 for non-members. The two-day seminar will be held at the Professional Schools Building at Dillard University. The cost of the class includes the required textbook and admittance into the Get Funded! panel discussion.

Get Funded! will feature experts representing a range of backgrounds within the film industry. The panel will cover the gamut of film financing including: tax incentives, international co-productions, fiscal sponsorship, investors, the recent LouisianaFilmmakers Grant Fund, alternate forms of financing like Kickstarter and much more. “We in mass comm are very excited about the caliber of the professional lineup NOVAC has assembled,” Said Dr. Cleo Joffrion Allen, chair of the School of Mass Communication at Dillard University when asked about Get Funded! panelists which includes: Larry Meistrich, Oscar winning producer and Founder and Chairman of NEHST Studios (Sling Blade, You Can Count on Me); Will French, Co-Founder and President Film Production Capital; Sherri McConnell, Executive Director of Louisiana Entertainment; Erika Cohn, award winning producer (God in America); and award winning documentary filmmaker, Rebecca Snedecker (By Invitation Only, Land of Opportunity). André A. Jones, local award winning Executive Producer of Nom de Guerre Films (Mr. Okra) and Gina Holland, executive producer and CEO of Ruby Red Inc. and former Senior VP of Production and Programming at BET will moderate. The price of admission to Get Funded! is $25 for members, $35 for non-members and $35 at the door. The event is at 7:00 PM on April 14 and will be held at the Georges Auditorium in the Professional Schools Building at Dillard University.

Participants can register for Producing the Indie or Get Funded! by visiting novacvideo.org/training or calling 504-940-5780.

About NOVAC :
NOVAC is a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to cultivate a sustainable film community by providing access to resources, education and locally generated content.  NOVAC accomplishes this mission through education, career development, independent productions and special events.

NOVAC’s programs are supported in part by a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans and administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans. Our programs are also madepossible by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and by a Decentralized Arts grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans.

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