Master-Class
"Directing Actors With Rebecca Miller"
Moderated by NYU Professor, Mr. Veronique Bernard

Actress & Director Rebecca Miller
Ms. Miller began her directing film career in 1990 with her short film “"Florence”. Her acting credits include: Mike Nichols’ “Regarding Henry”, Alan J. Pakula's “"Consenting Adults” and Alan Rudolph's “Mrs. Parker and The Vicious Circle”.

Ms. Miller made her feature directing debut with “Angela” in 1995. In 2002, she adapted her personal collection of short stories titled “Personal Velocity: Three Portraits”, which won the Grand Jury Prize and Best Cinematography at Sundance Film Festival. In 2005, she completed her third feature “The Ballad of Jack & Rose” starring Catherine Keener and Academy Award Winner Daniel Day-Lewis. For more information visit IFC Films.

Limited seating; RSVP to invitation required.

Ménage-à-Trois
The Relationship between Writer, Director and Producer

In an industry that relies on this symbiotic relationship between writer, director & producer, young filmmakers must understand the process of bringing an idea to the screen. Based on their invaluable professional experience, our panel guests will share their views of the creative and business aspects of film script development and project packaging.
What are the steps of script development in the independent feature world?
At what stage does the Director come in? The Producer?
What does the involvement of actors and agents in script and production development today?
Is it advisable for a young screenwriter to demand to direct his or her own script?
Do you have experience with projects, which remained in development for years without reaching the screen?
How do you scout new talents?

Producer & Development Executive at IFC, Holly Becker
Holly Becker is the executive producer for such films as: “Pieces O April”, “This So Called Disaster - Sam Shepard directs the late Henry Moss”, Miranda July’s “Me And You And Everyone We Know” (Note: Fusion Festival’s special screening: Friday 15^th at Cantor), “American Gun”…etc.

Producer Eva Kolodner
While working with Killer Films, Eva Kolodner produced the Academy Award-winning film “Boys Don’t Cry”. Kolodner worked her way up in production under the tutelage of producer Christine Vachon on such independent film classics as “Kids”, “I Shot Andy Warhol” and “Happiness”. In 2000, Kolodner left her role as Director of Development at Killer to become Head of Production at Madstone Films, a unique digital production, distribution and exhibition company. At Madstone she produced “Rhinoceeros Eyes” starring Michael Pitt, which won the Discovery Award at the Toronto Film Festival in 2003. Later that year, she founded Salty Features with producing partner Yael Melamede. Salty is currently in post-production on “Bam Bam And Celeste”, written by and starring comedian Margaret Cho. The film also features Alan Cumming, Kathy Najimy and Jane Lynch.

Director Mary Harron
Mary Harron began her filmmaking career creating documentaries for British television. She has also directed episodes of a number of television series, including 'Homicide', 'Oz', 'The L Word' and 'Six Feet Under'.
Her first feature film, 'I Shot Andy Warhol' appeared in 1996, followed by the controversial, internationally successful 'American Psycho' in 2000. She recently completed 'The Notorious Bettie Page', to be released in autumn 2005. She is currently working on a film based on the book 'Please Kill Me', this story of New York punk rock in the 1970's.

Director Debra Granik
Debra Granik worked as a documentary videographer before attending NYU’s graduate film program. Ms. Granik received multiple awards for her work including the Nestor Almendros Award for Cinematography (1997 and 2000) and production awards from Martin Scorsese and Warner Brothers. She completed “Side by Side”, her Graduate Thesis film and foray into digital filmmaking, for which she received a Wasserman Award. Her first feature is “Down To The Bone”, a script based on her award-winning short film “Snake Feed”, which was written and work-shopped at the Sundance Screen writing and Directors Labs. “Down To The Bone” won the Nantucket Film Festival's Screenplay competition June 2002.

Writers and Artists Agency Founder, Joan Scott
Joan Scott was one of the first women in a predominantly male industry of talent agency. She is responsible for starting careers of such talented actors as: Henry Winkler, James Wood, Harrison Ford, Elizabeth McGovern, Bill Macy, James Gandolfini… and also director Philip Noyce, or writer David Magee… and many others. She created The Writers and Artists Agency in 1970. Now in her 70s, she still works in New York City as a literary manager. Ms. Scott was part of the industry jury for Fusion Screenplay Competition this year.

The Discussion will be moderated by NYU Film Writing Professor, Paul Thompson
Paul Thompson was born in England, where he worked extensively as a writer, director, actor, teacher. As a writer, his work has been performed in England, as well as in Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Canada, the USA and Australia. He was resident dramatist with the Royal Shakespeare Company (1977) and with the The National Theatre (1977-79). He has also written for BBC Television, BBC Radio and feature films. He has directed at numerous theatres in England, Australia, and the United States.

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