Do the Write Thing
Scenes from the Strike, DOXA Premieres, Garden Launch Party, Emerging Talent Database & More
Happy Thursday, friends — and thank you for reaching out from all corners of the WGA Strike this week.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best resources you’ve shared with us:
A good synthesis on the ‘why’ of the strike (AV Club)
Showrunner roundtable talking through the issues (LA Times)
Dispatches from the front lines (Deadline, regularly updated)
Financial resources for union and non-union crew
We’ll give the final word to Portrait member Alexis Deane
I went to the WGA East strike meeting tonight and it was so inspiring. I’m so proud to be in a union and part of the labor movement, and proud to be a member alongside so many people I admire.
Alexis also noted: She is living her newsboy dream.
Keep sending us what you’re watching, reading, seeing and thinking out there. We’ll keep connecting the constellations in here.
Let’s see what else your newsy peers were up to this week…
(pun intended and embraced).
— Jean Ellen & Kasia
Co-Founders, Portrait,
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week
What to Watch, Read, and Review This Weekend
Watch: “Home in the Wild,” premiering this week on National Geographic and on Disney+ May 31st. From Sara Kinney: “We had a lot of fun making this show and exploring the gorgeous northern Ontario wilderness with the incredible and inspiring Baird family.”
Read: “White Tongue” by Vishakha Darbha, published this week in Stirred Stories anthology My Culture is Not Your Costume.
Review: A rich resource for emerging talent. From Wendy Levy, Executive Director of The Alliance of Media Arts + Culture:
“Hey Portrait people. Instead of wondering what this community is about, I'd thought I'd reach out to see who might want to hire/mentor a talented emerging video editor this summer.”
Check out Wendy’s post for more on The Alliance’s Arts2Work program and their talented folks in NYC, Boston, Philly, LA, Dallas, Oakland, Atlanta, Baltimore and beyond.
On the Circuit: DOXA Film Festival Kicks Off
Congratulations to Portrait members with films at DOXA, kicking off today, including:
Kite Zo A: Leave the Bones: Kaveh Nabatian, Director & DP
You Were My First Boyfriend: Ines Hofmann Kanna, Producer; Brennan Vance, DP
When We Fight: Yoni Golijov and Yael Bridge, Directors and Producers
Confessions of a Good Samaritan: Lauren Haber, EP
Window of Opportunity
Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, Intensives, Programming, Events, and More
Coming Soon: Programming
Breaking Barriers, Sharing Stories: The New Indian Women Filmmakers. Join Geeta Gandbhir for this panel discussion! NYIFF & NYWIFT. May 13th.
Crossing Time Zones: Negotiating International Expectations So I Can Finish My Documentary. IDA. Today, May 4th.
Hasan Minhaj on Changing the World through Comedy. Sundance Collab. Today, May 4th.
Closing Soon: May Deadlines
Congratulations to Amanda Erickson and her film She Cried That Day, just awarded an International Women’s Media Foundation grant! Grants are rolling, so check out IWMF’s FAQ for more.
North Star Fellowship. Deadline May 8th.
Film Independent Producing Lab. Deadline May 5th.
The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize. $200,000. Deadline May 15th.
Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship. Deadline May 21st.
1497 Features Lab Deadline. May 7th.
BRIC Residency Program. Deadline May 8th.
Berkeley Film Foundation Grants. Deadline May 15th.
PANO Microgrant. Deadline May 15th.
WGA Writers Access Program. Deadline May 18th.
Disruptors Fellowship for Emerging BIPOC TV writers. Deadline June 2nd
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Creative Services Producer, KMGH. Denver7, E.W. Scripps.
Producer, Creative Video. Stanford University.
Video Production Manager. The Washington Times.
Associate Producer, Pristine Seas Media for Argo Series. National Geographic.
Part-Time Faculty - Film/Video Department. Pratt Institute.
Post-Production Video Editor (South Florida). The Daily Wire.
Photographer/Editor. Gray Media Group.
Video Producer & Editor (Freelance). Book of the Month.
Art Director, Photography and Video. Ernesta Inc.
Videographer. LeHigh University.
Studio Cinematographer. Trek Bicycle.
Videographer/Editor. IHeartMedia.
End Credits Scene: Picture Yourself Here
We’re throwing a garden party… and we want you to come!
We’re teaming up with Oliver Lief and the team at Blue Table Post. Join us in their beautiful Brooklyn garden on June 22nd with fellow filmmakers and creative friends. We’ll be celebrating the launch of our app after its Tribeca debut.
Enjoy drinks, dinner and a fun trivia game on our new app (for those who dare).
Or just hang and enjoy each other’s company.
Until next week, friends!