The Writers Strike at 100 days
Horror Hits a New High; Holly Shorts + Melbourne Film Fest; August Roadtrips
Happy Thursday, friends, and welcome to day 101 of the WGA strike.
If it feels like the moment to catch up on labor news, check out the “100 Day” special round ups from Deadline, Variety, and THR. A few to try:
“From Pruned Ficus Trees To Blocked Sidewalks” (Picket obstacles)
Disney Considers “Variety of Strategic Options” for Linear TV
We hope everyone is holding up… through day 102 and beyond.
Let’s dive into your other milestones this week.
— Jean Ellen & Kasia
Co-Founders, Portrait
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week
All the Milestones Fit to Print
The strike wasn’t the only thing to cross a threshold this week.
Horror hits a new high. Time to go see “Insidious: The Red Door,” the final chapter in the Lambert family’s scary saga. The film just hit 183 million gross revenue worldwide, the highest for the genre in 2023. Autumn Eakin, DP.
Climate action turns one. Now clean energy is booming… and we’re about to waste all of it. The Semafor team covers this predicament in its new episode. Joe Posner, Head of Video; Christine Nguyen, Producer/Writer/DP; Julian Lim, Associate Producer.
Portrait members make some moves. Congratulations to…
Annetta Marion, who joined the Advisory Board of the DaVinci Film Festival, also just recognized by Film Freeway in their "Top 100 Best Reviewed.”
Sarah Pierpont, named a 2023 ECA honoree!
Watch, Read, Listen: Roadtrip Edition
Watch + Read: A Beautiful Onscreen Odyssey. “The Unknown Country,” now in theaters, is the cure for your August woes — “a road trip in the purest and most literal sense, the telling spare in an odyssey of self, family history and small-town America.” Read the full review on THR. Matthew Mills, EP.
Listen: An Inspiring Industry Odyssey. The ICF+C Podcast interviewed Jo Jo Lam this week, covering her transition to work in the United States, re-inventing oneself in Paris, and the emergence of A.I. in filmmaking.
On The Festival Circuit: The Holly and The Melby
Two great festivals underway this week! Check out the full rundown for Holly Shorts and Melbourne Film Festival — and let others know where you’re headed on Portrait.
Holly Shorts Film Festival
“We Were Meant To.” Tari Wariebi, Director/Writer; Veronica Bouza, Cinematographer; Jordan Tyner, Producer; Rhea Solanki, PD; Luodawei Xiao, Editor; Christina Licud, Writer.
“Mattress Express.” Noah Morse, Director/Co-Writer; Dylan Trupiano, Co-Writer; Talia Light Rake, Producer; Jeremy Roth-Rose, Actor.
“How to Rig an Election: The Racist History of the 1876 Presidential Contest.” Jenna Kelly, Co-Producer.
“Breaking Silence.” Amy Bench, Director/Producer; Annie Silverstein, Director;
“Closing Dynasty.” Lloyd Lee Choi, Director; Jonathan Hsu, Producer; Christopher Lew, DP; Ashley Ingretson, Editor.
“The Other Road.” Jennifer Steinman Sternin, Director/Writer/Editor.
“Payment in Kind.” Liza Gipsova, Cinematographer.
Melbourne Film Festival
“It’s Only Life After All.” Alexandria Bombach, Director; Gil Talmi, Music Producer.
“Invisible Beauty.” Frédéric Tcheng, Director/Writer/Cinematographer/Co-Editor; Andrea van Beuren, Executive Producer; Paul Dallas, Archive Producer/Co-Producer; Mia Cioffi Henry, Cinematographer; Lisa Cortés, Producer.
“The Tuba Thieves.” Derek Howard, DP; Rachel Nederveld, Producer
“Milisuthando.” Milisuthando Bongela, Director; Marion Isaacs, Producer.
“You Can Call Me Bill.” Kerry Deignan Roy, Producer.
“birth/rebirth.” Tricia Mears, First Assistant Camera.
“A Still Small Voice.” Luke Lorentzen, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor; Kellen Quinn, Producer; Ashleigh McArthur, Co-Producer.
Window of Opportunity
Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, Intensives, Workshops, and More
Check out the Emmy Panel with Allyson Newman this Wednesday! Register here.
Closing Soon: July/August Deadlines
Fall Docs IDA initiative: IDA will provide ten filmmakers with an in-kind awards campaign package valued at $15,000 each.
iTVS Open Call (8/11 deadline)
New Orleans Film Society South Pitch (8/11 deadline)
Cultural Capital Fellowship (8/14 deadline)
Writer Driven Shorts Fund (8/15 deadline)
Women in Animation Mentorship Circles (8/15 deadline)
The Gotham: Owning It Personal Brand Accountability Challenge (8/18 deadline)
Southern Doc Fund Production Grant (8/18 deadline)
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab (non-member: 8/28; member: 9/11)
Sundance Graton Fellowship (8/28 deadline)
Bloomberg Green Docs (9/1 deadline)
Berlinale Talents Summit (9/4 deadline)
Nostos Screenwriting Retreat (9/15 deadline)
The Athena List (9/15 deadline)
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Producer, NBCUniversal.
Supervising Producer, Capitol Hill - ABC News Washington Bureau, The Walt Disney Company.
Producer, iHeartMedia.
Senior Producer, The Many.
Film Producer, Nox Sky.
Senior Social Video Producer/Editor, NBCUniversal.
Senior Visuals Editor, Bon Appetit & Epicurious, Condé Nast.
Sr Producer, The Source with Kaitlan Collins, CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Producer, Booking - ABC News Live (Freelance), The Walt Disney Company.
Line Producer, News NOW Top Story, NBCUniversal.
End Credits: Post of the Week
See all of Rory Gordon’s awesome color grade images on Portrait!
Until next week, friends. See you on the app.