Verve has hired longtime agent Valarie Phillips. The agency also recently hired Non-Fiction Agent Jacy Schleier.
Phillips, who brings more than two decades of agency experience to Verve, was most recently Co-Head of the Motion Picture Literary department at A3 Artists Agency, and prior to that, spent two decades at Paradigm Talent Agency where she started as an assistant, and worked her way up to Department Head.
Following Phillips to Verve are several of the busiest and highly sought after writers in town, including Guy Busick, Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, and Tory Kamen. Also following Phillips to Verve, Charles Leavitt, Anthony Jaswinski, Shiwani Srivastava and directors Andy Tennant, Tom Dey, Sasie Sealy, Todd Robinson and Patrick Lussier.
Throughout her career, Phillips has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence and a keen eye for discovering and nurturing talent, previously working with Nzingha Stewart, Eric Tuchman, Ehren Kruger and Kenny Ortega.
Phillips, who brings more than two decades of agency experience to Verve, was most recently Co-Head of the Motion Picture Literary department at A3 Artists Agency, and prior to that, spent two decades at Paradigm Talent Agency where she started as an assistant, and worked her way up to Department Head.
Following Phillips to Verve are several of the busiest and highly sought after writers in town, including Guy Busick, Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, and Tory Kamen. Also following Phillips to Verve, Charles Leavitt, Anthony Jaswinski, Shiwani Srivastava and directors Andy Tennant, Tom Dey, Sasie Sealy, Todd Robinson and Patrick Lussier.
Throughout her career, Phillips has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence and a keen eye for discovering and nurturing talent, previously working with Nzingha Stewart, Eric Tuchman, Ehren Kruger and Kenny Ortega.
- 3/12/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
The Tribeca Film Festival has announced the finalists and jury for its sixth-annual Untold Stories competition, where five up-and-coming filmmakers will pitch their ideas for a chance to turn their project into a film that will debut at next year’s festival in New York City.
Former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin will moderate the jury panel, which includes “Antwone Fisher” star Derek Luke, “Sons of Anarchy” star Mo McRae” and AT&T chief marketing and growth officer Kellyn Smith Kenny.
The winner will receive a $1 million grant for their project, as well as year-long mentorship during production. Last year’s Untold Stories winner, “Smoking Tigers,” will be screened in competition at this year’s Tribeca on June 10.
Also Read:
‘The Expanse’ Prequel Game, Hideo Kojima Documentary and More Coming to Tribeca Festival
Directed by Korean-American filmmaker Shelly Yo, “Smoking Tigers” is set in Los Angeles in the early 2000s and follows...
Former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin will moderate the jury panel, which includes “Antwone Fisher” star Derek Luke, “Sons of Anarchy” star Mo McRae” and AT&T chief marketing and growth officer Kellyn Smith Kenny.
The winner will receive a $1 million grant for their project, as well as year-long mentorship during production. Last year’s Untold Stories winner, “Smoking Tigers,” will be screened in competition at this year’s Tribeca on June 10.
Also Read:
‘The Expanse’ Prequel Game, Hideo Kojima Documentary and More Coming to Tribeca Festival
Directed by Korean-American filmmaker Shelly Yo, “Smoking Tigers” is set in Los Angeles in the early 2000s and follows...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The second season of Tinder’s original series “Swipe Night” has named its lead cast, writer and director.
On the heels of the successful first digital narrative experience — where Tinder users choose outcomes that impact the plot — comes the new installment, “Swipe Night: Killer Weekend,” a Gen-z ensemble murder mystery.
Emmy-nominated Sasie Sealy is on board to direct from a script by Brandon Zuck. Leading the cast are Ashley Ganger (“Grand Army”), Calvin Seabrooks and Luke Slattery. The series will debut on the platform on Nov. 7.
Season 2 will feature new characters and an all-new storyline, where over the course of three weeks in November, Tinder members get to choose who they think committed a crime. Depending on those choices, users will see different outcomes and plot twists. At the end of each episode, members can be paired with another “Swipe Night” participant through Tinder’s Fast Chat feature, where they...
On the heels of the successful first digital narrative experience — where Tinder users choose outcomes that impact the plot — comes the new installment, “Swipe Night: Killer Weekend,” a Gen-z ensemble murder mystery.
Emmy-nominated Sasie Sealy is on board to direct from a script by Brandon Zuck. Leading the cast are Ashley Ganger (“Grand Army”), Calvin Seabrooks and Luke Slattery. The series will debut on the platform on Nov. 7.
Season 2 will feature new characters and an all-new storyline, where over the course of three weeks in November, Tinder members get to choose who they think committed a crime. Depending on those choices, users will see different outcomes and plot twists. At the end of each episode, members can be paired with another “Swipe Night” participant through Tinder’s Fast Chat feature, where they...
- 10/4/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon Studios has closed a first-look feature deal with female-led production company Di Novi Pictures to develop and produce content.
Di Novi Pictures, led by producers Denise Di Novi and Margaret French Isaac, has been behind such empowering, commercially successful female-driven movies as Oscar-nominated Little Women ($216.6 million at the worldwide box office), A Walk to Remember, Crazy Stupid Love and Stepmom.
Under the pact, Amazon Studios and Di Novi Pictures will develop Tiger Mother, a gritty, female-driven action comedy spec written by Emily Dell, with Sasie Sealy (Lucky Grandma) attached to direct. Di Novi Pictures will also produce Hannah Hafey and Kaitlin Smith’s adaptation of Flynn Meaney’s YA novel Bad Habits, which Amazon Studios optioned.
“We couldn’t be more excited about working with Denise and Margaret,” said Julie Rapaport, co-head of movies at Amazon Studios. “Di Novi Pictures has a long standing track record of delivering powerful,...
Di Novi Pictures, led by producers Denise Di Novi and Margaret French Isaac, has been behind such empowering, commercially successful female-driven movies as Oscar-nominated Little Women ($216.6 million at the worldwide box office), A Walk to Remember, Crazy Stupid Love and Stepmom.
Under the pact, Amazon Studios and Di Novi Pictures will develop Tiger Mother, a gritty, female-driven action comedy spec written by Emily Dell, with Sasie Sealy (Lucky Grandma) attached to direct. Di Novi Pictures will also produce Hannah Hafey and Kaitlin Smith’s adaptation of Flynn Meaney’s YA novel Bad Habits, which Amazon Studios optioned.
“We couldn’t be more excited about working with Denise and Margaret,” said Julie Rapaport, co-head of movies at Amazon Studios. “Di Novi Pictures has a long standing track record of delivering powerful,...
- 9/9/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Giant Leap Accelerator has officially launched its first 12-week developmental program that will focus on cultivating new Asian/Pacific American (APA) stories, Variety has exclusively learned.
Over the course of the 12-week program, eight emerging Aapi writers will be mentored by seven television and film writing veterans. Each writer will meet with their dedicated mentor once a week to elevate the scripts, create pitch materials and set up pitch practices. Final Draft also provided a copy of its screenwriting software for all the mentees.
The first set of mentees are Lisa Sanaye Dring, writing duo Lee Hubilla and Tea Ho, Ben Kim, Ryan Kim, Julie Lew, Kevin Ramlal and Ivan Tsang.
Writing mentors include Lana Cho, Sasie Sealy, Matt K. Turner, Dennis Lee, Diane Paragas, Matthew Okumura and April Shih.
The program also consists of six panels, fireside chats and masterclasses that are created to help the mentees learn how to navigate the industry.
Over the course of the 12-week program, eight emerging Aapi writers will be mentored by seven television and film writing veterans. Each writer will meet with their dedicated mentor once a week to elevate the scripts, create pitch materials and set up pitch practices. Final Draft also provided a copy of its screenwriting software for all the mentees.
The first set of mentees are Lisa Sanaye Dring, writing duo Lee Hubilla and Tea Ho, Ben Kim, Ryan Kim, Julie Lew, Kevin Ramlal and Ivan Tsang.
Writing mentors include Lana Cho, Sasie Sealy, Matt K. Turner, Dennis Lee, Diane Paragas, Matthew Okumura and April Shih.
The program also consists of six panels, fireside chats and masterclasses that are created to help the mentees learn how to navigate the industry.
- 7/7/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
All bets are off as acting veteran Tsai Chin swindles a ruthless gang in wildly chaotic crime-ridden comedy “Lucky Grandma“.
Fast-paced and full of heart, laughs and wicked black humour set in the belly of New York’s Chinatown, “Lucky Grandma” tells the story of a cardigan clad, chain-smoking Chinese grandma who, in an attempt to get some cash, goes all in at a casino but lands herself on the wrong side of luck and the law. Having gambled away more than just chips after stealing money from a dead criminal boss, ‘Grandma’ hires a rival gangland bodyguard to protect her from a band of violent crooks who are hot on her tail and ready to reclaim the loot.
With a film career stretching back to the fifties, actor Tsai Chi starred alongside Christopher Lee in the cult favourite “Fu Manchu”-film series, was a Bond girl alongside Sean Connery...
Fast-paced and full of heart, laughs and wicked black humour set in the belly of New York’s Chinatown, “Lucky Grandma” tells the story of a cardigan clad, chain-smoking Chinese grandma who, in an attempt to get some cash, goes all in at a casino but lands herself on the wrong side of luck and the law. Having gambled away more than just chips after stealing money from a dead criminal boss, ‘Grandma’ hires a rival gangland bodyguard to protect her from a band of violent crooks who are hot on her tail and ready to reclaim the loot.
With a film career stretching back to the fifties, actor Tsai Chi starred alongside Christopher Lee in the cult favourite “Fu Manchu”-film series, was a Bond girl alongside Sean Connery...
- 9/24/2020
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Rob the Mob: Sealy Pushes a Grandmother into a Gang War in Enjoyable, Slight Debut
Geriatrics involved in criminal activities have become something of a comedic niche, though examples showcasing them, or cinematic senior citizens in any capacity, are few and far between. The numbers dwindle even further by various intersectionality, and so something like Lucky Grandma, which allows actress Tsai Chin one of her most notable performances in a lengthy filmography, definitely feels like an anomaly for many reasons.
The directorial debut of Sasie Sealy, co-written by first-time scribe Angela Cheng, showcases an elderly Chinese woman in the teeming microcosm of New York City’s Chinatown and.is…...
Geriatrics involved in criminal activities have become something of a comedic niche, though examples showcasing them, or cinematic senior citizens in any capacity, are few and far between. The numbers dwindle even further by various intersectionality, and so something like Lucky Grandma, which allows actress Tsai Chin one of her most notable performances in a lengthy filmography, definitely feels like an anomaly for many reasons.
The directorial debut of Sasie Sealy, co-written by first-time scribe Angela Cheng, showcases an elderly Chinese woman in the teeming microcosm of New York City’s Chinatown and.is…...
- 5/24/2020
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
If last year’s massively successful “The Farewell” taught the film industry anything, it’s that American audiences have an appetite for stories that haven’t been seen before. Lulu Wang’s debut feature was a major boon for Asian-American indie film, and Wang’s success an inspiration to all marginalized filmmakers. While it may seem reductive to compare two films directed by Chinese-American women, both films revolve around a Nai Nai, the Mandarin word for “grandma.” Of course, where Wang’s Nai Nai was sweet and naive, the Nai Nai in “Lucky Grandma” is a grizzled, cantankerous chainsmoker — and a total badass.
The feature debut of filmmaker Sasie Sealy, “Lucky Grandma” is This is precise and confident filmmaking, and if there is any justice in Hollywood, Sealy’s name will soon be as ubiquitous as Wang’s. Co-written with Angela Cheng, Sealy’s dynamic script is deeply funny, heartfelt,...
The feature debut of filmmaker Sasie Sealy, “Lucky Grandma” is This is precise and confident filmmaking, and if there is any justice in Hollywood, Sealy’s name will soon be as ubiquitous as Wang’s. Co-written with Angela Cheng, Sealy’s dynamic script is deeply funny, heartfelt,...
- 5/23/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Traditionally, the long Memorial Day weekend is the territory where Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies — or else massive tentpoles such as “Mission: Impossible” and “Aladdin” — plant the stake for a blockbuster summer season. But there’s nothing traditional about the release schedule this year. With the coronavirus pandemic still posing a public health threat, Hollywood studios are holding their big offerings for a future date. But there are still a few big-budget movies to watch — including “The Lovebirds” and Mary J. Blige’s “Body Cam” — and no shortage of smaller streaming titles. Here are the week’s new releases, with excerpts from reviews and links to where you can watch them.
High-profile on-demand studio and indie offerings:
Body Cam (Malik Vitthal)
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Where to Find It: Rent on Amazon, iTunes and other on-demand platforms.
With the ongoing coverage of the killing of Kentucky Emt Breonna Taylor by Louisville police,...
High-profile on-demand studio and indie offerings:
Body Cam (Malik Vitthal)
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Where to Find It: Rent on Amazon, iTunes and other on-demand platforms.
With the ongoing coverage of the killing of Kentucky Emt Breonna Taylor by Louisville police,...
- 5/22/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Director and cinematographer Benjamin Ree injected his deep interest with art theft in his latest feature The Painter and the Thief, which drops in virtual cinemas as well as VOD platforms starting Friday.
The documentary debuted at Sundance earlier this year and went on to win the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling before being acquired by Neon. In the film, two paintings by Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova are stolen from an Oslo art gallery. The thieves are identified with a quickness but the paintings are nowhere to be found.
Barbora reaches out to one of the thieves (Karl-Bertil Nordland) and she ends up painting a portrait of him. After a series of portraits the two form a bond and become unlikely friends.
“I’ve always been fascinated with art theft,” said Ree. “I think it’s because of the contrasts. The socially elevated art industry with...
The documentary debuted at Sundance earlier this year and went on to win the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling before being acquired by Neon. In the film, two paintings by Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova are stolen from an Oslo art gallery. The thieves are identified with a quickness but the paintings are nowhere to be found.
Barbora reaches out to one of the thieves (Karl-Bertil Nordland) and she ends up painting a portrait of him. After a series of portraits the two form a bond and become unlikely friends.
“I’ve always been fascinated with art theft,” said Ree. “I think it’s because of the contrasts. The socially elevated art industry with...
- 5/22/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
A grandma gets caught in a Chinatown gang war after stumbling on a bag full of money. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, or the premise of an unexpectedly thrilling neo-noir directed by Sasie Sealy. Thankfully, Lucky Grandma is the latter, though this heist movie is not without laughs. Tsai Chin stars as the recently widowed […]
The post ‘Lucky Grandma’ Trailer: Tsai Chin’s Gambling Widow Gets Caught in a Chinatown Gang War appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Lucky Grandma’ Trailer: Tsai Chin’s Gambling Widow Gets Caught in a Chinatown Gang War appeared first on /Film.
- 5/9/2020
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
"Why do these messy things keep happening?" Good Deed Ent. has debuted the first official trailer for a film called Lucky Grandma, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Sasie Sealy. This already premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, and also played at the London, Montana, Leiden, Hawaii, and San Diego Asian Film Festivals last fall. Set in New York City's Chinatown, an ornery, chain-smoking Chinese grandma goes all in at the casino, landing herself on the wrong side of luck - and in the middle of a gang war. Starring Tsai Chin as the titular "lucky grandma", along with Wai Ching Ho, Hsiao-Yuan Ha (aka Corey Ha), Michael Tow, Woody Fu, Yan Xi, and Clem Cheung. Okayyy, whaaat?! This looks so badass! A Chinese Grandma taking on everyone and giving no f**ks about it. I'm down. Respect your elders! Here's the first official Us trailer for Sasie Sealy's Lucky Grandma,...
- 5/8/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Good Deed Entertainment is partnering with the Kino Marquee virtual theatrical exhibition platform as part of buying worldwide distribution rights to the black comedy “Lucky Grandma.”
Showings will begin on May 22 through more than 200 theatrical partner sites on KinoMarquee, including the Alamo Drafthouse and Laemmle Theater chains. The movie, starring Tsai Chin as a chain-smoking grandmother, is the feature directorial debut of Sasie Sealy.
“Lucky Grandma” held its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival as the second recipient of the AT&T Presents: Untold Stories $1 million grant initiative and went on to an international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
Set in New York’s Chinatown, Chin portrays an ornery, newly-widowed 80-year-old eager to live life as an independent woman, despite her family’s concern. When a local fortune teller (Wai Ching Ho) predicts a most auspicious day in her future, she decides to head to the casino, only...
Showings will begin on May 22 through more than 200 theatrical partner sites on KinoMarquee, including the Alamo Drafthouse and Laemmle Theater chains. The movie, starring Tsai Chin as a chain-smoking grandmother, is the feature directorial debut of Sasie Sealy.
“Lucky Grandma” held its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival as the second recipient of the AT&T Presents: Untold Stories $1 million grant initiative and went on to an international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
Set in New York’s Chinatown, Chin portrays an ornery, newly-widowed 80-year-old eager to live life as an independent woman, despite her family’s concern. When a local fortune teller (Wai Ching Ho) predicts a most auspicious day in her future, she decides to head to the casino, only...
- 4/27/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
While Lulu Wang’s emotional family drama “The Farewell” may have broken through last year, and upcoming comic book adaptations “Birds of Prey” (by Cathy Yan) and “The Eternals” (from Chloé Zhao) spell fresh opportunities for filmmakers of Chinese descent in 2020, a rollicking little follow-the-money caper called “Lucky Grandma” from first-time feature director Sasie Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng proves there are plenty more emerging Chinese American talents just waiting for their shot. All it takes is a little good fortune — and the support of a few encouraging festivals, like the Tribeca team that gave this film a boost — and they should be on their way.
, Sealy’s high-attitude debut stars Tsai Chin of “The Joy Luck Club” as a surly, age-toughened widow who, reluctant to accept that it’s time to move in with her son (Eddie Yu), follows her fortuneteller’s advice and takes her life savings to the casino.
, Sealy’s high-attitude debut stars Tsai Chin of “The Joy Luck Club” as a surly, age-toughened widow who, reluctant to accept that it’s time to move in with her son (Eddie Yu), follows her fortuneteller’s advice and takes her life savings to the casino.
- 1/15/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
After its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival, an 85-year-old grandma is now conquering the London Film Festival. The charming dark comedy “Lucky Grandma” is a pleasant addition to the recent stream of American films like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “The Farewell”, representing both the Asian Community and women in the cinema industry. Directed with an almost all-female crew by Sasie Sealy, who also co-wrote it with Angela Cheng, the film was aided by the AT&T funding scheme “Untold Stories” that granted $1 million to the lucky project.
“Lucky Grandma” is screening at the BFI London Film Festival 2019
Chain-smoker Grandma Wong (Tsai Chin) lives alone in New York City’s Chinatown despite her son’s insistence to go and live in leafy suburbia with him and his typical Chinese/American family. What he doesn’t really understand is that Grandma is finally having her “me-time” after a life raising the kids,...
“Lucky Grandma” is screening at the BFI London Film Festival 2019
Chain-smoker Grandma Wong (Tsai Chin) lives alone in New York City’s Chinatown despite her son’s insistence to go and live in leafy suburbia with him and his typical Chinese/American family. What he doesn’t really understand is that Grandma is finally having her “me-time” after a life raising the kids,...
- 10/5/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The vulnerabilities that often drive people’s actions and emotions in life, from such important topics as immigration to aging and even unexpected friendship, can ultimately help them realize how much they truly appreciate their existences. That powerful awakening is highlighted in the new dark comedy, ‘Lucky Grandma,’ which introduces audiences to a versatile new protagonist […]
The post 2019 Tribeca Film Festival Interview: Sasie Sealy, Angela Cheng and Corey Ha Talk Lucky Grandma appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post 2019 Tribeca Film Festival Interview: Sasie Sealy, Angela Cheng and Corey Ha Talk Lucky Grandma appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 6/1/2019
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
And here is Jason Adams reporting from Tribeca again...
It's easy to recognize Grandma -- she's the one called Grandma. But if you're sitting about ten feet away from Chinatown NYC as I am as I type this review, it's even easier -- I could step out onto the street and see a dozen women who look just like Grandma. If I happened to walk just a little further away to the local movie theater, I wouldn't see a single Grandma, not one. And that is what makes Sasie Sealy's film Lucky Grandma feel so easily revolutionary. Grandmas are everywhere, but this is the one...
It's easy to recognize Grandma -- she's the one called Grandma. But if you're sitting about ten feet away from Chinatown NYC as I am as I type this review, it's even easier -- I could step out onto the street and see a dozen women who look just like Grandma. If I happened to walk just a little further away to the local movie theater, I wouldn't see a single Grandma, not one. And that is what makes Sasie Sealy's film Lucky Grandma feel so easily revolutionary. Grandmas are everywhere, but this is the one...
- 5/4/2019
- by JA
- FilmExperience
Filmmaker Kate Tsang took the top award of a $1 million grant at this year’s At&T Presents: Untold Stories. The program is in collaboration with Tribeca and champions inclusive and diverse filmmaking. The event, which took place earlier this morning in New York City, featured five filmmakers pitched ideas for a film in front of the Untold Stories Greenlight committee made up of industry leaders and film experts. After the committee deliberated, Tsang’s film, Marvelous and the Black Hole came out on top.
Now in its third year, Untold Stories was live-streamed and for the first time in the history of the program, all five finalists were female. In addition to Tsang, the finalists were Aslihan Unaldi (Afloat), Kaliya Warren (Expatriates), Maria Victoria Ponce (Washing Elena) and Ellie Foumbi (Zenith). The four other participants will receive $10,000 each to achieve their film goals.
“We are convinced that the five filmmakers...
Now in its third year, Untold Stories was live-streamed and for the first time in the history of the program, all five finalists were female. In addition to Tsang, the finalists were Aslihan Unaldi (Afloat), Kaliya Warren (Expatriates), Maria Victoria Ponce (Washing Elena) and Ellie Foumbi (Zenith). The four other participants will receive $10,000 each to achieve their film goals.
“We are convinced that the five filmmakers...
- 4/22/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: At&T is about to give us some major Shark Tank vibes with a film twist with their upcoming At&T Presents: Untold Stories pitch event which will livestream on April 22 ahead of the Tribeca Film Festival which kicks off April 24 and continues through May 5.
Now in its third year, At&T partners with the Tribeca Film Institute to champion inclusive filmmaking, choosing five diverse filmmakers to present their story ideas and film scripts to a Greenlight Committee. The winner of Untold Stories gets $1 million prize and Tribeca provides mentorship from seasoned industry professionals for the deserving filmmaker to develop the pitch into a feature-length film. It will also premiere at next year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The other four filmmakers won’t walk away empty handed as At&T will provide a $10,000 grant for their filmmaking goals.
This year, for the first time in the program’s history all five finalists are female.
Now in its third year, At&T partners with the Tribeca Film Institute to champion inclusive filmmaking, choosing five diverse filmmakers to present their story ideas and film scripts to a Greenlight Committee. The winner of Untold Stories gets $1 million prize and Tribeca provides mentorship from seasoned industry professionals for the deserving filmmaker to develop the pitch into a feature-length film. It will also premiere at next year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The other four filmmakers won’t walk away empty handed as At&T will provide a $10,000 grant for their filmmaking goals.
This year, for the first time in the program’s history all five finalists are female.
- 4/17/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The discussion, over tequila at a Las Vegas casino, started with a simple question: How could At&T — a company primarily known for its phone services — make a real difference with diverse filmmakers struggling to get their stories told? At&T’s Chief Brand Officer Fiona Carter posed the question to Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival, as the company was looking to get further involved in the push for more inclusive big screen stories, but was not simply looking to fund another lab or grant program.
“It was a million dollar question that came with a million dollar answer,” said Carter. The result of the conversation was the two organizations, At&T and Tribeca Film Festival, teaming up on Untold Stories, a “Shark Tank”-like competition in which the winning filmmaker wins a $1 million. The caveat: the winner had to premiere the film 12 months later at the Tribeca Film Festival.
“It was a million dollar question that came with a million dollar answer,” said Carter. The result of the conversation was the two organizations, At&T and Tribeca Film Festival, teaming up on Untold Stories, a “Shark Tank”-like competition in which the winning filmmaker wins a $1 million. The caveat: the winner had to premiere the film 12 months later at the Tribeca Film Festival.
- 4/25/2018
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
For the second consecutive year, At&T in partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Institute have awarded an aspiring filmmaker $1 million to turn their dream project into a movie.
Director-writer Sasie Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng garnered the cash prize on Tuesday for their project called “Lucky Grandma,” about an ornery, chain-smoking Chinese grandmother with a small-time gambling habit.
The program, titled “At&T Presents: Untold Stories,” is aimed at discovering scripted film projects from women and minorities–groups that historically have not been well represented in Hollywood.
“This is a great opportunity for filmmakers,” said Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Robert De Niro at the celebratory lunch held at Tribeca’s Thalassa Restaurant. The actor said that while he isn’t sure if programs like “Untold Stories” will change the entertainment industry in terms of who gets to tell stories, he does think that it will “help move things forward.
Director-writer Sasie Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng garnered the cash prize on Tuesday for their project called “Lucky Grandma,” about an ornery, chain-smoking Chinese grandmother with a small-time gambling habit.
The program, titled “At&T Presents: Untold Stories,” is aimed at discovering scripted film projects from women and minorities–groups that historically have not been well represented in Hollywood.
“This is a great opportunity for filmmakers,” said Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Robert De Niro at the celebratory lunch held at Tribeca’s Thalassa Restaurant. The actor said that while he isn’t sure if programs like “Untold Stories” will change the entertainment industry in terms of who gets to tell stories, he does think that it will “help move things forward.
- 4/12/2018
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The heart of Paris beats for film industry in June. Industry Week is the professional part of the Champs-Elysées Film Festival.
The submissions for Us in Progress are now open till August 15th here.
This label includes the Us in Progress (USiP) and Les Arc Film Fesstival’s team presenting the Paris Coproduction Village and La Residence de la Cinefondation which welcomes a dozen young directors who come to Paris to work on their first or second fiction feature project for 4 and 1/2 months. All together, they offer 24 film projects at different stages, from development to post production. More than 200 professionals from the industry, producers, international sellers, distributors, etc. are welcomed.
This year Us in Progress broke out. It has become a top event for discovering American independent cinema not only for the Europeans invited to attend, but for Americans who find themselves in Paris for the event or who even...
The submissions for Us in Progress are now open till August 15th here.
This label includes the Us in Progress (USiP) and Les Arc Film Fesstival’s team presenting the Paris Coproduction Village and La Residence de la Cinefondation which welcomes a dozen young directors who come to Paris to work on their first or second fiction feature project for 4 and 1/2 months. All together, they offer 24 film projects at different stages, from development to post production. More than 200 professionals from the industry, producers, international sellers, distributors, etc. are welcomed.
This year Us in Progress broke out. It has become a top event for discovering American independent cinema not only for the Europeans invited to attend, but for Americans who find themselves in Paris for the event or who even...
- 7/26/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
After announcing the nominees for best film direction yesterday, the Directors Guild of America revealed the slate for TV direction in dramas and comedies today.
"Game of Thrones" seeks to add to its trophy haul for David Nutter's direction of the season 5 finale, "Mother's Mercy," which won an Emmy last September. But HBO's epic fantasy series will be challenged by the series finale of "Mad Men," directed by creator Matthew Weiner.
On the comedy side, "Transparent" will vie with the usual suspects, "Veep" and "Silicon Valley." Here is the full list of nominees:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
Michael Engler
Downton Abbey, "Episode 8" (PBS)
Lesli Linka Glatter
Homeland, "The Tradition of Hospitality" (Showtime)
David Nutter
Game of Thrones, "Mother's Mercy" (HBO)
Steven Soderbergh
The Knick, "Williams and Walker" (Cinemax)
Matthew Weiner
Mad Men, "Person to Person" (AMC)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
Chris Addison
Veep, "Election Night" (HBO)
Louis C.K.
Louie,...
"Game of Thrones" seeks to add to its trophy haul for David Nutter's direction of the season 5 finale, "Mother's Mercy," which won an Emmy last September. But HBO's epic fantasy series will be challenged by the series finale of "Mad Men," directed by creator Matthew Weiner.
On the comedy side, "Transparent" will vie with the usual suspects, "Veep" and "Silicon Valley." Here is the full list of nominees:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
Michael Engler
Downton Abbey, "Episode 8" (PBS)
Lesli Linka Glatter
Homeland, "The Tradition of Hospitality" (Showtime)
David Nutter
Game of Thrones, "Mother's Mercy" (HBO)
Steven Soderbergh
The Knick, "Williams and Walker" (Cinemax)
Matthew Weiner
Mad Men, "Person to Person" (AMC)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
Chris Addison
Veep, "Election Night" (HBO)
Louis C.K.
Louie,...
- 1/13/2016
- by Kelly Woo
- Moviefone
Film Independent's 9th annual Directors Lab will include Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) as a mentor!
“It’s exciting to have a group of filmmakers in the Directors Lab that not only have such varied artistic backgrounds, but also can bring a diverse slate of projects to the table,” said Director of Talent Development Josh Welsh. “We’re also so grateful to have Catherine sharing... expertise and guiding them through the directing process.”
Some of the awesome films being created through the project this year include thrillers like SarahN_12 by Sasie Sealy and The Prettiest Girl by Sasha Isaac-Young. Read on for detailed descriptions of these awesome new films...
SarahN_12 – Obsessed with finding her boyfriend’s murderer, Sarah takes her investigation into the virtual world where she discovers his online doppelganger was murdered just two days before his real life murder.
Sasie Sealy is a writer/director, and alumna of the Nyu graduate film program,...
“It’s exciting to have a group of filmmakers in the Directors Lab that not only have such varied artistic backgrounds, but also can bring a diverse slate of projects to the table,” said Director of Talent Development Josh Welsh. “We’re also so grateful to have Catherine sharing... expertise and guiding them through the directing process.”
Some of the awesome films being created through the project this year include thrillers like SarahN_12 by Sasie Sealy and The Prettiest Girl by Sasha Isaac-Young. Read on for detailed descriptions of these awesome new films...
SarahN_12 – Obsessed with finding her boyfriend’s murderer, Sarah takes her investigation into the virtual world where she discovers his online doppelganger was murdered just two days before his real life murder.
Sasie Sealy is a writer/director, and alumna of the Nyu graduate film program,...
- 2/12/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
- Rodrigo Garcia, Keith Gordon, Catherine Hardwicke, and Alfredo De Villa to Serve as Lab Mentors -
Los Angeles (February 10, 2010) - Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, has announced the filmmakers and film projects for its 9th annual Directors Lab, sponsored by Kodak. Taking place in Los Angeles from now until the end of March, the Directors Lab is an intensive nine-week incubator designed to assist directors with strong, original voices develop new narrative feature films, improve their craft, and advance their filmmaking careers in a nurturing yet challenging creative environment. This year's Lab Mentors include Rodrigo Garcia (Mother and Child), Keith Gordon (The Singing Detective, Waking the Dead), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen), and Alfredo De Villa (Adrift in Manhattan, Washington Heights).
"It's exciting to have a group of filmmakers in the Directors Lab that not only have such varied artistic backgrounds,...
- 2/11/2010
- by maint
- Film Independent
Film Independent has selected eight filmmakers for its 9th annual Directors Lab, which runs through the end of March. Rodrigo Garcia, Keith Gordon, Catherine Hardwicke and Alfredo De Villa are serving as mentors in the nine-week program designed to assist emerging directors.
The filmmakers receive a cash stipend for the projects and access to production resources provided by Moviola, NBC Universal and Mode HQ.
Under the tutelage of the mentors, the filmmakers learn to work with actors, collaborate with cinematographers and crew, refine scripts and shoot scenes from their projects. They then become Film Independent Fellows, receiving year-round support including access to Film Independent's annual educational offerings, on-staff filmmaker advisor, and the Los Angeles Film Festival.
The 2010 Directors Lab filmmakers and their projects are: "Dish," writer/director Brian Harris Krinsky; "El Flaco," writer/director/editor Jeff Seymann Gilbert; "Forbidden Steps," writer/director Iram Parveen Bilal; "Grievous Angel," Jessica Hundley; "Saigon...
The filmmakers receive a cash stipend for the projects and access to production resources provided by Moviola, NBC Universal and Mode HQ.
Under the tutelage of the mentors, the filmmakers learn to work with actors, collaborate with cinematographers and crew, refine scripts and shoot scenes from their projects. They then become Film Independent Fellows, receiving year-round support including access to Film Independent's annual educational offerings, on-staff filmmaker advisor, and the Los Angeles Film Festival.
The 2010 Directors Lab filmmakers and their projects are: "Dish," writer/director Brian Harris Krinsky; "El Flaco," writer/director/editor Jeff Seymann Gilbert; "Forbidden Steps," writer/director Iram Parveen Bilal; "Grievous Angel," Jessica Hundley; "Saigon...
- 2/10/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sasie Sealy's short The Elephant Garden won a Student Visionary Award at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008. In fact, it was Sealy's second win of a Student Visionary Award, one she also took in 2005 with her short Dance Mania Fantastic (about an out-of-work guy who spends his days playing Dance Dance Revolution; it looks wonderful). The Elephant Garden is gorgeously shot (Sealy's biography mentions work with photographer Gregory Crewdson; you can see that influence here) in a color-soaked North Carolina, and it follows an eleven-year-old girl, Chloe (Kelley Mack), whose world of childhood slowly fractures as her beloved older sister Elisabeth (Elise Couture) gets a boyfriend (the spooky-eyed Billy Magnussen) and shuts her out of their universe. Sealy captures the hazy feel of childhood, and how it conflicts with the burgeoning mysteries of the world; you feel, greatly, for Chloe's newfound loneliness, and you get in her head. Sealy's...
- 12/8/2009
- TribecaFilm.com
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