Mentors - Open Call 2
Feeling adrift in the film world and need some valuable one-to-one general advice? This is the session for you; "Open Call" features industry insiders that run the gamut of the film spectrum. Whether you're seeking advice on production, festivals, distribution or all of the above, sign up now and get the lowdown.
Mentor session signup is open to all Film, Gold and Platinum badge holders at a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants who signed up online must check-in 30 minutes before your mentor time slot to guarantee your spot. Limited on-site signup is also available for a small number of mentor sessions spots and will begin 30 minutes before the first time slot of each session.
To sign up for a mentor session click on the link for the mentor you are interested in meeting with:
Adam Cassels -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/221
Beth Sepko -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/218
Keegan DeWitt -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/213
Logan Mulvey -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/217
Mat Hames -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/220
Michael A Behrens -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/207
Navid McIlhargey -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/210
Presenters
Adam Cassels - Digital Consultant to Sheffield Doc/Fest and Development Director, Crossover Labs. We work with content makers across Europe, US, Australia and the Far East realising their cross-platform and interactive ideas.
I work in collaboration with Sheffield Doc/Fest to design and deliver industry events and programmes that support idea development, realisation and market commercialisation.
I have been a Mentor for Apple in the UK and have a background in Fine Art. I am passionate about the intersection of creativity, content and technology.
Current projects include the successful 'Devise2Deliver' programme in the UK and the much anticipated 'Commissioning the Future' series; where we will be working with commissioning editors to help them develop the cross-platform potential of film & tv properties.
Beth Sepko is a Texas-based casting director with 20 years expertise specializing in the casting of television series & feature films and working with directors such as Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater, Mike Judge, & Tim McCanlies. A five-time Emmy nominee, Beth was awarded the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Casting of a Drama Series in 2007 for the television series “Friday Night Lights”. She is currently casting the ABC family series “The Lying Game” filming in Austin and the new continuation of the television series “Dallas” shooting in Dallas as well as “Exists”, the new horror film by director Eduardo Sanchez shooting in Texas this spring.
Keegan DeWitt is a songwriter and Independent Spirit Award-nominated film composer, originally from Portland, OR, and currently based in Nashville. Last year, PasteMagazine.com labeled him one of its ’10 Best Solo Artists of 2010′ and featured him as part of its ‘Best of What’s Next’ series. He most recently released an EP, Nothing Shows, via the acclaimed Daytrotter website as its first ever exclusive release, and a limited edition 7″, Two Hearts/Reluctance, via Theory 8 Records. Keegan has gained considerable press coverage over the past two years, with coverage from outlets including American Songwriter, AOL Music’s Spinner, FilterMagazine.com, MagnetMagazine.com, MTVMusic, My Old Kentucky Blog, Nashville Scene, Popmatters, and Urban Outfitters, among others. After wrapping up the much-heralded Daytrotter Barnstormer 4 tour alongside Sondre Lerche, Guards, and The Romany Rye in late April, Keegan will head back out on the road throughout the northeastern US with Jeremy Messersmith in June.
By mid-2011, Keegan will have released three film scores, including the IFC feature film Cold Weather, the SXSW-selection No Matter What, and a collaboration with the heralded writer/director Barry Jenkins (Medicine For Melancholy). He most recently completed a collaboration with the industry-leading cycling website Rapha, composing a suite for their coverage of the Amgen Tour of California.
GoDigital is a full-service Digital & Video on Demand (VOD) distribution company. Launched in January 2008 by CEO Logan Mulvey, the company maintains direct distribution relationships with all major digital retailers and platforms including iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Playstation and Vudu. GoDigital distributes over 300 titles each year in a variety of genres ranging from high quality independent cinema, award winning documentaries, and foreign films.
Mat is an award-winning director whose most recent film, 'When I Rise', premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and was featured on PBS as part of the Independent Lens series. After playing festivals in the US and Canada, the film is currently on the festival circuit in Europe and was nominated for an IDA Documentary Award. He directed the 2008 documentary Fighting Goliath, narrated by Robert Redford. It was an official selection of 12 film festivals, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at the Red Rock Film Festival and the Golden Sun at the Barcelona International Film Festival, and aired nationally on the Sundance Channel and PBS. Mat’s directorial credits also include 'Last Best Hope', PBS series 'State of Tomorrow', and films for LIVESTRONG. He is currently developing a film about the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming.
Michael A. Behrens, started and manages the SF Film Society’s Film Craft & Film Studies, Film Arts Forum, and Behind the Scenes Programs. He has worked in theater film and television for the last 15 years and has lectured on topics from Shakespeare to Social Justice Documentary at Sun Yat Sen University, Saint Mary's, The National Acting School of Finland, Illinois State University, Chinese University of Hong Kong and Zhu Hai University. Currently, he is in production on two feature documentary films, “My Garbage My Neighborhood” for Laccolith Films and “The Naked Company “ for Questus Advertising (Ad Agency of the Year 2011). Previous award-wining films Michael has produced: “ Kunjo” 2010 and “Climate Change” 2009 appeared in festivals around the world. Michael holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco and consults regularly for nonprofits and filmmakers.
Navid began his film career while a grad student at Columbia College. He interned at Egg Pictures and realize he was best suited behind the camera as a producer/executive.
After working at UTA, Navid moved to Revolution studios where he was promoted. He helped out on Black Hawk Down and Anger Management while overseeing Peter Pan and White Chicks.
Navid moved to Silver pictures where he was an EP on Rocknrolla and set up remakes of the Dirty Dozen, Logan's Run, He Man, Hot Wheels and many more.
Most recently Navid worked at New Regency where he oversaw Darkest Hour and Broken City, as well as the upcoming Brad Pitt starrer Gray Man.
For the last 5 years, Thuy Tran managed the USA Fellowship program at United States Artists, which annually awards 50 artists $50k each. Since its founding, USA has given $15M in unrestricted grants to outstanding media, performing, visual, and literary artists.
Saturday, March 10
