Last summer I saw Middle of Nowhere and was introduced to Sundance "Best Director" award winner Ava DuVernay at the Los Angeles International Film Festival. Since then DuVernay has directed a 30 for 30 ESPN documentary about Venus Williams, a few delicious kicka** shorts, network series TV, and was recently named director for the upcoming MLK biopic “Selma, among other things. Her keynote speech at Film Independent Forum was an empowering call to action! ...It centered ...

Some are here to learn, some are here to share. Everyone is here in the name of film. Each have different experiences, backgrounds, and levels of expertise. As I sat in one panel about film financing Saturday I looked back at the packed auditorium and thought to myself, "Damn. Each of these people are here just because they want to make movies." They don't have money to make it happen, but they are here because they believe in what they want to do enough that they believe they can make...

The annual Film Independent Forum was held this weekend in Los Angeles. The goal of the 3 day event, filled with panels, lectures, Q & A sessions, screenings, and networking lunches, is to empower filmmakers "to take control of their projects." "Like Crazy," best picture pic at Sundance opened the event Friday night, one week before it opens limited release. A Q & A with the creative team followed the screening. A beautiful film about love, Film Indepe...