FILM INDEPENDENT'S DIRECTORS LAB (WINTER)

2011 DIRECTORS LAB DEADLINE AND FEE
Deadline: 4 October 2010
Application Fee: $55 Film Independent Members; $75 Non-members
Application coming soon. 

WHAT IS THE DIRECTORS LAB?

Designed to help directors who are prepping their feature films, the Directors Lab is an intensive eight-week program running in Los Angeles in February and March. The primary focus of the Lab is on learning to work with actors and the rehearsal process. Under the guidance of the lab instructor, Directors Lab Fellows select short scenes from their scripts to workshop. Additionally, Fellows go through a mini-production, learning how to break down a script into a shot list, collaborate with cinematographers, and construct a scene in the editing process. Film Independent provides the Lab participants with camera and sound packages to shoot their scenes. All scenes will be shot on digital video and critiqued by the Lab Instructor as well as the other Lab participants.

A maximum of eight projects are selected.

DIRECTORS LAB FELLOWS RECEIVE:

• A one-year membership with Film Independent
• A pass to the Directors Close-Up, which runs concurrently with the Lab
• A pass to the Los Angeles Film Festival (Westwood Pass)
• Year-round support from Film Independent

Past Directors Lab projects include Cherien Dabis’ Amreeka, which will be released theatrically on September 4, 2009 (2009 Sundance Film Festival, FIPRESCI Award Winner at 2009 Cannes Film Festival); Tina Mabry’s Mississippi Damned (Grand Jury Award 2009 Outfest Film Festival, 2009 Slamdance Film Festival); Suzi Yoonessi's Dear Lemon Lima, (2009 Los Angeles Film Festival); Jennifer Phang's Half Life (2008 Sundance Film Festival); Scott Prendergast's Kabluey (2007 Los Angeles Film Festival); and Mario de la Vega's Robbing Peter (2005 Spirit Award Nominee).

Past Directors Lab Mentors include Allison Anders (Gas, Food Lodging, Things Behind the Sun), Alfredo De Villa (Washington Heights, Adrift in Manhattan), Anthony Drazan (Hurlyburly), Rodrigo Garcia (Mother and Child, Nine Lives), Keith Gordon (The Singing Detective, Waking the Dead), Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen), Charles Herman Wurmfeld (Kissing Jessica Stein, Legally Blonde), Nicole Holofcener (Friends With Money, Lovely and Amazing), Kasi Lemmons (Talk to Me, Eve's Bayou), Jeremy Podeswa (Fugitive Pieces, The Five Senses) and Andrew Wagner (Starting Out in the Evening).

HOW TO APPLY

To be eligible, applicants must submit the online application form, including a cover letter explaining one's interest in the Directors Lab, one feature-length script, a logline and short synopsis of the script, bios of other key people attached to the project, if any, a DVD of director's previous work, and a non-refundable application fee.

Documentary, short film, and television projects are not eligible to apply.

WHAT SELECTION CRITERIA ARE USED IN EVALUATING DIRECTORS LAB SUBMISSIONS?

We are looking for talented filmmakers who have feature length narrative film projects that are compelling, original, and demonstrate a filmmaker's uniqueness of vision. We are open to first-time directors as well as filmmakers who previously directed shorts and features. If you do not have directing experience, it is important that you convey as much about yourself in your application as you can, i.e. your artistic sensibility and what experience you have that will inform your work as a director.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

Aside from the application fee, there is no tuition to attend Film Independent's Talent Development Programs.

Film Independent offers the Filmmaker Labs as an intensive program in which writers, directors, and producers can develop their craft as well as their projects. We ask that once completed, films that have been supported by the Labs include the end credit "Developed with the help of the Film Independent Filmmaker Labs" with the Film Independent logo.

For more information, please contact Filmmaker Labs Associate, Jennifer Kushner, at 310.432.1275 or JKushner@filmindependent.org.