The NashFilm 2020 Creators Conference (Oct. 2 and 3) is presented virtually, online this year and is designed to connect filmmakers, music industry trailblazers, tastemakers and thought leaders.
The Nashville Film Festival has announced the official lineup for its NashFilm Creators Conference and NashFilm Music Program for the 51st edition of the festival. The Creators Conference, an annual event that connects attendees with their peers to discover the latest industry trends, expand skills and network, will take place exclusively online from October 2-3. The Music Program, which aims to bring more sync opportunities to the Nashville community, will also take place virtually from October 1-2.
The Creators Conference is designed to connect filmmakers, music industry trailblazers, tastemakers and thought leaders. It allows attendees to gain valuable insights from top industry executives and veterans from all over the country. The conference’s two-day program includes panels focused on four tracks: filmmaking, music for film, writing for film and culture and social causes.
“The 2020 NashFilm Creators Conference includes panelists and content focused on many of the most important and timely topics across film, music, gaming and television,” said Creators Conference Producer Kalyna Kutny. “This year’s lineup offers valuable insights for all attendees who are eager to connect and learn from the industry’s brightest minds. They can expect to leave with practical takeaways that can be immediately applied to advance their passions and careers.”
This year’s Music Program will also provide educational music supervisor panels, one-on-one mentorships and VIP events with topics ranging from ‘Diversity Matters: Music Licensing and the Black Experience’ to case studies in sync for video game trailers, marketing & games, film and TV and more. Each night will culminate with an artist showcase presented in partnership with Acme Radio Live. Presented annually during the Nashville Film Festival, The Music Program showcases the diverse music of Nashville to the film, TV and advertising sync communities. Each night will culminate with an artist showcase presented in partnership with Acme Radio Live.
The NashFilm Creators Conference will take place virtually on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3. All panels are free to VIP badge holders and $12 per session for general admission.
The NashFilm Music Program will take place virtually on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2. Virtual Music Badges can be purchased for $65 or $12 per session for individual panels.
A few notable 2020 Nashfilm Creators Conference events
The Art of Navigating TN’s Production Landscape
Friday, October 2nd at 11:30 am
Synopsis: Hear from leading content creators as they discuss their experiences producing film, television & media-based projects in Tennessee. They will share the good, bad & ‘not so awful’ as they offer insights on how to leverage resources, workforce & the almighty incentive to make a ‘damn good production’.
Moderator: Bob Raines, Executive Director – Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC)
Panelists: Michael Lohmann, Head of Production – Kapital Entertainment; Clarke Gallivan, Producer – Right Brain | Left Brain Entertainment; Ryan Westheimer, President – CS West Productions, Inc.
Filmmaking For Social Justice
Friday, October 2nd at 5:30 pm
Synopsis: Discussion with trailblazers who fight the good fight focusing on the importance of creating stories that highlight social change and advocacy. Diving into the struggles of creating these types of works and the passion and perseverance it takes to get to the finish line.
Moderator: Andy Peterson, Docs/ology Films + Senior Creative Media Executive at Aspiration Entertainment and Director of the Justice Film Festival
Panelists: Eric Payton, Chief Creative Officer of Unanimous Media; Brian Tetsuro Ivie, Filmmaker; Erin Bernhardt, Filmmaker
Inside Screenwriting
Friday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm
Synopsis: Get an inside look at what it actually takes to make it as a writer in Hollywood. Seasoned and award winning writers from TV and Film will take us through their process from outlines to the final script. Learn about pitching to executives, writing for showrunners, and ways to develop your ideas into great stories.
Moderator: Stephen Houser, Writer and Professor at Belmont University
Panelists: Writers – Chuck Hayward (credits: Wandavision, Mixed-ish, and Dear White People); Sean Hennen (credits: Person of Interest, Minority Report (TV Series) and The Blacklist); Aida Croal (credits: Marvel’s Luke Cage, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, and Turn: Washington’s Spies)
Emerging Voices in Film
Saturday, October 3rd at 11:30 am
Synopsis: Feature debut filmmakers and up and coming content creators talk about the hardships on getting your film made. Hear from filmmakers from this year’s NashFilm Fest talk about their journey’s and what it took to get from script to screen.
Moderator: Carey Nelson Burch, Producer
Panelists: Olivia Peace, Director of Tahara; Morgan Ingari, Writer/Director of Milkwater; Jiayan “Jenny” Shi, Documentary filmmaker/Video Journalist of Finding Yingying
The Art of the Podcast: Creating Captivating Content
Saturday, October 3rd at 1:00 pm
Synopsis: Everyone has an idea for a podcast, but what does it take to really get it off the ground? Learn from successful podcast creators who took their idea and found a loyal audience. Building your fanbase is only the beginning—you’ve got to keep them coming back for more. In this panel, we will also discuss strategies for building an engaging fan community and how to maintain a following as you continue to generate new content.
Moderator: Melissa Chataigne, TV Personality & Fashion Expert
Panelists: Jasmin ‘Jas Hands’ Saville, Host of The Brown Liquor Report; Will Compton, NFL Player and Host of “Bussin’ with the Boys”; Sarah Merrill, Host of “Big Kid Problems”
Industry Insights: Casting Directors Round Table
Saturday, October 3rd at 4:00 pm
Synopsis: Ever dreamed of being on TV? Hear from expert casting gurus who have found some of the most entertaining people for reality TV. Listen as they tell you behind the scenes stories about casting shows for network hits on Bravo, MTV, Netflix, TLC, Lifetime, NBC, ABC and many more! Tips and tricks on how to get the attention of the people that really can turn your dreams into reality.
Moderator: Betsy Spina, Actor and Host
Panelists: Casting Directors – Diana Wallace (Below Deck/Below Deck Mediterranean/Below Deck Sailing Yacht (Bravo), Listed Sisters (HGTV), Making It (NBC)); Randy Bernstein (Top Chef, Project Runway, MasterChef, Encore! on Disney+x The Biggest Loser, The Glee Project); Alexis Diamond (Top Chef, MasterChef, Biggest Loser, Project Runway, The Glee Project)
