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KANSAS 1989 is a queer coming-of-age short film inspired by true events, following a Midwestern teenager on the verge of coming out and the dangerous encounter that alters the course of his life. During a recent FiB Live conversation, writer/ director Clayton Dean Smith and cinematographer Giacomo Belletti joined us to discuss the making of the film, their commitment to shooting on 16mm, the power of images as story, and the realities of independent filmmaking. What emerged w

Young Female Playwright opened the door to a far larger conversation than filmmaking. What emerged was an honest exploration of the emotional, psychological, and cultural pressures women encounter within creative environments. Director Pony Nicole Herauf and writer/actor Ellie Moon spoke candidly about theater culture, vulnerability, collaboration, misogyny, and the difficult balance between artistic expression and public perception. At the heart of our FiB Live was the film’

Filmmakers Sashia Dumont (actress, filmmaker, writer, & director) and Paul Robinson (filmmaker, cinematographer, editor, & animator), together, as self-taught filmmakers, wear many hats including producing, shooting, and everything in between. In their recent film, THE RESONANCE , FiB had the opportunity to step into their world and experience the work of a dynamic partnership. Central to their filmmaking process is a deep respect for every role on set, from the lead actor to

When the filmmakers behind Beautiful, Pam joined FiB Live, the conversation quickly evolved into something deeper than a discussion about a single film. Filmmaker JR Stokes , actor and executive producer Tom Ciorciari , and actor and executive producer Peter Konsevitch spoke candidly about the realities of making independent films, the importance of finding collaborators who believe in the same story, the creative freedom that comes from trust and rehearsal, and the persis

Our 1st FiB LIVE welcomes the team of "The Hanged Man" Director Korab Uka, Cinematographer & Editor Donte Underwood, and Lead Actor Max Pettit. Hosted by Martin Del Carpio. Having attended countless film festivals over the past several years, Martin Del Carpio (FiB Live Host), rarely encounters a film that truly disrupts expectation but The Hanged Man did exactly that. His first encounter with the film was at the Queens World Film Festival , where a single poster across

We kick off our 4th FiB conversation with pure, honest, real talk from women shaping cinematography across the globe from India, China, and the Philippines to the United States. With varied backgrounds such as law, social work, photography, and architecture. In this roundtable, we are joined by Vaishali Sahu, Luisa Madrid, Selene Almeron, Zoey Hu, and Dani Payne each charting her path in a male-dominated craft. For many women behind the camera, set life becomes a test of ph

In our third Filmmakers in Boardrooms conversation, we unpacked the Paramount–Skydance acquisition and discussed if the "Duffer" era signals CHANGE. Julissa Scopino led a roundtable exploring what a salaried studio model could look like for independent creators where artists share both security and authority in shaping the stories that reach audiences. She's joined with Catherine Ann Taylor, Vaishali Sahu, Holly Zuelle, and Jensen Fresnel. Catherine-Ann Taylor sees the stud

The second Filmmakers in Boardrooms unites indie filmmakers Lonnie Edwards Jr., Martin Del Carpio, and Alex Alston for a candid discussion on the three S’s Studios, Sundance, and Surviving in a time when studios claim to champion “creative freedom” and upper-tier festivals remain highly selective. In this exclusive conversation, Filmmakers in Boardrooms founder Julissa Scopino unpacks what survival truly looks like for creators working outside the mainstream where only a s

Welcome to our FIRST Filmmakers in Boardrooms conversation! Hosted by Filmmaker and Founder Julissa Scopino, and joined by Tyler Cino Maradiaga and Patricia Colmenero, we open the table to discuss the realities, challenges, and ambitions of today’s independent creators. The studio system is shifting, and the industry is trying to figure itself out. Amid strikes, AI, and promises of “creative freedom,” filmmakers are questioning what that freedom really means and who truly h