ARPA DAY 2: Saturday Nov 3, 2018
WOMEN IN FILMMAKING – PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday, Nov 3 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM at The Spielberg Theatre
Seating is limited, reserve your tickets on-time.
Meet five influential and distinguished women in the film industry and learn about their journey, successes and challenges in this ever changing market. These extraordinary women will discuss the development of digital platforms and its impact on the industry as it evolves in the new digital age.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Moderator: Pat Saperstein
Pat Saperstein is Deputy Editor at Variety, where she oversees coverage of film festivals, documentaries, independent film and restaurants. She was a jury member at numerous film festivals, and previously served as U.S. editor for Le Film Francais.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Panelist: Angélica Vale
Angélica Vale (born Angélica María Vale Hartman; November 11, 1975) is a Mexican-American actress, singer, and comedian known also as the daughter of Angélica María, “La Novia de Mexico” (Mexico’s Sweetheart), and as the daughter of comedian Raúl Vale. She has been working as an actress for almost 30 years, but achieved fame in 2006 when she became the protagonist of La Fea Más Bella (The Prettiest Ugly Girl), a Mexican telenovela, with her real-life mother. She starred in the webnovela No me hallo as Luchita Guerra a young woman with a big dream of becoming a singer. Early in 2012, Vale was a team captain on the Mexican TV Show Parodiando, of Televisa network. Vale became a U.S. citizen in 2016, while retaining her Mexican citizenship.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Panelist: Kelli McNeil
Kelli McNeil is a Los Angeles based writer, actor, voiceover artist and producer. As a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Drama, McNeil has performed in multiple film, TV and stage productions and wrapped production on three features in 2017, including Gus Van Sant’s new movie, Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot.
She was selected to attend BADA (British American Drama Academy) during her junior year. She currently has a national commercial airing for Little Caesars, directed by celebrated commercial director Harold Einstein of Dummy Films. She has voiced numerous commercial, corporate and theatrical projects.
McNeil has also carved out a career for herself in advertising, where she has been a Creative Director and writer for multiple clients, including Fortune 50 companies. Her focus has been on producing digital spots and content creation.
McNeil is an alum of the Groundlings, where she completed their rigorous training program and advanced writing lab and cut her teeth writing multiple short form sketches in an intense two month program. She performed with her own improv troupe (((High Vibes))) for three years in Los Angeles on the improv circuit.
She is a published children’s book author: her first book Sleepy Toes was released in the spring of 2017 with Scholastic. She is currently developing additional materials for the publishing giant for a wide-range of age groups. 2017 has her slated for multiple book readings and signings around the country including Barnes & Noble in Studio City, Once Upon A Time Books in Montrose, and Auntie’s Books in Spokane.
Sleepy Toes was named one of “15 Best Picture Books for Kindergarten” in 2017 by We Are Teachers, alongside classics such as Where the Wild Things Are and the Very Hungry Caterpillar. The book was also named by The Bump as one of the Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids.
McNeil is working her way through the UCLA Extension screenwriter’s program, where she developed her first feature film, The Baltimore School of Charm which was a semi-finalist in the Screencraft Fellowship program in 2015. The script was also a top 15% finisher in the Nicholl Fellowship competition, announced in July of 2017 and won the UCLA Extension Screenwriter’s Competition in 2017 as well as the Bechdel Film Festival in 2018.
In 2017, McNeil was selected to be part of the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program Television Writers Fellowship Prep Series.
McNeil has won/ranked in several top screenwriting competitions:
WINNER – UCLA Extension Screenwriter’s Competition – Drama 2017 (The Baltimore School of Charm)
WINNER – Bechdel Film Festival 2018 – (The Baltimore School of Charm)
Semifinalist – Austin Film Festival Inaugural Playwriting Competition 2017 (BORDERLINE)
Semifinalist – Atlanta Film Festival 2018 (The Baltimore School of Charm)
Finalist – Writers for Writers Fellowship 2018 (DARUMA)
Finalist – Cinequest 2018 (DARUMA)
Finalist – We Screenplay 2018 (DARUMA)
A native of Texas, McNeil has called Los Angeles home for most of her life. McNeil is currently obtaining her private pilot’s license. Kelli is fluent in American Sign Language.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Panelist: Michelle Alexandria
An LA native, Michelle Alexandria, began a career working in finance at a young age. During her several years as a finance director for Jaguar cars, she pursued acting and began studying at the prestigious Beverly Hills Playhouse. Within a few years of acting jobs, she gained a strong interest for the business side of the industry. She began producing theater successfully then quickly transitioned to film. She continued her education at UCLA focusing on film production, line producing, and film distribution. One of her first feature films, FIRST DOG, a story of a young orphan boy returning a lost dog to the president of the usa, was #1 on Red Box for a month. Her most recent feature, SCREAMERS, was #1 on Itunes Horror and remained top five for several weeks. By this time Michelle was in production full time as well as working in film distribution. She has been a regular attendee of the major film festivals and markets since 2002, including the Cannes Film Festival, MipCom, Berlin, Buenos Aires, UniFrance, Sundance, and AFM. She currently works at Glass House Distribution since 2015 as Head of International Sales and Acquisitions as well as the company’s film producer having produced the company’s first feature film TRAUMA THERAPY starring Chase Coleman of THE ORIGINALS and Brian Krause of CHARMED.Her knowledge and experience along with her well-established relationships in the industry has made her an invaluable asset to the entertainment industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Panelist: Micky Levy
RAILS & TIES, Warner Bros., directed by Alison Eastwood, was Micky’s first produced feature screenplay. It played in the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, Micky has completed several book adaptations, including Lifetime’s AMISH GRACE for which she received a Humanitas Prize nomination.
Micky’s script NOBODY, adapted from the book “Dancing in the Dark,” by Caryl Phillips, placed in the top ten of the 2015 Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Competition. Her spec, THE SLAVE, adapted from the international best-selling novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer, is currently being packaged.
Micky’s directorial work in film includes: the documentary short, FIRST TIME, which was lensed by cinematographer Svetlana Cvetko. Next, Micky tackled a narrative short with the drama, PAGE’S GREAT AND GRAND ESCAPE, which played at over thirty film festivals, including Foyle Film Festival, Raindance, Newport Beach International Film Festival. PAGE won Best in Fest, Festival Director’s Award, and Audience Award. The film was distributed by Virgin Produced and shown on Virgin Atlantic and in Virgin Hotels.
Wishing to experiment with comedy, Micky accepted an assignment to direct two episodes of the raunchy webseries DIPSTICKS for Killer Boots Media.
This year, Micky directed the thriller UNION, a short film she adapted from an award-winning story by author Steven Heighton. The movie stars Sean Patrick Thomas and Alexandra Grossi.
Currently, Micky is working on several book adaptations, including, THE COINCIDENCE MAKERS (novel by Yoav Blum) for Epic Pictures and STOLEN WATERS (from the novel by Ada Shaulov) for Big Boy Films.
Next, Micky is excited to direct SONGS OF MAASAI MARA, an original screenplay by Kenyan writer Correne Gichuru.
Born and raised in Israel, Micky started keeping diaries when she was 7-years-old. Her first book of poetry was published when she was 15. She immigrated to Los Angeles when she was 17 with $700 to her name and without knowing a soul in her new home. After acting in a number of films, she studied screenwriting and directing at UCLA.
Selected Awards & Recognition:
Humanitas Prize nomination (90-minute category)
Epiphany Prize, Winner Adapted Screenplay
Columbus Award, Winner Drama Screenplay
Top Ten Tony Cox Showtime Screenplay Competition
1st Place Winner Scriptapalooza Television Writing Competition (original pilot)
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab Fellow[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]
Panelist: Valerie McCaffrey
As an independent casting director coming from the studio level, Valerie uses her knowledge and her eye for talent to the producing/directing/ writing capacity as well. Inspired by relevant stories, she recently directed a short film called “Dirty Bomb” that stars J. Michael Trautmann and Ido Samuel that won best short at The Madrid International Film Festival. The film had it’s North American debut at “Dances with Films” and recently premiered internationally at The American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase. Her previous films which she cast and produce is LOST AND FOUND IN ARMENIA which got theatrical distribution and played to sold out audiences. The film starred Angela Sarafyan and Jamie Kennedy. She also completed a cancer documentary CANCER, IT’S IN THE SYSTEM in which she co-directed and co-produced with Cindy Pruitt. She produced an award-winning film directed entitled NEO NED, starring Gabrielle Union and Jeremy Renner. She recently completed casting a feature film for Patriot Pictures which starred Nicholas Cage, Larry Fishburne, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, Cole Hauser, Leslie Bibb and Clifton Collin, Jr. called RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL. Valerie also loves to support new talent and cast Ellen Page in her first American film in the critically acclaimed film HARD CANDY. To date, she has cast over 100 films.
From April 1994-2000, Valerie held the position of Vice President of Feature Film Casting for New Line/Fine Line Films. During her tenure at New Line/Fine Line, Ms. McCaffrey cast scores of films, developing strong relationships with all major talent agencies and management firms. Among the many highlights, she cast Edward Norton and Eddie Furlong in New Line Cinema’s AMERICAN HISTORY X. Mr. Norton received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his gripping portrayal and Mr. Furlong’s performance was heralded as the best of his career. From 1985-94 as a casting executive at Universal Studios she cast James Cromwell in BABE, earning him an Oscar Nomination. She cast such films as HARD TARGET (John Woo’s first American Film) DARK MAN (Sam Raimi’s first studio film) among scores of others.
While an executive at Universal Studios, she cast the film BABE which garnered a nomination for Best Film and Best Supporting Actor James Cromwell. She also cast PROBLEM CHILD and was responsible for finding the lead actor, Michael Oliver. The film continued to have sequels because of it’s box office success.
While at Universal Studios, she taught drama to inner city kids for three and a half years for the LAPD Gang Prevention Program. She served on the Board of Directors for the Casting Society of America and is a member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She is also on the Board of Directors for the World Children’s Transplant Fund, which provides life-saving organs to children. She was the Executive Director to Armenia, where significant strides have been made in the field of pediatrics in organ transplantations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]