New! Zoom: INDIE FILM DIRECTOR Showcase Online Class - 3 Weeks led by Misha Calvert, Award-winning Indie Filmmaker and Showrunner

Monday, April 1, 2024, 7pm ET / 4pm PT

Our new online showcase class is the perfect way to get coaching by top filmmaker and showrunner Misha Calvert and then showcasing your work to our panel of four FILM Directors in your final week.

Week 1 - Bring your own scene, intro your talent to Misha.

Week 2 -  Misha will assign scenes and do an in-depth coaching.

Week 3 - Q&A and then Showcase to our FOUR Indie FILM Directors with either a scene of your choice OR a scene assigned by Misha. You will vote for which at the end of your previous class.

Our incredible panel includes:

Misha Calvert is an award-winning indie filmmaker and showrunner based in New York. She has created and sold two original series: STRUT (Revry) and ALL HAIL BETH (BRIC TV). She is currently prepping her feminist thriller RAGER as writer-director with Good Question Media attached to produce. She’s slated to direct the contemporary war drama JUMP LINE in 2024, and is writer-director on the climate change action film DIRT AND SKY currently in development. Her latest short film, PINK FLAGS, stars Raye and Sawyer Spielberg and is about to begin festivals.

Jeff Ayars is a filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of comedy duo Cannibal Milkshake. He has written & directed a half-dozen short films, mockumentaries for The New Yorker, comedy sketches with over 100M views, and a webseries for Elizabeth Bank’s WhoHaHa. He has also produced & starred in two thriller features, This Is Our Home (2019), and the upcoming film Lady of the Lake.  

Amy Omar is a Turkish American writer, director, producer, and entertainment lawyer. She is a recipient of Wavelength Productions' WAVE (Women At the Very Edge) Grant. Her first and second films have both earned premieres at SXSW, and her first, Breaking Fast With Coca-Cola, went on to screen at various Oscar-qualifying festivals. 

Amy DePaola is a director, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She is a 2023 Blackmagic Collective Future Women of TV Directing Fellow, 2023 Yes And Laughter Lab Finalist, and Stowe TV Writers Lab alumnus. Directing credits include many web series and short films, with producing credits spanning features, television, and indie film. 

Ray Smiling is a commercial and narrative director who has spent years creating campaigns for brands like Adidas, Under Armour, Nike, Covergirl, the NBA, Beats By Dre, and Amazon Music. He’s been recognized by Ad Age as the Director to Watch for 2023 and is repped by Division7. He created the Clio-winning short film JUNETEENTH THOUGHTS, the Ciclope finalist PLAY THIS AT MY FUNERAL, as well as the award-winning web series KHAKI IS NOT LEATHER.

*Please note that Guests are subject to change.

What to Prepare:

For this class, please bring in your own 2-3 page scene of choice that you feel best showcases your strengths as an actor. If you do not have your own scene, you can select a scene from the General Sides database (link located in your Actors Connection account upon registration). - *See above for info on what to prepare for classes 2 and 3*

Please email jess@actorsconnection.com your scene choice AS AN ATTACHMENT (file should be labeled YourName_CHARACTER) by 5pm (EST) the DAY BEFORE the event.

Please follow the procedures listed below:

• Please update your headshot and fill out the MY INFO section of your AC account upon registration.

• The room will be open 30 minutes before the event is scheduled to start. Please arrive at least 10 MINUTES before your event begins as your host will give important information about the event at this time.

• Instructions and the ZOOM link for access to this online event will be emailed to you in advance. If you have not received the link by one hour before the event, please reach out to registration@actorsconnection.com.

Our online office hours are 9am-6pm Monday-Friday

If you have an emergency for a class you are participating in outside of these hours, please email help@actorsconnection.com and your host will be able to respond.

**No recording of any kind is permitted by participants during class.**

**Please keep in mind that all programs at Actors Connection are for educational and professional development purposes. Participating in any class or event is not a promise of employment.**

**Actors Connection classes and programming are for ADULTS (18+). Unless it is disclosed above, with permission, some teens (14+) are allowed to take adult programming. To inquire about getting permission, please send an email to: info@actorsconnection.com**

Misha Calvert

Misha Calvert is an award-winning indie filmmaker and showrunner based in New York.

She has created and sold two original series: STRUT (Revry) and ALL HAIL BETH (BRIC TV). She is currently prepping her feminist thriller RAGER as writer-director with Good Question Media attached to produce. She’s slated to direct the contemporary war drama JUMP LINE in 2024, and is writer-director on the climate change action film DIRT AND SKY currently in development. Her latest short film, PINK FLAGS, stars Raye and Sawyer Spielberg and is about to begin festivals.

Jeff Ayars

Jeff Ayars is a filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of comedy duo Cannibal Milkshake.

He has written & directed a half-dozen short films, mockumentaries for The New Yorker, comedy sketches with over 100M views, and a webseries for Elizabeth Bank’s WhoHaHa.

He has also produced & starred in two thriller features, This Is Our Home (2019), and the upcoming film Lady of the Lake.

 

Amy Omar

Amy Omar is a Turkish American writer, director, producer, and entertainment lawyer. 

She is a recipient of Wavelength Productions' WAVE (Women At the Very Edge) Grant. Her first and second films have both earned premieres at SXSW, and her first, Breaking Fast With Coca-Cola, went on to screen at various Oscar-qualifying festivals.


 

Amy DePaola

Amy DePaola is a director, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She is a 2023 Blackmagic Collective Future Women of TV Directing Fellow, 2023 Yes And Laughter Lab Finalist, and Stowe TV Writers Lab alumnus. Directing credits include many web series and short films, with producing credits spanning features, television, and indie film.

 

 

 

Ray Smiling

Ray is a commercial and narrative director who has spent years creating campaigns for brands like Adidas, Under Armour, Nike, Covergirl, the NBA, Beats By Dre, and Amazon Music. He’s been recognized by Ad Age as the Director to Watch for 2023 and is repped by Division7. He created the Clio-winning short film JUNETEENTH THOUGHTS, the Ciclope finalist PLAY THIS AT MY FUNERAL, as well as the award-winning web series KHAKI IS NOT LEATHER.