Filmmakers' Workshop | New York Stage and Film

FILMMAKERS' WORKSHOP

The New York Stage and Film Filmmakers' Workshop features a tailored, process-oriented approach that mirrors our celebrated development of plays and musicals, and is one of only a handful of programs in the country to provide the immediate and necessary steps in the development of the filmmaker.

Its main feature is a Summer Residency at Vassar College during the annual Powerhouse Season, during which early-career screenwriters and TV writers engage in one-on-one feedback sessions with professional mentors, panel discussions, screenings, developmental readings, and production discussions all designed to bring each script and project closer to completion. We reconvene the group six months later in New York City for follow-up mentor sessions, master classes, and industry networking.

Director: Marin Gazzaniga

The 2020/2021 Filmmakers' Workshop will be in residence during the summer Powerhouse Season for one week starting July 6th, 2020. Applications are by invitation and due by March 6th, 2020.

For additional information, FilmLab@newyorkstageandfilm.org

2019/2020 FILMMAKERS' WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS & EVENTS

IMPOSTER IMPERSONATOR (Screenplay)
In 1988, a transgender woman’s ambition to reach legendary status derails when she returns to her small Texas hometown.

DETOX (Screenplay)
When a grieving young woman joins her best friend at a wellness retreat in the Arizona desert, she begins to suspect that the revitalizing spa treatments, tonics, and serums are part of something closer to a dangerous cult, run by the retreat’s charismatic leader.

AKILEE'S HEAL (TV pilot)
When a slighted community worker discovers a portal that heals the mind and body, he uses it to turn his troubled South Bronx neighborhood into the idyllic place he’s always dreamed of, but the dramatic healing tool creates unexpected allies and complications.

DROWNING (TV pilot)
When a morally ambiguous psychiatrist agrees to treat a woman famously accused of murdering her baby, his own family life spirals out of control.

[UN]SUPERVISED (TV pilot)
An anthology-like comedy about a probation officer and her roster of ever-changing clients. When Rachel finally feels like she’s gotten a handle on her job, she must recalibrate her life when she becomes the guardian for her young niece and nephew.

Q.U.E.E.N. (Screenplay)
Imani, a teenage girl with a troubled past, must overcome her biggest fear by using her musical gift of rapping to transform her life and find healing.

GHOULFRIENDS (TV pilot)
After moving into an inherited house in an up-and-coming (read: gentrifying) LA neighborhood, four friends come to suspect their new home is haunted.

SOL:0 (Screenplay)
A young scientist is among the chosen few to be part of the greatest adventure in human history- a one-way, no-return mission to colonize Mars. Now, less than a month from leaving, she comes home to tie-up the loose-ends of her life, but finds that the choice between her greatest passion and the people she loves is not as straightforward as she had always believed.

DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY (TV pilot, limited series)
Did You Ever Have a Family is a limited drama series, adapted from Bill Clegg’s novel, featuring a trio of female characters coping with grief, guilt, regret, and ultimately forgiveness in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.

MASTER CLASSES

Inside the Writers' Rooms

with

Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky

BIOS

Editing as Re-Writing

with

Andrew Marcus

BIO

PANEL

State of the Industry

with

Joshua Astrachan, Amy Robinson, Peter Saraf, Shelby Stone, and Maria Zuckerman

BIOS

SCREENING & DISCUSSION

A screening of the pilot “Parenthood” and discussion

with

Jessica Goldberg

and Jason Katims

BIO

2019/2020 FILMMAKERS' WORKSHOP MENTORS

Luis Castro

William Goldberg

Max Mayer

Bash Doran

Rajiv Joseph

Amy Robinson

actor, producer, & director

BIO

Jessica Goldberg

writer & producer

BIO

Toni Kalem

actor, writer, & director

BIO

Shelby Stone

producer

BIO

ADVISORY BOARD

Kevin Bacon, Anthony Bregman, Miranda DePencier, Peter Gallagher, Tony Goldwyn, Peter Hedges, Zach Helm, Michael Hoffman, Keith Huff, Richard LaGravenese, Michael London, Julianna Margulies, Bill Migliore, Rob Morrow, Stephen Nathan, Michael Nozik. Ken Olin, Marc Platt, Frank Pugliese, Jose Rivera, Cherie Rodgers, Rena Ronson, Per Saari, Alex Saks, Nancy Savoca, Kyra Sedgwick, John Patrick Shanley, John Slattery, Daniel Steinman, Jon Tenney, Nia Vardalos

PRIOR MENTORS

Marilyn Agrelo, Josh Astrachan, Keith Bunin, Anne Carey, Thomas Carter, Miranda de Pencier, Geoffrey Gilmore, Billy Goldberg, Bingo Gubelmann, Zach Helm, Michael Hoffman, Kim Jose, Richard LaGravenese, Mia Mask, Paula Mazur, Lillah McCarthy, Bec Miller, Rob Morrow, Michael Nozik, Ken Olin, Frank Pugliese, Josh Radnor, Kyra Sedgwick, John Patrick Shanley, Charlie Stratton, Bryan Unkeless, Suzanne Weinert, Jennifer Westfeldt, Matt Williams, Stu Zicherman