How To Get & Succeed in Your First Film Job

Event Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013 || Speaker: Karen Kaufman Wilson || Check-in: 12:30 pm ||

This workshop covers the structure and creative process for the film business. Additionally, it provides “inside” information and tools to accomplish your goals in this high pressure, low tolerance, and intensely competitive environment. Make yourself stand out from the competition by acquiring essential tools to succeed. The first tool is knowledge. In this business, knowledge, specifically  inside information, is power.  This is where FIRST FILM JOB can help you.

 **The deadline has passed and REGISTRATION is now CLOSED for this event. Please view our calendar for upcoming events.

Check-in begins at 12:30 pm.

Event starts at 1:00 pm. 

No Refunds. No Credits.

Do you dream of selling your script to a studio or directing an Academy Award winning movie? Maybe being the president of a film studio or financing and producing independent films is your passion? Like any business the keys to success are knowledge, talent and… luck.

The workshop will cover the following information:

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

∙ Overview of the studio development process

∙ Explanation of hierarchical structure

3 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

∙ It’s Hollywood. Dress and talk the part

∙ Know thyself or the version you want to sell

∙ ABC (Always Be Closing)

3  ESSENTIAL RULES FOR SUCCESS

∙ Knowledge is power: Are you chasing mice or hunting big game?

∙ Don’t Quit

∙ Find a Rabbi

For the past 15 years, Karen Kaufman Wilson has worked in the film business and mentored many aspiring writers, directors and executives.  As an adviser, the question she heard most often is — How do I get a job in the industry with no experience?  To answer the question and because of her passion to truly prepare the next wave of talent, Karen has created an exciting new seminar, HOW TO GET AND SUCCEED IN YOUR FIRST FILM JOB. Encompassing all of the insider knowledge and experience she has acquired, her lectures series includes a “nuts and bolts” overview of the business, effective interviewing skills and critical tools not covered in film school. Because they were so impressed with the seminar, Walt Disney tapped Karen to speak in their feature production workshop designed for the Native American community in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Additionally, she was a keynote speaker at New York Film Academy, Los Angeles Film Academy, Pitchfest, Very Short Movies Festival, Schmoozefest for IndieProducer.net as well as the W Hotel Chicago and W Hotel New Orleans for their W happenings series. Currently, her seminar has been taught, LA City College, LA Harbor College, California State Dominquez Hills and California State Los Angeles University. Most recently, Kaufman Wilson served as a judge for the Hollywood Black Film Festival Student Film competition. To help her students in their job search or to help develop their projects, Karen has recently published THE STUDIO DIRECTORY Vol 1, THE STUDIO DIRECTORY Vol 2 — a list of production companies with first look deals on amazon.com and The Independent Producer Directory.

Karen served as Vice President of Production and Development for Bob Teitel and George Tillman’s State Pictures, where she managed the development of 25 film and television projects for the Fox based Production Company. There, she played an instrumental role in the development of the 80 million box office hit, BARBERSHOP starring Ice Cube and Cedric The Entertainer.   Additionally Karen set up numerous film projects at MGM and Fox with budgets ranging from $10 to $40 million.

Prior to joining State Pictures, Ms. Kaufman Wilson worked as Vice President of Production for Monarch Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox for director Carl Franklin (ONE FALSE MOVE, DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS, ONE TRUE THING, OUT OF TIME).  While there Karen developed the critically acclaimed ONE TRUE THING with Meryl Streep and Rene Zwelleger. On the side, she pitched and set up a Showtime movie based upon her own life story as a former NFL wife.

At Trimark Pictures, she served as a Creative Executive where she discovered the endearing script, SPRUNG and became the Associate Producer while overseeing15 projects on the development slate.

Before joining Trimark, Karen worked as a Creative Executive at Walt Disney Animation when they were releasing TOY STORY.

Karen worked as assistant to the critically acclaimed director, Reggie Hudlin and his classic film BOOMERGANG and served as a key assistant to the producer of Wesley Snipes’ SUGARHILL.

Karen is known in the business for her key eye of emerging talent. Countless times, she has spotted inexperienced writers, directors and actors that went on to become huge successes. Karen graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Business Administration. She currently serves as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood. Karen, her husband and children reside in Los Angeles.

Join us on the Fourth Saturday at:

Studio/Stage

520 North Western Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90004

**There is plenty of additional parking.

Meeting Timeframe: 1:00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm.

Members, please remember to bring your SWN membership card!

Any questions, email us at [email protected]