KCET and Me

Exciting news!  Hold For Laughs will screen on KCET this Thursday, January 31st at 9pm as part of their Fine Cut series.  Why?  Because---get this---we were selected as one of the sixteen best student films to come out of the many prestigious So Cal film schools in the last two years.  Woah!  Not only that, but ours was the first ever to be chosen from AFI's Directing Workshop for Women program.

Last night I went to a party celebrating the filmmakers, held at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  Here is me after that party, with the giant Emmy of my dreams. 

Hold For Music

Did I mention we sent Hold For Laughs to the Park City Film Music Festival?  So glad that Eric Jasper's sad clown score got recognized.  It was so sad, so clown.

Capital City

The Capital City Film Fest had a great idea. They decided to put together their own little block of AFI Directing Workshop for Women films. Lucky for me, Hold For Laughs was included in what proved to be a fantastic night of stories about women, directed by women. Here's the article in the Lansing Collective all about it.

Oh, what a night!

The DGA showcase was a truly magical night. It was the first time I'd seen most of the final versions of the other ladies' shorts, and every single one of them turned out unbelievably well. Forgive me this brief moment of horn-tooting to say that, as a group, WE NAILED IT!

I am also thrilled to report that the audience seemed to really enjoy my film---laughing in all of the right places, being quiet in the tragic bits, and best of all, freaking out about how amazing Sarah was in the leading role.

Here is a photo of me with my cast. I love them. I love the DWW. I love AFI. Dreams-coming-true material, all around.

Realeasing my Hold (For Laughs)

My latest directing effort is about to hit the big screen! Hold for Laughs, a short film, will be screening on May 9th at the beautiful 600 seat DGA Theater, as part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women Showcase. This movie is the culmination of all of the learning I've done over my year at AFI. It's like a 15 minute long year book page that I'm asking you to sign, except using your laughter and tears instead of a Sharpie.

Playing Catch Up

Wow. I'm bad at blogging. So much has happened, and yet, I have shared nothing. I knew this was happening, of course, all along filled with the dread that too much time had passed for my news to be news; a sticky, guilty dread that accumulated and multiplied with every day, week, month, season. But now I stand up and say, "No! I will write of things that transpired in May, and that's that."

May was one of the best months ever. I was lucky enough to go to film school at the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. There were just 8 of us, and we would gather every morning to learn how to make movies, until evening came and we were full of coffee and inspiration. (We drank a lot of coffee. I developed rosacea and a permanent crazy look in my eye). The whole thing was like summer camp for smart, creative ladies: ghost stories about hook hands replaced by horror stories about pitch meetings with Hollywood types; the magic of a first kiss now eclipsed by the excitement of our first casting.

All of our teachers were amazing, but I want to bring special attention to a few of them. Joan Darling (dead center in the photo below) is a pioneer for women directors and one of the warmest, most original and funniest people of all time. Like a smart-ass grandma hedgehog. Lesli Linka Glatter, who started at this very program and has since directed episodes of every single one of your favorite television shows, made us feel that we we were all as smart as she is, and that anything is possible. Also, she started out as a dancer and choreographer, which is super cool. And lastly, Bruce Block, whose full-day seminar based on his book The Visual Story blew my mind open, so that little saturated red chunks flew into deep space on the diagonal plane. (Buy the book if you don't understand this last joke.)

Thank you AFI and thank you ladies of the DWW!

Help me help you help me.

Do you have 20 dollars burning a hole in your pocket? That's dangerous, especially if you're wearing polyester pants. Here, let me help you...

Send AFI the money to help me make my film! They are a non-profit organization, and will send back a tax form so you can write off your donation.

Make checks payable to AFI, and be sure to write "Amy French Film Fund" in the memo. Then send the checks to:
American Film Institute
attn: DWW
2021 N. Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1657

Thanks, I owe you one.

Doing my part to close the gender gap in entertainment media. You can thank me later.

I am happy and proud to announce that I am one of 8 women selected to participate in the 2010 AFI Directing Workshop for Women. This is truly an honor, and I am beyond excited to study at such a prestigious institution, as part of such a competitive program, with such an awesome and talented group of ladies.

Katherine Bigelow knocked down one wall, and maybe someday I will knock down another. Like maybe I'll win something for making a movie with actual women in it? Imagine! Of course, I would be happy with one of those fake Oscars you get on Hollywood Blvd that says "Best Sister-in-Law", and a gift certificate to In'n'Out burger. I like to set small goals.

Until then, I'm off to direct my short film for the American Film Institute. Woo-hoo!