APPLICATION ACCEPTED to SUNDANCE INSTITUTE Director’s Lab

How can life get better!?

It’s not only about being accepted to Sundance’s Lab — It’s about WHO IS TEACHING!

“JOAN DARLING has been nominated four times for an Emmy (the first woman nominated for directing) and twice for a Directors Guild of America award, winning one of each. She was the original director of MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN. She directed the historic episode of THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, “CHUCKLES” named the number one TV episode of all time. Her feature, FIRST LOVE was named one of the years ten best by CBS. She starred on Broadway, and was a series regular on OWEN MARSHALL. Darling is also a teacher, known for her “Directing the Actor Workshop,” and has served as a Creative Advisor at the Sundance Institute’s Directors Lab for over twenty years.”

SUNFLOWER CARE written by the fricking amazingly talented Della Greenawalt is the project I applied with and will be working on. What better way to be the best director I can possibly be to several exceptionally talented actors?!

WOOOOHOOOO!

~ debi

 

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OUT OF THE WALLS and AUSTIN REVOLUTION FILM FESTIVAL

I am crazzzy excited that OUT OF THE WALLS is an Official Selection at ARFF!

Because of Covid, the festival is being delayed until March 25-27, 2021.

I will be there! No way I’ll miss a live screening in Austin.

And no way I’ll miss ARFF – such a fun festival.

~ debi

Please join me in shouting out to ARFF:

https://www.facebook.com/austinrevolutionfilmfest

https://www.instagram.com/austinrevolution/

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Striving to Direct Film

As I embark on this journey (more exciting than anything I’ve done previously) I’m gobbling up knowledge as quickly as my brain can absorb.

I produced and directed my first short PRELUDE TO MURDER IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN earlier this year under the tutelage of Sundance’s Collab program. The award winning directors, Julia Solomonoff and Danielle Lessovitz taught the lab — wow! I will direct my next short in September.

I can’t read books on the art of directing fast enough. I can’t view enough online classes and seminars.

But no matter what, I’ve recognized a truth that is absolute no matter where I turn…

Every really good director I’ve communicated with has these things in common: humility, honesty, a love for actors and a willingness to help those of us who want to learn and grow.

I’m humbled by their attitude and hope I’m there some day.

~ debi

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OUT OF XATALA and BLUECAT 2020

And the good news from April 14th…

OUT OF XATALA made the 2020 BlueCat Screenplay Competition SEMI-FINALS!

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I received some of the best notes EVER from BlueCat’s script analysis.

I’m excited to be a Quarter-Finalist for BlueCat’s 2020 Screenplay Competition.

Looking forward to April 14th!

~debi

p.s. I loved KNIVES OUT!

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SUNDANCE Certificate of Directing

This is just what I needed!

In eight weeks I went from complete ignorance to producing, writing and directing my own short film PRELUDE TO MURDER IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN while being mentored by Julia Solomonoff and Danielle Lessovitz.

Thank you so much to my incredible cast of actors, Perri Reavis and Lon Lawson. And to my DP and editor, Benjamin Ward. Directing is truly a collaborative adventure that unites everyone on set.

And add to all of that… This course has set me on the correct path for directing Della Greenawalt’s award winning script SUNFLOWER CARE in May.

Thank you, SUNDANCE Collab!

~ debi

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