Apologies! I always feel bad when the newsletter is delayed, but I'd rather do a good job than send out something half-baked.
The film community has been absolutely BUZZING these last few weeks! Here are some highlights:
SUMMERWEEN RECAP
The screening party was delightful! Thank you to everyone who made time to play with us! Click the photo above to see a quick summary, or visit the General Tab in the Friendly Filmmaker Community for even more photos!
FILMING IN NEW ENGLAND
I know we experienced a significant slowdown earlier this year, but I just wanted to tell you that a LOT of art is being made this summer. In the past week alone, there are 4 independent film projects in production, and at least 3 more in post production from our immediate filmmaking circle on this newsletter. I just want to let you all know that. It's inspiring. Congratulations and I can't wait to see what you make!
AMAZING FANTASY FEST
"Mother Grimm" was not only accepted to the Amazing Fantasy Film Festival in Buffalo NY, it is screening during the premium Saturday block! Huuuuge Congratulations to first-time director Jason Lake! And thank you to Greg Lamberson and team for programming us there. It's a real honor and I cannot wait to see this film in a giant packed theater!
SHAWNA FOUNDATION
I just wanted to amplify a message from the last issue of the Shawna Foundation Newsletter in case you missed it: If you love SSFF and MIFF like I do, then please record a 60-sec video or audio message (or write a note/poem/haiku/skylettering if you're camera shy) telling everyone what the festival and/or foundation means to you, and send it to [email protected] by August 31st with the subject line "My Shawn Foundation Story".
Friendly Filmmaker Community!
Spots are filling up! The PAID COMMUNITY on an invite-only basis.
The member cap for this launch is 100 people!
The price of the membership is $2/mo -- just enough to cover the cost of the platform. The invite code gives the first month free. If you want a code, hit reply to this email!
I am VERY excited to build this online community with you.
FRIENDLY FILMMAKER CHECKLIST
Reminder! “The Friendly Filmmaker Checklist” is still in the Preorder phase! The preorder window is being extended due to a delay with the printer, but we will be shipping soon. If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, pick one up today!
Thank you so much to everyone who has preordered already!
Mark down the dates below! I'll expand on the details in the next issue!
SAVE THE DATES
Aug 18, 20, 21
“LIBRARY POETRY TOUR” FT. KRIS SALVI BY SHAWNA FOUNDATION
DOUGLASS, MILFORD, & UXBRIDGE MA
Oct 25
HARVEST SHORTS FESTIVAL
MILLBURY, MA
Oct 23-26
ARLINGTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ARLINGTON, MA
CASTING
JODI PURDY CASTING CALL
PSA
Seeking Male & Female Non-Union Actors
Age Range 40 to 50
Pay Rate: $500/day - 4 Days
Filming Dates: 8/18-19-20-21
Must have Valid Drivers License
Must be comfortable driving with Camera Rig
BOSTON AREA ONLY
All Ethnicities Welcome
Submit:
Headshot, Resume, Name, Cell, Email, Location
Subject: PSA Casting
CASTING
Title: Bobcat
Production Company: Black Dog Productions
Production Dates: January / February 2026
Production Locations: Durham, Maine
Non-Union, Paid
Compensation: Travel, copy, credit, meals
Contact information: [email protected]
Casting Information: Email contact with headshot, resume/reel for sides. Submission deadline is 8/15/25
Audition Information: Sides will be sent for a self-taped audition.
Logline: During a frigid hunting trip in rural Maine, a grieving young man confronts his estranged grandfather, suspecting him of a dark family secret - as a mythic predator stalks their path, they must face the truth or destroy each other in the silence between generations.
Roles & Description:
PIERCE (LATE 50s - EARLY 60s)
A relic of a human being. Taught his kids how to gut a deer before he said "I love you." He carries a heavy guilt with rough edges hardened by a life of unspoken regret. Stoic, brutal, and quietly terrified he’s passed nothing good down the line.
Vibe: Bill Murray in Saint Vincent, Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water, Tommy Lee Jones in No Country for Old Men.
LIAM (LATE TEENs - EARLY 20s)
A young man caught between grief and vengeance. After the traumatic death of his father, he arrives at his grandfather's home, rifle in hand, determined to ease his pain. Quippy, smart, wounded, and trying desperately to understand his place in the world.
Vibe: Lucas Hedges in Manchester by the Sea, Timothée Chalamet in The King.
CASTING
Filmmaker Jordan Pacheco is excited to announce the casting call for his upcoming short film, "The Night The War Began".
Description: "This project is unlike anything I’ve done before. It’s bold, political, and urgent—a fictional story that feels dangerously close to becoming our reality. It’s a warning about how divided we’ve become… and how quickly the next American civil war could begin. When that moment comes—where will you be?"
https://www.backstage.com/casting/the-night-the-war-began-2980863/
Don't have Backstage? Send your resume and available materials to [email protected]
Subject should have your name and the role you are submitting for. Maga need not apply.
CREW CALL - SOUND
Looking for a Sound Recordist for a 3-day shoot, this week and next week. Location is in Worcester, MA.
It’s a short documentary needing audio for both indoors and outdoors during interviews and visual narrative scenes.
Dates:
SAT 8/2
SUN 8/3
WED 8/13
The budget is limited, but willing to negotiate pay. Food is provided as well.
Please send an email to [email protected] if you are interested.
CREW CALL - P.A.
PAID - Seeking Construction PA for TV Series - ASAP – Early Fall (Possibility for job extension) – Randolph, MA
If available and interested, email: [email protected]
Ideal candidate would be interested in the Construction department, but it is not a requirement. More office work with occasional errands.
JOB TASKS:
You do not need any experience in Construction;
You will not be doing any carpentry work
You would be more of an office type PA;
Type a little bit into google excel sheets
Help make photocopies/scans.
Purchase snacks [craft services / crafty] from the grocery store.
Small purchases at local hardware stores
PAYMENT:
Rate is $210/day
Mileage reimbursement for going on runs
Lunch & Computer Stipend
**As always, if you know of any paid local gigs, reply to this email and I’ll share with the rest of community!**
The Night The War Began
Filmmaker Jordan Pacheco wrote a chilling thriller script and needs help bringing it to life! This is a great story about an innocuous bbq that ends with the world on its head. Its a GREAT story! Let's help Jordan out!
Please support it here: https://gofund.me/77ddd6d0
Old Friends
Allison Rothwell is a first time producer who has partnered with John Keough of Hollywooot to create a unique film with “O-Town”'s Trevor Penick! Allison's commitment to doing it right, and providing for her crew, has led to a talented group of filmmakers coming together.
The shoot went great. Help support the post-production efforts!
You can support the project here: https://www.hollywootfilmgroup.com/films/production/old-friends
3 Thousand Letters
Fellow local independent filmmaker, Lyria Garcia, is making a documentary “3 Thousand Letters” — a story following the plight of JP, a Brazilian immigrant who arrived in 1999 only to face the complex U.S. Immigration System.
After years of dead ends with lawyers, he took matters into his own hands—writing 3,179 letters to the White House, pleading for amnesty and reform.
Check out Lyria’s truly beautiful project website here:
https://www.3thousandletters.com
And please consider making a donation here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/unseen-voices-immigrants-in-america
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THANK YOU!
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As always, tell your filmmaker friends to sign up for this free Newsletter. Spreading the word helps the community and network grow!
Friendly Filmmaker Community!To share more details here, my team and I have built (and are building) a tiny corner of the internet to grant you access to each other in a more convenient way. We wanted a chill online space where you can brainstorm ideas, ask film questions, share memes, build teams, and just generally share info and create new art together. It mattered to us to get away from the trappings of social media, while keeping thoughts and posts organized so it doesn't turn into another channel you never check. It also matters to us to keep this group small, so the conversations you have together are more fruitful, and long-term quality and reliability is maintained. The member cap for initial launch is 100 people! I will let you know when more codes become available. The price of the membership is $2/mo, which is just enough to cover the cost of the platform. I created an invite code to grant the first month free. If you want a code, hit reply to this email! All current Ko-fi supporters got a special coupon code as a THANK YOU for supporting Friendly Filmmaker for so long already. Please check your email. I could NOT have done all this without your faith and support. I am VERY excited to bring this community online to you all, and I'm incredibly proud of how it's shaping up already.
Coaching CallsIf you've ever experienced the feeling that picking the right brain at the right time could have saved you weeks of frustration, you know the exact problem I'm trying to solve. So even though this might not help you directly, if you happen to know someone who's starting their filmmaking journey, and wants to save considerable time by having me coach them through/over some of those inevitable bumps along the road, send them my way!
Happy filming! Julia 🎥 🎬 🎞 Friendly Filmmaker |
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