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Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)

Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)

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Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)

Dinner with Dames Case File

Who: Kimberley Browning, producer, executive producer of HBO Access, and associate programmer at TriBeCa Film Festival, & Cinefemme board, fiscal sponsorees, and referrals –Jessiline Berry, Sarah Bullion, Kimby Caplan, Michelle Kantor, Morgan Lariah, C.M. Landrus, Jenna Payne, Ruth Sabin, and myself, Kayden Phoenix

What: Dinner 2.4 – a casual discussion on industry issues facing women & ways to excel in their careers over dinner & drinks

When: Sunday, February 18, 2018

Where: Tam O’Shanter

Why: To propel women to bigger and better career opportunities within studios and networks

Kimberley Browning should be a household name. You may not have seen any of her work, but if you’re a filmmaker, she’s definitely seen yours.

I’m not exaggerating when I say Kimberley Browning has brought film festivals up to par. Kim created the only Los Angeles-based short film festival, Hollywood Shorts, 20 years ago. And then festivals found her. Kim also programmed for the LA Film Festival. She’s now an Associate Programmer at Tribeca Film Festival and Executive Producer for HBO Access, HBO’s diversity initiatives. She’s got game. So much so that she consults filmmakers interested in getting their films to the next level through the film festival route or whatever is appropriate for the project. Under Kim’s direction, some of her clients have been shortlisted and even nominated for Oscars. Impressive.

Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)
Photo credit: Kimby Caplan

This busy lady kindly agreed to join Cinefemme for their monthly Dinner with Dames mentorship series where eight women dine with a Hollywood power player.

I’m Kayden Phoenix, an active member of Cinefemme’s Directors Collective, and as an indie filmmaker, I’ve been accepted to many film festivals but have yet to clench the “Official Winner” laurels. When I heard about the opportunity to learn from this amazing mentor, I, along with seven fellow filmmakers, jumped at the chance to hear Kimberley Browning’s words of wisdom. I just wrapped on a short, proof of concept film Jalisco featuring the first Chicana superhero, and I learned so much about what to prepare for on the festival circuit.

Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)
Photo credit: Kimby Caplan

“It’s not what festival you should be submitting to – it’s should you be submitting it.” Kim told a story about a Picasso canvas being X-rayed only to discover a painting under the painting and said that not all films are made for film festivals or even the public.

Kim delved into the importance of choosing your film festivals. You submit to the right festivals with a strategy. Sarah Bullion, a Cinefemme member and Board Member of Alliance of Women Directors, asked Kim to elaborate on proof of concept shorts and career goals. Kim emphasized that you needed at least one other project ready to go if you end up with a winning short film, and she recommends three-four projects to bring to any pitch or meeting.

“A huge part of the process is family building. You can’t get your film to Sundance and do nothing when you get there. All that journey has been lost.” A successful festival run doesn’t leave you much time to prep your next project, so you should have the project ready to go when you start receiving acceptance letters. Film festivals provide great opportunities to network and connect with people you might want to work with in the future, even if you’re at smaller festivals.

Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)
Photo credit: Kimby Caplan

Our mouths were salivating, and it wasn’t from the food. This was one informative dinner, and the food was great too. In addition to Kim’s film festival work, she is an established producer with a soft spot for genre – myself, Jenna Payne, Morgan Lariah, and C.M. Landrus were all excited to talk to another woman supporting horror, sci fi, and other genre work.

We absorbed Kim’s royal words of wisdom. The ideal length of shorts for film festivals, how to create your audience, navigating through film festivals, and increase your personal database. Most importantly, understand your product. Kim said, “Don’t take your red Volkswagen over to the Tesla lot. The people there are looking to buy Teslas.”

Video credits: Footage by Kimby Caplan / Editing by Liana Alexander

About Cinefemme:

Cinefemme is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by women filmmakers, for women filmmakers in 2002.  Cinefemme provides fiscal sponsorship to women filmmakers and artists, as well as peer-to-peer networking, mentorship, and strategy for project fundraising.  By advancing women’s careers in film and the arts, we empower women’s voices to create gender parity in the arts and equal representation in the media.

About Kayden Phoenix:

Dinner With Dames #14, With Kimberley Browning (Recap)Kayden Phoenix is a Chicana Writer, Director, Producer, and Feminist hailing from Boyle Heights, California. She received a full ride academic scholarship to Loyola Marymount University where she acquired a BA in Business Administration, with an Emphasis in Marketing. Upon entering the industry, the first thing she noticed was the industry dominated standard – complete with character generalizations.

In response, she became a huge advocate for diversity both in front and behind the camera, giving a voice to stories untold. She plans on evening the playing field for the under-represented through her unique and diverse filmmaking.

 

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