Workshop Recordings

Storyboard Artist Brian McKissick dives into his journey, his creative process, and the lessons he’s learned in his career.

William Morris Endeavor agent April King shares insights on the proper method of securing talent for your film and discusses the art of negotiating rates. She also shares best practices and tips for finding the right agent as a writer or director, and what you need in order to be prepared for a meeting.

Talent Manager and Producer Shayla Cowan discusses her start in the industry, her entwork with Will Packer, co-producing the 94th Oscars, and her transition into talent management with Collective Edge.

Entertainment Designer Gentry Akens shares inspiring stories about how he’s navigated the business to build a success career.

Heather Tom made history as the first woman in Daytime TV to write, direct, and act in a single episode, a groundbreaking accomplishment that aired during Women’s History Month.

With over three decades of experience directing iconic television series and serving in leadership roles within the DGA, Mary Lou Belli shares hard-earned wisdom on longevity, leadership, advocacy, and navigating the realities of episodic television.

In “From Hood to Hollywood” Princess Monique a.k.a. Princess Monique Filmz takes you on her personal journey, from childhood in Cleveland to Los Angeles. Along the way, she shares critical self-discoveries that can motivate you to look at your life from a different point of view.

Author/Screenwriter/Showrunner/Co-Executive Producer Niceole Levy talks about her new book, “The Writers’ Room Survival Guide: Don’t Screw up the lunch order and other keys to a happy Writers’ Room.” In addition to discussing the experience of being a writer in the writer’s room, Niceole shares best practices for directors when collaborating on TV shows.

Author/Professor Morgan Sandler discusses his book “VISUAL STORYTELLING: How to Speak to the Audience without Saying a Word.” About the book: “Images carry emotional weight and Visual Storytelling teaches readers how to harness these emotions to maximize the emotion of the story, while minimizing the amount of dialogue necessary.”

Dan Attias discusses his book “Directing Great Television: Inside TV’s New Golden Age.” Don’t miss the insight from this acclaimed filmmaker.

Drawing from her experience writing, producing, and starring in her own projects—including three feature films, a comedy special, and a digital TV series—Selina Ringel discusses her book, “BE THE TRAIN: The Mindset and Tools You Need to Make Your First Feature Film.”

This Location Spotlight Series conversation features Natasha Olguin, Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Film Office, and Louis Ferrara from the Illinois Film Office.

This Spotlight is on Santa Clarita and Burbank. You can reach out to Santa Clarita via film@santaclarita.gov and Film Burbank HERE.

Hiike— a new film-tech platform that connects films to the right festivals using data and machine learning —shares insights, tools, and strategic guidance to help you maximize your festival run.

AWD South dives into the world of tax rebates and production insurance with industry experts, tax attorney Chiquita Banks, Esq. and CPA Matt Watkins.

AWD South talks with AWD South Advisory Board Member Terri J. Vaughn on her journey to a greenlight on Tyler Perry’s “Miss Governor.” Joining the conversation is cast member Jade Novah.

Director Dawn Richard, Producer Chris Hartley, and Producer Lisa Ferrell discuss how animation can be a powerful creative pathway for directors.

Virtual production specialist Katerina Munis give an introduction to one of the fastest-growing areas of filmmaking. As former Director of Productions for XR Stages, Katerina has helped support virtual productions for HBO, Lionsgate, Apple TV+, and Netflix, and has become a sought-after educator helping filmmakers navigate the creative possibilities of emerging production technologies.

Join Madeleine Schumacher, Director of Distribution at Giant Pictures, alongside Julia Alexander, Client Manager at Giant Pictures, for an insider’s look at today’s rapidly evolving distribution landscape.

Echo Lake managers Mike Marcus and Matt Horwitz join us for a Tech Talk on ways to secure representation in the current climate, managing expectations of managers/agents, and how to best work together.

Demo on Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software.

This overview from US Green Building Council CA highlights key concepts from their full course. Use the code “USGBCCA&AWD” to receive a 50% discount on registration for the Sustainable Production for Entertainment Certification On-Demand! This offer expires Tuesday, June 30th, 2026

This live virtual demo from LTX Studio is designed to inspire ideas, answer your questions, and show how AI can become a practical, collaborative partner in your directing workflow.

This Lunch + Learn with Shamel Studio covers the basics of their scheduling and budgeting software. Use code AWD30 for your discount!

This workshop gives an overview of what We Make Movies offers, including insurance, help with permits, SAG-AFTRA contracts, or payroll Use code AWD20when reaching out.

Post pandemic (in the new streaming world) most indie films are no longer going theatrical and those with the best success in securing funding are in the $100K to $1M budget range. This webinar with Scott duPont covers how to bring on board equity investors for those projects.

View this Know Your Rights discussion and access resources HERE.

Rosa Lopez from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) talks to members about their constitutional rights and answer questions.

This workshop with Vicki Shabo, a leading expert in U.S. gender equity and work-family policies, explores the critical connection between common, personal experiences with work-family conflict and caregiving challenges and the power of on-screen narratives to foster cultural and policy advances. Go to the event page for additional materials.

Lunch + Learn with Story-boards.ai. Explore how AI is transforming the pre-visualization process in this guided, hands-on session.

AWD welcomes entertainment attorney Alexa Whiteside for an in-depth legal workshop on clearance essentials for working directors and filmmakers.

Christie Marchese shares how Kinema’s innovative platform is creating opportunities for independent filmmakers to connect directly with audiences.

AWD Board Co-Chair Kylie Eaton reviews AWD’s Fiscal Sponsorship for Directing Members.

Jean Ellen Cowgill, Portrait’s founder and CEO, gave a WIP Tech Talk on how to get the most from this new app.

Look Design from Pre Production to Finishing is a seminar designed for indie directors to understand the scope of the coloring process.

This Works in Progress Program Tech Talk is on Virtual Production with CG PRO co-founder Jacqueline Cooper.

Jeremiah Bennett (PGA, Line Producer, Founder of Glass Door Studios) discusses best practices for budgeting your indie projects.

In this workshop, attendees were introduced to TheGreenShot, a software designed to automatically calculate the carbon footprint of film and TV productions.

Seeking more robust and expanded female-focused storytelling in your creative work? In the first half of this interactive and instructive workshop, Author Stacey Simmons, PhD helps participants bypass the outdated patriarchal storytelling model and leads them through this newly-discovered, women-driven model.

AWD partnered with CBS to bring you this conversation with Director Larry Teng about building and communicating visual language for television. Moderated by AWD Member Ellie Kanner, the discussion includes providing a fresh voice as an episodic director while staying in the tone of the show, collaborating with the cast, and setting the tone and visual language when directing a pilot.

After a private AWD screening of the film, WANDER DARKLY, Writer/Director Tara Miele and Producers Sam Houseman and Monica Levinson spoke with AWD Emeritus Board member Emily Dell about the film and answered member questions.