AWD Headshot Fundraiser
We’re excited to invite AWD Members to our AWD Headshot Fundraiser on Sunday, March 22 at Mica Studios in Downtown LA.
We’re offering 15-minute headshot sessions designed to give you polished, professional images while directly supporting AWD’s mission to advance the careers of women and gender-expansive directors.
REGISTER on the event’s calendar page.
Each time slot is a $100 donation and includes:
- Your choice of 1 background (choose from 4)
- 3 professionally edited images
- A focused 15-minute session
Our sessions will be photographed by Eric Ulbrich (view his portfolio here). Thanks to the generosity of Eric and our friends at Mica Studios, 100% of your $100 session fee goes directly to AWD.
You’re welcome to book multiple time slots if you’d like additional looks or extended shooting time. Each slot accommodates one person only.
We’re offering this first to AWD Members. On March 9th, we’ll open any remaining slots to our wider community, so we encourage members to secure your spot soon.
For more information, and to schedule your session, visit the event’s calendar page.
International Women’s Day Salon
At a time when industry data shows continued decline in the hiring of women directors across film and television, we’re convening our community for an afternoon focused on career advancement, authorship, and resilience.
For nearly 30 years, AWD has advocated for women and gender-expansive directors in film, television, and new media.
This event on Friday, March 6th brings that mission into the room through two timely conversations with AWD Icon Jen McGowan, Natalie Morales, Patricia Riggen, Wendy Calhoun, Keesha Sharp and America Young:
Reclaiming the Frame: Actors Stepping Into the Director’s Chair — a candid discussion about transitioning from acting to directing, breaking through industry gatekeeping, and building sustainable creative careers behind the camera.
Directing in the Now: Storytelling, Power, and the Political Moment — an exploration of authorship, responsibility, and creative courage in today’s political and cultural climate.
Directing and Ally Members can RSVP on the event’s calendar page.
AWD x Roadmap Writers:
Genre and Comedy Scripts Pitch Sessions
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! AWD Directing members are invited to join us for a special two-part virtual pitching series presented in partnership with Roadmap Writers. Each session will spotlight a group of talented writers from Roadmaps’ Success Stories pitching original projects in a specific genre to an audience of AWD directors.
These sessions are a great opportunity to hear fresh ideas, connect with repped screenwriters, and potentially find new collaborators. Each writer will pitch for approximately five minutes, followed by a brief Q&A with attending directors.
Loglines and writer bios will be sent to registered directors one week prior to each event. Register for the sessions via their respective calendar pages: GENRE (March 16th) + COMEDY (March 23rd).
Directing the Actor Lab – Rescheduled class
The participating Directors in AWD’s Directing the Actor Lab meet once a month to enhance their experience working with actors. Topics covered include in-depth scene breakdowns, rehearsal exercises and techniques, and playable direction and adjustments for actors.
March 3 will include in-class rehearsals where two directors will present scenes for feedback. This class is open to auditing by AWD Directing and Ally Members. Purchase a ticket via the event’s calendar page.
Directing the Actor Lab – Class #6
The participating Directors in AWD’s Directing the Actor Lab meet once a month to enhance their experience working with actors. Topics covered include in-depth scene breakdowns, rehearsal exercises and techniques, and playable direction and adjustments for actors.
March 3 will include in-class rehearsals where two directors will present scenes for feedback. This class is open to auditing by AWD Directing and Ally Members. Purchase a ticket via the event’s calendar page.
AWD x Filmstream Mixer
Filmstream Networking group is a community that brings entertainment professionals together for over a decade. Founded by editor Brett Hedlund, who saw the need for more networking opportunities in the industry, the group is over a thousand members spanning every department: editors, DP’s, actors, directors, composers, AD’s, and more.
Each month Filmstream hosts a mixer where creatives can connect with new collaborators, and catch up with friends offering peer support and advice. For March, we have been invited to mix with Filmstream again and look forward to connecting with some industry peers.
No need to RSVP, you can just show up! There will be mixing, mingling, and a cash bar.
Works in Progress Program (Virtual)
The AWD Works in Progress (WIP) is an interactive and fun program that offers peer to peer feedback on rough cuts.
The March 18th event will feature a Tech Talk from Storiara, a film coordination platform that turns a script into a complete shoot plan. It automatically breaks down scenes, schedules cast and crew, and helps filmmakers stay on budget, saving weeks of manual prep and unnecessary logistics stress. The virtual demo will walk through how filmmakers can go from script to shoot with clarity, covering breakdowns, scheduling, and budgeting in a practical, beginner-friendly way.
Continuing our WEEK TO WATCH program, Monique Sorgen will have her narrative feature, ONE DAY IN SEDONA starring Wallace Langham and Alysia Reiner, available to view ahead of time. Attendees can provide feedback on it, as well as Members’ directing reels, during the event. AWD Directing Members can RSVP via the event’s calendar page.
AWD South Presents:
Journey to Success with Makeup Artist Carol Rasheed
AWD South is pleased to host award-winning makeup artist and industry trailblazer Carol Rasheed for an inspiring Journey to Success conversation on excellence, longevity, and leadership behind the camera. With a career spanning over 30 years and credits including The Color Purple (Reimagined), The First Lady, and Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, Carol shares her journey to success and the lessons learned while working at the highest levels of film and television.
In this intimate discussion, women directors will gain invaluable insight into how makeup supports character and storytelling, how to collaborate more effectively with department heads, and how leadership choices on set directly impact creative outcomes.
Carol also shares why building legacy through mentorship matters and how excellence, consistency, and respect have defined her career. Attendees will leave inspired, informed, and better equipped to lead with clarity, confidence, and collaboration.
With a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, CAROL RASHEED has earned recognition as one of the premier Makeup Artists in the TV and film industry. Her mastery in the craft has garnered numerous prestigious accolades, including:
- NAACP Nominated for Best Period Makeup for Fight Night 2025
- Won NAACP Image Award for Color Purple 2024
- Emmy Nomination for The First Lady
- Critics’ Choice Nomination for The Color Purple, Reimagined
- Named in Variety Magazine’s Top 10 Artisans to Watch in 2023
- Astra Award Nomination for The Color Purple, Reimagined
- Black Reel Awards Nomination for The Color Purple, Reimagined
- Makeup Trailblazer Award from The Joyce Gillard Award
- Outstanding Achievement in Makeup from The Hollywood Beauty Awards
In addition to her decorated career, Carol has cemented her legacy by founding the TV and Film Makeup Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, where she shares her wealth of experience and expertise with the next generation of aspiring makeup artists.
AWD Directing and Ally Members can register on the event’s calendar page.
From Live Action to Animated Futures:
Expanding the Director’s Toolkit
This panel from AWD South explores animation as a powerful creative pathway for directors, using Little Stories, Big Echoes as a central case study.
Directed by Dawn Richard and produced by Chris Hartley (Angelfish Productions), this animated series demonstrates how animation creates unique opportunities for collaboration, storytelling, and cross-disciplinary leadership. Lisa Ferrell, former President of the Georgia Production Partnership and current Board member for ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation), brings additional perspective from her work as Producer on the animated film MINE with SLOTHIQUE, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Panelists will share both personal journeys and practical insights, examining why animation was the ideal medium for Little Stories, Big Echoes and how the project came together from concept to completion.
Emerging directors will leave with actionable takeaways for pursuing animation as a viable and empowering creative path. AWD Directing and Ally Members can register on the event’s calendar page.
AWD South Book Club
“BE THE TRAIN” – Selina Ringel
AWD Directing and Ally Members are invited to join AWD South for an amazing virtual discussion of “BE THE TRAIN” with the author and filmmaking Selina Ringel. After the book discussion, Selina will workshop with a few directors to find creative ways to jumpstart or move forward with their next project.
Register on the event’s calendar page.
AWD Office Hours
Office Hours with AWD Executive Director Kylie Eaton will resume on January 9th. AWD Directing and Ally Members are invited schedule time using the link in the calendar.