Office Hours with Interim Executive Director Kylie Eaton
As a reminder, Interim Executive Director Kylie Eaton holds weekly virtual office hours every Friday from 1-2pm PT / 4-5pm ET, exclusively for AWD Directing and Ally Members.
No registration necessary, hop on the zoom to say hello!
AWD Presents: Work, Family, and Care in Our Lives and On Screen
AWD is excited to welcome Vicki Shabo, a leading expert in U.S. gender equity and work-family policies, for an interactive workshop and Q&A discussion on Sept. 3rd. AWD Directing and Ally Members can RSVP via the calendar page.
This online event will explore 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. We’ll touch on the current state of U.S. policies affecting women and families (including some bright spots and threats), as well as the unique challenges faced by screen industry professionals and other people with episodic/non-traditional/gig workers.
In a time of stark political and cultural divisions, we’ll highlight newly-released research showing that realistic depictions of work, family, and caregiving grounded in authenticity and aspiration in any genre or type of story can connect audiences across demographics and ideologies, inspiring understanding, and foster action. We invite AWD members to share their personal insights and experiences, and we’ll engage in conversation about enhancing diversity in creative teams to foster rich and compelling content.
AWD BLOCK at SIMI FILM FEST
AWD is excited to be screening an AWD BLOCK of short films at the SIMI Film Festival again this year! Join us on Saturday, Sept. 6th @ 3p PT. Purchase tickets HERE.
Bad Karma (Dir. Laura Garcia); No Air for Angels (Dir. Erin Elizabeth); Wait To Tell Mother (Dir. Emma Elizabeth Steiger); Ask the Blessing (Dir. V.C. Rhone); Silent (Dir. Itziar Martinez); The Missing Ingredient (Dir. Beatriz Santamaria Pinha); The Fires We Play With (Dir. Paulina Manseau); Finding JaMia’s Spirit (Dir. Candace D. Patrick)
AWD Presents: Lunch + Learn with Story-boards.ai
AWD Directing Members are invited to explore how AI is transforming the pre-visualization process in this guided, hands-on session. Participants will learn the core functions of Story-Boards.ai, from importing scripts to refining scenes, creating consistent virtual actors, and experimenting with prompt-driven camera angles, lighting, and mood.
Bring a short story or script (around 1,000 words) to test in real time—by the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with a storyboard sequence of your own and practical insights for integrating AI into your creative workflow.
BACK TO SCHOOL Social Sunday (In person in Los Angeles)
AWD Directing and Ally Members are invited to join us for a special Social Sunday on Sept. 14th at 2p PT with their families. We’re celebrating the start of the school year and reconnecting with our AWD community.
Bring your partner, kids, friends – everyone’s welcome! RSVP HERE.