Schedule

Tentative Schedule:

1:30pm-2:00pm Doors Open, informal networking, welcome

EDUCATIONAL PANEL DISCUSSIONS
2:00pm-2:50pm Future of Filmmaking (Panel 1 of 3)
3:00pm-3:50pm Filmmaking Process (Panel 2 of 3)
4:00pm-4:50pm Entertainment Law 101 w/ WALA (Panel 3 of 3)

5:00pm-6:00pm Networking, Dinner Reception, and Gear Petting Zoo

6:00pm-8:30pm SHORT FILM SCREENINGS

8:30pm-9:00pm Award Presentations and Closing Comments

9:00pm-11:59pm After Party at Bar Louie [Open to all; no ticket required]

Panel Discussions

Future of Filmmaking (Panel 1 of 3)

The discussion may include topics of volumetric filmmaking, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, drones, and other technological advances that will continue to affect filmmaking.

Filmmaking Process (including Sound Recording) (Panel 2 of 3)

a discussion of the process of filmmaking including pre-production, image capture, and editing. With special coverage on how to best record audio.

Entertainment Law 101 (Panel 3 of 3)

an overview of key legal concepts for creative professionals including option agreements, copyright, trademark, work for hire agreements, and more.

Festival Speakers

Maryanne Culpepper is an award-winning writer/filmmaker with extensive experience in developing, writing and producing documentary and nonfiction series. She is the former President of National Geographic Studios and served as the Executive Director of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. Her most recent projects include writing and producing video and editorial content for Avatar: Discover Pandora, an international touring science museum exhibition based on the fictional world in James Cameron’s movie Avatar. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA).

Adam Levin comes to us from Chuck Levin's Music Center, the largest independent music store in the country. Opened in 1958, it is still family owned and operated by the Levin Family. Adam received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and has vast experience with the huge array of audio and recording equipment available. Adam has worked with clients ranging from large corporations to indie filmmakers to help find the right tools and solutions.

John Mason of WALA, Copyright Counselors LLC and Mason Literary, is a Washington D.C. based art, entertainment, and intellectual property attorney and literary agent. His practice focuses on copyright and trademark registrations and transactional matters, litigation, copyright infringement, publishing and media issues, defamation, licensing and contracts, and commercial matters relating to creative industries.

Chris Petracco is a senior digital media specialist and content creator with over 20 years experience in communications and media production, including over a decade teaching communications and media at the college level. Chris has a comprehensive knowledge of multimedia production, volumetric filmmaking, social media solutions, digital media production, and digital tools to create comprehensive media campaigns. Chris helps clients develop broadcast, cable, and online products. He is the founder of TrustedPhotoDC and TPA360 and now is known as a reality capture expert.

Film Lineup (Subject to change)

Main Category Films

Golden Cage of Television (William R. Coughlan)

Pressure (Luke James Shaffer)

Signs of Change (Jonathan Alexander)

The Catcher (Carletta Hurt)

What They Seem (John Becker)

Student Films

Breathe (Austin Smith)

Concealer (Jenna Cipolloni)
Immigration: A New Beginning (Peter Pereyra)

Community Films

Filippo's - Un pezzo d'Italia in Wheaton
(Willie Padin)

In Harmony with the Community (Berlin Waechter)

Mr. Big Shot (Vanessa Anthony )

The Colony (Shako Oteka & Junaid Ahmed)

Judges

Paul Marengo

Paul has 26+ years experience in the area of development and program execution. His experience includes a wide range of development activities including Corporate/Foundation/Government Support as well as Individual Giving. Paul believes by empowering and providing the necessary tools to smaller non-profit organizations they can become competitive fundraisers. Paul has worked with and trained many non-profits on alternative ways of thinking of how data and other items can be of use to their development strategies.

Tim Flaherty

Tim has spent 30+ years in the media field, including 20 + years in television and industrial video production. In addition to TV shows, commercials, and many industrials, Tim has produced or co-produced numerous short films, and wrote and directed the documentary “100 Years of Maryland Football” in collaboration with the University of Maryland and NuAd, Inc. He continues to write, shoot and produce TV commercials and industrial content, and writes scripts for a wide variety of projects.

Maryanne Culpepper

Maryanne is an award-winning writer/filmmaker with extensive experience in developing, writing and producing documentary and nonfiction series. She is the former President of National Geographic Studios and served as the Executive Director of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital . Her most recent projects include writing and producing video and editorial content for Avatar: Discover Pandora, an international touring science museum exhibition based on the fictional world in James Cameron’s movie Avatar. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA).

Nate Fisher

Nate is an eclectic mix of analytic and artistic talents. He is a proud member of the Silver Spring community and spends his professional efforts split between working on local productions and assisting clients with their own audience engagement activities. Nate enjoys collaborating with other passionate creatives on local projects such as Movie Nightcap and Silver Spring Inquiries for his production company, Createrly. He also works with his passionate team of communications professionals at Mindshare Capture Consulting for brands including Technicolor, J.D. Power, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and more.

Luisa Montero

In 2015, Luisa was appointed by the Montgomery County Executive and County Council to serve as the Director of the Mid-County Regional Service Center. In this role, she acts as a liaison between the community and County Government. She has 30 years of experience locally, nationally and internationally, including community and program development. Luisa was born in Cuba and immigrated to the US as a child. She has been a teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington for over 20 years.

Awards & Prizes

"Levin Grand Prize"

Jury Award for Best Overall Film

"Wheaton Award"

Jury Award for Best Community Story

"Kamen Prize"

Jury Award for Best Student Film

After Party

The After Party will be held at:

Bar Louie [all are invited, no ticket required to After Party]

Social Media

To keep up with festival news and details follow us on social media.
Facebook: Wheaton Film Festival
Twitter: @WheatonFilmFest
Instagram: @WheatonFilmFest
#FilmWheaton #MMMproject