Faith and Family
Filmmakers Bootcamp
Actors ● Screenwriters ● Producers
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Are you hungry to learn and grow in your craft?
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Ever feel that your one trip a year to a film conference just isn't enough?
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Want to connect with others in the film industry that you wouldn't normaly get to meet?
July 27, 2025
Take a giant leap as a filmmaker in one day!
1
Elevate Your
Craft
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Three workshop sessions with Nine workshops to choose from
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Learn from Professionals in the industry (Includes Q & A time)
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Practical training you can apply to your craft and advance your career
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Access to all nine workshops videos after the event
Meet New
Collaborators
2
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Organized networking sessions make it easy for everyone
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Connect with old friends and build new relationships
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Meet people from all across the industry and across the country
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This industry is all about relationships
Connect in
Community
3
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Devotional time, prayer, and a day with like-minded professionals
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Virtual Lounge and prayer room open all day
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Celebrate your peers at the FAFF Screenwriting Awards presentation
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Online group for attendees after event for videos, questions & interaction
Actors Workshops
Susan Willis
12:00 pm (Central time)
Resume Repair Blitz
Leveling Up with Confidence
Make yourself the ideal client for agents with the Resume Repair Blitz workshop. Shape up your actors resume and learn how to properly format it in a one page pdf. Gain a better understanding of industry standard terminology when it comes to labeling the roles you’ve booked and highlighting the training you’ve done to prepare for your next role. Learn the correct terms for each category as well as a few other tips to show what makes you unique and stand out in a professional way. This information easily transfers to your profiles on all the various casting platforms.
(90 minute workshop)
Susan Willis is a Gulf Coast native and U.S. Air Force veteran. Her childhood love of acting and performing resurfaced and in 2013, Susan entered the film industry. With experience as a professional actor, casting director, and industry coach for actors, she’s passionate about helping productions run smoothly and equipping actors with the tools they need to succeed. When she’s not on set, Susan enjoys baking, tending to her backyard bird feeders, staying active in her church and spending time with her family.
Venus Monique
3:00 pm (Central time)
12 Demo Reel Mistakes to Avoid
A great demo reel can bypass auditions. It's happened to Venus on more than one occasion. It can also help you stand out against others if done the right way. In this workshop you will learn:
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What to avoid putting in your reel
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Where you can get your footage
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How to work with an editor, and more!
Finish with Q&A so you can get all of your questions answered. This workshop usually leads into other topics, and Venus is open to discussing other acting elements if time permits.
(90 minute workshop)
Venus Monique is a multi-award-winning actor, a producer, a lifelong Texan, and the founder of Personal Powerhouse; a Christian company that helps actresses build their careers with integrity.
As an actor, she prefers being in projects that inspire the audience to do better and be better when they walk away from the film. Outside of acting, she loves traveling to see God's creations, helping other entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life, and having deep conversations over coffee.
6:00 pm (Central time)
Nail The Audition
After acting classes, headshots, resume, and demo reels, it all comes down to the audition.
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Laura Mae from Christian Casting explains how to prepare for your audition.
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Learn what actually matters and the good-better-best for how to constantly improve your submissions.
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Analyze real time submissions and open your eyes to see your audition from a casting director's perspective.
(90 minute workshop)
Producing Workshops
Tyler Sansom
12:00 pm (Central time)
Dynamic Distribution
Distribution is an ever-evolving part of the film industry. It's also the most important piece of the "making money with your movie" puzzle. Tyler Sansom shares his knowledge, experience and insights into how to approach distribution in this dynamic world. From collaborating with organizations to making sure the theatrical release math makes sense, and much more, Tyler will inspire, empower, and equip you to approach distribution differently.
(90 minute workshop)
Tyler Sansom is a dynamic pastor, filmmaker, and speaker passionate about connecting faith and culture in meaningful ways. He serves as the lead pastor of First Capital Christian Church in Corydon, Indiana, where he combines his creative talents and spiritual insights to inspire others. Tyler has directed and produced impactful faith-based films, including I Can and the acclaimed A Father's Fight. His innovative approach to ministry bridges the gap between traditional church settings and modern storytelling, helping people experience the transformative power of faith.
Nathan Blair
3:00 pm (Central time)
Maximize Your Micro Budget
Details coming soon!
(90 minute workshop)
Nathan Blair is a writer, director, cinematographer and editor, and has produced 5 feature films. He has cultivated his calling to create high level crossover films with a Christ centered message. Nathan is the Executive Director of Cross Wind Productions, a 501(c)3 ministry where the next generation of Christian filmmakers are inspired, encouraged and trained, all with a Christian worldview. He has said, "While Christian filmmakers are producing new content that speaks to adults, Hollywood works tirelessly to capture the hearts and minds of our children." Cross Wind is a place where teens can make a movie for teens. Nathan is the owner of Kingdom Sight Studios.
Trey & Ariel Fernald
6:00 pm (Central time)
Pitch Deck Like a Pro
Learn to create professional pitch decks that captivate investors and production companies.
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Your film’s introduction to the world must pack a solid punch
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Master the essential components of a pitch deck
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Distill your creative vision into a compelling visual and narrative package that communicates both artistic merit and market potential.
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Learn industry best practices
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structure your pitch deck for maximum engagement
(90 minute workshop)
Over the past three decades, Trey and Ariel Fernald have partnered to produce, write, and direct over 100 pieces for the screen and stage. Their latest Christmas movie, Bringing Back Christmas, was released during the 2023 holiday season with solid reviews. The Fernald’s most acclaimed production is the hit play filmed for TV titled The Last Appeal, which they executive produced, wrote and cast. This feature went on to win 11 awards in 8 national film festivals, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, The People's Choice, Best Ensemble Cast, and Arts in Evangelism. Since its premiere, The Last Appeal has been viewed by over 13 million people worldwide through television, streaming and digital platforms. In addition, Trey and Ariel are co-founders of CineSky Entertainment where they produce feature films for theatrical, digital, and television release. They are also the founders of Eastern Sky Theatre Company in Los Angeles, CA. Ariel is a public speaker, Bible teacher, adjunct professor at Biola University, and board President of Eastern Sky Theatre Company. Trey has co-authored the college textbook ‘Producing Drama for Ministry’ that has been used by multiple universities and ministries. He has had the privilege of teaching theatre at Azusa Pacific University and Abilene Christian University.
Screenwriting Workshops
Jarod O'Flaherty
12:00 pm (Central time)
Writing Episodic
Got an idea for a binge-worthy series? Learn how to bring it to life from the writer/producer/director of the binge-worthy series, Vindication.
Jarod O'Flaherty will share the process of mapping out a season's worth of stories, where to get started, and how to stay sane in the process.
Don't let your idea roll around in your head forever. Learn how to put it on the page and bring it to the screen.
(90 minute workshop)
Jarod O'Flaherty, director and producer of the award winning, faith-based crime drama series Vindication, lives in Texas with his wife of 20+ years and his five children. Previous works include the feature film, My Son, and the World War 2 documentary, We Were There.
Sean Gaffney
Jaclyn Whitt
3:00 pm (Central time)
Live Script Coverage
See how professionals critique screenplays so you can learn how to see your script more objectively. Just like in a writers' room, you'll be invited to share your feedback as the class workshops the script together.
(Optional) FAFF Bootcamp registrants can submit the first 10 pages of their screenplay for the chance to have it critiqued by Sean Gaffney and Jaclyn Whitt live during the workshop. Writers can choose whether to remain anonymous to the group or not. There is no fee to submit and no guarantee that your script will be chosen.
(90 minute workshop)
Sean Gaffney has authored well over two hundred produced plays, features, videos, animation projects, YouTube series episodes and short films (including for Big Idea and SuperBook). He was the Story Administrator for Warner Bros. Features and the Managing Director of Taproot Theatre (Seattle). Gaffney currently is a Professor in Media Communication and Screenwriting at Asbury University, as well as Associate Dean of the School of Communications. He received his BFA from Drake University, his MFA from Columbia University, and studied with Act One: Writing for Hollywood.
Jaclyn Whitt is a multi-award winning screenwriter in both short and long format, garnering 10 first-place awards in National and International screenwriting competitions. As a script consultant, screenwriters seek out her input during their editing process to strengthen their characters and storylines and tighten their scripts. Producers have sent other screenwriters to Jaclyn to help improve, focus, and re-write their screenplays. Her realistic dialogue, unique characters, and non-verbal communication within scripts have been frequently noted and praised. Jaclyn is the Co-director and Education Coordinator for the Faith and Family Filmmakers Association
Shelly Paino
6:00 pm (Central time)
Next Level Story Challenge
Learn how to take your screenplay from good to great with the Next Level Story Challenge.
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Shelly guides you through an actionable process ideal for developing new story ideas or rewriting existing scripts.
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Streamline your writing process and decrease the amount of rewriting.
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Finish with a marketable, easy to pitch, script.
Add more tools to your screenwriting toolbox and craft your next masterpiece with ease.
(90 minute workshop)
Shelly Paino is a produced and award-winning screenwriter who has completed over 50 projects including 25 feature scripts, with many either produced or in various stages of development. She regularly writes on assignment for producers and directors starring talent such as Eric Roberts, Cameron Arnett and Todd Terry. She has served as a film festival judge and worked on both major studio and independent film sets.
Schedule
Summer Bootcamp
July 27, 2025
(Central time)
11:00 - 7:30
Virtual Lounge and Prayer Room (All Day)
11:30 - 12:00
Welcome and Organized Networking
Networking
Workshop Session One
12:00 - 1:30
Acting
Workshop 1
Workshop 2
Producing
Screenwriting
Workshop 3
1:30 - 2:45
BREAK (Virtual Lounge and Prayer Room Open)
2:45 - 3:00
Organized Networking
Networking
3:00 - 4:30
Workshop Session Two
Workshop 4
Acting
Workshop 5
Producing
Workshop 6
Screenwriting
4:30 - 5:30
BREAK (Virtual Lounge and Prayer Room Open)
Workshop Session Three
6:00 - 7:30
Workshop 7
Acting
Workshop 8
Producing
Workshop 9
Screenwriting
5:30 - 6:00
Networking
Awards Presentation
Screenwriting Awards and Organized Networking
Closing Announcements and Prayer (All Other Rooms Closed)
(Central time)