Registering for a conference can be a little bit scary. Sure, there’s the cost of buying a pass and a plane ticket. But there’s also the fear the unknown. Is this conference going to be worth it? Will I really learn anything from these speakers? Will the food trucks have vegan options?
We get it. That’s why we thought this would be a good opportunity to fill you in on what we’ve been working on for 2018 Film + Music Conference. Let’s alleviate some of the trepidation so you can come experience two inspiration-packed days without an iota of fear. Here’s our case for why you should attend.
Round two. Here we go.
Our first year at Film + Music was a huge success, from speakers and breakout sessions to parties and copious amounts of coffee. There are still people talking about it on our Slack Channel. But, as you can guess, planning your first conference is one heck of an undertaking. For year two we’ve laid the groundwork for an even better experience, with a mind-blowing lineup of speakers, re-planned venue spaces, amped-up parties, and maybe even a few surprises up our sleeve.
Our conference is not meant to make money. And it really doesn’t. It’s an experience built for our community and every dime gets put back into the event so we can make it better than ever. This year’s lineup is proof of that! It’s stacked with an immensely talented group of creatives. Here’s a quick rundown with fun fact about each:
Robert Legato
He won Oscars for Titanic, Hugo, and The Jungle Book. He’s also an overall lovely human being who literally changed VFX forever — just read our conversation.
Raine Allen-Miller
She’s an uber-talented director and writer who’s worked at Saatchi & Saatchi, Wieden + Kennedy, and is currently repped at Somesuch — i.e. a person you need to hear from.
Franklin Leonard
He founded The Black List in 2005, a publication that highlights unproduced scripts that have gone on to win dozens of Oscars — in other words, he has a nose for finding gold.
Minhal Baig
Speaking of The Black List, her script HALA was published in 2016! Minhal is on fire in the narrative world, with award-winning films like PRETEXT and AFTER SOPHIE.
TwinTaoers
These brothers are a directing force who use their powers for good. Their film Sleep Well, My Baby was the third entry into Filmsupply Presents and they’ve won awards around the world for their films.
We’ve been very intentional about who we’ve selected to speak at this year’s conference, pulling from a diverse set of backgrounds. Saying there’s “something for everybody” doesn’t really do it justice. If you’re a creative or filmmaker in any realm or regard, you’re going to want to listen to their advice. Oh, and we’re not done adding speakers yet — we’ve got even more game-changers coming up who you won’t want to miss. To learn more about our speakers, check out their full bios here.
Breakout = Breakthrough
Our breakout sessions are an attendee favorite and this year we’ve added even more — with two scheduled for each day of the conference! You’ll get the option to pick from six different sessions so you can tailor your weekend to your interests. These breakouts are held in smaller settings so you can interact with presenters, ask questions, and connect with other attendees.
Just one workshop with any of our breakout presenters would cost as much as a pass (if not more) and you get to choose four of them! These breakout sessions are designed to give you real-world, career-advancing skills you can take home with you:
Dallas Taylor
A verified rockstar in the auditory realm, Dallas Taylor not only founded Defacto Sound, but he also founded/hosts an incredible (and 100% roadtrip approved) podcast called 20k Hertz. In his breakout he’ll share insider tips on how to get the most out of your sound and share his artful approach to the craft.
Laura Merians Gonçalves
She’s a DP who leans towards the visually stunning side of the profession. She’s shot music videos for Björk and Sigur Rós, as well as commercial projects for Guinness, Microsoft, Canon, and more. In her breakout, we’ll construct a tangible set so she can show attendees how to light a scene and share her philosophy for framing a subject.
We’re announcing the rest of our breakouts very soon — including our writing and producing workshops. We don’t want to spoil anything, but we have some big names joining our lineup.
Icing on the cake? More like icing on icing.
We’re not sure what’s more important, the speakers and breakouts we have lined up or the incredible experience we’ve built for our attendees. So, we’ll just call it a draw. This year we’ve gone all out with the details to make sure it’s an unforgettable weekend. We’ll just go with the rapid-fire approach because there’s so much:
Our kickoff party is going down in beautiful Sundance Square, right in the middle of downtown Fort Worth. Stop by to meet some new friends, take in the historic city skyline, and get your conference bag of goodies.
The Film + Music Lounge is back! We’re talking full-on coffee bar (expect some cold brew this year), comfy seating, and plenty of great food. Plus, our good friends at Wild Acre Brewery are back with loads of free beer. The lounge was a highlight last year and this year it’s going to be even better.
Why would we give you a conference T-shirt when you could make your own? The talented team from Trust Printshop is going to be doing live T-shirt printing! Pick your colors, design, and come away with a conference T-shirt that won’t end up lining your cat’s litter box.
We’re bringing in an even bigger fleet of food trucks this year so our attendees can grab a quick bite and dine to their heart’s’ content in the courtyard of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.
Ain’t no party like an afterparty. We’re capping off the weekend with free drinks, apps, and once last chance to make connections before you hit the road. You and your wildest dreams are invited.[vc_gallery type=”flickity_style” images=”168,167,166,165″ flickity_controls=”material_pagination” flickity_desktop_columns=”1″ flickity_small_desktop_columns=”1″ flickity_tablet_columns=”1″ flickity_box_shadow=”none” onclick=”link_no” img_size=”full”]
A real social network
Our conference is essentially built for one purpose — to bring people together. It’s the number-one reason we put on our event every year and probably the number-one reason you should come this year. Passes are already selling fast and we have creatives from around the U.S. and world attending: production companies, freelance filmmakers, creative directors, and more. These are the people you need to connect with, and visa-versa.
It’s not often you get such a diverse group of people together who have so many things in common. Are you looking to hire someone or looking to be hired by someone? Looking to find a collaborator for that film you’ve been dreaming about? There’s no better place than Film + Music Conference to make it happen.
And, if you want to bring your entire team, we have discounts for that! Groups of three or more get 10% off their purchase and groups of 5 or more get their sixth pass free. Groups of 10 more get a high-five from every person at the conference.
And that’s just the conference…
Let’s be honest, we’ve jam-packed conference weekend with more activities than you can shake a stick at, but if you do have the chance to explore our venues more, it’ll be well worth your time. The Fort Worth Community Arts Center has dozens of art galleries that we’re taking full advantage of, plus you’ll have access to the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art — both world-class venues that could take up an entire weekend alone.[vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-15-percent” column_padding_position=”left-right” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]
Alright, we’ll wrap it up. We could talk for hours about the value of coming to Film + Music Conference, because it’s the highlight of our year too. We love meeting new people in our community, connecting with old friends, and dreaming up big, creative ideas. If you’re a creative in any form (and we believe everyone is), then we think you should join us this September. Early bird pricing is over and you have until August 30 before prices go up again, so get your pass, book that flight, and make it happen!
