An opportunity to gain insight from top directors! For over 30 years, Sherwood Oaks been providing the best professionals.
Students will experience tremendous insight where they can learn from the TOP DIRECTORS in Hollywood. Avoid the crowds and get the rare opportunity to interact with writers who directed some of the biggest films in the world. As many former students have stated, this session you will learn more in one day then you may learn in an entire semester at a film school. Learn from the pros in the business provide their heartfelt advice.
Students will participate in a Panel Discussion with top Hollywood Directors, Producers and an Actor’s Panel providing valuable hints to enable you to move to the next level. We work hard to make sure we present guests who are not only at the top of their game but who are genuinely interested in meeting emerging talent! Learn from the top directors, many of who started as writers.
This seminar will focus on gaining insight from famous actors, writer-directors, and directors discussing how they evolved as an artist.
PLEASE BRING YOUR PAYPAL RECEIPT
No Walk-In Registration due Sold Out
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1*:
9 to 6 pm
See Confirmed Schedule below …
HALF-Day – Register Now before sell out begins at 1:30 pm and includes JJ Abrams
JJ Abrams – confirmed
Few producers become household names, but JJ Abrams isn’t just any old producer. He not only created the series Felicity, Alias and Lost—he also wrote, directed and even composed music for them. The son of veteran TV producer Gerald W. Abrams, J.J. sold his first screenplay before graduating from college. After a string of films that included Regarding Henry, Forever Young and Armageddon, Abrams turned to the tube in the late ’90s. A tireless multitasker, Abrams also began to delve into directing feature films, most notably Mission: Impossible III (2006) and Star Trek (2009).
- J.J. Abrams Awards:
- 2002 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Nominee
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series – Nominee
- 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series – Nominee
- 2009 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series – Nominee
- 2010 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series – Nominee
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series – Winner
- 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Drama Series – Winner
| • | Won, Lifetime Achievement Award in Television |
| • Norman Lear Achievement Award |
JJ Abrams has now been personally chosen to direct Stars Wars by George Lucas. There are 3 films in the making. We congratulate JJ Abrams and we honored to have him to be part of our forum.
Martin Guigui (The Bronx Bull (Raging Bull 2), Cattle Call, Born to Ride) – confirmed
- Martin Guigui has gone from writing and directing romantic comedies to directing to Dennis Quaid to writing and directing Raging Bull II, now The Bronx Bull, the prequel and sequel film from Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull. His career is taking off including a visit to George Lucas‘ Ranch to direct a foreign film. Find out how he did it. Martin Guigui will bring several of his actors from the film. Recently, Fox has indicated that they will release The Bronx Bull in April 2013.
Confirmed Schedule
9 – Registration
9:30 – The Sessions - Ben Lewin writer-director
Ben Lewin’s career as a writer and director is spread across three continents and includes award-winning documentaries, feature films, TV movies, mini-series and episodic programs.
11 am – Actor/Director panel
Wil Shriver (Director) – Frasier, Becker, Hoot (writer-director)
Tommy Chong – (Actor) – Half Baked, Evil Bong, (Director) – Far Out Man
2 – Keynote speaker - JJ Abrams – writer-director, Star Wars, Star Trek, Lost, Fringe, Person of Interest, Alias, Felicity
2:30 - Bronx Bull (Raging Bull 2) – Theatrical Distribution in April
Bronx Bull (Raging Bull 2) writer-director, Martin Guigui, Joe Montegna, Mojean Aria, producers
This film overcomes great odds including a lawsuit where in was shot on a very tight schedule on a low-budget. The first film ever to be a prequel and sequel that cost less than the original. This film has now secured theatrical distribution by Fox Studios.
Martin Guigui and the producers and actors overcame huge obstacles to make this happen. Learn how they did this.
If you are interested in acting, learn how Mojean Aria, the young Jake LaMotta was the 748th person to audition and how he got the role. He will be featured in Rolling Stone Magazine.
Paul Sorvino is not part of this panel discussion.
4:00 pm – Actor/Director panel
MODERATOR: Joe Mantegna or Gary Shusett
Jerry Mathers (Actor, Director) – Leave it to Beaver
Tony Dow (Actor, Director) – Leave it to Beaver
Tamar Hoffs (Director) – Pound of Flesh (Malcolm McDowell)
Tentative — famous directors have been invited and have orally agreed to attend depending on their schedule
* No guest is guaranteed but they have committed to attending. High level or in demand actors and directors are available depending on their schedule.
Date: February 1, 2013
Time: 9am to 5pm+
Location: Santa Monica Writer’s Bootcamp
(Cloverfield & Highway 10)
Registration: $150/day
Style: Q & A
SOLD OUT — No walk-in registration
Half-Day Registration begins at 1:30 pm
BRING YOUR RECEIPT (canceled check or paypal to obtain entrance)
More guests will be announced as the event gets closer.
This class is not a close encounter class and the class may range from 40 to 60 participants.
Tentative Guest Speaker
Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Austin Powers) – tentative
The Stanford/USC graduate has directed the highly successful Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, starring Mike Myers and Elizabeth Hurley. Working under a tight budget of only 17 million, Roach and Myers were stunned by the popularity of the film, and followed it up with a sequel two years later. Although the sequel, Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me, was up against the much anticipated Star Wars prequel, it held its own, taking in over $54 million in its first weekend and coming in number one at the box office.
For 2000, Roach directed yet another comedy, Meet the Parents (2000). Starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, the film tells the tale of a man trying to get along with his future father-in-law. The film was a huge success and spawned a sequel, Meet the Fockers (2004).
For his work on the TV movie drama Recount (2008), Roach won two Emmys and a 2009 Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement.
Having a certain knack for comedies, he returned to the genre with the 2010 film Dinner for Schmucks (2010) starring Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell.
In 2012, he directed Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in The Campaign and Game Change staring Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson Woody Harrelson received a Critics’ Choice Award, a Golden Nymph Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and five Primetime Emmy Awards.
All guests are subject to availability but have confirmed.