Last week, MPI concluded its Producing Seminar, a two-day intensive course on producing independent films, as part of the Rising Filmmakers Program. On the first day, a diverse group of participants, including both aspiring and established filmmakers dedicated to creating impactful, independent films, connected with each other. They learned the essentials of line production and budgeting, gained critical knowledge on navigating union collaborations, and acquired essential skills in film financing, along with invaluable industry insights.

The seminar featured distinguished speakers, including MPI’s senior vice president and member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Lana Link (Pinball, Kemba); producer, line producer, and UPM Michael Mandaville (Taken, Taken 2, Taken 3, Above Suspicion, Havoc); National Director of Entertainment Contracts at SAG-AFTRA Jessica Johnson; and accomplished entertainment and investment executive Tyler Zacharia (Silence, The Irishman, The Starling).

On the second day, MPI provided participants passes to attend the PGA’s Produced By Conference on the Fox Lot, where they explored AI’s role in filmmaking and gained insights into pitching, selling, and launching TV series, as well as the future of producing.

MPI’s Rising Filmmaker Program cultivates and educates the next generation of pro-freedom filmmakers, offering invaluable networking opportunities and facilitating their entry into the industry. This program not only produces high-quality content but also contributes to the expansion of our extensive community of filmmakers, whose work will advance the ideals of human freedom for generations to come.