August 1, 2024
Spotlight on Producer Bronte Payne (AFI Class of 2017)
This month, we sat down with producer Bronte Payne (AFI Class of 2017) to discuss how she went from her native Australia to the AFI Conservatory’s Producing Program to Senior Vice President of Film at LuckyChap. Recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 35 Rising Executives 35 and Under, Bronte has worked...
February 1, 2024
AFI Conservatory Alum Ed Zwick Set to Publish New Memoir and Launch Book Tour
Mark your calendars! This month, readers will be treated to the upcoming memoir “Hits, Flops and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood,” written by Academy® and Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker and AFI Conservatory Alum Ed Zwick (AFI Class of 1975). This new imprint will be published on February 13, 2024, offering an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse...
May 31, 2023
What is Producing and What Does a Producer Do?
JUMP TO SECTION What is Producing? What does a Producer do? Who becomes a Producer? What are the career paths for Producers? What is the Producing program at the AFI Conservatory film school? 10 Producing Terms to Know Recent Projects by AFI Conservatory Producing Alumni What is Film Producing? Film producing encompasses a wide range...
November 1, 2022
Spotlight Interview on Producer Christina Dow
Kicking off tomorrow, AFI FEST 2022 features transformative stories from innovative artists, including producer Christina Dow (AFI Class of 2015) who is set to return to the festival for a second time with her new film MONICA. Christina began her career with ties to art history and theater – most notably producing “The Blue Room,”...
August 1, 2022
AFI Spotlight on Emmy®-Nominated Producer Diane Becker
This month, AFI spoke with Diane Becker (AFI Class of 2006) who has made a name for herself as a creative and versatile producer in the documentary space. Her credits include SERGIO – shortlisted for the Oscar®, the docuseries FIVE CAME BACK, THE FINAL YEAR, SID & JUDY, WHIRLYBIRD and TINA – for which she...
March 1, 2022
Spotlight on Independent Spirit Award-Nominated Producer Pin-Chun Liu
Since graduating from the AFI Conservatory, Producer Pin-Chun Liu (AFI Class of 2013) has made a name for herself in the world of independent producing. In 2016, she established her own development and production company,120E Films, to bring diverse and underrepresented voices to the screen. In the past three years, Liu has produced PAPER TIGER...
June 1, 2021
AFI Alum Deniese Davis Discusses Producing and the Inaugural AFI Alumni Council
After graduating from the AFI Conservatory, Deniese Davis (AFI Class of 2012) launched her career producing music videos, short films and digital content, including Issa Rae’s award-winning web series THE MIS-ADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL. In 2014, she teamed up with Rae to form ColorCreative, a management company which provides access and opportunities for diverse…
May 1, 2021
AFI Alum Constanza Castro Partners With Lena Waithe and Indeed to Launch Rising Voices Initiative
Photo by Tori Time Following her graduation from the AFI Producing Program, Constanza Castro (AFI Class of 2015) founded the production company 271 Films with her sister Domenica and has been at the forefront of creating innovative content including award-winning videos, short films, and commercials. Their eclectic work has been featured on sites such as...
May 26, 2020
Watch: Kathleen Kennedy on Producing
AFI Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Kennedy recently joined AFI Fellows for an online Harold Lloyd Master Seminar to speak about what she’s learned over the course of her career as one of the most well-respected and sought-after producers in the business. Kennedy is currently the president of Lucasfilm and co-founder of Amblin. She started…
March 4, 2020
AFI Alum Heidi Levitt On Collaborating With Directors and Casting Sally Potter’s New Film
AFI alumna Heidi Levitt (Class of 1987) has established herself as a versatile casting director and producer, crisscrossing artistic mediums from theater to television to film to commercials. Her new film, THE ROADS NOT TAKEN, recently had its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Reuniting with director Sally Potter for the fourth time,…
January 30, 2020
AFI Member Spotlight: Elika Portnoy on Producing and Premiering NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS at Sundance
Producer and AFI National Council member Elika Portnoy’s critically acclaimed new film NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS follows a teenage girl and her best friend’s perilous journey from their native Pennsylvania to New York City to obtain an abortion. Directed by indie auteur Eliza Hittman, the film recently premiered at Sundance and is set to be…
September 20, 2019
Member Spotlight: Carla Rosen-Vacher on Producing Orson Welles’ Last Film, Honoring her Blacklisted Aunt, and Being an AFI Member
AFI member Carla Rosen-Vacher is as unassuming as she is passionate about her love of film and theater. She has taken up the mantle of film producer, helping to complete Orson Welles’ unfinished and final film, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND, as an executive producer — an impressive feat considering Welles shot nearly 100…
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