2021
VFF's Inspiring Future Filmmakers returned in-person at The Studios at Assembly Park!
Four seminars over two days, each exploring a range of topics with speakers who are directly immersed in the industry. The seminars included guided Q&A's with the speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.
See below for more information on the featured industry professionals.
Seminar 1:
An Actor's Guide on Directing Actors
Amy Jo Johnson
Actor, Writer, Producer & Director
Amy Jo Johnson is the epitome of a multi-faceted artist. She has embraced art in all forms throughout her career and has made a true mark in television on such programs as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Felicity, and Flashpoint. Today, she is taking the film industry by storm - bringing her creative juices into the direction and production of such films as The Space Between and Tammy's Always Dying.
Sergio Di Zio
Actor & Producer
Sergio Di Zio has been acting in film, television and theatre for over thirty years. Winner of several awards, including the Gemini and the Dora Mavor Moore and recieving multiple nominations across every medium, Sergio has over 100 film credits and has performed on stages across the country. A series regular on Flashpoint, Rogue, and This is Wonderland, he has also guest starred and been featured in Transplant, The Queen's Gambit, Coroner, and Chucky: The Series. He has been directed by Oscar and Emmy Award winning directors Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, John Maddan, Scott Frank, and Christoph Waltz. His theatre credits include the world premieres of This is War, Scorched (English Translation), and Leo, and the Toronto premieres of Detroit, Between Riverside and Crazy, and The Motherfucker With the Hat.
Seminar 2:
Weaving Sound Webs: Editing Dialogue, Sound Effects, and Music for Film
Steven Ticknor
Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer
& Re-Recording Mixer
Steven Ticknor began his career as a sound editor at Sony Pictures Studios in 1990. Since then, he has applied his talents to nearly 100 feature films including such box office hits as Bad Boys for Life, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and The Karate Kid. Along the way, he has earned six Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Award nominations. Skilled in all aspects of motion picture sound, Ticknor marks the milestones in his life, not in terms of years, but rather by movie titles. He is a passionate believer in the power of sound as a storytelling tool.
Seminar 3:
Picture Perfect: Creating a Powerful Narrative Through Editing
J.J. Geiger
Picture Editor
J.J. Geiger is a Los Angeles-based Picture Editor who has worked on several popular series including CW's Gossip Girl and The Carrie Diaries, CBS's Scorpion, and most recently, the Amazon Original series Reacher. His diverse editing portfolio also includes documentaries and even local programming, for which his production team won an LA regional Emmy.