2022 PANEL DISCUSSION
Shooting On A Shoestring Budget
Join us for a live panel discussion featuring Stefan Avalos, Phillip Carroll & Tom Verdi. Moderated by our very own James Breckenridge.
October, 15th 2022 (Saturday)
Location: The TileWorks of Bucks County
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
More Information
Stefan Avalos
In 1993, Stefan wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, The Game.
In 1997, Stefan partnered with Lance Weiler to write, direct, produce and co-star in The Last Broadcast. The Last Broadcast received international acclaim as the first desktop based feature film and then went on to many festivals, winning Best Feature Film Silver Prize at The Chicago Underground Film Festival. The trek continued when, partnering with Esther Robinson and David Beard, Wavelength Releasing was created. In October 1998, Wavelength Releasing made cinematic history with the first fully digital national theatrical release of a feature film via satellite. In 1999, The Last Broadcast became the first feature motion picture to screen digitally at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2016, Avalos completed Strad Style, his first feature length documentary. It premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2017 where it won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for Best Documentary. It went on to be a hit in festivals around the world, garnering thirteen awards. It is distributed by Hulu and Gravi-tas. Stefan produces visual effects and graphics for Television and Film through the boutique post-studio, Caveman Post and is currently in pre-production on ATM BOY.
Phillip G. Carroll Jr.
Phillip is a filmmaker from Southampton, Pennsylvania and founding partner of Aspire Motion Pictures. Phillip studied Film & Media Arts at Temple University where his short film, WORDS OF ATONEMENT, won Best Undergraduate Film during his freshman year. His Senior Thesis film, THE ROAD TO JERICHO, won the Audience Award for its premiere at The National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle, Washington. He graduated summa cum laude in 2014. In 2017, the pitch for his first feature film, sci-fi psychological thriller THE HONEYMOON PHASE, was a top five finalist in Project Greenlight and Shudder’s REEL FEAR HORROR CONTEST. As a result, Phillip was chosen to be a fellow in the 2017 Shudder Labs, hosted by AMC Networks. THE HONEYMOON PHASE was released by Dark Sky Films on August 21st, 2020 and is currently available to stream through Amazon Prime, Vudu, and Tubi. Phillip’s professional goal is to tell meaningful stories that challenge society’s beliefs and capture the human condition. His mission is to make you feel an emotional connection to the rest of the audience, because whether your life is like a drama, comedy, or horror film, you are never alone.
THOMAS VERDI
Verdi is an award-winning writer/director/producer from Philadelphia. He founded and runs a film funding company called The Film Fund (thefilmfund.co), which has been featured by Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, Film Independent, and more. He also writes, directs, and produces films of his own or for corporate clients. His Best of Fest-winning film, “Son of Blackbeard”, can be watched at thomasverdi.com, and he is currently in post-production of his latest black comedy short film, “The Toms.”
Moderator
JAMES BRECKENRIDGE
James has worked in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. In 1995, his years of professional training and experience culminated in the founding of The PlayCrafters Group. As its Director, he specializes in helping writers from all over the country develop producible scripts for motion pictures, television and theatre. His work focuses on helping writers target the essential elements of their stories to achieve results that specifically serve their original vision. He has been rated in the Top Ten of Script Consultants from around the country and recommended as the Best of the Best Buys in Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s review of leading script consultants.
In addition to private classes, coachings and consultations, Mr. Breckenridge has been a featured speaker at The Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, The Algonquin Film Festival, The Bucks Fever FilmFest and has presented seminars at the SCREENWRITING EXPO in Los Angeles, California where he was named “Star Speaker.” Mr. Breckenridge has served on the Theatrical Motion Pictures Nominating Committee for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and as a Judge for the Freestyle Repertory Theater in New York City, Juror for The Philadelphia Film Festival’s Feature Film Competition, Juror for the American Independents category for the Philadelphia Film Festival/Cinefest as well as the Bucks Fever FilmFest.
Trained for the professional theatre, Mr. Breckenridge received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. Over the years, he has performed professionally on radio, television, film and on stage. His work has taken him to Europe twice, once touring Germany and Italy, and a second time, appearing at The Edinburgh Festival in Scotland and in London. He currently maintains active memberships with both The Actors’ Equity Association and the SAG-AFTRA Union.