Since the fall of 2017, we have been filming performances and interviews for the documentary Athens, GA: Thirty Years On, a follow-up to the 1987 cult classic Athens, GA: Inside-Out.  Featuring music and the behind-the-scenes stories of Athens-based artists like Pylon Reenactment Society, Drive-By Truckers, Linqua Franqa, New Madrid, Cindy Wilson of the B-52s, and many more, the film delves into the progressive scene found in the small college town of Athens.

You can help us finish the film, and earn some awesome rewards for doing so, by donating to our GoFundMe at:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/athens-ga-30-years-on-film

The cast has been announced!  Page to Stage will be presenting Georgia screenwriter AJ Jones' hilarious comedy The Mystery Gang on Sunday, Feb 10th at 4:00 pm!

Get tickets here:
http://www.atlantafilmsociety.org/calendar/2019/2/10/page-to-stage-the-mystery-gang

Starring Daryn Kahn, Robert Walker Branchaud, Jasmine Burke, Rowan Bousaid, Olubajo Sonubi, Ronny Matthew, Wilbur Fitzgerald, Jessica Miesel and Amber Nash, and directed by Rhavynn Drummer, the reading will be hosted by the Atlanta Film Society at the historic Plaza Theatre. (Please click their names to link to their respective websites!)

It started with an off-hand remark.  My friend, Charlie Stauffer, and I were talking about how to promote Georgia-based screenwriters to the fast-growing film production hub in Atlanta.  We knew the Atlanta Film Society would be a great partner, where Anna Vecellio brought together an amazing team to support the project, including casting director and actress Susan G. Reid and producer/writer Roni Brown.

We have lined up a great list of industry guests to discuss the script and how Georgia can make locally written films successful!

See you there!
DARK

As the holidays warm our hearths, I want to wish all of my friends and fellow filmmakers many blessings!  May your year end with joy and celebration for all that you have accomplished.

I am honored to be spending these final days in 2018 working on a very exciting project as a screenwriter.  While the NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) restrains the information I can share right now, it will suffice to say that the story is something that I connected to instantly: a story that makes the world a better place by being told.   I truly appreciate the producer's faith in my ability to give this story the voice it needs.

Coming in January is an event that I have been working closely with the Atlanta Film Festival to bring to fruition.  The Page to Stage (P2S) competition gives Georgia screenwriters the opportunity to have their scripts performed in a live staged reading with professional actors and director.  I am amazed at the creative team we've put together, and I look forward to seeing you there!
http://www.atlantafilmsociety.org/page-to-stage/

I enjoyed organizing the Black List  Atlanta Happy Hour events this year.  Many thanks to the wonderful guests that have joined us: writer/director Emily Dell of the CryptTV series Troubled Youth, Michael Lucker's Screenwriter School, PeachyScreen, Adam Jahnke of the podcast Tribulation, and Laconic Productions. Laconic's Shaun Mathis and screenwriter Arianna Hester have stepped into leading the group for the next year, and I look forward to seeing them in 2019!
Sign up here:
https://blcklst.com/events/

Atlanta Film Festival also hosted the Screencraft Writers Summit this year! It was an amazing event, featuring Academy and Emmy-winning screenwriters talking frankly about craft and business, and I can't wait to attend again in 2019!
https://screencraft.org/atlanta/

My students at the Georgia Film Academy this year have enjoyed field trips to see guest speakers at the Atlanta Film Festival, Georgia Production Partnership, CineGear Expo, ARRI Camera Rental, Eagle Rock Studios, VER Camera Rental, MBS Equipment Rental, The Rag Place, Chapman-Leonard Dolly Rentals, Pinewood Studios, IATSE 479 and many other industry events!  Many thanks to all of the professionals who have generously given their time!
Learn more at:
https://www.georgiafilmacademy.org/

I wish you all the best film-making adventures in 2019!  Keep those cameras rolling!
--DARK

The thaw has begun! As temperatures rise, the film festivals re-emerge with workshops, discussions panels, networking events and (of course) screenings.  I have been honored to be invited to several festivals as a guest speaker.

In March, I spoke at SOGA (Southern Georgia Film Festival) about working behind the scenes in the film industry, and I was honored to serve as a judge for the competition.  Congrats to the winners!  Check out SOGA at:
http://southgeorgiafilm.com/

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting the filmmakers and students at the Mosaic Film Festival, where I taught a master class on directing actors and spoke on the industry panel.  I appreciate the opportunity to talk about doing what I love!  Check out Mosaic at:
http://mosaicfilmfestival.weebly.com/

I am incredibly excited to be attending the ScreenCraft Writers Summit at the Atlanta Film Festival!  I spoke with the Summit's executive director, Emily Dell, on the Atlanta Film Chat with Chuck Thomas over the weekend.  Be sure to check out the ScreenCraft Writers Summit at:
https://screencraft.org/atlanta/

Additionally, I will be attending the Atlanta Film Festival April 12-22, often bringing my GFA students to the amazing Creative Conferences!  Be sure to say hi!
http://atlantafilmfestival.com/

I will also be joining the Milledgeville Eatonton Film Festival April 24-29 as a Moderator for the Screenwriting Panel.  I hope you can us there!
https://www.milledgevillefilmfest.com/

See you at the movies!
DARK

The Georgia Film Academy (GFA), which opened in 2016, has garnered national recognition from Variety Magazine, Forbes Magazine and others for its innovative program. 

Focused on workforce development, with the support of Governor Nathan Deal, the GFA has placed over 450 students on internships with professional film and television productions like Marvel Films, The Walking Dead, MacGyver, Stranger Things and more!

Read the articles at:
http://bit.ly/2wif2Zs
http://bit.ly/2xy4QKL

I have been honored to work closely with this program to prepare the filmmakers of tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing you on set!

Learn more about GFA at:
http://georgiafilmacademy.org/

DARK

We  look forward to  screening our short film BANKS OF THE VLTAVA at the Something Wicked Film Festival this weekend.  We will be showing the film out of competition, as we discuss the process of making it.  BANKS OF THE VLTAVA was originally released in 2010 and was invited to screen in over dozen festivals, playing as wide as Edinburgh, Scotland; Toronto, Canada; NYC and LA, winning a CLAW Award at the Terror Film Festival.

You can join us for the film on Sunday, August 6th, at 5:00 pm.  Location for the event is Southern Performing Arts Academy, 3315 Sugarloaf Pkwy SW, Ste 15, Lawrenceville, GA 30044.  Parking is free, and tickets can be purchased at:
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/somethingwickedfilmfestival/tickets

See you at the movies!
DARK

In 1987, a documentary about the sensational music scene of Athens, GA, premiered, featuring R.E.M., the B-52's, Pylon, and many others.  Now, in 2017, I am honored to be working with the producers to shoot ATHENS, GA... 30 YEARS ON.  Please check out the GoFundMe below!

We loved shooting footage of the band Happyness with Athens icons Club Gaga!  If you haven't checked out their tunes yet, you should drop your burrito and go buy the album right now.  I've got it set on repeat!

See you in Athens!
Dan

Between shooting a documentary, starting summer semester for Georgia Film Academy at Pinewood Atlanta Studios, and the launch of our capital raise for the production of CHATTANOOGA at the Ritz Group's Creative + Investor Summit, the last two weeks has made for a busy time!

The music documentary  will continue filming in August, and I look forward to announcing our producing partners!

I appreciate the interest from investors we met at the Ritz Group Creative + Investor Summit in the feature film CHATTANOOGA.  I am excited to  work toward bringing this important story  to the screen, with a target production date of next summer.

In the meantime, I am very thankful for the fantastic students  and my fellow GFA faculty and staff, as we work toward making Atlanta the hottest filmmaking scene in the world!

Roll cameras!
Dan

Many thanks to everyone who joined us at Get Connected this past Thursday for the screening of the Banks of the Vltava trailer!  I appreciate the positive feedback, and I hope to share more good news about the continuing progress for the project soon!

This Wednesday, May 1st, we look forward to hosting Brian Egeston and Adrian Dukes, writers for Tyler Perry Studios, at the May Black List Happy Hour networking event.  Other recent guests have included Craig Miller Productions and the director of the Atlanta Film Festival Screenwriting Competition.  It's always a great chance to  learn about the industry and meet new partners!

I hope to see you around the ATL film-making scene!

I began teaching with the Georgia Film Academy just this year, and already my first students are graduating! I am excited to announce that, as the program continues to grow, I will be moving from an adjunct to a full-time position as instructor.

The 18 credit hour certification program focuses on job training and placement in the film industry, and I am very proud of the success of my students.  Here's just a few of the recent jobs they are working:

Wardrobe Assistant on The Walking Dead
Set PA on The Walking Dead
Special Effects Prop-maker on a Marvel film
Camera Assistant on Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell
Set Dresser on Underground
Set Dresser on MacGyver
Grip on Moon Shine Still
Sales and Rentals for Manhattan Beach Studios
Camera Technician for Cineverse/VER Camera Rentals
And much more!

Congratulations to all the recent graduates!

The GFA partners with major studio productions, network television series, independent films and local support facilities to provide internships to students, often leading to paid positions and union membership.

One of the highlights, for me, is that I do not simply teach, but because of GFA's unique relationship with an active industry, I continue to be involved in productions.  Working with producers and department heads, I am engaged in the development of film projects and student learning opportunities.