Bicoastal creative PR agency Press Kitchen, LA-based digital networking group DigitalLA and SHIFT, provider of creative workflow software including MediaSilo and Wiredrive, host Filmmakers Born of a Digital Age: Making a Name For Yourself in an Online World panel event to shine a spotlight on directors who have leveraged the tools and digital platforms of the current media landscape to find directorial success. The panel of emerging directorial talent with commercial successes already under their belts will provide insight on how the digital environment has shaped their launch into the industry and the challenges this also presents. The event will take place at Phase Two in Culver City on Tuesday, April 24th from 7 pm to 9:30 pm.

Doors open at 6:30 pm, and attendees ranging from Digital LA’s robust network of digital content creators, filmmakers, influencers, marketing, tech, production and advertising agency professionals, can network and explore a tricked out on-site Airstream trailer. The Airstream, sponsored by SHIFT, is an entirely mobile state-of-the-art production unit fresh from its sojourn at the 2018 NAB Show. In addition, SHIFT will promote their Creative Fund Narrative Short Film Grant, which is opening for applications on May 1. The grant awards three filmmakers access to high-level consultations, a creative working space and production funding of up to $30,000 each.

Click HERE to RSVP.

Panel Summary: In today’s online world--where digital production is inexpensive and talent can soar to success on YouTube--launching yourself as a director has never been easier, yet is difficult in new ways. With digital platforms providing an open marketplace to connect directors with brands, and social media as a calling card for personal and professional brands, directors turn day-to-day media innovations into monetizable assets. Some directors have even stoked their success by creating their own viral-worthy content, producing attention-grabbing, shareable video that gets both media and viewer attention.

Moderated by Wiredrive co-founder Bill Sewell, this panel of emerging directorial talent will share their stories and offer advice on how to navigate the digital multiverse as a content creator, as well as how to overcome the parallel challenges it also presents.

Moderator: Bill Sewell, Co-Founder of Wiredrive

Bill Sewell is the co-founder of Wiredrive, a secure media-sharing and collaboration platform for creative professionals. Now under the SHIFT umbrella, Wiredrive, MediaSilo, SafeStream and Screeners.com empower creators on all levels within film, TV and advertising serving 2000 companies worldwide, to develop and deliver exceptional work. Bill works with the SHIFT team on Sales and Marketing Operations, searching for data-driven insights to sell more efficiently.

Bill is a digital native, beginning his career in the Internet before the “big series of tubes” was cool.  Prior to SHIFT and Wiredrive, Bill founded and ran Intranet Studio Ltd. which built the first promotions extranet for the TV industry in 1995. His work for CBS won Baseline Magazine’s technology award in 1998.

Bill rides bikes 5000 miles a year, plays bass and violin, and enjoys free-heel skiing.  He’s a graduate of Pomona College and lives with his wife Lisa and two daughters, Sophie and Fiona, in Pacific Palisades.

Director Panelists:

Mccoy | Meyer, Directing Duo at Rodeo Show Productions

Mccoy | Meyer is an award-winning directing duo made up of Eric McCoy and Justus Meyer. The pair leverages their passion for storytelling and signature comedic-approach to extract the most entertaining narratives, regardless of the format. They’ve crafted over 100 commercials, short films and award-winning music videos for such artists as Fall Out Boy, Flights Over Phoenix, The Johnsons, FLOR, Devin Kirtz, among others.

Carrie Stett, Director at Washington Square Films

Carrie Stett’s award-winning work has reached viral status taking in over 120 million views combined. She has worked with social media influencers and brands to create shows for Disney/ABC, Yahoo!, Univision, Facebook, Instagram. In 2017, she was included in the lauded SHOOT New Directors Showcase.

An early adopter in the space, Stett has directed Facebook Live productions for top brands including Kleenex, Jell-O, Toyota, Walgreens, WhoSay, Paramount, singer Michael Bolton, Surya Spa, Major League Baseball and Latin network mitu.

She began her career at the Tennis Channel, where she wrote and produced the travel and interview series Open Access. She continued to write and produce a wide range of unscripted series work, organically shifting into directing while working at ABC Studios. She directed and produced the digital comedy series General Hospital Now!, the comedic companion series hosted by Nancy Lee Grahn, which generated renewed interest in the soap. Stett also brought her storytelling skills to Univision’s Drop the Mic with Becky G, which documented the Latina pop sensation’s early days as her career was taking off. The series was nominated for a 2014 Cablefax Award.

Josh Ruben, Director at Honor Society

Josh Ruben is a 5-time Webby award-winning actor, writer, and director, best known for directing and/or starring in thousands of shorts for comedy mega site CollegeHumor. His comedic skill set can be seen in work for such brands as Geico, Lucky Charms, Vitamin Water, Ford, TurboTax, NFL, Vogue and Columbia Sportswear. He recently directed half of the upcoming Netflix action/comedy series, “The Green Beret’s Guide to Surviving: The Apocalypse,” executive produced by Matt Damon and Peter Berg. He is also one of the founding producers of The Woodstock Comedy Festival, a non-profit event in his hometown of Woodstock, New York, which donates proceeds to the fight against domestic violence and human trafficking.

Josh joined Honor Society in 2018, and has already helmed campaigns for Michaels and the Bronx Zoo.

Gandja Monteiro, Director at GLORIA Content

Gandja Monteiro is a writer, director and producer who has directed commercials and branded content for top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Google, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Chevrolet and Smirnoff, among others. She recently wrapped production on her first TV project, an hour-long episode for HBO's documentary series YOUTH. Monteiro was accepted into the highly-competitive American Film Institute (AFI) Directing Workshop for Women and directed a female-led sci-fi short that will debut at the Academy Theater in Los Angeles. She is also currently in production for a Google digital series.

About Press Kitchen
Since 2000, Press Kitchen has garnered measurable results by taking a creative approach to PR. Working for leaders in media and advertising, hot startups, digital innovators, VR disruptors and Oscar®-winning filmmakers, our goal is to increase traction for clients’ projects and elevate awareness of their brands and accomplishments.

About SHIFT
SHIFT makes intuitive tools that make creators successful. SHIFT's brands, including MediaSilo and Wiredrive, have been at the heart of media, advertising and entertainment for more than a decade. We'll soon be launching SHIFT, the first creative workflow platform built for speed, control, and ease-of-use that scales from small teams to large enterprises.

About DigitalLA
Digital LA is LA’s largest digital entertainment networking group, reaching more than 50,000 digital professionals weekly via our newsletter and social media.  Attendees include Hollywood executives from movie studios, agencies, game companies, and labels, as well as Silicon Beach startup CEOs, VCs, investors, angels, and more.