“Underground” Cast Honored & Season 2 Premiers at SCAD

by

Danielle Wilcox

ATLANTA, Georgia — Feb. 4, 2017 — Stars of the critically acclaimed breakout hit, “Underground” took center stage at SCAD’s signature television event, aTV Fest to win the Spotlight Cast Award on February 2^nd.

The hit show created by Misha Green and Jo Polaski, tackles dark days of American slavery. Stars of the show, Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Amirah Vann accepted the award along with newcomer Aisha Hinds who will be portraying Harriet Tubman.

Stars of the show gave credit to the directors for their role in the show’s success.

“They do not shy away from honesty or presenting a whole human being. No one is one dimensional”, said Vann regarding Green and Polaski.

Festival attendees were treated to an early cut of the Season 2 premiere which explores the struggle for freedom and what it means to be a citizen vs a soldier within the world of ‘Underground’ which is set in the late 1850s.

Season of Underground airs March 8^th on WGN America at 10 PM.

The 5^th annual aTV Fest runs February 2^nd – 4^th at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and other honorees include Jennifer Morrison and Jenna Elfman.

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This story also appears on Today's Spotlight

American Film Market 2017? Or Have I Gone Bust?

American Film Market 2017? Or Have I Gone Bust?

So...as fall gets ready to roll around yet again, I am once again looking at American Film Market as an event option I so long to attend. The big problem right now is a lack of resources. Yes, I realize the year is only half over so you may be wondering how that is possible, especially since I have neglected my blog since covering aTV Fest this February (I'm going to work my way back to a post a month).

But this year I have:

• Participated in  New Mavericks ( free event for female filmmakers sponsored by the Atlanta Film Society)
• Renewed my WIFTA Membership and attended several events ( I did the 2-year membership for roughly 120 bucks)
• Traveled to Miami for the American Black Film Festival in June ( the Early Bird badge alone was $350)
• Become a member of Bridge17, a writer's room ( monthly membership fees range from $25-$50)
• Attended the Content Creator Awards of Atlanta ( General Admission to the awards was only about $30 dollars)

That being said, the accumulation of these events be their price tags equal great or small amounts, have been a significant investment in my craft. This investment is not only financial but deeply impacts the amount of time and energy I have to allocate to do other things. Time, energy and money are resources in limited supply.

I went to all of these opportunities for one reason though--- I love films & television. I love being part of the process of making films and television and I want to be apart of shaping what appears on television and alternate viewing platforms.


American Film Market in Los Angeles is a great opportunity to be apart of shaping that process as this is where several projects are pitched, purchased and produced programming finds a distribution channel.

There is one thought that I keep coming back to though. These events, including Amercian Film Market. Though they are related to screenwriting, they are actually not... writing, which means they do impact my time to actually push my keyboard to the max as I pound out  a new scene in Final Draft (oh I bought that this year too, add $129 for the student edition if you are running a tab).

While I haven't completely counted out California's monarch pitch & purchase festival, but I have some thinking to do. How do you determine and balance writing time with writing-related event time? I'd love to hear from you on what's working.


Always,

-Danielle W.
#keepwriting

SCAD 2017 aTVfest Has Begun!

Greetings Screenwriting Newbies,


It is that time of year again. Television creators, producers, and actors descend on Atlanta's SCAD campus for aTV Fest. The three-day festival focused on television kicked off Thursday, Feb 2.

I had the pleasure of attending last night's events as a Guest Correspondent with Today's Spotlight.

Thursdays Lineup included "24 Legacy", "Underground", and several industry panels.

The full schedule for the remaining activities can be viewed at  http://www.atvfest.com/ and there are still tickets available.

I highly recommend this event if you based in the Southeast and want to take part in the television making landscape.

#keepwriting

- DW