There are dozens of classes and seminars that profess to teach what a producer does, but very few that teach the manner in which one should do it. How do you schmooze, cold call, or work a room? What approach and choice of words will make an impression when you only have 60 seconds? How can you be persistent without being a pest? And how do you avoid wearing “the smelly coat of desperation*?”

In this session, Stu Pollard will offer tips and advice on how to best carry yourself as a producer; why a script or screener thrust into another producer’s hand often does far more harm than good; and why it’s better to be wanted than to want.

About the speaker

Stu Pollard’s popular Business Plan/Private Equity class is a consistent sell out each time we hold it at Film Independent. With over a decade of filmmaking experience, Stu has plenty of production knowledge to share. His producing credits include Rust Creek, And Then I Go, Men Go to Battle, True Adolescents, Dirty Country and Ira & Abby.

Pollard’s Lunacy Productions has numerous projects in development, including the riveting two-hander The Man Who Knew Belle Starr (based on the award-winning Richard Bausch short story and adaptation by Rust Creek writer Julie Lipson), the uproarious southern political satire Wonderdog (based on the novel by Inman Majors), Begin River Road, a family drama based on the Chris Bohjalian best-seller, and Alas, Babylon, a post-apocalyptic survival parable based on Pat Frank’s classic Cold War-era novel.

Pollard has directed two features; the rom-com Nice Guys Sleep Alone and the suspense drama Keep Your Distance. In addition to Film Independent, he teaches at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He holds a degree in business from Georgetown and an MFA in film from USC, and is a member of the PGA and DGA.

Please note: This event is non-refundable (no credit/exchanges) and will not be available on demand.

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*Ava DuVernay, Film Independent Forum Keynote