All workshops are free and open to the public. See below for which workshops will take place in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and be streamed through Facebook Live and which events are only available over Facebook Live.

Hollywood Filmmaker: Leonora Anzaldua

Date: Friday, April 21

Time: 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Location: Rita Blitt Gallery

Leonora's short films have screened at festivals, earned numerous awards, and received a Student Emmy nomination, a Student Academy Award nomination, and an Imagen Award nomination. In addition to working as a cinematographer and director, Leonora is developing a magical-realist kids adventure movie and several episodic projects.

Featured Panel: Women in Film talk Health & Healing

Date: Saturday, April 22

Time: 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Location: Facebook Live

Sue Vicory, an award-winning filmmaker, has put together a panel of all-female filmmakers to talk about health and healing in film.

Featured panelists include: Darria Dennison, Lolo Loren, Jill Gevargizian, Jamie Morrow, and Mary Pruitt

Filmmaker Q&A with The Pulpit Film Crew

Date: Saturday, April 22

Time: 2:45 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Facebook Live

"The Pulpit" is a crime thriller about a progressive, midwestern pastor who fights to reclaim her pulpit when her church is threatened by extremists, while a skeptical FBI agent reaces to uncover a terrorist before an attack. Inspired by a true story. The film was produced by Chris Commons, Mary Kay Cook, Tosin Morohunfola, Christian Watkins, and Kevin Willmott.

Filmmaker Talk: Featuring Micah Brown

Date: Saturday, April 22

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Micah Brown is the principal director and owner of the production company Second Wind Creative, Micah has been awarded multiple Emmy’s for his work and has earned the trust of some of the top television networks in the world, including ESPN, Showtime, Peacock, NFL Network, Netflix, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Big 10 Network, Golf Channel, Uninterrupted, and Bleacher Report.

Featured Workshops

Health & Healing in Film

Date: Saturday, April 22 at 10 a.m.

Location: The workshop will be hosted at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and on Facebook Live.

Dennis Etzel Jr. is an award-winning published author who teaches English at Washburn University. He is a TALK Scholar for the Kansas Humanities Council and leads poetry workshops across Kansas. He earned a master's degree and graduate certificate in women and gender studies at the University of Kansas. Dennis has received outstanding awards for his achievements, including a 2017 Troy Scroggins Award, and the 2017 Topeka ARTSConnect Arty Award in Literary Arts.

Editing in Film

Date: Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m.

Location: The workshop will be hosted at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and on Facebook Live.

Allan Holzman is a well-known filmmaker and editor who has worked extensively in Hollywood with some of the most iconic filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Roger Corman. He’s very skilled in his field, often challenging himself to an array of different projects, and using his skill to help others turn their works into accomplished pieces. 

Entrepreneurship in Film

Date: Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m. 

Location: The workshop will be hosted at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and on Facebook Live.

Rick LeJeurrne is a Lecturer at the School of Business at Washburn University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washburn University and then his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. He helps students to use strategic business models, develop pro forma financials, create opportunities, and work on pitching ideas. Outside of Washburn, he helps young entrepreneurs to navigate and grow their businesses.