Filmmaker, Consultant, Author, and Curator Jon Fitzgerald joins the conversation on the MAKE IT Podcast.

After getting rejected from Sundance, Jon Fitzgerald went on to found the legendary Slamdance Film Festival and have a decades-long career championing independent filmmakers. In this conversation, he shares invaluable lessons learned from a lifetime in the industry - from starting his own festival to making impactful documentaries and advising countless creatives. Jon provides a rare insider's look at everything from fundraising and programming to distribution strategies. For any filmmaker seeking inspiration and practical tips from a true renaissance man of cinema, this talk is a must-listen.

Filmmaking, festivals, and advocacy with guests Chris Barkley, Nicholas Buggs, and Jon Fitzgerald. (0:13)
Filmmaking career, from Sundance rejection to festival directing and social impact films. (2:41)
Productizing film festivals and creating a successful event. (6:16)
Challenges of running a film festival, including budgeting and sponsorship. (13:09)
Creating successful film festivals by engaging the local community and offering unique experiences. (15:43)
Balancing local filmmakers with big-name movies at film festivals. (22:25)
Film school value, networking, and personal experience. (25:50)
Filmmaking, learning from others, and personal experiences. (33:15)
Networking, film festivals, and creativity. (37:09)
Buying DVDs for schools, with focus on An Inconvenient Truth. (44:02)
Climate change and government responses in Spain. (46:36)
Filmmaking, rejection, and perseverance. (53:17)
Filmmaking and storytelling for social impact. (55:42)
Film festival strategies and mastery course for filmmakers. (1:02:44)
Helping filmmakers navigate festivals and achieve success. (1:05:25)
Filmmaking, impressions, and sustainability. (1:12:49)
Race and representation in Hollywood, including the casting of non-white actors in classic roles. (1:15:24)
Representation in movies and comics, with a focus on race and gender. (1:22:33)
Disney's reboot of "Good Times" and concerns about representation and cultural relevance. (1:26:24)
Music history, creativity, and industry influence. (1:32:46)
Filmmaking, social impact, and creativity. (1:35:13)

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Jon has twenty-five years of experience in the independent film, internet and film festival communities, a rare leader with a unique combination of skills. As a filmmaker, he has produced a number of award winning documentaries; and as a consultant, he has guided many independent film projects through the maze of festivals and hybrid distribution models.

As a co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival (1995), he led the event the next two seasons before being named the Festival Director for the prestigious AFI Film Festival in 1997. After running AFI Fest for three years (1997-1999), he created a consulting business, guiding the launch of numerous film festivals (Bahamas, Lone Star, Orlando), directing several others (Santa Barbara, Topanga and Naples), and consulting to dozens more, while sharing insights, articles and videos through On the Circuit.

In October of 2012, Jon authored his first book, entitled Filmmaking for Change: Make Films That Transform the World, published by industry leader Michael Wiese Productions.

Recognizing that film is more than just entertainment, it is a tool to engage and inspire audiences to take action, Founder Jon Fitzgerald created Cause Pictures as a new paradigm to help create change. The Company combines Jon’s years of filmmaking, festival and consulting experience, providing services to film festivals and supporting independent filmmakers looking to produce, present impact campaigns, and distribute their films to a growing audience yearning for socially relevant stories.

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The MAKE IT podcast amplifies the voice of the filmmaker by exploring the filmmaking journeys of actors, writers, directors, producers, and a host of other creatives from across the film industry. We provide a platform for filmmakers to provide advice, lessons learned, personal reflections, and insights through our _Filmmaker Conversations_, _Mistakes in the Making_, _Industry Insights_, _Indie Talks_, and _Film Investment Series_ playlists. We are the go-to film podcast for independent creatives!

Key topics covered in MAKE IT podcast episodes:

- How to make it in film today
- Filmmaking for beginners
- The art of filmmaking
- The business of film
- Do's and Dont's in the film industry
- Film industry trends
- Film distribution strategies
- Film funding strategies
- Film industry contracts
- Marketing and promoting your film
- Film education and professional development

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