Attention San Diego screenwriters and filmmakers: on Tuesday, May 12, join co-hosts Jordan Jacobo and Karl Weiss on a journey through the four stages of filmmaking, from killer script to marketing pitch, fully-funded production to successful distribution, with awesome guest speakers (incl. Now Write! editor, Laurie Lamson.) The evening will include one-minute creator pitches from FilmNet members.
Red carpet on the third floor and photo stations with Tony Amat and partner R3 Productions, a studio tour (at 5:30 pm), sushi/poke bowls by Chef Mer, drinks and custom T-shirts for sale, and lots of flashy, campy, Hollywood-style fun. $10 admission at the event hosted and organized by SD FilmNet.
Event co-host is an Emmy-nominated performer, writer and director who has developed and appeared in various films and series. As a writer, Jordan’s work has been featured on stage at the Old Globe Theater as well as a myriad of media platforms. He currently serves as host of the KPBS digital series, “Jordan Loves,” in which he highlights the seldom-explored corners of his native San Diego. Watch Jordan’s speech on the SD Film Initiative.
LAURIE LAMSON is an award-winning scriptwriter dedicated to original storytelling and positive impact – with art, heart & soul. With a filmmaking background, she has written 122 produced film, video, and audio scripts for education, marketing, and entertainment, ranging from PSAs for the U.S. Army to a multi-award-winning indie feature film. She plans to put up staged scenes from one of her unproduced comedy screenplays at the August FilmNet meeting. Laurie was the telecon host for International Screenwriters’ Association for four years. Her compilation books include Now Write! Screenwriting and Now Act! Primary website: JaZzyMaE Media.
has been doing full service Film and Video Production — all since the early “Golden Years” of video and film production in San Diego during the 80’s, when we had numerous large-scale production facilities; where he honed his craft in corporate, advertising, medical, education and broadcast work…and most of all, STORYTELLING. For over 30 years, Greg worked in video and film production, from sound to camera op to DP to Steadicam Operator, and as lone cinematographer on various short films and documentaries. Greg focuses now on creating a true cinematic look and feel, everything being shot in a true cinema format — wide-screen, anamorphic CinemaScope, with top of the line lenses and filters, on Netflix approved cinema cameras, and then edited and color graded to look and feel like 35mm film.
“” is a dynamic leader and entrepreneur based in San Diego, California. He is the Founder and CEO of BUILT By PN Industries, Inc., and the Founder and CEO of Brag Brothers, Inc., the parent company behind Bragabilia Energy — a culturally driven food & beverage venture — and Bragabilia’s digital memorabilia and collectibles platform. Groce is also expanding his footprint in film and cinema production and financing, bringing a strategic and community-centered lens to emerging creative projects. He’s an equity owner in Big Rock Ranch, where he supports regenerative farming practices, and holds an MBA in multiple disciplines. Groce served as Chair of the City of San Diego’s Human Relations Commission, as an Executive Board Member of the Clairemont Town Council, and an Advisory Board Member for the San Diego Police Department and FBI San Diego. As a Teen Entrepreneurship Coach, he empowers young innovators to develop and launch their own business ideas.
MICHAEL HOWARD is a writer, filmmaker, and the founder of the San Diego Indie Film Network streaming channel. Michael believes the power of storytelling is the insight into lives and encounters we might not otherwise experience, fostering empathy and understanding across diverse communities. Through his work with the streaming channel, as well as organizing Movie Night Escondido and the San Diego Streaming Film Festival, Michael champions independent voices and community-driven storytelling, striving to spotlight diverse perspectives and bring people together through the universal language of story.
ALEX GUILLEN s a Berklee-trained composer, writer, and musician with thirty years of professional performing and more than 2,500 live events. He co-wrote “A Cut Above,” which won multiple awards at the San Diego Streaming Film Festival and the 48 Hour Film Project Gala, including Best Screenplay. Alex started using AI in 2023 to manage the demands of running a creative business. AI is reshaping the film production pipeline, and his workshops for filmmakers at the San Diego Streaming Film Festival opened a deeper conversation: how do you optimize the workflow without destroying the jobs behind it? The rules around AI in filmmaking are being written right now, and Alex believes the filmmakers in this room should be the ones writing them.
EDDIE LAIN grew up in San Fernando Valley and studied medicine and photography at UC San Diego. While in college, he stepped into modeling and film, producing fashion shows, music television, and fundraising events. Eddie was a Special Events Marketing Coordinator for multiple nightclub and restaurant chains and two major chains of fitness centers, and produced original music TV shows, concerts, and charity galas. A pivotal opportunity led him into nightlife and entertainment marketing, where he helped develop and launch multiple venues while supporting the regional film, music, and fashion industries. He later co-founded an acting and talent development agency, producing large-scale casting events and mentoring emerging performers. Eddie co-created and edited What’s Here Magazine and co-hosted its companion TV show. Today, he leads multiple ventures including VisionPulse Creative & Event Center, LainScapes Fine Art Photography, BucketList Adventure Club, and the Smokin’ Hot Vixens. A passionate advocate for filmmakers, Eddie produces global film tours that combine travel with hands-on production and monetization opportunities. He is also co-producer, writer, and actor in the TV pilot Shooters. IMDB page.
DANIEL HARLOW was founder and CEO of tech consulting firm VIRCON from 1993 through 2015 when it qualified for the USA Fortune 2000. Harlow went on to found Bunker 15 Films and is the author of Making Movies Without Losing Money published by Routledge, Taylor and Francis in London. Harlow and Bunker 15 help bring smart publicity tech to independent film while also writing and producing original low-budget, high-concept, genre films. Harlow’s goal is to make creatively rewarding, compelling storytelling that appeals to audiences and critics alike, all the while making a profit for investors.
GRAT CRABTREE is a veteran software engineer and UI developer who has transitioned from a career building interactive experiences at studios like Disney, Sony, Daybreak, and Intrepid into the frontier of AI filmmaking. Combining his technical background in C++ and Python with a passion for visual storytelling, Grat focuses on the democratization of AI cinema through local rendering and free, open-source models. By leveraging tools like ComfyUI and Ollama to push the boundaries of stylized animation directly from a home workstation, he is actively exploring the intersection of code and cinema. You can follow his creative process on his newly launched YouTube channels, @Kideo-Videos and @aislopbygrat and his website Gratco.com
