Join us for coffee and a light continental breakfast as you check in and connect with fellow attendees before the day begins. Plus, the first 25 guests to check in will be entered into a raffle to win a special gift basket!

Kick off the day with a welcome from BACK TO SET and Alliance of Women Directors leadership as we preview the program ahead and set the stage for two days of learning, connection, and inspiration (…and maybe some special guests!)

Step inside the casting process with a live audition, offering directors a firsthand look at how casting decisions are made in real time. Led by acclaimed casting director Meg Morman, CSA, this interactive session will demystify the actor audition process and explore what casting directors, producers, and directors are looking for when evaluating talent. Learn how to communicate effectively with actors, give actionable adjustments, collaborate with your casting team, and identify the performance choices that best serve your story. Whether you’re preparing for your first casting session or looking to sharpen your skills, this workshop offers practical insights you can immediately bring into your next project.

WANT TO CAST YOUR SCENE LIVE ON STAGE? SUBMIT HERE!

Microdramas are rapidly transforming the entertainment landscape, attracting massive audiences, generating billions of views, and creating entirely new opportunities for directors, producers, writers, and actors. As platforms continue investing heavily in short-form vertical content, what began as a niche format has quickly evolved into one of the fastest-growing sectors in global entertainment.

But who is making these projects? How are they financed, produced, and distributed? What creative and professional opportunities are emerging for filmmakers looking to enter the space? And how might the explosive growth of microdramas influence the future of traditional film and television?

Join industry leaders from across the vertical content ecosystem for a candid conversation about the business realities, audience trends, production models, and career pathways driving this rapidly expanding market. Panelists include Elizabeth Dell of Hoorae, whose recent microdrama Screen Time broke records with more than 75 million views in its first week; Yaxing Lin of DramaBox, one of the leading platforms in the vertical storytelling space; and Eris Zhao of Bad Larry Productions, a producer working at the forefront of short-form content creation.

Whether you’re considering directing your first vertical series, exploring new revenue streams, or simply trying to understand where audience behavior is headed, this panel offers an inside look at one of the most significant shifts currently shaping the entertainment industry.

Enjoy a catered lunch from Woody’s on campus, included with your registration, and take the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees and industry guests.

How do you create action sequences that feel dynamic, cinematic, and emotionally grounded, regardless of budget? In this hands-on masterclass, powerhouse directors Alexis Ostrander (Interview with the Vampire, Servant) and Andi Armaganian (Star Trek Universe, Rescue: Hi-Surf) pull back the curtain on the art and logistics of directing action for film and television.

Alexis and Andi will walk attendees through the process of designing and executing action sequences from concept to completion. From storyboards and shot lists to stunt coordination, camera placement, coverage strategy, and editing considerations, they’ll break down the creative and technical decisions that help transform action on the page into compelling moments on screen.

The session will also explore how directors collaborate with stunt coordinators, performers, cinematographers, and other department heads to create safe, effective, and memorable sequences. Attendees will gain practical tools for communicating their vision, maximizing production resources, and finding opportunities to elevate action even when time and budget are limited.

Whether you’re directing your first fight scene or looking to strengthen your action storytelling skills, this workshop offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from two directors who regularly helm complex action sequences for some of television’s biggest shows.

When directors are hired for episodic television, they often have just days to prepare before stepping onto set. So how do experienced television directors quickly identify what matters most, communicate with department heads, and build a plan for success?

In this interactive workshop, AWD Icon Director Rachel Raimist (The Chi, FBI: Most Wanted, Genius, Roswell, New Mexico) will take attendees inside her real-world prep process, breaking down a television script step-by-step and demonstrating how she approaches an episode from first read through production planning. Attendees will learn how to identify key story beats, track character arcs, prioritize coverage, collaborate with department heads, and translate a script into a practical shooting strategy.

The session will also feature Scriptation, the industry-leading script annotation platform used by directors across film and television. Rachel will demonstrate how she uses Scriptation’s tools to organize notes, track creative decisions, and streamline prep in a fast-paced episodic environment.One selected participant will have the opportunity to join Rachel on stage and work through portions of the script breakdown process live, receiving direct feedback and insight into how professional directors prepare for production.

Whether you’re pursuing episodic directing or simply looking to strengthen your prep process, this workshop offers practical techniques and workflow strategies that can be applied immediately to your own projects.

Interested in participating in the live breakdown? Submit here!

Please note: Submission does not guarantee selection. One director will be chosen to participate in the live demonstration portion of the workshop.

Every director dreams of making their first feature, but few understand what it actually takes to get one across the finish line. Between raising financing, attaching cast, building a team, navigating production challenges, and ultimately finding an audience, the journey from script to screen can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time feature directors.

This candid conversation follows the paths of three filmmakers who transformed independent features into launching pads for successful careers in film and television. Tina Mabry (Mississippi Damned), Olivia Newman (First Match), and Jennifer Phang (Half-Life) will reflect on their first features and the practical realities of getting them made, sharing lessons learned from development through distribution. The discussion will explore how they found their projects, secured financing, assembled creative teams, attached cast, navigated festivals, and built release strategies that helped their films break through.

The panel will also examine how the independent filmmaking landscape has evolved over the years. What opportunities exist today that didn’t exist when they made their first features? What challenges have emerged? And how would they approach launching a debut feature in today’s marketplace?

Whether you’re developing your first feature, preparing to shoot, or simply looking for a realistic roadmap from filmmakers who have successfully navigated the process, this session offers an honest look at the creative, logistical, and career-building aspects of independent filmmaking. Most importantly, it explores how one feature can open doors, build relationships, and become the foundation for a long-term directing career.

As BACK TO SET comes to a close, join Alliance of Women Directors leadership for a final reflection on the conversations, lessons, and connections from the past two days. We’ll celebrate our speakers, attendees, and community before raising a glass together at the Closing Networking Mixer, an opportunity to continue building relationships and carry the momentum of the weekend forward into your next creative chapter.

Co-Hosted by Front Row Insurance Entertainment Specialists

Wrap up the day with drinks, desserts, and conversation at our Networking Mixer. Connect with fellow directors, speakers, and creative collaborators in a relaxed setting designed to foster new relationships and meaningful connections. Whether you’re continuing a conversation from a workshop, meeting someone for the first time, or simply reflecting on the day’s insights, this is the perfect opportunity to build community and expand your network.iption