Updated: Mar 19, 2022
In this episode, Brighid Wheeler discusses her great affinity for Southern culture, how the film 'Memento' opened her eyes to the potential of storytelling, and the importance of being intentional about choosing your tribe. Her conversation with podcast host, Christopher Barkley is warm, open, honest, and truly endearing. It's an important listen for filmmakers, festival staff, and anyone with a creative spirit.
"Brighid Wheeler, Programming Director at the Atlanta Film Society, has been in the indie film world, specifically the film festival world, for most of her adult life. Having run the gamut from shift volunteer to THE ‘Queen B’ (a fabulous nickname earned early in her festival career), she recently served as the Senior Programmer for Indie Memphis where she has called home for close to 14 years. Outside of the festival, you’ll most likely find her mentoring, guiding, and encouraging the filmmakers in Memphis, TN. She attributes this as her main source of drive and inspiration both personally and professionally. Brighid has served on countless juries at festivals across the country (including the Atlanta Film Festival) and considers each experience an honor as it allows her the opportunity to support the current and next-generation storytellers. She also has years of management experience in-store operations for Apple as well as account management in ad agency work. Wheeler has also been active in volunteering including with the Sidewalk + SHOUT LGBTQ Film Festival, Queering the Cinema and Alliance for Action. She has a Bachelor’s in Film from the University of Alabama. "
Links:
About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.
Updated: Mar 19, 2022
Director Motke Dapp talks about the biggest mistake in his career so far, how you can avoid it, what he learned from it, and how it made him a better creative today.
About Motke
Motke Dapp is an American writer and director whose great grandmother killed a bear with a knife. He’s handcrafted, along with other amazing filmmakers, a plethora of whimsical, award-winning short films and a couple of feature films including his most recent, Another Version of You.
Another Version of You premiered at the Nashville Film Festival in 2018, winning the Audience Award. The film was the third most screened film in the festival’s 49 year history. It also won Best Feature Film and Motke won Best Director at the 2018 Cindependent Film Festival as well as The Daniel Chapp Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Lake County Film Festival. The film is now available to be purchased on most platforms (Amazon, Target, iTunes, etc.) and is streaming on Amazon Prime.
Motke got his start in filmmaking through the 48 Hour Film Project, winning Best Film 5 of the 10 times he’s competed.
“Sorry About Tomorrow,” a short film created in the summer of 2013, was selected by some of the largest film festivals in the country including Seattle International Film Festival, Cinequest, the PBS Film Festival, and the Nashville Film Festival (where it was runner up best Tennessee short). His films, “Contrary to Likeness” and “Everyday Yeti” won numerous awards and were both in the top 10 internationally at Filmapalooza - where all of the city winners of the 48 Hour Film Project go to compete against one another. Both films were invited to screen at the Cannes Short Film Corner in France by the 48 Hour Film Project.
Motke makes a living directing commercials and is busy working on plans for the next feature film.
Links:
About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.
Chris and Nick bring on guest hosts Director Robert Broadhurst, Producer, and Writer Tony Scott, and Director and Animator Valerie Barnhart to review the best in Indie Film and the MAKE IT Podcast in 2021. And (finally), you can listen AND watch the conversation on YouTube.
Links:
Robert’s Conversation
Tony’s Conversation
Valerie’s Conversation
Girl In the Hallway (short film)
The Underground Railroad (film)
Joel Edgerton (actor)
The Green Knight (film)
Titane (film)
Red Rocket (film)
Sean Baker (writer)
Licorice Pizza (film)
Paul Thomas Anderson (director)
CODA (film)
The Harder They Fall (film)
The Power of the Dog (film)
Summer of Soul (film)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (film)
Lee Daniels (producer)
Being the Ricardos (film)
Spencer (film)
The Tragedy of Macbeth (film)
Zola (film)
Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (film)
Bestia (short film)
Cryptozoo (fim)
I Was Born For This by Alice Oseman (book)
The Year of the Witching (book)
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neil (book)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (book)
Labocine streaming platform
The One and Only Dick Gregory (documentary)
About the MAKE IT Podcast The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry. Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey. Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive. Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content. The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.