May 03, 2023 12:15 PM EST - May 03, 2023 01:00 PM EST
When you make a movie in Hollywood, you work with people who have very professional skill sets and strong teamwork ethics. It’s a lot of work. And yes – it can be a lot of fun, too! Emmy-nominated director Ashley Maria will join us for an interactive discussion about the 3 basic stages to making a movie - pre-production, production, and post-production. She will go over the roles people play on set and what a director does during every stage. She will talk about how a director prepares to make the movie during pre-production, how she works with her team on set to get the best shots and performances during production, and how a director and post-production team collaborate to get the film ready for the world to see. Ashley will tell her personal story, too, of how she became a director in Hollywood. After her presentation, we will open it up to a Q&A for students and teachers to ask her anything!
Ashley’s most recent documentary film, Pioneers in Skirts, will be the topic of the follow-on presentation at 4 p.m. ET, “Using the Power of Film.” Ashley and her mother, Producer Lea-Ann W. Berst, made Pioneers in Skirts to bring awareness for the obstacles that can limit a woman’s pioneering ambition, and what we ALL can do about it. Teachers and students are encouraged to stay for this session and learn even more about Ashley’s career journey and what movie she’s directing today!
Ashley Maria
Ashley Maria is a DGA award-winning and Emmy-nominated director, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. She’s known for creating both comedy and horror films as well as content that addresses pressing social issues, especially gender equality. Ashley’s portfolio includes a range of funny (and fun), scary, musical, and impactful films with superheroes, singing neighbors, and screaming television characters — to highlight a few! Ashley hails from the Tar Heel state of North Carolina, received her undergrad degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, and earned her Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in California.
