Last night was one of those evenings that found me dragging after work – I wanted to head home and go to bed, but there was this interesting panel going on at the Women In Film – Seattle chapter, with some filmmakers I admire:

Lindy Boustedt (This Is Ours, Ashland), Sue Corcoran (All I Want is Christmas), Jane Charles (Sold), Megan Griffiths (The Off Hours, Eden), Elizabeth Heile (Journeyquest, The Gamers: Hands of Fate), Kat Ogden (Safety Not Guaranteed), and Cornelia Moore (The Dark Horse, Camilla Dickinson)

I went. And I’m so glad I did. Isn’t it great when that happens?

Here are some highlights I tweeted from the evening. The topic was “Production War Stories.” Tales of trial by fire and passion in the face of obstacles. Inspiring!

Sue Corcoran went to AFM with 5 stories to talk to distribs find out what was selling – ALL I WANT IS CHRISTMAS resulted #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

“Always cast the soul, not the body.” #AGYST #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

Dir @thecinechick got the script for EDEN at the Salt Lake City airport after THE OFF HOURS played at Sundance. #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

If you’re a director, a writer, you need to commit to that, spend the time and money, travel and meet similar people. #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

Trouble with hiring “volunteers” or “interns” on union gigs due to labor laws, L&I – difficulty of breaking into union film #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

Looking at next movie as transmedia, working with a marketing firm to increase reach, promotion (Sue Corcoran) #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

For budgeting strategy: who is the audience and how are they going to watch it? #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

Talking about the importance of actors invested in the story, who love being on set, who love the crew. #WIFpanel #AGYST

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

. @thecinechickworked for 5 years on no budget movies building relationships before ever getting paid. #WIFpanel

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

And the quote that got the most traction of the night…

“When you find good actors they become family, you don’t let them go.” – @krisandlindy #WIFpanel #acting #AGYST

— Wonder Russell (@bellawonder) January 9, 2013

Thank you to Women in Film for a great evening! I hope to be on that panel someday.