here - Rehoboth Beach Film Society

Seminars
90
InDepenDenTS DaY:
a Look at Independent Cinema Today
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Fri [Nov 9]
Upstairs Screening Room, Movies at Midway
Admission: Free (Advance registration is not required)
This year’s Festival includes a grouping of films by
directors and producers who are working outside the
“Hollywood” model.
The term “independent film” is bandied about in the
industry as often as many other terms, but what does
it mean? Is it quantifiable? Is there a litmus test to
determine whether the term is applicable to a film?
What is the difference between “independent” and
“commercial” cinema? Is it the desire of every director,
actor, and other industry professionals to be the next
Spielberg or Clooney? Or is the motivating spark the
opportunity to do quality work on one’s own terms with
people of similar principles?
aMY seIMeTZ
Independent cinema has its stalwarts, a group of
interconnected professionals who work on each other’s
films often switching between acting, producing and
directing, thereby creating an unusual, yet highly
creative and effective dynamic that is producing the
most refreshing and unique voices in cinema today.
Come join three such professionals, Amy Seimetz,
Andrew Semans, and David Saltzman, as they talk to
moderator Rob Rector about Independent Cinema, what
it means to them, how they plan to progress within this
context, and how they see the future of the film industry.
There will be plenty of time for the audience to ask
questions of these talented, film industry professionals.
If there were a poster child for the New Face of Independent Cinema that face would probably be Amy Seimetz. To call her the Wunderkind
might not be adequate enough to encompass her prowess in all facets of Independent Cinema. Writer, Director, Producer, and Actor are
all monikers that she holds multiple times. No stranger to the RBIFF, she produced The Dish and the Spoon which screened at last year’s
Festival. This year, she stars in the short comedy Coffee & Pie playing in 10% Shorts and directed the amazing road trip odyssey, Sun Don’t
Shine. For sure we will continue to hear about Amy well into the future.
aNDreW seMaNs
Andrew Semans is a filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He has directed several short films. Nancy, Please, playing in this years RBIFF, is
his debut feature.
Dave saLTZMaN
Dave Saltzman is a NYC based producer and line producer. His most recent feature, Nancy, Please, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in
2012. He is currently in preproduction for Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, a feature by Sam Fleischner (Wah Do Dem) this fall. Dave began
his career in film as director of development at Journeyman Pictures where he also worked in production on Momma’s Man, Sugar and
Cold Souls. Other producing/production credits include Children of Invention, Stones in the Sun, 3 Backyards, and Shut Up and Play The
Hits. He also currently serves as head of production at M SS NG P ECES a Brooklyn based short-form and commercial production company.
rOb reCTOr
Rob Rector is the chair of the English and Communications Departments at Delaware Technical Community College, where he also serves
as a film instructor. His film review columns appear weekly in the Cape Gazette newspaper and the seasonal Beach Paper. Rob is one of the
founding members of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and the Independent Film Festival. He’s also quite fond of nachos.