I'm in a TV Show with Loretta Devine | BraveMaker Film Festival Day 3 of 5 2026

It's day three of the Bravemaker Film Festival and it is getting busy. Today is Friday and here is the game plan. 9:00 a.m. mixer, then a workshop on pitching your work, career retrospective with Loretta Devine, and they're going to be showing a pilot trailer that we are both in during that time slot, and then women in film panel, living off of your social media workshop, [music] and the rest of the time I am watching so many films. I'm watching at least 15 films today. Yes, most of them are shorts. Okay, let's get [music] started on day three of five of this film festival. Good morning. Another day. Another cute outfit. Look at this dress. Look at this. I am the first one here. Today I am determined to stay fed and hydrated, so I got to the mixer early to get some breakfast and immediately started chatting with people, of course. I love this part of the day because it's early, so there's not too much going on yet, and you can just enjoy everybody's company before the chaos of like choosing when to go where and what to do, and you know, scarfing down food before you go to the next thing. >> like to share something that maybe has moved you, encouraged you from day one or day two, and or talk about what's happening day three or four or five? >> Hi, my name is Stacy Rodriguez. I'm an actor, content creator, and producer, writer, everything now. >> And I am a Bravemaker. >> Something that I liked Something that I loved was the mental health workshop yesterday. Um, the woman on the very right, Leticia. Leticia. She like gave really good tips on how to find if you are pushing yourself to become better or pushing yourself to burn out. >> She was on one of our filmmakers sets as a onset therapist. >> Oh. >> Yeah, Stacy McCloud, that's how we met. Cool, anybody else? >> Moved by the Magical Bridge movie. The inclusivity even on stage when they were up there, and it just felt like everyone was accepting them and and >> I'm going into the pitch workshop again because unlike other years, this time I am a writer and I am accepting that I'm a producer. I have been to this workshop every year that I have attended and I think it's because I don't usually get a chance to pitch my work any other time or practice it. What I like about this workshop is that people volunteer and pitch their work so you get to hear what everybody is working on and then Tiffany Haddish provided feedback and I'm manifesting que le muerda, my short film to be screened at this film festival next year. >> It is like My Big Fat Greek Wedding but since it is a short it's just eight pages. That's that's the short I'm working on right now. It's called que le muerda and it will be showing at this film festival next year. >> [applause] >> Headed to grab some food even though I'm not hungry yet but I feel like it might get really busy after this so I'm going to go to Kona Sucar really quick, get maybe a Jamaica and a torta just so I'm nice and full and I'm not starving. What what are you talking about? [laughter] I ran into Philip and Jared from Party USA who were looking for lunch as well and they decided to join me at Kona Sucar and as you saw in the last vlog they're here with Party USA but Philip is also here with three other films. Okay, now I need to run over to Century because of more screenings. >> People are really gassing me up today. Cami was egging me on and I was just getting her show. I'm telling you this formal dress is really cute. Can I just go? I'm actually a hot mess. >> [cough] >> Thank you. This is the first film I'm watching at Century Theaters. I keep calling this Cinemark because I grew up going to Cinemark. I just passed the check-in table. I don't actually know where this is. Okay, I think it's this way. Last year we had theater three. Yes, Bravemaker, theater three. Oh my god. I'm a little [clears throat] late at the first short. I think it's only like 6 minutes. I hope they started a little a little late. This is Film Block number seven. It's shorts and I'm here to watch specifically Dawn because I have a ton of friends that were either acting in it or created the film. >> I want to introduce yourself, what you are part of, and which film, and uh keep it rolling now. >> My name is Senait Mengestab, and I was the uh star of the Dawn. >> And >> [applause] >> the writer director of Film School Milice. >> Let's head over to the headquarters for the Loretta Devine career retrospective. I'm a little late, but I'm at the headquarters for the Loretta Devine retrospective. I was in a pilot called Non-Profiting with her, and this is the first public showing of the pilot. You should look it up on IMDb cuz there are so many amazing people that are part of this. >> Yesterday's photo to 20 That was my first Getty image. >> [cheering] >> That's my first Getty photo ever. Yeah, baby Tony, right? No glasses, no no facial hair, no braids. >> That's not easy a lot of times. So, you have to learn how to control all kind of things to keep you going. Like if you're going to be depressed and sad and feeling sorry for yourself, don't let it last over an hour or two. Uh really get in that mirror and boost yourself up as Jennifer Lewis would say, "I'm the I'm the one that's important." Because everybody feels they know you. The reason usually is is because you're in their house. >> I said to yourself, "So, I've been having a hard time lately because I don't like the internet." Cuz they mean on the internet. So, mean people they be ugly type. Let me tell y'all. >> [laughter] >> When Next Level did a big press thing, the ladies sent me the picture to put on the internet. And they had to tell me how to tag it. I posted it. Somebody said, "Oh my god, Ms. Divine died. Did you see the picture?" I didn't have a wig on and they killed me off. It was about 12,000 people that were writing to each other, "Oh my god, is she gone?" Well, what happened is so you can hear all of this chatter about you dead already. So, So, then the next job I got, they wanted me to post and tag. I didn't know what they were talking >> [laughter] >> So, and they were upset that I wasn't posting and tagging as fast as they wanted. >> Now, a little breathing time before I go to the next panel. So, I got a drink across the street and chatted with some filmmakers from the Bay, Sacramento, and Virginia. This next panel is Women in Film and every year it has been a little bit different. So, let's get into it. >> a non-profit organization and we depend on generosity and creativity. >> set the tone. You got to let them know it's going to be good, right? Um, so I'm I'm really excited for for this conversation. >> My name is Lenny Serrone Frederick. I am an actor, I'm a writer, director, podcast host, voiceover. I do all the things. I'm a multi-hyphenate. Um, I'm based in LA right now and yeah, and it's so funny when I was asked to real quick be on the panel, I was like, "Am I a filmmaker? Do I do that, too?" And I am in so many different ways. Uh, I actually did just direct my first short film last year, which I was very excited about. Adding that to the mix is very interesting to come from a from coming from a as an actor perspective. So, I do all the things um, and I'm very excited to be here and share what knowledge and chit-chat with these lovelies up here, too. >> My name's Keilani. I'm actually from Redwood City, born and raised in I live in Oakland now, but I'm between here and LA. I produce, write, and I just started directing last year. It's been very cold in that water, but but yeah, happy to be here. >> My name is Jasmine Cap. I am a filmmaker who also shares film tips and tricks all across social media integrated with mental health cuz I think it's very important for us to touch upon, you know, the vulnerabilities of not only being an artist, but being a human. So, I'm based out in LA now, but I'm from the Bay, so >> It's always great to hear from other filmmakers that are in the thick of it, as well. >> How how have you liked year eight of the film festival? >> But it is very different from past years. I'm trying to let go of all the things that get in my head cuz people are experiencing the good and the joy of the >> So much. Okay, but let me tell you that I've been here for four years, and all four years, this is day three, I have had the same amount of kindness and energy kind energy and like open energy from filmmakers. So, you continue to like bring in all of the right people. >> Make the expectation, right? Like the expectation is we don't want egos, we don't want people gatekeeping. Let's just be yourself. Is that something for this one over here? >> Yeah, this one's a little crazy. Watch out for her. >> These two are always like always recording. >> [laughter] >> Just thank you so much, Tony. >> Hey. >> What do you think? For the festival. What [laughter] do you mean? >> TONY, YOU CRAZY. >> [laughter] >> GRABBING DINNER AT MAZRA BEFORE the living off your social media workshop, which I could only stay for 20 minutes because I want to go watch the comedy shorts block. What the heck? It's like live music. This film block included Can't Float, Untouchable, Before I Die, Turbulence, Just A Bagel, and Life is a Short. Followed, of course, by a Q&A, and this was probably the funniest one yet. >> You guys can decide on the spotlight as you deserve. And uh yeah, without further ado, I'll start on my side. Please introduce yourself, tell us who you were in, what you did, and we'll go from there. >> Marissa Yamamoto, and I am the producer, director, actor, and wearing many other hats for I Die. >> I I directed, wrote, is based on an article I wrote for The Guardian in 2016. >> [laughter] >> But I'm very I'm very proud of him because and and and I'm glad that he gave me this opportunity to kind of be on stage because it's something I I >> You knew you were going to want to do it. >> I I live vicariously through him. >> [laughter] >> What is happening? >> I didn't do well as a Thespian. >> I came to the lobby. Like, for the rest of the night, I'm basically going to be watching films in the theater, but in order to vote for the films, you need to have your ticket scanned, so we just exited to scan our tickets, and then we're going back in. >> Oh, that's weird. Are you filming again? >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. She never films. >> What do you mean? >> I used to say that as a joke. >> Block 14 is a feature film called Party USA with Jared and Philip that I had lunch with earlier. It was creepy, fun, and also relatable. It's like when the intrusive thoughts make their way out. >> What were you angry about? >> [laughter] >> I had been working in uh hospitality in very conservative environments. >> The last block of the night is called late night brave faves. Yes, these are all horror films and I may regret it. I'm more of a watch horror films in broad daylight kind of girl and then watch like a Disney movie. The one that absolutely blew my mind was Refuse. >> I'm Minji Chang. I'm the uh lead actress of INTO THE BLACK. UH MY WHY? UM I WAS actually giving up on on camera acting and suddenly Connie Jo, out of nowhere, um sent me a direct offer for her short, her and Scott short. So, that's why I'm here. I'm really, really honored. And uh they could not be here, sadly. They're on set making a feature. >> I'm a writer, director, producer of Bullet in the Brain, second short film of six minutes. And uh my cast and crew are all asleep working out of town. So, but I have friends here. So, thank you, friends, for being here. >> [cheering] >> Headed home. You guys, it's so hard to be at a film festival and not just want to go make so many films, you know? Like, hearing them talk about creating a film and watching them through their film is just it's so inspirational. But, this is it for day three. I'll see you tomorrow morning. >> [music] [music]