The Northern California Film & Media Summit

Supported in part by a grant from the City of Livermore

The Northern California Film & Media Summit is a full-day creative and professional development event in Livermore, CA. The day will comprise of Workshops (Directing, Producing, Cinematography), Film Industry Panels with speakers with experience working on projects with Skywalker Sound, Pixar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Netflix, Disney, Marvel, and highlighting Short films lead by Minority Filmmakers. The event is designed to expand access, visibility, and career pathways for emerging filmmakers, media professionals, and creatives from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Directing Workshop

Learn the fundamentals of directing from Oscar-qualifying filmmaker Rippin Sindher, whose recent work includes a film executive produced by Ridley Scott. This workshop will introduce attendees to essential directing tools, creative decision-making techniques, and practical filmmaking principles designed to help elevate their next narrative project.

Cinematography Workshop

Learn the foundations of cinematic visual storytelling from Emmy-nominated cinematographer Jerry Henry. As a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Henry brings invaluable experience in documentary filmmaking, visual composition, and authentic storytelling. This workshop will help attendees better understand how to shape compelling stories through camera, lighting, and image design.

Producing Workshop

Learn the fundamentals of producing from Veteran Producer Robin Kincade. With experience producing projects for NBC, ABC, MTV, CMT, Showtime, HBO, 2K Games, and more, Kincade brings a wealth of industry knowledge to help attendees understand the essential steps of bringing a project from concept to completion.

The event includes three major industry panels from specialized backgrounds in Media, Producing, and Directing. These conversations are designed to give attendees a clearer understanding of how different areas of the industry function, what career pathways exist, and how professionals navigate creative and business challenges in the field.

Networking is also a major part of the Summit’s purpose. Dedicated networking time allows attendees to build relationships with industry partners, local organizations, fellow creatives, and community leaders. These connections are essential for creating long-term creative ecosystems, especially for emerging artists who may not yet have access to traditional industry networks. We have several Vendor Booths on our showroom floor with representatives looking to answer questions and assist with gaining knowledge of how their industry businesses work within the community.

The Summit will feature a curated set of Short Films, highlighting powerful and original work from emerging filmmakers with diverse creative voices. These films will give audiences the opportunity to experience fresh perspectives, unique storytelling styles, and meaningful stories that reflect the creativity and talent within the independent film community. By presenting these shorts in a professional event setting, the showcase is designed to celebrate filmmakers, expand visibility for underrepresented storytellers, and create a shared cultural experience that connects artists, audiences, and industry professionals.

For Northern California, the Summit provides meaningful cultural enrichment by bringing a professional film and media event into the community. It creates opportunities for residents to engage with diverse stories, meet working creatives, and participate in a larger conversation about art, media, representation, and workforce development. The event also supports the growth of Northern California's creative economy by attracting filmmakers, media professionals, organizations, vendors, educators, and audiences into one shared space.

Cinematography Workshop:

Learn the starting techniques of how to film with the tools from Emmy Nominated Cinematographer Jerry Henry.

Meet Your Instructor:

Jerry Henry is an Emmy Nominated Cinematographer based in LA who received his MFA degree from UCLA's prestigious Production Program with an emphasis on Documentary and Cinematography. His award-winning short documentary "I Promise Africa" premiered in over 100 film festivals worldwide and won many prestigious awards, among them a Directors Guild of America Student Award. Jerry’s visual talents can be seen in the Oscar nominated documentary "Exit Through The Gift Shop" directed by Banksy, and Peabody Award winning documentary "American Revolutionary" by director Grace Lee. He lent his visual talents to help shoot the Grammy Award winning HBO doc series titled "The Defiant Ones" which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Dre. and Jimmy Iovine. Jerry contributed cinematography on the Oscar Nominated documentary short film "St. Louis Superman" by directors Smriti Mundra and Sami Khan. His most recent work is the Documentary/ Narrative hybrid adaptation of the Ta-Nehisi Coates book "Between the World and Me" directed by Kamilah Forbes for HBO Max and "High on the Hog" Season 1 directed by Roger Ross Williams for Netflix. He is recently lensed the documentary series "The 1619 Project" with the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones for Hulu/ ABC/ Disney+ and Season 2 of High on The Hog.

Director Workshop:

Learn the starting techniques of how to direct with the tools from Oscar-Qualifying Filmmaker Rippin Sindher

Meet Your Instructor:

Rippin Sindher is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker and one of the first ever Punjabi-Sikh women to qualify for the Oscars with her live action short film FLIGHT 182, executive produced by Ridley Scott and Emmy® winner Archie Panjabi. Rippin’s work fuses sociology and cinema to spark vital conversations on justice and identity and in 2023, she won the CAPE and Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge. Her work has been in competition at festivals globally including iSAFF Canada, Bentonville, deadCenter, LAAPFF and Imagine This, where FLIGHT 182 won Best Narrative Short. The feature script was a finalist for the Sundance Cultural Impact Residency. Her award-winning films ZONE, Broken Drawer, Happy and The Hideout explore themes of human connection, resilience and hope. Her anti-hate film SEVA about Sikhs in America was recognized by Congress.

In television, Rippin was a directing fellow and story consultant on S.W.A.T. (episode 807), shadowed veteran director Bethany Rooney on Criminal Minds: Evolution, and was the inaugural directing fellow on Ryan Murphy’s Ratched for Netflix. She was also a finalist for the Shondaland Directing Program and the Sony Directors Program.

Beyond narrative and documentary films, Rippin has been recognized for her innovative commercial campaigns for Amazon and Thermo Fisher Scientific. She has directed stage productions to sold-out audiences and continues to live out her passion for storytelling and community as part of Dan Lin’s Rideback Rise creator incubator where she was elected Vice President of RISE Council. Her dynamic journey from the farmlands of California to UCLA, from managing at the DGA to launching her own career, reflects the bold vision and undeniable force she brings to every story she tells. Rippin is the recipient of UCLA's Women Leaders Award for her commitment to social change.

Producer Workshop:

Learn the starting techniques of how to produce with the tools from Producer Robin Kincade.

Meet Your Instructor:

For over 25 years Robin has managed a successful career working for various clients including NBC, ABC, MTV, CMT, Showtime, HBO, Reality Television and many more. Robin’s worked on network and cable programs such as The Amazing Race, Access Hollywood, Roker on the Road, Inside Edition and E! Entertainment. She’s produced for cable networks like HGTV for popular programs such as Dream Builders and Small Space Big Style plus the Food Network where she interviewed famous chefs such as Bobby Flay and Emeril. From corporate to documentaries she’s worked both regionally here in the Bay Area including Northern California, nationally and internationally. Working in sports she’s had clients such as ESPN, The NFL, CBS, Fox on sports events like football, hockey, golf, baseball, bowling and soccer. For the last two years Robin’s been working closely with the NBA interfacing with the players, one on one, as they get scanned for 2K Games. She got a hug… from LeBron.

In 2015, she was nominated for and received the COLA, California On Location Award for Location Professional of the Year, documentary category. She’s been embedded with the Border Patrol and Sheriff’s Departments on drug busts, taken the Las Vegas Strip with 50 bikers and her camera crew for reality television, cabled a Princess cruise line for Julie’s wedding from The Love Boat and spent the day with Chris Issac. From aliens to macaroni boxes, she’s covered it all.

Info: General Admission into the Summit.

Info: Vendors on Showroom Floor

Info: Our Panel includes Industry professionals with backgrounds in Major Motion Pictures, Animation, and News. Learn about their stories about how they got to where they are today and the skills they still apply to this day. Gain insight on the inner workings of the mentality to takes to make it in Media & Film. Moderated by D'Adonis Moquette

Info: Our Producer Panel features experienced industry professionals who will share the mindset, resilience, and leadership required to bring creative projects to life. Attendees will gain insight into what it truly takes to become a producer, from navigating challenges and solving problems under pressure to building the perseverance needed to push a project forward. This conversation will explore the creative and professional mentality behind producing, offering future filmmakers practical wisdom they can apply to their own projects and careers. Moderated by Tajianna Okechukwu.

Info: Vendors on Showroom Floor.

Info: Lunch available for purchase.

Info: A series of curated short films created by minority-led filmmakers.

Info: Our Directing Panel features accomplished filmmakers who will share how they got their start in the industry, the journeys that shaped their careers, and the creative discipline required to bring a film from idea to screen. Prior to the panel each director's short film is screened, allowing the conversation to explore the real challenges, decisions, and breakthroughs behind their work. Attendees will gain insight into the importance of representation, the persistence required to get a film made, and the practical steps filmmakers can take to get their stories seen by audiences, collaborators, and the industry. Moderated by D’Adonis Moquette.

Info: 3 Separate workshops happening concurrently, Directing Workshop, Producing Workshop, and Cinematography Workshop. Lead by Oscar-Qualifying Filmmaker Rippin Sindher, Emmy Nominated Cinematography Jerry Henry, and Veteran Producer Robin Kincade. Learn the basics of Filmmaking to equip yourself with vital tools of the craft.

Info: 3 Separate workshops happening concurrently, Directing Workshop, Producing Workshop, and Cinematography Workshop. Lead by Oscar-Qualifying Filmmaker Rippin Sindher, Emmy Nominated Cinematography Jerry Henry, and Veteran Producer Robin Kincade. Learn the basics of Filmmaking to equip yourself with vital tools of the craft.

Info: Vendors on Showroom Floor.

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Host or Publisher D'Adonis M.