Frequently Asked Questions

When is your next event?: We meet the 2nd Tuesday every month. View our events calendar for more details.
I love SDF. How do I become a member?: We currently do not have a membership. Our events are open to everyone.
I'm not a filmmaker. I'm an actor/writer/makeup artist/etc. Can I come to your events anyway?: Yes. We encourage anyone who works in any aspect of filmmaking to attend our events.
Why should I come to your events when the topic doesn't directly relate to my area of interest?: We strive to cover all areas of filmmaking to attract a broad segment of the filmmaking community. Eventually we hope to present a topic that will interest you. Until then, come for the networking. Remember, if you are an actor, for example, you may not be interested in a camera demo, but the directors and producers you want to network with are.
Do you know anyone who is looking for an editor? Can you find me a good storyboard artist?: We are not an employment agency. However, our monthly events provide an excellent opportunity to build relationships with other members of the filmmaking community.
I'm shooting a film this weekend. Do you know where I can find a cast and crew?: Congratulations! We strongly suggest a slightly longer pre-production period, at least long enough to include a visit to one or more of our events.
What is the likelihood that I will find a job on a film by coming to an SDF event?: Networking is about making connections, not getting jobs. If you sit in the corner until the meeting begins and leave when it's over without saying a word, no one will know you were there. Make the effort to meet as many people as you can during the networking portion of the events. Let them know what you can do for them. Make an impression. Make a connection. Follow-up on your connections. Somewhere down the line, these connections will start to pay off.
Can you post contact information of all your attendees on your website?: Social networking websites and online databases are great. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to maintain one of our own. Instead, we provide an opportunity for in-person, face-to-face networking you can't find anywhere else in the San Diego filmmaking community.
If the meetings are free, what are the donations for?: While our events are planned and run by unpaid volunteers and our venue generously donates their space for free, we do have some minor operating expenses and legal fees. In the future, we hope to bring down more guest speakers from Los Angeles and that usually requires a reimbursement of gas money at a minimum.
I wanted to give you a donation at the last event, but I didn't have any money.: [insert paypal link]
I have a suggestion that I think will make your events better.: We'd love to hear it. Please click here to contact us.
I sent you a suggestion and you ignored it.: We discuss and evaluate every suggestion we receive at our monthly Planning Committee meetings. Sometimes we are unable to adopt a suggestion due to factors that have nothing to do with the merit of the suggestion. For example, we may not have the resources available to execute the suggestion effectively. We appreciate your suggestions and hope that you will continue to benefit from our events.
How can I become more involved in SDF?: We welcome volunteers who are committed to taking on a task and owning it by really following through. The Planning Committee meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Contact us if you are interested in making a positive contribution to our organization.
How do you get all your great guest speakers?: Networking.
My grandson's roommate's stepfather made an awesome feature film for just twenty-five dollars that won an award at the Skokie Film Festival. I think he'd be a great guest speaker. Do you want me to set it up for you for next month?: We absolutely welcome suggestions for guest speakers. If you have a connection to a prominent industry professional who would be willing to speak at a future networking event, please let us know. We may not be able to accommodate every guest speaker candidate due to a variety of factors, such as cost, scheduling, the topic was already covered at a recent event, and whether we feel the suggested speaker and topic will draw a big enough audience.
I sell a filmmaking widget that I think your group would love to hear about. Can I be a guest speaker?: It has been our experience that guest speaker presentations that focus on a specific product or service end up feeling like an infomercial and can alienate our audience. This does not mean our guest speakers are not allowed to promote their products or services in the context of their presentation. We recognize that an important benefit of speaking to our group is the exposure they will get to the filmmaking community. However, we prefer broader topics than a single product or service. For example, a screenwriter talking about the craft of screenwriting will be of greater value to our attendees than a Final Draft sales rep discussing the benefits of their software over competitors.
I would like to promote my filmmaking-related product, service, or event to your group.: Please contact us and ask about sponsoring one or more of our events.
Who played Bosley on the TV show "Charlie's Angels"?: David Doyle.
I really wanted to see your last guest speaker but I couldn't make it to the event. Can you videotape the presentations and put them on the internet?: If the presentations were made available in any format outside of our events, there would be less incentive for people to attend the events in person. How much fun would that be if nobody showed up?
Do you know where I can buy or rent a Steadicam, HD cameras, green screens, dolly tracks, teleprompters, monitors, boom poles and other video gear?: Yes. We highly recommend Video Gear in Sorrento Valley. 858.356.0200, video-gear.com
Can I send you my script, résumé, demo reel, head shot, etc.?: You can if you want, but we can't do anything with it. We are not a production company. We do not make movies or television shows. We have no work to hire you for. We are not an employment, talent, or literary agency and are not licensed to act in that capacity so we cannot pass your information on to actual productions.
Do you know if the producer I met at your event is legit?: We have no way of screening our attendees. We strongly recommend you thoroughly research anyone you send your personal information or intellectual property to before doing so.