Film Producing: The Business of Fiction Filmmaking (May 2020)

Karin Chien is a producer & distributor committed to championing independent voices. Karin is the recipient of the inaugural Cinereach Producers Award, the 2010 Independent Spirit Producer’s Award and the producer of ten independent feature-length films, including STONES IN THE SUN (2012), JACK AND DIANE (2012), CIRCUMSTANCE (2011), THE EXPLODING GIRL (2009), BEYOND OUR DIFFERENCES (2008), THE MOTEL (2005) and ROBOT STORIES (2002). Her films have won over 100 festival awards, premiered at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals, been nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards and received distribution in over 20 countries. Karin is the founder/president of dGenerate Films, the leading distributor of independent cinema from mainland China. Karin is the co-creator of the Cinema on the Edge screening series, celebrating the best of contemporary Chinese cinema. Karin is the co-founder of i love 2, a boutique production company specializing in socially conscious, short-format content. Karin is the creator of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) Fellowship, a mentoring program for Asian American media professionals. Karin has consulted for the Sundance Institute, The New York Times, Film Independent, Independent Television Service (ITVS), Cinereach. Karin recently taught Film Producing at Temple University and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Steven Berger is a Hawaiian born filmmaker and graduate of the American Film Institute. Most recently, Steven Executive Produced LORENA, a limited documentary series for Amazon Studios with Jordan Peele (GET OUT), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He is also currently Executive Producing a new Hulu series with the Duplass Brothers, and a documentary feature for Netflix. Steven’s additional producing credits include THE FEELS, a comedy starring Constance Wu (FRESH OFF THE BOAT); INHERITANCE and SLASH, both selections of the SXSW Film Festival; and THE PRETTY ONE, a Black List script starring Zoe Kazan and Jake Johnson (purchased by Sony Pictures at the Tribeca Film Festival).

Mayuran Tiruchelvam is a screenwriter and producer. His filmmaking is fueled by a vision for a more compassionate and openhearted world. Born in the United Kingdom and raised in the United States and Sri Lanka, he values stories that empower and center presently underrepresented communities. Prior to his film career, he was a community organizer and human rights activist in New York City and Mexico. He produced the documentaries THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN (Audience Award, SXSW 2017), about the acclaimed San Francisco author, and TO BE TAKEI, a portrait of actor / activist / pop culture icon George Takei (Sundance 2014); and the narrative features MY FIRST KISS AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED (2019) and ACROSS THE SEA (Audience Award, Slamdance 2015). His feature screenwriting debut, neo-noir THE GIRL IS IN TROUBLE, executive produced by Spike Lee, was released by eOne in April 2015. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America, and his Unit Production Manager credits include THE MEND (SXSW 2014), MADELINE’S MADELINE (Sundance 2018), and LUCKY GRANDMA (Tribeca 2019). Mayuran is a Sundance Institute Creative Producing Fellow and Film Independent Fellow. He has taught screenwriting and producing at Columbia University and Sacred Heart University.