Master Class: Building Your Online Presence for Filmmakers with Digital Strategist Ryan Davis

Ryan Davis (@indieartsvoice) is a film publicist and communications professional with over fifteen years of experience in the film industry and arts marketing. She is co-founder and principal at Smarthouse Creative. Named by MEDIA INC. as one of Washington State's most influential women in film, TV, and media, Ryan has worked in almost every aspect of the film business--from production and festivals to distribution and exhibition. As a publicist, she has worked with outlets ranging from CNN and The New York Times to community newspapers and local radio. Ryan loves working on movies and projects that make the world a better place, either by bringing joy and entertainment to people's lives or because they have a message of social justice and provide valuable public knowledge. Her favorite projects push the boundaries of art and filmmaking.

Ryan worked for Arab Film Distribution/Typecast Films where she was part of the production and release of the Academy Award-nominated IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS. She has worked for a variety of nonprofit arts groups and organizations, including heading the marketing departments for Northwest Film Forum and Northwest Folklife, and was the assistant director of Couch Fest Films. Ryan currently sits on the board of The Grand Cinema in Tacoma, WA. She has presented at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, DOCNYC, and the American Film Market (AFM), among other places.

Al’n is a Seattle based producer & consultant working in the film and gaming industry, currently developing documentary films in the worlds of politics, fashion, and professional sports. He harbored great passion for martial arts films and NBA basketball from a young age. After reaching the staggering height of 5 foot 7 inches, Al’n put all his energy into making backyard Kung Fu films in high school using home video cameras. He continued his education in Seattle at the University of Washington, focusing on postmodern cinema and martial arts films. Having started out in the camera department before transitioning to producing, Al’n brings a holistic knowledge in creative problem-solving and film set management – ensuring a productive, positive, and safe environment.

Amie Simon (@ReAmimator) has 15+ years of marketing experience as a content strategizer, creator, and copywriter for social, web, and print. She spent almost 4 years at MoPOP (formerly EMP Museum) creating geek-focused content, and growing their social audience. She knows the ins-and-outs of campaigns, taglines, brand voice, social media, community building, targeted ads, and #squadgoals.

Amie’s loved film ever since she saw an Imperial Star Destroyer loom across the UA 150 screen in 1977 and has applied that love to Seattle’s ThreeImaginaryGirls.com since 2009, leading TIG’s film festival coverage and obsessing over which movie soundtracks are the best. Her two favorite film genres are horror and period-set dramas, specifically Jane Austen adaptations. Amie also slays at ‘80s trivia and has a side project called I LOVE SPLATTER!, with a podcast that highlights horror films directed by women.

Mentored early on by master action director Corey Yuen, Bao was instilled with an approach to action that doesn’t rely solely on spectacle but also draws on story and character. Screen Anarchy commended his written-and-directed short BOOKIE for its “flawlessly realized world populated by entirely fleshed out and believable characters, driven by a compelling narrative and brought to sumptuous life.” His editing credits include CHO LON, one of Southeast Asia’s highest-budgeted action blockbusters, and JACKPOT, a heartfelt comedy selected as Vietnam’s official entry to the 2016 Oscars for Best Foreign Film. Variety praised his first directorial feature THE PAPER TIGERS as an “irresistibly good-humored debut,” while the New York Times remarked his “lighthearted, refreshing approach neither succumbs to whitewashing nor the model-minority myth.” Rotten Tomatoes ranks it as one of the Best Action Comedies and Best Asian American Movies ever made with a “Certified Fresh” rating. He is also a fellow in the Paramount Directors Initiative and the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program.