Filmmaking Confidential Barcelona - BCN Filmmakers

Filmmaking Confidential Barcelona is the quintessential resource for independent filmmakers – from aspiring students to seasoned pros. Hosted by award-winning independent filmmaker Steve Balderson, this group brings the spirit of the Filmmaking Confidential podcast, substack, and books into a living, in-person community in Barcelona.

The focus: what it takes to be a productive filmmaker in an industry that is risk averse and locked in a world where rigid process seems more important than creativity. Join us for honest conversations about how films actually get made, no matter the budget, no matter the location. No spin, no bullshit.

Our meetups will vary:

• An open Q&A with Steve, where you bring the questions and he answers pointedly from his experience on set, in the production office, and behind the camera.
• A relaxed networking meet-and-greet, where aspiring filmmakers connect with experienced professionals, sharing ideas, and collaborating on new projects.
• A special screening, where we will dissect and take apart a scene or sequence together - to work out how it was made, where the camera was, why it moves when it does (or why it doesn't), and the effect it all has on the viewer.
• Hands-on learning, where Steve walks you through the specific how-tos, such as his process of mapping a screenplay before you write a word, or the scheduling secrets that keep a shoot inside a 10 or 12-hour day without cutting corners.
• A live online taping of the Filmmaking Confidential podcast, joining a Zoom conversation with Steve and special guest. Past guests include director Bruce La Bruce, John Waters icon Mink Stole, Top Chef judge James Oseland, Sundance producer Anthony Pedone, musician Kristian Hoffman, Rena Riffel (Showgirls), photographer Emma Elizabeth Tillman, Amazon Studios producer Rebecca Briethaupt, The Asylum producers (Sharknado), and Elliott Hunter (Olympian of Magic), to name a few.
• A live in-person taping of a podcast episode right here in Barcelona, where Steve sits down with a special guest on stage.

About Steve:
Over a 30-year career, Steve Balderson has directed 20+ globally released feature films. His debut, “Pep Squad,” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and became a 1990s cult classic. “Firecracker,” starring Academy Award winner Karen Black and Mike Patton (Faith No More), earned a Special Jury Award on Roger Ebert's annual Best Films of the Year list. “Sex, Lies, and Sugar” featuring Kevin Richardson (Backstreet Boys) in his acting debut, was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for its permanent collection. His recent films include “Sex Love Venice,” now streaming worldwide, and “Brainstare,” the world's first AI-generated live-action feature. He's ranked #47 on IMDb's Top 100 Gay and Lesbian Directors, guest-lectures at UCLA, contributed to The Advocate and MovieMaker magazines, and has authored four bestselling books on independent filmmaking.
Across his films, Steve has worked with Margaret Cho, Penn & Teller, Tura Satana (Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!), legendary Rolling Stones manager Earl McGrath, Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's, Xander Berkeley (Terminator 2), Sarah Clarke (Twilight), Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix), Elaine Hendrix (The Parent Trap), and cult icon Mink Stole (Serial Mom).

*Y aunque Steve está aprendiendo español, los MeetUps serán en inglés.