MELISSA MORIARTY

Over the weekend I volunteered at the Massachusetts Media Expo sponsored by the Massachusetts Production Coalition which hosted New England film and media companies and featured guest speakers. As I bounced from registering attendants in the lobby to catching a seminar on the do's and dont's that casting directors look for in aspiring actors, I began to ask myself "Why is the movie industry still exclusively contained to Hollywood?"  With about 600 attendees present and about 40 exhibitors showcasing their media services to them, the WBGH headquarters, where the event was held, felt like the appropriate venue to mark their first media conference. More importantly, it highlighted Boston's clear demand for and from filmmakers who plan to remain local.  

Since I delved into film-making about two years ago, I noticed that most workshops or conferences that I attended tended to allude to Hollywood as the end goal for those who can shine in the industry, leaving the implied conclusion that for the rest of us it's an unattainable mirage. For me, the Massachusetts Media Expo showcased the talents of the enthusiastic animators, film academics, actors, technical crew, producers and filmmakers who hone their craft right here in New England. It is my hope that with more major networking events like this in Boston, we can soon start to be considered part of "the industry."   

Melissa Moriarty currently works as a Program Associate at Management Sciences for Health.  She begins her MFA in film production at Boston University in the fall.  She has produced two 48 Hour films, both with an all-female crew.   

ANDY JASMIN    

The MA MEDIA EXPO was the best networking event for the business of film that I've been to in New England. The best part of the event, for me, was the Keynote Speakers; everyone was amazing but to hear Dorothy Aufiero (Producer: The Fighter) and Mark Kamine (Silver Linings Playbook, Ted, Shutter Island) talking about the passion that they have for New England and the Greater Boston Area, inspired me to keep writing stories that are specific to our region.  

 
As an aspiring filmmaker, I found that the MA MEDIA EXPO allowed me to see how possible it is to develop a production team and create content locally that can reach an international audience! I am already preparing for next year's conference.

Andy Jasmin is an actor and producer of independent content, the founder of Dreamworld, his own production company, and a student in Emerson College's  Screenwriting Certificate program.  Andy recently appeared in the indie film, Noah which imagines a United States in which slavery has never been abolished.  Take a look at the astonishingly terrifying trailer.