Every couple months or so we invite the Bay Area film community to our place for an FilmSchoolSF Mixer. These free, “informally formal” get-togethers are a great way meet and mingle with Bay Area filmmakers, writers, actors and producers.

Past Mixers have included speakers such as Director of Photography Jacques Haitkin (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, HERBIE FULLY LOADED) and writer/director Joshua Grannell (ALL ABOUT EVIL) who you may know as Peaches Christ.

Last week, March 4th, we proudly presented actor Jon Gries. In lively and information-packed 2 1/2 hours led by SFSDF instructor (and filmmaker) James Savoca, Gries shared unique insight into the acting and filmmaking world.

Jon Gries has been in 59 feature length films and 37 different TV shows and boasts great success in both mediums across many different responsibilities. Jon has played leading roles in independent films – AROUND JUNE, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, JACKPOT, REAL GENIUS – as well as playing supporting roles in big Hollywood films like MEN IN BLACK, GET SHORTY, TAKEN, THE GRIFTERS.

Alum Bucky Knaebel posted a nice entry on his take of the event on his blog, Dolly Grips and Gaffers and Jessica Sapick of the San Francisco Film Society (SFFS) posted a short-n-sweet report on SF360.org.

We’ve already got our next SFSDF Mixer online and taking RSVPs. This time we’re excited to present writer and journalist Rebecca Keegan.

Keegan spent the last year-and-a-half trailing legendary producer/director James Cameron as he created the biggest film in cinematic history, AVATAR. The result is her hot-selling biography, The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron.

Keegan will speak about her career as a high profile entertainment writer and share anecdotes and lessons she’s learned over her years in Hollywood as well as AVATAR lore and legend. While the evening is free, please be sure to RSVP.