Another update from a former FilmSchoolSF student. This time, we caught up with filmmaker Gretchen Olivero whose short film, The Disgruntled Worker, won a Grand Festival Award at the 2009 Berkeley Video and Film Festival.

“I created this fun, quirky film at the 5 Week Filmmaking Workshop in the of 2008. I had studied film at a previous film program, directed and worked on some student films, as well as some professional films, but what I found key about the SFSDF workshop was the challenge, the access to equipment, James (Savoca’s), Rick (Wise’s) and Steven’s (Kopels’s) guidance during the process. I was surprised how quickly and cohesive my vision about a Kafka-esque type of workplace was pulled off for the amount of time given.”

Recently, Gretchen worked on the short film, PIA, as the script supervisor for the Sundance award winning director, Tanuj Chopra. She suffered through long, hard hours and was nearly overwhelmed by the extensive fog effects on a small set but did an amazing job of helping to keep dialog and continuity perfect.

Gretchen also recently directed a well-funded, 11 minute HD short film in 2009 called The Sublet, that is currently been submitted to many festivals.

“I am also finishing the final details on my next dramady; a 16 minute short film in which I hope to get in pre-production early 2010 with a larger budget and a name actor. Finally, I have also been writing my feature debut, a drama with comedic elements, in which I hope to be in production in 2011. Of course I am still working as an actor when opportunity arises.”