Spotlight on Zanah Thirus

Whether you know her as a seasoned Producer turned Strategist, the Director behind award-winning impact films like ‘New Santa’, or the creative genius behind the Microbudget Indie Filmmakers Podcast, Zanah Thirus is a force to be reckoned with in the world of independent film.

In this edition, we're thrilled to spotlight Zanah and her groundbreaking work in decentralizing Hollywood, reshaping the job landscape, and granting opportunities where they're most needed. But this is more than just a spotlight—it's an invitation to reevaluate how we center community, impact, and success in this ever-evolving industry.

As we round out Women's History Month, join us for a quick but insightful chat with Zanah as she shares her experience working with Giovonnie Samuels, insights on indie film, and a new resource for indie filmmakers.

Brittany: Hi! It has been a crazy year. Last year, we collaborated on the Bonus Season of your Microbudget Indie Filmmakers Podcast. Tell me about this podcast's impact on you and your growing audience over the years.

Zanah: I think that the most incredible thing about this podcast is that it's timeless, and there is forever an audience for it. Filmmaking is painted as something that is wildly expensive, or something that is only valid to do if it's your career, or that it's only successful if you win awards or strike a distribution deal. None of those things are true. I've spent the last 7 years being a microbudget filmmaker with a full-time job and decentering Hollywood every single day. One day, I decided to share my philosophies and advice in a podcast, and here we are, 4 years later, with over 40,000 streams and 10K Twitter followers. The impact this growing audience has had on me is incredible. It really helps me to feel affirmed and seen as an independent artist, and I really love that this new way of filmmaking is inspiring filmmakers to tell their stories in a resourceful and attainable way.

B: You've definitely been successful at building a brand that de-centers Hollywood in the filmmaking process, especially with micro-budget filmmakers. Why is this important now more than ever?

Z: Hollywood has always seemed like a nightmare to me. I have no interest in trying to convince strangers to give me millions of dollars to tell a story. Nor do I want to have to change my stories just to appeal to mass audiences. I think now, especially after the AMPTP showed their ass during the strikes, we're starting to see more and more artists realize that there are other ways to do this. There are other ways to tell our stories.  

B: You recently wrapped production on your latest film, which stars Giovonnie Lavette Samuels (Bring It On: All Or Nothing, All That). Samuels is also featured in the harrowing documentary Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which is now streaming on MAX—girl, the drama! Tell us about your latest micro-budget feature and working with Giovonnie.

Z: Working with Giovonnie was a dream come true. She was so collaborative and supportive of my vision, and she brought so much zeal and so much life to the lead character, Zoe, in ways I had never imagined. This microbudget indie feature was filmed in less than 10 days, 2 locations, on a $20K budget and we made it HAPPEN. We're in post-production now, and it's definitely the funniest thing I've written and directed. I'm really grateful for my crew, and my incredible team of producers who really steered the ship. 

B: Although we're no longer taping episodes for Microbudget Indie Film Pod  we created over 350 minutes of free game in the Bonus Season alone, with one-of-a-kind filmmaking guides. What is the one workbook every filmmaker needs from the Bonus Season?

Z: I would say the 'Weekend Flmmaker' guide is a gem. It details how to manage your time as a filmmaker with a full time job. 

B: So the people want to know what’s next. Would you care to share where Microbudget Indie Film Pod is headed?

Z: We're now a monthly newsletter that spotlights microbudget films, the filmmakers and provides transparency on budget! So sign up on our website at https://www.microbudgetfilmpodcast.com.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is hosting its April Monthly Film Festival InFocus: Disabilities. NFMLA is shining the spotlight on disability cinema and recognizing the talent of filmmakers with disabilities in the film industry. Come join us on April 6th at the South Park Center to watch some great films, network, and more! 

NFMLA showcases films by filmmakers of all backgrounds throughout the year, across both our general and InFocus programming. All filmmakers are welcome and encouraged to submit their projects for consideration for upcoming NFMLA Festivals, regardless of the schedule for InFocus programming, which celebrates diversity, inclusion, and region by spotlighting communities of filmmakers within our filmmaking community as part of our monthly program.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.NFMLA.org/events.

🔌Jobs & Opportunities 💸

💪🏾 Find Your People Program is a space for emerging creators to build community, created by ColorCreative. ColorCreative was founded by Issavis, and Talitha Watkins to support and develop the voices of the future while enabling women and people of colo Rae, Deniese Dar creators to reach their greatest potential. Applications are being accepted until April 12th.

💪🏾 MAAC x WBD ACCESS Inaugural Acceleration Lab is open for submission. The MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition is partnering with WBD Access to provide aspiring to mid-level MENA-SWANA writers, actors, and directors the opportunity to apply for a 1-day Acceleration LAB. Only 50 participants will be selected to join us IN-PERSON ONLY on April 17th at Warner Bros. Discovery offices in Burbank, CA. Deadline to submit March 30th, 2024.

💪🏾 Flaherty Seminar Fellowship strives to provide more intimate opportunities to engage with and reflect on the screened work in conversation with the filmmakers, programmers, fellows, and other seminar participants. Fellows will have the opportunity to share details of their creative, community, or curatorial practice with one another and self-organize spaces for further conversation. Attending the weeklong Flaherty Seminar through the fellowship program offers Fellows an opportunity to form new and potentially long-lasting relationships, ensconced in rich creative inspiration and conversations.  Apply by March 29th

💪🏾 Roy Dean Spring Grant x From the Heart Productions is pleased to announce the return of the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant, the newest entry in our Roy W. Dean Grants for independent filmmakers is specifically for narrative fiction shorts, live-action or animated, that are 40 minutes or less in length.   As with their other other Roy W. Dean Film Grants, the films need to be unique and make a contribution to society. Apply by March 31st.

💪🏾Ford Foundation JustFilms Grants support artist-driven, non-fiction film and new media storytelling projects that explore aspects of inequality and the organizations and networks supporting these projects. Deadline to apply is April 1st.

💪🏾Commercial Directors Diversity Program The CDDP - Commercial Directors Diversity Program is a 6-month program consisting of workshops, mentorships, networking, shadowing. Apply by April 1st.

💪🏾 Chicken&Egg Project: Hatched will provide grants of $30,000 USD each to 10 directing teams from around the world who have plans to strategize, build, and launch an impact campaign for their film. Apply by April 1st

💪🏾 Creative Capital Award The Creative Capital Award provides unrestricted project grants which can be drawn down over a multi-year period, bespoke professional development services, and community-building opportunities.Grants are awarded via a democratic, national, open call, external review process. Our goal is to fund individual artists creating conceptually, aesthetically, and formally challenging, risk-taking, and never-before-seen projects. Apply by April 4th.

💪🏾 The Writers Lab US is a four-day retreat conducted in person outside New York City. Writers undergo deep development work on their projects, with revision guidance and career support from the experienced TWL team and some of the industry’s best writers and producers in one-on-one and group sessions. Shared meals and group activities provide an opportunity for broader conversations and creative exchange. Apply by April 4th.

💪🏾 The Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships Fellows receive $60,000 over three consecutive years ($20,000 each year) to support their time and expenses for the creation of new work, artistic development and/or professional artistic career development. The Foundation expects to award a total of 45 fellowships across 7 artistic fields. Apply by April 15th.

🔹 Creative Director, Producer, Brand Video and Photography at Arizona State University - https://lnkd.in/gGJa7jDq

🔹 Email Marketing Manager at The Johns Hopkins University - https://lnkd.in/gRUN-W4Y

🔹 Senior Manager, Photography at Disney Entertainment Television - https://lnkd.in/gBgtsTvB

🔹 Manager Content Platforms, Asset Management at Hilton - https://lnkd.in/gdX-Gwu4

🔹 Manager, Art Direction & Brand Creative at Banana Republic - https://lnkd.in/geiWxx_s

🔹 Art Director/Sr Art Director, E-commerce at Abercrombie & Fitch Co - https://lnkd.in/gWxTXvDi

🔹 Producer, On-figure Production at Abercrombie & Fitch - https://lnkd.in/g7wZ_bTi

🔹 Editorial Director at Moda Operandi, Inc - https://lnkd.in/gMHHYhps

🔹 Digital Photography Technician at Ralph Lauren - https://lnkd.in/gvTm2Ykm

🔹 Digital Creative, Production Asset Manager at Ralph Lauren - https://lnkd.in/gRHpGZkC

🔹 Photo Studio Merchandise Lead at Crate and Barrel - https://lnkd.in/gSD9uyTd

🔹 Manager, Photographer at Crate and Barrel - https://lnkd.in/g8jaRpCZ

🔹 Creative Manager at Stanley Black & Decker Inc. - https://lnkd.in/g4K3u94g

Work With Us.

MiFILM curates programming to help underrepresented talent gain visibility. Are you looking to launch a mentorship program, hiring initiative, or community event, or do you need a co-production partner to help market your film? Email us at [email protected].