Guerrilla Filmmakers Band Together Writing Their Own Scene
By Robert Waddell, April 20, 2010
 Three years ago when licensed massage therapist and make-up artist Cindy Sanabria was pregnant with her second child, she made a life changing decision to become a filmmaker.
“I started to re-evaluate my life, a transitional period,” said Sanabria. “I knew I was going to go back to school. I always wrote plays even when I was a kid so I said I’m going to do it, just do it, and I want to put it on film.”
She enrolled in a film program at Borough of Manhattan Community College, made her short film “I Got Flowers Today” about domestic violence.
In 2008, that first film of Sanabria’s won third prize at the Broadcast Education Association short film competition, which is part of the National Association of Broadcasting convention in Las Vegas.
Right then and there she knew she had chosen wisely her new career path; Sanabria knew she was on her way, she said.
But soon, Sanabria, who grew up in El Barrio, realized she couldn’t do it all alone so she teamed up with 9 other young aspiring film makers and created “WriterScene,” a collaborative collective of film makers who work on each other’s films, which include comedy, drama, horror and romance.
On Saturday April 24th, the directors of “WriterScene” will hold their second fund raiser and present their latest works. Sanabria is more than an ambitious director. With the creation of “WriterScene,” these young filmmakers work on holding their own film festival, collaborating on a feature length film and a documentary for 2011.
“When I joined WriterScene I was looking for a group of people like me who are students and want to start making independent films,” said filmmaker Rosie Hernandez. “Not only does it help make our films better it also helps expand our interpersonal skills. In an industry where knowing the right people can get you a budget for your next film knowing how to collaborate and develop relationships with others is really important.”
Echoing Hernandez’s feelings, Sanabria said that although the April event is their second, she and her colleagues don’t just “eat, breath and live” movies but they love what they do.
 “Our main goal is to get our stuff looked at,” said Sanabria. “We want people to watch our films as much as possible.”
Sanabria and her fellow filmmakers know that the film industry is a competitive and some times cutthroat business. “WriterScene” not only wants to create and promote each member’s films but they want to develop their own opportunities.
“My friends and colleagues in WriterScene are a constant inspiration to me and I have learned a great deal from them during the time I have been with the company,” said filmmaker Steven Steinberg.
Filmmaker Christopher Oliver said that being a part of “WriterScene” prepared him for the unexpected in all aspects of the directing process. "At show time what can go wrong will go wrong. Just prepare," he said.
With sponsors to their fundraisers, Sanabria and her fellow directors want to be noticed for the work they’ve done and can do, she said.
“We’re guerrilla filmmakers and we make films to little or no budget,” said Sanabria. “We have a limited amount of equipment and we try to make the best out of the little that we have.”
Like the over 30-year-old “En Foco” that supports photographers of color, “WriterScene” is a group of mostly people of color and women who support each other, all willing to do create their own opportunities. Like warfare, these filmmakers are eager to jump into their respective film making trenches, battle out their creative ideas and create cinema that reflects their own concepts and aesthetics.
“We have a variety,” said Sanabria. “These are all people I selected. I either went to school with them. I observe people’s work.”
Sanabria’s current film is a 15-minute supernatural horror drama called “When the Dead Speak” about a man and his addiction.
“Directors want to be heard,” said Sanabria. “People express themselves through film. As independent film makers we say what we want to say and we do what we want to do and let you know…the struggle is harder but you’re more liberated.”
For more information, check out WriterScene’s website for up coming events.
The WriterScene Second Fund Raiser will be held on Saturday April 24th at The Poet’s Den on 108th Street in El Barrio. For more information, check out Cindy Sanabria and WriterScene on Facebook. |
