We are sponsoring a fantastic event featuring award-winning writer/actor/director Jim Picariello and you’re invited.

This is our first workshop/screening of the fall 2021 schedule. And it’s Thursday evening, September 30th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM EST.  On that night you’ll be introduced to Jim who will discuss three of his projects with us. This will be a virtual event and anyone who signs up will be given links to watch three of Jim’s amazing shorts:

THIS TIME IT’S SHOPPING

Comedy

Jim’s first short film, made for $100 in a single day and was selected by 18 festivals, won 5 top awards and the attention from Sesame Street, who hired him to make a short film about the Number 6!

PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE DADS

Comedy

This 5-minute long short film has been selected by over 25 festivals, including some wicked-fancy ones!

THE MUSHROOM HUNTRESS

Drama

Jim co-wrote and directed this magical story.

Summary: Leigh grew up wanting for nothing. Her detached mother took no interest in her or her loving, foolish father, who joyfully educated Leigh in the lore of mushrooms. Now Leigh must find her way in a world where she’s never quite felt at home, by learning resourcefulness and understanding the distinction between being a kept person and accepting help.

You’ll get to talk with Jim who is trying to accomplish the unthinkable – establish himself as a successful Screenwriter | Director | Actor (in that order) from a small town in Maine.  And it’s working!

Topics will include:

• how to write a great short with that powerful twist ending
• what makes for a great comedy (arguably one of Jim’s specialties)
• how to produce projects on an affordable budget – projects that could be your ticket to larger enterprises and greater exposure.

ABOUT JIM:

Jim Picariello is a screenwriter/filmmaker breaking into the industry from rural, coastal Maine. It’s a surefire plan!

His first 4-minute short film, This Time It’s Shopping, made for $100, was selected by 18 film festivals and won 5 top awards.

This earned the attention of Sesame Street, who hired Jim to make a short film about “The Number 6” on a Maine farm, which aired on HBO’s Sesame Street in 2018.

Jim’s subsequent 5-minute short film, Passive Aggressive Dads, was selected by 22 festivals, including Sedona, Nantucket, Breckenridge, SOHO, and BFI London. The film won 3 top awards, including Best Comedy (up against features) at the Beaufort International Film Festival.

His family-friendly short film, The Mushroom Huntress, starring Hoyt Richards (the world’s first male supermodel) and Lacey Hannan, is currently in festivals.

Jim is a Stowe Story Labs alum and his optioned, modern, feminist, family, animated feature, Igor and Frankie, was in the “Top 10%” in the Nicholl Fellowship and is currently a Top 1% Project on Coverfly. His dark rom-com screenplay, The Cult of Us, was a Quarter-Finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship and is a Coverfly Top 2% Project. His short script, Ninja Chiropractor, was a Semifinalist in the Austin Film Festival screenplay competition, where he’s also an Austin 2-time Pitch Finalist.

You can learn even more about Jim at http://jimpicariello.com.

While at his site be sure to read how Jim made it to the final movie pitch session at the Austin Film Festival, only for it to turn into a complete fiasco!

COST: $10.00

TO SIGN UP:  Sign up right here at our site or simply pay via Zelle using either genine@hsswriters.com or 978-505-5652. Indicate 9/30/21 Workshop W/ Jim Picariello.  All proceeds go to the volunteer, non-profit HSSW in support of our programming.  Deadline for sign-ups is noon on Wednesday, September 29th.