Today we’d like to introduce you to Diliana Alexander.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Diliana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been a film and TV producer for close to 15 years. In 2009, while in between the third and the fourth seasons of the TV show I had been producing, I moved to Miami to complete my MFA. It took two short years to fall in love with the tropical beauty and energy of this mad and magical place. To the surprise to my family and friends, I did not return to the “Hollywood of the North” Toronto.
In 2012, I co-founded FilmGate Miami – a not for profit organization with the mission to support independent film production in Florida. As a filmmaker, I needed FilmGate to exist and since it did not, we created it. Our first program was I’M NOT GONNA MOVE TO L.A. – the longest running monthly short film series in Florida; it celebrates local creativity. It takes place on the first Wednesday of each month to sold out audiences at O Cinema Wynwood. Later came the workshops, the production resources and finally the media center.
In April of this year, we finally opened the Downtown Media Center – an éclat of human creativity and a co-working space for media related businesses. We have a small theater, the El Oro – perfect for castings, panels, workshops, dailies and private screenings. We have a green screen and photo studio – for our web content producers, actor reels, headshots and VR content creation. We have a space for production meetings and networking events. At the DMC, we teach screenwriting, cinematography, VR, directing, sound and so much more.
Where my personal interest lies is with interactive storytelling and in 2013, with a Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Grant, we kicked off the annual festival FilmGate Interactive, which explores new technology and innovative storytelling formats. What is in it for the audience – they get involved in the creative process and are never passive observers. This is my kind of storytelling future.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our struggle is keeping up with demand for production support, so many of our members have ideas and scripts for web series, TV shows, films, VR Projects and our consulting services are in constant demand. I receive calls late into the night, even by people with ideas or exclusive access to creative properties who have never made a film. Many of our programs were designed around that – you have an idea, now learn how to write a script, or learn how to produce.
Please tell us about FilmGate Miami.
FilmGate Miami is a not-for-profit organization that supports independent media makers in Miami – by providing a platform for their expression, production resources like discounted production insurance, consulting services and educational opportunities. We have classes on screenwriting, cinematography, photography, virtual reality, post production sound and so much more. If video content is how we currently communicate, let’s learn how to communicate well.
This year, we also opened the Downtown Media Center – a co-working space for media related businesses. We have offices, meetings spaces, a green screen studio, a small theater, fiber optics internet, free coffee and tea and a network of talented media professionals.
We are behind FimGate Interactive, the only festival in the region that focuses entirely on interactive content and how new technology. We know how fast technology changes the world of entertainment and art, we want you to be prepared. It will take place on February 17th and 18th, 2018 in downtown Miami.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite memories of my childhood summers is reenacting Star War movies with my cousins, on our grandparents’ farm – we had makeshift costumes and sets and I always managed to be Princess Leah. Come to think of it, she was probably one of my biggest role models growing up – a lady boss, fighting for light and justice in the universe.
Pricing:
- FilmGate Media Maker Membership $150/a year
- FilmGate Workshops range from $20 to $35/class.
- Downtown Media Center Monthly Membership – range from $25-$350
Contact Info:
- Address: The Downtown Media Center
168 SE 1st St
Miami, FL 33131
3rd Floor - Website: filmgate.miami
- Phone: 3059166973
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @filmgate_interactive
- Facebook: @FilmgateMiami
- Twitter: @diliana
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/filmgate-miami
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmgate-miami
Image Credit:
Pictures by Fxrbes, Andres Cuervo and FilmGate Miami
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