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DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP
Annual membership is $45
NOW Get TWO Years for only $65!!
Membership info at www.capitalfilmarts.org/membership
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Support local filmmaking
Through the CFAA. 100% of all donated proceeds go back into the organization's programs and events. Fees are tax deductible. 
CFAA PROGRAMS:
(unless otherwise stated)
ALL EVENTS HELD AT Imported Studios 1767 Tribute Rd, Suite #J, Sacramento 
CFAA TESTIMONIALS:
Laurie, you are so much the glue that holds our media community together, with opportunities and information - and we’re so lucky! Thanks for continuing with the newsletter’s publication! - Beverly Lewis, Placer County Film Commissioner - - - - - - - - - - The most important thing I've learned about being a filmmaker in Sacramento is that the CFAA has your back. I'm just getting started with my journey, but at every turn, CFAA has been there with information, connections, and most importantly, encouragement. I highly recommend you join so you don't get left behind. Thanks, CFAA! ~ Kat Kinglsley Filmmaker - - - - - - - - - - The CFAA is a great way to meet, reconnect and communicate with Sacramento's top film and media makers. You should check it out! -Rick Kuebler, My Hero Productions - - - - - - - - - - I can’t tell you how much the CFAA means to me! They have been there and helped me thru the years make by making me a better filmmaker and by giving a place to create business and personal relationships with professional folks in industry of entertainment! -Cliff Allen, Screams 4 Reel - - - - - - - To submit your CFAA testimonial - please contact us by email: [email protected] We Appreciate Our Sponsors
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TeJae Hardy - Hair
Angela Womack - Make Up
Cody Martin - Lighting
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Every 3rd Tuesday @ 7pm
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Three Departments, One Focus.
Lighting: The session will cover how different lighting setups—such as key, fill, and backlighting—affect the appearance of actors, set mood, and highlight facial features. Demonstrators will adjust lights in real-time to show how subtle changes can dramatically shift tone and texture.
Hair and Makeup: Professional artists will demonstrate techniques for camera-ready hair and makeup application, emphasizing continuity, skin tone matching, character aging, special effects makeup, and how to adapt styles based on lighting and camera angles.
Integration: The demonstration will conclude with a fully lit, styled, and made-up subject being filmed live, illustrating how all departments work together to ensure a cohesive on-screen image. Ideal for aspiring filmmakers, makeup artists, and anyone interested in behind-the-scenes film production, this session emphasizes the essential teamwork required to bring characters and stories to life visually.
Join us for an informative evening with your film community.
Lighting: The session will cover how different lighting setups—such as key, fill, and backlighting—affect the appearance of actors, set mood, and highlight facial features. Demonstrators will adjust lights in real-time to show how subtle changes can dramatically shift tone and texture.
Hair and Makeup: Professional artists will demonstrate techniques for camera-ready hair and makeup application, emphasizing continuity, skin tone matching, character aging, special effects makeup, and how to adapt styles based on lighting and camera angles.
Integration: The demonstration will conclude with a fully lit, styled, and made-up subject being filmed live, illustrating how all departments work together to ensure a cohesive on-screen image. Ideal for aspiring filmmakers, makeup artists, and anyone interested in behind-the-scenes film production, this session emphasizes the essential teamwork required to bring characters and stories to life visually.
Join us for an informative evening with your film community.
CFAA FILMMAKER FORUM IS HOSTED BY AARON LEONG
Aaron Leong is a board member of the CFAA who is an accomplished cinematographer and director. He went to SF State University’s Theatre Dept for a double emphasis in Performance and Directing. After working for several years as an actor for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Programs, he started a production company. During that time, he started to do more commercial filmmaking and went back to school for film at The Art Institute in Sacramento, focusing more on Directing and Cinematography. He continued his cinematography training at the Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles where he was taught by renowned ASC members such as Vilmos Zsigmond, Dean Cundey and Russell Carpenter among others. After 20 years in various areas in the industry, Aaron has directed features, shorts and commercials and has DP’d for features, shorts, documentaries, reality TV, commercials, and corporate work just to name a few. Aaron also has 18+ years of experience flying Steadicams and is an M2 Volt owner/operator.
He also rents out a lot of gear to productions. You can check it out at www.4thwallfilmworks.com.
Aaron Leong is a board member of the CFAA who is an accomplished cinematographer and director. He went to SF State University’s Theatre Dept for a double emphasis in Performance and Directing. After working for several years as an actor for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Programs, he started a production company. During that time, he started to do more commercial filmmaking and went back to school for film at The Art Institute in Sacramento, focusing more on Directing and Cinematography. He continued his cinematography training at the Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles where he was taught by renowned ASC members such as Vilmos Zsigmond, Dean Cundey and Russell Carpenter among others. After 20 years in various areas in the industry, Aaron has directed features, shorts and commercials and has DP’d for features, shorts, documentaries, reality TV, commercials, and corporate work just to name a few. Aaron also has 18+ years of experience flying Steadicams and is an M2 Volt owner/operator.
He also rents out a lot of gear to productions. You can check it out at www.4thwallfilmworks.com.
Admission is FREE to CFAA members, and only $6 for non-members.
Membership info at www.capitalfilmarts.org/membership
Todd Bull Dawn Spinella
Every 4th Tuesday @ 7pm
Monthly
CFAA Screenwriters Lab
featuring:
Writers Educational Forum
& Script Table Reads/Reviews
co-hosted by
- Todd Bull
- Dawn Spinella
Tues., July 22nd, 2025
@ 7pm-9pm
at Imported Studios
1767 Tribute Rd., Suite J,
Sacramento
The CFAA Screenwriting Lab leadership team is shifting the focus toward teaching the craft of screenwriting, reinforcing screenwriting skills, and modeling practical applications. While the Lab is limiting its focus, peer review will remain an important ingredient.
Heading up the new team is CFAA Board Member Todd Bull, who dons the role of CFAA Screenwriting Lab Director. Todd is an award-winning screenwriter with twenty years of experience in the field. Todd spent 26 years as an actor, director, and stage manager in regional theater productions throughout the West Coast.
Joining the team is Dawn Spinella, who will anchor screenwriting instruction in her role as CFAA Screenwriting Lab Education Director. Dawn’s skills are as varied as they are impressive. She justifiably calls herself the Swiss army knife of screenwriting and filmmaking. She writes, directs, produces, teaches and brews a mean espresso.
Update from Dawn: The CFAA Screenwriter's Lab is taking an exciting leap forward, expanding beyond traditional screenwriting exercises to offer an unprecedented opportunity for filmmakers of all kinds. While screenwriters have long benefited from our live session reads, organized table reads with actors, and in-depth screenwriting education, we're now adding an entirely new dimension: turning scripts into films. Over the next several months, our writers will have the chance to test ideas, collaborate on rewrites, and, ultimately, bring those stories to life on screen. This initiative isn’t just about writing—it's an immersive education in the entire filmmaking process. Participants will gain hands-on experience in film production, learning the ins and outs of collaboration, production, and even post-production (yes- we're covering editing). It's an opportunity to take scripts off the page and transform them into real, tangible works of art—an invaluable exercise for anyone wanting to understand the interplay between the written word and visual storytelling. We’re inviting all members with an interest in filmmaking, writing, crewing, and acting to join us on this thrilling journey. Whether you're a seasoned writer or exploring your storytelling passion, the CFAA Screenwriter's Lab is creating an environment where you can hone your craft, experiment boldly, and learn alongside peers who share your dreams. Come be a part of the most dope, most collaborative, most innovative multi-hyphenate writer-filmmaker group in town, and help bring stories to life in a way no other writing-filmmaker group can match.
FULL BIOS
Seeking New Scripts!
Do you have a script that you would like to hear read out loud by actors, and 'see' it come alive for the first time? Note: CFAA membership is required to submit scripts for group review or table readings.
Membership info at www.capitalfilmarts.org/membership. If you wish to attend readings or be added to the Screenwriters list, receive Zoom links meeting notifications, and to and have scripts sent to you for review in advance of meetings, email: [email protected]
HOW MUCH?
FREE for CFAA members. $6 for Non-members.
Annual membership donation is $45 and this yearly fee provides entry to ALL CFAA meetings and workshops. Info at www.capitalfilmarts.org/membership
SIGN UP HERE
TO RECEIVE THE CFAA'S
FREE NEWSLETTER!
Stay informed and
stay connected.
[email protected]
SIGN UP HERE
TO RECEIVE THE CFAA'S
FREE NEWSLETTER!
Stay informed and
stay connected.
[email protected]
FEES: (for public events)
Admission is free to CFAA members and only $6 per meeting for non-members and guests.
All skills and experiences are welcome!
MEMBERSHIP:
Only $45 per year.
Click HERE to sign up today with Paypal
Admission is free to CFAA members and only $6 per meeting for non-members and guests.
All skills and experiences are welcome!
MEMBERSHIP:
Only $45 per year.
Click HERE to sign up today with Paypal
What did you miss?
Catch up with the CFAA's schedule of guest speakers and instructors
who share their experience and expertise with our members.
Catch up with the CFAA's schedule of guest speakers and instructors
who share their experience and expertise with our members.
CFAA PHOTO GALLERY
CFAA Film Friends and Speakers
MORE PHOTOS HERE
Here's a clip from one of our Speed Networking events.
Tons's of fun with the CFAA!
We appreciate our sponsors and members - Join today and support local film!
