Creative Leadership: Taking Care of Collaborators

Making a film takes many hands and talents. What are some of the things directors and producers can do to make sure everyone communicates well, stays energized, and creates the best work possible? From preparing for physical contact between actors, to establishing good vibes on set, to communicating clearly about roles and compensation, this discussion will start you thinking about how to be a creative leader people are always excited to work with.

Panelists

Kelly O’Sullivan
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter

Kelly O’Sullivan is a writer, director, and actor. Her first feature screenplay, Saint Frances, premiered at South by Southwest, where it won a Special Jury Recognition for “Breakthrough Voice” and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature. The film was released theatrically by Oscilloscope Laboratories in 2020. She was nominated for a Gotham Breakthrough Actor Award for her role in Saint Frances and the Independent Spirit Cassavetes Award. Kelly was named one of Filmmaker Magazine‘s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” and was a member of Film at Lincoln Center’s Artist Academy. Her feature directorial debut, Ghostlight, which she wrote and co-directed with Alex Thompson, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released theatrically by IFC and Sapan Studios in 2024.

Luzzo
Producer, Movement Director, and Actor

Luzzo is a queer director, producer, movement director, and actor based in Chicago. They currently work as an Associate Producer and Production Manager at Full Spectrum Features, a Chicago non-profit film production company that uplifts stories from marginalized communities. Most recently, Luzzo served as Associate Producer on the documentary-narrative hybrid feature film Desire Lines, which just won the NEXT Series Jury Award at Sundance 2024. Luzzo studied acting and dance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Since graduating, Luzzo has worked in theater, television production, written and produced their own short films, stunt coordinated feature films, and produced immersive parties. Most recently, they have begun working as an intimacy coordinator and are pursuing continued education with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators. As a queer creator, they are particularly interested in showcasing queer bodies through a utopian lens rather than the all-too-common “tragic queer” trope. When Luzzo isn’t creating, you can catch them in dance class, teaching yoga, or gaming. You can find updates on their work at www.Luzzo.org.