WHO or What is FILM FORWARD?

Film Forward promotes a uniquely powerful community of forward thinking filmmakers. We support your vision, your creativity, and ultimately, your project on screen! With over three decades combined experience in the entertainment industry, the founders have an extensive cadre of seasoned professionals ready to assist with breathing life into your next filmed project.

Contact info@filmforwardllc.com to get a “Jump Cut” today on your next creative adventure!

From concept to creation we have the support you need!

COVID RECOVERY PRICING AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ON YOUR INTRODUCTORY “JUMP CUT”!

Founders

Jennifer Jordan loves the power of a great film.  A film can inspire one to greatness, it can further one’s compassion, knowledge, and personal power.  And, it all begins with a wonderful story. To Jen, combining the use of storytelling and expression on film is one of the most powerful tools in solving the issues that our global community faces.  

In Jennifer’s mind, “why not dream things true,” by utilizing the power of the written word, and bringing those words to life on the big (or small) screen.  

From the critical first moment as the story flows forth from the hands of the writer, then glides around challenges and log jams to the hands of the cast and crew; finally, winding its way into the minds and hearts of its audience. That is the journey of a film.  A powerful film, well-crafted, and nourished can make a significant impact on millions of lives. It can nurture a dream into reality; create the existence of hope where there was once despair, and bring comfort to a wounded soul. 

Just one scene in a movie can make us cringe in discomfort, or it can make us look at the human condition a little differently and in some cases maybe even through an entirely new lens of compassion or understanding that we may have, otherwise, missed entirely. 

A great film can also simply thoroughly, fantastically entertain us!  Urge us to leap from our seats in fear or laugh in the next moment until we lose our breath buried in the hilarity of the situation.   

Jennifer espouses the belief that film is not just an art, it is a “healing art.”

As a dreamer, an empath, and with the kind of heart that wants to bring forth the best in those that cross her path, Jennifer’s passion for Film Forward springs from the idea that a community of forward thinking filmmakers can be supported by a global network of bad ass film ninjas aspiring to come together to tell their story on their terms with the support of a professional industry collective.

Jennifer’s favorite quote is from Shakespeare’s, Romeo & Juliet 

“Dreamers often lie in bed asleep while they do dream things true.”

She loves writing, reading, studying all things otherworldly.  It would be fair to say that Jen lives in another world most of the time.  The world she lives in is composed of clean oceans, animals that are treated well, the end of sex slavery, the use of minds instead of weapons to overcome poltical battles, rhetoric, and controversy, and a world where the problem of hunger is solved.  She believes that film, music, art and authentic, creative self-expression can “dream” all of those “ideas” into being.  

She works diligently, every day, to make that so, and hopes to further that mission through the encouragement, support and empowerment of underserved filmmakers and storytellers through the network of Film Forward!! 

Karen Criswell has a long history of performance, production and operations experience from the theatre, film and movie studio industries. Her long tenure at Dreamworks SKG while maintaining her indie production company, Koncept Films, provided her with an overarching perspective of filmmaking that is both colorful and unique.

As a creative in her own right, she is able to drill down into the needs of a particular project and supply the team with support that is both crucial and beneficial. Her knowledge of the entire process allows her to be razor sharp in her focus on spend vs. outcome and how to build mutually beneficial relationships for independent storytellers who are working on reaching the next level, and their maximum audience.

She has mentored organizations and individuals alike on business operations and film production. She strives always to find the "sweet spot" that leverages available resources for maximum creative output. She believes that there is a "through line" between profitability and art; that they are not mutually exclusive constructs.

And, that sharing stories is as human a need as taking our next breath. 

She is incredibly grateful for the winding road that has led her down many "rabbit holes". Like any great story, those detours were challenging and sometimes, terrifying; exciting and filled with adventure. The interesting characters who granted her wisdom and insight along the way were plentiful and generous in their encouragement of her plethora of dreams.

Bringing her journey full circle by supporting artists through Film Forward and her partnership with Jennifer is the ultimate reward for years of support that she has received from others. Producing strong, independent, and feminine forward art in a world filled with sound bites, mass consumerism and rhetoric is her life long pursuit. 

Her greatest hope is that art will lead us all “forward” to kinder communications, stronger communities and deeper levels of understanding and compassion for all that exists in our world!

Film forwarD

Talent Line-Up

SHANE MILLs

Shane Mills bleeds independent film. Almost literally.

Based in St. John’s, Canada, Shane has built his horror brand and production company, GRIND MIND, from the grave up. With 15 years in creative marketing and design, Shane left his 9-5 cubicle in late 2017 to pursue his passion for making monsters and movies over advertising. But first-time filmmaking can be tough with little to no resources, connections, or formal education. An understanding of the power of community and social media through his prior work experience was paramount in propelling GRIND MIND towards scary success. That and a hell of a lot of hard work. 

Assembling a crew of passionate friends and creatives, the mission was to write, shoot, and release a short horror film every month to learn by doing - while building an audience invested in the journey. In the two and a half years since, Shane has directed, shot, and edited nearly 30 films (from awful to award winning), he sits on the board of directors for the province's largest independent film festival, created the online DIY horror anthology DEADFLIX, and isn't slowing down. His latest film, 'MUMMERING LEGENDS' is being produced via Picture Start, an intake program for Telefilm Canada and will be hitting film festival circuits in June of 2020.

He believes in persistence over perfection, creating your own opportunities, and is incredibly excited to join FilmForward in resurrecting YOUR films back from the dead.

ADVISORY BOARD

ADVISORY BIOS CONTINUED…

TrevA

 When Treva isn't working on projects, you can be certain that he is educating and giving all he has to give to the community and this covers the realm of ALL ages.

You can see Treva spitting on Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, intimidating a soldier in Black Hawk Down, and having his shop destroyed by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys II as the character Ice Pick.

He is an award winning producer/director of two films “Driving Miss Crazy” (HBO Best Short Film) and “A Woman Scorned” (Best Short Film Hollywood Scarefest), and produced/directed the award winning BBC comedy series “The Real McKoy”.

This man is the epitome of talent and is a true artist on all levels. He has such respect for the process and such compassion for all of humanity.

Catherine

Ms. Spear’s work at EOCR encompasses their mission to ensure equal opportunity and protect the civil rights of all University community members.

In her role, Ms. Spear has frequently partnered with the arts and supported civil-rights and social justice-related art forms and projects—film, theater, books, museums, painting, etc.—recognizing the power of art and the voices of artists to promote inclusion and create meaningful opportunities for human beings to step outside their comfort zones to engage across differences.

Prior to joining the University of Virginia, Ms. Spear was the first full-time dedicated Title IX Coordinator at Stanford University. Before Stanford, Ms Spear worked as a civil rights attorney and senior leader for the Cleveland office of the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights for almost two decades. In her free time, Ms. Spear writes poetry and is an aspiring chef and ukelele enthusiast.

JOHN

Within John’s first year of testing the waters as an actor and getting his first agent in New Mexico, he landed his first role in “Believe in Me.” His second role as a Senator was in “Bordertown,” with Jennifer Lopez and Martin Sheen.

John Norman continued to perfect his craft in short films such as, “On the Bus,” “Benitos Gift,” and “The Kindest Cut.”

His big break came when his daughter convinced him to audition with her for a national commercial for Chevy.   He got the part as a cowboy in Chevy’s commercial celebrating over 75 years of making trucks which aired from 2007-2009

John is currently the VP of Development for Gypsy Moon Productions and works with Box Office Hit Screenwriter, Mark Miller.  He enjoys spending time with his wife Janie, his children, and grandchildren.