Creative Writing Workshop
"The Way of Words... a Journey into Character"
Come spend a morning with some of our gifted filmmakers David Fortune, Michael Farris Smith & Rashmi Rustagi who are inspired by characters and writing. Let's take some time to really get into their heads about how they develop characters, and then try some of your own during a live writing session.
David Fortune
David Fortune is a writer and director based in Atlanta, Georgia. He was named Variety’s 2025 Directors to Watch and is a recipient of the AT&T Untold Stories Award, which provided a $1 million grant to direct his feature film, Color Book. In addition to these recognitions, David has also been nominated for the 2025 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative. David has participated in multiple directing fellowships, including the Paramount ViewFinders Directors Program, Netflix - Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship, the Village Roadshow Emerging Talent Program, and Indeed - Hillman Grad Rising Voice Program. As a writer and director, he seeks to capture universal connections within marginalized communities while shedding light on the intimate human experiences.
Michael Farris
Michael Farris Smith wrote and directed Chasing Rabbits, adapted from his short story of the same name and the short film is his directorial debut. He is an award-winning writer whose novels have appeared on Best of the Year lists with Esquire, NPR, Garden & Gun, Oprah Magazine, and numerous other outlets. As a screenwriter, he scripted the feature-film adaptations of his novels Desperation Road and The Fighter, titled for the screen as Rumble Through the Dark, both of which released in 2023. Two more of his titles, Blackwood and Rivers, are under development.
Rashmi Rustagi
Born and raised in the vibrant tapestry of Lucknow, India, Rashmi has brought stories to life since a young age, starting with radio plays and theater. You may have seen her in movies such as The Avengers and India Sweets and Spices and TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Atypical, and Never Have I Ever, to name a few. She has written and produced several short films on narratives advocating social change. Her award-winning short film, Unborn, is streaming on Amazon Prime. She wrote, produced, and acted in this compelling movie about female feticide in America today. Rashmi acted in the short film Bienvenidos a Los Angeles, which was shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. She wrote, produced, and acted in the feature film Designed by Preeti. The movie is a romantic drama about an Indian woman’s journey from spouse abuse to personal and professional empowerment as she experiences real love for the first time with someone outside her rigid community and race. Inspired by true stories, Designed by Preeti addresses domestic abuse, mental health, and interracial romance. Rashmi is an avid gardener and writes a popular food blog called Rashmi’s Recipes.
