Take a journey with Thomas and Miami-based independent filmmaker Michael Ruiz-Unger as they discuss in detail what it takes to write, direct, and produce your own short film! Michael would know a thing or two about it. Michael wrote, and Thomas performed in, "Save the Flea" a short film that first premiered at the Miami Film Festival in 2023, taking the Audience Award in the short film category. The film has since gone on to make the festival rounds across the U.S. Thomas and Michael discuss how to conceptualize and nurture an idea for a film, the (sometimes grueling) writing process, financing your project, casting, shooting, editing, and making festival debuts - not to mention what you do with your film after the festival rounds go cold. Don't miss this unique opportunity to peer into the minds of a filmmaker who wrote a character that an actor he hired brought to life on the big screen. Michael can be found on IG (@skywalkerhand) and on his website at https://michaelruizunger.com. You can stream Save The Flea on the PBS website here: https://www.pbs.org/video/save-the-flea-and-ladyfinger-avzk9x/

About Michael: Michael Ruiz-Unger is a Cuban-American filmmaker who grew up around Miami's underground punk scene, filming short films and music videos. In college, he interned at Oscilloscope Laboratories which solidified his love of filmmaking, specifically directing and editing. In 2016, he ventured into the world of comic book writing. His graphic novel Dark Beach, a sci-fi noir thriller, was published by Simon and Schuster and is now optioned at Fabula. In 2022, he was given funding by Oolite Arts and The Miami Film Festival to create his short film Save The Flea, which took place inside of an active flea market. The short went on to win the audience award at the Miami Film Festival as well as selections into Fantasia Film Festival, the New York Latino Film Festival and comic-con international Independent film festival (San Diego Comic Con).