Giving young indie filmmakers guidance

What’s the difference between a good story and a good film script? What are the nuts and bolts of film producing? How should you pitch a story idea?

Beginning and experienced writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, musicians and writers -- ages 14 to 20 -- are invited to attend the launch of Voice Films Institute’s new national development program for young filmmakers. “Voice” is a series of collaborative, informational and hands-on forums on the making of quality independent films, with a focus on digital technology.

Led by working veteran and peer professionals and educators, the first forum, “Voice LA,” is Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at USC’s Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts.

Participants can choose between two programs: “Track 1: Hands-On Directing” and “Track 2: Act, Write, Produce.” Among the offerings: “Producing and Directing Review of a New Film,” “Writing With Purpose and an Original Voice,” “Producing and Directing the Film: Hands-on,” “Directing Actors and Acting for Film.”

There will be a collaborative story pitch session, a reworking of scenes of recently produced films by two filmmaking teams on a full production set and screenings of the short independent films “Fate Smiles,” by 18-year-old Sophie Shepherd, a Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts graduate; “Tuesdays After” by Quyen Tran, “God Bless” by Brad Leong and Dan Engelhardt, and “echostop” by Justin Lerner.

*

‘Voice LA’

What: Forum for aspiring filmmakers ages 14 to 20

When: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, USC, 3131 Figueroa St., L.A.

Price: $15

Registration: www.voicefilms.com