Shellie Schmals

Funding the Story 🎬

Really excited to bring this one together.

On Saturday, October 10, I’m hosting a conversation with film finance strategist Sean Rappleyea, founder of Rapp Consulting, at Revolution Gallery.

We’re going to get into the topics filmmakers actually need to be talking about: capital, investment readiness, risk, and the business decisions that can help move an independent project forward.

I’m keeping the room intentionally small and bringing together filmmakers, producers, creatives, and business/community leaders for a real conversation, Q&A, and some good connecting.

A limited number of seats are available for members of the WNY filmmaking community.

Saturday, October 10
3:00–4:30 PM
Revolution Gallery
1419 Hertel Ave., Buffalo

📍 Happening during Buffalo International Film Festival weekend, directly across from North Park Theatre.

Request a seat via the link in bio / QR code.
RSVP by October 8.

Hosted + moderated by Shellie Schmals / VonSchmals Productions

Producing Culture. Building Community.

… 🎞️
… 📽️ Rapp Consulting, LLC Revolution Gallery Lounge at Revolution Gallery
… 🎨 graphic design by Joshua Klinger

By the light of the Monster Moku Event moon!! 😈🌕

… 👀 by Retro Stage
… 📸 * w pinup sis Kimber Von Gore

🎬 CASTING CALL: GILDED SPLINTER

Currently casting MR. McDUNNOUGH — Male, 50–75. Stern, discerning, hard-headed, civil + highly educated. A newspaper owner with presence, intelligence and strong character energy.

🎥 Shooting October 24 + 25
📍 Buffalo / WNY
🎬 Non-union
🍽 Meals provided

Check the flyer for full character + submission details.

📩 [email protected]

Know someone who fits the bill? Send this their way!

… 📽️

A little BTS from Gilded Splinter! 🎬✨

Had the best time on set this weekend, surrounded by so many talented creative professionals doing what they do best.

Manplaysflute + Polone Frederick have built the kind of environment where creative vision and artistic collaboration can really happen - while also setting the stage for a smooth, supportive set. The vibe is contagious!

And HUGE shoutout to Cat Martinez! Seeing her in action is something special. She’s so supportive of everyone on set, and I love watching how she + Sparky share what they know and create opportunities for people to learn in real time. That kind of generosity makes a difference. ❤️

🎞️ Filming all this fall, can’t wait to share more!

… 🎭 💈Chop Chop
… 🎥 Catharine Braithwaite *

Still smiling about the Western New York Creative Sustainability Summit. 💛

I’m so grateful to everyone who showed up, asked thoughtful questions, and brought such great energy to the room. It meant a lot to see so many people invested in building a stronger film community here in WNY.

I also loved knowing this was created by women-led organizations across our 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s — Film Neighbor Network, Get Fokus’d Productions, Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center, VonSchmals Productions, and Seed&Spark. There’s a real power in building cross-generational collaboration. We need more of this!

Huge thanks to Emily Best and Seed&Spark for bringing such generous, practical insight to Buffalo.

Beginnings are fun and the momentum is strong. More photos, videos and conversations coming soon. ✨

… 🤗 Emily Best Robin Aitina Fareed-Cooke The Creative Arts Strategist
… 🤩 Seed&Spark Film Neighbor Network Get Fokus'd Productions Squeaky Wheel
… 📸 villamaria | 9/14 *

40 years of making noise. 🎥✨

Squeaky Wheel is celebrating FOUR DECADES of media art, experimentation, storytelling, learning, collaboration, and creative community in Buffalo and that is absolutely worth a party.

I’m especially excited to celebrate this one as a member of Squeaky’s board and as someone who loves what happens when artists have the space to experiment, connect, make something weird, and see where it goes.

I’ve also heard plenty about Squeaky’s legendary parties. I have a feeling this one might go down in history too. ✨

Come celebrate the artists, arts workers, educators, programmers, collaborators, supporters, and audiences who have helped shape Squeaky over the last 40 years and raise a glass to whatever comes next. 🥂

📍 Squeaky Wheel in the Tri-Main Center
📅 Saturday, October 3
⏰ 7–10 PM

Four decades down. The next chapter gets louder. 🎉🎉🎉

… 🎬

Toronto, you were BUSY in the best way. ✨

Loved supporting Georgia Entertainment’s “From Story to Scale” activation during TIFF by managing the guest line, keeping things moving, and being one of the first smiling faces welcoming people into the party. Have to say, they were the nicest and most stylish party goers!!

Full-circle moment: Atlanta, Buffalo, Toronto, film, friendship, and community all in one room.

Extra special bonus: seeing my WIFTA sister Kristy Clabaugh of Element because apparently I can leave Atlanta, but Atlanta will still find me in Toronto. 💛

Huge thank you to Randy Davidson, Jezlan Moyet, and the whole Georgia Entertainment team for having me be part of it. Grateful to reconnect, meet so many wonderful people, and celebrate Georgia stories on an international stage.

Same time next year!! 🍑🎬🍁

… 🎞️
… 🍿 Georgia Entertainment TIFF Randy Davidson Jezlan Moyet Everett Element CPAs & Consultants WIFTA
… 📸 Earls Kitchen + Bar * - special thanks to Elise Nation for the party photos, I was too busy to take any!!

✨ ✨

An interview series celebrating the artists, storytellers, and creative voices shaping Buffalo, one story at a time. 🦬💫

Meet Jay Situated 🎥📸✨
jay._.situated

Jay is a Buffalo-based content creator and media creative working across entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, streaming, and community-focused projects.

Equally comfortable in front of the camera and behind it, Jay’s creative world includes videography, photography, live streaming, event coverage, and creative direction. At the heart of it all is a love for capturing authentic moments and using media to tell stories that connect people.

Always looking to collaborate and keep growing, Jay is building a multifaceted creative career while using his platform to shine a light on the people, brands, and communities that inspire him.

Join us as we talk content creation, collaboration, finding your creative voice, and what it means to build a career in today’s ever-changing media landscape.

🗓️ Sunday, September 20 at 8 PM

🎬 BUFFALO FILMMAKERS — THIS ONE’S FOR YOU!

Aitina Fareed-Cooke + Robin Lazzara are stopping by Daytime Buffalo on September 8th to chat about the WNY Creative Sustainability Summit — bringing Seed&Spark’s expertise in indie film fundraising, audience-building + distribution directly to Buffalo’s filmmaking community.

🔥 Hosted by Seed&Spark
📅 September 14
📍 Villa Maria College
🎟️ FREE to attend — !

Come meet your people, swap ideas, build connections and get practical insight into how to fund your work, find your audience and get your film out into the world.

Buffalo makes movies. Let’s build the community that keeps them moving. 🎥✨

… 📣 Presented by: Squeaky Wheel Film Neighbor Network shellie schmals
… 🎞️

Snap. 🌟 Crackle. ⚡️Pop. 💥

… 🌪️
… 📸 The Merry Shelley + Paul Massaro + Solar-Powered Buffalo Heritage Carousel * *