About Us
Makazan Films is a full-service production company headed by Writer-Director-Producer-Actor, Paige Morrow Kimball. As a multi-hyphenate with 25 years of production experience, Paige has a 360 degree view of the entertainment industry from both sides of the camera and the creative eye to lead her team from concept to final delivery. Makazan Films (named after her daughters Mak & Zan) is committed to creating uplifting stories and hiring women and other marginalized artists in as many key positions as possible. Paige and her team of creative collaborators firmly believe, if girls can see it, they can be it!
Our Projects
PLAY DATE – SHORT FILM
ENDING UP – SHORT FILM
EXILED OUT EAST – PILOT
LEMONADE: WINNING – WEBISODE
POWERS - AWARD WINNING INDIE SHORT DOCUMENTARY 2023
OFF THE WALL: LOS ANGELES PBS 2022
ANA GUERERRO - CHIEF OF STAFF LA CITY TV 2018
SESAME STREET LETTER FILM:
R IS FOR REUSE
SESAME STREET NUMBER FILM: THE AMAZING NUMBER 9
SESAME STREET LETTER FILM: D IS FOR DOG
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: PICKLES
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: PLUMS
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: AVOCADOS
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: GARLIC
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: ONIONS
SESAME STREET ELMO'S WORLD: CELEBRATIONS
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: CELERY
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: ARTICHOKES
SESAME STREET ELMO'S WORLD: THANKSGIVING
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: CACTUS
SESAME STREET MONSTER FOODIES: SALT
ACCOLADES
Our Projects Have Received Many Honors and Awards:
- Cleveland Int’l Film Festival: Best Women’s Short Film
- Outshine Film Festival: Best Short Film
- Wicked Queer Film Festival: Best in Show
- Cordillera Film Festival: Special Jury Nominee
- Woods Hole Film Festival: Runner Up: Best Short Documentary
- Downtown LA Film Festival: Best Short Documentary
- Port Townsend Film Festival: Best Short Documentary
- Ojai Film Festival: Best Short Documentary
- Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival: Best Short Doctumentary
- Napa Valley Film Festival: Audience Favorite
- Boston Kids Int’l Film Festival: Best Short Film
- International Family Film Festival: Best Short Film
- Moondance Int’l Film Festival: Best Short & Best Child Actor
- San Jose Shorts Int’l Film Festival: Audience Favorite
- Park City Int’l Film Festival: Best Short Finalist
- Hendricks Foundation: Quarter Finalist Prize Winner
- Coverfly: Top 1% & Top 20 of the Month
- ScreenCraft Film Fund: Finalist
- Atlanta Film Festival Script Competition: Quarter Finalist
- The Writers Lab: Semi-Finalist
- Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition: Second Rounder
- Launch Pad Competition: Second Rounder
- Screen Craft Drama Competition: Semi Finalist
- Nichol: Top 15%
- Sundance Writers Lab: Final Rounder
THE MAKAZAN FILMS DIRECTING PROGRAM
Giving underrepresented filmmakers an opportunity to direct a short film for Sesame Street.
Overview
History has shown that projects traditionally hire the people they know, which makes it difficult for new and diverse talents to receive that first big break. The MFDP is designed to lend a hand in overcoming this obstacle.
The Intent of this program
The intent of this program is to reach out beyond our own circles to find a diverse pool of applicants who might not otherwise have this opportunity. We believe that Diversity matters. There are many talented, qualified directors who may need a leg up to be able to build their ‘evidence of greatness’ to get to the next step of their directing career.
This is not a school or a shadowing program. We are looking for a director who has already created a body of work and is working to build their reel and credits. The director will be paid. The pay will be fair and appropriate for independent short filmmaking and specific to the budget.
We hope to help move the needle for someone with this opportunity.
How to Apply:
- Everyone is welcome to apply. We especially encourage directors from traditionally excluded backgrounds to apply (women, people with disabilities, parents returning to work, people over 45, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, etc.).
- Applicants must have five years minimum directing/production/ post experience and a demonstrated / strong interest in family programming.
- To apply, send a letter of interest to: info@makazanfilms.com
- What to include:
- Tell us about yourself and your director’s voice. We want to know what makes you unique as a filmmaker.
- Attach a resume.
- This is a paid opportunity.
A selection committee will review all applications. Advancing applicants will send a reel and be interviewed.
There is no fee to apply.
The application period is open NOW until Friday June 2, 2023 at 11:59pm.
The Selection Committee
We have put together a Selection Committee comprised of a diverse group of experienced, entertainment professionals.
· 1st round – We will vet all qualified applicants i.e. experience level, complete applications, and FOR WHOM IS THIS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE?
· 2nd round – Applicants’ materials will be edited to remove any names and Identity factors such as gender race, age and more, making round 2 a “blind judging.” The artistic voice, level of experience and the impact of the submission materials are the things by which the Selection Committee will choose.
· 3rd round – Reels / sample works will be requested.
· 4th round Interviews will be scheduled.
· The final director will be offered the job and the detailed schedule and terms.
Two-time Emmy award-winning Mary Lou Belli has been directing television for over 30 years. Mary Lou served as the Co-chair of the Women’s Steering Committee at the DGA. She serves on the Advisory Circle of Film Fatales, is an Honorary Board member of the Alliance of Women Directors, an Advisory Board member of Women in Media, a member of Women In Film, and the Peer Group Executive Committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Through her teaching, she supports diversity programs at ABC/Disney, CBS, Sony, HBO Access, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, and Warner Bros. Directing Workshop.
Eda Benjakul is a director/writer, and Emmy Award-winning producer. Airing on PBS KVCR, ‘Hope Builders: Making a Difference in the Inland Empire.” won Telly Awards for Directing and Social Impact. She works in the lifestyle and culinary space as a showrunner/EP for Top Chef/bravo digital; Tastemade, Food Network and L.A. Times Studio. Eda began her career as a field reporter at ABC News. Eda launched YouTube Premium’s food content channel with the first story-driven recipe videos. Her most recent project is the upcoming PBS program, ’The Great American Recipe.’
Five-time Emmy Award-winning Kimberly Wright is a Senior Producer for PBS series Work it Out Wombats! and was the Film Producer at Sesame Workshop for 11 years. She was a daytime tv producer for 12 years working for Telepictures, NBC, and Paramount. Kimberly made it her mission to diversify the pool of filmmakers and animators creating for Sesame Street and to provide opportunities for young, up-and-coming BIPOC content creators. Kimberly has a BA in Radio/Television from George Washington University and is a Board Member for the Providence Children’s Film Festival.
Beverley Gordon is an award-winning producer who began her career as an attorney. She is the owner of BrownBag Pictures and Blended Road Ent. She worked in International TV Distribution at Warner Bros. Beverley is a Sundance Producing Lab and Producers Guild of America Create Lab fellow and an alumna of Tribeca Film Institute’s All Access Program and the PGA Diversity Workshop. Beverley is a graduate of Harvard University, Tulane University School of Law, and has an MFA from the American Film Institute.
Stuart K Robinson is an award-winning director/writer/composer. He is CEO/Partner of Brady, Brannon & Rich Talent as well as the management firm Bx2 Entertainment. Author of the popular book, “It All Begins With I”, his inspirational work stretches beyond the entertainment industry to individuals from all walks of life. His “Truth to Power Inclusion Solutions” program has aided numerous companies to better understand and conquer implicit bias regarding race, gender, and more.
Liz Hinlein is a DGA director/creative director/visual artist with a portfolio of critically acclaimed work in film, commercials, and immersive media. Liz is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, with an MFA in Cinematography from The American Film Institute. She is also the Creative Director of Film and Cinematography at the New York Film Academy, where she created/hosts talk show series The 20/20, which has amassed over 1.5 million followers.