Bri Castellini

Bri Castellini

Writer || Director || Podcaster || Human Bulldozer

Speaking

Find out about my podcasting adventures here and my acting ones over here.

Presentations & Panels

I speak on the subjects of creative writing, crowdfunding, marketing and audience building, independent film, web series, and the digital media culture in general. For bookings and speaking rates, please email bri.castellini@gmail.com. I love hearing myself talk, so I can’t wait to hear from you!

2026 Appearances

  • KAFM Lit Radio: writing novels (and more!) (guest speaker)
  • Western Colorado Writers Forum: How To Write & Produce Your First Script (even if you don’t know other filmmakers!) (Workshop Leader)
  • Don’t F*ck Up Your Film: a two-day producing intensive (Workshop Leader) (upcoming, April)
  • LIU Brooklyn TV Writer’s Studio MFA: Crowdfunding: From Soul-Sucking to Success (Workshop Leader)
  • LIU Brooklyn TV Writer’s Studio MFA: Pitching & Pitch Deck Basics (Workshop Leader)
  • Castellini Film School online: Goal-Setting and Branding Refresh for Creative Professionals (host)
  • The Rogue MFA: What’s At Stake? How Unputdownable Novels Keep You Hooked (workshop co-leader)

2025 Appearances

  • Picture Story Studios: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Crowdfunding (Workshop Leader)
  • From The Heart Productions: Learn Producing | What Everyone Gets Wrong About Crowdfunding (Workshop Leader)
  • Hollyshorts Film Festival: Crowdfunding: From Soul-Sucking to Success! (Workshop leader)
  • The D-Word: How to Launch a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign (guest speaker)
  • FilmShop: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Crowdfunding (Workshop Leader)
  • NewFilmmakers LA: No Budget Filmmaking 101 (Workshop leader)
  • Bronx Council on the Arts: Crowdfunding: From Soul-Sucking to Success! (Workshop leader)
  • LIU-Brooklyn TV Writer’s Studio: Mr. Potato Pitch (Workshop leader/guest speaker)
  • Governors State University: Pitching Podcasts (guest speaker)
  • Chapman University: Crowdfunding: From Soul-Sucking to Success! (Workshop leader)
  • CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge (Workshop Lead/Curriculum Designer, Challenge Production Consultant)
    • So You Want To Work in Hollywood?
    • How to Get Started On Your Short Film
    • What Do You Need To Make A Short Film?
    • Who Do You Need To Make A Short Film?
    • How To Make a Great Short Film With a Not-Great Budget
    • Mr. Potato Pitch & Pitch Deck
  • Castellini Film School Online (Host):
    • New Year, New You: Professional Branding and Goal Setting for 2025 (January)
    • Perfect Your Pitch (& Pitch Deck) with Bri and Meghan! (February)
    • Professional Branding for Filmmakers (July)
    • Networking for Introverts (July)
    • Marketing and Distributing a Short Film (July)

2024 Appearances

  • The Light Leaks: Creative Intentions in Focus: A New Years Goal-Setting Workshop (Co-Host)
  • FilmShop: Producing 101 (5 classes, Host)
  • Hollyshorts & Stage32: Why Your Short Film Gets Rejected From Film Festivals (Panelist)
  • NewFilmmakers LA: Mr. Potato Pitch (Host)
  • PANO: Professional Branding for Filmmakers & Creatives (Host)
  • Hollyshorts: “The Power of Women” (Panelist)
  • CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge: A Day in the Life on Set (Host)
  • The Gotham: Essentials Workshop: Professional Branding (Host)
  • Stareable Fest: Casting For New Projects with April Webster (Moderator)
  • Crowdfunding: From Soul-Sucking To Success workshops led for:
    • Film Funding Group (Facebook Community)
    • DocShop
    • Chapman University Maneuvering Film Festival Class
    • UConn Creative Producing the Indie Film Class
    • Hollyshorts
  • Castellini Film School Online (Host):
    • Crowdfunding: From Soul-Sucking To Success (February)
    • Networking for Introverts (April)
    • Indie Film Marketing & Distribution 101 (May)
    • Mr. Potato Pitch (July)

2023 Appearances

  • Misc. Appearances
    • Mr. Potato Pitch (Host, Castellini Film School Online)
    • Crowdfunding: From Soul Sucking To Success (Host, NewFilmmakers LA)
    • Breaking Out of Writer’s Block (Cinema Femme Shorts Fest)
    • NFFTY (episodic jury, moderator)
    • Fresh Financing panel (Palm Springs Shortfest)
    • Seed&Spark Goal Setting Workshop (Co-Host)
  • CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge (Education Workshop Lead, Production Consultant)
  • Wave Grant/ Wavelength Productions Education series (workshop leader)
    • Outstanding Crowdfunding Outreach
    • Crowdfunding To Build Independence
    • Short Form Distribution Down Low
  • AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women Education series (workshop leader)
    • Crowdfunding To Build Independence
    • Art of the Pitch
    • The Short Form Distribution Down Low
  • Crowdfunding To Build Independence workshops led for:
    • Outstanding Screenplays
    • Chapman University
    • Sidney Poitier New American Film School, ASU
    • Columbia College Hollywood
    • UConn
  • Art of the Pitch workshops led for:
    • USC
    • Seattle Black Film Festival
  • Stretch That Buck: Film Budgeting 101 workshops let for:
    • OutFest Fusion
  • Short Form Distribution Down Low workshops led for:
    • OutFest Fusion
    • FilmGood Short Film Festival
    • NFFTY

CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge Summit Weekend 2022

2022 Appearances

  • CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge (Education Workshop Lead)
    • 1 | Setting Goals, Understanding Audience, and Brainstorming
    • 2 | What Do You Need To Make A Short Film?
    • 3 | Who Do You Need To Make A Short Film?
    • 4 | How To Make a Great Short Film With a Not-Great Budget
    • 5 | Marketing and Distributing a Short Film
  • Seed&Spark Live
  • Stareable Fest Los Angeles
  • Wave Grant/ Wavelength Productions Education Series (workshop leader)
    • Distribution Down Low: Shorts & Web Series
    • Stretch That Buck: Film Budgeting 101
    • Outstanding Crowdfunding Outreach
    • The Art of the Pitch
    • Crowdfunding to Build Independence
  • University of Lincoln-Nebraska Education Series (workshop leader)
    • Social Media for Crowdfunding
    • How (and Why) to Interview Your Audience
    • Putting the FUN in CrowdFUNding
    • Distribution Down Low: Shorts & Web Series
  • Misc. Appearances
    • Stephens College Residency: An Exhaustive And Yet Still Incomplete Introduction to Digital Series (workshop leader)
    • Blitz! Screenwriting Retreat: Mr. Potato Pitch (workshop leader)
    • Cinema Femme: Coffee Confessionals: Breaking Out of Imposter Syndrome (co-host)

Stareable Fest LA 2022, How Genre Opens Doors for Underrepresented Artists (moderator)

2021 Appearances

  • WhoHaHa | Producing a Microbudget Digital Series (instructor/curriculum designer)
    • Unpacking the Web Series Ecosystem
    • Avoid The Void: Writing and Releasing For An Audience
    • Pre-Production Preparation
    • High Quality, Low Budget Production Hacks
    • How To Develop and Execute a Marketing Plan (the fun way!)
  • Lunch&Learn (Seed&Spark Live)
  • Panelist/Moderator:
  • Crowdfunding To Build Independence (workshop leader):
    • Dodge College
    • Women in Media
    • Wavelength Productions
    • Slamdance Film Festival
    • Connect The Writers
    • DOC Institute
    • Make Sh*t Happen Summit
    • University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    • Alliance of Women Directors
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
    • Freep Film Festival
    • Hussian College Studio Los Angeles
    • School of Visual Arts
    • NoHo Cinefest
    • Austin Action Fest
    • Black Femme Supremacy Film Festival
  • Art of the Pitch (workshop leader):
    • Wavelength Productions
    • Connect The Writers
    • Loyola Marymount University
    • Squirrel Comedy Theatre
    • Oxford Film Festival
    • The Light Leaks
    • Screencraft Writing Summit
    • Outfest Fusion
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
    • National Film Festival for Talented Youth
    • The Gotham
  • Outstanding Crowdfunding Outreach (workshop developer/leader):
    • Wavelength Productions
    • Connect The Writers
    • University of Central Arkansas
    • Alliance of Women Directors
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
    • Hell’s Half Mile Film Festival
    • University of Lincoln-Nebraska
  • The Short Form Distribution Downlow (workshop developer/instructor):
    • Sisterhood Media
    • NYU Tisch
    • Wavelength Productions
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
  • Stretch That Buck: Film Budgeting 101 (workshop developer/instructor):
    • Wavelength Productions
    • Alliance of Women Directors
    • Outfest Fusion
    • Austin Film Society
    • The Light Leaks
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
  • The Art of the Pitch Video (workshop developer/instructor)
    • Alliance of Women Directors
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission
  • Social Media for Crowdfunding (workshop developer/instructor)
    • Alliance of Women Directors
    • Tennessee Entertainment Commission

Stareable Fest NY 2019, Awards Ceremony

2020 Appearances

Pacific University 2019

2019 Appearances

  • Panelist/moderator/guest speaker:
    • DC Web Fest: How to make the most of your podcast
    • Stareable Fest (NYC): Presenter of “Everything Can Be Easier: Using Stareable to Succeed,” host of the speed networking and live pitch competition events, host of awards ceremony
    • Better With You Premiere (Utah): Moderator for post-screening cast and crew Q&A
    • Pacific University (OR): What I’ve Done Since Graduating From Pacific University: Based on True Events
    • Pacific University (OR): Presenter/guest lecturer for Event Planning, Sci-Fi/Fantasy Lit, Web Design, and Film Production classes
    • Long Island University-Brooklyn: “How To Show Off Your Writing By Producing It
  • “How To Define and Find Your Audience” (workshop instructor):
    • Hollyweb Festival (Los Angeles, CA)
    • Smith College (MA)
    • Stephens College (CA)
    • Stareable webinar
  • “How To Make a Marketing Plan in 60 Minutes” (workshop instructor):
  • “How To Market Your Web Series… The Fun Way!” (workshop instructor):
  • “Crowdfunding To Build Independence” (workshop instructor):
    • New York Women in Film and Television
    • Royal Starr Institute (Michigan)
    • Center for Creative Learning
    • Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival (NYC)
    • YoFiFest (Yonkers)
    • Long Island University-Brooklyn
    • Alliance of Women Directors (remote)
    • School of Visual Arts (New York City)

Stareable Fest NY 2018, Underrepresentation of The LGBT+ Community in Media panel

2018 Appearances

  • Panelist:
    • FlameCon (NYC): “LGBT Representation in Scripted Content on YouTube”
    • Montclair State University (NJ):  “So You Want To Produce a Web Series” talk and screening
    • Metropolitan College of New York: “So You Want To Produce a Web Series” event talk and screening
    • TO Web Fest (Toronto): Panelist/judge for “Hone Your Pitch with the Pros: IPF Pitch Incubator”
    • Stareable Fest (NYC): Panelist for “Underrepresentation of The LGBT+ Community in Media”, Host of 90 Second Pitch Competition (Sponsored by HBO), Co-Host of Stareable Fest Awards Ceremony.
    • Indie Film World: Speaker for Hot Tips for Making a Web Series
  • “A Guide To What’s Next: What To Do With Your Finished Series” (workshop leader):
    • New Jersey WebFest

2017 Appearances

  • “A Guide To What’s Next: What To Do With Your Finished Series” (workshop leader):
    • Big Mini Media Festival (NYC)
    • LIU-Brooklyn (NYC)
  • Big Mini Media Festival (NYC): Panel Moderator for “The Future of Web Series