DITCH THE CHOCOLATES AND LACE, LEARN TO DIRECT THE INTIMATE SPACE

BEHIND THE ROMANCE: THE ART OF DIRECTING INTIMACY
A 90-Minute Conversation with WIFVNE's own Netflix Director Christine Luby & SAG-AFTRA Intimacy Coordinator Kristy Sexton

Ever wondered how directors and actors navigate romantic and intimate moments on set?

• Curious about the craft decisions that make chemistry feel electric rather than awkward? 
• Want to know what an intimacy coordinator actually does?
• This February, join rom-com director Christine Luby and intimacy coordinator Kristy Sexton for a behind-the-scenes deep dive into their steamy latest feature film.

WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER:
We'll break down specific scenes from their latest film revealing the preparation, communication, and creative choices that went into capturing romance authentically. Then we'll screen the scenes so you can see the final result.

The Collaboration

• How directors and intimacy coordinators work together from prep through post
• What actors need (and worry about) when intimate scenes are scheduled
• Communication protocols that keep everyone safe and empowered

The Craft

• Choreography techniques that create authentic chemistry
• Directing intimate scenes with confidence and clarity
• Common mistakes and how the pros avoid them

The Reality

• Budget and scheduling considerations for intimate content
• When you need an intimacy coordinator (and when you might not)
• How to build this role into your next project

WHAT YOU'LL SEE:

• Specific scenes from their latest feature film broken down from script to screen
• The preparation and rehearsal process revealed
• Final footage so you understand how all the pieces came together

WHO SHOULD JOIN:

• Directors looking to tell authentic love stories
• Actors who want to understand the intimacy coordination process
• Producers evaluating this role for upcoming projects
• Filmmakers curious about building professional intimacy coordination into their work

MEET YOUR PRESENTERS:

Christine Luby // Director


Nearly 100 credits. 20 years in the industry. Her Netflix debut This Little Love of Mine became the 2nd most-watched film globally on its opening weekend. She's directed for Disney+ (The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay), Netflix (Dive Club, You, Always starring Adrian Grenier), and multiple romantic features. Christine brings technical mastery from her years in the AD Department on films like Aquaman and Elvis, combined with an intuitive, actor-focused approach.

Kristy Sexton // Intimacy Coordinator SAG-AFTRA certified.

Bachelor's degree in Psychology. MFA in Performance. Nearly 30 years coaching actors. Kristy is known for navigating sensitive material with discretion, creativity, and care. Directors who work with her once ask for her again. She brings scientific insight and artistic mastery to every project, helping actors feel empowered while keeping productions running smoothly.

THE DETAILS:
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 6:00 PM EST

Zoom (90 minutes including Q&A) Cost: $5 for WIFVNE Members; $10 for WIFT-US; $20 for Non-members

WHY THIS MATTERS:
Intimate scenes are some of the hardest to get right and the easiest to get wrong. When done well, they're powerful storytelling. When done poorly, they can damage relationships and derail productions.

This conversation gives you real insights from two professionals who've navigated these challenges successfully at the highest levels. Walk away with practical knowledge, new perspectives, and a clearer understanding of how to bring authentic intimacy to screen while protecting everyone involved.

Bring your questions, your curiosity, and maybe some heart-shaped glasses. Let's talk about love, filmmaking, and everything in between.

REGISTER NOW: https://www.wifvne.org/event-6533317

Questions? Contact WIFVNE at membership@wifvne.org

WIFVNE Table Read Tuesdays! 
Tuesday, Frebruary 17, 2026 at 6:30PM

Table Read Tuesdays takes place monthly, spotlighting fresh voices in film and television and performed by WIFVNE member actors. Join us for these lively readings followed by a discussion with the writer.
Admission is $5 for the general public and free for WIFVNE members.
Reserve your spot and support emerging writers and performers in our community!

This week's Spotlight: Power Out by Kem Joy Ukwu

Register here to be a table read actor or enjoy listening in: https://www.wifvne.org/event-6533803

Interested in participating? WIFVNE members can submit scripts or sign up to be a reader by emailing tablereads@wifvne.org.

WIFVNE and BREW: Monthly RI Industry Mixer
Wednesday February 18th 3:30PM-6PM
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month
Proclamation Ale Company, 298 Kilvert St, Warwick, RI 
Open to all - free, cash bar. Please RSVP.
Hosted by WIFVNE in partnership with RI Film Collaborative and RI College Film Society

Join WIFVNE for a casual and creative evening of conversation and connection at Proclamation Ale Company! WIFVNE and BREW is a relaxed networking event bringing together local filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives to mix, mingle, and raise a glass to Rhode Island’s vibrant film community.

Hosted in partnership with the RI Film Collaborative and RI College Film Society, this event is an opportunity to meet fellow industry creatives to share ideas and spark future collaborations!

Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned pro, come unwind and connect over craft beer in a welcoming, film-friendly atmosphere. See you soon!

Conversations with Sara Elizabeth Timmins: Funding Your Film
Tuesday, February 24 | 7:00–8:30 PM EST | Zoom
$15 for WIFVNE | $20 WIFT-US Members | $30 for Non-Members 

Curious about film distribution? Join us for a workshop that breaks it all down—what it is, how it works, and how to find the right path for your project.

WIFVNE welcomes back producer and Life Out Loud Films founder Sara Elizabeth Timmins for a deep-dive session on distribution. Sara Elizabeth will share practical insights into what filmmakers need to know about distribution today: 

• Understanding the Distribution landscape

• Getting clear on the best options for your film

• The role of sales agents and finding the best fit

• Common mistakes to avoid

• How to position your film for success in a crowded marketplace.

Whether you’re a first-time filmmaker or a seasoned pro, this session will give you the tools and perspective to make smart choices for your film’s future. Come ready with your questions, and walk away with actionable advice you can apply right away.

About Sara Elizabeth Timmins:
Sara Elizabeth Timmins established Life Out Loud Films in 2008 to create quality, inspiring impact films that champion women. Her films have been seen in theatres, on HBO, Amazon, Netflix, The Hallmark Channel, Starz, Showtime, and internationally. She has worked with Oscar- and Emmy-winning talent like Jane Seymour, Ellen Burstyn, Chris Cooper, Josh Lucas, and Mackenzie Foy, and writers like NY Times Best Selling Author David Baldacci. Every film she’s produced has featured award-winning talent and secured international distribution.

Sara Elizabeth also field-produced the Emmy-nominated HBO docuseries McMillions for Mark Wahlberg’s company, which premiered at Sundance in 2020. A true story she has had the rights to for years is now in development as a Netflix docuseries. She currently has several films in various stages of development. Through her consulting/coaching work and her educational company NO FILM SCHOOL. NO TRUST FUND. NO PROBLEM., she helps elevate emerging voices and build authentic, empowered paths for indie filmmakers.

Craft Your Perfect Pitch: Elevator Pitch Workshop

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST in Person and on ZOOM

In-Person and Virtual (ZOOM): WIFVNE Members: $5 | Non-members: $10

Join us for an essential workshop led by Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Andrew Osborne, designed to help filmmakers craft and deliver compelling elevator pitches that open doors and advance careers. Whether you're pitching a project, seeking funding, or networking at industry events, your elevator pitch is often your first and sometimes only chance to make an impression.

Andrew brings extensive experience from credits including the Sundance premiere ON_LINE, his feature debut APOCALYPSE BOP, and the Discovery Channel's hit game show CASH CAB. He has written for Warner Bros., MTV, HBO, Orion, and numerous other major studios and networks across film, theater, comics, and interactive media.

This hands-on workshop is part of WIFVNE's professional development series, in collaboration with Rhode Island College, created to equip filmmakers with practical tools and industry knowledge for career growth.

Learn how to distill your vision into a clear, memorable pitch that captures attention and creates opportunities.

Space is limited for in-person attendance. Register early to secure your spot!

Co-presented by Women in Film & Video New England and Rhode Island College.

DIRECTIONS:

From the Fruit Hill Avenue entrance, turn eft into parking lot J. That is the first left once you enter campus. There is parking in lot J on both the left and the right, but spaces on the right are closer to the entrance to the quad. After 4 p.m. parking is not enforced on campus, so you can park anywhere there are available spaces (even if they are marked faculty/staff). In lot J, the Murray Center will be directly in front of you (building 25 in the attached detail of the campus map). The entrance to the quad is the footpath just to the right of that. Enter the quad and head diagonally across the quad to Gaige Hall. That's the building on the other side of the Murray Center that is marked as building 24 on the attached detail of the campus map. Enter the building through the main doors, the glass doors in front at the top of the stairs. There is also ramp for wheelchair access. The blue arrow on the screen capture shows the route from lot J to Gaige Hall.

From the Mt. Pleasant Avenue entrance to ampus, go straight on College Rd. (the main road that leads through campus and that you will be on when you enter from Mt. Pleasant). At the mini-rotary, continue straight. Parking lot J is the last parking lot on the right before you get to the exit from campus onto Fruit Hall Ave. Lot J is across from the dorms and just past the flashing traffic signal and crosswalk that lead from the Student Union (on the right) to the dorms (on the left). Once parked in lot J, the directions to get to Gaige Hall are the same as above.

This event is in Room 100. Downstairs once you enter Gaige Hall.

A Conversation With the 48 Hour Film Project City Producers

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 8:00 PM EST on ZOOM

Women in Film & Video New England will be hosting an online meet-and-greet Conversation With the 48 Hour Film Project Producers 

Come find a team to join (or cast and crew for your own team) while networking in the chat, joining the Zoom discussion, and learning more about an event that makes it easy to show your stuff, try out new skills, and meet people in the local creative community.

The 48 Hour Film Project (which takes place at various points throughout the year in Boston, Providence, New Haven, Portland, and cities around the world) is a wild combo of film festival and reality game show where teams are assigned genres, a prop, a character, and a line of dialogue for 4-7-minute movies they must rush to complete over the course of a fast, furious weekend before time runs out. 

Every completed production goes on to receive a world premiere in front of live audience members who vote for their favorites (while judges pick a Best Movie to compete with other winning films for a chance to screen at the Cannes Film Festival).

But prizes aside, the camaraderie and instant feedback of the 48HFP is a great way to make connections and gain experience, as chronicled by WBUR's Andrea Shea in a 2023 story about the Boston 48HFP's 20^th anniversary.

And for more information, please visit: 48hourfilm.com

WIFVNE is also awarding "Woman of the 48" in each city!

Come hear from and chat with the city producers:

Andrew Osborne (Boston, MA 48HFP)

Andrew Osborne, a freelance writer, teacher, director, and WIFVNE board member is the current city producer (and a former team leader) for the Boston 48 Hour Film Project.

Mel Rainsberger (Providence, RI 48HFP)

Mel Rainsberger is a lifelong fan of finding creative energy through friendly competition. With the skills she learned running a team for 10 years, she helps other filmmakers explore their creativity and take their potential to the next level.

Register here: https://www.wifvne.org/event-6526012

WIFVNE and BREW: Monthly RI Industry Mixer
Wednesday February 18th 3:30PM-6PM
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month
Proclamation Ale Company, 298 Kilvert St, Warwick, RI 
Open to all - free, cash bar. Please RSVP.
Hosted by WIFVNE in partnership with RI Film Collaborative and RI College Film Society

Join WIFVNE for a casual and creative evening of conversation and connection at Proclamation Ale Company! WIFVNE and BREW is a relaxed networking event bringing together local filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives to mix, mingle, and raise a glass to Rhode Island’s vibrant film community.

Hosted in partnership with the RI Film Collaborative and RI College Film Society, this event is an opportunity to meet fellow industry creatives to share ideas and spark future collaborations!

Whether you’re new to the scene or a seasoned pro, come unwind and connect over craft beer in a welcoming, film-friendly atmosphere. See you soon!