The Women in Film Nell Shipman Scholarship has been a tradition of WIF/Seattle since its inception. This year, our organization, like many other non-profits was not immune to the economic downturn. We are actively fundraising and hope to offer our scholarship again before the end of the year. Check the website at end of September for an update.

The Nell Shipman Student Scholarship 2008
$1,000 College/University Student Tuition
Women in Film/Seattle awards one tuition scholarship per calendar year for a college/university student or matriculating freshman majoring or concentrating her studies in film, video, cinema, or new media and who demonstrates the potential to make a positive impact on the film/video industry.
Qualifications:
The applicant must be female.
The applicant must be a student at an accredited college or university concentrating her studies in film, video, or cinema studies, OR be a graduating high school student entering an accredited college or university concentrating her studies in film, video, or cinema studies.
The applicant must have consistently maintained a 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale for two years or have favorable teacher evaluations consistently for two years.
The applicant must have maintained a permanent residence in Washington State for two years.

Deadline for application June 30, 2008.
Notification of award: September 1, 2008
Judging panels will consist of industry professionals and will judge only upon merit.
The scholarship will be paid directly to the school in which you are enrolled.

Application guidelines and requirements:
  • The completed application form.
  • A brief essay not more than two (2) double-spaced typewritten pages on the goals you wish to attain with a film and video degree and why you wish to be a filmmaker.
  • A brief project proposal, or “pitch,”* not more than two (2) double-spaced typewritten pages. * As an aspiring filmmaker you have a vision, a story to tell, an idea for a project. Tell us about it. It can be a project you wish to begin, complete, or one you have completed.
  • Letters of recommendation from two individuals to be submitted directly to the WIF/Seattle office.
  • A letter from the college/university/high school submitted directly to the WIF/Seattle office stating the student's name and status as a student.
  • Official college/university or high school transcripts submitted directly to the WIF/Seattle office.
  • One work sample, a work in progress (such as a script, student film - VHS or DVD), storyboards - anything you think will strengthen your request for the $1,500 scholarship.
Download the Nell Shipman Scholarship 2008 application (Word document)
Download the Nell Shipman Scholarship 2008 application (PDF document)

Send application materials to:
Women in Film/Seattle (Nell Shipman Scholarship)
1418 10th Avenue
Seattle, Washington, 98122

Questions: virginia@laughingdogpictures.com, 206 324.9861.
The Nell Shipman Student Scholarship
2008 Women in Film Nell Shipman College/University Tuition Scholarship winners
are Lena Takamori and Britani Kelly.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Lena Takamori Lena Takamori was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. During her sophomore year of high school she became involved with a local non-profit woman-based media literacy group called Reel Grrls. This organization acted as her launching pad for projects to come. Lena now attends The Cooper Union in New York City and intends to pursue a future in film.

ARTIST STATEMENT
Ultimately, I want to become a great storyteller; not just to provide entertainment for my grandchildren, but also information. Film/Video is a very powerful medium and these days its accessibility is empowering individuals everywhere. Through the creation of work that is both interesting and informative I hope to create media that matters and share stories everyone can relate to. Through stories comes understanding.

Brittani Kelly is a Washington native attending Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA. Her reason's for wanting to be a filmmaker is to tell interesting, well-crafted, honest stories. She loves watching and making edgy films with solid production value. Brittani's goal is to become proficient in each film genre through her cinema studies. Raised in an atmosphere of female empowerment, female characters are particularly a focus of her work. She is true to her characters and knows their worlds need honest depiction. She intends to be a part of increasing the number of films that portray positive female protagonists and realistic female topics to audiences everywhere.

Lena Takamori and Brittani Kelly. Brittani produced a compelling movie and proved that she is a narrative filmmaker who grasps, and is working toward mastering, the intricate concepts of movie-making. Lena demonstrated courage to experiment and that she can also create an artful documentary that captivates, educates and provides an insight into humanity.
Both women articulated a passion for filmmaking and talent enough to make it a career. Each winner receives $500 toward her school tuition.
Zoë Saurs
WIF/GM Alliance Nell Shipman Scholarship Winner, Zoe Saurs
Ever since its inception, one of Women in Film/Seattle’s missions has been to award an academic scholarship to a deserving woman whose goal is to become a filmmaker. Zoe impressed us with her creativity and drive and has just begun her journey on a path to achieve her goals as a filmmaker.

The award was presented at the Hugo House potluck dinner and movie membership event in November 2007.

Phoebe Owens, 1998 Nell Shipman Scholarship Winner
I co-won the Women in Film Nell Shipman Student Award with my classmate and friend, Heidi Bollock in 1998. Meeting the women of WIF/Seattle during the process of applying for and receiving the award was inspiring, and boosted my confidence to make plans for my growing career. This was my first experience building a network of support and encouragement. I also heeded the advice of several producers to “think bigger” by using my award money to produce a small fund-raising “teaser” for a feature film I planned to make about being a teenager in Puyallup during the 1980's.

I went on to work a variety of roles on sets for the next few years: in the camera department, then in the production office. I traveled and was excited to meet fellow WIFFERS in Italy, of all places. These women were members of WIF/Paris, and we connected instantly. They helped me get exclusive footage in Pompeii. After working in Italy, then in Estonia, I returned home from Europe to start my own production company in Olympia, WA with two friends. With the aforementioned fund-raising trailer, we succeeded in raising the necessary funds to produce that feature, now known as Tammytown.

Tammytown was filmed in Tacoma, Olympia, Lacey, and Tenino in the summer of 2002. We were again assisted by women's groups, including NOW and Ladyfest. Over half of the cast and crew were women and the set was filled with laughter and hard work. An entire community of life-long friendships was built on that set. After several tough, broke years of grueling post-production, Tammytown was picked up for distribution in DVD markets by indiepix.net. The movie’s official release date was October 23rd, 2007. It has also had its premiere screening in N.Y.

I now live in Portland, OR, an am developing a graphic novel with a talented illustrator who worked on Tammytown. I have most recently created an experimental film installation piece entitled “Suspended,” with local multimedia artist, Jaclyn Campanaro for the Platform Festival in Portland. I'm developing a new feature script based on the strangely cult-like world of Library Science, as well as picking up my Master's in Library Science as a distance student at the University of Washington – for fun! My future goals include: thinking big, getting awesome, and trying everything.

There has never been a time when talking about my career that I have not spoken about what a difference the support of Women in Film made in my work and life. Thank you so much to that board for believing in my ability and drive, and for giving me that first gentle push toward my career as a filmmaker and artist. I only wish we had a WIF group in Portland!
––Phoebe Owens
Check out Phoebe’s film –
“So, Who Did You Hate in High School?“ tammytown.com

WIF congratulates Erin Cawley-Morse

Recipient of the Women in Film/Seattle Film Institute Grant
WIF/s partnership with Seattle Film Institute provides awards for women filmmakers to pursue expertise and knowledge in the filmmaking craft.
http://seattlefilminstitute.com/
Erin is this year's recipient of the $500 Grant from Seattle Film Institute for an intensive weekend workshop/seminar.

Victory Studios Victory Studios Nell Shipman Post Production Award

Michelle and Mark VICTORY STUDIOS POST PRODUCTION AWARD WINNERS: Michele Westmorland and Karen Huntt

Women In Film- Seattle was thrilled to announce this new award created exclusively for the 2006 Nell Shipman Awards. Victory Studios, this year's WIFS Diamond Sponsor and premier annual corporate sponsor, has donated $5000 in post production services to help complete the winning project entitled Headhunt Revisited (http://headhuntrevisited.org/)

For more information, please contact Shannon@victorystudios.com.



2004 Nell Shipman Scholarship Winner is Announced

LaLonde and Bogert  Women in Film-Seattle is proud to announce the awarding of its annual Nell Shipman Scholarship to Washington State resident and Barnard College film student, Gina LaLonde. Gina submitted a brilliant student film along with her impressive application materials for a big win. The scholarship was presented to LaLonde at Women in Film-Seattle's presentation of An Afternoon With Lauren Shuler Donner at The Henry Art Gallery on September 18. Congratulations Gina, may you enjoy an outstanding career in the film industry.

Gina LaLonde and Virginia Bogert - Vice President of Women in Film-Seattle