Since 1994, CAFF has been a unique conversation between academia, culture focused theologians, and filmmakers. We have been and continue to be strongly supported by educational and theological institutions and membership organizations. For several years we have sought ways to be more impactful and relevant to the professional community of filmmakers. To that end, we present the first ever CAFF Master Track: Two days of career expanding insights and information for creative professionals and anyone who aspires to be one. (BUY INDIVIDUAL TICKETS, OR A PACKAGE TO INCLUDE BOTH, OR BOTH DAYS ARE INCLUDED IN OUR ALL FESTIVAL PASS.)
MASTER TRACK, DAY 1 - Saturday, noon-2:00 pm New Tech, New Distribution, New Media, New Markets... All Very Niche! Any New Opportunities? Every sea change in technology brings the creative community hope for new ways to tell stories to new audiences. And we all want to have the freedom to tell our stories without the oppressive pressures of the market place. Usually there is a window of opportunity. Blair Witch happens... But the consolidation of deep pocketed media owners and their refined understanding of new business models makes these windows shorter and harder to maneuver. Will You Tube stay fresh under its new ownership or be the next celebrity driven/marketing/distribution juggernaut for repurposed mass media, eliminating the garage band video phenoms? Where are passionate, talented storytellers likely to find creative freedom and a revenue stream to support them?
Charles B. Slocum Charles Slocum is assistant executive director of the Writers Guild of America, West, focusing on trends in technology, finance and strategy in the entertainment industry. Slocum has served the Guild for almost twenty years and is also the publisher of the Guild’s magazine, Written By, and its website and coordinates the guild’s international activities. Prior to the guild, Slocum worked in television finance at Paramount Pictures, at NBC as a game show judge and at ABC in audience research. Slocum has an undergraduate degree in television and radio from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Slocum is currently completing a masters degree in theology and the arts at Fuller Seminary. Slocum has served as an Elder at Bel Air Presbyterian Church and is currently a lay leader in its Beacon entertainment ministry and in its global missions activities, especially its partnership in Mexico. Slocum also chairs the Board of Directors and serves as a faculty member for Act One.
MASTER TRACK, DAY 2 - Sunday, noon-2:00 pm Faith In Films - Tales from the Trenches
The best people to inform us about the tragedies and triumphs of making the kinds of projects with characters and stories that resonate with us are the folks who have had that opportunity and the people that understand how to take those projects and connect them to an audience. These generous people will share with us the hard fought wisdom from their creative and spiritual journeys.
Charles Robert Carner Charles Robert Carner has written over 50 screenplays and teleplays, 18 of which have been produced. He co-wrote and directed A Killer Among Friends, the highest-rated CBS movie of the 1990’s; he wrote and directed Who Killed Atlanta's Children?, Showtime’s highest-rated movie of 2000; he wrote Crossfire Trail, the highest-rated cable movie in the history of television. He also wrote, produced and directed The Fixer for Showtime; wrote and directed Christmas Rush and Red Water for TBS; and directed Judas for CBS. His feature credits include Let's Get Harry and Blind Fury. He has served on the executive committees of the United States Catholic Conference, and Catholics in Media. He is a Life Member of the Sierra Club and the National Rifle Association. His biography appears in the Who’s Who editions of Entertainment, America and the World. Finally, and most importantly, he is married to actress/writer Debra Sharkey; they have two children, Michael and Grace Noelle.
Charles Slocum is assistant executive director of the Writers Guild of America, West, focusing on trends in technology, finance and strategy in the entertainment industry. Slocum has served the Guild for almost twenty years and is also the publisher of the Guild’s magazine, Written By, and its website and coordinates the guild’s international activities. Prior to the guild, Slocum worked in television finance at Paramount Pictures, at NBC as a game show judge and at ABC in audience research. Slocum has an undergraduate degree in television and radio from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Slocum is currently completing a masters degree in theology and the arts at Fuller Seminary. Slocum has served as an Elder at Bel Air Presbyterian Church and is currently a lay leader in its Beacon entertainment ministry and in its global missions activities, especially its partnership in Mexico. Slocum also chairs the Board of Directors and serves as a faculty member for Act One. 
Charles Robert Carner has written over 50 screenplays and teleplays, 18 of which have been produced. He co-wrote and directed A Killer Among Friends, the highest-rated CBS movie of the 1990’s; he wrote and directed Who Killed Atlanta's Children?, Showtime’s highest-rated movie of 2000; he wrote Crossfire Trail, the highest-rated cable movie in the history of television. He also wrote, produced and directed The Fixer for Showtime; wrote and directed Christmas Rush and Red Water for TBS; and directed Judas for CBS. His feature credits include Let's Get Harry and Blind Fury. He has served on the executive committees of the United States Catholic Conference, and Catholics in Media. He is a Life Member of the Sierra Club and the National Rifle Association. His biography appears in the Who’s Who editions of Entertainment, America and the World. Finally, and most importantly, he is married to actress/writer Debra Sharkey; they have two children, Michael and Grace Noelle.