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THIRD THURSDAYS | FEATURING WHITE ELEPHANT GROUP
Thursday, Jan 18
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
FIRESIDE WITH WEG: WE BELONG HERE | With Sandeep Varry, Kevin Ondarza, and Eddy Moon
DOORS OPEN at 6 PM
FILMMAKER TALK at 6:30 PM
NETWORKING at 7:30 PM
FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION
Join award-winning film collective the White Elephant Group (WEG) and The Bass for a nuanced conversation on the responsibilities and contributions of film collectives in South Florida and around the world. Learn about the inner workings of a film collective and how they have long played a key role in developing and elevating cinematic voices and the art of filmmaking—reflecting the social and cultural landscapes they call home—weaving together intricate networks of artists and filmmakers along the way. WEG’s immersive media and experimental technology team, Yellow Wood Immersive, will also share projects that are evolving in the virtual reality space and discuss how these advancements impact the industry.
RSVP required. Limited seating. Compimentary beverages by Dry Farm Wines
Every third Thursday, join us for a monthly mix-and-mingle experience featuring curated tunes, cocktails, surprise performances and more; and in The Bass Creativity Center, the Teen Board presents Teen Takeover art programs. Part of Culture Crawl, admission is free and open to the public and includes free trolley service provided by The City of Miami Beach to all participating destinations throughout the evening.
ABOUT WHITE ELEPHANT GROUP (WEG)
White Elephant Group (WEG) is a Miami-based film and media-tech collective focused on creating films and community in South Florida. Established in 2013, the collective has focused its energy on creating short-form content as well as feature films in the region, while also advocating for filmmaking in South Florida though a myriad of programs ranging from workshops and masterclasses, to providing filmmaking grants and exhibition opportunities to emerging artists.
For more information about White Elephant Group visit their Instagram @wegfilms or the website.
SANDEEP VARRY
Sandeep Varry is a passionate storyteller and the co-founder of Yellowwood Immersive, a media production company which produces cutting-edge XR media projects. Sandeep has a unique background with a master’s in computer science and a master’s in mass communications. Sandeep’s exceptional skills as a creative producer have contributed to the success of numerous award-winning and grant-funded projects. His outstanding work has gained recognition and support from renowned organizations such as the Knight Foundation, Meta, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Nat Geo, among others. Sandeep collaborates with academics on XR research and works with science communicators and filmmakers to develop tools and standards for next-generation immersive storytelling. Sandeep envisions using XR to solve challenges and create experiences around social and environmental causes to generate higher levels of empathy and involvement from audiences. Learn more on social media at Instagram: @Deepalicious.
KEVIN ONDARZA
Kevin Ondarza is a Cuban-American screenwriter, producer, director and Immersive Media Artist from Miami, FL. Both current and previous short films he has produced have been screened in HBO’s New York Latino Film Festival, the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, the Miami Film Festival, and The Norton Museum of Art. Kevin is also a founding member of the White Elephant Group, a Miami-based filmmaking collective that focuses on elevating voices in South Florida’s filmmaking community. Lean more on social media at Instagram: @Kevin.ondarza.
EDDY MOON
Eddy Moon is a Caribbean-American director & creative producer based in Miami, FL. His work is heavily inspired by the Hispanic multiculturalism of Miami, and the playfulness available to storytellers via the medium of cinema. Eddy Moon holds a B.F.A. in Filmmaking and an M.S. in Global Communications. His work has screened at festivals around the world, including Leeds International Film Festival, The Miami Film Festival, Inside Out Toronto, HBO’s NY Latino, San Francisco Latino, Tokyo Short Shorts, New Orleans Film Festival, amongst many more. Alongside screening his works at festivals, he has also helped program festivals for organizations like Slamdance. A founding member of the White Elephant Group (WEGFilms), a Miami film collective known for its ability to tell local stories in unique ways, while also advocating for filmmaking in South Florida. In his free time, he mentors young artists in Miami through the WEGFilms non-profit, ASFI. Learn more on social media at Instagram: @eddy_moon.
GALLERY
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All Program. Additional support for Third Thursdays thanks to Dry Farm Wines.