The IF Workshop

If You Have a Story…Make Your Film a Reality!

IF you have an idea, this event is the next step to making your film. “IF” might stand for “Independent Film” but it’s also a common question among emerging filmmakers.

IF you had the budget, the resources, and the clear plan—what film would you make? The only thing standing between you and your first (or next) great film is practical, hands-on knowledge. That’s where the IF Workshop comes in.

This isn’t just theory. We’re here to help you take the next step: transcend being an aspiring filmmaker, BECOME a filmmaker, or raise the bar on your next project—right here in Iowa.

Whether you’re brand new to the camera, a dedicated hobbyist looking to polish your skills, or a life-long learning professional eager to gain new strategies and network, this day is for you.

If you can’t make it, but have a friend who keeps talking about their film idea? Share the IF Workshop with them. It could be the spark they need!

What to Expect

Join us for a fun, focused afternoon of conversation, networking, and sessions designed to take your skills to the next level. For 2026 we’re hosting a session with screenwriter David Matalon, (Totally Killer, 2023) covering how to prep your screenplay to be ready for all the people that need to engage with it and hold their interest. Then, we’ll have a second session about scaling your production to fit the budget and resources you have available led by Mediaverse Studios.

David Matalon
Screenwriter “Totally Killer”

Screenwriting Is Conversation With a Loud, Crowded Room

How do you write the script to tell your story, but at the same time effectively engage every audience you need to understand it to get it made?

From script readers, producers, directors, and actors, to the first screening audience and beyond, learn to give them what they need to see in the story you want to tell. Everyone you need to believe in your project has to be able to grasp what they need from your script. Hold their interest without bogging them down with too many details or losing momentum from page to page, but give them enough to share your vision in an entertaining way.

Join this conversation with screenwriter David Matalon about keeping your story clearly front and center while bringing others along the same path for the ride in your imagination.

The first ten pages. Establish tone, character, world, conflict, and most importantly, whether the reader wants to keep going. What strong opening pages need to accomplish, the common mistakes that slow them down, and how to create momentum without overloading the audience with exposition. Find out where your script might be coming up short of its goals.

Conquer the blank page. Learn how to plan what comes next. Practical ways to outline a story, find the backbone of a scene or sequence, and build enough structure to keep writing without becoming trapped by the outline. Creating a process that gives the screenwriters direction while still leaving room for discovery.

Mediaverse Studios

Jake Daniels
Founder, Director, Writer & Producer

Brittany Benedict
Director & Producer

Michael Huntington
Cinematographer & Editor

How to Tackle Your Production: Small, Medium, and Large(r) Scale

Whether you’re shooting a short on gear from the hardware store or gearing up for a full feature, every production comes down to smart planning and knowing where your resources count. This seminar brings together the team from Marengo’s Mediaverse Studios, Jake Daniels (founder, director, writer and producer), Michael Huntington (cinematographer and editor), and independent producer-director Brittany Benedict, to share practical, real-world strategies for making films at any budget.

The Details

Sunday, November 15
1:30 – 4:30 p.m. CST

Whipple Auditorium
Cedar Rapids Public Library
450 5th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA

Workshop Fee: $10

Come with your ideas, challenges and questions, and be ready to connect. If you love movies, filmmaking, and deep conversations with creative people, we’d love to have you!