Kick the Ladder - How to Practice the Art of Filmmaking

Kick The Ladder is a weekly one-minute film challenge, with random filmmaking prompts generated from dice. Participants have one-week to make a one-minute film to premiere in front of a live audience. The KTL Film Show is a weekly micro-shorts film showcase in Atlanta, typically on Monday nights. Isaac will introduce you to the game while presenting this week's films and filmmakers. Come learn how to play the game and get involved in KTL. Moderator: Isaac Deitz Filmmakers: Devin McKay, Renton Hinderer, Ryan Perich, Cailin Cassorla, Alia Williams, Michael Oliveros, Callie Johnson, Leigh Harmer, Nathan Sessoms, Gea Rose Henry, and Wilson Archibald Isaac Deitz has been running grassroots indie filmmaking communities in Atlanta since 2010. Early screenings took place in his two-car garage, with 100+ people packed in, standing room only. After nearly a decade of screenings, it became clear that Atlanta was overflowing with untapped filmmaking talent. So in 2019, Isaac created Kick The Ladder — a system that randomly generates filmmaking prompts from dice — to give that talent a structured place to grow. Since its creation, Kick The Ladder has produced over 4,000 films, all screened in front of a live audience, with over 200 first-time filmmakers aged 9 to 70+. Kick The Ladder is a place where industry professionals and hobbyists come together to practice the art of resourceful filmmaking. Devin McKay is a writer, director, and actor based in Atlanta, GA. Focusing on the fusion of family and identity elements, he enjoys uncovering the many layers of the human experience through his filmmaking and storytelling. Renton Hinderer is a video artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. His work takes a hyper-surrealist lens to contemporary digital life and pop culture. Renton loves digging in the trash. Ryan Perich is an escapee from Mississippi who came to Atlanta at the ripe year of 2020. His love of film has him practicing many aspects of the medium from directing, writing, acting, editing, and color grading...and his legs are longer than his torso. Cailin Cassorla is an actor and director from Knoxville, TN. She enjoys telling stories about the universal human experience of grief through unique perspectives that do not always include death itself. Many thanks to Cailin's friends and family! Alia Williams is an American Actress and Filmmaker. She graduated with a BA in Filmmaking from the University of Central Florida. Upon graduating, Alia moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she now studies acting and creates her own art. She is known for her roles in Cedar Bluff (2025), Knotted (2025), and Stream of Terror (2025). Callie Johnson is an award-winning actress originally from Chicago. She can be seen on NBC's Chicago Med , on AppleTV+ in The Beanie Bubble opposite Zach Galifianakis, as well as shows on Hulu and Peacock. Leigh Harmer is a multidisciplinary artist based in Atlanta, GA. Nathan Sessoms is drawn to quiet, human stories, especially the ways people change within relationships. He tries to capture that through restraint, performance, and small, honest details. In the end, Nathan wants his films to sit with you, to be felt more than explained, and to reveal something new the longer you carry them with you. Gea Rose Henry is an actress and singer based in Atlanta, GA. With Kick The Ladder she has directed over 50 short films. Gea appears in Velvicide (Velvet), which just came out on Prime! Wilson Archibald is living out his dream making films with his friends! An indie filmmaker for over a decade - working at times as an editor, producer, production coordinator, UPM, AD, and more - he is currently focusing on writing and directing his own stories. In addition to making weekly KTLs, Wilson is currently in post production for two upcoming short films he's beyond excited to release to the world later this year!