From Real Life to the Screen

Join the Artist Foundry for a special workshop with Emmy Award-winning local filmmaker Tony Vainuku.

Some of the most powerful films come from real experiences, but turning those into cinematic stories takes intention, structure, and clarity of voice. In this workshop, Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Tony Vainuku will walk through his process of developing and directing films rooted in identity, culture, and lived experience.

We’ll explore how to find meaningful stories, shape them into compelling narratives, and bring them to life on screen. The session will cover building character and stakes, establishing tone, working with actors and real people, and creating projects that feel grounded but cinematic. Tony will also share practical insight into how projects move from idea to production, including collaboration, packaging, and navigating today’s filmmaking landscape.

Drawing from his work in both documentary and narrative, this workshop offers an honest look at how films are actually made and how to create work that resonates with audiences.

Discounts for Artist Foundry Members. Refer to your Welcome Email for code or reach out to [email protected].

Instructor Bio

Tony F. Vainuku is an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker whose work explores identity, faith, and masculinity within Polynesian and American communities. His documentary In Football We Trust premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won a News & Documentary Emmy. He later directed UNTOLD: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist for Netflix, chronicling the rise and fallout of Manti Te’o’s story.

Vainuku also directed the five-part Netflix docuseries Muscles & Mayhem: The Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators. He is currently developing his first narrative feature, Lame Nights, a coming-of-age crime drama set in Salt Lake City, with Jared Hess attached as Executive Producer. He recently wrote and directed the short film Finau, executive produced by Hess.