Getting A No And Doing It Anyway With Director Christine Swanson

Let’s face it if you do anything long enough in this crazy world of  entertainment you are going to hear “NO” enough times to make you  reconsider your career as filmmaker. Not everyone is going to like your  work or understand the story you want to tell. If your dream is to have  your movie on the big screen in a packed theater (after COVID-19 of  course) what do you do if no distribution company will give you the time  of day. If you pitched your masterpiece to Netfix, Amazon, Hulu and  Apple and they all say, “We like it but…..” how will you reach your  dream of seeing your film on a top streaming platform??? In the words of  motivational speaker Les Brown “Make No Your Vitamin.” Visionary  storyteller and multiple award-winning filmmaker, Christine Swanson is a  great example of when you roll up your sleeves and do the hard work you  can do anything you set your mind to. Her story of how she and her  producer husband (Michael Swanson) were able to not only get her first  film done (on 35mm film mind you) and pack theaters in Chicago after  being told “NO” by several production companies is truly inspiring. Christine  earned her MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the  Arts. Christine also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the  University of Notre Dame double majoring in Communications and Japanese.  Christine has written and/or directed numerous award- winning feature  films, television episodes, commercials and short films in her career.  Christine has developed,written and/or directed movie projects for  various companies including HBO Films, Magnolia Pictures, State Street  Pictures, TV One, A&E Networks and Faith Filmworks, her own  independent film company. Christine also directed four original cable  movie premieres including record breaking, award winning Clark Sisters:  The First Ladies of Gospel for A&E Networks. Recently, Christine  directed episodes of Chicago PD and FBI for Dick Wolf Films. Her episode  of Chicago PD was rated the Best Episode of Season6. Christine lives in  Los Angeles with her husband and producer Michael Swanson and their  four children. Christine also teaches in the University of Georgia MFA  Screenwriting Program.