NETWORK FACTORY XII: Filmmaking: Vision through the creative lens

NETWORK FACTORY XII: Filmmaking: Vision through the creative lens

Date: Thursday, December 4th, 2025

Location: Pop District HQ, 106 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Ready to dive into the world of filmmaking? Join us at NETWORK FACTORY XII where we explore how to bring your vision to life through the creative lens.

Featured Panelists

• Christian Lockerman — (Moderator) Partner & Head of Production at Paragraph Pictures
  With more than 20 years of experience, Chris has worn many hats — professor, producer, director, editor, cinematographer, and media entrepreneur. He founded Maverick Visuals in 2013, co-founded LOOK Creative Guild, and served as Senior Executive Producer for The Warhol Creative. This summer, Chris co-founded Paragraph Pictures, one of the first independent creative businesses incubated within The Pop District. He is deeply committed to mentoring emerging talent and expanding film opportunities beyond city limits.
• Emmai Alaquiva — Emmy & Webby Award–Winning Director / Photographer
  Emmai is a six-time Emmy and three-time Webby Award winner whose body of work spans projects for Roc Nation, FENTY, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, CBS, AMAZON, BMW, and more. His documentary The Ebony Canal (narrated by Viola Davis), which addresses maternal health disparities in Black and Brown communities, has earned critical acclaim and awards. His work has also been featured in VIBE, Forbes, The New York Times, and on Good Morning America.
• Melissa Martin — Award-Winning Producer / Writer / Director
  Melissa is the creative force behind The Bread, My Sweet, an independent film that screened at over 20 festivals and later gained theatrical and international distribution (via Fox International, Universal/Screen Media, Showtime, Starz, The Sundance Channel). Her screenplay Dear Zoe (produced by Zin Haze Productions) features Sadie Sink and Jessica Capshaw. Her upcoming directing project, Basic Psyche, stars Michael Cerveris, David Conrad, and Cotter Smith. As a writer/director she has also created Dog Bytes (a web series screened at Cannes, Berlin, Raindance) and numerous short films. Melissa also teaches Graduate Screenwriting and Graduate Directing at Carnegie Mellon University.
• Michael Killen — Writer / Director & Co-Founder, Animal, Inc.
  Michael’s eclectic portfolio includes episodic television, commercials, live comedy, and film. Early in his career, he worked as animator for the Taco Bell Chihuahua campaign, laying the foundation for his unique niche in combining animals and narrative. He co-created the ABC series Downward Dog and has executive produced award-winning documentaries, including Blood Brother (winner of both the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award). Through Animal, Inc., Michael has directed campaigns for brands like Target, McDonald’s, Progressive, and many more, always with a grounded and human-centered sensibility.