Carmen is an actress, wife, mother and animal lover. Born and raised in Central AR, Carmen grew up with a passion for film and acting. After being cast in roles as a courtroom observer in God's Not Dead 2 and Jury Member in the folm Gosnell: America's Biggest Serial killer, Carmen decided to dedicate more of her life to acting. She learned a lot by acting in a couple of student short films produced by UCA. She then went on to play principle roles in several independnt feature films and short films. Carmen has also appeared in many commercials, done spokesperson work, acted in several of Little Rock's 48 Hour Film Festivals, and modeled.
Workshops, Central AR
Carmen Patterson
Raised within the film industry, Summer developed a deep understanding of storytelling, production, and creative execution from an early age. Mentored by top feature film directors and producers, she gained hands-on experience across multiple facets of filmmaking, from development to production. This foundation has equipped Summer with a strong creative instinct, a refined eye for detail, and the ability to bring meaningful, high-quality projects to life. Summer is the published Author of “Accessing Your Power Within” a 4-Week Course to Transform Your life.
Events, Central AR
Summer Moody
Board of Directors
​​Lauren McCullough
President
Celeste Shelton
Vice President
Lauren has had a camera in her hands for all of her career, and most of her life. What started with news gathering and on-camera reporting, the view through her lenses these days is much more creative, entertaining and personal. Lauren's film career began with a focus on acting, but has grown to include writer, director, cinematrographer and editor. Lauren lives in Little Rock with her husband and fellow filmmaker, Warren McCullough.
Celeste is CEO/Producer of Walk Slow Productions which produces short films in AR and MO. She is also the Founder of the AR Film Coalition Group which showcases the talents of local Arkansans. Celeste started her career back in 2013 as an Entertainment Editor the Little Rock Sun Newspaper, covering Little Rock events and movie premiers. In 2018, she started managing talent who have been cast alongside A List names such as Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Tyler Perry and John Malkovich. Celeste has seven 48 Hour Film Project awards and 10 awards for films she has personally produced.
Stephanie Steed
Secretary
Stephanie Steed, RN BSN has been in the healthcare field for the last 12 years. She is ready to explore her creative stide again after taking a break to pursue the medical field. Stephanie was voted Top Ten Vocalist at IMTA in New York. She was voted "Most Likely To Be On Broadway" prior to college. Her motto in life is "Everyone has a story. We are all here on a journey. We have two ears and one mouth, so we should always listen more than we speak." She loves hearing peoples' stories. She feels it keeps her in tune to her creativity side and help her with her music writing. She excited to be a part of WIFA and to network!
Kristin "KV" is a native Arkansan who is no stranger to the entertainment scene. As a media professional for over 20 years, she has worked as an on-air personality for the top radio stations in the state. As the owner of Knox Media Group, she has turned start-up businesses into household names with successful marketing campaigns. "KV" has hosted philanthropic, fashion and art events throughout the Mid-South. In her spare time, she enjoys expanding her talents to theatre and film.
Chief Communication Officer
K.V. Knox
SAG-eligible actress and writer with experience in commercials, short films, and feature films. Passionate about storytelling both in front of and behind the camera, with a strong love for improv and collaborative creative work. Known for versatility, grounded performances, and natural comedic timing, she brings authenticity and heart to every role. Dedicated, creative, and professional, she is driven by a genuine passion for the craft.
Sponsorships, Central AR
Karsyn Branscum
Marilyn is an Arkansas based actress and producer and is best known for her lead role in the successful short "Alone". She has been cast as the lead in the follow up film set for production in 2022.
Marilyn works for the Arkansas Archeological Survey and is passionate about archeology and history.
She is a grandmother of three beautiful granddaughters and has another grandchild on the way.
Sponsorships, NWA