The 4th season of Scope Screenings kicked off last month with an electric atmosphere at the SIFF Cinema Uptown in Seattle.. Lex Scope, the creator and cultivator of Scope Screenings, highlighted the significant growth this season, noting a record attendance with lines extending around the venue. He emphasized that Scope Screenings is no longer an "underground" event, but has "moved outside" with its most extravagant festival to date.

The event, which aims to disrupt traditional film festivals, focuses on uplifting underrepresented creators by providing a platform for their work to be seen by a live audience rather than just online likes and shares. Shailee Stevens, co-founder and director of operations, described the evening as "wonderful," celebrating the return of familiar faces and the welcoming of new ones for the fourth year of Scope Screenings. She highlighted a heartwarming moment when a filmmaker met an actor for his film at a previous Scope Screening, underscoring the event's impact on fostering connections within the film community.

Attendees experienced a diverse range of content, including Megan Griffiths' satirical pharma-ad style short film, "Tesla Regret Syndrome," which had just come from Sundance. Other notable mentions included Gabby Lee's "Intrusive Thoughts" and Mister Nice Nice's commercial with Home Team. Mister Nice Nice commented on the audience's active engagement, describing the energy as "healthy" and vibrant.

Converge Media's strong partnership with Scope Screenings was a recurring theme. Lex Scope expressed profound gratitude to Omari Salisbury of Converge Media, calling him a mentor who understands his unconventional approach and has amplified Scope Screenings' reach on regional and national television. Stevens echoed this sentiment, crediting Omari and Converge Media for their unwavering support since day one, providing incredible films and outstanding coverage, and emphasizing that Scope Screenings would not be possible without them.

A significant highlight of the night was the screening of the Northwest Emmy-winning "Day with Trae" intro. Trae Holiday, the host of "The Day With Trae," expressed her excitement for the intro to be featured at Scope Screenings, praising Lex Scope and his team for their dedication to spotlighting short films and providing much-needed visibility to filmmakers. She reiterated that the Emmy win for "The Day with Trae" intro was a victory for the entire community, anchored in Black brilliance, joy, and community, and served as an homage to 90s Black sitcoms and the Central District. Erik Kalligraphy, a producer on the "Day with Trae" intro, also emphasized that the Emmy belonged to the community that supported them.

Mark Tellsya, a content creator, emphasized the importance of Scope Screenings as a place for inspiration, networking, and a safe space for first-time content creators to showcase their work and gain confidence. He described the culture as "unmatched" and likened it to a "family," with creators from different pathways coming together.

Looking to the future, Lex Scope aims to expand the festival, help more people, and secure more resources to continue growing the community. Shailee Stevens shared similar aspirations, hoping to host free screenings, fund and teach filmmakers, and compensate staff more, with the ultimate goal of inspiring filmmakers to create their best work by providing a platform for it to be seen in real life. Trae Holiday offered a powerful piece of advice to aspiring filmmakers: "Do not stop." She emphasized that their stories and creative visions are essential to the community, and that perseverance, resilience, determination, and commitment are crucial.

Catch the next Scope Screenings on Wednesday, July 30th: Tix and Info: https://www.lexscopefilms.com/scopescreenings