Graduate film program

Wavelength Productions and The Black TV & Film Collective (BTFC) has revealed their jury selection of six fellows for the inaugural year for The Black Producers Fellowship . The fellowship, which kicked off in October 2020 , awards a $25K production grant to each of the six emerging producers so that they can develop, produce and deliver short narrative films inspired by the Black experience of education in America. In addition to the grant, each participant will receive in-kind support and career mentorship as they pursue their projects with programming and operational support provided by Cinereach. “We are honored to work with the Black TV & Film Collective to bring to the forefront important narratives highlighting the Black experience in American schools. I was deeply moved by both the compelling personal stories submitted for the grant, and the quality of talent associated with them,” said Wavelength’s Founder, CEO, and Executive Producer Jenifer … [Read more...] about Wavelength And Black TV & Film Collective Select Recipients Of Inaugural Black Producers Fellowship

Queen & Slim director Melina Matsoukas is partnering with Howard University and Instagram to help amplify and support the stories of aspiring Black storytellers through the newly launched Instagram x Share Black Stories “Future First” Reels Challenge. The program kicks off today as we enter the second week of Black History Month. “Future First” will feature selected emerging student storytellers from the Howard University Department of Media, Journalism and Film, each of whom will receive a $10,000 production stipend to support costs associated with the creation of their work. In addition to mentorship provided by Matsoukas and Howard University advisors and educators, the selected student storytellers will have the opportunity to have their content earmarked for sharing across Instagram and other channels on the platform, providing broad reach to the platform’s digital audience. Related Story Golden Globes' Lack Of Diversity And Grab Bag Of … [Read more...] about ‘Queen & Slim’ Director Melina Matsoukas Teams With Howard University For ‘Future First’ Storytelling Challenge

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Luo ’s Stars Collective has acquired rights to the Thomas Mendolia -directed horror short Mr. Thisforthat and will develop and produce a feature adaptation. Mendolia is attached to direct, and Michael Karr , who wrote the short, will write. Alexandre Aja ( The 9th Life of Louis Drax , The Pyramid ) will produce the feature under his Fire Axe Productions banner along with Craig Flores ( Crawl , Immortals ) via his Bread and Circuses Entertainment banner, and Peter Luo ( Crazy Rich Asians, Midway, Marshall ) for Stars Collective. Jake Wagner will executive produce. In the short, a girl from a broken home is visited in her closet by a mysterious creature, Mr. Thisforthat, who promises her anything she wants — at an irreversible price. Related Story 'Crawl' Filmmaker Alexandre Aja Directing 'Elijah' For Searchlight Pictures While attending USC’s film program, Mendolia read Karr’s script and the two quickly bonded over the … [Read more...] about Horror Short ‘Mr. Thisforthat’ Getting Feature Take From Alexandre Aja, Craig Flores & Stars Collective

With its film line-up previously announced , the SXSW Film Festival has unveiled its keynote and a very robust second round of featured speakers. This year’s online edition of SXSW kicks off on March 16 and continues through March 20. SXSW will feature Nobel Peace Prize-nominated political leader Stacey Abrams in a Keynote conversation with author N.K. Jemisin. As for the new round of featured speakers, the roster includes  Elizabeth Banks, Mayim Bialik, Mary J. Blige, James Cameron, Bill Hader, Noah Hawley, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Demi Lovato, Desus Nice and the Kid Mero, Amber Ruffin, The Russo Brothers, Jennifer Salke, Cliff “Method Man” Smith among others. “We’re truly excited about the remarkable range of creative talent and innovators that we’ve announced today as part of SXSW Online,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “In the 30 plus years of SXSW, we’ve showcased so many incredible voices who have shown tremendous courage and leadership, … [Read more...] about SXSW Sets Stacey Abrams As Keynote, Unveils New Round Of Featured Speakers Including Elizabeth Banks, Mary J. Blige, The Russo Brothers And More

On the first day of the fall 2009 semester at George Washington University in Washington D.C., professor H.G. “Hache” Carrillo marched into his own creative writing class 10 minutes late, clutching a copy of The Norton Anthology of English Literature in one hand. “He pulls it above his head and we all look at him, thinking this is going to be a required book,” says former student Tarek al-Hariri. “And he slams it so hard on the table, and we all jump three feet. And he says, ‘Now that I have your attention…’ ” Carrillo then reached into his bag, pulled out an orange, and placed it on the table alongside the book. “ ‘Now, I want all of you to take out paper and I want you to write the orange,’ ” al-Hariri remembers Carrillo saying. “And I’m like, ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ ” Bewildered, the students picked up their pens. “It was the most boring, torturous exercise ever, and I was really pissed at him.” Later, the lesson became clear. “ ‘The point is you cannot write … [Read more...] about The Secret Life of H.G. Carrillo