Announcing the 2024 BGDM Fellows' Virtual Masterclass Schedule
Lissa Deonarain • March 25, 2024
Kick off spring with some inspiration and motivation from your fellow Mafiosxs! From April to June, our BGDM Sustainable Artist and Black Directors Fellows will each host their own virtual masterclass, sharing their personal experience and wisdom. Covering topics ranging from producing your first feature to career transitions and starting your own production company, each session is packed with invaluable tips on navigating the documentary world.
The first Masterclass starts on April 15th and they are open to BGDM members only. Mafiosxs, you can RSVP to each Masterclass in Mighty Networks!
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MONDAY APRIL 15 @ 1:00PM EDT PRODUCING YOUR FIRST FEATUREwith Mars Verrone Mars Verrone walks through the process of producing their first feature, Union, which premiered at Sundance 2024, giving special attention given to tips for first-time producers. |
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MONDAY, APRIL 29 @ 1:00PM EDT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE APERTUREwith Brittany Ferrell What is it like for a former documentary subject to be on the other side of the lens? Brittany Ferrell, protagonist of Whose Streets? (2017), offers reflections from directing her own documentary. |
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MONDAY, MAY 6 @ 1:00PM EDT MAKING Q: WHAT I LEARNED, WHAT I’D CHANGEwith Jude Chehab Jude Chehab breaks down the tips, mistakes and lessons she learned while producing and directing her first feature documentary, Q, including how to navigate the industry while maintaining your artistic integrity. |
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MONDAY, MAY 13 @ 1:00PM EDT
FROM JOURNALISM TO DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKINGwith Xinyan Yu What does it take to transition from journalism to documentary filmmaking? Join Xinyan Yu in a conversation about the challenges, rewards and lessons of exploring the space between the two. |
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MONDAY, MAY 20 @ 1:00PM EDT
FILMING FAMILY: OH THE JOYS! OH THE CHALLENGES!with Zephrine Royer Making a documentary with family walks a fine line between the personal and the professional. Zephrine discusses the joys and trials of filming family, knowing how far you’re willing to go and when to draw the line. |
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THURSDAY, MAY 23 @ 1:00PM EDT FIRST-TIME FILMMAKINGwith Robie Flores Starting a film from scratch can be terrifying and isolating. But family and community can be major assets, even if they have no filmmaking experience. Robie talks about her experience of making her first film with family by her side. |
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TUESDAY, MAY 28 @ 1:00PM EDT THE REAL LIFE OF MAKING A COMING-OF-AGE DOCUMENTARYwith Chelsi Bullard People love coming-of-age films for their close-up look at life’s most intimate moments. But how do we stay the course as filmmakers when there’s not a clear end in sight? Chelsi Bullard shares practical lessons from five years of production on her work-in-progress film. |
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MONDAY, JUNE 3 @ 1:00PM EDT LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUPwith Nyasha Kadandara Nyasha Kadandara reflects on lessons she learned while filming the Zambian Women's Football team as they debuted at the FIFA Women's World Cup, the most difficult and rewarding part of her storytelling career. |
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THURSDAY, JUNE 6 @ 1:00PM EDT DIRECTING THE SHORT FILMwith Christine Turner Explore the art of making short films from concept to execution with Christine Turner, director of Oscar-nominated short film, The Barber of Little Rock. |
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MONDAY, JUNE 10 @ 1:00PM EDT
STARTING YOUR OWN PRODUCTION COMPANYwith Stephanie Saxemard Stephanie shares the ins and outs of setting up your own company. |
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MONDAY, JUNE 17 @ 1:00PM EDT
SHORT FILM FOR MUTUAL AIDwith Jia Li A look behind the scenes at using a viral documentary short to achieve a fundraising goal through purely DIY methods. |
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