Announcing the BGDM Grantee Masterclasses: January 6-9, 2022

Kick off the New Year with some inspiration and motivation from your fellow Brown Girls Doc Mafia members, in an exciting series of virtual masterclasses the first week of January. Our inaugural BGDM Grantees will be sharing their personal experience and hard earned wisdom, on topics ranging from distribution to challenging interview subjects, to keeping your dreams alive. This series is a first for BGDM and promises to be packed with invaluable tips on navigating the documentary world.

Join us to kick off the New Year and BGDM’s inaugural Grantee Masterclasses event!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6TH

DOING DISTRIBUTION: AN UNAPOLOGETIC CASE STUDY
Ashley O’Shay
2:00 - 3:15 PM EST

Ready to distribute your project? Let's dive into best practices when entering this crucial stage of your film. Through a case study of my first film, Unapologetic, we'll cover the many stages of distribution; setting project goals, selecting a team, and general do's and don'ts.

DREAMS HAVE NO EXPIRATION: NOTES FROM MY JOURNEY
Luchina Fisher
4:00 - 5:15 PM EST

What does it take to achieve your dreams? Award-winning filmmaker Luchina Fisher shares notes from her journey - from journalist to filmmaker - and explains the steps she took to keep her dreams alive, turn obstacles into opportunities, and use failure as a stepping stone to success.

ANIMATION & MOTION GRAPHICS FOR DOCUMENTARY FILM
Carrie Hawks
6:00 - 7:15 PM EST

This workshop will go over animation elements, creative strategies and workflow practices to consider when collaborating with an animator. We’ll touch on the steps involved in creating animations so that directors, animators, and editors can better communicate expectations, plan, and labor involved.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7TH

BOUNDARIES, INTUITION, AND THE ART OF SAYING “NO”
Laura Kamugisha
2:00 - 1:15 PM EST

By mixing testimony and facts, Laura Kamugisha explores the themes of intuition, limits and the art of saying "No". We will explore gut feelings, protect yourself legally, and explore the reasons why it is difficult to set your limits and say "no".

FUNDRAISING 101
Sara Nodjoumi
2:00 - 3:15 PM EST

Each independent documentary film has its own fundraising path. Using three different case studies - all documentary features that were successfully funded, completed, and distributed - we will explore the variety of options out there so you can start to find your own path.

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN MAKING A PERSONAL DOCUMENTARY (PRE / PRODUCTION)
Rebeca Huntt
4:00 - 5:15 PM EST

To address some of the obscure experiences within the process of making a personal film, and provide an open conversation for members interested.