Minorities in Film (MiFILM) has set the lineup of five Fellows who’ve been chosen to advance in its 2021 Branded Lab which will begin on February 1. The Lab is in partnership with ad shops Johannes Leonardo, Even/Odd, Mustache and 72andSunny. Additional programming support has been provided by PRETTYBIRD, Free The Work, The Association for Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), Bindery and Exposure Labs’ Jeff Orlowski. This Branded Lab milestone is a major move for the MiFILM Collective on its mission to increase representation for Differently-Abled/BIPOC Directors.
The selected Fellows are: writer/director Luis Santos (Bronx), director Abraham Felix (New Orleans), photographer and director Brandon Haynes (Brooklyn), writer/director Alaa Zabara (Virginia), and actress, producer and director Okema T. Moore (Brooklyn)
Each Fellow will receive one-on-one mentorship from directors Ryan Booth, Amandla Baraka, Luz Gipson, Bianca Poletti, and Harvey Burrell for the full duration of the month-long lab.
“The Branded Lab was created to demystify the process of working in the commercial industry, specifically for underrepresented filmmakers,” said Brittany Franklin, founder of MiFILM. “We’re excited to help amplify the Lab Fellows’ unique and distinguished voices.”
The Branded Lab is just part of the MiFILM Collective’s recent initiatives and accomplishments, which include:
- A recent community partnership with The Gotham (formerly IFP), where MiFILM will work to curate events and panels.
- And securing sponsorship from Frame.io, The Moment Shop, Final Draft, and WriterDuet, giving exclusive perks to their community of underrepresented filmmakers.
“Everyone of our partners have gone above-and beyond to truly invest in diverse talent and storytelling. This is more than just a trend for them.” said Ian Q. Grant MiFILM co-founder who joined the Collective in January 2020.
MiFILM’s community liaison Ronald Hinton will work directly with the Fellows throughout the month, “As an actor/producer myself, I know that programs like these can only catapult participant success. Being able to liaise between our community and these agencies is a game changer.”
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academyโs Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragonโs two wins were for โThe Red Dragon and the Goldโ episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the โPart Six: Far,l Far Awayโ episode of Ahsoka.
The HPAโs Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: โCelebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.โ
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More