We are excited to invite Dr. Jimmeka Anderson & Sierra Davis to the Nonprofit Sistas podcast. In this episode, we will discuss whether is it important for black girls to use their creativity through film.
Bringing together two brains to start a nonprofit
Jimmeka is the Founder and Sierra is the Co-Founder of the Black Girls Film Camp. This best-friend duo has a history of creating and launching community initiatives. Jimmeka and Sierra are not strangers to teamwork.
Jimmeka and Sierra are combining their expertise to ensure they can work within the confines of Hollywood. This opportunity is helping the founders to keep their passion for media and arts burning within them. It is the goal of founders to ensure black girls are represented in the film and arts space.
There is a limited number of black women as directors, leads, and co-leads in Hollywood. Jimmeka and Sierra are working to provide girls with a creative space and direction to help them succeed in this area. Having this space allows the girls to focus on reaching their untapped potential.
The Black Girls Film Camp participants receive mentoring to help them use the tools needed to become leads in their media careers and through storytelling.
You may be wondering how the film camp works.
For girls to join the program, one must apply and receive an interview where they present a pitch for their project. A selection committee will be responsible for choosing 10 lucky young ladies. When selected, the girls will receive a production team, tech, resources, and software to produce their short films.
Also, the girls participating in the film camp will attend workshops hosted by award-winning black female filmmakers. An all-expense retreat will happen before the participants can share their work at a screening and awards showcase. Throughout the year, all of the film camp alumni can attend screening tours and events.
The Future of the Black Girls Film Camp
Over 200 Black girls have applied for the previous film camp and 10 finalists were chosen to direct and develop their short films. The film camp is rewarding and provides collaborations for hosting national screenings.
With only 3 years of operation under their belt, the founders of the Black Girls Film Camp are looking to achieve more goals in the future. During the 4th year of existence, the organization’s leaders are hoping to accomplish the following:
- Develop multi-year sponsorships with corporations and studios
- Hosting a national screening tour with films previously produced
- Creating a curriculum to launch Black Girls Film Camps in schools, communities, etc.
As industry directors, leads, and co-leads continue to highlight the need for representation in Hollywood, the founders of the Black Girls Film Camp will continue to be around to develop the next generation of girls.
In this episode, we will discuss:
- Gaining insight on how important it is for black girls to use their creativity through film.
- Understanding what many people don’t know about being involved in the film industry.
- Navigating success and establishing strategies to maintain the capacity of the organization.
Podcast Episode Resources
- Learn more about the Black Girls Film Camp.
- Follow the Black Girls Film Camp on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.