Wendy Levy & Kimberlin Bolton, moderated by Kisha Imani Cameron

Explicit content warning

04/16/21 • 50 min

In this Roundtable we are joined by Wendy Levy and Kimberlin Bolton. Wendy is an Executive Director of The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture and the co-founder of Arts2Work, a new award winning creative workforce initiative that centers racial and gender justice in a new model of Apprenticeship for digital media careers. Kimberlin is an executive Director of re:imagine/ATL, an organization that trains, equips, and inspires Generation Z to build careers in the creative and digital media industries.

Moderating is Kisha Imani Cameron, a film and television producer and a film coach. Cameron founded Africa First, a program for emerging filmmakers and was the former COO of Ghetto Film School.

These three powerhouse women are out to transform this industry in more ways than one, and in this conversation they spend time discussing how real change takes place at the root. The overt lack of diversity and inclusion in the film world is a systemic issue that cannot be ignored any longer and to even begin making a difference takes a village and each one of us taking action. These three guests, each doing their own part to redefine the greater collective of the film community, work together and support one another in reciprocity. One could not exist and be successful without the other. We need to similarly support these organizations, be aware of their work, and involve ourselves in order to be a part of the solution.

Moderating is Kisha Imani Cameron, a film and television producer and a film coach. Cameron founded Africa First, a program for emerging filmmakers and was the former COO of Ghetto Film School.

Previous Episode

Hannah Beachler, Jenn Nkiru, and Kwasi Fordjour

In this roundtable we are joined by Production Designer Hannah Beachler, Artist and Filmmaker Jenn Nkiru, and Director/Creative Director Kwasi Fordjour. The conversation opens with a discussion on unexpected sources of inspiration and creativity in the past year (including the sun!) as well as the spirit of continuation and exploration through one’s connection and responsibility to self. The group also delves into the act of deciding and accepting as creators, the importance of listening and finding answers within oneself through stillness, and the intentional act of creating space for one’s wonderment, which is discussed as a path for circumventing the indoctrinated societal machine of constant production. They close by emphasizing the vitality of assessing our emotional state, revitalizing so we can connect visually, and finding ways to traverse a fast-paced world while making time for joy.

At the core of the conversation is the act of prioritizing curiosity, allowing for intuition to be instinct, and the importance of acknowledging the connectivity of our actions.

Next Episode

Rodney Taylor, Tommy Maddox Upshaw, and Eric Branco, moderated by Matthew Woolf

In this Roundtable we are joined by Cinematographers Rodney Taylor (ASC), Tommy Maddox Upshaw (ASC), and Eric Branco.

Rodney has been a long time Television DP and his recent credits include Swagger and Ballers. Tommy is also a veteran of the Television world and recently became a member of the ASC; his recent credits include Empire and Snowfall. Eric has established himself in the indie film world, and his latest films are Clemency, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in 2019 and Forty Year Old Version, which won the US Dramatic Award at Sundance in 2020. He also recently shot his first TV series for HBO.

A broad range of topics are discussed, including how to transition into Television from the movie world, how the genres differ, the toll the industry can have on family life, and what these filmmakers have learned from previous mistakes.