Black Filmmakers Matter Podcast

Filmmaking Advice with Joel Smith: Color Grading for Emerging Filmmakers

Filmmaking tips from Joel Smith about the importance of color in film. Joel is a New Jersey filmmaker born and raised. Currently, he is based in Tokyo. His production company specializes in short films,music videos, and commercials. His amazing work can be seen at www.onemillionjoel.com. Joel’s philosophy on content creation: “A good video is an organized one. Make it so they watch it more than once. The more personal it is the more people will see it.”

From Greensboro to Cannes: Lexx Truss's Filmmaking Journey

Discover the inspiring journey of Lexx Truss, a writer, director, and producer from Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduating from Point Park University's Cinema & Digital Arts program in 2015, Lexx showcased his talent at the Cannes Short Film Corner and continued to refine his craft through various freelance projects. In 2018, he won the Shore Scripts Logline Contest with his comedy short, "A Kid Named Leslie," and was declared the Grand Prize Winner of the 2019 Emerge! Filmmaking Lab for his psychological thriller, "Zarina." Join us as we explore Lexx's path to success in the film industry. 

Black Filmmakers Journey: Movie Making w. BET & Hollywood Director Quincy Ledbetter

Quincy Ledbetter talks about the filmmaker’s journey for black film directors. He shares his thoughts on the art of film and the filmmaking process. Quincy is a filmmaker, musician, and artist with a focus on narrative, documentary, andbranded/commercial projects—primarily as a director, writer, DP, editor, and composer. He has extensive experience as a Video Director, Producer, and Post-Production Supervisor in news and digital media with brands such as Mashable, NPR, Time, Mic.com, HuffPost, Yahoo!, The New York Times, Vox, Instagram, among others. His work has won two Edward R. Murrow Awards (2018 and 2021), two Webby Awards (2016 and 2021), an ASME Ellie Award (2018), and two Emmy Nominations (2017 and 2022). In 2018 Quincy won the Project CRE8 competition by BET Films and Paramount Players to direct his first feature film Alieu the Dreamer, released in 2020. His animated short film The Black Disquisition garnered multiple awards at festivals for Best Director and Best Animated Short, and is currently exhibited in museums across the U.S. In 2020, Quincy and his partner, Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter, co-founded ML-NEBULA, a production company focused on creating a safe and open environment for filmmakers and artists to thrive. You can find him at http://www.qledbetter.com/

Damien Swaby Camera Master Class for Emerging Filmmakers

Damien Swaby’s work has been screened at film festivals in, London, San Diego, Birmingham, Staffordshire, Reykjavik, Sacramento, Brighton, and others. He is an entrepreneurial and innovative corporate video producer/filmmaker. Incredibly driven, ambitious, grounded, and focused, Damien has aproductively creative mind and a genuine passion to get the very best out of every project. Damien is the host of the Podcast: Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby. The podcast reaches out to the next generation of filmmakers, who continue to look for inspiration and guidance. Damien is a Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network (www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com).

Joe Menendez: Versatile Hollywood Director of Kung Fu, SyFy, and Bilingual Films

Discover the incredible journey of Joe Menendez, the Co-Executive Producer and Director behind the CW's "Kung Fu". Known for his versatile direction across TV and film, Menendez has helmed episodes of "12 Monkeys", "Queen of the South", and Nickelodeon's "Legends of the Hidden Temple". With a unique talent for bilingual storytelling, he directed Spanish-language hits like "Ladrón Que Roba A Ladrón". Joe's passion for filmmaking began with a Super 8 camera in NYC and has led to award-winning projects and his debut novel, "Mindshot". Subscribe for more inspiring stories from the world of filmmaking!

Nickolas Duarte: Award - Winning Director on Capturing Honest Moments in Film

Join us as we dive into the illustrious career of Nickolas Duarte, a commercial director and narrative filmmaker with over 70 industry awards, including a National Addy and an Emmy. With a client list boasting names like Adidas, Nike, Pepsi, and the NBA, Nickolas has mastered the art of creating lifestyle stories that capture moments of honesty. His acclaimed scripted and documentary work has featured in Academy Award-qualifying festivals and received distribution through Sony Pictures Television. Discover his journey from being a National Endowment of theArts Recipient to co-writing and directing a crime drama for Warner Bros. Don't miss this insightful look into the creative mind of a director whose work is described by Short of The Week as “almost as much a physical viewing experience as an emotionally affecting one".

Colin Francis Costello: Award - Winning Director's Journey in Global Commercial Production

Discover the exciting news as award-winning director Colin Francis Costello joins Hometeam, a leading global content production company named one of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company. Colin, a biracial writer/director from Los Angeles, brings his rich storytelling skills and advertising expertise to Hometeam. His films and web series have screened at top festivals worldwide, earning numerous awards. With over 20 years of experience in advertising, Colin has worked with major clients like Netflix, McDonald’s, and Disney. Now, with Hometeam's support, he continues to captivate audiences with his unique and provocative narratives. Tune in to learn more about Colin's incredible journey and his future projects, including the upcoming feature film "Na0mi." Don't miss this inspiring story of creativity and innovation!

Arlene Russell: From Sports Journalism to Award - Winning Documentary Filmmaker | Inspiring Stories

Join us as we explore the incredible journey of Arlene Russell, a talented Filmmaker Distributor Consultant with a passion for storytelling. Starting her career in sports journalism, covering teams like the Houston Astros and NBA stars, Arlene discovered her true calling in documentary filmmaking. Her debut film, "The World Famous, Debate Coach, Dr. Thomas Freeman,"highlights her dedication to real-life narratives. Today, Arlene leads impactful projects and shares her expertise as a film instructor at Media Tech Institute. She empowers others through her roles as President of the Women in Film and TV, Houston Chapter, a member of the BMA Houston Chapter media board, and a participant in the Houston Media Source Filmmaker Project. Don't miss this inspiring story of creativity and commitment!

The Journey of Christopher Williams: From Ohio to Tubi Stardom | Filmmaker Spotlight

Discover the inspiring journey of Christopher Williams, a Cleveland native whose passion for filmmaking and acting began in elementary school. From participating in drama clubs to attending the prestigious New York Film Academy, Christopher's dedication to the arts has led him to create unique, out-of-the-box films. Learn about his achievements, including his first feature film, 'Dangerous People,' now streaming on Tubi, and how he continues to support fellow artists. Join us as we delve into the career of this self-made filmmaker who has captivated audiences worldwide.

Morgen A. Whiteman: Journey of a Thriller and Sci - Fi Director | Filmmaking Highlights

Explore the captivating journey of Morgen A. Whiteman, a renowned film, television, and commercial director based in Los Angeles. With a background as a filmmaker-in-residence in Ghana and accolades including being a 2022 Stowe Story Labs finalist and a 2023 fellow of WIFV DC’s Narrative Script Development Fellowship, Morgen brings a unique perspective to storytelling.