OUR MISSION
Our mission is to educate, inform, and employ alternative filmmakers and artists of color in the South through education platforms and interactive events. Media is a big business full of many genres and job opportunities that are not easily accessible. CMRL creates a space for aspiring professionals to be exposed to hidden careers, explore workshops by established professionals, and understand the business of creative arts. We hire local black-owned businesses, vendors, and musicians to make this happen.
Goal: The goal is to increase creative and tech jobs to build a sustainable workforce in urban southern communities. Step 1- Increase creative jobs and exposure. Step 2- Build a sustainable film market with qualified filmmakers through active training. Step 3 - Create an interest for multi-million dollar film projects in the Mid-Southern US Region.
Partners: BLACK GIRLS FILM CAMP, BEATS BY DRE Black Creatives, CBS PIPELINE
What we’ve done and are DOING: Hire local black-owned businesses, vendors, and musicians, Send interns to SXSW conference in Austin and the American Black Film Festival in Miami, provide free laptops and film equipment, host monthly edit sessions and interactive events for female artists, train students on active film productions.
Black Girls Film Camp (USA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides a FREE, national (USA), and hybrid 16-week experience (held once a year) where high school Black girls across the country produce short film and receive media training. Participants receive free technology (SONY Cameras, lighting kits, boom mics, tripods, etc.) free software (final draft and Adobe Premiere), a personal production team of exemplary Black women creatives (editor and creative coach) contracted out by the camp, an all-expense paid weekend retreat in LA, and free workshops from Black women that are award-winning filmmakers and Ph.D. scholars. Films created by the teen girls and their production teams are showcased live during a virtual event over the summer and at film festivals (i.e. 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival, Essence Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival) and college events (i.e. Emory University, USC, UC Davis, Georgia Tech, UNCC, etc.) in the US throughout the year.
It all started when…
“I was a troubled teenager trying to find my way. A beloved mentor, Mulit-media Producer - Ron Crawford, took me under his wings and showed me a new career and life I could create for myself. I believe it’s my purpose to mentor and employ minority creatives and professionals.”