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Email: BDCNewYork@gmail.com

BDC Blast! COVID-19 Support & Resources for Filmmakers

Dear BDC fam, We hope this email finds you healthy, safe and sound. As our community is increasingly impacted by COVID-19, we find hope, strength and gratitude in the many who are offering their support and resources to filmmakers and other artists, and especially those on the frontlines who are tending to the sick, delivering our groceries— helping to keep our businesses and households running, and our neighborhoods thriving.  The BDC has been posting daily about available resources to get us through this pandemic—  grants, free webinars, discounts, consultation services, and even tips for managing daily life in the age of COVID such as grocery shopping best practices, receiving delivery packages safely, and avoiding small business financial scams. Some highlights are below, but there is more information to share every day, so please visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for daily updates.  Don't forget that BDC Members have unlimited “Editor” posting privileges on the BDC Facebook Page and on our other social media platforms. You are encouraged to share updates about your work, screenings (online for the foreseeable future), and any resources you would like to share. With thousands of followers and counting, posting on our platforms is an easy and meaningful way to reach and engage the many fans who seek out and support your work. A ❤️Heartfelt❤️ Thank You goes out to our filmmaking community and the myriad organizations who have offered support — International Documentary Association, Firelight Media, ITVS, POV, Sundance, Field of Vision, Black Public Media, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Akila Worksongs, Women Make Movies, and more. These are just a few of the many organizations who are sharing skills, resources, expertise and access to help us all through this worldwide crisis. We are truly grateful. BDC Coordinator, Camille Wilson, will be monitoring all of our communications, so do not hesitate to send us a message on any of our platforms, or email us if you have any questions or need more information about anything.  Love and Solidarity, Sabrina and Rafee * * * Small Business Administration (SBA) Webinar       Firelight Media, IDA, and ITVS invite you to an hour-long webinar to learn the basics of applying for the various SBA programs.These funds are available to businesses as small as one person! The webinar will also provide resources about applying for unemployment benefits as a freelancer.All webinars will feature presentations by Cornerstone Government Affairs, a bipartisan consulting firm, specializing in federal and state government relations and business advisory services.

* * * American Documentary COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund * * * Women Make Movies has compiled a list of regional resources throughout the country, for those outside of the major east and west coast urban hubs * * * Field of Vision is offering virtual "office hours” service (video meetings and calls) for the documentary community. They will be prioritizing filmmakers who’ve been affected by festival postponements and production changes, but will also be available to offer a range of mentorship and consultation around a variety of areas. * * *  Freelancers Relief Fund is providing financial assistance of up to $1,000 to freelancers who are experiencing sudden hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether as a result of illness, lost work, or caregiving responsibilities.You can apply and donate to the fund. As always, Keith Shapiro at Hell’s COLOR Kitchen—a long time friend, fan, and champion of the BDC—offers discounted post-production services to BDC Members only! Click pix for more information about their services. BDC Member Feature The work continues, so consider supporting Marshall Kickstarter campaign for his film Radical: The Savoir Faire of French Hip-Hop, a documentary about the French hip-hop magazine Radikal and the history of French rap. In response, festivals around the country and the world are streaming selections online. Filmmakers and various streaming platforms have also generously offered free online viewing of films. Below is just a sampling. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and the BDC blog for daily updates. BDC #ICYMI: Festivals and free online streaming Many of us have had our premieres canceled due to the pandemic. In response, festivals around the country and the world are streaming selections online. Filmmakers and various streaming platforms have also generously offered free online viewing of films. Below is just a sampling. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and the BDC blog for daily updates. Festivals: Coming Soon! Amazon Prime Video is offering filmmakers in the 2020 SXSW Film Festival lineup an invitation to opt in to take part in this online film festival, which will play exclusively on Prime Video in the U.S. for 10-days. The one-time event will be  free to all audiences, with or without an Amazon Prime membership! Mailchimp Presents SXSW 2020 Shorts PATOIS: The New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival 20 Films Sundance Programmers Are Watching from Home Watch IDFA movies for free Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival (ICDOCS) Watch these 7 Films Directed by Black Women WMM Virtual Film Festival 2020 Filmmakers: High Tech, Low Life by Stephen Maing Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry Same God, by Linda Midgett Memories of a Penitent Heart, by Cecilia Aldarondo Guaxuma, by Nara Normande 95 and 6 To Go, by Kimi Takesue Stay strong!  *  Stay safe!

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We've hit 3,000 Likes on Facebook! Thank you for your support and keep reading, sharing and liking!

3,000+!!!

Thank you for your support and appreciation! We will continue to share interesting, relevant content to our page, that informs, inspires, provokes discussion. And if one of our posts inspires your doc project, let us know! 😘 If you'd like to share your projects, news, fundraisers etc. please consider becoming a pro member or a supporter. One of the perks is "Editing" privileges on our social media, which prioritizes your posts for maximum visibility. Supporters can donate as little as $5! More to come about member benefits, the new BDC Pro Group, and our #Gimme5 friends campaign! #BDCfilmmakers #BDCdocumentary #WeLoveDocumentaries #FilmmakersOfColor

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The Legacy of St. Clair Bourne  Begins Tonight at Metrograph in NYC February 16 - 19 Black Documentary Collective (BDC) founder, St. Clair Bourne, Harlem-born and Brooklyn-bred, was a towering figure in the documentary film world: a filmmaker, writer, activist, teacher and organizer. Bourne passed away in 2007, yet his body of work, an essential chronicle of African-American life, and influence is enough for many lifetimes. In honor of his 75th birthday, we pay tribute to his legacy! ***

"The BDC"  The Black Documentary Collective Click to watch The New York Times portrait of BDC Founder St. Clair Bourne  by renowned photographer Chester Higgins, Jr. in 2006 Become a Member/Make a Donation  Membership is $100 for the year! That's just $8/month and is TAX-DEDUCTIBLE! As we pay tribute to BDC founder St. Clair Bourne, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on the mission and vision for the organization.  From the beginning, Saint envisioned the BDC as a singular networking and mentorship organization for documentary media professionals of African descent. The BDC Mission is to support the career and artistic development of its members through networking, education, outreach, partnerships and peer support. Most importantly, Saint sought to create a COMMUNITY, where we would work together, support each other and grow to become an influential presence in the world of documentary filmmaking. Over the years, a small band of BDC member volunteers have been working tirelessly to keep Saint's mission alive and growing. In good faith, they have spent their own money, and given thousands of dollars worth of services and time to support BDC filmmakers' projects. Unfortunately, this has not always been met with reciprocity. Without your support and committment to Saint's mission, the BDC is not sustainable. E-newsletters, websites, directories and databases, social media strategy and posting, partnerships, screenings, etc. all take time and money to create and maintain.  We have changed with the times, most notably focusing on our social media presence and engagement, supporting online fundraising campaigns, promoting broadcasts, festival and theatrical runs, focusing on community engagement and impact screenings, audience-building, and creating meaningful partnerships organizations and companies to give our members access to free and discounted workshops, panels, production services and more. BDC receives steady requests from leading media organizations, broadcasters, programmers, festivals, educational institutions, service providers for partnerships, to purchase member films, referrals to  filmmakers for jobs, speaking engagements, and other exclusive invitations, and discounts for everything from workshops to production services. BDC has a mailing list and followers over 20,000 strong. Our talented and prolific community of filmmakers should be taking far more advantage of these resources and opportunities.   BDC membership dues have always been low and more than reasonable. People pay a lot more for a lot less, but we can do a lot with a little. Consistent dues paying and donations would be transformative for the organization. As we celebrate Saint's life and work, let us do so with renewed purpose and committment to the vision he had for us all.

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Here are just some of the  many benefits BDC  can make possible with your support. NEW = not yet offered but can be with support. CURRENT = a current benefit that will not be sustained without support. It is a benefit that is used by many without making a contribution or paying dues. SUSPENDED = a benefit we once had, but can resume with adequate support *NEW* Web platform and searchable database - BDC receives countless requests for ways to find our filmmakers and their work! To meet this demand, we'd like to have an online "home" website (not everyone uses social media) that will serve as a platform to highlight members work, post video clips, articles, interviews, etc., and house an online, searchable database so that interested parties can find you by name, title, position, subject/theme, etc. This is among the more costly projects that has been in the works but has not been launched due to lack of funding.   *NEW* "Pass Through" Fiscal Sponsorship - members could benefit from BDC's non-profit status to raise money for their projects, at a competitive, low rate. NEW* Social Media Member Privileges - In an effort to maximize BDC's social media reach for its members, and minimize the burden on volunteers, all current BDC members will be given access to BDC's social media accounts to post any and all things doc film-related: broadcasts, festival and theatrical runs, kickstarters, news, updates, etc.  *NEW* BDC Mentorship - Mentorship is a rewarding, but time-intensive undertaking for both parties. The program would be for both members seeking mentorship and those interested in mentoring new documentarians. BDC can leverage its reach to foster meaningful pairings and provide some stipend support for participants.   *NEW* Panels/Speaker series - BDC gets requests for panel and speaker recommendations, as well as requests from filmmakers for subject-specific talks and presentations, i.e., distribution models, crowdfunding best practices, cinematography topics, etc. Financial support would make it possible to pay honorariums to both guests and member speakers. *CURRENT* Workshop discounts from our media partners (ie, Women Make Movies, Third World Newsreel, and others throughout the country) This is a current  *CURRENT* Professional services discounts (ie, Hell's Color Kitchen full service post services)   *CURRENT* Fundraising/crowdfunding support throught the campaign on all social media platforms   *CURRENT* Promotional support for screenings, premieres, festival and theatrical runs, etc. *CURRENT* Outreach and Engagement support *CURRENT* Work-in-progress/Feedback screenings *CURRENT* Job listings and referrals (for both employers and jobseekers). BDC will continue to post all open job listings that come our way, but some come to us as "referral only" and are not distributed widely/publically per employer's request.  *SUSPENDED* BDC Screening Series How else can BDC help, be responsive to the needs of our community of filmmakers as they evolve? This is what the BDC is about.  Email us at bdcnewyork@gmail.com If you're already a member, THANK YOU, and please consider  making a tax-deductible donation to support the BDC.   Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated!

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The Black Documentary Collective (BDC) was founded in 2000 by the late great documentarian St. Clair Bourne, as the singular networking organization for documentary film, video, and media professionals of African descent. The BDC supports its members through hosting screenings, access to educational, artistic, and professional development workshops, discounted professional services, and networking events.  The BDC is also dedicated to making a difference in the ever-increasing communities that are interested in, and influenced by the work of its talented members, through community partnerships,  outreach and engagement. Join the BDC Blast! Mailing List

Today is the day to catch Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart streaming for free on PBS.org.

Directed by Tracy Heather Strain

QUEST is on iTunes!

Directed by Jonathan Olshefski

Produced by BDC's Sabrina Schmidt Gordon

Filmed with vérité intimacy for nearly a decade, QUEST is the moving portrait of the Rainey family living in North Philadelphia. Beginning at the dawn of the Obama presidency, Christopher "Quest" Rainey, and his wife, Christine'a "Ma Quest" raise a family while nurturing a community of hip hop artists in their home music studio. It's a safe space where all are welcome, but this creative sanctuary can't always shield them from the strife that grips their neighborhood. Epic in scope, QUEST, a Sundance Festival selection, is a vivid illumination of race and class in America, and a testament to love, healing and hope.