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.