A group of 8 accomplished filmmakers with disabilities were handpicked for the program
The Blackmagic Collective, presented by Blackmagic Design, is pleased to announce its newest career advancement program – All Access: Disabled Filmmakers on the Move. The initiative is focused on helping disabled writers and directors create valuable contacts with key players in the industry, all in an effort to help accomplished filmmakers make a jump into more lucrative work. The goal of the initiative is to not only introduce the fellows to those in hiring positions, but to open a dialogue with executives about the need for more authentic representation of disability both behind and in front of the camera, and to help foster more opportunities for future work.
“The need for more diversity and inclusive representation in film and TV continues to remain at the forefront of the industry; however, the disability community is all too often overlooked in these conversations,” says Jenn Page, current Executive Director of Blackmagic Collective, and alumnus of the Future Women of TV 2020 program. “Each of the fellows that we’ve selected for the ‘All Access’ initiative are more than qualified and ready to bring their voices and talents to the table. We’re excited for them to connect with more executives and other contacts in hiring positions through the program, to level up their careers and bring even more of their stories to the screen.”
Over the course of the one-year initiative, the curated group of eight fellows, helmed by Initiative Director, Shannon DeVido (Best Summer Ever, Difficult People) will work to develop their marketing packages, including reels and/or pilot scripts; and will also take part in ongoing meetings with showrunners, head writers, and other industry leaders who can help provide great future career opportunities. By the end of the program, fellows will have honed the skills needed to see their projects from script to screen.
“Any filmmaker should have the opportunity to excel in all aspects of the industry without hesitation, regardless of a disability,” says DeVido. “I’m hopeful that the Blackmagic Collective’s ‘All Access’ initiative will open doors people didn’t think could be opened.”
The Blackmagic Collective has two additional career advancement initiatives. The Future Directors of Studio Features Initiative is designed to elevate and polish undiscovered and underrepresented female-identifying storytellers who are poised to make the transition to feature directing. The Future Women of TV had a very successful year in 20020, meeting with over 50 executives, as well as working TV writers and directors. All initiatives are possible thanks to sponsorships by generous companies including the presenting sponsor, Blackmagic Design*.
Meet The All Access: Disabled Filmmakers On The Move Fellows:
Shannon DeVido – Writer/Actor/Comedian. Single & multicam comedy/dramedy. Written over 50 comedy sketches amassing over 1 million views. BAFTA Breakthrough actress, ViacomCBS Showcase 2021 participant. Guest stars/Co-stars include: Hulu’s Difficult People, Netflix’s Insatiable, Comedy Central’s Delco Proper, Law and Order: SVU. Dedicated following on her disability-focused comedy YouTube channel Stare at Shannon. Feature film lead in SXSW 2021 film Best Summer Ever. www.shannondevido.com
Rachel Handler – Writer/Producer/Actor, single-cam comedy, dramedy, disability-inclusive ALWAYS. Written/produced 6 award-winning short films, screened at Slamdance, Hollyshorts, Heartland. Winner AT&T Underrepresented Filmmaker Award. Broadway nerd with co-stars and guest stars on NCIS: NOLA, Law & Order: SVU, Bull, and New Amsterdam. Currently pitching feature script “Hope for the Holidays” and comedy pilot “LAME.” Most recent film.
Lesley Hennen – Writer/Producer. Half-hour, single-cam comedy. Graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and The Second City’s Harold Ramis Film School. “Best of Fest” at the 2020 Women in Comedy Festival’s “Pitch Your First Five Pages” competition, presented by HBO. Finalist in WeScreenplay’s Diverse Voices Lab, and TV Pilot Contest. Semifinalist in ScreenCraft’s TV Pilot Contest. Currently working on a new half-hour dark comedy pilot, Miss Ability following a group of disabled teenagers as they take on the beauty pageant world, exploring themes of savior complexes and beauty standards. www.lesleyhennen.com
Cashmere Jasmine – Director/ Writer and producer of award-winning shorts Bombs Bursting in Air (L.A. Intl. Film Fest, 2020) and Weenie (Buffer Film Fest, 2019) in post-production on Oreo (2021) and directing Sia (2022).Currently writing queer disability-inclusive dramas with dark humor and surrealist imagery. www.cashmerejasmine.com
Nico Pinzon – Writer/Director, Colombian-American, UCLA MFA Screenwriter, won Final Draft’s Big Break Diversity Category in 2018, Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist, specializes in dramedy and sci-fi tv and features about underdogs and the marginalized.
Faith Strongheart – Writer/Director specializing in female-driven dramas. Santa Fe bred. Los Angeles based. MFA in directing – UCLA. Written, Produced, Directed over a dozen award-winning short films. Currently making feature doc about getting severely burned as an infant. In 2020: Screencraft TV Pilot Quarterfinalist, Respectability Lab Fellow. faithstrongheart.com
Natalia Provata – Latinx Writer/Director. Published personal essayist in Refinery 29, Real Simple Magazine, and Dame Magazine. Won the audience award at Holly Shorts for Canary Suicides (official selection SXSW and Cleveland International Film Festival.) On the writing team of BOO: Earth Division for DreamWorks Animation Television. National Hispanic Media Coalition’s (NHMC) Series Script Writer’s Program Fellow. 2020 Disruptor’s Fellow. She is currently working on her memoir, Ghosting My Death Doula, a series of personal essays about having cancer in your thirties. www.nataliaprovatas.com
Juliet Romeo – Writer/Director. Documentary/Comedy / Romance / Sci-Fi. Born in Trinidad. News journalist turned filmmaker. Co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival UNSTOPPABLE Program. Recipient of the 2019 Firelight Media Groundwork Lab. Recent festival projects: J.U.L.E.S (Urban Film Fest, Everybody Digital, American Black Film Festival, Doc Without Borders) Series contributor PBS Film-Maker. Latest doc, Art Of Warrior tv debut late 2021. In pre-production of dramedy Best Laid Plans. Screen Daily, Deadline
* Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Learn more at http://www.BlackmagicDesign.com.
