ABOUT THE BLACKMAGIC COLLECTIVE
With a robust schedule of events and filmmaker initiatives, the Collective offers:
• presentations by expert content creators
• panels covering cutting edge trends and techniques in production and post-production
• hands-on training sessions and workshops
• a film festival celebrating new short works
• networking with peers
• accelerator programs for filmmakers, and more
Blackmagic Collective is a 501 (c) Non-Profit volunteer-run organization.
The Team
BMC Position: Executive Director

Jenn took on the role of Executive Director of the Blackmagic Collective in 2020 to help the Collective grow initiatives that would help spotlight and serve underrepresented behind the camera talent.
Connect with Jenn:
BMC Position: Chairman of the Board

John has continued to shoot throughout his career, staying active with web series and music videos. He has also produced a variety of projects, including web series Ark (available on Hulu), comedy On Hold, and feature film Danika, starring Marisa Tomei, as well as a wide range of online episodic and short films. He recently Executive Produced sci fi short Alone, which premiered on WatchDust.com.
Through his personal production banner, Bigfoot Robot, John develops and produces his own content, from feature film to series work, as well as producing projects for a variety of clients. John’s latest music video, Don’t Leave Me Alone, featuring artist Vinn Lombardo, premiered at the New Filmmaker LA festival in August 2020.
Connect with John:
BMC Position: Secretary, Board of Directors

On the music and production side of his odd double life, Chris has scored numerous films for which he won best film score awards, including The Breakout: A Rock Opera, Ghost in the Gun, and Steve’s Quest: The Musical, and toured as a drummer with signed recording artists.
Connect with Chris:
BMC Position: Sponsorship Director

Representing some of the industry’s top organizations, including the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, ContentAsia, the American Film Market, and the Asia TV Forum, she has worked with studios, aggregators, technology companies, service companies, and platforms to deliver advertising and marketing programs that drive interest and fulfill revenue goals.
Leah holds a BA in Communications from the University of Massachusetts and a Certificate in Grant Writing from SDSU. She has produced industry events and moderated panels around the world, has served as Advisory Chair, Women in Film/LA International Committee, and currently sits on the Board of the West Hollywood Friends of the Library.
Connect with Leah:
BMC Position: Social Media Manager

She most recently produced A Very Covid Christmas: The Radio Play (on Spotify and Apple Podcasts) and is hard at work on her first feature. She owns and operates a social media management and photography business, Rebel Fern, and is committed to always finding the funny!
Connect with Brittney:
BMC Position: Film Festival Coordinator

In 2020 she took on the role of Blackmagic Collective Film Festival Coordinator, helping select and program from nearly 1,000 film entries. She is currently in the development stage of her first full album as a solo artist as well as working on her other art installations and projects.
Connect with Harleen:
BMC Position: Technical Director – Live Events

He also works as a technical director, using his film background to bring high production values to livestreams.
Connect with Shimon:
BMC Initiative Leaders
BMC Position: Breakthrough Initiative Director

She works frequently with Catherine Hardwicke as a creative consultant. Soma worked with Catherine on her feature Miss Bala (2019) for Columbia Pictures and Misher Films, as a script coordinator on Hardwicke’s short film Life Sentence for Quibi, and as a creative assistant on her upcoming Quibi Series Don’t Look Deeper. Soma’s short film In Case of Emergency was also recently selected as one of the top 10 entries in Amazon’s 2019 New Voices Film Festival.
Soma began her career working as an Art Director for J. Walter Thompson in Jakarta, where her clients were Unilever and Pfizer. After leaving J. Walter Thompson, she would go on to direct commercial spots for Google, Klondike, Nike, Chevrolet and Campbell’s.
Despite the numerous development programs that have cropped up in the entertainment industry, Soma felt there was still a lack of real diversity in most positions. She wanted to open the doors for some of the more underrepresented individuals who are out there working hard to be heard – like Indigenous and South East Asian filmmakers – and need to be exposed to decision makers to make that leap into episodic TV. Thus, the Breakthrough Initiative was born.
Connect with Soma:
BMC Position: FDSF Initiative Director

Prior to a return to film in 2012, she served ten years as a decorated military police officer and instructor and transitioned to Intelligence during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom while adventuring through Europe. Later, as a victims’ advocate and civilian detective, this “spectrum of humanity” experience lent to a unique perspective on human connection. It also shaped her focus in narrative adventure and suspense stories about unconventional characters in extraordinary circumstances, with bold accompanying visuals. She is in development of her debut feature.
The inclusive ethos and leadership in action at the Blackmagic Collective led her to becoming an ambassador for the community, and team lead on the inaugural Future Directors of Studio Features initiative.
Connect with Cate:
BMC Position: All Access Initiative Director

Shannon has also acquired a dedicated following on her disability-focused comedy YouTube channel Stare at Shannon. In her latest project, she leads the cast of the full-length independent feature film Best Summer Ever, an award-winning musical comedy which had been set to premiere at SXSW in 2020.
Connect with Shannon: