Promoting Creative Careers of Historically Excluded Filmmakers

Access to tech and creative industry employment

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

According to the ’24 Otis College Report, LA County accounts for 27% of employment in the U.S. film/tv industry. 200k jobs are in Angelenos’ backyards, but for those from historically excluded backgrounds like Mexican American Project Involve alum Gerardo Maravilla, “filmmaking felt like it might as well have been happening on another planet.” Exclusion of filmmakers from marginalized backgrounds is well-documented and directly linked to on-screen underrepresentation, despite clear market demand for media content with diverse casts created by diverse filmmakers. Factors perpetuating inequity in the industry include a reliance on informal and exclusive networks for career advancement and biased gatekeepers.

It is critically important that all members of society see their stories represented in popular media. When people from marginalized communities see themselves in authentic on-screen stories, it validates their experiences, fosters a sense of belonging and promotes social cohesion.

Film Independent (Fi) will build upon 30+ years of expertise to break down barriers to creative career success for 30 filmmakers (“Fellows”) from backgrounds historically excluded from the industry (e.g. BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, artists with disabilities). Project Involve (PI) is a free, 10-month-long mentorship program that empowers next-generation filmmakers by giving them the opportunity to form creative partnerships, hone creative and business skills, gain exclusive industry access and acquire hands-on experience producing short films.
Fellows will be divided into seven career tracks, each with a dedicated Resident Mentor who will provide 1:1 and group mentorship to provide insight and field-specific career advice. Fellows will benefit from workshops, Fi Education events and structured networking. In teams, they will receive funding and mentorship to produce high-quality short films for their portfolios.
Fellows will premiere their shorts at a free community screening. They will also work on curating a free short film showcase, also free to the LA public. Fellows will give back and mentor underserved youth through a partnership with A Place Called Home (APCH), which serves South Central LA youth. Using animation as an effective entry point to introduce youth to a career in the industry, Fellows will present animation screenings and workshops for approx. 55 youth.
PI will cultivate a lifelong community for Fellows and continue to support them throughout their careers.

By giving filmmakers from historically excluded backgrounds skills, empowerment and industry access needed for career success, we will combat systemic marginalization of underrepresented voices and spur transformative change in the film industry. We will consider PI a success if Fellows go on to be working creatives who help build a more inclusive industry that represents and values a wide range of authentic stories.

Supporting underrepresented filmmakers, including showcasing their work through free, public screenings, will bring unique perspectives that foster curiosity and compassion, building empathy and social cohesion. Angelenos from all backgrounds will better see themselves genuinely reflected in media.

Fellows who mentor youth from similar backgrounds at APCH will empower them to see–likely for the first time–a pathway to success in a creative career, building the early pipeline to a more equitable industry.

Long term, we plan to continue offering PI annually.