Micheaux Film Labs Partners with Arkansas Cinema Society in Little Rock

Are you a filmmaker of color looking to sharpen your skills and build your network?

Northwest Arkansas-based Micheaux Award and Film Labs will team up with Arkansas Cinema Society to host public events and hands-on production training for creators of color in central Arkansas on September 15th and 17th. Filmmakers and film lovers from across the state are encouraged to attend.

The weekend is also sponsored by Flyght Black and Rock It! Lab.

A public screening of Dream Land: Little Rock’s West 9th Street will take place on Thursday, September 15th at CALS Ron Robinson Theater, located at 100 River Market Ave. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the film starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Q+A discussion on film as cultural preservation with producer Tanisha Joe-Conway. The event is free and all are invited.

Interested in attending the screening? Registration online!

On Saturday, September 17th, a filmmaking workshop for creators of color will take place at Waymack & Crew, located at 301 Main St. in Little Rock, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. This free three-hour workshop will provide hands-on education from some of Arkansas’ greatest filmmakers of color and an opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to shoot an experimental short film.

Mentors for this event include SeJames Humphrey, writer and director of Nice Guys Finish Last and DeShunn Berry of the Change Gonna Come web series. Space is limited, and registration is necessary.

Following the film lab, a networking social will be held from 5 – 7:00 p.m. at Rock It! Lab, located at 120 River Market Ave. The event will feature wine from Flyght Black’s collection, serenading sounds from Sean Fresh, a screening from the film lab and a panel discussion on the experiences of creatives of color. This event is open to the public but registration is required – Register online!

“As creator and chair of the Micheaux Award and Film Labs, it is an honor to partner with the Arkansas Cinema Society to present this unique professional development opportunity specifically for creatives of color in Arkansas. Film and media industries in Arkansas have tremendous potential,” said Micheaux Awards and Film Labs Chair Dr. Airic Hughes.

“There’s no substitute for putting your hands on a camera or first learning how to sit the developer or for figuring out what to listen for from an audio recording standpoint. Those things you learn from experience and if you can get experience and a comfortable or casual setting where it’s not tied to a paycheck or to a performance-based you know sitting then you have a learning environment where you can really grow.”

It’s not a surprise that the Saturday workshop has already reached capacity; philanthropists like Dr. Airic Hughes continue to pour into the Arkansas Arts scene, providing a safe space for learning, exposure, and networking to the people of color in our community.