Welcome to The Game Changers Project
We tell our own stories and help others tell theirs
GCP Kicks Off Crowd-Funding Campaign
A few months ago at a private Game Changers Project screening in Oakland, a single mom offered a statement than summed up our work:
"...these images are so vital and so healing to our communities... they help to normalize black genius in the minds of young people who never witness it in their daily lives."
Today, I am happy to announce the launch of the Game Changers Project Crowd-Funding Campaign to support the work of our filmmaker fellows working with communities organizations across the country to tell authentic stories about black men!
1st Annual Game Changers Project National Film Forums
On October 12, 2012, more than 300 people packed the Schomburg Center's Langston Hughes Auditorium in Harlem to watch "We Got Next: 2012 Game Changers Stories," a feature-length compilation of the best micro-docs produced by our fellows across the country this year.
The Game Changers Project: Positive Portrayals of Black Men
by Chantell Black of Black Enterprise.
Let’s face it: Far too often, black men get a bad wrap in media. The Game Changers Project, a national media fellowship program, seeks to combat negative media portrayals of black men one four-minute video at a time. Produced by the Forward Ever Media Center, the films are the creations of fellows chosen from eight different cities.
The selected group of fellows shoot four-minute “micro-documentaries” about black men in their neighborhoods that are “changing the game” in various areas such as education, justice, entrepreneurship and fatherhood. Past profiles have featured familiar names and faces like actor/activistMalik Yoba and award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt, but many of the featured black men are not exactly names.
ExtraORDINARY MEN
By Serena Muthi Reed
December 2012
With every GCP webisode i learn something new. The opportunity to research, interview, and profile Black men who are doing great work is exciting! This work is publicly recognizing people who may have ordinarily been misrepresented or glossed over for who really are. This short video is called ExtraOrdinary Men because while i want my work to acknowledge the "greatness" of individuals, I also understand that community informs and, I'd say, even incubates these individuals who do great work. They don't come from nothing!
Paradise the Architect: Hip Hop Game Changer
By Jasiri X.
December 2012
Paradise was manager of entertainment and host for The Legendary Hip-hop Club "The Latin Quarter" aka (The LQ). The Latin Quarter was the incubator of "The Golden Era" Of Hip-hop where legendary artists honed their skills. Those artists include: Eric B & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-1, LL Cool J, Public Enemy and many others. Paradise and Lumumba Carson formed The BlackWatch Movement that spawned the group X-Clan. Dubbed The Grand Architech, Paradise was X Clan's main producer of both of The X-Clan's albums: "To The East Blackwards" and "XODUS. The X-Clan spoke before the Congressional Black Caucus and were nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
Savage Dance
By Shaka Jamal Redmond
December 2012
In my initial phone interview with Mr. Savage, I immediately recognized his dynamic spirit. It was coupled with an old school, Black barbershop, school of hard knocks, style of straight forward talk that carried few apologies and many interesting anecdotes. I knew if I could capture his emotions on film, the piece could be transformative for anyone who watched it, no matter what field they are in, including Mr. Savage. I wanted to make sure this piece could be a mirror to his intense work ethic, validating the fruits of his labor.
