Discover ways independent storytellers forge their own paths with The Black TV & Film Collective.

Overview

Black creatives are entering the television and film industries more than ever. Independent Black storytellers are telling unique and engaging stories. Many encounter industry professionals and gatekeepers who expect Black stories to fall under the staid “raced-based” stories and the generic “universally appealing” umbrellas. However, Black content creators find ways to hold on to their stories’ integrity. They are expanding the notion of Black storytelling and who gets to define it.

What are the ways Black storytellers empower themselves to ensure that their unique stories are being told? What is the current stage of Black Storytelling in the independent media landscape? How has dealing with industry gatekeepers impact the type of stories being told? The Gotham Week Expo Session 'Rethinking Black Storytelling' will cover how independent Black creatives are telling their own stories in this ever-changing media landscape.

ABOUT THE GOTHAM WEEK EXPO
The Gotham Week Expo brings together partners from our Expanding Communities, Owning It, and Gotham EDU programs for the first time. The Expo will showcase thought leadership on the advancement of the film and media industries while amplifying partner organizations and communities.

ABOUT GOTHAM WEEK
Back IRL for the first time in three years, Gotham Week 2022 will take place at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, September 17-23, and also includes virtual programming and events. Each year, Gotham Week connects groundbreaking talent in film, TV, and audio to the ecosystem of industry decision-makers, experts, and organizations that support their success. Through Project Market discoveries and acquisitions, innovative Conference programming, and the inaugural partner Expo, Gotham Week gives independent creators critical industry access, resources, and opportunities to grow their network. It provides a unique platform from which groundbreaking careers and projects have launched, celebrating the creativity, boldness, and determination The Gotham is all about.

Panelists

Patrick Coker

Patrick Coker has worked in every position from PA, to Head-Coffee-Getter…with the exception of sound. After attending NYU School of Professional Studies and the New School, Patrick attended LIU Brooklyn for his M.F.A. in Media Arts, with a concentration in Directing. Since then, he has directed many short films, several music videos, as well as live TV and a short documentary. His feature film credits include KING of B, which he DP’d and Shankman’s Deli, which he directed and EP’d. Most recently Patrick served as the Showrunner and Executive Producer for the third season of BET’s hit TV series TALES, where he started as a staff writer in Season One. He will make his scripted television directing debut on this season of as well. An alum of the inaugural WGA East Showrunner Academy Program, Pat has a full slate of projects in various stages of negotiations. He is also currently working as the Supervising Producer for the highly anticipated new series coming to CBS, East NY. Patrick is represented by Buchwald Agency, along with his writing partner Adam Wiesen.

Monique Hazeur

Monique Hazeur is a Brooklyn-based writer, producer, and foodie originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She is an alumna of New York University and Howard University. Through the Black TV & Film Collective/Wavelength Black Producers Fellowship, she co-wrote and produced the mockumentary short film I Won the Lottery. She is currently producing a coming-of-age short film entitled GAPS through Tribeca Studios and the Queen Collective.

Craig T. Williams

Red Wall Productions - Writer/Producer/Editor

Craig T. Williams is a writer/producer/editor at Red Wall Productions, a film production company he runs with his wife and partner, Rosalyn Coleman Williams. Craig has produced over 50 film projects including documentaries, narrative short films, and web series. Craig was chosen out of 4,000 applications to be one of 20 writers for the prestigious 2022 WarnerMedia Discovery TV Writers Access Program (formerly known as HBO All Access) where he created an original TV Pilot. Craig’s TV pilot “How Ya Like Me Now,” about the 80’s rap rivalry between Kool Moe Dee and LL Cool J won 2nd Place in the 2020 Page International Screenwriting Competition. It was also a finalist in the 2020 Film Independent Lab, 2020 Cinestory TV Retreat & Fellowship Competition and the 2020 Stowe Story Lab Fellowship. It was also selected for 2019 IFP Episodic Lab. And was a finalist in both the Sundance 2019 Episodic Lab and the 2019 Tracking B TV Writing Competition. A feature film he wrote and is producing “Hanging By A Thread” has Academy Award Winner Viola Davis attached as Executive Producer. Currently seeking financing, this script was a finalist in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and was accepted into the Big Vision/Empty Wallet Incubator program.

Moderators

Laura Fielder

The Black TV & Film Collective

Laura Fielder is a founding Board Member of the Black TV & Film Collective and a working member of The Gotham’s Expanding Communities – a cohort of diverse Independent film professionals. A graduate of UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Profession Program, Laura is an award winning writer and director. Her films have screened across North America. Her screenplays have been placed in numerous competitions including the BlueCat.