Little Ugly, Ghetto Film School, Vimeo, Dolby Institute Partner to Launch EMERGE! Filmmaking Lab
Little Ugly, GFS, Vimeo and Dolby Institute to Provide Invaluable Experience for Emerging Filmmakers
Little Ugly, Ghetto Film School (GFS), Vimeo and Dolby Institute announced today a new 2019 initiative for aspiring filmmakers and creators called EMERGE! FILMMAKING LAB. The EMERGE! program will highlight three exceptional up-and-coming creators and will provide resources for each of the finalists to produce and execute their own short film. The short films created for EMERGE! will be reviewed by a jury of celebrated industry leaders who will determine a grand prize winner. The winner will be rewarded with a trip to Los Angeles where they will have the opportunity to meet agents, managers and other industry professionals to further accelerate their professional journey.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through Ghetto Film School’s Roster Program, a post-graduate program that provides networking opportunities for like-minded individuals looking to break into the film industry. Candidates are not required to have professional experience but should be between ages 18-34 and have a unique perspective on narrative short-form content. Open call will close on May 6 and three finalists will be selected later that month.
Finalists will be granted a production stipend, courtesy of Dolby Institute, and a complementary year-long Vimeo PRO account from the video platform. Little Ugly will provide post-production services along with one-on-one mentoring by award-winning director and Vimeo Staff Pick creator, Carlos Lopez Estrada, producer Kimberly Stuckwisch (founders of LU), and other top industry professionals.
“Being a young filmmaker myself, I fully understand how crucial it is to have a solid support system in place during the first few years of your professional journey as a director,” says Little Ugly director Carlos Lopez Estrada. “A small push in the early stages of a career can make all the difference. Our 3 partners, Ghetto Film School, Vimeo and Dolby, have been invaluable collaborators throughout my professional life as a filmmaker and I am thrilled to offer an opportunity for other directors to work closely with these incredible organizations.”
“In launching this program, we are creating a production vehicle for innovative storytellers ages 18-34 looking to kickstart their careers. We believe in our artists and will provide meaningful, professional experiences and connections through EMERGE! Leveraging the resources and skill sets of GFS, Little Ugly, Vimeo and other supporters will provide a pathway toward success for our inclusive and elite community of independent artists,” says Sharese Bullock-Bailey, Chief Strategy & Partnership Officer at GFS.
“Vimeo is always looking for ways to honor great storytelling, to celebrate diverse voices, and to highlight the next generation of creators. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with GFS and Little Ugly, and to offer this exciting opportunity to the talent of tomorrow. We can’t wait to see what they create,” said Derick Rhodes, VP of Creator Programs at Vimeo.
To apply and learn more about the program, visit https://www.ghettofilm.org/emerge.
Little Ugly is a production company and director’s agency based out of Los Angeles and New York City. The company has a multi-disciplinary history that spans across an array of mediums such as music videos, theater, commercials, art installations, live concerts, and feature films.Little Ugly is dedicated to discovering and fostering diverse new talent in film and other media.
Ghetto Film School (GFS) is an award-winning nonprofit founded in 2000 to educate, develop and celebrate the next generation of great American storytellers through our founding and flagship initiative, the Fellows Program. In 2015, GFS launched its first professional level program, GFS Roster, which expands beyond our alumni and specializes in identifying the next generation (18 - 34 years old) of writer/directors, below the line talent and executives throughout New York and Los Angeles.
About Vimeo
Vimeo is the world’s leading all-in-one video software solution. Our platform enables any professional, team, and organization to unlock the power of video to create, collaborate and communicate. We proudly serve our growing community of over 200 million users — from creatives to entrepreneurs to the world’s largest companies. Learn more at www.vimeo.com.