Lena Waithe and her Hillman Grad Productions shingle have, along with employment site Indeed, renewed Rising Voices for a second go-round. According to a press release, applications are now being accepted for the second edition of the filmmaking program, which is designed to invest in and share stories from BIPOC artists.
Rising Voices Season 2 will see 10 filmmakers each receiving a $100,000 production budget for the creation of a short film. The shorts will premiere at a film festival at some point in 2022. The program participants will also be mentored by Waithe and other filmmakers, be awarded a $10,000 writing fee, and have access to a production line crew.
“We are thrilled to be bringing back the Rising Voices program with our partners at Indeed,” stated Waithe and Hillman Grad President Rishi Rajani. “This year’s brilliant films and filmmakers proved that there are so many stories out there to tell and so many artists ready to tell them. Creating these opportunities for underrepresented voices and kickstarting their careers is fundamental to our mission here at Hillman Grad.”
Hillman Grad and Indeed have also announced the Production and Development Lab, a one-year residency program featuring three Rising Voices Season 1 artists: Stacy Pascal Gaspard, Gabriela Ortega, and Johnson Cheng. “Following Indeed’s incubator program, which operates to fund new product ideas internally, Hillman Grad will work with the filmmakers to develop ideas and create content for Indeed,” the source details. “A $2 million production budget from Indeed has been allocated to The Lab, and Hillman Grad will provide production support. Each filmmaker is awarded $100,000 for their role as filmmaker in residence.”
Indeed invested a total of $3 million in Season 2 and The Lab, tripling its initial contribution to Rising Voices.
“The incredible work of the filmmakers in Season 1 of Rising Voices demonstrated our belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. The proof is in the amazing work the filmmakers have gone on to do after the premiere at the Tribeca Festival,” said Indeed CEO Chris Hyams. “I am ecstatic to expand our partnership with Lena Waithe and Hillman Grad Productions to have a production and development lab for some of the talent we discovered last year and help another class of filmmakers be seen, heard, and financed.”
Applications for Rising Voices Season 2 will be accepted through January 4. Head over to the program’s website for more information.
