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 Narrative as Resistance with Fanshen Cox  Date:  Friday,...

Narrative as Resistance with Fanshen Cox

Date: Friday, February 19, 2021
Time: 11:00 am EST

A narrative is a powerful tool for social change. Stories can be used to build empathy, to inform, to move people to action, and as a tool for resistance. Using her mantra of truth-justice-love, Fanshen shares her evolution as a storyteller and how a narrative is an accessible tool anyone can use towards advancing social justice. The event includes a live Q&A led by ICA’s Teen Program participants.

Fanshen Cox. Actor, Educator, Writer, Producer / Head of Strategic Outreach, Pearl Street Films 

An award-winning actor, producer, and educator, Fanshen Cox has recently completed seven years of touring her one-woman show: One Drop of Love. She is also a Producer and Development Executive at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Pearl Street Films, and a co-host of the podcast Sista Brunch. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and holds a BA in Spanish & Education, an MA in TESOL, and an MFA in TV, Film & Theatre. She has been honored with Distinguished Alumni Awards from CSULA and from Teachers College, Columbia University. She serves on the board of The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and on the Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts Equity Advisory Committee. Fanshen is also a co-author of the Inclusion Rider with Dr. Stacy Smith and Kalpana Kotagal, which was announced at the 2018 Oscar awards by Frances McDormand.





 A Career at Disney TV Animation: A Casual Conversation...

A Career at Disney TV Animation: A Casual Conversation with Jay Francis 

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021
Time: 11:00 am EST

Join Boston College Film Studies Professor, Mary Conroy in conversation with Jay Francis, VP of Current Series and Diversity at Disney TV Animation. The two will speak about career development, writing and production for animation, and will offer insight on internship and career opportunities, including the hiring process. Come prepared to ask Jay Francis some questions!

Jay Francis.  VP, Current Series & Diversity Disney TV Animation / Based in Los Angeles, California

As VP of Current Series and Diversity for Disney TV Animation, Jay Francis has been instrumental in the development and creative management of a long list of successful animated series for both Disney Channel and Disney XD. He recently expanded his role to work closely with the development and recruitment teams to identify, secure, and mentor diverse creative talent for Disney Television Animation and Disney Junior. Prior to joining Disney Television Animation, Jay held the position of VP and General Manager of LEVEL13.NET, developing original properties and acquiring films for Film Roman’s internet subsidiary. In addition to his duties as VP, Jay also handled all of the company’s artistic and production recruitment for The Simpsons, Family Guy, and King of the Hill. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Jay received a B.S. in TV/Film Production from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.




 Journalist Patrice Peck In Conversation With DeMane...

Journalist Patrice Peck In Conversation With DeMane Davis

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021
Time: 9:30 am EST

Join Journalist Patrice Peck for a conversation with DeMane Davis about her career as a writer, director, and producer. The event includes a live Q&A led by Institute Of Contemporary Art / Boston's  Teen Fast Forward Program participants.

DeMane Davis. Producer, Director, Writer / Based in Boston, MA

DeMane is a Television Director and Producer who started out in advertising as a Copywriter and Creative Director. While working at agencies she wrote and directed two independent feature films, both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Her second film, LIFT, starred Kerry Washington in her first leading role. It was purchased by Showtime and currently streams on Amazon Prime. DeMane was writing teleplays and freelancing when the prolific film and TV director and producer Ava DuVernay (WHEN THEY SEE US, SELMA, A WRINKLE IN TIME) literally “slipped into her DMs.” Ava has changed the entire landscape (and the numbers) by only hiring female directors who haven’t yet directed TV to work on her groundbreaking series, Queen Sugar (Oprah Winfrey Network.) DeMane helmed two episodes and was later hired as Producing Director. Since then, she has directed episodes of The Red Line (CBS); For the People, How to Get Away with Murder and Station 19 (Shondaland/ABC); YOU (Netflix) and become Producing Director of Self Made: Inspired by The Life of Madam CJ Walker, starring Octavia Spencer (Netflix.) Currently, she is Co-Executive Producer of the television sequel to THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, Clarice (CBS.) DeMane is a proud product of #TheAvaEffect and forever grateful to Ava for giving her the opportunity to belong.

Patrice Peck. Journalist / Based in Los Angeles, CA

Patrice Peck is a multi-hyphenate creative with a 10-plus year background in reporting, on-air hosting, and multimedia production. Her crossplatform work centers on amplifying underreported stories at the intersection of race, culture, and identity and can be found at The New York Times, EBONY, The Atlantic, Vogue, ELLE, BuzzFeed and more. In April 2020, she launched the newsletter Coronavirus News for Black Folks, which has been spotlighted by Nieman Journalism Lab, CBS News, The Root, and WIRED25 among others. Patrice has a bachelor's degree in English and Black Studies from Amherst College, a master's degree in journalism from NYU, and lives in Los Angeles and Brooklyn.



Scout Film Festival

Scout Film Festival (Scout)—is a 501c3 non-profit organization that produces an annual international event celebrating emerging filmmakers - aged 24 and under - through film.
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