The Groundwork Regional Lab is an initiative to support diverse, early-career documentary filmmakers living and working in under-represented regions of the U.S. and its territories. The Lab provides an introduction to the opportunities that exist for early-career makers in the documentary landscape. The goal of the Lab is to help position filmmakers for national opportunities as well as increase public television stations' capacity to leverage the talent and content of local diverse creators.
In collaboration with local arts organizations and local public television stations, the Groundwork Regional Lab consists of in-depth workshops on supporting local filmmaking ecosystems, what’s happening nationally across the documentary industry, standardized practices like how to write a proposal, make a work sample and pitch, and understanding the funding landscape. The Lab may also include networking opportunities and creative development screenings hosted by a local programmer.
To date, the Groundwork Regional Lab has supported filmmakers and stations across the U.S. in Michigan, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, Nebraska, Florida, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, Maryland, Hawai'i, and Washington.
For more information about Groundwork Regional Lab, or to learn about the next convening, contact Weenta Girmay at weenta@firelightmedia.org.
