It's been quite a year personally and professionally for me and my work with EPIPHANY Inc. We filmed a feature (in 8 days, in case you haven't heard...yes!) and we are currently in wait-and-see mode for festival acceptances/rejections while our post production team is working in a realm nothing short of magical. I am blessed to have an incredible crew that said, "Let's do this!" and made something beyond my wildest dreams happen. I am truly grateful. I also experienced a bout of racism in the process of making a dream happen this year and other than the emotional toll that takes on one's soul, I'm learning from the vitriol many of us have experienced publicly due to one of the wildest U.S. election cycles ever, we WILL move forward and thrive in spite of people trying to pit all of the beautiful communities that make up the U.S. and our incoming residents against each other. I've been personally moved by individuals who have reached out to me to acknowledge the decades of work I've been so focused on producing for audiences and I've been a bit kicked in the stomach by some who build you up with false promises then expect you to just roll with it because it makes them feel better. There's been love, there's been loss. It's a life lived and sometimes it can be challenging. But as President Obama says, "The sun will rise in the morning." I realize that having good days and bad days are why God provided the strongest healing ever: A passion for the arts. Music and storytelling always saves. It's been there for the solitary bouts of depression and underscored the most joyous of occasions. My work as a filmmaker, writer and television director have been my favorite full-time side gig for 17 years. I'm excited to say 2017 will see the full-time hours now in EPIPHANY Inc.'s hands and it will be my pleasure to churn out a slate of projects for you--a very patient, receptive and supportive audience. We even are collaborating on a new show premiering the first week of January that will hopefully be the comic relief for any tough days ahead. More details to come.... In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving! Let's celebrate our love and support for one another this holiday season and forever ever after.
More #FilmAFeatureIn8Days News to Share!
As many of you are learning, our narrative feature, TITLE VII, filmed this summer in Florham Park, NJ and was lensed in eight days. And, we wrapped by 6pm each day. As we look back to say, "We did that!" I love the idea of looking ahead to the very near future when I get to share tips on the "Why" and "How" this production schedule came to be! So join me Sunday, October 23 at 2pm, Spike Lee Screening Room, LIU Brooklyn Campus for the #ReelSisters microbudgeting workshop, #FilmAFeatureIn8Days. Please register by clicking here. I'll be there to give lots of behind-the-scenes lessons that may help you get your first narrative feature in the can as well! Have you tried the hashtag #FilmAFeatureIn8Days on Twitter? Please catch my numbered tips there--tryin' to get to 100 (which would be longer than the film!). A great way to launch the conversation, though, was an interview I was thrilled to do with Directed by Women. You may check that out by clicking here. Would love to hear your thoughts. I already admitted, we were crazy! But it turned out to be a good crazy. :) I can't wait to hear your reviews! For now, see you in class!
TITLE VII scene with Darryl (Fidel Vicioso) and Hillary (Chicava HoneyChild) as they work out a lifechanging deal.
A Season of Giving
It's Fall, my favorite time of year, and I'd like to celebrate--with a giveaway! Our EPIPHANY #GrabBag will be our own version of a pop-up boutique and offer a big Thank You to all who have supported our films throughout the years. Simply put, if you have a small business with your designs and crafts, let's talk about offering your product to a few of our fans, accompanied by loads of publicity. Long-time fans and new friends, let's get some wonderful goodies into your hands! Contact me here and we'll plan the exchange! Look for our #EConvo #GrabBag announcements on social media. Happy Fall!
Love Chatting With You
We're chatting up a storm as well as announcing future Live Chats over at our FaceBook group, Nicole Films. Join us and let's talk about all fun things film! Please click here to join us!
Coming Soon...
#FilmAFeatureIn8Days
We did it! We filmed a feature in eight days! TITLE VII is in the can and off to editor Veronique Doumbe with our blessings. Whew! That was a doozey! We had a beautiful set courtesy of Fairleigh Dickinson University/Florham Campus and their talented student crew who kept up with a grueling schedule. Hats off to all departments. Incredible work by DP CYbel Martin and our producing team who kept us rolling! The actors--what can I say? I'm in awe of them and will be forever grateful to the talent that lifted this script to levels beyond belief. SO many people to thank. The witty and critical writing of Craig T. Williams and author Daisy M. Jenkins who originally got us here--I will be forever indebted to them as well. Here's your first look, Everyone. Official trailer and more #FilmAFeatureIn8Days news to come. And please share and continue to support us by joining our street team by clicking here.
TITLE VII First Look.
#Sisters4TITLEVIIFilm
#Sisters4TITLEVIIFilm is an awareness campaign behind the narrative feature, TITLE VII, on the topic of same-race discrimination from writer/director Nicole Franklin. Behind-the-scenes stories and developments may be found here. As female film directors we're Sisters in the struggle no more. We are dominating. The call for more women behind the camera is being answered. Sure, it's documented that in 2015 women made up 9% of all directors hired in the studio system, but what about the independent films that are experiencing a groundswell of support from audiences hungry for good storytelling? Countless numbers of directors like me are standing on the shoulders of Julie Dash, Barbara Kopple, Neema Barnette, Nora Ephron, Jane Campion, Kathe Sandler, Mira Nair, Debbie Allen, Ava DuVernay, Kathleen Collins, Euzhan Palzy, Kim Longinotto, Amma Asante, Jodie Foster, Stacey Muhammad, Kathryn Bigelow, Dee Rees and so many, many more. So in sisterly fashion let's start a movement. #Sisters4___(fill in the blank)___ will be our endorsement for female-helmed narrative features, shorts, docs, TV episodes, web content and who knows what we'll create next. I'm a career documentarian embarking on my first narrative feature, TITLE VII. So let's start here: #Sisters4TITLEVIIFilm. We'll take this viral and do so for the next project from the next sister as well. And so on...and so on..... Women are here to change the world. I believe that. And I'm prepared to film it as well.
Script Supervisor Needed
#TITLEVIIFilm We're crewing up for our feature film this summer. It's a microbudget but we need top preparation going into the shoot. It's also my first narrative feature as writer/director. We're currently in need of a Script Supervisor. Here are the particulars:
Microbudget feature film, TITLE VII, from writer/director Nicole Franklin seeks Script Supervisor for an 8-day shoot, July 5 - 12, 2016. Previous experience required. Location: Florham Park N.J. Pay. Please contact: NicoleFilmAssist@gmail.com.
Any takers? Please give us a shout! Thanks so much!
#ENTITLED2TheLaw
We have been in an exciting development and preproduction phase for the feature film TITLE VII and are now thrilled to share news on how our spotlight on justice through film continues.
We are entitled to a safe and just workplace for all. #ENTITLED2TheLaw
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act banned employment discrimination based on sex, race, color and national origin in 1964. Our feature film dives deep into same-race discrimination and with this storyline we are putting a rarely discussed aspect of racism on the screen, ending this silence. Also gaining traction in recent years is the fight victims of sexual harassment and abuse in the military have undergone. With jurisdiction through the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), TITLE X is the law that protects our service women and men against sexual violence. They too hope to end the silence and we are teaming up to see that violations under both laws are brought to light.
How did our activism partnership happen? A few months before writing the first draft of the TITLE VII screenplay, I was contacted by the Minority Women Veterans about directing a docu-series exploring rape in the military. We have heard about it but we are slow to see it come to an end. I jumped at the chance to accept their offer and assist in seeing this series come together. You may learn more about the Minority Women Veterans Organization by clicking here.
We decided to bring on the public to help. By clicking here on Represent.com you will be getting the word out by purchasing a TITLE VII/TITLE X Tee. Available colors: Black, Blue, Army and Lieutenant in both short sleeve tees and tanks. Special shoutout to EPIPHANY Inc. Graphic Artist Carlos Dos Santos for the design. Shoutout to Ruth Sergel for her craft for messaging. Please support our cause today. Profits from the sales will be split between the funding of our two projects. Wearing your tee, photographing yourself in it and uploading it with our hashtag #Entitled2TheLaw for our social media campaigns will put your activism on the frontlines and we thank you.
TITLE VII, TITLE X. It’s the law.
Little Brother Tees to Please!
#LittleBrotherFilm I'm so excited to order my Little Brother Tees. They're very attractive, keep our films in production, and keeps our movement in motion. Can't wait to see you wearing them as well! Click here to order at Represent.com.
We Welcome Kayla to EPIPHANY Inc. this Summer
So awesome to have friends reach out with the words, "Do you need an Intern?" and have one actually show up! And she's a journalism major who loves sports and--did I mention she loves to write? Like me! Everyone welcome, please, Kayla Solomon to our EPIPHANY Inc. family for the summer. Here is her bio:
Kayla Solomon is a junior journalism major at Temple University. She is an avid New York sports fan and Netflix watcher, when she isn't writing of course. Her work can be found weekly on her personal blog, dearfuturekay.wordpress.com, as well as The Odyssey at Templeand www.blackaphillyated.com. Kayla is honored to be interning with Nicole Franklin and Ephiphany Inc. this summer. Let's get the summer started!
Twitter: @dontKAYme
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaylaNyree
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kaylasolomon
Temple University student and EPIPHANY Inc. Intern 2016 Kayla Solomon.
TITLE VII - Our Film on Same Race Discrimination
#TITLEVII #CivilRights We're thrilled to launch our funding campaign for the feature we're filming this summer. Our story TITLE VII--a subject that everyone is talking about these days--has a twist. We're taking on same-race discrimination, which is a subject that is rarely discussed on screen but we're going for it. Thank you so much for your support over the years. Because of you we have reached this milestone as TITLE VII is our first narrative feature. Thank you! Please continue your support and share our news by clicking here. Scroll through the beautiful photos of our talented cast. Add your voice to make sure workplace discrimination is no longer something we come to expect--especially from people we thought were on our side. Join us. TITLE VII. It's the law.
Graphics by Carlos Dos Santos
Welcome Malik Yoba to Little Brother Film Family
Saturday, May 7, 2016 was a big day for Little Brother. The photo here speaks for itself. Thrilled! Please share the good news, and please share our LittleBrotherFilm.com website. Thank you, All, for keeping this 10-chapter series on the move! Let's continue to listen to our Little Brothers!
Two Cool FREE Events in STL this June!
One of my favorite projects launched last year is Hack4Hope, our free introduction to the #tech industry for St. Louis Teens. The tech industry is significant to the economic boom in the city's downtown area. We believe careers in this field are available to all and have gathered up many partners who believe the same. Students in underserved areas of the Metro St. Louis (including our friends across the river) are introduced to a world of opportunity, and my fantastic team and I are committed to their success. June is a busy month for us for two FREE Events. Registration is now open for the following:
"She's Pivotal: Transforming Who's Building the World's Software" - Pivotal Labs and Hack4Hope present a Day of Technology for young women to learn about careers - Thursday, June 9, 2016. Female High School and College Students are encouraged to apply by clicking here. Space is limited. Again, it's FREE.
"Hack4Hope Hackathon 2016"! We're back and looking forward to a FREE immersive weekend as students from grades 7 - 12 learn technology to provide solutions to better their lives in St. Louis. Join us Friday, June 10 - Sunday, June 12, 2016. Students who have expressed a financial need to support their educational goals are encouraged to apply by clicking here. Space is limited. Again, it's FREE.
Register today and bring hope to your future. Let's go!!
That's a Bad Ass Ride
#MoneyShot That's right. We need to borrow a luxury car for our #TITLEVII film in production this summer in NJ. Our scene will take one day to film and with the return your vehicle you'll have our utmost gratitude. Your automobile will be prominently featured in our film as well! Our lead character in TITLE VII drives a bad ass ride to work. Because he looks so sleek and so confident on his commute, it leads him right into the hands of the law. Will you lend us your car? It will not be harmed in the filming, we promise. In fact, our lead character gets "Get out of the car!" screamed at him, so your car will be very much in the clear. And we very much want you to come to set to car-sit and join our crew! Know of our car who wants a cameo? Please let us know! And please share this post! Any and everyone can follow our production here and on Medium @Nicoleedits. We've also jumpstarted the fundraising process with a pre-fundraiser at Fractured Atlas. If you pre-pay for tickets with a tax-deductible $15 contribution at this link at An EPIPHANY Conversation, you will receive unlimited streaming of the film, a credit in the film (if your name is submitted by our post deadline of July 30, 2016), and a social media shoutout. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for playing! Let's go!
We'd love to feature your ride in our film!
Have a Bed for our Crew?
#NJ Not just one bed for us, of course, but how about a few! As you've been seeing our #Microbudget film TITLE VII (and my first narrative feature as writer/director) will be filming this summer in New Jersey. It's a microbudget so we have a little--not a lot--to spend on accommodations for myself, DP, lead actors and a few key crew members. From July 5 through 20 we'll need to house about six to eight people. We're planning for 10 to 12 hours of daily filming in Morristown, NJ. If you know of places with in a 20 mile radius that could house us for a reasonable fee, please give us a shout! Of course we'll credit you and promote you like you've never been promoted before (smile). Thank you for your consideration! And please share this post! Any and everyone can follow our production here and on Medium @Nicoleedits. We've also jumpstarted the fundraising process with a pre-fundraiser at Fractured Atlas. If you pre-pay for tickets with a tax-deductible $15 contribution at this link at An EPIPHANY Conversation, you will receive unlimited streaming of the film, a credit in the film (if your name is submitted by our post deadline of July 30, 2016), and a social media shoutout. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for playing! Let's go!
Have a bed for our crew? TITLE VII films this summer in Morristown, NJ.
Our first celebrity Brother for Little Brother
#LittleBrotherFilm #WADFF We have a big announcement to share on Saturday, May 7, 2016. First, we're thrilled to return to the Women of African Descent Film Festival (WADFF) and their annual film festival held at the Spike Lee Screening Room at LIU Brooklyn Campus. This is the 15th anniversary for our sisters in service, the Brooklyn Links. They have personally been terrific film supporters of mine since The Double Dutch Divas! I love them. That's why when they asked to screen an encore presentation of Chapter 1, Little Brother: Things Fall Apart, I thought this would be a prime opportunity to share with the world the next chapter of our series: The first of our celebrity lineup to direct the next four installments of our groundbreaking film series. Join us May 7 and *see* who he is! See more about the history of this very special film festival by clicking here. See you with our new addition to the family!
The Figurines are Out!
The figurines are out. And I bought a new box of them from Toys R Us yesterday. There's only one reason they make an appearance--and that's for notes on a shot list. Filming our microbudget film, TITLE VII, this summer will be a blast once I clearly communicate with my DP and crew what type of shots we'll have to tell our story. Sure I have an idea in my head, but it becomes more clear and more layered when I do something as simple as moving figurines around on a table mapped with a blueprint of the set. I can't wait to get started. My DP will have a ton of ideas, I'm sure, but I have to lay the foundation. We're planning a very involved location scout this week as well. All with notes in hand. Thank you "little people" as my sister would refer to the toys that kept her occupied for hours with the made-up stories of a three year-old. It feels good being forever young. That just comes with diving into a movie.
Please share this post! Any and everyone can follow our production here and on Medium @Nicoleedits. We've also jumpstarted the fundraising process with a pre-fundraiser at Fractured Atlas. If you pre-pay for tickets with a tax-deductible $15 contribution at this link at An EPIPHANY Conversation, you will receive unlimited streaming of the film, a credit in the film (if your name is submitted by our post deadline of July 30, 2016), and a social media shoutout. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for playing! Let's go!
It Takes A Village to Move Mountains
An EPIPHANY Village! We have new project filming this summer. It's called Title VII and it's a #microbudget feature film to be produced in cooperation with FDUFilm in New Jersey. The screenplay is based on an adaptation of the novel Within The Walls by first-time author Daisy M. Jenkins. Not only is this my first narrative feature (so far my documentaries have ranged from feature-length to a multitude of shorts), but TITLE VII will also be a learning laboratory for students at New Jersey’s Farleigh Dickinson University where I am fortunate enough to be their filmmaker-in-residence. Students will be working as crew members alongside key film professionals including SAG actors. This is turning into a terrific team!
CLICK HERE to read why I May Never Participate in Crowdfunding Again…
What is the film about? As you may know, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act banned employment discrimination in 1964. But still today harassment of a racial or sexual nature may be found lurking in corporate America's halls. Our film is set in a top technology firm headed by a Black male CEO. Turns out being a Black male is something he's spent a lifetime trying to avoid until the presence of the new woman hired forces him to accept his past. We're excited to bring you a scenario that will have people talking.
At the end of April we will launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise the necessary $30,000 to feed the crew, cover transportation, provide insurance, pay SAG actor fees and fund all of the incidentals that come with a safe and successful production. This is where you may join us. Crowdfunding campaigns have exponential reach across social media platforms. We'd like to promote you as you share our fundraiser with your networks!
Please join our EPIPHANY Village and agree to the following:
1) Post YOUR COMPANY as a team member on our TITLE VII campaign
2) Contact your mailing list THREE times: a) With our campaign announcement, and b) with Two Updates of your choosing from our campaign
3) Allow us to include news about YOUR COMPANY in THREE of our updates--let us know what you're promoting--it could be fundraising as well!
4) Have a T-shirt or a giveaway? Offer one of those swag items to donors who give at a certain level
5) Receive a credit on our film and be included in our publicity material.
Please email me here if you wish to join our EPIPHANY Village and enjoy the publicity!
And, please share this post! Any and everyone can follow our production here and on Medium @Nicoleedits.
We've also jumpstarted the fundraising process with a pre-fundraiser at Fractured Atlas. If you pre-pay for tickets with a tax-deductible $15 contribution at this link at An EPIPHANY Conversation, you will receive unlimited streaming of the film, a credit in the film (if your name is submitted by our post deadline of July 30, 2016), and a social media shoutout!
We're thrilled to have you come on board our TITLE VII production. We look forward to hearing from you. Let's go!
He Opposed Her Hire. She Saved His Soul.
Staging in Scandinavia
Our microbudget feature film TITLE VII is in pre-production, our next chapter of our Little Brother film series is currently in development (with a fantastic NY-based celebrity director warming up for the challenge: Stay Tuned!), final shoots are being scheduled for a second short film on the U.S. conversation on race on which I've been enjoying a fruitful collaboration and I'm happily overworked with writing assignments at the moment. It's been an incredible start to April in NYC--aside from the snow, of course. But cold temperatures to run inside and warm up from are the perfect setting for a creative stretch. This week I had the pleasure of both the stretch and the inspirational workout with not one, but two encounters of a Scandinavian nature. The Belgian director (by way of Amsterdam) Ivo Van Hove was back in town having directed Broadway's "The Crucible." And being that my Ivo Van Hove theatre buddy Myra Velasquez and I have been on this unintended mission to follow this man off Broadway and on wherever he goes, this past Wednesday's matinee makes number three for us in less than two years' time. By simply accepting Myra's invitation to my first Ivo Van Hove staging of "Scenes from a Marriage" produced by NY Theater Workshop I quickly found the director whose work makes me want to get back to work on something--anything--I can get my hands on. The use of his sets, no matter how bare or hauntingly cold and monochromatic when presenting revelations of a character's most darkest secret (Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge" was our sophomore Van Hove theatre experience) keeps those actors in a delicate and sometimes violent dance that crushes you to the core. This talented and vibrant director keeps you on the edge of your best voyeuristic seat. However many times "The Crucible" has been performed, I'm pretty sure it does not come close to the imaginative use of space and natural elements....I mean, of course you would have a tornado-like wind blow across the stage, there are strategically-placed windows to be used! And we were treated to a dog--a nice-sized wolflike, dog--not Toto or a lap accessory. This is life!
The end of the week brought an event that always brings me joy--and that's any opportunity to celebrate the life and career of soprano Anne Wiggins Brown. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been performing "Porgy and Bess" and a young opera singer contacted me a few weeks ago telling me of her own travels to Baltimore, MD and how she wanted the world to know more about the Baltimore-born Anne Brown. She was thrilled to find my work, filming Anne's story in her adopted home of Norway, and wanted to somehow connect the dots. Thank you Rhea Beckett for designing the bookmarks BSO audiences are treated to this weekend with a gorgeous image and brief biography of our friend--and my inspiration--Anne Brown. We are keeping her in the film libraries through our DVD, Gershwin & Bess: A Dialogue with Anne Brown at Third World Newsreel (www.TWN.org) and as a video stream at kweliTV. Please join us in sharing her story. Thank you, BSO! And thank you, Rhea, for making my week!
