Wide Angle is a media incubator for South Carolina content creators. Understanding the value of diverse viewpoints in story development and quality production, the program boosts diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry, maximizes professional opportunities for participants, and creates connections between production professionals from all backgrounds.  Launched by Indie Grants with the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College, Wide Angle is the only one of its kind in the nation.

The program is led by noted producer Effie Brown with other industry professional participants and mentors. Each selected participant develops a media project during the eight month class through monthly sessions, consultations, breakout groups, peer review, and more. Production professionals from all backgrounds, beliefs, orientations and identifications are encouraged to apply. The lab is structured to include as many diverse viewpoints as possible. Everyone is welcome.

The comprehensive program explores key elements of the industry as participants develop their respective narrative or documentary projects, including financing, story development, pitching, production legal, casting, DIY distribution, and more.  It culminates in an annual pitch conference, where participants present the project they’ve developed through the program to an industry panel. Giving South Carolina filmmakers and other production professionals the tools to succeed in the industry and a pragmatic understanding of the standards and professionalism necessary for that to occur.

Contact brad@indiegrants.org with questions.

Check out photos from previous WIDE ANGLE Pitch Conference here, and more info on other workshops at this link.

ABOUT EFFIE BROWN:
Effie T. Brown is an award winning film, television, and digital producer, known for her highly acclaimed, multi-platform repertoire as well as championing inclusion and diversity in Hollywood, both behind and in front of the camera. In January of 2020 Effie was named CEO of Gamechanger Films, a development fund that buys, options and develops IP for film, television, streaming and digital platforms.

Past projects include Real Women Have Curves (directed by Patricia Cardosa in 2002 and winner of Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award), In The Cut (directed by Jane Campion in 2003), Rocket Science (directed by Jeffrey Blitz, winner of the 2007 Grand Jury Price for directing at Sundance and recipient of three Independent Spirit Awards nominations), and Dear White People (Special Jury Prize at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and 2015 Independent Spirit Award-winner).  Brown joined Lee Daniels Entertainment in 2016 to Executive Produce Season 1 of the hit series Star on Fox, and was featured on the fourth season of Project Greenlight.

Effie also ventures beyond television and film, producing over 130 episodes of WIGS, an award winning, original content channel funded by Google/YouTube and Fox Broadcasting.  The channel features multiple original series showcasing “A list” actors, writers, and filmmakers to present stories centered around the ever complex lives of women, and blazes the trail for scripted content released directly online.  WIGS is the current number one scripted channel for drama on YouTube and was recently picked up for wider distribution via Hulu.

She stays driven by her love of inclusive genre film and television (Thriller, Action, Sci-fi, Horror),  securing several “big concept” IP told through an inclusive storytelling lens. Her dream is to change the world through film and TV – celebrating our differences while bringing us all closer together.