| Griot Soul Films "evolutionary stories told by the folks who live them" |
...your community-based storytelling organization
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| What We're About Griot Soul Films is a non-profit, dedicated to producing and providing community members direct tools to produce complex literary and historical images of African Descendants. Griot Soul Films seeks to decrease racism and violence against African descendants through the production and dissemination of stories that depict African descendants as whole people. As part of its mission, Griot Soul Films seeks to partner with local CBOs interested in community well being. We intend to increase the number and enhance the quality of films, both narrative and documentary, available for and about the lives of African Americans and Black people throughout the Diaspora. We have several quality screenplays ready for production and are currently procuring our 501(c)3 status. Meanwhile we work through local non-profits as fiscal sponsors. Griot Soul Films expects to engage community in several ways: • Offering Free Films for Check Out By Community Members • Volunteer Opportunities to Learn About Film & Non-Profit Work • Low-Cost Workshops in Storytelling Through Film • Free Movie Nights Followed by Moderated Discussions • Low-Cost Writer/Storyteller Support Services • Conferences To Explore Representations of African Descendants We envision a world with a diverse variety of images available to and about Black people, where the myriad of stories we hold are presented with respect and integrity. The heart of our work is collaboration, and everyone has a role to play. |
| Griot Soul Films Advisory Board Tiffany Golden - Tiffany Golden is a film producer, writer, and activist who engages ideas of environmental and food justice in Black and Black connected communities. Tiffany has a long history of activism and artistry in the Oakland Bay Area, using her talents for writing, creating imagery, teaching and cooking to express and address the needs of her communities. Tiffany is currently working toward the production of her important play, First Born, which address healing from grief, social trauma, and sexual violation for Black families. Ms. Taylor P. Collins - As a professional musician/entertainer/songwriter I have my own 8pc band which consists of 6 women and 2 men with a 4pc all-female horn section called the First Ladies of Horn and we perform all over the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest. I have just been given an opportunity to act in my first feature film which will include some of my original music. Ms. Collins Website Sanjay Sooknanan - Sanjay Sooknanan is a film producer who loves using images to tell complex stories. Sanjay is also a producer on Griot Soul Films first offering and has experience as a line producer as well. Sanjay is one of the owners of The Pegasis Company. Check out the web-site to see some of Sanjay's work. Sanjay's Pegasis Company |
| Tiffany Golden Script Consultant Director |
| About our Logo and the Artist Dezha Sheppard 18-year-old artist Dezha Sheppard, agreed to create the logo for Griot Soul Films as soon as she found out what the mission of our collective was all about. The logo itself is three African descendant's faces emerging from the sun. The faces are calm, used to the heat, the intensity, energized by it. If the piece were three dimensional one can imagine a fourth face completing the circle, all their heads embracing a solar source. Dezha has been drawing and creating incredible, soulful works of art since she was about 9-years-old. Her artwork has inspired not only tears or joy from those who view it, but has provided a catalyst for some in their spiritual journeys. One can only imagine the depth of emotion and the depth of spiritual connection Dezha naturally carries to be able to create such intense masterpieces from her urban abode in the East Bay Area. Artistic expression takes on other forms for Dezha as well, who is studying guitar as well as exploring theatre arts and film. The Advisory Board, Executive Director, and all the Cast and Crew at Griot Soul Films thank Dezha adding her unique talent to mix and making our site beautiful. ### |
| Our Mission: Griot Soul Films is a community based film company dedicated to producing complex literary and historical images of African descendants and providing community members tools to do the same. In simple terms, we're making excellent media about Black folks for everyone in the world to enjoy! We want to see African descendants throughout the Diaspora exploring out stories. We are interested in lesser told representations, inter-cultural connections, healing, and stories that show growth and inspire people to raise the bar in their lives. What's a Griot? - Pronounced Gree-Oh means in the most simplest terms Storyteller. The Griot holds the stories of the village and maintains the African storytelling tradition. |
| We started Griot Soul Films envisioning a time when Black folks throughout the African Diaspora and from all walks of life carry the African Griot Storytelling tradition forward as a tool of healing as well as personal and collective growth. Every soul has a need and a right to know where he comes from and to share her story with others. Through the preservation and proliferation of healing stories, Griot Soul Films seeks to support long-term sustainable creativity for and by community members. We work toward providing people access to marketable skills and tools that allow us to support ourselves and our communities in every way. Griot Soul Films enjoys a powerful location in Oakland, California which has a rich history of creative activism and community success. From the long solid legacy of our current Mayor Ron Dellums and our congressional representative Barbara Lee, to the work of the Black Dot Collective and Black Panther Party, Oakland, California remains a hub of thought and action for those who seek to enhance the beloved Black community and all the communities with whom we connect. We intend to move beyond inaccurate and stale representations of African descendants by putting film-making tools in the hands of the people who live the stories. We are building critical partnerships within the community to support us in making these healing representations widely available to as many people as possible. We seek to remain an inter-dependent effort where everyone who engages this work benefits from it and ideas spring forward from a broad collective. African descendants around the world need and deserve organizations that address our collective traumas and provide real platforms for discussion, critical analysis, creative forward movement, and healing. Griot Soul Films is one link in a long diverse chain of action motivated by love for the community. You can support our work today through: *Make a Financial Contribution of Any Size *Donate Film Equipment *Donate Computer Equipment *Write a Letter of Support to a Friend *Host a Fund Raising Party *Approach a Friend or Business you are connected with for a Donation *Volunteer at Our Events *Offer us Free Office Space/Performance Space We hope you'll join us. Send Us An E-Mail |
| Griot Soul Director Darice Jones had the honor of connecting with the legendary Lucy & Gail on the night of NIA's Gala. The dynamic duo support Griot Soul Films' efforts and invite everyone to join them for next year's Dinah shore weekend! |
| Griot Soul Films 2007 Promotions Director Jianda (left) and Executive Director Darice (right) were just plain giddy as they joined the historic 20th Anniversary NIA Gathering Friday November 16th, 2007 night for an evening of drumming, fashion, DJ spun mixes, and dancing! |
| REGISTER FOR THIS YEAR'S 2012 NIA GATHERING CLICK HERE!!! Check out pictures from the 20th Anniversary NIA Gathering Shines Healing Light for African Descended Women |
| Pictured above, Spirit drummers and dancers opened up the energy bringing everyone in the room Pictured above, Spirit drummers together, rapt by the sound and movement! |
| Dance maven Richelle took the room by storm with her unique brand of spirit dance! |
| Pictured Above, An intergenerational group danced the night away on the final night of the Pictured Above, An intergenerational group NIA celebrations. |
Darice Jones
GSF Director
GSF Director
| Writer/Director Darice Jones takes our film SHE WASN'T LAST NIGHT to London & connects with fellow film director Campbell. Campbell's Site! |
| Evertis S. Wright, pictured above on the set, was our incredible Director of Photography on SHE WASN'T LAST NIGHT. Check him out and hire him for your project by clicking here. Vert's Resume |