If you’re interested in learning more about the film and/or music industry, then register as soon as possible for the Foresight Film and Music Workshop to be held June 24-28 in Kansas City.
The workshop, for youth and young adults, ages 18-25, will feature three days of workshops (24-26) taught by industry professionals followed by two-days (27-28) filming a proof-of-concept video showcasing the historical connection between jazz musicians and the preservation of the communities where these jazz legends lived and thrived.
The workshops are ideal for individuals interested in careers in film and music, including directors, production engineers, crew and writer positions with novice-level experience in music and/or film. Session topics will include basics in acting, writing, sound and music production, set extra, streaming platforms and stage performance.
Creative City KC, Inc., is sponsoring this workshop in Kansas City in response to the declining availability of arts and music education in schools. This decline creates barriers for individuals interested in participating in creative industries that Creative City KC wants to remove.
This workshop is just one step that gives young people a chance to learn about an industry they are passionate about but lack access to.
Heading the workshop will be Willie D. Burton and Dorez Douglas, founders of Foresight Entertainment. Burton is a two-time Academy Award-winning sound mixer with a history of groundbreaking work, and Douglas is a Hollywood director and producer.
Joining them will be a talented group of professionals, who are talented educators as well. Each instructor will conduct a two-hour presentation followed by a Q&A session. Daily sessions will last six to eight hours with a one-hour complimentary lunch.
Participation in the conference is free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. The deadline to register is June 11.
Registration is online through Google Forms at https://shorturl.at/EH7xl. You must have a Gmail account to sign in to fill out the form; if you don’t have Gmail, contact 816-819-9939 or bblakemore.creativecitykc@gmail.com.
The workshop will be held at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, in Katz Hall – Room 109, 5005 Rockhill Road. Filming location shots include neighborhoods and venues that reflect Kansas City’s jazz heritage.
Professional Instructors
Television and film actor Lamman Rucker will be one of the workshop’s celebrity instructors. Rucker currently stars in the BET Plus series “Black Hamptons,” which was recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Rucker previously starred in the Oprah Winfrey Network hit “Green Leaf” and also co-starred in Tyler Perry’s films “Why Did I Get Married” and “Why Did I Get Married Too?”
Three-time Grammy winner Scotty Barnhart is another celebrity who will present during the workshop. Barnhart is an internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter and director of the Count Basie Orchestra. He’s also a talented composer, author, and educator. He has worked with a diverse group of performers including Tony Bennet, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Barbara Streisand, to name a few.
Another highlight of the workshop is a virtual presentation by Phil Robinson, vice president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
“As new technology allows the tools of filmmaking to become more and more accessible to young filmmakers everywhere, it’s important to have programs that get outside of Hollywood to encourage and educate these artists,” said Robinson. “I am thrilled that Willie Burton invited me to participate in this workshop, and I’m eagerly looking forward to it.”
About Creative City KC
Creative City KC – UNESCO Creative City of Music is dedicated to fostering creative growth and cultural sustainability through arts and music. As a designated UNESCO City of Music, the organization strives to support and elevate the creative community in Kansas City and beyond. The organization sees this workshop as a medium to help grow new businesses, develop the workforce skills of participating youth and young adults and as a way to create a path for sustainability of culture and heritage through the arts.
