Share in the Creation, Diversify the Dream, the Charlotte Black Film Festival’s theme for its second annual affair, March 1–3, during CIAA week, perfectly describes CEO Tommy Nichols’ vision.
“To create economic empowerment for, heighten awareness of, promote the significance and need for African American cinema as an art form, and to be a voice for independent filmmakers of color. We strive to create ideals and deliver dreams,” said Nichols. “Filmmakers have the ability to tell our story.”
Nichols hosted a launch party at the Charlotte Chamber where his newly created Dream Media Studios production office is located. The full service multimedia company provides in-studio production, live streaming, corporate marketing videos, event solutions, Web design and television commercials, to bring a brand to life.
“God just spoke to me and by faith, I leaped out,” said Nichols.
Nichols inspiration came from a sobering event, the death of Dennis Darrell, last May, at age 47. Darrell, labeled as Charlotte’s Black film pioneer, organized many film showings, one that presented controversial documentary Biggie and Tupac, organized the Reel Soul Film Festival in 2008 and founded the Black Film Festival. Nichols said he feels the same as Darrell’s often heard quote, “I may not have a pocketful of money but what I do have is a pocketful of favors.”
The inaugural Dennis Darrell Vision Award, created by Nichols, will be presented at this year’s Red Carpet Vision Awards, some call the Black Oscars, March 3rd, that recognizes achievements of emerging actors, composers, screen writers and directors.
The three day festival also includes workshops and panel discussions with titles like ‘The Color of Media’ that explores the negative images and stereotypes of Blacks in film, ‘Strategies of Hollywood Success’ and ‘Entertainment by the Book’ covering the legal aspects of creativity. A youth film competition called ‘Stop the Bullying” involves the young, formative, creative minds and the Latino film screenings engage diversity.
Nichols said his goals for the festival include attracting economic growth for the state and city by bringing the film industry to Charlotte, networking with industry professionals and film enthusiastics, the opportunity to sharpen film production and marketing skills and to promote diversity through cultural expressions, dialogue and understanding.
Nichols, a Dayton, Ohio native, attended Wilberforce University, an HBCU, graduated from the American Guild of Court Videographers, The Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute and trained at The Hollywood Film Institute, in NY, where Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino graduated.
“Charlotte will be on the map. We want Charlotte to be a place to shoot movies, to get the exposure so we can get in the game. I could be the Tyler Perry of Charlotte, but different- you won’t see me in drag,” said Nichols.
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