Positive Core Value: Partnering for greater impact

In launching a major renovation of an historic building that will become the new home of the Nickelodeon Theatre, Larry Hembree underscored the importance of linking with downtown revitalization efforts. When the City of Columbia, SC bought the building, it served as a catalyst for generating additional community support including financial contributions and sweat equity.

Jane Minton shared the story of how an “out of the blue” phone call from Northwest Airlines to IFP turned into a three-year partnership (1997-1999) with a $240,000 annual budget. The Independents in Flight project was an innovative partnership that supported filmmakers financially and extended the reach of independent films to new audiences. During the same era, Mike Wassenaar was a radio producer in the former Yugoslavia. Working with the support of partners including the Ford Foundation, a refugee organization and an educational institution, he was able to record people’s stories and train other journalists in the midst of genocide and war-torn conditions. Without the support of these partners, his work would not have been possible.

In launching a media literacy project in a disadvantaged North Carolina community, Susan Leonard convinced the NEA and the U.S. Department of Education to serve as project partners, providing the first fully funded media literacy program. Her emphasis on forging strong local relationships, combined with federal funding, made success possible. Debbie Rudman described a collaborative effort to provide independent coverage of the Republican National Convention in 2002 as “a beacon of hope” in contrast to mainstream media coverage. From her position within the Drexel University system in Philadelphia, she was able to help connect local people, involve national partners such as Free Speech TV, and extend the reach of grassroots independent producers.

The REACH L.A. LGBTQ Youth Media Production Program emphasized the creation of a peer community as well as collaboration with external partners. According to the program’s Gina Lamb, “Because most of the youth are low income and of color, they have had difficult lives. Some have attempted suicide…. [Through the program] they are creating a community, holding each other together.” Collaboration with partners has helped sustain the program, including Project 10, which helped make connections with public schools, and Outfest: The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which exhibited student films.

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When Francesca Talenti agreed to take part in a film-dance collaboration as part of the Cucalorus Film Festival’s Dance-a-lorus program, she gave up a measure of creative control over her short film in exchange for the potential benefits of a creative collaboration. Not only did the film and dance pieces work beautifully together, the initial project has led to a continuing collaboration. find this story on the timeline