The Art of The Visit: Storyboards & Production Design
Pre-visual concept art, storyboards and post production color and lighting FX for our award winning short film 'The Visit'. All concept art was hand drawn by writer, director Paul V. Grant.
The film is now available for streaming on Vimeo and YouTube.
Additional streaming platforms will be announced soon! www.ascenderfilms.com/thevisit #previsuals #storyboards #conceptart #style #vision #productiondesign #productiondesigner #paulvgrant #lighting #lightingdesign #drama #bts #filmart #directing #storytelling #production #camera #harriettubman #frederickdouglass #conceptartist #film #shortfilm #filmmaking #ascenderfilms #avidmedia #borisfx
"Harriet's Approach" Framed, Still Image Accepted into Collection of Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center
Exclusive Print "Harriet's Approach" Donated to Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center
On Saturday, June 25th we were honored to have this framed, giclee print titled ‘Harriet’s Approach’, a still image from our film ‘The Visit,’ accepted into the collection of the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center in Cambridge, MD. It’s depicts Tubman, standing before a massive plantation home. It’s symbolizes the long struggle for women and people of color against massive systems of social, economic, and political power. The Ascender team attended a hike through historic Thompson plantation where Harriet Tubman was enslaved and co-hosted a screening of our award winning film “The Visit” at the museum, later that afternoon.
It was truly a remarkable day, learning about and discussing our shared American history. Thanks to all who joined us in Cambridge, MD for the morning hike/tour of the former Thompson plantation (where Harriet Tubman was enslaved) and our film screening at the museum!
#filmart #filmstill #limitedediton #giclee #prints #gicleeprint #art #artwork #film #indiefilm #women #filmmaking #justice #interpretative #history #community #museum #ascenderfilmsinc
"The Visit" Wins 'Best Short' Award After World Premiere at 2022 North Carolina Black Film Festival
Our short film "The Visit" earned top prize in the short film category at the 17th Annual North Carolina Black Film Festival (NCBFF) on Sunday, March 27th. The film had it's world premiere at the Hannah Block Historic USO Building/Community Arts Center in downtown Wilmington, NC. Director Paul Grant and Producer Tracey Grant were present at the screening and convened a post screening Q&A with the standing room only crowd. The juried film festival was sponsored by the Black Arts Alliance of Wilmington. Their mission is 'to serve as a multidisciplinary vehicle for the advancement of African-American arts and culture, the Black Arts Alliance serves as an advocate for arts and artists, nurtures emerging and veteran artistic talent, and develops new works in the performing, visual, and literary arts.' The NCBFF screened dozens of films by African American filmmakers over three days and closed with an Award ceremony at the Cameron Art Museum. Mroe screenings and festival dates to come!
Rising Above The Smoke (Virtual Symposium, 2021)
RISING ABOVE THE SMOKE
(Virtual Symposium / Webinar, 2021)
Ascender supported The Colorado Black Health Collaborative by producing this 4-hour virtual conference featuring dynamic presenters and virtual activities to deepen the community’s understanding and advocacy for why eliminating the sale of menthol tobacco is a social justice issue in the Black community. 200 people joined the virtual event from all across the country, including many longstanding, renowed public health experts and advocates.
The Anatomy of A Social Justice Issue (Intro Video)
RISING ABOVE THE SMOKE
Flavor Academy: Dr. Terri Richardson and Dr Valerie Yerger
Dr. Terri Richardson and Dr Valerie Yerger discuss how major corporations have targeted the sale of menthol tobacco on African American communities.
Tobacco Policy Panel
Mr. Austin Collins facilitates a very informative tobacco policy panel with guest speakers Naomi Amaha, Natasha Phelps and Bob Doyle.
Rising Above the Smoke : Former Smokers Speak about their Cessation Process
Ms. Emma Jackson is a Denver resident, CBHC coalition member and a former smoker.
RISING ABOVE THE SMOKE: JIM PAVLIK ON STEPS TO SMOKING CESSATION
Mr. Jim Pavlik shares the steps to smoking cessation.
RISING ABOVE THE SMOKE: Dr. Rhonda Coleman, DAOM, Discusses a brief history of alternative clinical treatments for smoking cessation.
Jonathan Miles explains the Colorado QUITLINE
Jonathan Miles explains how the Colorado QUITLINE supports smoking cessation.
Ascender Creates Main Title and Motion Design Sequences for 'The Breakdown' Digital Series on BET+
'THE BREAKDOWN ON BET+'
(Main Title Design, Editing, Motion Graphics)
Ascender Films is proud to have supported main title design, animation and motion graphics for the new BET+ digtal series 'The Breakdown', released in April 2021. Each episiode of the four episodes takes a deeper dive into lesser known aspects of African American history and culture from an African-centered viewpoint. The show was created by executive producers Len Burnett and Darnley Hodge and it was hosted by comedian Klarity.
We also produced the fourth and final epidsode of the first season about the Maroons--enslaved Africans in the U.S. who fought for and won their freedom. The episode features rich commentary from celebrated historian and professor, Gerald Horne.
The Breakdown: Episode 4 (THE MAROONS)
Main Title Design, Motion Graphics & Animation
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Ascender's Founder, Creative Director Receives '2020 Special Recognition' Award from The Balm In Gilead, Inc.
We are Grateful to have received this 'Special Recognition Award' last week from The Balm In Gilead, Inc. during their annual 'Healthy Churches' Conference. I'm equally proud that content we produced almost ten years ago has remained a source of education, inspiration and fundraising for their critical work to help communities of faith to improve health outcomes among African/ African-Africans throughout the United States and across the Diaspora.
Ascender Films is a Proud Sponsor of Association of African American Museum's (AAAM) 2020 Virtual Conference
he work we have done with African American museums and cultural organizations has been some of the most meaningful and important work that our firm has done. That's why the Ascender team is very proud to be a sponsor of the AAAM 2020 Virtual Conference, taking place this week, August 5-7th. It is important to support these organizations. But it's also crucial that we keep our finger on the pulse of great work all across the country. There are so many stories that need to be told and these institutions do the best job of preserving those stories for generations. Here's to a great conference week!
#AAAM2020 #blackmuseumsmatter #history #culture
It's Time: CDC releases new slate of World TB Day (2020) PSAs produced by Ascender Films
Even the middle of a pandemic related to novel Coronavirus COVID-19, Ascender Films team is pleased to continue to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the production of TB messages for World TB Day 2020. This is our fourth year doing this work and we are always thrilled to work with the talented team at the CDC Division of Tuberculosis Elimination as they document the stories of U.S. TB survivors.
Ascender Films, Inc. Mourns the Loss of Legendary NOLA Chef Leah Chase (1923-2020)
This weekend we loss a giant of the American culinary world: Chef Leah Chase, Queen of Creole Cuisine. Ms Chase, 96, was also the Executive Chef/ Owner of famed Dooky Chase Restaurant in New Orleans. The legendary restaurant is noted for being one of the oldest upscale, black-owned southern/soul/creole restaurants in the United States. It has hosted civil rights leaders during the 1950s and 60s, when no other establishment allowed African Americans, and survived to host U.S. Presidents and world leaders. Ms. Chase remained at the forefront of opening doors for people of color in the restaurant industry and continued leading her kitchen staff for around 70 years.
We were blessed to have been invited to film her as she advised room or black chefs, food writers and culinary historians during a private luncheon at Dooky Chase. Ms. Chase incredibly overwhelmed by the sight of three generation of African American chefs who stood before her–eager to take in every bite of advice, encouragement and instruction that fell from her lips. That love was reciprocated many times over by those in the room who represented the next generation of black culinary leaders. We edited this short piece in honor of her and that special exchange.
Our team wishes our condolences to the Chase family, their friends and her community in NOLA.
Ascender Earns two TELLY AWARDS for "Making Gumbo Jubilee" and "Shaka's Story"
MAY 21, 2019
Ascender picked up two bronze TELLY AWARDS this year. Our short-film "Making Gumbo Jubilee: Triumph of Howard Conyers" brought home the first bronze award in the "Social Media, Food & Beverage category." The second bronze statute was earned in the "Social Media-Public Health & Wellness" categories was earned for 'Shaka's Story", a 3-min segment from an ongoing digital series of testimonials from TB survivors. The series was produced in 2018 for the US Department of Health & Human Services/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"We are thrilled for both projects!", says Senior Producer, Paul Grant,"Making Gumbo Jubilee as our first film highlighting black foodways. We believe this is true testament that more of great stories exploring African/African American diaspora cooking can be told with premium production value and will be well received. While our win for "Shaka's Story" again proves that we are truly mastering how we tell public health stories that resonate and make a difference."
Take a look at both projects here.