SOME OF OUR INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Lights, Camera, Diaspora! bridges the gap between the African and African-Diaspora entertainment industries to progress the aesthetic quality and business opportunities for African film, broadcast and live events on the Continent and in the African Diaspora!

LCD provides us with a pool of techinical industry experts across the entertainment landscape, giving our workshops the necessary expertise. They provide experts in;

Cinematography

Editing

Sound

Production Management

Lighting 

Greta Mendez is a Performance Art artist, Theatre + Movement Director, Dance + Drama Tutor, Carnivalist, Producer. Mendez has worked in: UK, Greece, Italy, China, India, Kashmir and Trinidad & Tobago, Indonesia.Greta Mendez has worked with some of the leading young actors today, including, John Boyega, Letitia Wright, Malachi Kirby and many more.

SPECIALTY: ACTING / MOVEMENT / SCRIPT ANALYSIS

Femi Oyeniran is an award-winning actor and filmmaker. Born in Nigeria, moving to the UK at the age of 10, he starred in iconic British film Kidulthood at 17 before completing a law degree at the London School of Economics. His acting career has seen him star in Adulthood as well as comedy Anuvahood. Other credits include Absolutely Fabulous, Taking Stock, Demons Never Die and more. 

In 2013, he wrote, directed and produced a feature film It’s A Lot. His next film THE INTENT, was released to unprecedented success. It was followed by a prequel THE INTENT 2: THE COME UP, which picked up “Best Film” at the MVisa awards as well as three awards at the National Film Awards. Both films have gone on to gain a global audience on Netflix. 

SPECIALTY: FILM DIRECTING / WRITING / PRODUCING

Darren R L Gordon is a Director, Agent and Acting Coach based in the UK. He has an international reach, working with artists from across the world, helping them to develop their technique, build and sustain their careers,, and overcome their own challenges, limitations and inhibitions.  

He works in a constructive, collaborative manner, helping individuals identify and harness their strengths, whilst also facilitating them managing and working on their weaknesses. 

His sessions are interactive, impactful and, because he is never generic, beneficial to each cohort he works with.

SPECIALTY: SCREEN ACTING / SCRIPT ANALYSIS / DIRECTING

A native of Bowie, Maryland, Jones studied computer-aided design at North Carolina A&T State and later went to film school at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). As an African American artist working in an industry where opportunities still remain few and far between, Jones sees himself as a pioneer who can help introduce other people of color to camera culture. At the same time, any help he provides is also paying it forward.

In 2013, while still an intern through the Emmy Arts & Sciences Foundation, Jones found himself under the caring guidance of Director of Photography Joaquin Sedillo and the camera team of Ryan Murphy’s Glee.

“I ended up getting a pretty amazing camera department introduction,” he said. “It gave me such a strong foundation that when I started my career as a camera assistant, things picked up very fast for me because of what I learned on that show.”

Technical skills are well and good, he says, but the ability to build relationships is equally if not more important.

SPECIALTY: 

CINEMATOGRAPHY / LIGHTING

Dami Elebe is an award-winning scriptwriter known for her work on Netflix Original "Far From Home," South African Global hit series "Fatal Séduction," Prime Video's "The Mens Club" and Ndani TV's "Skinny Girl in Transit" and Showmax's "Flawsome." 

In a decade, Dami has made a big impact in the industry, both at home and abroad. She's a creative thinker who brings stories to life like no other.

SPECIALTY: SCRIPTWRITING