This episode is with Everette S. Hamlette, a videographer, editor, producer, content creator, marketer, brander, entrepreneur, and award winning writer... basically, a master of all trades. Since his work focuses mainly on the day to day lives of Bronxites, we talk about the Uptown Community and its relationship with film. How can a filmmaker bring visibility to small-owned businesses? How can a documentary address racism in NYC parks? Everette gives us answers and discusses his path to owning his own company. Find him on Instagram @everettehamlette and his business @stylishevproductionsllc.

Everette S. Hamlette is currently producing a documentary called "75 Park: 1 of the 35" with Leave It Better. The film is about a young documentarian, Everette Hamlette, who discovers that his local neighborhood park- 75 Park- is being reconstructed.  Curious as to why all of his childhood memories are being altered; he decides to do his own research on the New York City Parks Department.

He is also a media manager at Johnson Security Bureau in the Bronx. There he creates marketing and branding strategies for several small businesses in New York City utilizing social media content to achieve each businesses goals.

Stylish Ev Productions LLC is a Bronx-based media company which specializes in documentary style photography, videography, media and branding.

Stylish Ev Productions captures the story of your business or personal brand and markets that story on media platforms in order to grow your business or personal reach. This is achieved by documenting events happening in your daily business or personal life and transforming it into engaging content.

At Stylish Ev Productions, our brand is a reflection of the Bronx itself. We approach media, marketing, and branding with a raw and creative perspective. We emphasize expression of the truth in unique and creative ways. We also aren't afraid to get dirty. Our work exhibits our grit while maintaining a great sense of professionalism for our clients.

On today's episode, we're chatting with Vivian Vázquez Irizarry and Gretchen Hildebran, the co-directors of Decade of Fire. Vivian is a Bronx-born activist and educator who discovered the racism and neglect that led to a series of local fires in the 1970s—after having lived through them. Gretchen, a filmmaker and editor, worked with Vivian to produce this feature film which tells her story. It's been shown around the country, on PBS, and, of course, in the Bronx. We talk about everything from impact producing to what movie they each would want to star in. Be sure to watch Decade of Fire and check out the educational resources included on their site!

An educator and facilitator, Vivian ran educational and youth leadership development programs at the Coro Foundation, Bronxworks, and until recently, served as the director of community-school partnerships at the New Settlement Community Campus. Vázquez Irizarry managed educational youth development models in GED completion and college access programs across New York City. A former member of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, she was also a member of 52 People for Progress, a community organization that saved her childhood playground and revitalized the South Bronx for the last 35 years.

Gretchen is a documentary filmmaker and editor whose work lives at the intersection of politics, policy and human experience. Credits include: WORTH SAVING (2004), which was presented in HBO’s Frame by Frame showcase; OUT IN THE HEARTLAND (2005) which explored anti-gay legislation in Kentucky. A 2005 graduate of Stanford’s documentary program, Gretchen shot Ramona Diaz’s THE LEARNING (2011) and has edited for the History Channel, PBS and the United Nations Development Programme, as well as on independent documentaries. Gretchen has also made a series of short documentaries used to educate communities across the country about life-saving interventions such as needle exchange and overdose prevention.

This week we're chatting with Mike Wells, a writer living and working in New York. Although according to his bio, he is willing to move to LA… We talk about everything from early-career jobs that just barely pay the bills to pay-to-play workshops that will ultimately help you reach your real career goals. Check out mikewellswroteit.com to learn more about our guest and follow him on Instagram @mikewellswroteit to get updates on his upcoming projects. 

Mike Wells is not afraid to explore the dark. He loves hidden worlds, characters with secrets, and genre-bending plot twists. He especially loves when a television show or film presents something familiar in a fresh way. He wants to write things that give you goosebumps, send you down Google rabbit holes, and have you flipping pages at 2 am because you can’t go to bed before finding out what happens at the end. He writes character-driven YA stories with supernatural and fantastical elements from a Black perspective.

Uptown Films is a podcast created to improve the Uptown NYC cinema landscape, appreciate the craft of filmmaking, and spotlight the array of career paths within the industry. This is a podcast for those who are looking to break into the film industry, increase their networks, receive advice to jumpstart their careers, and listen to anecdotes from new to seasoned filmmakers. Follow us on Instagram @uptownfilms_pod!

Gregory Hernandez is a filmmaker, business owner and co-founder of Bronx Film 48. He currently resides in the Bronx. He has a background in video production, post-production, nonprofit management, consulting, copywriting, fundraising, acting, voice over and creative writing. He graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor’s in English and Theatre.

Sophie Ewh is a writer, filmmaker, and podcaster practicing radical openness in her art. When she discovered Whose Line is it Anyway?, she learned how to laugh. After developing an obsession with B-horror movies and mental breakdowns, she tried to make others laugh but mostly just made them nauseous. 

If you want to support the podcast, you can contribute through PayPal: @greencanvasbronx