July 2020 – BibbyFame Digital, LLC: Photo, Film & Interactive Media

WINNER: 2020 Clarion Award – Briana M. Andrews Receives Prestigious Association for Women in Communications (AWC) Award for Women in TV and Film Interactive Media / Mini-Documentary.

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 by Briana M. Andrews, posted in New Media Production, Portfolio

The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) announced Briana M. Andrews as a WINNER of the 2020 Clarion Award in the Student Wildcard category for her Women in TV and Film, Interactive Media / Mini-Documentary project. Read Press Release.

Winning a Clarion is a great honor and achievement; this award-winning entry will be recognized during a fall virtual event. As one of the most prestigious competitions of its kind in the country, the 2020 competition attracted entries from 20 states and two countries, with entries judged by teams of experts from all aspects of the marketing and communications fields.

This interactive media project and short documentary was created during a New Media Practicum course at Rowan University, led by Writing Arts Professor Rachael Shapiro. Andrews utilized social media as a promotional avenue and culminated with the creation of a short documentary to display individual efforts toward increasing diversity and inclusion in film. This includes behind-the-scenes footage from the Andrews’ produced To Each, Her Throne web series, and the Daughters of Solanas dramedy short from the New York iteration of the Women’s Weekend Film Challenge. Find excerpts from the project at www.womenintvandfilm.com.

Entry Title: “Women in TV & Film – Interactive Media / Mini-Documentary”
Entry Category: Student Wild Card
Organization Name(s): Rowan University
Entrant’s Name(s): Briana M. Andrews

Screen Capture, Clarion Award, Interactive Media Documentary, Women in TV and Film, Rowan University RTF CCCA, Student Wildcard Category, AWC Membership, Association for Women in Communications

Founded in 1909, the Association for Women in Communications has nearly 1,200 members worldwide. AWC champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era. For more than 40 years, the AWC Clarion Awards have recognized small business, large corporate, nonprofit, agency and government communication specialists internationally who demonstrate excellence in clear and concise communications. For a complete list of Clarion Award winners this year, please visit: www.womcom.org/clarionwinners.

“Let Live” Dramedy Short Film: BTS and First Look

July 7, 2020August 11, 2020 by Briana M. Andrews, posted in Let Live, Portfolio, Shoots

Here are a few stills from Let Live, the dramedy short, written and directed by Briana M. Andrews. A preliminary edit was screened virtually for the Howard University 1^st Year Film MFA cohort. The final cut will include additional sound editing and color correction. We cannot wait to share it! Thank you for your continued support.

Movie Poster, Black Cinema, Let Live, Short Film, Little Miss Whiskeys Bar DC, Enoch Jones, Ayana Andrews, Cashaey Serenity, Chris Sakyi — Let Live, featuring Cashaey Serenity, Enoch Jones, Ayana Andrews and Chris Sakyi. Directed by Briana M. Andrews.

Visit the previous post from the last day on set for BTS, shoot dates, locations, and crew member details.

Lead actress, Cashaey Serenity from Let Live Short Film. Young, black, actresses, actress, casting.

Bar scene at Little Miss Whiskey's DC with Ayana Andrews and Cashaey Serentity. Young, black actresses, short film, Let Live.

How Badly Did COVID-19 Hit Your Pockets? Here’s My Story.

July 3, 2020July 11, 2020 by Briana M. Andrews, posted in Personal

During these unprecedented times, I certainly hope you are all staying safe. There has been a lot of talk about testing and surges, along with macro-level economic impact. On a microeconomic scale, how badly did the novel CoronaVirus hit you?

STIMULUS

COVID-19 struck my wallet hard and fast. Nonetheless, I am sure that beats testing positive for the virus. I have not received the $1200 stimulus check and I am honestly not even sure why. Periodically, I would check the IRS website for status, however I am hit with the perpetual “payment status not available” message. Somehow, though, the treasury managed to issue $1.4 billion in stimulus funds to over a million dead people.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Amidst curfews, social distancing and mask requirements, freelance opportunities in photography and videography dried up. I did, however, maintain a conventional position which I assumed would result in eligibility for unemployment. I filed a claim with the Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES) and proceeded to certify weekly. I even completed and submitted the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) forms; I’ve yet to receive a dime. Unemployment insurance scammers have been cashing out nationwide, though.

UNEXPECTED EXPENDITURES

My car was left parked throughout most of the pandemic. Just my luck that I got into a car accident one of my first trips out; t-boned by some idiot, speeding in the rain with no regard for traffic laws. I wasn’t at fault, and I wasn’t injured. However, my precious Fefe … Fiat Pop 500c was pretty banged up and left with an inoperable passenger side door. I call National Continental Insurance, the offending party’s insurance company, and it turns out this is a Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP). I never heard of this before, but apparently, it is a $1/day car insurance for Medicaid recipients that doesn’t cover anything unless the car accident kills you or leaves you in a vegetative state. The death “benefit” is a whopping $10,000. I can’t imagine someone’s life being valued at such a minuscule amount. I spoke with the representative who forwarded the denial letter and her reply was classic: “Yeah, that’s just how it is. Wouldn’t matter if they hit ten Lamborghinis.” How reassuring. Here I am, paying through the nose for an insurance policy because of ~~discrimination~~ (ugh) … age, risk factors, statistics, and mysterious underwriter voodoo. My personal policy has a small under-insured motorist benefit and *fingers crossed*, that will kick in to assist with the cost of repair.

CONCLUSION

I am in a lease and still have to pay rent (w/ WIFI and utilities), still have to eat, still have to pay my cell phone bill, still have to buy toiletries, ~~magically come up with tuition payments~~ etc.. For some people, their biggest concern during this time is not being able to get a haircut and I’m jealous. Must be nice! Some people are having an absolute field-day and are not eager to return to work; personally, I cannot wait.

If you aren’t in dire straits and wish to toss a few coins into my virtual tip jar, FEEL FREE.

Freelance Spotlight: The Genese Martin Foundation (Digital Media Presentation, Audio & Photo Editing)

July 1, 2020August 29, 2020 by Briana M. Andrews, posted in New Media Production

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of working on a freelance project from The Genese Martin Foundation. This intense, time-sensitive project required expeditious turnaround and serves as a true testament of digital age convenience, as the client was able to transmit files via DropBox during business travel throughout the day. The final product was a MOV file / digital media presentation inclusive of voiceover, background music, sound editing, photo editing, b-roll sourcing, and content storyboarding in a coherent fashion to demonstrate the organization’s purpose. The founder of this non-profit organization has a storied history and uses her experiences in the arts to PAY IT FORWARD. We commend the work this foundation does in the community. Art is the core of all humanity; ART IS LIFE.

Click to learn more about The Genese Martin Foundation.