MEET THE PANELISTS 

Dui Jarrod is a screenwriter, director, and playwright residing in Brooklyn, NY. The creative’s project Brooklyn. Blue. Sky. is the first acquired web series for BET.com after winning the Xfinity Best Web Series Award at the American Black Film Festival. Brooklyn Blue. Sky. premiered on BET.com in November 2017. His new series King Ester is set to be released in 2019. Overall, Jarrod’s work focuses on the power of human connection in the landscape of modern America.

Squeaky Moore is regarded as the pitch guru for independent content creators. Squeaky freelances as a development consultant and pitching strategist. Squeaky’s mission is to enlighten, uplift, and inspire. Some of  Moore’s recent directing and producing credits include, 64, a viral PSA project that she executive produced and assist directed, Father’s Day?, a short film also produced by Squeaky which debuted on the launch of Magic Johnson’s, Aspire TV Network. Others include The Positive Controversy, a digital talk-show in its second season, and the documentary, Face of Darkness - Journey to Healing, a film that explores depression and suicide in the African American communities. She recently authored a book for content creators after journeying to pitch 100 times. The book, #100Pitches: Mistakes, I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To, is a film and television pitching guide geared towards independent content creators about the do’s and don’ts, and strategy of pitching television and film projects.

Craig T. Williams  - Producer/Screenwriter/Editor - CEO of Red Wall Productions, a film production company that he runs with his wife, Rosalyn Coleman Williams. Craig has produced over 50 film projects including independent short films, promotional & educational films, actor reels and the groundbreaking documentary Black Sorority Project. He has empowered artists providing mentorship and one on one consultations to writers and filmmakers as they develop their craft. Craig won the American Black Film Festival/Turner Screenwriting contest for his original pilot Allergic. His feature screenplay Hanging By A Thread was a finalist in the 2018 Sundance Screenwriters Lab. His TV pilot Unfocused was a finalist in the 2017 WGA sponsored Made In New York Fellowship. Title VII is a feature screenplay he co-wrote with writer/director Nicole Franklin. It premiered March 2017 at the Hollywood Black Film Festival and was a finalist for HBO Best Feature Film at the 2017 Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival.

Michael Pinckney has over 10 years’ experience as an assistant director on films and television series such as Inside Man, Top Five, Broad City, The 25th Hour, 7th Heaven, The Best Man, Law & Order, and the academy award-nominated film Precious. Michael made his feature film directorial debut with You’re Nobody til somebody kills you, a gritty crime thriller executive produced by Spike Lee and distributed by Lionsgate. He won an award for Excellence in Media from The Black Men’s Film Conference for his HIV film, The Candy Store and toured the film festival circuit with films from his short film collection. He’s directed a variety of digital series from SoleKings, Black Actress to The Colors of Love in addition to producing the award-winning digital series For Colored Boys - Redemption starring Tim Reid. The Trade is Michael's directorial debut in episodic television drama.

Skye MacLeod is an educator, filmmaker, and team leader with over 15 years of experience working in New York City and abroad. Skye is successful managing production teams, piloting and leading complex educational projects, and forging partnerships. He has extensive experience training teachers to integrate digital media in a wide array of educational contexts. MacLeod is a graduate of Skidmore College (B.A. Music, 1999) and Teachers College of Columbia University (Ed. M, Instructional Technology, 2009). MacLeod is passionate about helping others tell their stories through civic engagement, education, and collaboration.