From the Capitol dome and the monuments to the majestic architecture throughout our community, Washington, DC has served as a backdrop for both small and big screens. Join HumanitiesDC (HDC) in a vibrant look at the beauty of our community via film and video but also the red tape and challenges faced by producers and filmmakers to capture those images and create stories here. Join HumanitiesDC and Double R Productions at this Humanitini for a lively discussion to talk how we deal with those barriers and how our creative films/video reflect DC’s culture.

Meet the Panel.

Herbert Niles is currently Associate Director - Film Division at the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) where he supervises programs and initiatives in support of the District of Columbia’s creative economy. At OCTFME Niles oversees the DC Film, Television and Entertainment Rebate Program and administrates the Creative Economy Career Access Program (CECAP). Mr. Niles has more than 20 years of media industry experience as a screenwriter, producer, and executive, before joining the OCTFME as a government affairs executive. He has worked as a content development and production executive at Orion Pictures, as an independent screenwriter and producer, and served as Vice President of Film Development and Acquisitions at BET Networks.

Shellée M. Haynesworth, an award-winning multimedia maker, brand builder, content creator and storyteller is the owner and lead creative force of Indigo Creative
Works and Black Broadway on U: A Transmedia Project . Her creative and storytelling experience has moved between the intersections of arts and culture, education, humanities, social justice and multicultural engagement. As a storyteller, her focus has been to examine the African Diaspora and unveil the “untold” human stories and “hidden” contributions of African American and Latino change makers in history, social justice, arts, culture and humanities. Shellée firmly believes, “Creativity can have powerful and transformative effects — on civic, cultural and social movements and causes.”

Anthony Anderson was born and raised in Anacostia. Anderson decided to create a show using homegrown talent, which become Anacostia, an edgy online soap opera. Anthony also serves as Writer, Actor and Executive Producer. To date, Anacostia has won six Indie Series Awards, a record. In 2015 Anacostia made Television Academy history by becoming the first African American Web Series to be nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards: Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series and Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series, winning the latter. In 2017 Anderson made Television Academy history again as the first African American actor to be nominated for the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Digital Drama Series. Anacostia has been awarded a Mayor’s Proclamation for Excellence and the DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Innovation in the Arts. Anacostia has been seen in over 105 countries and garnered 132 Awards and recognitions.

Meet the Moderator.

Since 1987, Rosemary Reed has built Double R into a creative, value-added communications and television/video production firm. Double R serves satisfied clients ranging from major national agencies and Fortune 500 companies to government, local arts and non-profit organizations. Reed began her media career as a radio station news director, establishing her reputation in Washington, DC at the FOX network as the executive producer of “Panorama” with Maury Povich. To this day, the program still stands as one of the nation’s longest running, live, daily talk shows. She also produced the first weekend news hour for WTTG-TV (Metromedia) in DC. Reed’s career as a reporter, anchor and special projects television producer/director allowed her to cover all major regions of the country, including producing and broadcasting crisis situations in Israel and El Salvador. Reed has taken her company international, on assignment in Cambodia, Russia, Mexico and Belgium. Reed’s award-winning work has received recognition and awards too numerous to mention. Reed’s media experience both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, an academic background in theatre and speech, plus teaching experience on the high school and college levels provide Reed with exceptional qualifications for media training. Satisfied clients include CEOs, nationally recognized authors, ambassadors for the US Department of State and other government agency personnel.

What is a Humanitini?

A public program of HumanitiesDC, the National Endowment for the Humanities nonprofit state affilate for the District of Columbia, Humanitini is an exciting happy hour event where Washington's movers, shakers, and creators come together to think and drink. It is a place for you to engage with your peers, meet your neighbors, and speak with experts about what makes our city a unique place to live and play.