Family Portrait | A Film By Jordan Shanks
Donation protected
FAMILY PORTRAIT | A Film by Jordan Shanks
A story of hope, purpose, and identity, Family Portrait follows young filmmaker Jordan Shanks on a journey to retrace his African-American, Latino, and Caribbean roots and answer longstanding questions of his family lineage and self-identity.
An American Family
Two trees, first planted in Africa and the Caribbean, stretch their roots across the Western world, intertwining in the public housing projects of New York. Their leaves fall in an unlikely place: Richmond, Virginia.
The Plan
We'll follow filmmaker Jordan Shanks as he travels to New York, Puerto Rico and St. Croix to trace his roots back to his places of origin.
What We Need
Documentary Camera: Highly important for professional filming with goal of premium distribution.
Sound Recording Equipment: High-quality sound is a major component of a great film, and we want to deliver in this category.
Travel Expenses: The filmmaker and a cinematographer will be traveling to film on location.
Filmmaker
Jordan Shanks is a writer, filmmaker, photographer, and founder of Shanks Studio. Shanks has held roles at leading companies and worked in various fields - including being a Development Associate at YouTube, a Production Associate at Complex Networks, and an Associate Video Producer on Facebook’s forthcoming “Deepfake” project.
His work as a filmmaker and photographer comments on aspects of the African-American experience, while also giving viewers glimpses into Millennials, Gen-Z and their identity. Shanks' film “7” which serves as a cinematic diary of his experience as a first-generation college student at one of the nation's leading HBCU's, made its festival debut at the Afrikana Independent Film Festival in September 2019 and is now on the festival circuit. His debut photo collection, "Love Letters to America" which includes photos of his college classmates, Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson, Mo and Baltimore, MD, and fashion in New York City, was exhibited in the nation's capital and received national media attention, including a feature in Ebony Magazine.
Shanks graduated from Howard University in 2018, where he earned his B.A. in Television & Film Production. He has also studied television comedy and sitcom screenwriting at the University of California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
A story of hope, purpose, and identity, Family Portrait follows young filmmaker Jordan Shanks on a journey to retrace his African-American, Latino, and Caribbean roots and answer longstanding questions of his family lineage and self-identity.
An American Family
Two trees, first planted in Africa and the Caribbean, stretch their roots across the Western world, intertwining in the public housing projects of New York. Their leaves fall in an unlikely place: Richmond, Virginia.
The Plan
We'll follow filmmaker Jordan Shanks as he travels to New York, Puerto Rico and St. Croix to trace his roots back to his places of origin.
What We Need
Documentary Camera: Highly important for professional filming with goal of premium distribution.
Sound Recording Equipment: High-quality sound is a major component of a great film, and we want to deliver in this category.
Travel Expenses: The filmmaker and a cinematographer will be traveling to film on location.
Filmmaker
Jordan Shanks is a writer, filmmaker, photographer, and founder of Shanks Studio. Shanks has held roles at leading companies and worked in various fields - including being a Development Associate at YouTube, a Production Associate at Complex Networks, and an Associate Video Producer on Facebook’s forthcoming “Deepfake” project.
His work as a filmmaker and photographer comments on aspects of the African-American experience, while also giving viewers glimpses into Millennials, Gen-Z and their identity. Shanks' film “7” which serves as a cinematic diary of his experience as a first-generation college student at one of the nation's leading HBCU's, made its festival debut at the Afrikana Independent Film Festival in September 2019 and is now on the festival circuit. His debut photo collection, "Love Letters to America" which includes photos of his college classmates, Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson, Mo and Baltimore, MD, and fashion in New York City, was exhibited in the nation's capital and received national media attention, including a feature in Ebony Magazine.
Shanks graduated from Howard University in 2018, where he earned his B.A. in Television & Film Production. He has also studied television comedy and sitcom screenwriting at the University of California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
Organizer
Jordan Shanks
Organizer
Burbank, CA
