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Terri Lee Chandler
- Aug 3, 2020
- 3 min
4th Annual I See You Awards® Shines the Spotlight on Documentaries
This year's I See You Awards® has an exciting lineup of documentaries that are not to be missed! Check out the lineup in this year's awards program, and then be sure to get your tickets so you'll be all ready to start streaming when the festival kicks off on August 20th! Back from the Brink Marine Corps veteran and filmmaker Dustin Jones sets out to understand the suicide epidemic among veterans through the lens of his former comrade, Bill Kirner. Bill’s marriage and life are
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Apr 12, 2019
- 3 min
William: A Tale of Life and Reality
LOS ANGELES - “Why should I worry? Why should I care?” I sang while walking down a side street on the way to interview Director Tim Disney for his upcoming feature film, “William.” If you are familiar with those lyrics and his previous work, you would recognize the lyrics from the animated film “Oliver and Company”. Arriving at the location, I immediately spotted a gentleman wearing glasses who reminded me of Woody Allen. Another lady and I had walked into the previous interv
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Mar 25, 2019
- 7 min
Deon Taylor: "We Are Told 'No' So Much We Are Forced To Do It Ourselves”
After seeing the film Traffik, you can understand why it’s nominated as an Outstanding Independent Motion Picture by the NAACP Image Awards. But to get a better understanding of this monumental moment, just have a conversation with Traffik's writer and director, independent filmmaker Deon Taylor, and you will not only understand why he was destined for greatness, but you will also see why persistence, believing in yourself, and never giving up are powerful qualities in the li
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Mar 14, 2019
- 1 min
2nd Annual Awards: A Look Back; A Look Ahead
I See You Awards® Founder Terri Lee Chandler joins Awards Host/Correspondent Phil Elam for a look back at the 2nd Annual Awards ceremony, and a look at what's ahead for 2019 and beyond. Listen in to their exciting conversation! Filmmakers interested in submitting their projects for consideration into the 3rd Annual I See You Awards are invited to submit and also get more info on FilmFreeway: The 3rd Annual Awards will be held August 22-25, 2019 at the beautiful Emagine Thea
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Feb 27, 2019
- 5 min
Anthony Johnson: Don't Be Scared Because I'm a Film Critic
Most of us can relate to going to the movies with our families when we were children. Some might call it a tradition. Every Friday, Saturday, or Sunday we would pack the family up and head out to see the movie that everyone would be talking about that following Monday. However, when Anthony Johnson was a child, going to the movies almost every weekend with his family turned out to be more than just a pastime. He was developing a passion that would lead him to offer a distinct
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Jan 29, 2019
- 5 min
AAFCA Member Ronda Racha Penrice Brings a Diverse and Talented Background to the Judges Panel
Growing up with a working class background on the south side of Chicago, for Ronda Racha Penrice, the practical career choice would have been to become a lawyer. However, considering she was a published writer before she even entered eighth grade, you can’t deny her writing skills. While reading and writing were some of the subjects Penrice excelled at as a child, she didn’t consider writing as a viable career until various people in her circle encouraged her writing skills a
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Jan 8, 2019
- 4 min
Gil Robertson, a Cultural Icon for African American Film, to Help Judge 3rd Annual I See You Awards®
Gil Robertson is a man of meaning with a mission. As President of the African American Film Critics Association, Robertson is motivated by the desire to be of service to others and to lend his accomplishments to elevate the voice of deserving artists in the community. This idea was not something he was instinctively born with, however. Rather, Robertson’s parents instilled this principle within him at a very young age while growing up in Los Angeles, California. Speaking wi
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Dec 28, 2018
- 1 min
Planning for 3rd Annual Screenings and Awards Shifting Into High Gear
While Hollywood blockbusters have mega marketing budgets to work with, indie filmmakers aren't so fortunate, and many struggle just to get their projects made. So, the I See You Awards® were created to help recognize and reward low-budget independent filmmakers. Since indie filmmakers are essentially small business owners, our founder, Terri Lee Chandler, decided to get some expert marketing advice from a small business guru: Mark S. Lee (no relation to Terri), president and
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Dec 19, 2018
- 1 min
AAFCA Film Critics to Help Judge 3rd Annual I See You® Awards!
The I See You Awards® is proud to announce that several members of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) will be serving as judges for the 3rd Annual I See You Awards®. The AAFCA is the premiere body of Black film critics in the world, actively reviewing film and television. The group’s members are a geographically diverse cross-section of journalists, covering all genres of the cinematic arts, while representing multiple mediums – including print, TV, radio
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Nov 25, 2018
- 2 min
Submissions to the 3rd Annual I See You Awards® Are Now Open!
Calling all indie filmmakers! The 3rd Annual I See You Awards® are now open for submissions! We’re looking forward to recognizing and rewarding your accomplishments, so be sure to submit your film into this one-of-a-kind event designed just for you. To open the awards up to as many independent filmmakers as possible, feature films are categorized based on the film's budget. For example, feature films with budgets in the following ranges are eligible to enter:
$100,00
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Nov 24, 2018
- 4 min
From Extra to Director: Shining a Spotlight on Indie Filmmaker Alexander Cooper
Filmmaker Alexander Cooper, center, on the set of "Parallel". Alexander Cooper was always interested in film, particularly acting. He went to school in Stamford, U.K., and while he took some drama classes, he did not study filmmaking. Instead he took another route, and worked in the field of law for the nine years that followed. While working in law, he still had a desire to act, so he took on roles in various films. He played Jack Specter in The Sky Has Fallen and he was an
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Sep 15, 2018
- 1 min
See Yourself in Pictures!
We love taking pictures and we took plenty of them at our 2nd annual awards ceremony! Here’s a look at some of the pictures taken at the Emagine Theater in Royal Oak, Michigan during our black tie, blue carpet awards ceremony on Sunday, August 26th: Photo courtesy of Amy Saunders Powers Photo courtesy of Amy Saunders Powers Photo courtesy of Amy Saunders Powers Photo courtesy of Amy Saunders Powers Wouldn’t you like to see yourself on the blue carpet next year? Of course, y
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Sep 5, 2018
- 1 min
Announcing The I See You Awards® Indie Filmmaker Spotlight!
The I See You Awards® wants to help low-budget independent filmmakers gain recognition and exposure! After all, that’s what’s going to help propel your career to the next level! So, we’ve developed something special just for you! Once a month, we are going to be featuring an indie filmmaker as part of our new "Indie Filmmaker Spotlight.” This will be your opportunity to shine a spotlight on yourself and your career. We’d like to know how and why you became an indie filmma
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Aug 25, 2018
- 1 min
I See You Awards® Industry Seminar Gets Rave Reviews!
Our industry seminar on Friday, August 24th, was small but powerful! We extend our sincere gratitude to award-winning indie filmmaker Phil Elam who shared some valuable information; 2018 awards nominee David Van Wie who shared the amazing story of his documentary “Detroit Under STRESS”; filmmaker extraordinaire Marvin G. Towns Jr., who took time to share his wisdom and knowledge; and SAG-AFTRA exec Kathy Byrne, who traveled from Chicago to join us! We are eternally grateful t
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Aug 23, 2018
- 1 min
Welcoming Actor Dennis Marin to the Blue Carpet!
Our latest celebrity presenter is well-known Detroit-based actor Dennis Marin! Marin has a long list of credits to his name, and we are absolutely thrilled that he can now add "2018 I See You Awards® Presenter" to his resume. Just how extensive is his experience in the film industry? Check out his IMDb page to see for yourself! Welcome to the Blue Carpet, Dennis! We are so happy to have you! For anyone who hasn't gotten their tickets yet, there's still time. Thursday, Aug
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Aug 13, 2018
- 2 min
Breaking Up is Easy?
At least according to "One Bedroom" it is. But, moving out is hard. "After five years of ups and downs, an African American 30-something couple in a gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood spends their final afternoon together arguing and remembering better days, as one of them moves out and hopefully on with her life." That's the film's synopsis. And it's another one of the independent films that will be showing on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at the Emagine Theater
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Terri Lee Chandler
- Aug 13, 2018
- 1 min
"Detroit Under STRESS" to Screen at the I See You Awards®
"Detroit Under STRESS is a film to further the discussion about police, communities, and crime. There is no easy answer, and all solutions have consequences; it is up to the people to decide what consequences they can live with and what consequences are necessary." - David Van Wie, director "Detroit Under STRESS" is a documentary that "tells the story of the Detroit Police S.T.R.E.S.S. (“Stop the Robberies. Enjoy Safe Streets”) Unit that operated from 1971-1974." It is one of
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