Indeed

While we know talent is universal, opportunity, especially for people in the film industry, is not. Data shows that BIPOC directors remain critically underrepresented in Hollywood and in commercial spaces. Recent UCLA reports show that only around ~14% of directors of theatrical films are BIPOC, despite making up over 40% of the country.

So, Rising Voices was born out of the question “What would happen if Indeed took the production budget for a national TV spot and instead invested it in 10 up and coming BIPOC directors to create short films about the future of work. To get the program right, Indeed partnered with Lena Waithe, her production company Hillman Grad Productions and 271 Films to structure and launch Rising Voices. Not only does the program provide proper funding, giving each filmmaker a production budget of at least $100k for their short film, but it also provides mentorship and creative guidance to help build sustainable pathways to careers in filmmakers.

Rising Voices redefined corporate impact by investing in underrepresented filmmakers, creating 2,500 jobs, launching 40 films, leading to securing multiple million-dollar feature film grants, and earning 200+ festival wins. By redirecting ad budgets into real career opportunities, Indeed proved that storytelling and job creation can drive both industry change and brand success.