Black Future 2020
HBCU Students Launch Four Short Films Through Beats Program

HBCU Program Update

Enjoy a diverse array of films tackling themes and issues within the Black experience.

After working tirelessly for three months to bring their stories to life, the film students in Beats’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities initiative, “The Black Future Creator Program,” have dropped four short films that speak on issues in the Black community, ranging from changing the landscape for student athletes, to the traumas of police brutality.

Black Future 2020 invited HBCU creatives from all over the country to collaborate with Beats on everything from filmmaking and product design, to sports editorial writing, providing the students with mentorship and support as they brought their stories to life on Beats’ platform.

To select the film students, Beats fielded hundreds of applications and film pitches before selecting these 6 filmmakers and their incredible ideas. The ideas they presented were fully funded by Beats.

The filmmakers were then guided by creatives, filmmakers, producers and editors from the Beats team, who guided them through the entire filmmaking process. From creative development and screenwriting, to editorial, sound design, and special effects.

Students in the program have full ownership of their films, allowing them to submit them to festivals and other opportunities as they please.

We've put all their final films here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Enjoy a diverse array of films tackling themes and issues within the Black experience.

After working tirelessly for three months to bring their stories to life, the film students in Beats’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities initiative, “The Black Future Creator Program,” have dropped four short films that speak on issues in the Black community, ranging from changing the landscape for student athletes, to the traumas of police brutality.

Black Future 2020 invited HBCU creatives from all over the country to collaborate with Beats on everything from filmmaking and product design, to sports editorial writing, providing the students with mentorship and support as they brought their stories to life on Beats’ platform.

To select the film students, Beats fielded hundreds of applications and film pitches before selecting these 6 filmmakers and their incredible ideas. The ideas they presented were fully funded by Beats.

The filmmakers were then guided by creatives, filmmakers, producers and editors from the Beats team, who guided them through the entire filmmaking process. From creative development and screenwriting, to editorial, sound design, and special effects.

Students in the program have full ownership of their films, allowing them to submit them to festivals and other opportunities as they please.

We've put all their final films here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Enjoy a diverse array of films tackling themes and issues within the Black experience.

After working tirelessly for three months to bring their stories to life, the film students in Beats’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities initiative, “The Black Future Creator Program,” have dropped four short films that speak on issues in the Black community, ranging from changing the landscape for student athletes, to the traumas of police brutality.

Black Future 2020 invited HBCU creatives from all over the country to collaborate with Beats on everything from filmmaking and product design, to sports editorial writing, providing the students with mentorship and support as they brought their stories to life on Beats’ platform.

To select the film students, Beats fielded hundreds of applications and film pitches before selecting these 6 filmmakers and their incredible ideas. The ideas they presented were fully funded by Beats.

The filmmakers were then guided by creatives, filmmakers, producers and editors from the Beats team, who guided them through the entire filmmaking process. From creative development and screenwriting, to editorial, sound design, and special effects.

Students in the program have full ownership of their films, allowing them to submit them to festivals and other opportunities as they please.

We've put all their final films here for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Black Future
Stricken
In Arion Kidd-Weeks’ comedic-yet-inspiring film “Stricken,” Tyler Mads demands peace of mind from the man upstairs after being overwhelmed by headlines and anger. When he’s struck by lightning, Tyler finds that he has the power to alter perception.
Stricken
In Arion Kidd-Weeks’ comedic-yet-inspiring film “Stricken,” Tyler Mads demands peace of mind from the man upstairs after being overwhelmed by headlines and anger. When he’s struck by lightning, Tyler finds that he has the power to alter perception.
Stricken
In Arion Kidd-Weeks’ comedic-yet-inspiring film “Stricken,” Tyler Mads demands peace of mind from the man upstairs after being overwhelmed by headlines and anger. When he’s struck by lightning, Tyler finds that he has the power to alter perception.
Sounds of War
Jazmin Johnson’s haunting film "Sounds of War" is a juxtaposition piece that explores her own personal, blissful world of whimsical fantasy and the anxiety that her and other Black people adopted from age-old wounds of injustice.
Sounds of War
Jazmin Johnson’s haunting film "Sounds of War" is a juxtaposition piece that explores her own personal, blissful world of whimsical fantasy and the anxiety that her and other Black people adopted from age-old wounds of injustice.
Sounds of War
Jazmin Johnson’s haunting film "Sounds of War" is a juxtaposition piece that explores her own personal, blissful world of whimsical fantasy and the anxiety that her and other Black people adopted from age-old wounds of injustice.
Club Alli
In the Turner Brothers’ sci-fi thriller “Club Alli,” a family of foster siblings executes a plan to infiltrate and disrupt a secret meeting of the most powerful in their city to deliver a message.
Club Alli
In the Turner Brothers’ sci-fi thriller “Club Alli,” a family of foster siblings executes a plan to infiltrate and disrupt a secret meeting of the most powerful in their city to deliver a message.
Club Alli
In the Turner Brothers’ sci-fi thriller “Club Alli,” a family of foster siblings executes a plan to infiltrate and disrupt a secret meeting of the most powerful in their city to deliver a message.
Bigger Than Me
In filmmaking duo Derrick and Erick Wheeler’s emotive “Bigger Than Me,” a five-star high school football recruit is challenged with a tough decision after being inspired to change the entire sports realm forever.
Bigger Than Me
In filmmaking duo Derrick and Erick Wheeler’s emotive “Bigger Than Me,” a five-star high school football recruit is challenged with a tough decision after being inspired to change the entire sports realm forever.
Bigger Than Me
In filmmaking duo Derrick and Erick Wheeler’s emotive “Bigger Than Me,” a five-star high school football recruit is challenged with a tough decision after being inspired to change the entire sports realm forever.
Black Future

Check out this article to meet the rest of the Black Future Creator Program class of 2020. The Black Future Creator Program class of 2021 will be starting early next year. If you're an HBCU student or recent grad looking to learn how you can be a part of this incredible program, please reach out to blackfutures@beatsbydre.com.

Check out this article to meet the rest of the Black Future Creator Program class of 2020. The Black Future Creator Program class of 2021 will be starting early next year. If you're an HBCU student or recent grad looking to learn how you can be a part of this incredible program, please reach out to blackfutures@beatsbydre.com.

Check out this article to meet the rest of the Black Future Creator Program class of 2020. The Black Future Creator Program class of 2021 will be starting early next year. If you're an HBCU student or recent grad looking to learn how you can be a part of this incredible program, please reach out to blackfutures@beatsbydre.com.

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