Film for Impact

The Story Behind the Juneteenth Film — Rasool Berry on Identity, Lament & Liberation

This conversation moved me — and I believe it will move you too. I had the deep joy of sitting down with Rasool Berry, the filmmaker behind Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom, for a rich and layered discussion about freedom, identity, and the power of storytelling within the context of faith and culture. We explore the historical implications of slavery, the significance of Juneteenth, and the profound role media plays in shaping cultural narratives. Rasool also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film — from funding and cross-country production to the creative distribution model that helped it reach hundreds of thousands. We also talk about lamentation — something we don’t discuss enough — and how it can be a gateway to healing. We reflect on the power of Scripture, the process of deconstruction, and what it means to walk in identity when the world tries to tell you otherwise. Rasool is one of those rare people you just want to listen to. He’s insightful, grounded, and deeply inspiring. Whether you're a filmmaker, a believer, or someone searching for a deeper understanding of the world — this episode is for you. What We Talk About: * What it really takes to make a cross-country film — on a tight timeline * Funding, producing, and distributing a documentary for real-world impact * Why Juneteenth is more than a date — it’s a call to remember and reclaim * The role of lamentation in healing generational pain * How our identity in Christ can free us to live boldly * Why personal stories matter more than ever Watch the Juneteenth Film: https://www.pbs.org/video/juneteenth-faith-freedom-ap4dcr/ Juneteenth Film Resources: https://www.odbm.org/campaigns/juneteenth Learn more about Rasool’s work: https://www.rasoolberry.com/ Interested in hosting a screening? [Insert link] Key Takeaways * Freedom is a central theme in both faith and culture. * Juneteenth marks a vital moment in the history of liberation. * Storytelling shapes how we see ourselves and our world. * Lament is not weakness — it's part of spiritual wholeness. * Scripture invites us into both justice and joy. * Deconstruction can be a holy invitation to rediscover truth. * We must hold pain and hope together in our faith journeys. Chapters 00:00 — Introduction to Rasool and His Work 04:05 — The Journey to the Juneteenth Documentary 08:17 — The Role of Family in Filmmaking 12:38 — Funding and Distribution in Film 17:07 — Exploring Faith and Freedom in Juneteenth 21:07 — The Impact of the Juneteenth Film 31:20 — Exploring Faith and Identity 32:33 — The Process of Deconstruction 34:12 — Jesus and the True Nature of Faith 38:13 — The Power of Scripture and Liberation 41:23 — Understanding Justice and Identity 43:05 — The Challenge of Holding Dual Realities 46:12 — Lamentation and Its Importance 51:04 — The Legacy of Pain and Hope 56:12 — Proclaiming Freedom and Identity 58:15 — The Path to Spiritual Freedom 01:07:39 — Understanding Identity and Its Importance 01:15:22 — Practical Steps to Live in Freedom Keywords: freedom, identity, Juneteenth, faith, media, storytelling, lamentation, cultural narratives, historical context, personal stories

How to create memorable performances with actress and producer Lizette Hunter

In this episode of Film for Impact, I got a chance to interview the amazing actress Lizette Hunter about her role in the film Hermanita and her journey as an actress and raising a family. We discuss the process of creating the film, the importance of representation and cultural authenticity, as well as the impact of storytelling. Lizette shares her experiences as a mother and how she balances her acting career with family life. We dive deep on the importance of following your dreams, having a strong support system, and not comparing yourself to others. Watch the interview on Youtube! Connect with Lizette IG: Lizette__Hunter IMDb: Lizette Hunter *************************************************************************** Want more inspiring content directly to your inbox? Go to dijarenuka.com [http://dijarenuka.com] and sign up for my weekly letters called The Creative Spirit Learn more about my latest feature film at http://coffeebeansandlove.com LET’S CONNECT website: http://dijarenuka.com [http://dijarenuka.com] IMDb: http://imdb.me/dijarenuka IG: dijarenuka Tik Tok: @dijarenuka twitter: dijahenry pinterest: dijarenuka Facebook: dijarenuka Linkedin: Dija Renuka Film for Impact Podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/5906c6eb-2933-445b-9ab7-969c3c9ee2f5 Nerdy Information Camera: iPhone 14 Camera Canon t4i Lighting: Natural ********************************************************** Dija Renuka is an actress, filmmaker, educator, and creator who tells stories to inspire audiences to connect with themselves, take divine action, and spark change in the world. For the past two decades she has been working in multi-media content creation but where she shines is creating original content through a social impact entertainment lens. For the past two decades she has been creating and teaching art programs to underserved youth. She holds a BA in theater and Biomechanics and a Master’s in Social Practice Art. She is currently working on her faith-based feature film called Coffee Beans and Love. Learn more at http://coffeebeansandlove.com

How to Fight Injustice with Film

Have you ever wondered how film can make a REAL impact in this world? Well my next guest is the real deal. In this episode, I sit down with Mark Steenbarger, the founder and CEO of Point of View Stories, a groundbreaking film production company that creates short narrative films for therapeutic purposes. Mark shares how he drew inspiration from parables in the Bible to develop compelling story structures for his films. We dive into the concept of the "third wheel" and its connection to trust issues faced by survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Mark's journey into filmmaking for trafficked individuals reveals the profound impact these films have on their healing process. Discover how storytelling can be a powerful tool for therapy and learn about Mark’s vision for collaborating with agencies and creatives to make a real difference. If you're passionate about how to make a film with purpose or filmmaking for impact, this episode is for you! Takeaways: Using parables as a story structure can create powerful and impactful narratives. The concept of the "third wheel" can be used to explore trust issues and relational dynamics. Films can be a therapeutic tool for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, helping them unpack trauma and rewire beliefs. Getting involved in creating films for impact requires collaboration with agencies and individuals with lived experience. Find out more at http://pointofviewstory.com Hit subscribe and ring the bell to stay updated on all our latest episodes! Join our community on Facebook called Believers in Entertainment. ********************************************************* Watch the podcast on Youtube!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfHID_LkhABiMfQcVioxTcw?sub_confirmation=1 Want more inspiring content directly to your inbox? Go to dijarenuka.com and sign up for my weekly letters called The Creative Spirit Learn more about my latest feature film at http://coffeebeansandlove.com LET’S CONNECT website: http://dijahenry.com IG: dijarenuka Tik Tok: @dijarenuka twitter: dijahenry pinterest: dijarenuka Facebook: dijarenuka Linkedin: Dija Renuka

What American Fiction teaches us about mental health with Dr. Jennifer Noble

In this episode of Film for Impact, I'm thrilled to be joined by my friend Dr. Jennifer Noble, a psychologist and educator specializing in marginalized communities. Together, we dive deep into the compelling film 'American Fiction' and its profound impact. Follow the journey of a frustrated novelist professor whose satirical book gets mistaken for serious literature by white publishers. Our conversation navigates through intricate themes of identity, depression, and societal pressure to conform to stereotypes. We explore the critical need for authentic representation in cinema, advocating for more diverse narratives. We tackle the daunting dilemma faced by artists: creating commercially successful work versus pursuing personal fulfillment. Venturing into the challenges of portraying genuine experiences on screen, we confront the necessity to challenge stereotypes on all levels. Our dialogue also delves into the complexities of internalized racism and the profound influence of media representation. As we dissect the film's conclusion, we unravel its multi-layered and thought-provoking nature, leaving listeners with profound insights and food for thought. Connect with Dr. Jennifer Noble website: https://www.drjenntherapy.com IG: @drjennpsych ************************************************************* Are you a creative spirit and need some encouragement in your journey? Click the link to receive The Creative Spirit Newsletter for bi-weekly encouragement straight to your inbox: The Creative Spirit: https://dijarenuka.myflodesk.com/thecreativespirit Are you a Christian working in or hope to work in the Entertainment Industry? Join our Facebook group called Believers in Entertainment. We get together virtually once a month to pray over our careers and encourage each other. Believers in Entertainment: https://www.facebook.com/groups/139875432706999 Looking for some free resources to kickstart your creativity? Click here! Struggling with comparison in the sea of people? Check out my book "I Dare You to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others." available on Amazon ***************************************************************** SUBSCRIBE! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfHID_LkhABiMfQcVioxTcw?sub_confirmation=1 Want more inspiring content directly to your inbox? Go to dijahenry.com/connect and sign up for my weekly letters! Learn more about my latest feature film at http://coffeebeansandlove.com LET’S CONNECT website: http://dijahenry.com IG: dijarenuka Tik Tok: @dijarenuka twitter: dijahenry pinterest: dijarenuka Facebook: dijarenuka Linkedin: Dija Renuka Film for Impact Podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/5906c6eb-2933-445b-9ab7-969c3c9ee2f5 Nerdy Information Camera: iPhone 14 Camera Canon t4i Lighting: Natural ********************************************************** Dija Renuka is an actress, filmmaker, educator, and creator who tells stories to inspire audiences to connect with themselves, take divine action, and spark change in the world. For the past two decades she has been working in multi-media content creation but where she shines is creating original content through a social impact entertainment lens. For the past two decades she has been creating and teaching art programs to underserved youth. She holds a BA in theater and Biomechanics and a Master’s in Social Practice Art. She is currently working on her faith-based feature film called Coffee Beans and Love. Learn more at http://coffeebeansandlove.com

Create Impact with Your Film with Sarah Mosses CEO and Founder of Together Films

Timestamps 0:00 - Find out how I met Sarah! 00:55 - Find out who Sarah is and hear her amazing bio! 2:15 - Hear Sarah’s philosphy on the internships at Together Films 2:57 - Find out when Sarah first fell in love with films 4:41 - Sarah shares a cool little story about her musical background 5:53 - Find out how Sarah started to discover the power of film and impact 10:00 - Find out how Sarah started her own social impact entertainment company Together films 15:41 - What Together Films does is AMAZING but with any company there can be challenges. Find out what those were and how Sarah overcame them 18:47 - As we push forward in the fields of filmmaking we know that technology is going to increase in importance. Hear how Sarah implements tech in her business and leverages it to help the artists that she serves 21:47 - Sarah drops platinum nuggets on when filmmakers should get started on their impact campaigns. On top of it she drops gems for practical strategies to get started! 26:10 - Find out how you can work with Together films! 29:08 - Find out who are little surprise Film for Impact guest was! 30:03 - Find out where you can find Sarah online! If you are a filmmaker looking to make an impact with your film you have come to the right place! Today we have the amazing Sarah Mosses who the CEO and Founder of Together Films. She is going to drop gem after gem today so you don't want to miss one second of what she has to say! Sarah's Bio: Sarah Mosses is the Founder & CEO of Together Films, a marketing, distribution, and technology company serving the international film community from our offices in London & NYC. She has acted as the Head of Marketing for leading Film Festivals including Sheffield DocFest (Sheffield, UK), DOC NYC (NYC, US), Human Rights Watch Film Festival (London, UK & NYC, US), and the Athena Film Festival (NYC, US). She is passionate about serving filmmakers to increase their social impact, reach, and revenue for multi-award-winning titles like For Sama, Unrest, The Tale & Roll Red Roll. She also helps a variety of industry and brand clients to optimize their business performance through technology and operational support, such as Sony, Patagonia, and the Documentary Producers Alliance. Sarah recently graduated from the prestigious Inside Pictures film leadership course and was selected for the Mayor of London's International Growth Programme (including trade visits to NYC & LA). Sarah will support strategy development. Where you can connect with Sarah: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmosses Website: http://togetherfilms.org Personal website: Sarahmosses.com Mentioned in the podcast: Inside Pictures: https://nfts.co.uk/inside-pictures Doc Society: https://docsociety.org/ Good Pitch: https://goodpitch.org/ Global Impact Producers: https://globalimpactproducers.org/ International Documentary Association: https://www.documentary.org/ SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfHID_LkhABiMfQcVioxTcw?sub_confirmation=1 Are you a creative looking for help to overcome resistance in your creative practice? Go to dijahenry.com/connect and sign up for my weekly letters! Learn more about my latest feature film at http://coffeebeansandlove.com LET’S CONNECT website: http://dijarenuka.com IG: dijarenuka Tik Tok: @dijarenuka Threads: http://threads.com/dijarenuka pinterest: dijarenuka Facebook: dijarenuka Linkedin: Dija Renuka Film for Impact Podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/5906c6eb-2933-445b-9ab7-969c3c9ee2f5 Nerdy Information Camera: iPhone 14 Camera Canon t4i Lighting: Natural Podcast platforms: Riverside.fm ********************************************************** Dija Renuka is an actress, filmmaker, educator, and creator who tells stories to inspire audiences to connect with themselves, take divine action, and spark change in the world. For the past two decades she has been working in multi-media content creation but where she shines is creating original content through a social impact entertainment lens. For the past two decades she has been creating and teaching art programs to underserved youth. She holds a BA in theater and Biomechanics and a Master’s in Social Practice Art. She is currently working on her faith-based feature film called Coffee Beans and Love. Learn more at http://coffeebeansandlove.com