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Black Pop

Black Pop

IU CI Studios White and color NBC universal logo
IU CI Studios White and color NBC universal logo
Color and white Peacock logo
Color and white NBC logo
Purple E Entertainment logo

Celebrating Black Culture

We are honored at C&I Studios to be entrusted by NBC with the task of capturing the essence of African American excellence in pop culture, sports, media, music, and film through Black Pop, an interview-style production for their E! channel.

 

With our expertise in visual storytelling and a deep understanding of the impact of black culture on American society, we aimed to create a television production that would celebrate the profound and enduring influence of black culture on the fabric of our nation.

BlackPop H.E.Rl Black and white on set with crew and video camera in the foreground

Watch the Trailer

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Black culture. It starts a trend and everybody else thinks it's cool. Shows, movies, music, sports... It is our time. Black culture is not just about the final product. It's about our journey. After everything we've been through as a Black culture, we're still here, still standing, still strong. That's a lot to be joyful for. Shaft was basically the first Black superhero. This was a big budget film and it was like, OK, now they get a chance to see what we can do. Motown. You saw how influential Black music could be. Those songs were anthems for a movement. Yes, I too was a soul train dancer. Think of a sport where there are no Black people. Add some Black people. Does it not get more exciting? "I am the greatest" and I want to be special like Muhammad Ali. I love to see these girls finally getting folks to sit in the stands and to support them. When you talk about people flocking to tennis, it's because of them. Candace Parker. She went back home and she won a chip. Are we talking about it as much as Lebron? That made him the goat. I said it! Prince did whatever he wanted to do. He touched all on himself while he was dancing, but we loved him because his soul came out in his music. MTV Spring Break was doing s*** that only Black people did at Freaknik. Oh, y'all went to Freaknik? Freaky ass. You think John Singleton didn't understand the power of Ice Cube. You can be raised in the hood but you don't have to be hood. I'm a product of that. In Living Color gave us a different kind of cultural identity. J Lo was discovered by Black people. I mean Flo Jo was the s***. It was a look but she backed it up on the track. If we work together, shine together, we'll only amplify our culture. We have an impact. It's unavoidable to watch anything without seeing it. We are the blueprint. Give us our flowers and that's that on that. It's a good time to be Black.

“I love stand up and it keeps me grounded, to say the stuff I have been thinking without anyone changing it.”

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER

“I love stand up and it keeps me grounded, to say the stuff I have been thinking without anyone changing it.”

– CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER

Black Pop Cedric the Entertainer headshot sitting on a white couch smiling wearing a black hat and gray shirt
Black Pop Cedric the Entertainer headshot sitting on a white couch smiling wearing a black hat and gray shirt

“I’ve always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire, but for me, it’s also been about confidence and faith.”

STEPH CURRY

“I’ve always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire, but for me, it’s also been about confidence and faith.”

-STEPH CURRY

Black Pop Steph Curry side profile headshot
Black Pop Steph Curry side profile headshot
Black Pop Steph Curry side profile headshot

“As long as you’re happy with yourself, you won’t worry about what others have to say. You should matter first.”

DA BRAT

“As long as you’re happy with yourself, you won’t worry about what others have to say. You should matter first.”

-DA BRAT

Black Pop Da Brat closeup headshot
Black Pop Da Brat headshot of her posing for the camera

A-List Production

Our experienced team worked closely with NBC executives and the talent, ensuring open lines of communication and mutual respect throughout the process. From the initial planning stages to the final delivery, we meticulously coordinated every aspect to ensure a smooth and seamless production that exceeded industry standards.

 

By carefully managing production schedules, locations, and logistics, we created an environment where the celebrities felt comfortable and supported, allowing their true stories and experiences to shine.

Black Pop Laila Ali headshot with her talking to the camera sitting in a beige chair
Black Pop Stephen A Smith headshot wearing a light blue suit talking to the camera looking off to the side
Black Pop HER headshot with her smiling
Black Pop Blair Underwood headshot of him smiling looking off to the side with a white piano behind him
Black Pop Coco Jones headshot of her smiling wearing a light green jean jacket and jean shorts
Black Pop Aloe Blacc headshot of him posing for the camera wearing a blue leather jacket, beige pants and a black hat
Black Pop Loretta Devine headshot of her talking
Black Pop Tank headshot of him smiling
Black Pop Erika Campbell headshot of her talking
BlackPop Sugar Ray Leonard CIS headshot of him talking
Black Pop Pam Oliver closeup headshot of her talking sitting in a green velvet like chair
Black Pop Boris Kodjoe headshot
Black Production Power

As a Black-owned production company, we couldn’t be more honored to have played a role in bringing this significant project to life, and we eagerly anticipate the positive reception and lasting legacy it will create.

 

We are thrilled to witness the culmination of our efforts as this groundbreaking show reaches audiences worldwide, inspiring and enlightening viewers with its authentic storytelling and celebration of Black excellence.

Behind The Scenes

Black Pop – NBC Universal

Sherri Papini

White Sherri Papini Title logo

Watch the Trailer

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Dualing Documentaries

Our studio had the privilege of collaborating with NBC on the high-profile documentary, “Sherri Papini: Lies, Lies, and More Lies,” which aired on NBC’s true crime network, Oxygen, on December 17, 2022.

 

We were hired to capture new footage to help tell the story of the entire journey, from crucial interviews to pivotal moments such as Papini’s appearance in a Sacramento courthouse before and after receiving her subsequent 18-month sentence.

A Streamlined Solution

NBC approached us for this project while we were shooting a docuseries with them called Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture. This new production was time-sensitive as it was happening in real time and NBC needed a crew that could be a one-stop solution to fill their production need. Hiring C&I Studios afforded the NBC line producer a streamlined pathway to jumpstart the production in one fell swoop.

IU Sherri Papini Kelli Saam headshot
IU Sherri Papini Veronica Alegria headshot
IU Sherri Papini Missy MacArthur headshot
IU Sherri Papini RV Scheide headshot
IU Sherri Papini Araceli Guierrez headshot
IU CI Studios Sherri Papini Trailer still

Perfect Delivery

Our team is flexible and able to adapt complex production schedules to meet any need. We were able to shoot all interviews across several locations and film the pivotal courthouse footage in time to deliver the media to NBC so their team could edit and launch the documentary on time.

 

It is no small feat, shooting multiple productions at once, but that’s the kind of thing we do every day at C&I Studios. Consider us for your next production and let’s see what we can do together.

The Story of Charlie Villanueva

White Charlie V The Story of Charlie Villanueva A Video Documentary Series Logo

What is Alopecia?

The Story of Charlie Villanueva

What is Alopecia? is the first chapter of a video documentary series about former NBA star, Charlie Villanueva. The video documentary was produced for NBA SeasonX.

 

Charlie Villanueva is a longtime friend of the studio. We’ve worked with him on a number of projects in the past and most recently on our History Matters series where he shares the life and legacy of Michael Jordan. This video documentary not only covers the life and career success of Charlie Villanueva, but it also raises awareness on alopecia, a condition in which hair loss is experienced in specific areas or more commonly throughout the entire body.

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young charlie villanueva
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Redefining Strength Through Alopecia

Alopecia, though physically painless, causes immense psychological stress. This is something that Charlie Villanueva dealt with his entire life. Though he overcame the obstacles imposed by alopecia by making a professional career in the NBA, he continues to live with the burden. In this first chapter, Charlie V shares his experiences and bonds with others dealing with alopecia. This uplifting and informative documentary series is the first of its kind. We expect that it will change perspectives on this uncommon and misrepresented ailment while shedding light on the life and psyche of Charlie Villanueva.

Side profile of woman with the condition posing by windows
Charlie Villanueva wearing a grey sweatshirt sitting on a couch with girl and woman with the condition
Charlie Villanueva wearing a black shirt
Woman with the condition wearing a flowery shirt

Sportsblog

SPORTSBLOG

Side profile of an African American man with goatee
SPORTSBLOG

A Video Documentary Mini Series

Ed Davis from the Portland Trailblazers was inspired to create a two-part video documentary series about sports and its impact on the youth. Pulling from personal experience, Ed David shares an insightful and genuine narrative on how sports shape the lives of young adults. Using sports camp as the setting, Ed Davis blends the experiences of the youth with those of his past to create a story that unites the past with the present day.

 

This short documentary mini series uses Ed Davis as a pillar to attract viewers but diverts the story away from his character to focus on the youth and the role of sports in their life, which is a powerful message. His status as an NBA professional player gives his words authority and he uses that to share an uplifting story set in Richmond, Virginia.

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Closeup of Rudy Gay with a goatee talking to a crowd of children in a gym
Rudy Gay posing with a little boy for the camera with another man and two boys looking on
View of Rudy Gay poised to make a shot on a basketball court with people around him on the court
View from behind of Rudy Gay shooting a basket on the basketball court with people on it in the background
Boy approaching the hoop with a basketball with many other players on the court behind him
A group of men playing on a basketball court
Aerial view of a basketball court with players doing practice drills
Ed Davis wearing a gray t shirt and black shorts sitting and looking down

Jedidiah Learning Steps

White Jedidiah Learning Steps logo
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Jedidiah Learning Steps Video Documentary

Jedidiah Learning Steps is a nonprofit school on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia that offers children and teens free schooling and educational services. Their vision for united and prosperous Zambia begins with the children. They trust in the power of knowledge and have pledged to instill likeminded respect for schooling in their students. Jedidiah Learning Steps was started by Sifelani Mwale in 2010. At first, her school had 25 students. It has since grown to well over 300 students! They are in the process of building a fully functioning school building to give the children more comfort and space to grow.

 

We filmed the following video documentary for Jedidiah Learning Steps through our 501c(3) nonprofit organization, C&I Reach. We wanted to shed light on their ongoing mission and inform viewers about life in Zambia. We filmed this video documentary during our first trip to Jedidiah Learning Steps so it plays much like an origin story. Being there, getting to know and experience life in Zambia firsthand, added a lot of authenticity and accuracy to our documentary.

 

We used this video documentary production to help Jedidiah Learning Steps market their brand. To succeed they need to attract the global spotlight. This video is a great start in achieving just that. If you’d like to help Jedidiah Learning Steps build their brand new school, please visit our website and donate.

Group of African American children in a classroom
Group of African American children standing in line
View of many children and adults
Two African American boys playing bongo drums in front of a lot of children and adults
Two African American boys and a girl in a classroom with a teacher showing them something on a computer
Group of African American children sitting in chairs posing for the camera

Flutemaker Ministries

White Flutemaker Ministries logo
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Flutemaker Ministries Documentary

Flutemaker Ministries is a nonprofit organization based in Nicaragua. They were founded in 2013 with a mission to provide families and children of Nicaragua a life beyond necessity through humanitarian work that teaches craftsmanship, agriculture, and life skills. Their work has helped lift communities out of poverty. They have created the framework of a self-sustaining community in which the citizens work together to help each other and create remarkable opportunities for future generations.

 

Through our 501c(3) nonprofit organization C&I Reach, we filmed the following documentary for Flutemaker Ministries, which explains their origin story and how they are building a promising future through independence and hard work. The documentary film introduces the organization by providing background on one of the original founders, Pastor Carlos. From there, we take the viewer on an adventure through the Nicaraguan countryside, showing how one small organization with outstanding purpose has changed the lives of so many by giving them the tools to govern their lives.

 

We produced this documentary free of charge to empower Flutemaker Ministries to share their story with the world. Through marketing and awareness, we aim to point a spotlight on this small corner of the world so that even more people volunteer and donate to their ongoing mission.

The Bag Maker

Flutemaker Ministries holds that craftsmanship is the path to independence. By teaching practical trade skills, they empower the citizens in their community to shape their place in society. This is a major theme of Flutemaker Ministries’ work in Nicaragua. We wanted to pay tribute to this practical philosophy with a thematic short that plays off their documentary video.

 

This short video functions as a trailer of sorts. The moody, slow-motion style captures the viewer’s attention. The drama of the scene plays on their emotions. The vintage appeal keeps them attentive. All of these sensations make the viewer want to learn more about the organization. We found that this segue increased viewership and user engagement, which, ultimately, was integral to the success of the overall marketing campaign.

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