A community of filmmakers
The Nollywood Workshops was founded by a team of filmmakers based in the United States and Nigeria, and will expand to include a community of filmmakers around the world.
Robert Caputo, Founder
Bob Caputo co-produced the documentary “This is Nollywood” with Executive Producer Franco Sacchi in 2007. After a career with National Geographic largely focused on stories in Africa, he came away convinced that Nollywood offers hope for a country and continent with too few positive stories. The experience inspired him to develop the Nollywood Workshops to offer peer-to-peer training to support local filmmakers in making a difference in their communities.
Bob is currently producing a National Geographic Special about the upcoming Fenway Park centennial for broadcast on PBS March 26, 2012. In addition to ongoing documentary projects for National Geographic and other broadcasters, he also produces films about development projects in Africa, such as child nutrition and pastoral risk management programs.
As a veteran filmmaker and photojournalist for National Geographic TV and Magazine, Bob’s work has ranged from documenting traditional cultures and wildlife to covering wars, famines, and political strife. Assignments in Africa, Asia, South and North America included text and stories about the Nile, Congo, and Orinoco Rivers, HIV/AIDS in Uganda, and an in-depth look at the troubled Horn of Africa. He was also the subject of a National Geographic Explorer film, “Zaire River Journey.”
He has won awards from NPPA (National Press Photographers Association) Pictures of the Year, Communication Arts, and The Society of American Travel Writers Foundation (The Lowell Thomas Award). His photographs have been displayed internationally in the exhibition “Odyssey: The Art of Photography at National Geographic.” Solo shows: “Horn of Africa” in Perpignan, France, “Recent Works” in Birmingham, Alabama, and “Shoot to Thrill” at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. Bob holds a BFA from New York University Film School. www.robertcaputo.com
Amy Wray, Founder
During her career as an Emmy Award winning film producer for National Geographic and other television broadcast companies, Amy has traveled extensively to make films about scientific and cultural subjects. Highlights included summiting a 21,000 peak in the Andes for a film on Inca human sacrifice, an expedition to the headwaters of the Orinoco River in the Amazon Rainforest for a film on Yanomami Indians, and a journey 1000 miles up the Congo River to the geographical heart of Africa.
She is currently co-producing a National Geographic Special on the centennial of Fenway Park for broadcast on PBS March 26, 2012. She also recently produced National Geographic Wild’s 5th rated show for 2011, “Lions Vs. Cheetahs,” about the rivalry between the big cats in Tanzania’s Serengeti.
Her career has included public relations and program development work with non-profits including Greenpeace and The Sierra Club. In addition to producing documentaries, she currently does business development and marketing consulting for a number of business clients.
Franco Sacchi, Executive Director
Born in Zambia, Franco directed, and co-produced with Robert Caputo, the documentary “This is Nollywood,” which inspired the creation of the Nollywood Workshops. Franco directs and produces films for NGOs and universities with a focus on economic development and Africa. He is committed to film education, and has developed curricula and served as an instructor in workshops all over the world. He currently teaches editing and directing and is filmmaker in residence at the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University.
Franco directs, produces, and edits independent documentaries on a range of topical subjects. His feature length documentary “Waiting for Armageddon” was released theatrically and on DVD in 2010, the product of a grant from Sundance Documentary Institute and the Foundation for Jewish Culture. His 2007 documentary “This is Nollywood,” won the Audience Award at the Abuja International Film Festival (Nigeria) and was broadcast internationally. “American Eunuchs,” his first feature length documentary as director/producer/editor, aired on the Sundance Channel in the US and was an official selection in dozens of film festivals including the prestigious International Documentary Film festival in Amsterdam (IDFA). Between 2002 and 2005 Franco collaborated with numerous news magazines of RAI International (Italian Public Television) as a reporter/producer/editor. Franco graduated in political science at the University of Bologna. He received a Masters of Arts in Visual Arts at Emerson College in Boston, MA. www.francosacchi.com
Bond Emeruwa
“We are telling our own stories in our own way, our Nigerian way, African way,” Bond says. “I cannot tell the white man’s story. I don’t know what his story is all about. He tells me his story in his movies. I want him to see my stories too.”
Bond is a prolific Nollywood Producer and Director, currently serving a second term as President of the Film Director’s Guild of Nigeria. He was the producer of the film “Check Point,” which was featured in the documentary “This is Nollywood.”
During production Bond opened our eyes to the need for training and support for filmmakers in Nigeria, and insists that Nigerian filmmakers are conscious of the responsibility they have toward their society – he says they feel an obligation to “put a message in there.” The Nollywood Workshops were created to provide both the technical training that filmmakers desire, as well as capacity building in social messaging that will allow filmmakers to effect positive change in Africa. Bond is currently in pre-production for the Workshop’s first Nollywood feature film, which includes a storyline related to child nutrition and women’s empowerment. The shoot is scheduled for June/July 2010.
Aimee Corrigan
Aimee Corrigan is a producer, photographer and social innovator driven by the potential of new media. As Director of Social Media at the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University (BUCDIA), Aimee oversees social media strategy, digital community outreach and online courses and programs. Aimee also supports partnerships between media students and non profit organizations in Boston, Washington, DC and beyond.
Through BUCDIA’s Practicum program, Aimee has provided media consulting for hundreds of organizations worldwide, including Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Hospital and the American Red Cross.
Aimee’s current leadership roles also include New Media Consultant for the Life is good Kids Foundation and Communications Adviser for the Kenya Aid and Relief Effort. Aimee has worked in communications for several NGOs including the Panos Institute and Action for Southern Africa.
In 2006, Aimee was the Associate Producer and Photographer for the award-winning documentary film, “This Is Nollywood”. Aimee’s recent short documentary, “A Break In the Clouds“, exploring the impact of Hurricane Katrina on children and teachers, is currently screening at festivals nationwide. Aimee’s photography and video work has been published by the United Nations, BBC Online, the Boston Globe, TED.com, Current TV and Wired Magazine. Aimee is also a staff photographer for Life is good Inc.
Aimee graduated from Colorado College with a BA in Philosophy and African Studies in 2002. She is currently completing her Masters Degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, with focus on Technology + Innovation.