Help Black Girl, Bleu Prepare for Streaming!

Hello, my name is Sharee Silerio, and I'm a St. Louis born and raised writer and award-winning filmmaker who tells stories where Black women and girls exist as full human beings on screen and feel seen, heard, loved and affirmed beyond the screen. My film and television credits include projects on cable and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Oxygen, Comedy Central, MTV, Prime Video and more.

 

My latest project is a short documentary titled "Black Girl, Bleu", which was born from my personal challenges with mental health, particularly anxiety, depression and grief. The film features candid interviews with Black women - from a teacher to a community organizer and an entrepreneur - about how the "Strong Black Woman" stereotype impacts their mental wellness. Take a look at the official trailer below, or visit our website for more info.

 

Over the past year, BGB has been selected to screen at film festivals across the U.S., including the African American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, the Denton Black Film Festival, The Micheaux Film Festival, the BronzeLens Film Festival, and the Imagine This Women's International Film Festival.

 

Black Girl, Bleu has also won multiple film festival awards, from Outstanding Special Programming (The Micheaux Film Festival) to Best Mental Health Promotion (Believe Psychology Film Festival), and an Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Short (St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase).

 

When it comes to BGB, I have BIG dreams. One is for it to screen on the the Oprah Winfrey Network or Issa Rae's YouTube channel. The other is to have its digital home on a streaming platform such as HBO or Netflix.

 

My faith is through the roof, so I'm CLAIMING and BELIEVING that it is DONE!

 

To get ready for one or all of these opportunities once they present themselves, there are a couple of things I need to do: secure music licensing and hire an audio mixer.

 

As a first time writer-producer-director, I didn't realize that the fees to include music in films were so expensive, so when I raised funding for the film in 2018, music licensing was not a part of the budget. I also didn't know that I'd need audio mixing. The budget mainly focused on renting a studio to film in, equipment, crew meals and incidentals.

 

Despite what I didn't know, I was DETERMINED to do everything in my power to make this vision a reality…because I needed it...WE needed it!

 

Still, for Black Girl, Bleu to legally show on the Oprah Winfrey Network, become available on Netflix, or even stream on YouTube, I have to purchase a license for each music track in the film (there are five tracks, at $700 a piece), plus hire someone to get the audio ready for streaming (between $500 and $1,000).

 

See the image below for a breakdown of what's needed.

I'm going to be transparent here and let you know that since I was laid off this year and am still looking for a full-time job, I need help raising the $4,500.

The truth is that BGB wouldn't have gotten this far - being accepted into several festivals, winning multiple awards, plus earning a 4.8-out-of-5-star rating without each and every one of you offering your time, resources and/or encouragement to help make BGB a reality.

 

It would be an honor for you to invest in Black Girl, Bleu's future by ensuring the film can be viewed any and everywhere God has planned for it to be.
 

If you are unable to send funds, please feel free to share this campaign with your family, friends, loved ones and film lovers.

 

I appreciate your love and support!

 

Sharee Silerio

Writer, Director + Producer | Black Girl, Bleu