A Letter from Cinematography For Actors

When we founded Cinematography for Actors, it was because we saw a gap—filmmakers entering an industry with talent and ambition, but without the infrastructure or transparency needed to sustain a career. From the beginning, we knew education alone wasn’t enough. Real change required partnerships with organizations doing complementary work inside the same ecosystem.

​

That’s what drew us to The Reel Champions.

​

TRC shares our belief that access must be paired with advocacy, and that representation only matters if people are supported once they’re in the room. Their focus on mentorship, equity, and bridging creatives with decision-makers aligned naturally with CFA’s role as an early-stage incubator for filmmakers navigating development, production, and beyond.

This past year marked the start of that collaboration. Bringing The Reel Champions mentorship program into the CFA ecosystem will allow both organizations to expand their reach quickly and meaningfully. Our partnership works because it’s practical. CFA provides infrastructure, resources, and fiscal support, while TRC continues to lead with its mission-driven programming and advocacy.

 

Looking ahead, we see this partnership deepening in ways that matter: expanded mentorship, stronger educational resources for emerging executives, and larger community-facing events that connect creatives to real opportunity. More importantly, we see a future where filmmakers are supported not just creatively, but structurally.

​

We’re proud of what we’ve built together so far, and even more excited about what’s next. Growth like this doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through trust, shared values, and a willingness to build something sustainable.

​

Thank you for growing with us!

Inde + Hae

Founders, Cinematography for Actors Institute