Dubbed “The Black Sundance,” the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) is an annual 4-day celebration of Black Cinema drawing together established filmmakers, popular film and TV stars, writers, directors, industry executives, emerging artists, and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. HBFF’s INFOTAINMENT CONFERENCE features a wealth of informational panels and workshops covering a wide variety of topics which include: film production, distribution and marketing, pitching, writing for television and film, in addition to specific programs designed to inform and educate actors.
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Upon graduating from USC, Amber Rasberry started her career in music video and commercial production with HSI Productions in Los Angeles, working with such directors as Paul Hunter, Little X, Hype Williams, David LaChapelle, and Sam Bayer. Making the transition from video to film she moved to Naa’ila Entertainment with auteur Hype Williams where she worked on videos for Jay-Z, LL Cool J, No Doubt, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, Method Man, dozens of others. As assistant to Mr. Williams she established her foundation in the film industry, as facilitated through his production deal with New Line Cinema. Concurrently she expanded her base in music video production as a freelance music video rep for A Few Miles North Productions, landing director Erik White’s first video for Epic recording artist PYT. Always looking for new challenges and opportunities, Amber joined the State St. Pictures team as assistant to the VP of Development and Production, where she worked on the box office hit, BARBERSHOP, BARBERSHOP 2 and ROLL, BOUNCE. As Production and Development Associate, Rasberry established the film development division of Simmons Lathan Media Group, a multimedia partnership between hip hop godfather Russell Simmons and legendary television director, Stan Lathan. She also managed music video director Little X and secured his feature film debut as 2nd unit director/director’s consultant for dance film HOW SHE MOVE. Ms. Rasberry was in the film development department at New Line Cinema where she assisted in the development of SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE and RUSH HOUR 3 with Sr. VP Kathy Busby.
Currently, Amber is Director of Development at 34th St Films, a subsidiary of Tyler Perry Studios, where she identified Academy Award winning film, PRECIOUS, at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival for acquisition. She was a production executive on the feature film adaption of Ntozake Shange’s seminal play FOR COLORED GIRLS, and the upcoming film WE THE PEEPLES with Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington and David Alan Grier.
