Big Picture Alliance’s mission is to empower Philadelphia youth to define their own narrative through filmmaking & digital media arts. We provide transformative learning experiences and a supportive pathway for youth to have their voices heard, develop as young professionals and reach their full potential. We aim to uplift & amplify marginalized voices and cultivate a new generation of storytellers who contribute towards a more inclusive, equitable and just society.
BPA was founded in 1996 by Jared Martin (Actor/Director) & Jeffrey Seder (Entrepreneur) as a filmmaking apprenticeship program for underserved youth. In its first fifteen years, BPA expanded its programs across 6 council districts including partnerships with schools, cultural institutions, and social service agencies. In 2013, BPA partnered with the School District of Philadelphia to design, develop & implement a digital storytelling curriculum – ‘resulting in improved academic achievement and exemplary skill development’ (Rand Corp. 2014). BPA then brought this programming to hundreds of youth across Philadelphia through dozens of new school & community partnerships.
In 2015, youth explored the impact of gentrification in west Philadelphia through “Stories from the Promise Zone”, a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Philadelphia. In 2017, youth documented their journey using DNA to trace their African Ancestry in “We Are Sankofa”, winning Best Youth Film at BlackStar Film Fest. In 2018, BPA launched Via Lux Media, a youth-led media collective producing independent films and an annual youth film fest. In 2020, BPA created the CoVid Resiliency Project – an Emmy Award winning web-series created by and for Philly youth as a virtual space to share stories and information during the pandemic. In 2021, BPA launched Film & Media Futures – a workforce program that prepares young creatives for careers in film & media, and places them at paid industry apprenticeships.
Since 1994, BPA has served over 9000 youth through 165 partnerships resulting in academic achievement, 106 scholarships, 255 internships, and 950 films, 80 of which are award-winning. We’ve helped cultivate a generation of young artists and professionals who have gone on to pursue careers in the film & media.
Executive Producer and Founder, Maestro Filmworks
