Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists.
 

Logline

Mo Show paints an unexpected picture of Chattanooga, Tennessee, through the eyes of a young black filmmaker who guides us through the personal stories of the folks in his world. From his Confederate-flag-flying neighbor to the Iraqi refugee across town, Mo wants to connect every part of his still-segregated southern city.

Synopsis

Mo Show is a short documentary web series that paints a new picture of Chattanooga, Tennessee, through the eyes of one of its most dynamic residents: a young black filmmaker who lives in a trailer park at the edge of town.

Each ten-minute episode is a self-contained window into a different slice of life, and Mo’s our guide. From his Confederate-flag-flying neighbor to the Iraqi refugee across town, Mo wants to connect every part of his still-segregated southern city, highlighting the people and places often left out of Chattanooga’s up-and-coming, tech-hub narrative.

Mo brings us an insider’s exploration of Chattanooga: The inside of a trap house. The floor of a factory where refugees work. Deep into the forests near Mo’s trailer park. He introduces us to gang members, sex workers, refugees, and his grandmother, who share their stories: from near-death experiences to profound and unexpected moments between strangers.

And throughout the series, Mo’s own personal history unfolds as he fights to bridge the gap between his dreams and his reality: to prove to the world—and to himself—that no one should have to leave Chattanooga to thrive.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Annie Huntington — Co-director/DP/Editor
Annie Huntington is a cinematographer, editor, and voiceover artist living in Chattanooga, Tennessee, specializing in documentary production and commercial editing.

Since 2012 she’s shot and edited spots for clients like Air Jordan, Disney, Organic Valley, and Office Depot. She was Director of Photography for Organic Valley’s “Save the Bros” campaign, which was named AdAge’s Best Integrated Campaign of 2016.

Annie’s first film, Coming and Going (co-director, DP, editor), won Best Documentary at the 2017 Atlanta Indie Film Festival.

Annie is one-half of the creative collective Cool Baby.

Clay Thomas — Co-director/Producer
Clay Thomas is a producer, director, media strategist & buyer, with experience since 2011 working on national and international commercial campaigns for brands like HISTORY, Nike, Nivea, Oral-B, and Organic Valley.

Over the past three years, Clay’s been developing his creative career as a documentary filmmaker and producer. In 2017, Clay was a co-director on the documentary short Ale Vini, which screened at festivals in New Orleans, Nashville, and Atlanta, and was awarded Best Documentary at the 2017 Atlanta Indie Film Fest.

Most recently, he completed work on the short film Singer’s Pond, an animation based on an interview with philosopher Peter Singer, which is slated for release in late 2019. In addition to Mo Show, Clay is also currently in pre-production on a feature doc about climate change and the food industry.

Clay is one-half of the creative collective Cool Baby.

Mo McDowell — Producer/Writer
In addition to being the main subject and on-screen guide of the Mo Show series, Maurice “Mo” McDowell is on board as a producer and writer, shaping the content and logistics of the production. His footage, connections, and relationships guide each episode, and animated sequences built around the stories he tells will help create a narrative background for the entire series.

Mo is the founder and main creative force behind Lil Mo Films, his one-man production house based in Chattanooga. He’s made music videos for local Chattanooga artists like Maal the Pimp, as well as videography on films like the 2019 documentary 32, about criminal justice in the Chattanooga area, told from the perspective of those arrested.

Laura Gamse — Advisor
Laura Gamse is an award-winning director and a Fulbright Grant recipient from Arlington, Virginia. Her documentary, The Creators: South Africa through the Eyes of Its Artists, was named Best Documentary at the 2011 National Geographic Society’s All Roads Film Festival. She’s now producing and directing The Misfit Economy, an exploration of the world’s underground economies, and Brigidy Bram: The Kendal Hanna Story, a doc whose shorter incarnation won the Bahamian Oscar for Best Short Film.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.