DON'T FALL DOWN IN THE HOOD

Dianne R. Thompson is an award winning freelance filmmaker working primarily in the Philadelphia area. She is a master story-teller and has won acclaim for her documentary, corporate/industrial and broadcast television productions.

Thompson has worked both nationally and internationally producing fund development and marketing videos for outreach organizations throughout Africa and Latin America. She continues to work with faith-based and community organizations, assisting them in producing high quality, affordable media.

Beginning her filmmaking career as an editor, Thompson's first collaboration, “The Elaine, Arkansas Race Riots of 1919”, was honored with the National Association of Black Journalists’ Award of Excellence and the Pegasus Award of Excellence.

She next co-produced and edited the feature documentary, The Shame of a City, which won “Best Independent Feature” in the 2006 Philadelphia Film Festival - Festival of Independents. Thompson was also one of two cinematographers on the film.

Thompson's directorial debut, DON'T FALL DOWN IN THE HOOD, examines the issue of juvenile violence and homicide. Through compelling behind the scenes footage and revealing interviews, the film gives a voice to youth so often reduced to statistics, and is in the end, an encouraging story of hope and the possibility of change.

Ms. Thompson has been awarded several grants, including a 2008 Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, for the production of DON'T FALL DOWN IN THE HOOD.