Fresh Films produces films, TV shows and documentaries while training youth and young adults in all aspects of film production. Fresh Films readies people for future careers in the industry by giving them what they need most: Practical hands-on work experience on a real-set.
Youth and young adults work and train on-set of Fresh Films’ films, TV shows and documentaries rotating through all key roles to gain experience and their IMDb credit. It’s the real work experience that sets Fresh Films alums apart and gets them hired. Fresh Films’ productions include The Filmmaker Lab, a documentary produced with Hello Sunshine and Reese Witherspoon that trained 41 diverse young women to learn documentary filmmaking. Fresh Films’ feature film The Stream starring Rainn Wilson released in theaters and currently on streaming platforms had 120 trainees working on the film set. Emmy-nominated Detectives Club which launched on WTTW engaged trainees in all aspects of production, and stars Tim Kazurinsky, an Evanston native who starred in Saturday Night Live and Police Academy. Other productions include documentary I AM disABLEd, which premiered in November 2022.
Fresh Films alumni include Golden Globe winner Ramy Youssef (creator of Ramy on Hulu) who trained in the Fresh Films program from 2009-2011 starting at age 16. 20% of our Alumni since 2004 continue to work in the industry at Discovery, HBO, Marvel, NBC, BET, Warner Bros, Disney, Nickelodeon, at advertising agencies, social media companies, in eSports and beyond.
For 20 years, Fresh Films has been transforming the lives of underestimated young people through dynamic skills-building experiences that prepare them for success in the creative economy and beyond, and that facilitate future economic mobility.
Access to hands-on, immersive experiences in the creative industries are often restricted to those with connections to the entertainment sector, and/or those living in proximity to media hubs. Fresh Films is democratizing this access so that career opportunities in high-growth and high-wage fields are equitable and inclusive for all!
How? Students get hands-on experiences working every job involved in video production. Teen participants do not simply receive a camera and get turned loose. Instead they apprentice under the close mentorship of professionals and college interns while working on a set of real Emmy-nominated productions: films, television shows and documentaries. Teens also learn through school or after-school via Fresh Films’ year-long curriculum that meets state and national educational standards.
The relevance of film often sparks an interest in students not triggered by traditional studies and prepares them for internships, further education, and careers in the media and entertainment industry that include film and video production at traditional Hollywood companies as well as social media and video departments at nonprofits and companies like Best Buy.
Our participants are of all ethnicities, genders and backgrounds, are 66% youth of color, 57% female, and 55% from low-income school districts. Youth apply to the program with passion and commitment, no previous experience necessary. The program starts in high-school because research shows us that youth of color and young women do not think they are capable of working in media or entertainment, so we need to engage, mentor and build their skills early-on to build that groundswell of diverse talent.
Our Mission
Fresh Films’ (aka Dreaming Tree Foundation) mission is to change the trajectory of underserved youth through engaging them in the creative and technical processes of filmmaking; filmmaking is our vehicle for mentorship, leadership and workforce development among teens.
Fresh Films participants never need previous experience or a particular GPA, just a desire to learn. The program is always free to youth to remove participation barriers. Students engage with hands-on opportunities allowing for self-expression and realization of their capabilities as they are guided by mentors, many of which are program alumni, and supported by peers in a collaborative environment that builds experience in all aspects of film and media, in a rapidly growing high-wage career field needing more diverse representation.
As a production studio and training ground, we provide amazing industry connections, mentorship opportunities, corporate internships, and pathways to college and careers in the ever-growing creative economy that is experiencing an 11% job growth; including by not limited to the film and entertainment industries.
We Are
Approachable
Inclusive
Connected
Engaged
Collaborative
Colorful Fun
We Value
Perseverance
Grit
Trying Hard
Pushing Yourself
Staff & Contact
Kelli Feigley
Founder, Managing Director & Executive Producer
kellifeigley@freshfilms.org
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Estlin Feigley
Founder, Film Director & Head of Creative
estlinfeigley@freshfilms.org
Teri Yago-Ryan
National Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships
teriyagoryan@freshfilms.org
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Amber Mathias
Head Film Editor
ambermathias@freshfilms.org
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Kelsey Conley
National Program Director
kelseyconley@freshfilms.org
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Peter Munene
Regional Program Manager, East
petermunene@freshfilms.org
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Amy Blommer
Production Manager
amyblommer@freshfilms.org
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Hope Martinez
Regional Program Manager, West
hopemartinez@freshfilms.org
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Toni Midderhoff Miller
Engagement Director & Head of Marketing
toni@freshfilms.org
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Katie Rea
Admin
katierea@freshfilms.org