Georgia Southern Department of Communication Arts assistant professor selected as fellow for Southern Producers Lab

April 27, 2020

Abbey Hoekzema, Georgia Southern assistant professor of multimedia film and production, was one of 10 fellows selected for the 2020 Southern Producers Lab.

Produced and presented by the New Orleans Film Society, the program is designed to bring new producers from around the South together for intensive workshops, discussion panels, mentoring sessions and community building. They meet with industry leaders and established producers to discuss funding and finance, story development, festival strategy and other aspects of producing.

“The program allows us to get critical feedback on our specific films as we continue to develop the projects,” said Hoekzema.

Hoekzema is a documentary producer and the director of DOC Savannah, which is an organization that serves nonfiction filmmakers and the communities of the coastal empire and the low country in Georgia and South Carolina through documentary film.

This year, due to COVID-19, the first meeting for Southern Producers Lab was a virtual gathering held mid-April.

“In the age of COVID, having a support network like this is important for navigating uncharted waters,” said Hoekzema. “Every project in the lab has been affected by current events and we can talk with each other about challenges we’re facing with our work.”

Selected fellows will receive travel support, for planned trips to New Orleans and New York. They also receive a $2,000 project support grant. The other fellows are from all across the southern United States, from Texas to Kentucky.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.