OurmissionatIronLightLabsistoempowerpurpose-drivenpeopleto changetheworld.Thisannualnonprofitimpactreportcapturesourinitiatives andimpactin2022andoutlinesourmomentumheadedinto2023.
INTRODUCTION
NASHVILLE SUMMIT
YOUTUBE FILM FESTIVAL
CONTENT INCUBATOR
WHY FILMS MATTER
ORIGINAL CONTENT
FREE TO CARE
THE HONG KONGER
FORBIDDEN TO SEE US SCREAM IN TEHRAN
TheIronLightLabs'NashvilleSummithasbecomeapremiereeventfor influentialchangemakersfromacrossthepoliticalspectrum.Nashville
Summitprovidesanintimatethree-dayjourneythatchallengesattendees tothinkdifferentlyandviewtheworldthroughanewlens.Nashville Summitisinvite-onlyandattractsmorethan200attendeesfromvarious backgroundsincludingentrepreneurs,investors,philanthropists, storytellers,policyinfluencers,andartists.
TheNashvilleSummit featurespremierespeakers suchas:
TimBrown,chairmanof IDEO
DeannaBrown,former presidentofBillboard DavidEagleman,author, neuroscientistandadvisor totheTVseriesWestworld JasonSylva,futuristand thehostofNatGeo’sBrain Games
MarkNormand,comedian ScottDikkers,founderof TheOnion
HarrisonScottKey,author andhumorist
NateStaniforth,author andmagician
Thiseventisdesignedtodisruptthetraditionalpolicyconferencemodel. NashvilleSummitinspiresasenseofcreativitybybringingattendeesfaceto-facewithindividualswhoseliveshavebeentransformedbypolicy changeandthebusiness,policy,andcreativeleaderswhomadethat changepossible.Weconnectpeoplefromsocioeconomic,professional, andideologicalbackgroundsinordertofacilitatecollaborationsthatwill resultinlastingsocialchange.
NashvilleSummit’sYouTubeFilmFestivaldemonstratestheroleof documentaryfilmsandimpactcampaignsinshapingcultureand changinglaws.Impactcampaignsisanindustrytermthatreferstothe processofusingafilmastheprimarytooltoadvocateforpolicychange. The2022YouTubeFilmFestivalshowcasedfilmsaboutoccupational licensingandcriminaljusticereform,governmentoverreach,andhuman rightsandfreespeechinHongKong,CubaandIran.
Outcomesofthe2022NashvilleSummit:
Seedfunding($25,000)andlegislativesponsorstochange nursinglicensinglawsinColoradopreventingindividuals withafelonyconvictionfrombecominganurse. AresolutionfromtheUNtoinvestigateIranforhumanrights violations.TheNashvilleSummitspeakerassociatedwithour Iranianfilm,ForbiddentoSeeUsScreaminTehran,formeda coalitionofwomenwholobbiedthepresidentoftheUN HumanRightsCouncil,Amb.FedericoVillegas.
PastorLeeRobbins,featuredinourFirstWeekOutfilm,raised $500,000topurchaseatransitionhomeforindividuals returningfromprisoninGeorgia.
“Theinspirationtothinkboldlyandoutsidethebox.”
—ChristineCzernejewski,MarketingatBradleyFoundation
“Thereareabunchofgenuinelypassionateandresourceful organizationsgoingtheextramiletomaketheworlda betterplaceinarefreshingvarietyofways.”
—RekLeCounte,PartnershipsatGoogle
“Can'tthankyouenoughforincludingme.Aweeklaterthe speakersarestilltopofmind.”
—ChrisNieratko,VansMarketing&CreatorforESPNandVICE
“ThistrulywasoneofthebestconferencesI'veattended.It wasagreatcombinationofinspiration,human-centered programming,andtoolstoamplifymyownwork.”
—MollyFratianne,PartnershipsatFIRE
“Blownawaybytheconversationsandcommunityhereat theSummit.Wecancorrectandhealthepolarizationdivide —andthisisagroupofpeoplethatcangetusthere.”
—ToddConnor,founderofBunkerLabs
WhatpeoplearesayingaboutourNashvilleSummit:IronLightLabstakestheuniqueapproachofidentifying powerfulstoriesandelevatingthemthroughdocumentary shorts,featurefilms,andepisodiccontent.TheIronLightLabs teamiscomposedofentertainmentindustrytalentwitha formerheadofproductionforSuperBowlcommercials,a producerofmarketinganddistributionforAmazon,Starz, Sundance,andTribecafilms,andabullpenofcomedians,VFX specialists,directorsofphotography,andstorytellers.Thisteam takesaneuroscienceapproachtomessagingsothatourideas stickwiththeirintendedtargetaudienceandhumanizeabstract policytopics.IronLightLabsisabletoidentifythebest messengerstoconnectwithaudiencesandwillutilizethis frameworkwithinanarrativearc.
Filmscommunicatestoriesthattouchheartsandmove minds,especiallyondifficultpolicyorculturalissues.
Filmsfeaturesubjectswhoarerelatableandtriggerthe “empathyswitch.”
Filmscanbeleveragedbeyondwheretheyaremadeto inspirepolicychangeacrossthecountry.
Filmscanbescreenedatfilmfestivals,whichprovidea muchwider,moreculturallysignificantvenueforourideas thansimplyuploadingthemtoYouTube.
Filmscanalsowinmainstreamfestivalawards,liftingthem toanewlevelofprestige.
Wedevelopcontentusingthethreee’s:entertainment,education andemotion.Withourguidance,ourpartnerorganizationslearn tocreatetheirowncontentthatattractspersuadablecitizensin largenumberstojointhediscussion,andultimatelycompelthem toact.
Greatcontentwithouteffectivedistributionhaslittleimpact.With amyriadofplatformstoreachpeople,particularlyonsocial media,itiscriticalthatourpartnershavetheskillsand knowledgetoeffectivelydisseminatetheirstories.Alotof organizationscreatecontent,buteffectivedistributioncoupled withanimpactcampaigncanleadtolong-termresultsand reachamuchbroaderaudiencemoreeffectively.Weteachour partnershowtousetherightplatformstoreachtheright audiencestoachievetheirmissionswhilesavingthemtimeand resources.
Thisyearwe’reusedamajorplatformthatismostlyuncharted territoryforfreedomactivists:documentaries.Inrecentyears documentarieshavealmostexclusivelyadvancedprogressive ideas.
IronLightLabsisdemonstratinghowtoproducedocumentaries thataddressimportantpolicyissueswithoutbeingovertlypolicy related,andhowtomovethosedocumentariesforwardtoreach therightaudiences.Weshowpartnershowpatiencetopursue filmfestivalsandotheraccoladeswillultimatelyprovideamuch greaterimpact.
IronLightLabsisleadinganimpactcampaignaroundouroriginalfilm,FREE TOCARE.TheshortdocumentarytellstheinspiringstoryofLisaCreason. WhenLisawas19,sheattemptedtorobalocalbusiness.Shehadnoplan,no weapon,andnogetawaycar.Itwasanactofdesperationtofeedherinfant daughter,andresultedinacriminalrecordshecouldn’tescape.At34years old,Lisawantedtoprovideabetterfutureforherchildrenandenrolledin nursingschool–acareersheispassionateaboutandhadanaptitudefor. Whilestudying,however,IllinoispassedalawthatwouldhavepreventedLisa frombecominganurse,duetohercriminalrecord.Lisarefusedtoacceptthis future.Sheteamedupwithherlocalstatethinktank,IllinoisPolicyInstitute. Togethertheybeganfightingtoothandnailtooverturnthelaw–andthey succeededwithin15months.Becauseofherdetermination,todayLisaworks asaregisterednurseandhaspurchasedherfirsthome.
ButLisa’sstorydoesn’tendthere.Asshesharesinthefilm,“onepersoncan startamovement.”WhileLisasucceededinIllinois,manystates unfortunatelystillhavebarriersforAmericanswithcriminalrecords.
Thousandsofformerlyincarceratedpeoplearepreventedfromworkingas healthcareprofessionals,barbers,bartenders,cosmetologists,landscapers, anddozensofotherprofessions.
“Oneperson canstarta movement.”
LISA CAN'T BE A NURSE IN 15 STATES DUE TO LISA CAN'T BE A NURSE IN 15 STATES DUE TO HER CRIMINAL RECORD: HER CRIMINAL RECORD:
Therearestill15stateswhereLisacouldnotbeanursetodaybecauseofher criminalrecord.IronLightLabs’impactcampaignisleveragingourFREETOCARE filmasatooltotellLisa’sstory,localizetheissue,andhelpchangethelawinthose 15states.OurtargetstatesareTexas,MassachusettsandColorado,whereweplan tochangethelawin2023.
Thatiswhyitwasimportant,aspartofourimpactcampaign,thatin2022we premieredFREETOCAREatMountainfilminTelluride,Coloradoandwonthe audienceawardattheprestigiousAustinFilmFestival.ATier1festivalamongthe likesofTribecaandSundance,Mountainfilmhasa15percentacceptancerate.We werethrilledtobeabletotakepartinthisprestigiousfestivalandkickstartour impactcampaigninColorado.Wehavealsoteamedupwithlocalbusinessesthat employformerlyincarceratedindividualstohelpidentify“localLisas.”
Anotherimportantpieceofourimpactstrategyispartneringwithnational nonprofitsthatdevelopmodellegislationthatcanhelpreducethebarriersformerly incarceratedindividualsface.Oneofournationalpartnersrecentlytoldus“IwishI wouldhavehadthisdocumentaryinallofourtargetstatesduringthislegislative session”becausetheyseeourfilmassuchaneffectivetoolfortheirwork.
IronLightLabspartneredwithTheActonInstitutetoproducetheirfeature film,THEHONGKONGER.
ThefilmhighlightsHongKong’shostilitytowardfreedomofthepress, freedomofexpression,andhumanrightsthroughthelensofprominent HongKonger,JimmyLai.
Ourteamisoverseeingthemarketinganddistributionofthefilmandwe havebeenthrilledwiththemovie’ssuccess.In2022thefilmscreenedat filmfestivalsinHongKong,Tokyo,India,recentlyitwonBest DocumentaryFeatureattheAnthemFilmFestival,andNationalReview calledthefilm“profoundlyinspiring”afterviewingthemovieatour screeningattheU.S.CapitolBuildingwithMembersofCongressand theirlegislativestaff.
Belowisaphotoofthemovie'slegislativescreeningattheU.S.Capitol BuildinginWashington,DCin2022.
ForbiddenToSeeUsScreaminTehranisashortfilmbyIraniandirectorFarbod Ardebili,andisjustaslightglimpseofsomeofthechallengeswomenfaceinIran, withafocusonthehindrancesfacedbymusiciansinparticular.IronLightLabsdid thebrandingofthefilm,providedamarketinggrantforfilmfestivalsubmissionand advisedonthefilm'sdistributionstrategy.
Thisshortlive-actionfilm,whichwasshoton-siteinTehran,depictsthe frontwomanforanIraniandeathmetalbandthatriskseverythingassheplotsto callthecopsonherownundergroundconcertinthehopesthattheraidwillhelpher secureherasyluminanothercountry.
GiventhesituationinIran,thisfilmisaverypowerfuleducationaltoolinsupportof freespeechinIran.ThefilmmakerusedWhatsApptoremotelydirectthefilm,which wasfeaturedinBBC. IronLightLabsorganizedascreeningofthefilmatthe WhatsAppofficeinWashington,DCwithpolicyinfluencersandtechindustry leaders.
Thefillmmakter,FarbodfledhisnativecountryandmovedtoLosAngelessohe couldfreelydocumentthosestruggles.
"IdecidedtomakethefilminIran,andIdirectedit throughWhatsAppfromhere,"saidArdebili."Butthe realownersofthefilmarethebravepeopleinIran whoshotthefilminthestreets."
Forwomen,singingpubliclyisillegalinIran.Farbodwhoisamusicianhimself, wantedtoshowtheworldthedepthsofthatpain.Hehasalsoexperiencedhisown formsofsuppression."Iknowwhatitistobesilenced,"hetoldtheBBC."Iwas silencedfordecades.Icouldn’tmakethemoviesIwantedtomake.Ihadametal band.Wewerenotallowedtoreleaseouralbum,putonconcertsorselltickets." That'swhymakingmusicandmoviesmeanssomuchtoArdebili,whoaddedthat hecherisheshisfreedomandstandsasanallywithhisIraniansisters.IronLight LabshelpedFarbod’sfilmqualifytobeconsideredforthe2022Oscars.Hehopesthe filmwillbringmoreaccountabilityandchangeforhiscountry."That’smymain purpose,totellstoriesand,maybe,beavoicetothevoiceless."
IronLightLabsalsowantedtocreatecontentaroundtheharmfuleffectsofthe government’sCOVID-19restrictions.Todothis,wepartneredwithvery nontraditionalmessengers—comediansandcomedyclubowners—tocreatethe featurefilm,“2020:AComedySpecial.”Wefollowedcomediansandcomedyclub ownersacrossthecountryandsawhowthepandemicandregulationsdidn'tstop comedy;itreinventedit.
Ascities,states,andentirecountriesreactedtotheCOVID-19pandemic, restaurants,bars,andothersmallbusinesseswereforcedtoshuttertheirdoors. Amongtheindustriescutofffromtheworldwasliveentertainment—andfor comedians,comedyproducers,andcomedyvenuesspecifically,thatposeda challenge.Adaptordie.Witholdmodelsdestroyedbythevirusandgovernment regulations,theentirewaytodelivercontenttocomedyfanshadtobere-thought. Thecomedyworldscrambledtofindawaytosurvive—andintheprocessmay havestumbledonnewcreativegroundthatwillchangethegameforever.
Humorcutsthroughthevast,crowdedarenaofideastocaptureattention.The audiencefor“2020:AComedySpecial”comesforthehumorandleavesthefilm withanunderstandingoftheeffectthatCOVIDrestrictionshavehadonsmall businessowners.Theyalsoleavewithanappreciationforthepowerofadaptation
Asanexample,oneofthesenontraditionalmessengersthatIronLightLabsworks withisLarryWilliams.Larryspent42yearsinprisonandwefollowedhisfirstweekof freedomtocreatetheoriginalshortdocumentary,FIRSTWEEKOUT.Thisfilmwasin partnershipwiththeAtlasNetworkandfeaturedtheworkoftheGeorgiaCenterfor Opportunity(GCO).RatherthanfocusdirectlyonGCO,IronLightLabssoughtout nontraditionalmessengerstohumanizethepolicyissuesofcriminaljusticereform andre-entry.Wetoldthestoryofthepeoplebehindthepolicynumbersbyfocusing onLarryWilliams’experience.
Everyweek,10,000AmericanslikeLarryexperiencetheirfirstweekoutofprison. Withinthreeyears,two-thirdsofthosereleasedfromprisonarerearrested.Inthe caseofFIRSTWEEKOUT,IronLightLabswasabletohighlightthebarrierstore-entry thatthoseleavingprisonface,particularlyintheirfirstweek.WetoldLarry’sstoryto encourageviewerstojointhethousandsofpeopleandorganizationsacrossthe countryhelpingindividualslikeLarrybeattheoddsandreducerecidivism.
IronLightLabshasseentremendoussuccesswithourapproachtoelevatingthe storiesofnontraditionalmessengers.FIRSTWEEKOUThasbeenacceptedtoover50 filmfestivalsin11countries,includingtheprestigiousRhodeIslandFilmFestival (RIIFF).RIIFFisaqualifyingfestivalfortheAcademyAwardsandourfilmwaschosen fromover6,700submissionsfrommorethan98countries.(Witha4percent acceptancerate,RIIFFishardertogetintothanHarvard!)Filmfestivalsarean importantpieceofourstrategybecausetheyareaproxyforimpactonthebroader culture.
Fordecades,thecenter-rightmovementhaslagged10yearsbehindthe center-leftinitsuseofmarketingtechniquesandadoptionofadvanced technologytoeffectivelyreachandengageaudiencestoachievepolicy victories.
ThenonprofitIronLightLabsisbothanindustryleaderinadoptingemerging technologiesforfreemarketpolicyoutcomesandaddressingthemarketing talentgaponthecenter-rightbyrecruiting,training,andsupporting individualswhowill“level-up”thelibertymovement’scapabilities.Thesetwo activitiesareessentialtobeabletocompeteintoday’sattentioneconomy towardtheobjectiveofimprovingthelikelihoodoffree-marketpolicy successes.
Specifically,ouruniqueExpertsinResidenceprogramrecruitsindustry expertsfromagenciesandothermarketingcompaniestoemploythemin bothtrainingandpracticingadvancedmarketingstrategiesandtactics. Theseadvancedskillsareneededtocompeteinthecrowdedmedia landscapesuchasVirtualReality(VR),andvariousothercutting-edge media.
IronLightLabs’ExpertsinResidencewillhelpbuildthecapabilitiesofour nationalpartnersacrossthefree-marketpolicyworldandtraintheminthe areasofeffectivemarketingstrategies,filmproductionandimpact campaigns.Thisskillsetwillhelptheseorganizationsgenerategreater awarenessandassistinconveyingeffectivelyfree-marketpoliciesto policymakers,regulators,andthegeneralpublictoachievereform.
IronLightLabsisbecomingthelibertymovement’sleaderintheuseofVirtual Reality(VR)toeducateandinspireaudiencestoadoptfree-marketpublic policysolutions.Thisenablesustodeliverourpartnersacrossthefreemarketpolicyworldeffectivemarketingstrategies,impactfulcontent,and customizeddistributionthatgeneratesgreaterawarenessandassistsin effectivelyconveyingfree-marketpoliciestopolicymakers,regulators,and thegeneralpublic.With15%ofAmericansusingVR,weseekthesupportof SearleFreedomTrusttocatapultthecenter-right’suseofVirtualReality(VR) technologiestoevokereactionsinsupportoffree-marketpolicysolutions amongnewaudiences.
Channel Street Skatepark is an iconic DIY (do it yourself) skatepark in San Pedro, California with a robust, supportive community of skaters of all ages. The only problem for Channel Street is DIY is technically illegal, and city officials moved to shut it down. But these skaters wouldn’t accept losing their sanctuary. They entered the legal process and fought to keep Channel Street thriving. Visit their community virtually to see what they’ve fought for, and learn more about the mission to keep DIY alive.
This piece uses virtual reality (VR) technology to tell the story in a way that gives the viewer a glimpse into what “was” to motivate them to imagine what “could be.” Anchored by interviews with survivors and descendants of Black Wall Street, this VR experience recreates scenes from Greenwood, Oklahoma. This powerful content reframes the past narrative of Tulsa and restores it to what it should be: one of the greatest communities ever to exist in American history because of the power of the free market.
IronLightLabsisanaward-winningnonprofitfocusedonR&Dforsocial impact.Thenonprofitiscalled“Labs”becauseitexperiments,innovates andteststodiscoverthebestwaytodrivechange.IronLightLabsis buildingafuturewherestorytellersleapoutoftheirechochambersto partnerwitheffectivemessengers,changemakersexperimentwith emergingmedia,andeveryonemeasureswhatmatters.Hereareafew ofour2023projectsthatweareexcitedtosharewithyou.
We'relaunchingapodcastcalled“AnArmyofNormalFolks”that’shosted byOscar-winnerBillCourtney(UndefeatedonNetflix&Prime).It’sbasedon Bill’spowerfulvisionthat“Ourcountry’sproblemsaren’tgoingtobesolved byabunchoffancypeopleinnicesuitstalkingbigwordsonCNNandFox, butbyAnArmyofNormalFolksjustdecidingIcanhelp”.Webelievethatit hasthepotentialtoinspireamovementoftensofmillionsofAmericansthat changesthecountry—simplybyeachofusdoingwhatwecan.
InpartnershipwithAmericanFederationforChildren,this filmwillhighlight thecurrentfailuresofoureducationsystemandshowviewerswhythey shouldbedissatisfiedwiththestatusquo.Viewerswillleavethefilmwitha clearunderstandingofwhatthechallengesaretocreatemoreoptionsin education,butalsowiththeknowledgethatthereformsarepossible.
JasonSpyresservedanunreasonablyharsh15-yearsentenceforselling cannabisbutmiraculouslygotanewleaseonlife,graduatingfromStanford andbecomingatechentrepreneur.Butevenashestartedimpressivenew beginningsandlawsonmarijuanausechangedaroundthecountry, governmentsrefusedtoforgivehim.Thefilmhelpsreframethethinkingthat incarceratedpeoplearenotsmart.Jasonlearnedmathinprisonthrough KhanAcademyandafterprison,hetransferredfromcommunitycollegeto Stanford,wherehemajoredincomputerscience.
The2023NashvilleSummitwillfeatureentrepreneurs,storytellersand creators.Allofwhomunlockthepowerofcreativitytomaketheworlda betterplace.
175hand-pickedattendeeswillgoonajourneytothinkdifferentlyand viewtheworldthroughanewlens.Eachpresentationisdesignedtoinspire asenseofcreativityandteachnewmethodsforreachingnon-traditional audiences.
The2023NashvilleSummitwilltakeplaceWednesday,October25to Friday,October27andwillfeatureafilmfestivalonWednesdaynightata horseranch,engagingspeakersonThursday,rooftopmimosasand networkingonFridayand,ofcourse,plentyofdeliciousfoodanddrinksat topspotsaroundtown.
