About Us
The Northern California Filmmakers Coalition (NCFC) is a non-profit 501c3 film organization located in Sacramento, California and established in 2012.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to produce quality films that encourage, inspire and elevate diverse audiences.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to develop a community of inspired filmmakers whose collaborative efforts result in global partnerships and dynamic filmmaking.
Our intent is to communicate who we are and what we do by producing compelling stories that add value to lives, communities and "the film industry at large". NCFC operates on a set of principals that keep our board members and film crew accountable to our Vision and Mission statements.
We serve the various socio-economic groups in the Sacramento region. We Provide opportunities for aspiring members of the performing arts community to acquire life changing experiences, increase filmmaking abilities, hone skills and to fully participate in the filmmaking process. Our professional team of cinematographers, lighting experts and producers work rigorously to showcase powerful stories that are meaningful to viewers and relative to today's lifestyle.
We encourage individuals in filmmaking and/or film related areas through education, by providing hands-on experience and participation in filmmaking projects.
Our Values
We serve as a resource for filmmakers through working with various Northern California film organizations. We believe that building a strong networking system in the filmmaking community is essential!
NCFC Board Members
Patricia E. La Marr
Board Chair
Patricia La Marr is a native of New York City which has been the foundation of her experience in the Performing Arts Field. She has demonstrated her passion for arts & entertainment during various periods of her life though dance, theater, film and television. Patricia worked as assistant coordinator and crew for the Sacramento Summer Arts & Music Concert Series; served as television show host for “El Musical”; created and produced the television show, “Sacramento Film Works” (Channel 17, Sacramento Access Television Station) and functioned as producer on various local film productions in the Sacramento region.
Patricia is excited about how the educational and entertaining component of the Northern California Filmmakers Coalition organization is greatly impacting the lives of individuals in the filmmaking community.
Gary P. Bell
Vice Chair
Mr. Bell has over 15 years in radio broadcasting and ten years in television. He has produced over 60 half-hour television programs designed to educate and inform parents and families. He can be heard each Saturday night on Contending for the Faith a weekly live apologetic radio program heard on KFAX 1100 AM the Bay Area Christian voice. In addition, Mr. Bell is also an Executive Producer and Co-Founder of the Northern California Filmmakers Coalition.
Ravi Ranganathan
Treasurer
Ravi is a professional Account. He has a BS in Accounting and MBA in Finance. He has worked in start-up, medium and large companies in the Bay Area. His areas of expertise include different industries like Manufacturing, Auto, Health Care, Hardware/Software, Construction, Education and Non-Profit. In regard to performing arts, Ravi is an actor and had a small role in a Hollywood movie called “Desire of Ages”. He has a listed IMDb. Ravi has a passion for singing and performed in karaoke finals in Las Vegas. Ravi was also selected and participated in the 10th season of the well-known television show, America's Got Talent.
Prachi Ruina
Secretary/ Student Board Intern
Prachi Ruina is from Ithaca, NY. and a graduated from Goucher College in 2023. Prachi majored in Communications & Media Studies. She is now living in Boston, MA and is hoping to pursue a career in film production and operations. In 2023 Prachi received the Erin Felarca ‘05 Memorial Academic Achievement Award. For her senior capstone project, she created a 20-minute documentary focused on four adopted college students' stories and their thoughts on adoption, in hopes to spread recognition of adoption and destigmatize the topic.
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Jamila Clemons
Board Member
Jamila Clemons is a Northern California native. She began her professional career as an Actress at a regional theme park, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, where she hosted shows such as the Looney Toons Talent Show. She managed the funk band "Blood Sweat and Funk" in Solano County. Jamila's first big leadership role was as a co-founder of an app-based grocery delivery business in the Sacramento region. Currently, Jamila is a loan servicer at a top mortgage company and a co-founding member of the Sacramento New Music Initiative.
Glenn Cooper
Board Member
Glenn is a native New Yorker who for over forty years, has worked in broadcast and cable television as a freelance writer, associate producer, producer and video editor. Over the course of his career, he has been employed by: NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOX, BET, the Disney Channel and a host of independent production companies. His diverse experience includes network sports, variety shows, a short film, documentaries, cable television promos and commercials, a network news magazine program, local news and sports, celebrity and business profiles as well as numerous corporate and informational videos. He’s an accomplished video editor on the Avid Media Composer non-linear editing system as well as Adobe After Effects graphics design software. Glenn revels in using the tools of technology to tell compelling, human-interest stories intended to convey a sense of hope… a sense of what is possible. He has developed a solid, long standing professional reputation within the media community of Los Angeles and now looks forward to being a board member of the Northern California Filmmakers Coalition. Membership within NCFC fulfills his ambition to pay it forward by sharing his resources, experience, knowledge and skills.
Ron Cooper
Board Member
Ron Cooper is a retired Executive Director of the non-profit media organization Access Sacramento (1992-2013), community television and radio for Sacramento County and the founder of the "Place Called Sacramento Film Festival" (2000-present). He is a 1969 B.A. graduate of California State University, Sacramento and Graduate Studies in Broadcast Communications Arts, San Francisco State University (1975-76). He continues to advocate for community media training, production, and distribution as a primary means of unifying, empowering and enhancing our larger community. "Make a difference - One voice at a time."
Dr. Belinda Kendall
Board Member
Belinda received an honorary doctoral for her community services which has landed her on the covers of Women with Know-how, INUA and Black Business Expo USA magazines. She has spent years in media and worked in upper management for fortune 500 beauty companies. She is also known as a social media influencer which she has thousands of followers and some of her posts have gotten up to 8,000,000 views. This led her to start her own company Promise Media Group which is a PR Firm for small businesses. She is the first African America woman to serve on the Executive board of Fans of America. She also serves as Global Ambassador for Global Impact Initiative (GII) and Mother and Daughters organizations as a Global Ambassador, as well. She is so excited about joining NCFC because she is a big support of the Arts. The secret to her success is her strong faith in God.
Casanya Diane Ursery
Board Member
Casanya brings a unique blend of creative direction and promotional expertise to the table. Her understanding of diverse cultures and industries allows her to craft impactful promotional campaigns for film, theatrical productions, and social events.
Beyond her directing and management skills, Casanya boasts over 20 years of experience in the trenches of theatre and entertainment. She's donned many hats – actor, writer, production director, media director, technical director, and promoter – giving her a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of production.
This experience fueled her passion to create IcecreamC Consulting in 1995. While pursuing her bachelor's and law degrees, Casanya used IcecreamC to promote local events and social organizations. After graduating from Trinity Law School, she pursued a career in public policy, further sharpening her project management and media consulting skills at organizations like Southern California Edison and the Research & Policy Institute of California.
Casanya never strayed far from her creative roots, though. She continues to provide promotional, administrative, and directorial support for various entertainment entities, including Calvary Christian Center's Theatre Arts Ministry, Sacramento Cultural Hub, TEA Consulting & Events, HollySac Entertainment, and more. She's also a published author, lending a unique storytelling perspective to her creative endeavors. Today, Casanya remains an entrepreneur, focusing on developing IcecreamC Consulting as the go-to resource for production management.