What goes into making a nonfiction project work beyond the story itself? In this four-part series, Beyond the Frame: Practical Tools for the Emerging Storyteller, we’ll explore some of the essentials of documentary filmmaking, from archival, clearances, and navigating generative AI to crowdfunding, audience development, and building a sustainable independent creative practice - offering practical guidance for navigating the evolving landscape of nonfiction storytelling.

Building a sustainable independent video career takes more than strong storytelling—it also takes a clear understanding of how to structure, fund, and grow your work. Whether you’re a documentary filmmaker, video journalist, or creator, if you’re making money from your work (or desire to), you’re running a business. Gaining basic business skills and an entrepreneurial mindset will help make your work sustainable and nimble in this ever-evolving media space.

In this session for emerging and early career professions, Shernay Williams—a three-time entrepreneur, multimedia journalist, and media entrepreneurship coach—will break down sole proprietorship vs. LLC business structures, how to develop the best business model based on your individual goals, how to generate revenue to support your video storytelling, and what mindset shifts you need to embrace to go from employee to empowered business owner.

You’ll leave with Shernay’s mini business plan template, a list of business resources, and notes on how to grow your independent video business.

FACILITATOR BIO

VC Member Shernay Williams is an award-winning multimedia journalist and three-time entrepreneur with 15 years of cross-platform journalism and content strategy experience. She serves as a freelance and media entrepreneurship advisor, program facilitator, and events producer. The Baltimore native is chair of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Entrepreneurship Task Force, a leadership team member for the Institute for Independent Journalists, and an adjunct communication professor at Loyola University Maryland. She began her journalism career at The AFRO newspaper before transitioning to local TV as a general assignment reporter, anchor, and producer at stations in Louisiana and Maine. Among her many ventures, she's run a content strategy firm, a decades-old freelance journalism business, and a national resources/coaching platform for Black mom entrepreneurs. In late 2026, she's launching a newsletter for new media entrepreneurs called Enterprise.

Previously, Shernay has led courses and trainings for Poynter, the Institute for Independent Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and Loyola University Maryland.

⭐ Registration is FREE as a perk for VC Gold members. Interested in attending more than one workshop? Essential and non-members will receive a 15% discount after RSVPing for your first session.