The Silicon Valley Black Project now includes entry in the podcast space providing conversations with ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Take a listen: cottontales.libsyn.com
Chris Clay and Kathy Cotton at the opening of Hohbach Hall Nov.9, 2022
SAP panel discussion participants.
Where the film has been shown.
9/18/2020 Second meeting of the participants and contributors to the history of Silicon Valley.
7/18/2020 formed a partnership with Stanford University to continue the research for a second documentary.Launched first meeting of the participants and contributors to Blacks in Silicon Valley.
1/15/2019 Launched Cottontales’ podcast on 5 social media platforms.
6/15/2019 Accepted at the San Francisco Black Film Festival.
March 15 Show documentary at Abbott Labs.
February 28th, Show documentary at Lockheed
February 25th show documentary at Ohlone Jr. College, Fremont, CA.
4/12/18 Show documentary at East Side Union High School District Offices.
3/28/2018 Promo presentation at Los Lomas High School Walnut Creek, Ca.
3/11/2018 shown at SF Public Library. Sponsored by friends of the SF Public Library.
2/28/18 Show documentary at Public health CCS, Conf room
2/28/18 Congressman Ro Khanna features a short of Mary Sutton on his official website
2/7/18 Speak & show documentary at Workday
2/1/18 Speak at Black Leadership Kitchen table
12/1/17 Speak at Los Lomas High School Walnut Creek.
9/30/17 Premier at San Jose City College
9/27/17 Speak at Walnut Creek Library
To show the documentary at your school, church, conference, meetings, or home.
RESEARCH 2015 - 2017
Here is the process of beginning a documentary film. Created a team of people that were working in Silicon Valley of African American descent and aware of those people that were contributing to the work that was going on there. Formed a network of referrals for interview candidates.
RESEARCH /2015 - 2016
interviews- fund raising/2015 - 2017
The digital-stories that will result in our in depth interviews, first hand accounts and remembrances of those African American members of the Silicon Valley story will fill in the blanks and re-connect the history of a community that grew from orchards to industry giants.
PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION/ 2016 -2018
Our final product measures up to the highest industry standards and is being presented on every outlet that will let it play. Our ultimate goal is to tell the history of Silicon Valley from the African American perspective. Who knows what else we will include along the way?
We are right on time
After our premier at San Jose City College, the documentary has been shown at high schools, Public Libraries and corporations. A copy can be seen on vimeo.com, a video streaming website. Further showings will take place at the end of March and in April. Plans are in place to develop a program around a showing with the support of the African American Heritage House in Heritage Park in San Jose.
2019
“A Place at the table”
is the Trojan horse that has gotten Film producer & director Kathy Cotton into the spotlight. In addition to the two websites, KCDS has added two podcast sites, libsyn and the other on iTunes. To hear the conversations go to https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/cottontales or to your Apple podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cottontales-podcast/id1449683621
minority contributions shared with generations
The story of the African American contribution to Silicon Valley should be shared with the young and old who are seeking careers in high-tech or seeking further knowledge of the rich history of African Americans in Silicon Valley. We have a history that must be shared. When you are confident that your people were part of the creation of an era you will most likely see your future as being much brighter and promising.
Go to Vimeo to watch the documentary.
2020
Stanford University archives
Stanford University Director Henry Lowood and his staff have joined forces with Kathy Cotton to develop interviews and video footage telling of the Blacks that came and thrived in silicon valley. Over 25 members of the black community have committed to telling their stories and submitting artifacts to the archival files at Stanford University.
Friends and family attend the reception held in the gallery at San Jose City College.
The panel assembled after the film was shown and engaged in a lively discussion. They were Mike Beasley, Mattie Hill, Vanessa Williams, Kathy Cotton, Janie Jensen, Bev Parker, John Hill, and Rick Isom.
September 30, 2017 the premier of the film "A Place at the Table", was launched. Reaction to the film was immediate and positive. An effort has begun to get the film distributed to a larger audience to ensure that the history lesson is shared with all.
Go to: https://www.aplaceatthetable.live for further information on A Place At the Table.
Thanks to SFBFF
Sharing spotlight with Dr. “T” Tucker PhD, at the San Francisco Black Film Festival. July 15, 2019.