Filmmakers and Producers

Rhonda L. Haynes, producer, director, writer and cinematographer of BRINGIN' IN DA SPIRIT. She has garnered nearly 25 years experience in the technical aspects of film and television production, working “behind the scenes” on productions such as The Cosby Show, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego, MTV, John McEnroe talk show for CNBC and independent feature and short films. She has traveled as far as West Africa, Senegal and Northern India as a Director of Photography to shoot documentary films. She is currently working on her next documentary film, LET THE EAGLE SCREAM: EVOLUTION OF LYNCHING IN AMERICA. In addition, she works as a camera operator at Fox News Channel. She earned her Undergraduate Degree at Western Michigan University and Studies in Cinematography at American Film Institute, Los Angeles.

BRINGIN' IN DA SPIRIT was Rhonda's debut as a Director and Producer. Her documentary has won more than 10 awards in catorgories of Best Documentary, Best Historical, Audience Choice and Jurors' Choice Award at several film festivals. In 2005, BRINGIN' IN DA SPIRIT was selected to compete in the Paul Robeson Initiative Award at the FESPACO Film Festival in Burkina Faso, where the documentary won the Paul Robeson Special Prize Award. The documentary was screened as part of the "Reclaiming Midwives" exhibit at the Smithsonian Anacostia African American Culture Museum in Washington, In 2007, the documentary was inducted in the National Library of Medicine in the general and historical collection of the library.