Digifé

I’m proud to share that Bike Vessel is now available to watch on Independent Lens on the PBS app, PBS online, YouTube, and the PBS broadcasting station! ?? This film has been a labor of love. It tells the story of my father, who transformed his life through cycling after facing three open-heart surgeries. Together, we rode from St. Louis to Chicago, exploring not only his personal journey but also the broader health disparities affecting Black men in America. Getting to this point was far from easy—but the lessons in resilience, health, and family are ones I hope will resonate with you. To everyone who has supported this journey: your support means everything to me. ???? We’ve also created a behind-the-scenes series (https://lnkd.in/eAwnsG4x)

Bringing a documentary to life is never a straight path—it’s a journey full of challenges, breakthroughs, and unforgettable moments. With Bike Vessel, that journey took place both on and off the screen, and now, I’m excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at how we made it happen. On February 24th, Bike Vessel Documentary officially premieres on PBS, but before then, I’m launching a new series called Making—our version of behind-the-scenes storytelling. This multi-episode series will take you inside the creative process, from developing the concept to filming, navigating film festivals, and everything in between. To kick things off, we’re releasing an in-depth overview of Bike Vessel—a look at the origins of the project, the driving force behind the story, and the key moments that shaped the journey. You’ll also hear from the team that helped bring it to life and see raw, behind-the-scenes footage from production, festival circuits, and speaking events. For those interested in documentary filmmaking, cinematography, or indie storytelling, this is a chance to see the process from the inside out. I’m looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned along the way. More episodes in the Making series are coming soon—stay tuned. Digifé Donnie Seals Jr. Cai Thomas Tim Schmidt Resita Cox Sonia Jourdain (she/they)Nikki Newsome Medell Briggs, MD, MPH, MSHS Stanley Frencher Jr Jason Boulware Kartemquin Films BAM Studios Boardwalk Pictures #BikeVessel #DocumentaryFilmmaking #BehindTheScenes #Filmmaking #Storytelling #IndieFilm #PBS #EricDSeals #Cinematography #FilmmakingJourney

Our episode on The Kelly Clarkson Show is now available! If you missed it, you can watch it now and hear the incredible story behind the Bike Vessel Documentary. Heading to New York to film this episode was an experience I’ll never forget. From walking onto the set to sitting down with Kelly, the entire team made us feel right at home. Seeing the energy behind the scenes and getting the chance to share Bike Vessel on a national stage was surreal. Grateful for every moment! Huge thanks to The Kelly Clarkson Show for having us on! This film follows my dad and me on a 350-mile ride from St. Louis to Chicago after he survived three open-heart surgeries. It’s a story of resilience, health, and second chances. Grateful for the opportunity to share it with a national audience! Digifé

Huge thank you to The Kelly Clarkson Show for having us on to talk about Bike Vessel Documentary! This film follows my dad and me as we cycle 350 miles from St. Louis to Chicago. After surviving three open-heart surgeries, he found a second chance at life through cycling, and I got to ride alongside him, documenting the journey. It’s a story about resilience, health, and the power of movement to change lives. Being on The Kelly Clarkson Show was an incredible experience. Kelly and her team were amazing, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to share this story with a national audience. Tune in tomorrow to watch the episode! Find out when and where to watch in your area: https://lnkd.in/gJaayrrf Digifé

Episode Four of You Don’t Know Chi is here! Hosted by S. Dilla Thomas and produced by Digifé ,this series dives deep into the vibrant stories and personalities that make Chicago unforgettable. This week, Dilla sits down with someone who’s no stranger to the city—former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. They take a deep dive into the Logan Square neighborhood, talking about its history, its energy, and what makes it such a special part of Chicago. Check out the trailer here, and if you’re curious about the full episode, the link is below. https://lnkd.in/gN3mKmWQ You Don’t Know Chi— Everything Dope About America, Comes from Chicago.

Episode Four of You Don’t Know Chi is here! Hosted by S. Dilla Thomas and produced by Digifé ,this series dives deep into the vibrant stories and personalities that make Chicago unforgettable. This week, Dilla sits down with someone who’s no stranger to the city—former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. They take a deep dive into the Logan Square neighborhood, talking about its history, its energy, and what makes it such a special part of Chicago. Check out the trailer here, and if you’re curious about the full episode, the link is below. https://lnkd.in/gN3mKmWQ You Don’t Know Chi— Everything Dope About America, Comes from Chicago.

Last week, I had the privilege of sharing the stage with some of Chicago’s finest: Brandon Pope , S. Dilla Thomas, and my brother Donnie Seals Jr. We showcased You Don’t Know Chi, the new show the Digifé team has been hard at work producing. It was an incredible opportunity to dive into the details of the show—how it came to life, what went into creating it, and what you can expect from the upcoming episodes. Dilla delivered a masterclass on how he developed his unique style, the years of research and dedication that earned him the title of “Chicago historian,” and how his work is shaking up the space—something he plans to keep doing with this show. I got to nerd out (in the best way) about our filmmaking process—everything from development, pre-production, and writing to capturing the show with our small but mighty team. We started with four episodes, but now we’re pushing for full seasons 1 and 2—and we couldn’t be more excited. A big thank you to Folded Map, Tonika Johnson, and the Englewood Arts Collective for their incredible support and for helping amplify our mission to highlight Chicago’s rich, nuanced stories. We couldn’t have done this without their contributions! Stay tuned as we share more about upcoming episodes and future partnerships. We’re all about engaging our audience, so let us know your thoughts—we want you to be part of this journey. Check out the latest episode. https://lnkd.in/g9M5y6nq Photography By our favorite: Tim Schmidt Natalie Papillon Angel Upshaw Catherine Hoffman Donnie Seals Jr. Darren J Sanders Jr Jason Boulware

Excited for yet another event next week in collaboration with?Tonika Lewis Johnson's Folded Map Project, NFP and Englewood Arts Collective, this time at the DuSable Museum. Along with a special viewing of Episodes 1 and 2, Eric and Donnie will discuss "You Don't Know Chi" with?S. Dilla Thomas, including all things production. Hosted by?Brandon Pope!

In honor of the UnBlocked Englewood film premiere next week, we wanted to share some behind-the-scenes from the creation of this short documentary with Tonika Johnson, Chicago Bungalow Association, and #EnglewoodArtsCollective. This project was such a unique and collaborative experience and we are truly grateful that Tonika trusted us to document her incredible work preserving the Englewood neighborhood. Come catch the film in person on Wednesday, December 11th at Kennedy-King College, along with a panel of some of Chicago’s finest. We hope to see you there! https://lnkd.in/gGHgR45F

Proud to have collaborated with Tonika Johnson on this incredible project. Don't miss the premiere and panel discussion next week--grab your ticket now! ???