We are an incubator based in New York City. We are former journalists. Our workflows are designed to help artists tell their stories effectively and to help them reach the widest audience possible. At our core, we are driven by a love for  Caribbean, African, and Southeast Asian art and culture. We believe that the media industry today often flattens stories from these regions, and the most nuanced and impactful films are led by local artists and artists who emerge from the diaspora.

Julien Jourdes founded Plena Productions after a decade of experience working on the cutting edge of the digital media and content industry. In 2013, Julien co-founded the global production company Blink Media which draws on creatives in over 180 countries for hundreds of commercial productions each year. Julien also has many years of experience in investigative journalism and war photography. Prior to starting Blink Media, he worked full-time as a visual editor at The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Newsweek. He also worked as the editorial director at Magnum Photos during the Iraq War. He has received various journalism awards including a Pulitzer Prize nomination, two National Magazine Awards, World Press Photo and POY.

If you have a project that aligns with our vision and you need seed money to get started on your cinematic or artistic journey, we would be delighted to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at your earliest convenience, and let’s bring these extraordinary stories to life.

You do NOT have to be in the United States to submit a project, our services are open to anyone in the world, however our services and operations are managed out of New York City.