behind the film
EPs
Jill Scott
Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before having the #1 album in the country with "The Light of The Sun", performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV Breakout Star of 2010 and appearing on VH1 Divas alongside Aretha Franklin, the triple threat began her career collaborating with musical icons, The Roots, Will Smith, and Common in the late 90s. In 2000, she released her much anticipated debut record, Who is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds, Vol. 1, a double platinum album that earned Scott several Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Two more critically acclaimed albums followed, Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2 and The Real Thing: Words & Sounds, Vol. 3 which garnered two more Grammy Awards and spawned multiple worldwide tours.
Never limited to music, Jill Scott is a true multimedia brand across books, clothing, TV and film. Most recently, Jill starred in Get On Up: A James Brown Biopic, as DeeDee, the wife of James Brown. Jill was also casted as the lead character in the HBO/BBC mini-series filmed on location in Botswana, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, a Peabody Award-winning show directed by the late Oscar Award-winning director Anthony Minghella. In 2017, Jill Scott was casted as "Nayyirah Shariff" in the original Lifetime film Flint, a drama based on the Flint water crisis in Flint, Michigan - also starring Betsy Brandy, Marin Ireland and Queen Latifah.
A consummate writer at heart, she penned The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours, a compilation of poems that instantly became a New York Times bestseller. Scott also developed an intimates line for Ashley Stewart and founded Blues Babe, a registered 501(c)3 foundation that has raised over hundreds of thousands dollars to support minority students pursuing college degrees.
In January of 2017, Jill Scott marked her brand's expansion into stationary, releasing an exclusive "Jill Scott" greeting card collection in partnership with Hallmark Mahogany. Jill Scott received a 2017 Grammy nomination in the "Best Traditional R&B Performance" category for her single, "Can't Wait."
Her hit podcast, Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast premiered in 2020.
Tayyib Smith
Tayyib Smith is Principle of Meta Global, parent company to Little Giant Creative. He is dedicated to cultural competency and the ability to engage multicultural audiences. He co-founded Pipeline Philly to serve as an inviting and dynamic co-working space filled with professionals from various backgrounds and industries, creating one of the most diverse workspaces in the city.
Tayyib is also a partner S&R Holdings, a real estate company that engages and invites diverse stakeholders of neighborhoods to become part of a growing, multicultural and multi-socioeconomic tapestry. Tayyib has long been a successful conduit of professional and cultural ecosystems. He is a fellow of the Place Lab Ethical Redevelopment Salon at the University of Chicago and sits on the boards of the Kensington Corridor Trust, Prizm Art Fair in Miami, Memphis Slim House, and Black Star Film Festival.
Layne Eskridge
Layne is President of POV Entertainment, the newly formed television and film company focused on telling culturally specific universally themed stories. Prior to starting POV Entertainment, Layne was a trusted creative executive at Apple TV+ and Netflix where she oversaw production of Ozark, She's Gotta Have It, Seven Seconds, Dead to Me,
When They See Us, Top Boy, Messiah and Self Made (Madam CJ Walker limited series) and several upcoming Apple originals. Before working at Netflix, Layne was an executive at Ellen DeGeneres’ company where she was responsible for developing scripted projects for both broadcast and cable television such as One Big Happy, Little Big Shots and the Netflix original series Green Eggs and Ham. Layne was also a vital member of the Universal Cable Productions programming team where she oversaw series development for John Legend 's Get Lifted Film Co., in addition to helping to identify scripted projects for cable networks such as Bravo and E!. Layne has been featured in Variety Magazine's New Leadership Edition as one to watch in Hollywood and has been honored by several organizations dedicated to the advancement of women such as Girls Inc. and Girls with Gifts. She served as a board member of Colour TV, an organization for diverse executives in television that aims to increase the number of minority content creators in Hollywood, and is currently a Time’s Up “Who’s in the Room” mentor. Layne has a master's degree in Cinema Studies from New York University and a BA in Telecommunications Management from Howard University in Washington, DC.
Rakia Reynolds
One of the most sought-after minds in strategic communications, Rakia Reynolds is a thought leader, taste maker and branding expert who advises name brands on creative strategy. Her guiding principles as an intriguing storyteller focus on distilling equity in messaging, and her ability to navigate the ever-increasing complex cultural and social media landscapes are only some of the reasons Rakia has successfully created her own distinct brand of authenticity and expertise for over 15 years. Rakia has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the 27 Business Leaders Aiming to Change the World, was listed as one of the 25 Most Socially Influential Tastemakers on Dell’s “Inspire 100” list, and recently was also profiled by Forbes on their “Next 1000” list.
Rakia serves as Founder and Executive Officer of Skai Blue Media (SBM), a non-traditional communications agency that proudly hosts an eclectic group of storytellers, brand experts, and strategists. Rakia continues to be a key influencer in the creative business industry as she works with her team to launch, brand, re-brand, and revitalize lifestyle, technology, non-profit and entrepreneurial clients. This list includes Airbnb, Comcast, Dell, Serena Williams, Morgan Stanley, Jill Scott, and more. Rakia’s portfolio includes #FanofYourBrand(tactical business tools), clothing brand EVRYDAY Jane, and an ethical intelligence platform set to launch in 2021.
As a thought leader and proven authority in marketing, creative strategy and business development Rakia regularly contributes her expertise to the pages of Forbes, Inc.com, HuffPost, Fast Company, and more. Onstage, she captivates audiences across many industries as her talks span branding, media, multicultural business, economic development, and the entrepreneurial journey, all of which are more than relevant to the recent challenging and changing times. Rakia is recognized for her innovative approach and commitment to authenticity and has spoken at TEDx, SXSW, Inbound, and others. More than a keynote speaker, Rakia is often called upon to moderate panel discussions due her in-depth knowledge of a wide range of topics affecting the business community.
Monifa Bandele
Monifa Bandele has more than a decade of experience in policy analysis, communications, civic engagement organizing, and project management working with groups like the Brennan Center for Justice, Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund, and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
At MomsRising.org she managed the health kids and maternal justice campaigns, helping to successfully increase children's access to healthy food, stem junk food marketing, and end the school-to-prison pipeline. Through maternal justice, she is working to end the rising tide of maternal mortality in the United States. During her tenure at the Brennan Center as national field director for the Right to Vote Campaign, the coalition successfully change laws in five state expanding the franchise to more that 250,000 formerly incarcerated people.
Finally, Monifa sits on the steering committee for Communities United for Police Reform and is an activist with the Black Lives Matter Movement. She helped launch two successful legal cases against police misconduct (Daniels v NYC and Floyd v NYC); conducted Know Your Right workshops for thousands of community members; and worked to pass landmark police reform legislation in New York City (Community Safety Act 2013).
Amatus Sami Karim
Amatus Sami-Ali is an award-winning producer, musician, and actress. Her recent projects include We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest (2020), The Homecoming Queen (2018), and The Last Two Lovers at the End of the World (2017). Amatus did the sound design for the Obie winning play Sunset Baby (2012) at the Labyrinth Theater and continues to create collaboratively as a multi-disciplinary artist for stage and screen. Most recently she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2018 for her work as a composer and sound designer of The Homecoming Queen for the Atlantic Theatre and received an Emmy as an Executive Producer of We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest for HBO.
An NYU Tisch School of the Arts Alum, Sami-Karim co-founded KnowWonder Films with husband Marhershala Ali, with the vision of giving a platform to untold stories and emerging storytellers that live under the radar.
Sandra L. Richards
Sandra L. Richards leads Morgan Stanley’s Global Sports and Entertainment Business. Prior to her current role, Sandra served as a managing director of Morgan Stanley and head of business development and segment marketing in wealth management. Since joining Morgan Stanley in 2007, Sandra has worked with internal and external partners to support the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Previously, she was the Development Officer, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the Jackie Robinson Foundation. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seton Hall University and is a graduate of the Rutgers University/United Way of Essex and West Hudson County Project Leadership and the National Forum for Black Public Administrator’s Young Leaders Programs. Sandra is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and serves on the Board of Directors for the Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond Foundation.
Sharifa Murdock
For entrepreneur, fashion expert, and philanthropist Sharifa Murdock, giving back to the community is inherent. With over 20 years of fashion and live event expertise, Murdock uses her acquired knowledge and benevolence to help the next generation of young aspiring creatives. She says, “I know what motivates me. I'm a young girl from Brooklyn, born and raised. Someone gave me an opportunity years ago, and I vowed to myself – just looking at the industry that I came up in and seeing how companies move – that I will try to pay it forward to any young girl or guy coming up. So, I will try to help as much as I can.”
As Chief of People and Culture of fashion label Kith, Murdock spearheads the brand’s diversity and social impact initiatives, including establishing The Kin Foundation. The forthcoming initiative leverages Kith’s ubiquitous presence in the service of underprivileged youth. Sam Ben-Avraham is Murdock’s mentor and joint business partner with the owner of Kith, Ronnie Fieg. Ben-Avraham knew part of Murdock’s passion was philanthropy.
Erica Sewell
Erica Sewell is a Talent Leader and Founder of creative consultancy, Escape Artist. Her experience started in the global fashion industry, from working as Head Designer of Isaac Mizrahi’s Target line, to leading programs at The Cape Town Fashion Council, including Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in South Africa. Her design work also included labels such as Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren, and she’s been in the administration of higher education institutions such as Parsons The New School for Design, The Art Institute, and FIT, where she coached students and career changers on attaining creative opportunities and negotiating. Sewell currently leads inclusion talent acquisition efforts for Netflix’s Outreach & Engagement team, where she focuses on engaging underrepresented creatives across writing, art, and story for film, series, and animation. Prior to Netflix, she recruited and developed creative talent for CBS Interactive’s portfolio of 30+ digital brands across multiple lifestyle categories, and did the same for Williams-Sonoma Inc., Ann Taylor/ LOFT, and Adecco Creative. Other notable projects include founding the book deal-turned-career-development program, CreativeTypes, as well as creative consulting for artists/filmmakers, Bradford Young and Leslie Hewitt on Untitled Structures.
Sewell holds an MA from The New School for Social Research, a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, and research credits from the Democracy and Diversity Institute for Graduate Studies at the University of Cape Town. Her work and collaborations have been featured in Elle South Africa, Vogue Magazine, The New York Times, and ArtForum.