NAACP+ Inside The Industry

If your film has been rejected by festival after festival, this episode is going to change how you think about everything.

In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with Kimberley Browning — veteran film programmer, festival director, and Senior Associate Short Film Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival — to pull back the curtain on how film festivals actually work, what programmers are really looking for, and the costly mistakes filmmakers make that have nothing to do with the quality of their films.

Kimberley breaks down:

→ How programmers actually decide which films get selected

→ Why most festival rejections have nothing to do with your filmmaking

→ The biggest mistake filmmakers make when building a festival strategy

→ Why you should stop obsessing over the top 10 festivals you can name

→ How to build a festival strategy unique to the film you actually made

→ What really happens after your film gets accepted to a major festival

→ How to qualify for the Oscars without spending thousands of dollars

→ The insider tip on completion dates that most filmmakers don't know

→ Why submitting a rough cut could cost you more than just this festival

→ How film festivals are evolving in the streaming era

→ What the rise of virtual festivals means for filmmakers worldwide

→ The one music licensing mistake that's killing independent films

Plus — Kimberley shares the story of the film that helped a woman get clemency, why rejection letters are not commentary on your talent, and what she wants her legacy in this industry to be. This is the episode every filmmaker needs to watch before their next submission. Period.

 Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations 

Guest: Kimberley Browning — Tribeca Film Festival, HBO, AFI, ABFF

New episodes every Wednesday.

Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T 

Listen on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed&nd=1&dlsi=316fca0df52b4a1e 

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807 

Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #FilmFestival #TribecaFilmFestival#IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #BlackFilmmakers #FilmFestivalStrategy#KimberleyBrowning #ArianaDrummond #ShortFilms #IndieFilm#FilmDistribution #BlackCreatives #OscarQualifying

What does it actually take to become a working television writer in Hollywood?

In this episode of NAACP+'s Inside the Industry, host Ariana Drummond sits down with writer and producer Chuck Hayward — whose credits include Ted Lasso, WandaVision, and Dear White People — for one of the most honest conversations we've had about the realities of building a writing career.

Chuck breaks down:

→ How TV writers actually get staffed on shows

→ The difference between a spec script and a pilot (and which one to write first)

→ What showrunners are really looking for when they read your script

→ How to handle notes without killing your creative vision

→ The mistakes that quietly stall careers — even for talented writers

→ Why the streaming bubble burst changed everything for writers

→ How to stay competitive when the industry is shrinking

Plus, Chuck shares the writing philosophy that drives everything he does: more Black weirdos on screen. And why writing authentically — not to the market— is the only strategy that actually works long term. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a creative trying to break in, or someone already in the industry looking to level up, this episode is your blueprint.

Host: Ariana Drummond, NAACP Director of Talent & Media Relations 

Guest: Chuck Hayward — Ted Lasso, WandaVision, Dear White People

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Watch more Inside the Industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnLI7v57zoc&list=PLaaTUaaxeh-IBd36D0P3FzFcu17Ij2S4T&pp=sAgC

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iny4YTd9NfUBB51aWOpYr?si=8657ebed5b5049ed 

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naacp-inside-the-industry/id1894940807

Follow NAACP+: https://linktr.ee/NAACPPlus

#InsideTheIndustry #NAACPPlus #TVWriter #HowToBeAWriter#BreakingIntoHollywood #Screenwriting #TedLasso #WandaVision#BlackCreatives #EntertainmentIndustry #ChuckHayward #ArianaDrummond

DeVon Franklin rose from intern to executive producer in Hollywood—but how did that actually happen?

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, DeVon Franklin—producer behind films like "The Pursuit of Happyness," "Moneyball," and "The Karate Kid"—shares what it really takes to grow in this business, navigate opportunity, and build a career with purpose.

We'll cover topics such as:

- What it takes to stand out early in your career

- What ownership means in today’s entertainment industry

- Where the biggest opportunities are for creatives right now

From studio systems to independent production, this conversation breaks down what it takes to create and lead projects at the highest level of filmmaking.

About Devon Franklin:

Devon Franklin is a producer, author, and former studio executive at Columbia Pictures. His work spans major box office films, faith-based storytelling, and independent production, with a focus on purpose-driven content and long-term impact.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry for weekly conversations with leaders across film, television, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry

Instagram: @naacpplus

YouTube: @naacpplus

The making of a fashion powerhouse—how does a designer go from starting out to dressing Hollywood’s biggest stars?

Brandon Gray has built a brand that commands attention on the red carpet—from the NAACP Image Awards to the Oscars and the Met Gala. But behind those moments is a story of persistence, strategy, and learning how to build in an industry that rarely gives you a clear path.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, Brandon Gray breaks down how he turned House of Gray into a sought-after fashion brand, how he broke into the industry without connections, and what it really takes to build something that lasts in fashion.

We'll also cover:
- What it takes to dress high-profile clients
- How to turn talent into a real business
- How designers can stay relevant as fashion evolves

If you’re a designer, creative, or entrepreneur trying to build something of your own, this conversation gives you a real look at what it takes to go from starting out to becoming a recognized name.

About Brandon Gray:
Brandon Gray is the founder of House of Gray, a fashion brand known for dressing top talent at major events, including Colman Domingo, Tyler Perry, and Niecy Nash.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry for weekly conversations with leaders across film, television, fashion, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

How do you break into Hollywood without connections?

For most people, the biggest barrier to entering the entertainment industry isn’t talent—it’s access. So how do careers actually get started when you don’t know anyone?

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, James Swoope—Partner at M88—breaks down how aspiring creatives can break into Hollywood, how talent managers identify potential, and how opportunities are built behind the scenes.

From building relationships to creating leverage without traditional access, this conversation reveals how careers gain traction in today’s entertainment industry.

We cover:

If you’re trying to get into the entertainment industry—or build a career from the ground up—this is your starting point.

About James Swoope:

James Swoope is a Partner at M88, where he helps guide talent strategy, package projects, and build opportunities for clients across entertainment and sports.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside the Industry for weekly conversations with leaders across film, television, music, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

Welcome to the vertical storytelling era.

But how do you actually break into vertical storytelling and short-form content right now?
Short-form content is reshaping the entertainment industry—and creating new opportunities for writers, producers, and creators looking to build in vertical storytelling.

In this episode of NAACP+ Inside the Industry, Wendy Calhoun—writer, showrunner, and co-executive producer behind Empire—shares how she built a powerhouse career across traditional television and the rapidly growing world of micro dramas.

We cover:

If you’re a writer, producer, or creative trying to understand how to get into vertical storytelling and short-form content, this conversation gives you a clear look at where the industry might be headed. 

About Wendy Calhoun:
Wendy Calhoun is a writer, showrunner, and executive producer known for her work on Empire, and is now building projects in vertical storytelling and micro drama formats.

This episode explores vertical storytelling, short-form content, and micro dramas, and how these formats are changing the entertainment industry. If you’re interested in TV writing, digital storytelling, or building a career in film and television, this conversation breaks down how the industry is evolving.

Subscribe to NAACP+ Inside The Industry for weekly conversations with industry leaders across film, television, and digital media.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus

What does it take to build a career in entertainment today?

NAACP+ Inside The Industry is a new original series exploring how film, television, music, fashion, and digital culture actually operate—through conversations with the professionals shaping the business.

Hosted by Ariana Drummond, a publicist with over 15 years of experience across multiple areas of the industry, the series connects the dots between creative work and the business behind it.

Each episode features real stories, practical insight, and the decisions that define long-term success across entertainment careers.

Guests include producers, executives, designers, and creatives working at the highest levels of the industry.

- New episodes drop weekly on NAACP+.

Follow NAACP+ ITI: @naacpinsidetheindustry
Instagram: @naacpplus
Facebook: @naacpplus