Sista Brunch

Join us for an inspiring discussion at the Essence Film Festival with writers and filmmakers Brianna Cole and Eunice Levis - hosted by associate producer Farida Abdul-wahab. They share their journeys from journalism and poetry to screenwriting, discussing the importance of diverse storytelling and representation in the industry. Discover how they're breaking boundaries and redefining genres to amplify their voices.

In this episode, Sista Brunch associate producer Farida Abdul-Wahab speaks Lamonia Brown, Essence Film Festival Director about her career path.

Black Girls Film Camp is a nonprofit organization that provides a 16-week training program where high school Black girls across the country pitch a story idea, and a final ten are selected to have their short film project produced by the program. Over 200 Black girls across the country applied for the 2023 camp and 10 finalists were selected to direct and develop their own short films. The camp is an incubator for the 10 girls and each of their films. Participants receive free technology (SONY Cameras, lighting kits, boom mics, tripods, etc.) free software (final draft and adobe premiere), a personal production team of exemplary Black women creatives (editor and creative coach) contracted out by the camp, an all-expense paid weekend retreat in LA, and free workshops from Black women that are award-winning filmmakers and Ph.D. scholars. In this episode, Fanshen speaks to this year’s Black Girls Film Camp participants live from the 2023 Essence Film Festival.

Through her production banner, Undaunted Content, D’Angela Proctor recently produced the films "Line Sisters" and “Keyshia Cole: This is My Story” for Lifetime. Before launching Undaunted Content, Proctor served as the CEO of Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Entertainment, a social impact production company focused on branded content. Under Proctor’s leadership, Wayfarer won over 25 awards and honors for its branded content campaigns, including five Telly Awards. In this episode, Sista Brunch associate producer Farida Abdul-Wahab talks with D’Angela about her career transition.

Lila Mayes currently serves as the Program Administrator for the Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan. This program was created in 1965 to offer access to those who might not otherwise have entrée to the motion picture and television industry. The program provides productions with trained, professional Assistant Directors. Lila is also a founding Board Member of the nonprofit organization, Black Women Lead. This organization was formed in Los Angeles, CA in an effort to amplify the leadership and voices of black women and underrepresented communities. In this episode, Fanshen and Lila discuss the DGA Training Program live from the 2023 Essence Film Festival.

This season we asked each of our guests what advice they would give to their younger selves and the incredible insight and wisdom we received both inspired and motivated us to continue pushing towards our goals. On our season 4 final episode, we wanted to leave you with a compilation of the incredible advice our guests gave us as well as the advice the women who work on Sista Brunch would give to their younger selves.

Kamilah Forbes is an award-winning director and producer for theater and television, and currently serves as the Executive Producer at the world-famous Apollo Theater. Her directing credits include By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, The Blood Quilt, and Sunset Baby. She has also worked as associate director on the Tony Award-winning "A Raisin in the Sun”, and Emmy Award-winning “The Wiz Live” for NBC. Ms. Forbes’ most recent directorial work, “Between the World and Me” aired as a special event on HBO and HBO Max in November 2020, bringing her a host of acclaim and recognition. Ms. Forbes’ recent projects include directing the sold-out world premiere, tour, and theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New York Times best-selling novel Between the World and Me. In this episode, Fanshen and Kamilah discuss the pivotal role Howard University played in shaping Kamilah’s career and how community building led Kamilah to becoming a producer.