As entertainment organizations like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association face more scrutiny for their representation, NBC Universal (which, not coincidentally had previously been the home of the NFPA’s Golden Globes award ceremony) and Target are teaming up to give a high-profile platform to three up-and-coming black filmmakers for a new “Scene in Color” Film Series.
The series, which will run on a variety of NBCU’s television networks and its Peacock streaming platform, is the latest step in the company’s long-standing commitment to diversity, said Steven Rummer, senior vice president, strategy and creative partnerships for NBC Universal, in a telephone interview. He noted that NBC was the first to give a Black person a starring showcase television series with “The Ethel Waters Show” in 1939 and that the company’s talent pipeline has long promoted diversity.
“One thing [recent events] have made clear for our own teams is that there is an opportunity to tell stories,” Rummer said. “We want to make sure we’re expanding that opportunity to the largest network we can.”
Hosted by producer Will Packer (FILMS), the new film series will showcase three short films created by up-and-coming Black filmmakers. Miguel Rodriguez, senior vice president, production operations, creative partnerships, advertising, and partnerships for NBCU said company executives scoured various film festivals and other platforms to find films that were both distinctive in style and story.
“Their creative execution in storytelling was unique,” Rodriguez said. “As directors, each of them has a special storytelling style.”
One film, “Hiplet: Because We Can,” from Chicago filmmaker Addison Wright, spotlights Black ballerinas who are blending hip-hop with ballet through a visual style that draws from both documentary films and music videos. A second film, “To the Girl that Looks Like Me,” from activist and filmmaker Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah is a visual poem about how Black women can make their way in the media industry. Finally, Kristian King’s “Twice as Good” tells the story of an over-achiever who is trying to chart her own path.
“All of these films aligned with the content we want to create, which explores the connection between justice and joy,” Rummer said
“Inclusivity is core to the Target brand, and partnering with NBCU to share the stories of the Scene in Color Film Series broadly and boldly helps create a more equitable and representative creative landscape,” said Maurice Cooper, senior vice president of marketing for Target, in a statement. “We need the voices of these emerging creators now more than ever, and are proud to invest in their continued mentorship, development, and ingenuity.”
To help give an additional boost to these filmmakers, NBCU has also entered into a first-look deal with each of them, giving them the chance to develop a TV pilot script under Packer’s tutelage that could be the basis for a full-scale series.
The films will be showcased throughout NBCU’s content ecosystem in an integrated fashion. For instance, during the summer movie programming on Bravo, SYFY and USA, commercial breaks will feature documentary-style content showcasing the personal and professional journeys of the three filmmakers. In addition, NBCU and Target have created an overarching “Scene in Color” spot that features Will Packer speaking about the series, the filmmakers and the importance of giving platforms to BIPOC filmmakers.
“People want to see people like themselves in the content they want to view,” Rodriguez said. “This is an initiative to help BIPOC creators get heard.”
