Last Thursday, GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media Department, in partnership with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), hosted a private screening of the projects developed by the inaugural Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative (EMEI) Cohort.
Launched in September 2022, the Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative is a year-long program designed specifically for Black LGBTQ+ creatives to elevate Black queer storytelling in entertainment and media. Powered by Gilead Sciences, EMEI serves as a pathway to build and strengthen professional networks, advance access to executive leaders and spaces, and support early development of original creative projects for LGBTQ people of color and people living with HIV.
The inaugural cohort focused on uplifting Black queer filmmakers, supporting the work of Nyala Moon, Alexander King, Riley S. Wilson, Brandon Nicholas, LaQuann Dawson, Michael Donte, Olivia Peace, Whitney Skauge, Ish Brown, and Brit Fryer. Throughout the duration of the program, the creatives attended monthly professional development meetings, fireside chats, panels, networking events, and GLAAD’s inaugural Black Queer Creative Summit (BQCS) to foster network building, community, and career advancements, and each member of the cohort received direct funding to complete a short creative project.
EMEI was designed and built by and for Black queer creatives, and the space the program offers provided the cohort with the creative freedom to produce authentically Black queer stories.
From a narrative short about a character living with type one diabetes, to a mockumentary, to documentaries honoring the deep well of Black LGBTQ culture and influence in the public sphere and the entertainment industry, the filmmakers’ projects tackle a range of issues and topics. Their idiosyncratic styles and personalities shone brightly, and the crowd at CAA was rapt as the films rolled, revealing the powerful lens through which each of the storytellers sees our world and experience.
Following the screening, audience members were afforded an additional glimpse into the brilliance of the ten creatives via a talkback with the cohort members moderated by film curator and DEI arts educator Martine McDonald (Practice Wonder).
After the Q&A, community members, activists, and industry professionals alike headed upstairs for a mixer that featured additional photo opportunities, sounds provided by Rosegawd, and, most importantly, time to connect with the EMEI cohort. Attendees showed their deep appreciation for, and support of, the filmmakers as connections were fostered and touchpoints for collaboration were forged. Over the course of the night, the expansion of a network of Black LGBTQ creatives working in community in the entertainment industry was palpable.
While the final showcase marked the culmination of the inaugural cohort, this is only the beginning of the journey for these incredible filmmakers. During the Q&A portion of the night, filmmaker, writer, analyst, and Founder of Little Apple Universe Riley S. Wilson delivered a powerful statement: “Content is king, and content drives sentiment.” Through the portfolio of work highlighted at CAA last Thursday, it is clear that the talents of the showcased creatives are boundless and undeniable. The final showcase is only a glimpse, a fraction, of what the inaugural EMEI cohort is able to achieve, the content they’re able to create, and the sentiment and culture changing work they’ll be able to champion.
Their work, stories, and words are a testament to the power of Black queer storytelling, and the endless possibility therein. We can’t wait to see what each of these visionaries does next, and will be cheering them on all the way.
About EMEI and Our Work
To learn more about the Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative and GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media Department’s work and programming, please visit our website.