The Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment
Indie Directors & Creatives Spotlight
January 20-21, 2024
The Cabin, 427 Main St, Park City, UT
Sundance Film Festival 2024
EVENT SCHEDULE: Day 1
Saturday January 20, 2024
Doors Open at 10:30 am
Panels and Conversations
Event Moderator: Wendy Raquel Robinson, is
an American actress and producer best known for her
roles as high school principal Regina "Piggy" Grier
on The WB comedy sitcom The Steve Harvey Show and as
sports agent Tasha Mack on The CW/BET/Paramount+
comedy-drama The Game. Also, a philanthropist,
Robinson is the co-founder of the Amazing Grace
Conservatory, a school that predominantly serves
children from 5 to 18 years old from disadvantaged
socioeconomic backgrounds in the fields of the arts
and media production.
11:30 am - Creative Latinos in Hollywood: Representation On-screen and Behind the Scenes with moderator Wendy Raquel Robinson
Latino Cinematographer, Eduardo Ramirez will discuss navigating Hollywood and creating impactful representation on-screen. He will share his experiences and the continued challenges faced by Latino creatives telling authentic stories that honor the culture and truthfully reflect the Latino culture.
Panelist: Eduardo Ramirez, is an
award-winning Cinematographer from Colombia, based
in Los Angeles, Ca. with over 11 years of experience
in film and television. Eduardo was recently added
to the ARRAY Crew community Created by the Director
Ava DuVernay with the intention to expand diversity
in Hollywood.
12:30 pm -
The Breakthrough: Betting on
Yourself and Winning as an Independent Filmaker,
A
Conversation Led by Ericka Nicole Malone
Event host, Ericka Nicole Malone, will speak about her experiences in the entertainment industry, why she felt the need to create the Indie Directors & Creatives Spotlight and host it at the Sundance Film Festival. She will also share exclusive trailers from her latest projects, followed by a Q&A.
Speaker: Ericka Nicole Malone is an
award-winning filmmaker, businesswoman, writer, and
keynote speaker. She is building her own brand of
entertainment in Hollywood while running a
successful business.
Early in her career she
understood the obstacles faced by female filmmakers,
and women of color, so she chose to bet on herself
and tells stories that speak to the Black experience
in her own unique voice. Not only was she conscious
of the lack of female creatives, but also the margin
of people of color behind the scenes, below and
above the line. For this reason, her productions are
staffed with a diverse group of skilled individuals.
Ericka’s latest project, Remember Me: The
Mahalia Jackson Story, is a feature film starring
Grammy Award winner Ledisi as the iconic Mahalia
Jackson, and an all-star cast including Columbus
Short, Janet Hubert, Keith Robinson, and Corbin
Bleu. The film was nominated for 3 NAACP Image
Awards, with Ericka winning, Outstanding
Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) and has
garnered 22 award wins and nominations during its
film festival run including the African Movie
Academy Award (AMMA) for Best Diaspora Feature. In
addition, Remember Me is currently available on the
Hulu streaming service.
1:15 pm -
Spotlighting Black Excellence in Hollywood: A
Conversation with Television Director, Ken
Whittingham
This intimate
conversation will take us into the world of Ken
Whittingham, one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed
television directors with credits including American
Housewife, Gilmore Girls, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,
Ugly Betty, Still Standing, Community, 30 Rock,
Californication, Parks and Recreation, The Middle,
Parenthood, The Bernie Mac Show, Scrubs, Everybody
Hates Chris, Modern Family, The King of Queens, The
Office, My Name Is Earl, Entourage, and the list
goes on and on.
Ken will speak openly about his experience as a
Black man in Hollywood and how he broke the
stereotype of Black creatives only being capable of
telling Black stories. His credits highlight a
career of storytelling with characters that reflect
the rich diverse culture of America from the
perspective of a visionary director and producer.
Panelist: Ken Whittingham is an
American television director and producer. He has
won five NAACP Image Awards for his work on The
Office, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation
2:05 pm -
“Designing the Black Experience: A Conversation with
Ruth E. Carter”
An intimate conversation with two-time Academy Award
winning film costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, who
is best known for her historical Oscar Costume
Design wins for Black Panther and Black Panther:
Wakanda Forever.
With a career that expands
over three decades Ruth E. Carter has worked with
some of the biggest names in Hollywood including
Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Ava DuVernay, Ryan
Coogler, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, Denzel
Washington, Angela Bassett, and the late Chadwick
Boseman.
In this candid conversation Ruth E.
Carter will speak about her expansive career as a
“Storyteller” through costume design, her personal
journey navigating Hollywood, and the extraordinary
strides made by black women in the entertainment
industry.
Speaker: Ruth E. Carter is a
two-time Academy Award winning American film costume
designer. Best known for turning the Black Panther
superhero into an African King, Carter makes history
as the first Black person to win the Costume Design
category and earns Marvel Studios their first Oscar
recognition. For BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER,
Carter makes history, again, for her outstanding
costume design work and becomes the first Black
woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category
and the first costume designer to win for the first
film and its sequel.
3:10 pm -
“Women of Color Breaking Down Barriers
Behind the Scenes”
This panel of
women who have broken down barriers in Hollywood
will explore and celebrate the contributions of
women of color who are often overlooked. We will
shine a light on the diverse presence of women of
color shaping the stories being told in Hollywood
behind the scenes -- the writers, directors, show
runners, costume designers, camera operators, and
producers. As Hollywood continues to push the
narrative of all white everything, these women are
creating opportunities for women of color to tell
complex and rich stories with characters that
reflect a diverse world.
These ladies will
share their poignant perspectives, provide
invaluable words of wisdom, and share their thoughts
on the state of women of color in Hollywood today.
breaking down barriers and pushing our commonality
to the forefront.
By sharing the insider
perspectives and triumphant successes of these black
women behind the scenes, we hope to encourage even
more women of color and women generally to celebrate
their self-worth and pursue careers in film,
television and media.
We’re at a critical
time in history where women are using their strong
voices to solidify their integral roles in business,
social good, and in their personal lives. Since
young girls are exposed to media and digital content
constantly, the time is now to highlight and
celebrate the women who are making significant
contributions to the creative community, especially
in the film and television industry.
Panelist: Robi Reed is an American
casting director and producer. She has over 50 films
and television shows to her credit, including The
Best Man, Soul Food, For Colored Girls, Love Jones,
Set It Off, In Living Color and Girlfriends. Reed
got her start working with writer-director Spike
Lee. His 1988 release School Daze was her very first
film as a casting director. She later went on to
cast Lee’s Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better
Blues, Crooklyn, Clockers and Jungle Fever. Reed is
currently the Vice President of Talent and Casting
for Original Programming at Black Entertainment
Television (BET).
Panelist: Holly Carter is the
President and CEO of Relevé Entertainment, leading
one of the premier boutique brand partnership and
production companies for family and faith inspired
content. Under her company umbrella, Carter
developed, executive produced and recently wrapped
season two of her hit scripted series, "Kingdom
Business”, on BET+, as well as wrapping her latest
unscripted Fashion Competition Series, she created
for HULU/ ABC. Next up is a Hair Competition
Format,” Hair to The Throne," with Kim Kimble and
Taraji P. Henson that she is developing for NBC
Universal.
Panelist: Rose Catherine Pinkney is
a versatile, senior level creative executive who has
been both a buyer and a seller having worked for
networks, studios, and independent production
companies. She is currently the Senior Vice
President, Scripted Programming at BET/BET+. As head
of development for the Original Programming
Department, she is charged with developing scripted
content for the network and its sister streamer
BET+. Her credits include Average Joe, The Ms. Pat
Show, The Black Hamptons, The Porter, The X Files,
Girlfriends, New York Undercover, and South Central.
The Ericka Nicole Malone Soul Lounge
Guests are invited back to a lively evening of soulful R&B music played by the incomparable, DJ Q Nice, and special guest DJ Spinderella of the Grammy award winning group Salt & Pepa! The evening will boast an exciting live performance by R&B crooner Alfred Jackson and conclude with the legendary award-winning group, SWV.
SWV
DJ Spinderella
Alfred Jackson
DJ Qnice
The Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment
Indie Directors & Creatives Spotlight
January 20-21, 2024
The Cabin, 427 Main St, Park City, UT
Sundance Film Festival 2024
EVENT SCHEDULE: Day 2
Sunday January 21, 2024
Doors Open at 10:30 am
Panels and Conversations
NAACP Panel Discussions, presented by Ericka
Nicole Malone Entertainment
11:00 am
- 12:00 pm – Six Imperatives for Rendering Black
Lives in Media
Moderator: Kyle Bowser, Senior
Vice President of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau
The relationship between mass media and the Black
community demonstrates the tremendous power of
storytelling and how it conveys images and messages
that conjure perceptions and beliefs that either
help or harm. Intentional choices in the depiction
of Black life in media have produced psycho-social
dynamics that require attention and redress. In this
session, the NAACP Hollywood Bureau will explore six
imperatives for rendering Black lives in media. The
panel will discuss various ways mass media
storytelling can illuminate a path toward a healthy,
discerning and authentically rendered society,
wherein the Black experience is understood,
appreciated and celebrated with equitable deference.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm - Black Women
Lead
Moderator: NAACP Communication
Executive
"Black Women Lead" is a compelling
panel discussion that shines a spotlight on the
significant contributions of Black women in the
television and film industry. This engaging program
brings together esteemed industry professionals,
accomplished filmmakers, actors, producers, and
advocates to explore the varied and vital roles that
Black women have played in shaping the landscape of
entertainment. Through meaningful dialogue, personal
insights, and thought-provoking discussions, the
panel delves into the challenges, triumphs, and
evolving opportunities for Black women in the
industry, while celebrating their remarkable impact
and influence on storytelling, representation, and
creative leadership. Join us for an inspiring and
enlightening conversation that highlights the power,
resilience, and innovation of Black women leading
the way in television and film.
The Ericka Nicole Malone Lounge
3:00 pm - DJ Set, by DJ Qnice
DJ Qnice
Soul Sunday Live Performances - Hosted by Vanessa E. Williams
Host: Vanessa Estelle Williams, is
an award-winning and Emmy nominated actress, singer,
writer, and director. Williams made her film debut
as the gun-toting head of security “Keisha” in the
urban classic film New Jack City. Other film credits
include Thriller (streaming now on Netflix), Raising
Izzie, Imagine That, Like Mike, Punks, Mother,
Candyman. Current television credits include Fox's
9-1-1, Showtime's The L Word Generation Q, and more.
4:00 pm - 8:15 pm – Live Musical
Performances
Mali Music
Sha'Leah Nikole
Dwele
Kindred the Family Soul
Printz Board
Doors Close 9:30 pm
