Orion Pictures President Alano Mayo Empowers Inclusive Storytelling
Veteran industry executive and producer Alana Mayo is taking the necessary financial and creative risks to bring unique artistic and underserved visions to the movie screen.
As president of MGM’s Orion Pictures, the 38-year-old New York native is making the movies she wants to despite Hollywood’s history of exclusion and lack of originality. She is a young, Black, queer woman whose efforts have multiplied since taking over the television company’s mantle in 2020.
“If you had the privilege, as I do, to be alive in this moment and in a position where you can either tell stories or partially determine which stories are told, I don’t know how you can’t be excited about what’s being left on the table,” Mayo told NPR.
She continued: “That’s when I started going into rooms and saying: ‘You all are missing an opportunity here. And financially, you’re leaving money on the table. And also, why wouldn’t we want to be making more of this? This is some of the most exciting art that’s coming out from our industry today.”
Growing up in Chicago, Mayo loved films, but during her film and creative writing studies at Columbia University, she discovered the underlying problem behind the system that greenlit these films.
“I couldn’t believe how homogenous they were in terms of who’s on screen and who’s behind the camera,” she said.
“I was genuinely like — oh, this system is, by design, exclusionary of a lot of people. I realized it was completely broken.”
In her role, Mayo has been instrumental in authorizing the film drama, Till, released on Oct. 14, 2022. The true story is based on Mamie Till, an educator and activist who pursued justice after the brutal murder of her 14-year-old son, Emmett, in 1955.
She also gave the green light to Anything’s Possible, a coming-of-age story that follows a high school romance between a transgender girl and her crush. The film, which is actor Billy Porter’s feature directorial debut, was released on Amazon this summer.
Mayo’s producing background is a testament to her commitment. Before her presidency, she served as vice president of production at Paramount Pictures, where she worked on Denzel Washington’s award-winning 2016 film Fences, and as VP and Head of Originals at Vimeo.
She was also Michael B. Jordan’s secret weapon as the head of production and development at his Outlier Society.
“Her experience and taste is what attracted me to her and her fearless ability to be a risk-taker in our ever-changing business is what really connected me with her,” Jordan once said, per Deadline.
Emmy Award-Winning Writer, Producer and Actor Lena Waithe To Serve As 2023 American Black Film Festival Ambassador
ABFF Ventures LLC today announced Emmy AwardÒ-winning writer, creator, actor and founder of Hillman Grad Lena Waithe will serve as the ambassador for the 2023 American Black Film Festival (ABFF).
As ambassador, Waithe, who has been an influential advocate for under-represented storytellers in Hollywood, will help bring awareness to ABFF’s mission of showcasing Black talent and discovering new voices and will collaborate with the festival for one-of-a-kind moments. The 27th ABFF will be held June 14-18 in Miami Beach followed by a virtual event June 19-25 on ABFF PLAY, https://abffplay.com/.
“Lena is a powerhouse in the film and television industry and a trailblazer for emerging creative artists,” said Nicole Friday, festival producer and president of ABFF Ventures LLC.
“Her commitment to elevate diverse voices personifies ABFF’s commitment to diversify Hollywood. We are excited to have her unique perspective and talent as our 2023 ABFF Ambassador.”
“I am so honored to have been chosen as ABFF’s 2023 Festival Ambassador,” Waithe said. “I am excited to collaborate with the festival to shine a light on unique and groundbreaking stories and the creatives behind them.”
Since its inception, the highly anticipated festival has become a cornerstone for diversity in Hollywood. It has premiered the work and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful filmmakers, actors, writers and stand-up comedians and is recognized as the standard bearer of excellence for Black creativity. Continuing its legacy to empower Black artists and showcase a wide range of entertainment content, in 2023 ABFF will introduce three new cultural initiatives to its robust lineup including “About Women,” which will highlight the work and support comradery among women of color in the film and television industry; “Pro-Hollywood,” highlighting how professional athletes are using their platform to impact diversity in the entertainment industry; and “ABFF Pride,” a new series of screenings and talk events centered on the LGBTQIA+ community aptly timed to take place during Pride Month. The festival will continue to feature studio premieres independent films, master classes, panels, talent showcases, networking and hospitality events.
Waithe’s connection to the ABFF brand was previously established as an honoree at the ABFF HONORS, a coveted award show that salutes excellence in television and film. Waithe received the “Industry Renaissance Award” which is presented to content creators whose exemplary work in film and television contributes to changing perceptions of people of color in the entertainment industry.
As founder and chair of Hillman Grad Lena oversees a slate of projects that give marginalized storytellers access to the industry, including projects at Warner Bros., Netflix, BET, Disney, Amazon, Universal, Focus HBO, HBO Max and Showtime. Her company most recently negotiated an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Television Group, which includes HBO Max, cable and broadcast networks.
(Image: Courtesy of ABFF Ventures LLC)
Waithe created and executive produced the critically acclaimed Showtime series THE CHI, which has received a Peabody Award nomination, and she also received two NAACP Image Award nominations. Her semi-autobiographical series, TWENTIES, which she writes and executive produces for BET has been praised for being the first primetime series starring a masculine presenting Queer woman of color in a lead role. Recently, Waithe executive produced the film BEAUTY for Netflix, and is currently working on producing a Sammy Davis Jr. biopic. Other upcoming projects include: the feature directorial debut of A.V. Rockwell’s A Thousand and One which is set for a March 2023 release; Chang Can Dunk for Disney+; and Being Mary: The Mary Tyler Moore Documentary, directed by James Adolphus.
On the acting front, Waithe can be seen in the critically acclaimed third season of Master of None: Moments in Love on Netflix, which she co-wrote and executive produced. Waithe received an EmmyÒ Award in the category of “Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series,” for the series’ “Thanksgiving” episode making her the first Black woman to ever do so. Her credits also include HBO’s Westworld, Justin Simien’s horror satire Bad Hair, Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, Netflix’s #BLACKAF and their animated series Big Mouth, NBC’s This is Us and many more.
Waithe made her feature film screenwriting debut with Universal’s Queen & slim, directed by Melina Matsoukas and starring Academy Award® nominee Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner. An advocate for queer representation throughout the industry, Waithe has been honored with such recognitions as The New York City LGBT Community Center’s “Trailblazer Award,” a GLAAD “Media Award,” The Trevor Project’s “Hero Award,” the MTV Awards “Trailblazer Award,” and OUT Magazine’s “Artist of the Year.”
The list of former ABFF ambassadors includes, Issa Rae, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common, Taraji P. Henson and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
ABFF sponsors and partners to date are City of Miami Beach, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) (Presenting) and UPS (Premier).
For festival information, including submission deadlines and how to obtain an ABFF pass, visit www.abff.com. Follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.
Former Bank Executive Latasha Causey Becomes First Black Woman Track President in NASCAR History
Phoenix Raceway is preparing to start its engines with a new superior set to lead the track in 2023 and beyond.
NASCAR announced that Latasha Causey would become the new president of the track in Avondale, making her the first Black woman track president in NASCAR history. The former bank executive and Phoenix native will reportedly replace Julie Giese, becoming the second woman to hold the position at the track.
According to ABC 15, Causey stated, “I have been fortunate to call The Valley’ home’ my entire life, and I could not be more grateful to become the next leader of Phoenix Raceway.”
“I’ve been a business leader for well over 20 years,” Causey told the outlet on Tuesday. “That is what I bring to the table. But, I am also a community leader. I have been a long-time community leader and servant leader here in this community. Whether through my volunteerism, non-profit boards or just really getting my hands dirty in the community.”
NBC reported that the Arizona State University graduate is a founding member of the NASCAR Accelerators host committee alongside other business leaders who serve as Arizona’s ambassadors for NASCAR. Causey was named one of 2021’s Most Influential Women in Arizona, in addition to an honor from the Phoenix Business Journal as a part of their 2018 Outstanding Women in Business Awards.
“Latasha’s track record speaks for itself as a highly experienced executive that prioritizes relationships and giving back to the community – also core values of ours at NASCAR,” said Chip Wile, NASCAR senior vice president and chief track properties officer, in a statement released by the speedway.
Causey said NASCAR is “a sport that brings people together, and as a result, Phoenix Raceway plays a key role in showcasing our great community to visitors across the country every year.”
“I cannot wait to help build upon the great work that’s already been done in making this facility one of the true gems in sports and entertainment,” she added.
Causey will begin work at the track on November 28, following NASCAR Championship Weekend, Nov. 4–6.
Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young Teams Up With McGraw Hill for New HBCU Scholarship Program
Former Atlanta mayor and activist Andrew Young is the face of a new scholarship program for students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The 1951 Howard University graduate teamed up with education giant McGraw Hill to give HBCU students a chance to pursue an education without the financial burdens of college, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Named the Andrew Young HBCU Scholarship program, this initiative is funded by an initial $50,000 investment thanks to McGraw Hill Education. Next fall, 10 first-year students who plan to be a part of the HBCU legacy will reap the benefits of financial support and McGraw Hill’s existing civil rights education curriculum.
“Every young adult needs a fair chance,” said McGraw Hill President Sean Ryan.
Young, who recalls spending no more than $400 a semester, graduated college debt-free. Today, data indicates that the average cost of college in the United States is $35,550 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses.
“The challenge today is how do you get an education and get a job to help pay you to pay back all of that money you borrowed that is going to leave you in debt,” said the nation’s first Black U.N. ambassador.
“College should not destroy your credit rating and set you back before you start.”
According to a recent report, HBCU graduates have an average debt of $32,373, which is 19% higher than those at non-HBCUs.
“Although many Americans are burdened by their student loan debt, borrowers who attended HBCUs have been especially hard hit, due to the impacts of systemic racism on wealth accumulation for families and unequal resource distribution among institutions,” as stated in Paying from the Grave by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).
The program was inspired by Matt Daniels, the chair of the law and human rights division at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. civil rights. He was instrumental in designing the Civil Rights: A Global Perspective, in which students will delve deeper into the “non-violent social justice principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to its website.
“We want to use this to plug the gap,” Daniels said of the scholarship.
“For many students, HBCUs are usually the first ladder out of poverty.”
21-Year-Old Becomes First Black US Figure Skater to Win International Grand Prix Medal
A silver medal marks another historic moment for Black women.
On Oct. 29, Skate Canada in Mississauga, Ontario, announced 21-year-old Starr Andrews as the first U.S. Black figure skater to win an International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix medal in the series history that dates back to 1995.
According to Team USA, Andrews’ silver medal follows a tally of scores showing a jump from fifth place during Friday’s short program to second overall on Saturday, with a score of 191.26.
“I actually still feel like it’s a dream,” Andrews said after noticing her nameplate in the silver medalist’s spot during the women’s press conference.
“I’ve gone into this year with a different mindset, trying to not be so caught up in my head,” she said.
“… It’s definitely paid off, even though my season didn’t start off so strong (at Nebelhorn Trophy last month). I was still getting used to my programs.”
Andrews’ free skate performance was a beautiful piece that showed off her mature skating skills, executing six triple jumps and a difficult double Axel-Euler-triple Salchow combination. The skater chose Belgian singer Lara Fabian’s rendition of “Je Suis Malad” as the music to complement her routine.
“I think it’s a huge deal, to be a woman of color in figure skating,” Andrews said.
“I’m so proud I could represent. (It makes) bringing home a medal even more special.”
“It’s really, really important, especially with everything that’s going on in the world right now,” said Derrick Delmore, who trains Andrews in Lakewood, California. “She stepped up to the challenge. The fact she made so much of a statement this week does wonders for the community and it will continue to solidify her as a role model.”
Team USA reported that Andrews dealt with an electrical heart issue where an extra nerve had to be burned away in surgery. Andrews revealed that it relieved her of a lot of anxiety.
“She has been running strong programs at home,” Delmore said. “What I am most impressed with is even when things are not perfect (in practice), she’s kept going.”
“She knows she can skate well even if there are errors. That weight has kind of been lifted off of her.”
Andrews, who went viral at nine years old after a performance to Willow Smith’s Whip My Hair, gave the world a historical performance to rave over. POPSUGAR reported that the figure skater’s score is reportedly 10 points above her previous personal best during a Grand Prix event in France in 2019.
Andrews’ second Grand Prix event of the season will reportedly be the fifth stop on the circuit: the NHK Trophy, held Nov. 18–20 in Sapporo, Japan.
“I’m just going to continue training the way I have been,” she said.
“My practices here were good and I think that helped a lot. I’m just going to trust myself.”
Elon Musk Meets with Free Press and Civil Rights Groups to Discuss Twitter Community Standards, Election Integrity and Content Moderation
On Tuesday, Free Press joined representatives from the ADL, the Asian American Foundation, Color Of Change, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, LULAC and the NAACP in a meeting with Elon Musk to discuss Twitter’s commitment to community standards, election integrity and content moderation.
In a series of tweets following the meeting, Musk said that the platform would “continue to combat hate and harassment and enforce its election integrity policies.”
“Twitter will not allow anyone who was de-platformed for violating Twitter rules back on [the] platform until we have a clear process for doing so, which will take at least a few more weeks,” he tweeted.
“Twitter’s content moderation council will include representatives with widely divergent views, which will certainly include the civil rights community and groups who face hate-fueled violence.”
Prior to the meeting with Musk, Free Press, Media Matters for America and Accountable Tech organized a mass sign-on letter in which nearly 50 civil-society groups called on Twitter’s top-20 advertisers to demand that Musk commit to brand and user safety. The open letter urges advertisers to suspend Twitter ads globally if Musk can’t commit to enforcing the brand-and community-safety rules already on the platform’s books. Already a major ad brokerage, IPG, has advised clients, including American Express, Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson, to pause advertising on Twitter for the next week until the company gives more details about its plans to protect trust and safety.
Last week, Free Press released Empty Promises: Inside Big Tech’s Weak Effort to Fight Hate and Lies in 2022, a report revealing the ongoing failures of Meta, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to curb the spread of election disinformation and extremism across their networks. The report was part of the ongoing Change the Terms initiative, which has issued a series of corporate policy recommendations that would help ensure that the world’s largest social-media networks curtail the spread of hate and disinformation on their platforms.
Free Press Co-CEO Jessica J. González, who attended the Musk meeting, said:
“Yesterday, I joined colleagues in a frank conversation with Elon Musk. I shared my concerns that hate, harassment and conspiracy theories proliferate on the platform, and underscored the disproportionate harm that unmoderated social-media spaces inflict on women and people of color.”
“I asked him to retain and fully enforce election-integrity measures.”
“We had a productive discussion, and as Musk’s Twitter thread demonstrates, he made a few commitments. First, he agreed that he would not put anyone kicked off Twitter for violating its trust and safety rules back on the platform before the U.S. midterm elections next week; and he promised that any replatforming following the election will involve a transparent process.”
“Second, he agreed to retain and enforce election-integrity measures and assured us that all staff responsible for this work would have access to Twitter’s tools by the end of this week. Finally, he promised that he would consult with civil- and human-rights experts and those who have been targeted online as he develops new content-moderation policies.”
“These commitments are a good first step but really just the beginning of a long process.”
“As the report Free Press published last week shows, hate, abuse and conspiracy theories are rampant on Twitter. There is much more to do to make Twitter a space for robust and healthy dialogue. And of course, actions speak louder than words. We’ll be evaluating Musk closely and assessing whether he backs up his promises with actions.”
“With our four-dozen partners, we will continue to pressure Twitter’s largest advertisers to push Musk to retain and actually enforce existing content-moderation rules and community standards.”
“If Musk won’t prioritize safety on the platform, then advertisers should refuse to spend money to see their content alongside lies, harassment and extremism.”
“We must act immediately to disrupt the real-world violence that social-media companies have helped fuel, including the violent attack against Nancy Pelosi’s husband, the mass shooting targeting Latinos at an El Paso Texas Walmart, the shootings at Black churches and Jewish temples, the violence against Muslims, and so much more. This is about our communities’ ability to speak freely, yes, but also to live free from hate-fueled violence.”
Keyshia Cole Took Son Out of Donda Academy After Ye Claimed to ‘Shoot the School Up’
Last month, singer Keyshia Cole stated on Twitter that her son, who was recently enrolled in Ye‘s Donda Academy, has been taken out of the institution after the artist formerly known as Kanye West made some shocking comments on his Twitter account.
The deleted tweet from Ye was in response to fellow rapper Boosie chastising Ye for recent antics. In the since-deleted Twitter post, Ye wrote:
“DON’T SPEAK ON ME LIL BOOSIE SPEAK TO ME YEAH LITTLE NERD ASS ME COME SMACK ME OR COME SHOOT ME IM THE ONE THAT GOT BULLIED BY THE ENTIRE BLACK CELEBRITY COMMUNITY NOW IM BACK TO SHOOT THE SCHOOL UP”
Cole wrote that in response to another user tagging her in a post where another user questioned any parent who would allow their children to be enrolled in a school run by Ye.
“Donda Academy shut down and I have to ask… what kind of parent sends a kid to an unaccredited religious indoctrination center where you have to sign an NDA to enroll? For $15k/year? Who listens to Ye speak and goes “I’ll trust this man with my child.”
It has been reported that parents must sign an NDA for their children to attend the school. Cole clarified that she did not sign a non-disclosure agreement.
And there was no NDA signed . Idk who may have but that wasn’t brought up to us. https://t.co/QXh0LBuiZp
Atlanta Pastor Jamal Bryant Blasts Republican Senate Candidate Herschel Walker in Fiery Speech
Atlanta-area pastor and social justice advocate Dr. Jamal Bryant delivered a fiery speech to his congregation about Republican Herschel Walker‘s candidacy for U.S. Senate, pulling zero punches.
Walker, who moved back to Georgia after living in Texas for years, is running against Sen. Raphael Warnock in next week’s midterm elections. Walker has run a campaign full of odd statements and allegations of paying for several abortions.
On Sunday, Bryant shared his thoughts about why Walker moved back to Georgia to run for the U.S. Senate, and his speech quickly went viral.
“Ladies and gentlemen, when the Republican Party of Georgia moved Herschel Walker from Texas to Georgia so that he could run for Senate, it’s because change was happening too fast in the post-antebellum South,” Bryant said.
“The state had been flipped blue and there were some principalities that weren’t prepared for a Black man and a Jewish man to go to the Senate at the exact same time,” Bryant continued.
“So they figured they would delude us by picking somebody who they thought would, in fact, represent us better with a football than with a degree in philosophy.”
The 51-year-old HBCU graduate didn’t stop there, going in on Republicans who believed Black people “were so stupid that we would elect the lowest caricature of a stereotypical broken Black man as opposed to somebody who is educated and erudite and focused.”
From there, Bryant went off, telling his congregation, “Y’all ain’t ready for me today.”
“Since Herschel Walker was 16 years old, white men been telling him what to do, telling him what school to go to, where to live, where to eat, where to buy a house, where to run, where to sit down, where to sleep, where to pay for abortions, where to buy a gun and you think they not gonna tell him how to vote in 2022?”
“We don’t need a Walker, we need a runner!”
Throughout his speech, Bryant’s congregation applauded with approval. The pastor continued describing the type of candidate he believes Georgia needs.
“We need somebody who gon’ run and tell the truth about Jan. 6. We need somebody who gon’ run and push for the cancellation of student loan debts. We need somebody who gon’ run and make the former president respond to a subpoena.”
“Georgia, I need you to know the slave Negroes y’all are used to don’t live here no more. We can think for ourselves, function for ourselves, and vote for ourselves.”
“Why? Cause we don’t need a Walker!” Bryant thundered to a cheering crowd.
Bryant’s speech quickly went viral on social media.
Walker is popular among Republicans and white people, but support for the former running back is lacking with Black voters. According to the Sacramento Observer, Warnock holds an 80%-17% lead over Walker among Black voters over 50, and CNN reports Warnock leads Walker 74% to 11% among Black men.
Nigerian Singer Davido’s 3-Year-Old Son Drowns in Home Swimming Pool
An unimaginable tragedy has befallen Nigerian singer Davido.
According to BCC, the singer, whose real name is David Adeleke, and his fiancée, Chioma Rowland, a popular chef and influencer, lost their three-year-old son, Ifeanyi Adeleke. Police confirmed the boy drowned in the swimming pool in his parents’ Lagos home Monday.
Police officers in Nigeria questioned eight domestic workers after the boy was discovered..Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin informed the BBC that one of the workers notified police at 10:00 p.m. local time Monday.
“We are reviewing the CCTV cameras to get additional information about the circumstances of his death,” Hundeyin said. “His body has been deposited in the morgue. We are in touch with his parents. In fact, they were with us last night.”
Davido, a popular afrobeat singer, has three other children. He announced last month that he and Rowland would be getting married next year.
Davido just wished his son a happy third birthday on his Instagram account last week.
“I pray with all my heart that God grants you perfect health and pure happiness for as long as humanly possible. You will grow to be greater than Me , Happy birthday, son @davidifeanyiadeleke !!! #BIG3 🎂🎂🎂🎉🎉🎉🎉”
The news comes a week before the official launch of PUMA x Davido that he mentions on his Instagram account. He is also scheduled to headline a concert, A.W.A.Y Festival, November 18 in Atlanta.
“I’m inviting you to come away with me to the maiden edition of A.W.A.Y Festival, a one-day music festival and cultural experience.
“A.W.A.Y Festival will promote and foster cultural exportation and collaboration between Africa and the world and there is no time like now. I can’t wait to have some of my friends from back home share the stage with my friends Stateside as we promote the culture!”
HBCU Students Say They Were Racially Profiled During Police Stop; South Carolina Sheriffs Say Otherwise
A pair of South Carolina sheriffs are disputing claims that they targeted a bus full of students from Shaw University in October.
As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, on October 5, 18 students and two staff advisors from the HBCU located in North Carolina had their bus stopped by police in South Carolina while on their way to the Center for Financial Advancement Conference in Atlanta.
Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright and Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller held a joint press conference Monday disputing Shaw University President Paulette Dillard‘s version of events, including that police dogs searched through the student’s luggage. The two officers acknowledged there was a police dog on site, but said none of the students were asked to leave the bus and at no point was the dog near the students.
“President Dillard said they were searched by blood-thirsty dogs. There was one dog; he was on a leash. Students were never even close to that dog,” Wright, said according to ABC News. “None of the students were even asked off the bus.”
Body camera footage of the stop shows the dog sniffing passengers’ luggage and the sheriff handling the dog opening student’s bags so the dog could sniff them as well. Dillard said the situation would’ve been different if the students were white.
“This behavior of targeting Black students is unacceptable and will not be ignored nor tolerated,” she said.
“Had the students been white, I doubt this detention and search would have occurred.”
Wright said, “I wish racism would die the ugly, cruel death it deserves. And if anything we are ever doing is racist, I want to know it, I want to fix it and I want to never let it happen again, but this case right here has nothing to do with racism.”
The video also showed the driver of the bus being searched for weapons after grabbing candy out of his pocket. The driver was issued a warning for the stop and the bus eventually continued to Atlanta.
Wright said since the incident he has reached out to Dillard but has not heard back from her. A similar incident occurred in May when the Alabama State University women’s lacrosse team was stopped and searched in Georgia while returning from a tournament in Florida.
