>> HI, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME TO BASIC BLACK.

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST, OTHERS CRYSTAL, YOUR HOST.

TONIGHT, BIPOC REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA AND FILM.

MASSACHUSETTS IS SEEN AS A HUB FOR FILMMAKING.

MIDNIGHT -- MANY MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FILMS HAVE BEEN SHOT RIGHT HERE.

THE EQUALIZER, BLACK PANTHER TO, AND AMERICAN FICTION.

PLUS, THE STATE'S 25 PERCENT TAX CREDIT IS AN ADDED INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT STUDIOS AND FILM MAKERS TO THE COMMONWEALTH.

THERE IS ALSO A THRIVING INDEPENDENT FILM CULTURE OF TALENTED BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR CREATING WORK AND TELLING STORIES THAT RESONATE WITH MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES.

TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES OF WORKING IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY, GETTING PROJECTS OFF THE GROUND, AND EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF EMERGING BLACK AND BROWN CREATIVE'S.

JOINING ME TONIGHT VIA ZOOM IS THE CEO AND LEAD PRODUCER OF THAT CHILD GOT TALENT ENTERTAINMENT, AND THE TREASURER OF THE SECRET SOCIETY OF BLACK CREATIVE'S, AND PROFESSOR AT EMERSON COLLEGE.

TATA IS A PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR, AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SCREENWRITING AT EMERSON COLLEGE.

EMERSON COLLEGE IS MY ALMA MATER.

GREGORY IS THE COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF SWEETER THE JUICE FILMS.

AND CHRIS IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOOP LAB, A NONPROFIT MEDIA EDUCATION ORGANIZATION AND A LECTURER OF MEDIA ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY.

COME TO YOU ALL.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

CRYSTAL: I AM GLAD TO SEE EVERYONE HERE.

IN 2024, THE HOLLYWOOD DIVERSITY REPORT FOR THIS YEAR INDICATES THAT WRITERS AND DIRECTORS OF COLOR ARE STILL UNDERREPRESENTED.

LESS THAN THREE OUT OF 10 WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO, HOW IS THE UPCOMING CONNECT CONFERENCE, WHICH WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP BREAK -- BRING FILMMAKERS OF COLOR TOGETHER.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

>> CONFERENCE IS HAPPENING APRIL 12 THROUGH 14TH, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING A BEVY OF WORKSHOPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AN ADVANTAGEOUS CONNECTION FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR INDUSTRY, FROM AI TAKING OVER TO PERHAPS EVEN LEARNING ABOUT WHAT IS NEW AND HAPPENING IN OUR INDUSTRY AFTER THE STRIKES.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY COMING OUT OF NEW YORK AS WELL AS L.A. AS WELL AS ABROAD.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT LONDON, BRAZIL, AND DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES WHERE WE ARE GOING TO ALSO HOST CONVERSATIONS IN REGARDS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BE A PART OF THE FILM INDUSTRY HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, BECAUSE WE ARE THRIVING.

>> I AM GOING TO BASICALLY GET THE SAME QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU, STARTING WITH GREG IN THE STUDIO.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HAVING A PLACE LIKE THIS CONFERENCE.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING ALL THESE BLACK AND BROWN CREATIVE'S AND FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE MEDIA TOGETHER IN ONE SPACE?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

FIRST OF ALL, TO SEE THEM BE THAT MENTALITY, AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEMSELVES AND THAT REPRESENTATION.

THAT IS KEY AT THE CONNECT CONFERENCE.

WHEN I STARTED THE FILM INDUSTRY SIX YEARS AGO, THERE WERE VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN FOR FINDING PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME.

NOW WITH THE CONNECT CONFERENCE, GOING SOMEWHERE WHERE IT IS THREE DAYS, YOU ARE SEEING PEOPLE WORK IN ALL DIFFERENT CREW POSITIONS -- WRITERS, DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS -- WHO HAVE DONE THIS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

IT HAS -- IT REALLY MAKE ME HOPEFUL AND IS EMPOWERING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND AD AGENCIES TO SEE THAT WE ARE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

>> THIS CONFERENCE BECAUSE I AM COMING IN AS A SCREENWRITER TO DO A WORKSHOP WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

I THINK WHAT THEY CONNECT CONFERENCE IS DOING IS REALLY GREAT, IN A WAY THAT -- I AM TALKING 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM EMERSON, I HAD NO GUIDANCE, NO MENTORS OR ANYTHING.

I THINK HAVING MEDIA TRAINING, WHAT I AM DOING IS I AM PROVIDING TRAINING FOR YOUNG, UPCOMING SCREENWRITERS SO THAT THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING HOW TO DIRECT, UNDERSTANDING AI IN THE INDUSTRY, HOW IT IMPACTS OUR INDUSTRY, THAT IS A GREAT THING THAT IS NEEDED IN BOSTON.

YOUNG PEOPLE NEED GUIDANCE, MENTORSHIP, AND TRAINING, AND THEY WILL GET THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> IT IS VERY ENERGIZING.

AT THE LOOP LAB, WE HAVE BEEN GROWING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF CONNECT, AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO GET MORE EXPOSURE TO THE DIFFERENT TRADE UNIONS, LIKE I SEE -- LIKE IATSE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LOOKING TO RECRUIT MUCH OF THEIR TALENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT WAY TO NETWORK WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR IN THE INDUSTRY.

IT CAN FEEL ISOLATING DOING CONTRACT WORK BUT ALSO BEING A MEDIA ARTIST, AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SPACE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR TO COME TOGETHER, CONNECT WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THE SECRET SOCIETY OF BLACK CREATIVE'S IS CURATING FOR THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING HAS REALLY BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.

WITH THE LOOP LAB, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE OUR APPRENTICES ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREERS.

THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET IN EARLY BUT ALSO LEARN AND GET THAT EXPOSURE AND ULTIMATELY BUILD OUT THE REST OF THEIR CAREERS.

CRYSTAL: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS INCENTIVE FOR FILMMAKING IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I'M THOUGHTFUL FOR THAT, AND I AM ALSO THOUGHTFUL FOR THE SECRET SOCIETY LIKE BLACK CREATIVE'S.

MARISSA, HOW FRIENDLY DO YOU THINK MASSACHUSETTS IS, OR WELCOMING MASSACHUSETTS IS, FOR BIPOC CREATIVE'S, ESPECIALLY IN THE FILM INDUSTRY, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TAX INCENTIVE?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT AFTER THE PANDEMIC, AND THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE GEORGE FLOYD HAPPENED, THE STATE DID A LITTLE BIT OF DIVING INTO WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE, REALIZING THAT BIPOC PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE A VOICE.

WE NEED TO BE PRESENT.

WE NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE.

WE NEED SOMEONE SITTING THERE.

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF BLACK CREATIVE'S HAS WORKED REALLY HARD TO BE THOSE PEOPLE HAVING SEATS AT THOSE TABLES, WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR, OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE, SPRINGFIELD, BROCKTON, LAWRENCE, NEW BEDFORD, TALKING TO THESE MAYORS, TALKING TO THESE REPRESENTATIVES TO SAY, LISTEN, WE ARE HERE AND HAVE A PRESENCE IN THIS STATE.

FOR A LOT OF THEM, I WILL GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF RACE, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WE EXISTED.

NOT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO KNOW, THEY'RE JUST SIMPLY WAS NOT A PLATFORM FOR THEM TO FIND OUT.

US ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO GIVE A PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE COMING INTO THIS STATE WHO WANT TO FILM IN THIS STATE, WHO ARE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEIR CREW AND CAST ARE DIVERSE HAVE A PLATFORM SO THEY CAN COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THIS DIRECTOR, OR A GAFFER, OR SOMEONE TO BE PART OF WARDROBE.

WE CAN SAY RIGHT HERE WE'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO CAN HELP YOU BE A PART OF YOUR PRODUCTION.

I FEEL LIKE THIS STATE WAS NOT AWARE OF OUR PRESENCE, BUT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE SECRET SOCIETY, WE ARE TRUDGING FORWARD AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE TO REPRESENT US IN THIS COMMUNITY.

CRYSTAL: FOR SURE.

GREG, I KNOW YOU CAME INTO THE FILM AND MEDIA SPACE A LITTLE BIT LATER IN LIFE.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS THE SYSTEM FOR YOU TO NAVIGATE?

>> FILM WAS SOMETHING I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN THE ARTS, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I DID NOT REALLY KNOW ANYBODY IN THE INDUSTRY.

I WENT TO COLLEGE FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT DID NOT WORK OUT.

THEN I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT FILM BUT DID NOT WANT TO JUMP INTO STUDENT LOANS AGAIN.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH FOR SOME WAY I GREW UP WITH WHO WAS WORKING IN THE FILM INDUSTRY, AND ONE DAY THEY NEEDED HELP.

THEY ASKED, I CAME, AND THAT WAS IT.

BUT I WAS WORKING AS A BARBER FOR 11 YEARS BEFORE THAT, JUST DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND TALKING AND JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, CREATING THAT SENSE OF A FIVE -- A VIBE, THAT HAS BEEN MY MOST TRANSFERABLE SKILL, BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE ON SET FOR ME VERSUS, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO COME TOGETHER.

WILL YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.

-- WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE ARE HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.

BEING A BARBER HELPED ME FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT THINK ABOUT.

CRYSTAL: YEAH, THE INTANGIBLES THAT MAKE A FILM OR PROJECT WORK, AND CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER CREATIVITY.

>> AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO FEEL SAFE, HAVE FUN.

WE ARE GOING TO GET WORK DONE.

I HAVE NOT LEFT A SHOOT WHERE WE DID NOT GET FINISHED AND GET SOME GREAT STUFF.

IT'S HAVE FUN WHILE WE ARE DOING IT.

WE'VE GOT TO BE HERE FOR 10 TO 12 HOURS.

LET'S HAVE A GOOD TIME.

CRYSTAL: I KNOW YOU ALL WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY.

WHAT DO YOU TALK TO THEM ABOUT?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE GOING TO COME UP AGAINST?

>> BEING A BLACK CREATIVE, A BLACK FILMMAKER COMES WITH MANY CHALLENGES.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT REPORT AND SEE THAT ONE PERSON AND LIES WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO -- SEE THAT ONE PERSON AND REALIZE WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

DON'T LOOK AT HOLLYWOOD.

HOLLYWOOD IS NOT THE END ALL.

WHEN YOU FOCUS ON HOLLYWOOD, YOU ARE LOCKING ON A DOOR THAT WILL ONLY OPEN -- KNOCKING ON A DOOR THAT WILL ONLY OPEN FOR A SLIGHT FEW TO COME IN.

IF YOUNG PEOPLE CAN JUST SHIFT THAT MIND AND LOOK INTERNALLY AND LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF, BECAUSE OUR STORIES NEED TO BE TOLD.

I ALWAYS SAY, FIND MEANS TO DO IT.

THE ONLY OBSTACLE FOR ME HAS ALWAYS BEEN FINDING, AND I MAKE MY STUDENTS AWARE THAT FUNDING, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TALENT, WE HAVE THE VOICE, WE WANT THAT REPRESENTATION, BUT WE ARE NOT GIVEN THE RESOURCES OR THE FUNDING, AND IT IS CHALLENGING.

BUT THE THING IS, WHEN I LOOK 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS STARTING OUT, FILM USED TO BE SO EXPENSIVE JUST TO MAKE ONE FILM.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OR EVEN MILLIONS SOMETIMES.

BUT NOWADAYS YOU CAN MAKE A FILM WITH YOUR CELL PHONE.

AND PUT IT OUT THERE.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

THE TOOLS THAT ARE EXCESSIVE -- THERE ARE TOOLS ACCESSIBLE NOW, BUT IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, THE LIMITATION IS ALWAYS THE FUNDING.

IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE NOT TALENTED, NOT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

OUR KIDS ARE COMING THROUGH THE LOOP LAB, GIVING THEM A LOT OF TRAINING.

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF BLACK CREATIVES IS DOING WORKSHOPS ALL THE TIME.

THE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

WE, AS, I'LL CALL OURSELVES ELDERLY FILMMAKERS -- [LAUGHTER] >>'S -- >> SENIOR!

>> SENIORS.

BUT WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

ON MY SIDE, I SEE SO MUCH TALENT.

I SEE THE DRIVE AND PASSION, BUT IT IS JUST, TALKING ABOUT TALKING TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR, IT IS REALLY JUST RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY -- TO KIND OF OPEN THE DOORS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUPPORT.

REALLY, FILM IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ART FORM.

WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE FILMS AND WE DO NOT HAVE MONEY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE LEVEL THAT WILL BE COMPETITIVE.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE STILL AT 1.1% FILMMAKERS AT THE TOP FILM FESTIVALS IN HOLLYWOOD.

IT JUST COMES DOWN TO MONEY.

>> FOR ME, THE PRACTICE IS KIND OF THE MILE DEEP, INCH WIDE PERSPECTIVE.

IT IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT TRAINING AND MENTOR SHIP, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER PIECE TO IT, RESPONDING TO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

MANY OF OUR YOUNG ADULTS COMING IN, WHETHER IT IS OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM OR OUR APPRENTICESHIP, WHICH IS 18 TO 26-YEAR-OLDS, THOSE ARE THE -- THOSE YOUNG ADULTS ARE COMING IN WITH MANY SKILLS THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW THEY HAVE.

SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY DOING SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT, SHORT FORM VIDEO, AND THEY COME INTO OUR PROGRAM LOOKING TO GAIN EVEN MORE SKILLS.

THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY TRAIN THEM UP, BUT ALSO COACH THEM ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

THAT IS A HUGE PART OF OUR PROGRAMMING.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR CLIENT, WORKING WITH CLIENTS, BECAUSE NONE OF THEM HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.

HOW DO YOU CREATE A PROPOSAL, MAKE A PITCH DECK?

THEY ARE LEARNING SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST HOW TO WORK ADOBE PREMIERE SUITE AND WORKING ON A RED CINEMA CAMERA, DSLR CAMERAS.

THEY ARE REALLY GAINING HOLISTIC, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO, IF THEY DECIDE NOT TO CONTINUE ON IN INDIA, THEY WILL LEARN HOW TO DO PROJECT MANAGEMENT, OR THEY WILL KNOW HOW TO BE MORE SELF AFFECTED IN ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

-- SELF EFFECTIVE IN A MINISTRY OF WORK.

-- IN ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

THAT IS A WAY TO GIVE A POPULATION OF UNDERREPRESENTATION IN MEDIA ARTS TO GET A LEG UP AND THRIVE AND SURVIVE IN THE MODERN THE ARTS INDUSTRY -- MODERN MEDIA ARTS INDUSTRY.

IT IS NOT WITHOUT MENTORS AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE TAKEN AND WORKED WITH OUR YOUNG ADULTS, AND ALSO THE SECRET SOCIETY OF BLACK CREATIVES, BUT ALSO GBH, WHICH HAVE WORKED WITH OUR YOUNG ADULTS, HAVE GIVEN THEM GREATER EXPOSURE AND HAVE CREATED A MODEL OF REPRESENTATION FOR THEM OF WHAT SUCCESS COULD BE LIKE IN MEDIA.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY INVALUABLE.

OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOUNG ADULTS APPLY FOR OUR PROGRAM, MANY OF THEM WANT TO BE RAPPERS OR SINGERS.

A BIG PART OF THAT IS NOT JUST 20 TO BE A RAPPER, IT IS ABOUT, WHAT SUCCESSFUL MODELS OF REPRESENTATION ARE THEY SEEING IN THIS INDUSTRY FROM PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEY LOOK ON THE TALK LIKE THEY TALK, AND COME FROM NEIGHBORHOODS SIMILAR TO THEIR OWN WESTERN MARK -- SIMILAR TO THEIR OWN?

CRYSTAL: LET'S TALK ABOUT REPRESENTATION.

WE SAW "BLACK PANTHER" AND WHAT THAT DID FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK DENZEL WASHINGTON IS TRYING TO REMAKE ALL OF AUGUST WILSON'S PLAYS INTO FILMS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHEN YOU SEE THIS TYPE OF MOVEMENT, I THINK OF WAUCONDA -- WAKANDA --PEOPLE WERE ADOPTING WAKANDA AS A NONFICTIONAL PLACE -- WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR CREATIVE'S?

MARISSA, DO WE SEE A SPIKE -- EVEN "THE COLOR PURPLE," RIGHT -- DO WE SEE A SPIKE IN STUDIOS WANTING TO PULL MORE BLACK FOLKS TO THE TABLE TO SEE WHAT A NEW SERIES LOOKS LIKE?

>> I CAN SAY THIS TO YOU, IT'S ABOUT THE DOLLAR.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE AS PEOPLE OF COLOR, WE GO OUT AND SPEND MONEY, AND THEY DID NOT THINK THAT WE DID, WHOEVER THEY IS REPRESENTED IN THIS MOMENT.

AND WHEN WAKANDA BROUGHT IN A BILLION DOLLARS WITHIN 30 DAYS, HOLLYWOOD WOKE UP AND SAID WAIT, MY GOODNESS, IS THAT POSSIBLE?

WITHIN A MONTH.

FROM THERE, IT WAS LIKE WAKANDA OPENED UP THESE DOORS, GAVE US MORE VOICE, GAVE US PRESENCE IN THE ROOM, ALLOWED US TO NOT JUST DEPEND ON THE PRODUCTION COMPANIES OF OLD THAT HAD BEEN SETTING THE TONE AND KEEPING THE GATE OF WHERE WE COULD AS A PEOPLE BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THINGS .

THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET BEGAN TO OPEN UP IN WAYS WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR BUT WE ACCEPT AND LOVE.

AND NOW THE STORIES OF BEING BLACK IN AMERICA ARE STARTING TO JUST ROLL IN.

YOU GET MORE AND MORE STORIES.

LOOK AT "CREED," A SPINOFF FROM "ROCKY" THAT TURNED INTO A WHOLE NEW FRANCHISE.

WHERE HOLLYWOOD IS NOW IS THAT EVEN AFTER THE STRIKES, THEY ARE LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS INDUSTRY BECAUSE EVERYONE IS HURTING, BUT THE REALITY IS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THAT NEXT BIG TRILOGY, THAT NEXT BIG SERIES.

THEY WANT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH CONSTANT CONTENT CREATION.

SO WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT IS IN VARIOUS MARKETS.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT HERE IN BOSTON.

WE'VE GOT SCOUTS COMING ON I WOULD SAY AND EVERY MONTH BASIS, LOOKING TO SEE, CAN I FILM HERE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE HERE?

ARE THERE THINGS WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT EXIST?

THEY'VE GOT AN AMAZING MARKET RIGHT HERE.

THE TAX INCENTIVE HELPS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT COMES BACK TO MONEY.

IT IS ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY CAN BE MADE, HOW LITTLE CAN BE SPENT, AND HOW MUCH WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT INTO THE POCKETS OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE.

CRYSTAL: GREG, ARE YOU GETTING MORE WORK?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THINK SO.

THERE ARE MORE CALLS COMING AROUND, DEFINITELY, FROM A SWEETER THE JUICE STANDPOINT, MORE ADVERTISEMENT AGENCIES AND BRANDS ARE WILLING TO TALK.

I HAVE HAD VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS LATELY WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, USUALLY I LIKE TO SAY WE GET CALLS FROM THE CHIP ON -- THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT.

SO IF THERE IS AN ATHLETE, MUSIC, OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, THOSE ARE THE CALLS WHERE PEOPLE ARE BLOWING ME UP.

HEY, WE NEED YOU, ARE YOU AVAILABLE?

BUT NOW WITH "AMERICAN FICTION," "WAKANDA FOREVER," WE ARE SPENDING MONEY.

THEY ARE MAKING MONEY.

IT IS STARTING TO EXPAND FROM THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT TO MORE JOBS THAT ARE FOR EVERYBODY THAT MY COUNTERPARTS THAT DO NOT LOOK LIKE ME MIGHT GET.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK SO.

CRYSTAL: WE WILL SEE.

TALK ABOUT HOW WITH THIS EXPOSURE AND A LITTLE MORE LEVERAGE, YOU ARE ABLE TO TELL STORIES TOO.

YOU MENTIONED THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT, GREG.

DO YOU FIND THIS GIVES SCREENWRITERS AND FILMMAKERS MORE LEVERAGE TO TELL STORIES BEYOND THE PEOPLE THINK THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IS?

>> THERE ARE TWO PARTS, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS YOUR FIRST PART OF THE RUSSIAN.

-- THE QUESTION.

IN TERMS OF THE 25% INCENTIVE THAT THEY GIVE.

I DO FEEL LIKE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY HERE, THE BLACK FILM INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE ARE BENEFITING FROM THAT IN TERMS OF HOLLYWOOD COMING IN.

THEY COME IN AND ADDED IS ALMOST LIKE -- AND IT IS ALMOST LIKE A PARACHUTE IN.

HOW MUST -- HOW MUCH OF US ARE GETTING THOSE JOBS?

TALKING FROM A SCREENWRITER AND DIRECTOR POINT OF VIEW, THERE MAY BE JOBS, BUT HOW MANY OF US BLACK FILMMAKERS, BLACK AND BROWN FILMMAKERS, ARE GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THOSE BIG HOLLYWOOD STUDIO FILMS?

THAT IS A QUESTION.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES, TO WORK FOR A STUDIO, YOU HAVE TO BE THE UNION.

HOW MANY OF US ARE IN THE UNION?

RIGHT?

HERE IN THE LOCAL UNION.

HOW CAN YOU GET IT TO THE UNION?

ARE THERE ANY BARRIERS, ANY OBSTACLES?

I HAVE HEARD OUR HARD IT IS TO GET INTO -- HOW HARD IT IS TO GET INTO THE SOUND ENGINEER UNION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED.

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE IT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE FOR SOMEONE.

IT IS A WHOLE PROCESS THAT HAS MADE IT HARDER FOR REGULAR FOLKS TO GET IN.

ONCE YOU ARE IN THE UNION, YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE JOBS, BUT THERE'S JUST SO MANY STEPS AND BARRIERS FOR US TO ACTUALLY ACCESS THAT.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT IN TERMS OF TELLING OTHER STORIES, I THINK FOR ME, JUST AS A FILMMAKER, I AM AN ENEMY -- I AM AN IMMIGRANT.

I CAME HERE TO COME TO COLLEGE, COME TO EMERSON.

BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT BLACKNESS, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF BLACKNESS, ESPECIALLY IN BOSTON.

THERE IS DIVERSITY AND LIKENESS.

MY STORIES FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON WOMEN OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, AFRICAN WOMEN.

WHETHER OR NOT I GET THE FUNDING OR RESOURCES, I AM STILL GOING TO TELL MY STORY, AND I HAVE CONTINUED TO TELL MY STORY WITH OR WITHOUT MONEY, BECAUSE I FIND WAYS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE MY FILMS.

I HAVE WORKED WITH A COMMUNITY THAT IN MANY WAYS, YOU CAN GET SUPPORT AS A FILM MAKER, AND I FOUND THOSE -- I WORK WITH SMALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN NEED OF HELP.

I'VE COLLABORATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO WORK WITH YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SHORT FILMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER STORIES TO TELL, NOT JUST THE BIG BLOCKBUSTER FILMS THAT WE SEE THAT COME HERE, BUT THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD LOOK AT AS FILMMAKERS OF COLOR TO GET OUR FILMS MADE AND OUR FILMS OUT THERE.

CRYSTAL: KRISTEN, IN THE LAST TWO MINUTES, DOES IT FEEL LIKE THOSE TYPES OF FILMS ACTUALLY INCREASE THE POPULARITY OF WANTING TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO TELL OUR STORIES?

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

IT IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX.

I THINK THE HISTORY OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN MODERN CINEMA IS THIS CONTINUAL PRACTICE OF PUSHING AGAINST THIS IDEA THAT DIVERSITY WORKS WITHIN A CONTEXT .

LIKE, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT SELLS INTERNATIONALLY, OR THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A PROJECT THAT IS REALLY GOING TO SELL TO A WIDE AUDIENCE.

I THING WITH PROJECTS LIKE "BLACK PANTHER 2," "BLACK PANTHER 1," ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS WITH BLACK CASTES AND WRITERS, WE ARE SEEING THAT IS NOT TRUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA AROUND THE ANNENBERG INSTITUTE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RACIAL REPRESENTATION WITH IDEA -- WITHIN MEDIA, WE SEE THAT THOSE FILMS ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.

IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BROADER FILM INDUSTRY TO ADOPT DIVERSITY AS A PRACTICE.

AND SO I THINK THAT FOR US, SOME PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC, I WANT TO PUSH A LITTLE BIT FORWARD IN RECOGNIZING THAT EVEN NOW IN 2024, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING HERE.

A BIG PART OF THE FILM INDUSTRY HERE LOCALLY IN MASSACHUSETTS BUT ALSO BROADLY IS ALL THE RELATIONSHIPS.

I HAVE BEEN HIRED AS A CONSULTANT FOR ME IN PRODUCTION FIRMS THAT ARE MOST OR ALL WHITE MEN AND THEY SAY WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HIRE BLACK PEOPLE.

LITERALLY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.

ON THE ONE HAND, I CAN BE LIKE, WOW, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS A DEEPER PROBLEM AT PLAY.

CRYSTAL: YOU ARE SO RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, BUT FOR NOW, THAT IS THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF OUR GUESTS, AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, BUT STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.