Podcasts about Fanshen

We talk to award-winning actor, writer, producer, playwright and educator Fanshen Cox, a dynamo in the entertainment industry.Born for great things, we begin our highly anticipated conversation celebrating February birthdays and the intriguing meaning behind her name which seemingly foreshadowed her professional path and progress in Hollywood.With a passion for acting at a young age, Fanshen talks about later moving to LA and becoming captivated by the idea that as an actor, she should write and produce her own material, which led to a renowned one-woman show that eventually her childhood friends, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, signed on to executive produce.As the founder of TruJuLo Productions, it becomes quite clear that Fanshen's legacy is largely one of pushing for necessary change in Hollywood as she's also the co-author of the Inclusion Rider and producer and host of Sista Brunch, a Webby-nominated podcast that highlights Black women working in Hollywood.Currently, as the DEIA Initiative Manager for the California Film Commission, we get her perspective on the ever-changing cultural, political and creative shifts in the industry, historically and currently and how enterprising creatives should move forward.If you're looking for inspiration, this is the conversation for you!

In this special episode of Sista Brunch recorded live at the Essence Film Festival, Fanshen speaks with entertainment attorney Jalene Mack (@jalenemack).  The discussion explores Mack's role in entertainment law, the importance of protecting intellectual property, and vital business advice for filmmakers and creative professionals. Jalene also shares insights on fundraising, navigating the industry, and the critical role entertainment attorneys play from development to distribution. Highlighting the significance of having a knowledgeable lawyer, Mack advises against hiring general practice attorneys for industry-specific needs. 00:00 Welcome to Sista Brunch at Essence Film Festival 00:27 Introducing Entertainment Attorney Jaylene Mack 00:48 Jalene Mack's Role at Essence and Panel Details 01:28 Understanding Intellectual Property (IP) 02:24 Jalene Mack's Book and Business Advice 03:07 Lessons Learned and Persistence in the Industry 04:43 Finances and Fundraising in Film 05:49 The Role of Entertainment Attorneys 06:33 Choosing the Right Lawyer for Your Needs 07:16 Closing Remarks and Festival Enjoyment

This is our final special bonus episode of the Sista Brunch podcast recorded live at the Essence Film Festival in New Orleans!

It's another special bonus episode of the Sista Brunch podcast recorded live at the Essence Film Festival!

Join host Fanshen Cox in a special episode of Sista Brunch recorded live from the Essence Film Festival. Fanshen interviews Adetoro Makinde, a writer, director, and producer, about her screenplay 'The American Can,' which tells the compelling story of a recon marine veteran's heroic actions during Hurricane Katrina.  The discussion explores the challenges of filmmaking, securing financial backing, creative control, and important industry terms like Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance.  Adetoro shares her experiences navigating both Hollywood and independent film routes to bring this significant narrative to life. 00:00 Welcome to the Essence Film Festival 00:16 Meet Adetoro Makinde 00:43 The American Can: A Hurricane Katrina Biopic 02:48 Challenges and Triumphs in Filmmaking 03:14 Financing Independent Films 05:40 The Importance of E&O Insurance 07:16 Wrapping Up with Adetoro Makinde

In this riveting episode of Sista Brunch, join Fanshen as she sits down with the exceptional Natalie Jasmine Harris, whose early journey through film and activism has carved a path from NYU to Sundance. Hear the inspiring story of how Harris turned the challenges of the pandemic into a springboard for success, leading her compelling short film "Grace" to critical acclaim. Discover the drive and passion behind her work, her commitment to portraying queer stories, and how she navigates the industry as a young, Black filmmaker. Tune in to learn about her process, the pivotal moments of her career, and her advice for nurturing one's inner child through storytelling. Don't forget to leave us a review and follow @SistaBrunchPodcast on Instagram for more updates on powerful stories in entertainment and media.

Black Girls Film Camp is a nonprofit organization that provides a 16-week training program where high school Black girls across the country pitch a story idea, and a final ten are selected to have their short film project produced by the program. Over 200 Black girls across the country applied for the 2023 camp and 10 finalists were selected to direct and develop their own short films. The camp is an incubator for the 10 girls and each of their films. Participants receive free technology (SONY Cameras, lighting kits, boom mics, tripods, etc.) free software (final draft and adobe premiere), a personal production team of exemplary Black women creatives (editor and creative coach) contracted out by the camp, an all-expense paid weekend retreat in LA, and free workshops from Black women that are award-winning filmmakers and Ph.D. scholars. In this episode, Fanshen speaks to this year's Black Girls Film Camp participants live from the 2023 Essence Film Festival.

Lila Mayes currently serves as the Program Administrator for the Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan. This program was created in 1965 to offer access to those who might not otherwise have entrée to the motion picture and television industry. The program provides productions with trained, professional Assistant Directors. Lila is also a founding Board Member of the nonprofit organization, Black Women Lead. This organization was formed in Los Angeles, CA in an effort to amplify the leadership and voices of black women and underrepresented communities. In this episode, Fanshen and Lila discuss the Producer Training Program live from the 2023 Essence Film Festival.

Fanshen: A Documentary of Revolution in a Chinese Village is a 1966 book by academic William Hinton, documenting the experience of one particularly poor Chinese village of early efforts at land reform. It is almost opaquely dense, and yet very illuminating. Get the full episode on Patreon! If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/trashfuture   *LIVE SHOW ALERT* We're touring the Midlands, the North, and (one city in) Scotland in May! We'll be in Birmingham on May 14, Leeds on May 15, Manchester on May 16, and Glasgow on May 21. Tickets are available here: https://www.trashfuture.co.uk/events   *STREAM ALERT* Check out our Twitch stream, which airs 9-11 pm UK time every Monday and Thursday, at the following link: https://www.twitch.tv/trashfuturepodcast *WEB DESIGN ALERT* Tom Allen is a friend of the show (and the designer behind our website). If you need web design help, reach out to him here:  https://www.tomallen.media/ *MILO ALERT* Check out Milo's upcoming live shows here: https://www.miloedwards.co.uk/live-shows and check out a recording of Milo's special PINDOS available on YouTube here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRI7uwTPJtg *ROME ALERT* Milo and Phoebe have teamed up with friend of the show Patrick Wyman to finally put their classical education to good use and discuss every episode of season 1 of Rome. You can download the 12 episode series from Bandcamp here (1st episode is free): https://romepodcast.bandcamp.com/album/rome-season-1 Trashfuture are: Riley (@raaleh), Milo (@Milo_Edwards), Hussein (@HKesvani), Nate (@inthesedeserts), and Alice (@AliceAvizandum)

Kamilah Forbes is an award-winning director and producer for theater and television, and currently serves as the Executive Producer at the world-famous Apollo Theater. Her directing credits include By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, The Blood Quilt, and Sunset Baby. She has also worked as associate director on the Tony Award-winning "A Raisin in the Sun”, and Emmy Award-winning “The Wiz Live” for NBC. Ms. Forbes' most recent directorial work, “Between the World and Me” aired as a special event on HBO and HBO Max in November 2020, bringing her a host of acclaim and recognition. Ms. Forbes' recent projects include directing the sold-out world premiere, tour, and theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates' New York Times best-selling novel Between the World and Me. In this episode, Fanshen and Kamilah discuss the pivotal role Howard University played in shaping Kamilah's career and how community building led Kamilah to becoming a producer.

Nyanza Shaw is Executive Vice President, Scripted Business and Legal Affairs for FremantleMedia North America. She oversees all deal making pertaining to the development, production, and financing of Fremantle's scripted series and new media content produced for the U.S.  Prior to joining Fremantle, Shaw was the Owner/Managing Partner of Shaw Esquire for more than 20 years. The firm represented talent, content creators, entrepreneurs, businesses, brands, and founders in the areas of entertainment and business law, intellectual property, sports, technology, and media. In this episode, Fanshen and Nyanza discuss her path to practicing law and Nyanza offers insightful advice to creatives looking to protect their projects. 

Tiffany Walden is an award-winning journalist known for using her platform to advocate for systematic change shining a light on underrepresented voices in black communities. In 2017 she co-founded The TRiiBE which has now become a dominant news media outlet in Chicago, especially among the Black community. Before becoming editor-in-chief at The TRiiBe, she cut her teeth as a breaking news reporter at the Orlando Sentinel and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. On this episode Fanshen and Tiffany discuss the role of journalism in reflecting a community, why Tiffany decided to create The TRiiBE and how they're challenging other news organizations to re-examine their coverage.

Tanya McRae is an Emmy-Award winning television producer, with more than three decades of experience working in news, talk, lifestyle and reality TV. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in communications and is currently an anchor, journalist and host of the award-winning community affairs program “In Focus SoCal” for Spectrum News in Los Angeles. On today's episode Fanshen and Tanya discuss Tanya's path to journalism, her decision to reinvent herself mid-career and the responsibility she feels to give voice to the voiceless.

Sian Morson wears many hats. She is an entrepreneur, investor, producer and story-teller. She's launched a number of companies and is the co-founder of the Starfish Accelerator. She's a filmmaker whose film, “A Luv Tale,” is currently streaming on Amazon. She's also an expert on Web3. If you've ever wondered what exactly Web3 is or “what's a NFT” listen to this episode because Fanshen and Sian break it all down

Marissa Nance is an advertising veteran with more than 30 years of experience developing marketing campaigns for clients like Amazon, Pine-sol and Nike. She has made it her mission to create pathways for BIPOC communities to be heard and have a seat at the table. In 2019, she left Omnicom to launch the first and only minority and female certified media agency, Native Tongue Communications. In this episode, Fanshen and Marissa talk about why Marissa decided to branch out on her own to form her own agency and her experience as a Black woman in advertising.

Maegan Philmore is a director, producer and activist. Her production company, Hudson Philmore specializes in womanist, queer, BIPOC, all abilities & sizes, unscripted and scripted content. Hudson Philmore aims to make stories that challenge the exclusion in Hollywood. When she's not directing or producing, she's at her day job at Paramount formally ViacomCBS, where she is director of production overseeing the physical production of movies of the week for Paramount, Comedy Central, VH1, and MTV. On this week's episode Fanshen and Maegan discuss Maegan's mission to produce stories that challenge the status quo.

Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd is a highly respected casting director with over 25 years of experience in the TV, film and advertising industry. She's cast talent in movies like, “The Blind Side”, “Notorious” and “Fruitvale Station.” This week, Fanshen talks to Twinkie about how she got into the casting business, her role in sparking the friendship between Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler and her experience stepping into a new role – producer.

Tamar-kali is a Brooklyn born and bred artist and second-generation musician with roots in the coastal Sea Islands of South Carolina. In 2017 she made her debut as a film composer, scoring Dee Rees Oscar-nominated MUDBOUND which garnered her the World Soundtrack Academy's Discovery of the Year Award. In this episode, Fanshen talks to Tamar-kali about her musical influences, the challenges of being an independent artist and how she learned to advocate for herself.

DeShuna Spencer is the founder and CEO of kweliTV, a streaming platform dedicated to curating and celebrating black culture on a global scale. Before starting kweliTV in 2015, DeShuna was a journalist and radio host on Washington, DC's 89.3 FM WPFW. On this episode, Fanshen and DeShuna discuss DeShuna's path to becoming a storyteller, how she built a streaming platform before most others existed and why she's committed to “taking matters into my own hands.”

Hallease is a digital storyteller, video producer and filmmaker based in Texas. She's produced online content for Google, YouTube,Target and PBS through her creative production company, StumbleWell. When she's not producing, co-writing and co-starring in the online web series, “This Coulda Been an Email” she's documenting her own life through her Youtube channel, Hallease. In this episode, Fanshen and Hallease talk about the challenges of building an online community, monetizing content and sharing her life online.

Tre'vell Anderson is an award-winning journalist, social curator, podcast host and author. Their insightful contribution to the conversation around culture, LGBTQ issues, inclusivity and diversity led to them being named one of The Root's 100 most influential African Americans of 2020. In this episode, Fanshen and Tre'vell discuss Tre'vell's path to journalism, their work advocating for marginalized communities and their exciting new book projects.

The anti-revisionist gang breaks down and discusses some important ideas from the incredible book written by William Hinton, Fanshen: A Documentary of Revolution in a Chinese Village, published in 1966. The book covers the Chinese Revolution in the village of Long Bow between 1946-1948. Full of extraordinary stories, theoretical depth and historical experiences of the Chinese people in their struggle against oppression. We broke down this nearly 700-page book into 7 topics of which we believe are useful in the context of the US and our class struggle here. Timestamps for Sections in the Discussion: 00:00 Intro, Synopsis, What does Fanshen mean to us?20:40 How Class Was Determined in China. 35:42 Women's Liberation. 55:42 Centralization/Decentralization of Organizing 1:08:31 Crossing the Gate w/ Rashid 1:33:57 Humility 1:48:32 Problems w/ Mobilizing the Masses Intro and Outro Music by Space Baby. Listen on Spotify, YouTube, BandcampResources from POLICOMM: https://linktr.ee/policomm

SEASON 2 BONUS EPISODE! Playwright, actor, and educator Fanshen Cox sits down with Denise about the connection between advocacy and performance and how. Fanshen dives into the power of storytelling, her mantra TruJuLo (truth, justice, love), the illusion of progress in Hollywood, and actionable things we can do to promote true diversity in the entertainment industry.   Visit www.trujulomedia.com for more Fanshen.   -- About Fanshen Cox:    Award-winning playwright, actor, producer & educator, Fanshen Cox toured her one-woman show: One Drop of Love across the country for 7 years. For six years she served as SVP Development and Impact at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Pearl Street Films, and is now the President of her own production company, TruJuLo Productions. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and holds a BA in Spanish & Education, an MA in TESOL, and an MFA in TV, Film & Theatre. She has been honored with Distinguished Alumni Awards from CSULA and from Teachers College, Columbia University. Fanshen is also a co-author of the Inclusion Rider which was announced at the 2018 Oscar awards by Frances McDormand and the co-creator and co-host of the Webby nominated podcast Sista Brunch - highlighting Black women striving in entertainment and media.

“I didn't want to tell someone else's story. I wanted to speak my own,” shares Fanshen Cox, President of Trujulo Productions. Through her company and her podcast Sista Brunch, Fanshen uplifts underrepresented and marginalized voices, giving people a platform to tell their authentic stories in addition to telling her own. She joins Mike Horne in conversation to discuss the importance of authentic storytelling, the difficulties marginalized storytellers face in Hollywood, and the real meanings of truth, justice, and love.    Hollywood has a long history of producing the stories of people with privilege rather than providing resources to marginalized storytellers. This leads to less authentic stories being made where the person telling the story does not actually have the lived experience behind it. Fanshen created her own production company and her own one woman show so that she could tell her own story the way she wanted to tell it. She gave herself the agency that Hollywood would not give her. In order to show stories that are inclusive, diverse, and accurate to the experiences of marginalized communities, it is pivotal to approach those stories from a place of truth. Love is an act of speaking the truth and actively pursuing justice. If you make your stories with love, they are sure to be authentic.    Tune into this week's episode of the Authentic Change Podcast to learn more about what authentic storytelling means, why it matters, and how you can get started telling your own stories.  Quotes: “When I got here, I really realized how limited Hollywood was around not just its depictions of different kinds of people, but also internally, it was limited in terms of who was telling the stories. So I learned how to write, I learned how to produce. And the more I got pushed back from Hollywood around how you fit in, the more I decided to pave my own way.” (2:50-3:16 | Fanshen) “I feel like I was born to do authentic storytelling. And now I get to be in the incredible position of helping others tell their authentic stories as well.” (3:45-3:56 | Fanshen) “I learned early on that in telling stories, it was a way one to build empathy with the person that was asking. But also, to survive in a world that pushes us to have to make choices around race, gender, and so many things.” (6:40-7:01 | Fanshen) “We have to begin with our own story and what happens in Hollywood often is that people with privilege and access to resources tell the stories of marginalized people, instead of giving those resources or supporting the marginalized people to tell their own stories. And so I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to tell someone else's story. I wanted to speak my own.” (8:21-8:50 | Fanshen)  “It was really about agency, giving myself agency to tell my authentic story and modeling the importance of the person, the community that experiences things being the ones to tell the story.” (9:13-9:27 Fanshen) “My company, Trujulo, uplifts stories that speak truth in pursuit of justice, in service of love.” (22:54-23:02 | Fanshen) “A lot of times we go at pursuing justice without having spoken the full truth first.” (24:02-24:09 | Fanshen) “Love is speaking the truth and actively pursuing justice. That's how we show love. It's the action of doing those two things. It's not just saying that you love someone. It's not just saying, I love everybody. No, we have to actually see you actively being a truth teller and someone who pursues justice.” (25:04-25:32 | Fanshen) Links:   Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Mike Horne on Linkedin Email Mike at mike@mike-horne.com Find more about Leading People and Culture with Authenticity   Learn more about Fanshen Cox: www.trujulo.com  https://www.sistabrunch.com/     Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Taylor K. Shaw, CEO and Founder of Black Women Animate, created the company in 2017 after noticing the lack of opportunities for Black women in animation. The company produces original content, offers production services, and trains and develops talent—all with the primary goal of lifting up women and nonbinary storytellers of color. In this episode Fanshen and Taylor discuss Taylor's path from journalism to animation and the community of allies who helped bring her vision to life.

Davina Hefflin, TV literary manager at Verve Agency, focuses her career on identifying and empowering a diverse range of voices —including those of the LGBTQ+ community. In this episode, she talks to Anya and Fanshen about working her way up from the mailroom, the importance of mentorship, and what she sees as her mission as an agent.

Darrien Michele Gipson is the Executive Director of SAGindie, an educational organization for independent filmmakers. Since becoming SAGindie's Executive Director in 2006, Darrien has expanded the organization to reach more festivals and help even more creators on all platforms to bring their projects to fruition. In this episode, she talks to Fanshen about how she created her own career path and her work educating and advocating for independent filmmakers.

Rae Benjamin is a staff writer on season 3 of THE WITCHER (Netflix). She is the co-creator of the animated web series, JULISA WHO?, currently in development with Topic Studios and available to watch on Instagram and YouTube. Rae is also the founder of In the Cut, an organization that shares vital industry information and creates inclusive spaces for BIPOC creators. Since 2020, the In the Cut community has grown to more than 8,000+ artists and filmmakers across the globe. In the episode, Rae speaks to Fanshen about her career transition from graphic designer to screenwriter and why it was important for her to create In the Cut.

After seven years as a Senior Vice President at HBO, Kelly Edwards recently transitioned into a two-year first-look television writing deal at HBO where she will develop a slate of projects under her Edwardian Pictures banner. Kelly returns to Sista Brunch to talk with Fanshen and Anya about her recent career shift and her book, The Executive Chair: A Writer's Guide to TV Development which debuted as an instant Amazon Best Seller.

Anne Marie Fox is a prolific and versatile photographer specializing in portraiture, film & television unit stills. She built her portfolio shooting images for travel and fashion magazines before getting her film break on Kenneth Branagh's Frankenstein, and since then has been the still photographer on films like Dallas Buyers Club and Wild and TV shows like HBO's Insecure. She talks to Anya and Fanshen about her path to becoming an on set photographer and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Cheryl Bedford is a NAACP Image Award Nominee for “Dark Girls” and Baltimore native who holds a BFA from NYU's TSOA and MFA in Producing from AFI. As a production manager, line producer, and producer, Cheryl has worked on countless film/tv/digital projects, including 17 Independent Features. She was the first Chair of Diversity Development and a Producing Instructor at New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, California. She formed her own company, Cheryl L. Bedford Productions, in January of 2001. Ms. Bedford is the founder of Women of Color Unite (WOCU), a nonprofit whose purpose is to help women of color get hired, their projects funded and content distributed. In this episode, Cheryl talks to Anya and Fanshen about how her roots in social justice activism has influenced her career in Hollywood.

Michelle Crenshaw is a cinematographer, camera operator and director of photography with more than 30 years of experience in the industry and over 60 IMDB credits to her name. She has worked on films such as The Watermelon Woman and Home Alone. Most recently she worked as the camera operator for Netflix's HANNAH GADSBY: DOUGLAS and CBS's BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA. In this episode, Michelle talks to Fanshen and Anya about her long career in entertainment, the iconic films she's worked on and the key to longevity in the film industry.

Over the past five years, Kamari Somers has been working her way up in the film industry in Pittsburgh and around the US. She got her start as a staff production assistant on shows shows and films like MINDHUNTER, HAPPIEST SEASON, and THE HARDER THEY FALL and recently moved to Showrunner's Assistant for Amazon Studios' A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. Listen as Kamari talks to Anya and Fanshen about her experience on set and the most valuable lessons she learned.

Alex Newell is known for their role as Unique Adams on the Fox musical series Glee and Mo on Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (for which they earned a Critics Choice Award nomination). Newell also starred as Asaka in the 2017 Broadway revival of Once on This Island at the Circle in the Square Theater and received a Grammy nomination for the role. As a singer, Newell has released tracks with Clean Bandit, Blonde, and The Knocks, and has released numerous dance-pop singles that have garnered millions of streams and U.S. and U.K dance chart success. Listen as they talk to Fanshen and Anya about black representation in Hollywood, knowing your worth, and showing up in the world as your authentic self.

 Fanshen Cox has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR, with OpEds published for Blavity, Shondaland and The Lily. Reared in Cambridge, Massachusetts by a Pan Africanist, Jamaican-born father and white Northwestern mother, Fanshen uses her family's heritage to spark conversation and challenge notions around race, class and gender. Fanshen talks to Kim about her dedicated work regarding the Hollywood Inclusion Rider, why she's critical of the mixed community, doing theater with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and working with them years later at Pearl Street Films. 

More and more people are questioning their identity and looking to discover their heritage. We're asking, "Who am I?" and we chase that question with, "Where do I belong and to whom?" With the increase of platforms like Ancestry.com, answers no longer die with the dead. Tonight, we live in a space that questions existing truths about definitions of identity and creates new ones.   In this episode we sit down with award-winning actor, producer, podcast host and educator, Fanshen Cox.    This week: Enjoy a White Negroni and share the drink's history and the proper way to mix one.  Yvonne shares her experience on the set of Lucky, Harry Dean Stanton's last film.  Discover the history of Lagralane.  Jason and Yvonne discuss how they identify and the complexities of holding multiple identities. Jason and Yvonne dive into what prompted them to start their separate journeys to learn more about their individual cultural identity and the ways they presusuded their history.    Yvonne reflects on the American perception of ethnicity and the limitations of the structure.  Fanshen answers the question, “If we are all an equation, how do we solve for identity?”  Fanshen talks about the idea of race and how that plays out in the world.  Jason reflects on his experience of representing the enslaved and the slave owners as a biracial male.  Fanshen shares her experience with other people wanting her to “pass” as white. Fanshen talks about racial pride and how that internal struggle plays out when you identify as more than one.  Fanshen, Yvonne, and Jason discuss the important concept of white people digging into their own history to be true allies.  Fanshen explains that black is a culture and how it encompasses so many things besides race.    Cocktail: White Negroni Recipe 1.5oz Gin 1 ounce Dolin Blanc Vermouth 3/4 oz Suze or Cocchi Americano Served on the rocks   History & Meaning The Negroni was invented by an Italian, Count Negroni, but in 2001 it got a little British put on it, by bartender Wayne Collins, while in France. Collins created the White Negroni. It's half Italian, half Brit! Thus it is multiethnic, like Jason and Yvonne.    About Fanshen Cox Fanshen Cox is the creator of the award-winning one-woman show One Drop of Love, exploring the intersections of race, class, gender, history and identity. Fanshen also facilitates workshops and delivers keynotes on using narrative in empathy-building, exploring historical context, and how the construction of race affects our closest relationships.

While accepting her Academy Award for Best Actress in 2018, Frances McDormand shouted out a word that set the internet aflutter: Inclusion Rider.  In a 2019 Femtastic Oscars Edition podcast, Katie interviewed one of the co-authors of the inclusion rider, law partner in civil rights and employment, Kalpana Kotagal, to introduce us to the concept. An inclusion rider is a clause added onto a contract, and usually an A-lister's contract, that requires diversity both on-screen and off in the hiring for Hollywood productions. Today, Kalpana and fellow co-author Fanshen Cox, head of strategic outreach at Pearl Street Films, join the podcast to give us an update on how the Inclusion Rider has changed Hollywood since 2018. Hint: You've probably watched a film or TV show that was produced using an inclusion rider. ;)  What successes have they had in building the inclusion rider into productions? What challenges and push-back have they encountered, and where do we go next? How can those of us that don't work in Hollywood support the inclusion rider, both via the entertainment we consume AND how we bring the principles of the inclusion rider into our own organizations?  LINKS: - Color of Change's Inclusion Rider Explainer Video - Kalpana and Fanshen's Refinery29 op-ed on the latest version of the Inclusion Rider - Kalpana Kotagal on Twitter: @KalpanaKotagal - Fanshen Cox on Twitter: @Fanshen   - Cohen Milstein on Twitter: @CohenMilstein - Pearl Street Films on Twitter: @pearlstreet

On our final episode of the season, propmaster Reese St. Amant shares her experience in one of the most unsung professions in the entertainment industry: the art department! From set design and dressing, to painting and props, to working with exotic animals—Reese has done it all, and with aplomb. Listen as she talks to Anya and Fanshen about standing out as a Black woman in props, gaining the trust of the actors and staff around you, having a strong work ethic, working while dyslexic, living on a farm and staying centered while thriving in Hollywood, and the joy of constantly reinventing yourself.

"Trust yourself, even if that means not really know what's next. Because what's next is coming." Today, our hosts Anya and Fanshen speak with triple-threat/award-winning actress, producer, and director Winter Dunn! Currently a Directing Fellow at Film Independent, Winter talks about breaking in and putting yourself out there to get ahead, building a body of work, being prepared for the right opportunity, the development and creation of her first film, JUNEBUG, and figuring it all out as you go along. If you're looking to break into filmmaking, this is THE episode for you!

In our last episode of the series with TIME'S UP Foundation, Amazon Studios Global Head of Diversity Latasha Gillespie and Head of Good Robot at Bad Robot Miki Woodard talk with Fanshen and Anya about the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion work, bringing up the next generation of executives and talent, why risk-taking pays off, and the limitless power of listening to yourself.

"When I started helping other people, my career took off like a skyrocket." Documentary Editor Dominique Ulloa worked her way up the chain from from being employee number two in the post production office of Oprah Winfrey Network to a Peabody Award-winning documentary editor for her work on the explosive Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly. Listen as Dominique talks to Fanshen and Anya about working her way up the production chain to editing—with two kids, what it was like "trimming fat" for the paparazzi, getting the gig at Oprah, uplifting Black women through the nonprofit organization Ujima Entertainment Coalition, and why it's important to give back and help out your peers.

"When I design a movie, I think about -- how is this going to stand the test of time?" Camille Friend, known as the hair guru, has been a hair department head for films like Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Tenet, The Hateful 8, Us, Detroit and The Hunger Games. She's also the co-founder of Hair Scholars, an organization that provides hands-on workshops and seminars for aspiring professional hairstylists. She's an Emmy Award nominee and member of the Television Academy of Art and Sciences, and has worked with stars like Elizabeth Banks, Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, and Don Cheadle. Listen as she talks with Fanshen and Anya about on being prepared when opportunity strikes, dealing with haters, focusing on process instead of outcome, and the importance of being versatile as an artist.

In episode three of our collaboration with TIME'S UP, we ask: how can Black women+ representation in advertising and film/TV effect change? Advertising Chief Officer Christena Pyle and actress/filmmaker Winter Dunn sit down with Fanshen and Anya about the challenges around authentic representation, the responsibility of Black creators and white executives, the emotional labor required in diversity, inclusion, and equity work, the utility of "pipeline" programs, and the power of creating our own narratives.

Hanelle Culpepper is an award-winning writer/director whose projects span film and episodic television. She was chosen to direct the pilot for Star Trek: Picard, which premiered earlier this year, becoming the first woman to helm a new Star Trek pilot series in its 53-year history. Listen as she talks with Fanshen and Anya about what makes a successful and thorough prep when directing TV, the appreciation of sci-fi that led to her creating a 50s style PSA on standing in line for the Star Wars movies, the intense process that led to her getting the job on Star Trek: Picard, balancing family and work, and how to stay motivated through the ups and downs of a career.

Tatiana Lee is an award-winning actress, disability activist, and model who has appeared in campaigns for Target, Zappos, Apple and more. She's also the Hollywood Inclusion Advocate at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community. This episode, Fanshen and Anya chat with Tatiana about her journey toward a career in front of the camera, representing disability on the big and small screen, identifying as a disabled Black woman, and self-care in the midst of it all.

Ann James is an intimacy choreographer, director, producer, and educator whose organization, Intimacy Coordinators of Color, promotes "decolonized intimacy practices" and inclusive hiring practices in the entertainment industry. In this episode, she reveals how to make set intimacy more inclusive, respectful, and encompassing of various gender identities, sexualities, racial identities, and disabilities. Listen as she talks with co-hosts Anya and Fanshen about the danger of people-pleasing, protecting others on set and the power of being "bystanders in the room," and why OnlyFans is on the verge of a revolution for sex workers.

For this episode, I got to meet the brilliant hosts of the Sista Brunch podcast. Sista Brunch is a podcast about black women+ thriving in entertainment & media careers. My two guests are Fanshen Cox and Anya Adams. Fanshen is an Award-winning playwright, actor, producer & educator She just wrapped up seven years of touring her one-woman show: One Drop of Love and she is also a Producer and Development Executive at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Pearl Street Films. She serves on the board of The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and on the Kennedy Center's Turnaround Arts Equity Advisory Committee. And Fanshen is also a co-author of the Inclusion Rider which was announced at the 2018 Oscar awards by Frances McDormand. Anya Adams is an award-winning director, most recently taking home the NAACP Image Award for Best Director in Comedy for 2020. Anya's career skyrocketed after directing an episode of Blackish in 2017. Since then she has gone on to direct the Netflix pilot Ginny and Georgia, episodes of The Good Place, Single Parents, G.L.O.W., Charmed, Fresh off the Boat, Speechless and many more. This is juicy, and it is real talk. The f-bombs fly. You've been warned. And go subscribe to Sista Brunch. Although I don't even need to tell you that. You are about to fall in love.

An oral history interview with Monica Shay (née Newbold, aka Kathryn) about her experience in China in 1971-72.Some names from this episode:William Hinton, author of Fanshen and other books on ChinaJiang Qing, leading radical during Cultural Revolution and wife of Mao ZedongRevolutionary Union (RU), pro-China communist group in the US in early 1970sDazhai, model agricultural commune

In 1927, Mao wrote that "In a very short time...several hundred million peasants will rise like a mighty storm, like a hurricane, a force so swift and violent that no power, however great, will be able to hold it back." During the 40s and 50s, he was able to realize this vision to disastrous effect. On this show, Tulane Professor Brian DeMare joins the show to discuss the history and legacy of the land reform movement, including forays into the role of Xi's father and William Hinton's Fanshen.   Please consider supporting ChinaTalk.    Also, do reach out if you're interested in running ads on the show!  Intro Music: 没有共产党没有新中国 Outtro Music: 听妈妈讲过去的故事 (hip hop felt out of place this week...not to worry we'll be back with more in the next episode) Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1927, Mao wrote that "In a very short time...several hundred million peasants will rise like a mighty storm, like a hurricane, a force so swift and violent that no power, however great, will be able to hold it back." During the 40s and 50s, he was able to realize this vision to disastrous effect. On this show, Tulane Professor Brian DeMare joins the show to discuss the history and legacy of the land reform movement, including forays into the role of Xi's father and William Hinton's Fanshen.   Please consider supporting ChinaTalk.    Also, do reach out if you're interested in running ads on the show!  Intro Music: 没有共产党没有新中国 Outtro Music: 听妈妈讲过去的故事 (hip hop felt out of place this week...not to worry we'll be back with more in the next episode)

Felischa Marye is a TV writer. She’s also the creator and co-executive producer of “Bigger,” the hit comedy series on BET+ comedy series which recently got picked up for a second season. Felischa left a successful career in public relations and marketing to move to attend UCLA’s MFA in screenwriting program. While she was in school, she sold a pilot to HBO and was later staffed for two seasons on Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why.” Listen as she tells Anya and Fanshen why she waited to chase her Hollywood dreams, the day she met Eric Monte, the writer of the classic film, "Cooley High," how she keeps representation of race and class authentic and so much more. Music Credits: Stock Media provided by AudioKraken / Pond5 Stock Media provided by BenBeats / Pond5

On this episode of DopeWomxn, WE HAVE A GUEST! The fantastical Fanshen Cox joins Nadine and Kate to eat some edibles and talk about these dope stories. A little about our special guest: Fanshen is the creator of One Drop of Love and co-host on one of the dopest new podcasts to hit your feed, Sista Brunch. Her life's work has been about exploring the intersections of race, class and gender in pursuit of truth, justice and LOVE. Yaaas Queen!! She shares Mama Trudy's incredible story (aka: her mama!) and our hosts talk about Audre Lorde and Danica Roem. *TRIGGER WARNING* Suicide is mentioned and discussed. Correction Corner: Nadine says Naomi Campbell when she really means her friend and colleague, Naomi Bennett. Nadine has never met or worked with Naomi Campbell. (She wishes...) Tag: Sista Brunch | One Drop of Love Credit: Audre Lorde, Silence | VICE Video Follow us on social media! Facebook/Instagram/Twitter Music by Genevieve Eckel Mixed by Adam R. Macias Art by Nicole Kurtz

Jenise Whitehead is a digital utility and film loader. If you don’t know what that is, you’ll find out all about it on this episode. She learned her trade through Panavision’s two year program in 2016 and has worked on several shows since, including “Insecure” on HBO and the Netflix show “Gentefied”. She’s a talented musician and actually studied Spanish in college. She didn’t think about working in Hollywood until she went to the OutFest of Los Angeles, where she heard about a program called “Outfest Outset.” She applied to the program, got in and co-directed a movie, called “Gideon’s Cross.” Anya and Fanshen talked to Jenise last summer - in Anya’s apartment, no less - about how to advocate for yourself when you’re relatively new to the game -- and even about how she improved her earning power.

Want to know how to break into Hollywood? Anya Adams the NAACP Image award-winning director and Fanshen Cox, the co-author of the Hollywood Inclusion rider are here to help you. Through honest and engaging conversations, they're addressing myths about breaking into the industry while showcasing black women+ who are making a difference in an industry that continues to struggle with inclusion. Discover insider tips from our guests, as their share their personal journeys, a few laughs and yes -- their favorite brunch . And yes - even their favorite brunch item! Hear Anya and Fanshen discuss how the concept came together, and what you can expect from the team.

Hip hop artist 鍾翔宇 (Xiangyu) joins Teen to talk about his political awakening as an Asian American, and how that influenced his music. It's rare that Asian Americans produce art and political speech as confrontational as Xiangyu's, particularly in subverting American ideology and its official narrative regarding Asia. Escape From Plan A, of course, had to learn more about it. TWITTER: Teen (https://twitter.com/mont_jiang) Xiangyu (https://twitter.com/XiangyuRapper) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Bandcamp link: https://comradexiangyu.bandcamp.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/XYZrap "The Sorceress" (Guardian article on Soong Mei-Ling): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/nov/05/china.jonathanfenby Xiangyu's book recommendations: William Blum - "Killing Hope" William Blum - "Rogue State" Mobo Gao - "Battle for China's Past" Dongping Han - "The Unknown Cultural Revolution" William Hinton - "Fanshen" Michael Parenti - "Against Empire" Michael Parenti - "Blackshirts and Reds" Michael Parenti - "Democracy for the Few" IF Stone - "Hidden History of the Korean War" SUBMISSIONS & COMMENTS: editor.planamag@gmail.com EFPA Opening Theme: Intro: "這不是請客吃飯" ("This isn't a Dinner Party") by 鍾翔宇 Outro: "夢" ("Dream") by 鍾翔宇

Today, our guest is Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni, who works in film and entertainment as both a creative and a gamechanger in the world of representational diversity. We talk about whiteness and white supremacy, race and racism, forgiving ourselves and others, call-out culture, and the importance of emotional stamina. This was a deep and vulnerable conversation where Fanshen and I dialogued and worked through important conversations. I really appreciate where we went with this interview Fanshen is an award-winning playwright, actor, producer and educator, as well as Head of Strategic Outreach at Pearl Street Films. In this role, she advises Pearl Street’s owners, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, on taking specific steps towards inclusive representation in the entertainment industry. One of her first initiatives on the job was to co-author the Inclusion Rider, and she was recently named one of 12 ‘Hollywood Disruptors’ by The Wrap. She frequently performs her one-woman show, One Drop of Love, across the country. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and has designed curricula for and taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world.

Recovering theatre company fanSHEN let us into their rehearsal room to talk about two projects - The Justice Syndicate (interactive jury based game) and Looking for Love (an AI powered story played out on a dating app). FanSHEN are Dan Barnard, Rachel Briscoe (@fanshenxtheatre) and computational artist, Joe McAllister (@portablestorm).

Samuel Fry speaks to Dan Barnard and Rachel Briscoe, who together run fanSHEN. As a company, they create audience-centric experiences which involve elements of performance, game and installation. The episode also includes Joe McAlister, a computational artist and privacy advocate. Joe has collaborated with fanSHEN on 'The Justice Syndicate', a piece of interactive theatre that gathers 12 audience members to take on the role of jurors.

Gather around the table and join the Proles as special guest Brett from Rev Left Radio comes on to discuss Mao and the Cultural Revolution!   Please subscribe on your favorite podcast apps and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate our facebook page at facebook.com/prolespod and follow us on Twitter @prolespod.   If you have any episode suggestions, or comments, DM us on either of those platforms or email us at prolesoftheroundtable@protonmail.com All episodes prior to episode 4 can be found on YouTube, so go check that out as well!   Sources/Suggested Reading: Hun Suyin, "Wind in the Tower"; J-Moufawad Paul, "Continuity and Rupture"; William Hinton, "Fanshen"; Aaron Leonard, "Heavy Radicals"   Outro: Bambu, "Chairman Mao"

Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni is an award-winning playwright, actor, producer, and educator. She is currently touring and performing her one-woman show, One Drop of Love. One Drop travels near and far, in the past and present to explore the intersections of race, class, and gender, in pursuit of truth, justice, and love. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon assist Fanshen in producing the show. She has been featured in the NY Times and on NPR as a spokesperson on using the arts to explore racial identity. Declare your Dreams: Did you “declare” your dreams at a young age? Fanshen did! She knew at the age of 9 that she wanted to be an actress. Even though she’s able to realize that dream today, she has taken a circuitous route, including majoring in theater, and being drawn to Spanish and education. She has worked in Africa with the Peace Corps and studied in graduate school in NYC. Fanshen says that she is glad her journey was not a direct route, because of all the wonderful things she has experienced along the way.  TWEET: Sometimes it’s more beneficial to take an indirect route to your dreams so you can enjoy the experience! #ChasingDreams Be Free, Let Go, and Tell the Truth: How do you respond when you see the failure of your dream? Fanshen says the failing at one dream means being “freed” to try something else. The beauty is in trying something new and letting go of the fear and pressure of “what might happen.” Her advice is to tell the truth and accept the history of what you’ve done in the past as you move forward in the future! TWEET: #Failing at one #dream sets yourself free to try something else. #chasingdreams Confront the issues and Change: How do you handle friction? Fanshen shares a personal experience in which she learned valuable lessons because the had to “speak out,” even though she risked losing support over social justice issues. She says that we must confront the issue if we want to change it. The time for turning a blind eye to what’s happening around us is over! TWEET: In order to change an outcome, we have to confront the issues. #chasingdreams Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take—“Change your language and take the ‘NOT’ out. I am somebody who cares about social change and I have the power to do that.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:43] The younger Fanshen and her big plans [3:06] Maintaining your “grip” on your dreams [6:54] Giving up one thing for another [11:31] Being open-minded and embracing something new in moving on [12:10] Writing the play and letting go of expectations [15:22] The topic for the show: “the one drop rule” [19:02] Telling “my truth” in the show [20:56] Hearing audience feedback [23:40] Getting help from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon [28:40] Risks and chances in confronting issues [32:50] Working with the production company run by Affleck and Damon, Pearl Street Films [35:06] ONE action for a dream chaser  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Fanshen’s Website Fanshen on Facebook   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: TWEET: “Telling my truth” was my pure goal in writing the show. TWEET: Failing was the only time in this career when I thought about just quitting. TWEET: I always believed in my heart that I was meant to be an actor. TWEET: I created content that says something and has the goal of making change.  

Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni is an award-winning actor, producer and educator. She is currently touring the one-woman show she wrote and performs in: One Drop of Love. One Drop travels near and far, in the past and present to explore history, family, race, class, justice, and love. The show is produced by Cox DiGiovanni, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon. Fanshen shares the genesis and inspiration for One Drop of Love in this episode. To find out more about One Drop of Love visit OneDropofLove.com. To keep up with Fanshen on social media visit her on twitter. You can also follow One Drop of Love on twitter or instagram. Check out the show notes from this episode at KymoneHinds.com/Episode39.

Ep. 121: An award-winning playwright, actor, producer and educator, Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni is currently touring the one-woman show she wrote and performs in: One Drop of Love. One Drop travels near and far, in the past and present to explore the intersections of race, class and gender in pursuit of justice and love. The show is produced by Cox DiGiovanni, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon. Fanshen has been featured in the New York Times and on NPR as a spokesperson on using the arts to explore racial identity. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cape Verde, West Africa, and has designed curricula for and taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world. She has been honored with the Peace Corps’ Franklin H. Williams Award, and with Peace Corps Fellows and Hollywood Foreign Press Association scholarships and an ‘Exemplar of Humanity Centered Media’ award by Media Done Responsibly. She holds a BA in Spanish and Education, an MA in TESOL, and an MFA in Acting and Performance in Film, TV and Theater. She serves on the boards of the non-profit MixedRootsStories.org and of Project Greenlight Digital Studios. Fanshen is also a Teaching Artist for A Broaderway – an arts camp for underserved girls. Her play, One Drop of Love, was awarded Best Non-Fiction Script by the United Solo Theatre Festival, and the film version won Best Documentary Film at the Roxbury International Film Festival. Listen as Fanshen speaks with Alex about her life, her work, and #Multiracial experience in the U.S. and abroad. For more on host, Alex Barnett, please check out his website: www.alexbarnettcomic.com or visit him on Facebook (www.facebook.com/alexbarnettcomic) or on Twitter at @barnettcomic To subscribe to the Multiracial Family Man, please click here: MULTIRACIAL FAMILY MAN PODCAST Intro and Outro Music is Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons - By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Boys & Girls:  Buckets!  Drummer/Engineer Extraordinaire Brian Buccellato (hand gestures optional) hangs and fills us in on his grandfathers failed olive oil company, how he began recording some local bands back in the late '90s in his parents basement, and how he and his bandmates in Risk Relay got their radical nicknames.  Shouts to Spork! @riskrelay @totallybitchinn @blackwineband @smalltalkplus Brian also records with the Great Chris Pierce at Volume IV in New Brunswick, NJ. Brian has recorded such bands as The Scarlett Letter, Fanshen, Rock, Star, The Match & The Moth, Fortunato and the Brand New Black Wine Album "Yell Boss" (hitting your face in August 2014!) and had played in el Secondhand.  His current band is called RISK RELAY and you can catch them melting faces all over New Jersey! thattotallybitchinblog.tumblr.com riskrelay.com https://vine.co/u/1050977290374582272 this is something of our vine page--small clips -- you can see buckets properly announce his lasT name... neat... mhm punkrockneverstop