Top Row l-r: James Ward, Jasmine Simpkins, Lisa Collins, Lee BaileyBottom Row l-r: Tanya Hart, K.W. Tulloss, Karamo Brown
Los Angeles, CA — While movements like #OscarsSoWhite and #TimesUp have shed light on Hollywood’s issues with race and gender, no one is talking about its issue with the media … black media specifically.
For years black media has been marginalized and/ or taken for granted by studios, publicists and even talent. Be it being placed on the end of red carpets, not being invited to cover film and TV press days, or simply being told no because their audience is predominately African American. Over the years, it has become a rampant problem.
On Saturday, April 28, 2018, the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center, will host six veteran media professionals—including Netflix “Queer Eye” star Karamo Brown, Hip Hollywood senior producer Jasmine Simpkins, syndicated air personality Tanya Hart, EURweb’s Lee Bailey, L.A. Focus Newspaper publisher Lisa Collins and James Ward, Manager of Communications for the Oprah Winfrey Network—in a panel addressing the challenging issue as part of its Annual African American Film Marketplace & S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase. The panel will take place at Raleigh Studios on Saturday from 1-2:30pm.
This panel will explore how access is granted to black press while also examining the disparity in marketing, promotional and advertising dollars to black media, and how that divide can be positively bridged.
About the Participants:
Moderator Karamo Brown: Karamo Brown is an American television host, reality television personality, and activist who began his career in 2004 on the MTV reality show The Real World: Philadelphia. A seasoned journalist, Brown also stars in the Netflix reboot of Queer Eye as the Culture Expert. He was a contributing host on HLN’s Dr. Drew on Call, YouTube’s The Young Turks, served as host and producer of HuffPost Live for Huffington Post and as a recurring guest host of Access Hollywood Live. In 2014, Brown became a host and segment producer for the Own Show.
Jasmine Simpkins: With over 10+ years experience covering entertainment news for TV, print and online platforms including TV One, BET, Starz, AOL, Jasmine Simpkins currently serves serving as correspondent and senior producer for Kevin Frazier’s HipHollywood.com. She was also the correspondent for four years for TV One’s daily news/entertainment interstitials. Jasmine is a regular contributor on CNN and HLN speaking out and lending her unique commentary on a number of issues on shows and hot topics.
Lee Bailey: Nicknamed “The Voice,” Lee Bailey began his broadcast career in 1970 as an on-air radio personality in Sacramento. Bailey is best known for his iconic syndicated radio show RadioScope, which lasted for two decades and broke some of the biggest entertainment stories of the last four decades. Today, his EUR/Electronic Urban Report (eurweb.com) continues Lee Bailey’s tradition of breaking the real story with an ever-growing readership that spans the globe.
James Ward III: James Ward III is the Manager of Communications at OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. For close to a decade he has worked in PR/Marketing/promotions servicing major studios and on numerous film and TV campaigns. He was previously a publicist at THAUrban handling clients like FOX, Sony and WB Pictures to name a few. Now at the studio level he is dedicated to helping people of color share their stories and is an advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Tanya Hart: Tanya Hart is a Los Angeles-based syndicated radio personality who hosts “Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart” on more than 300 stations for the American Urban Radio Network. She hosted entertainment programs such as E! Entertainment Television‘s “Gossip Show,” and on BET‘s “Live From LA With Tanya Hart”. In 2016, she became the first elected as co-chair of The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors (www.Caucus.org), making her the first African-American and first woman to head up the 40-year-old entertainment industry trade organization.
Lisa Collins: The founder/publisher of L.A. Focus Newspaper, Lisa Collins is a veteran writer and entertainment journalist who worked for more than a decade at Billboard Magazine; served as a segment producer at BET; syndicated an entertainment column published in more than 100 weekly black newspapers; and has authored well over 300 articles on a variety of issues for a number of national publications from Essence to Upscale.
Rev. K.W. Tulloss: As the Los Angeles President and Western Regional Director of Rev. Al Sharpton’s local Civil Rights group National Action Network, Pastor Tulloss has been at the forefront of many of this nation’s most talked about demonstrations including the #OscarSoWhite protests that led to successful negotiation with top Hollywood execs for greater inclusion. He is known for his skill in organizing and mobilizing communities for change and accountability and serves as Senior Pastor of the historical Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church.
About the African American Film Marketplace & S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase:
As one of the first film festivals to screen diverse short films more than two decades ago, the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase continues to provide an opportunity for the artistry of emerging African American Filmmakers. Over 86 Films are screened in blocks with a moderated Q & A with directors, cast and crew at the end of each block.
Highlights include: the opening gala held at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center Friday April 27, the the BHERCYouth Diversity Short Film Festival and the classic Soul Food & Film Reception. Films are screened from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm. The costs include: Opening Night Festivities $55, at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4708 W Washington Blvd, LA, CA 90016); a pass for a block of films is only $15 for students with ID and $20 for adults; an All Day Pass is $50; the “21 and Done” Premiere is $25 and $15 for students; Panels are $20; Anatomy of a Script Panel (FREE); Closing Night Reception is $25 (Soul Food & Film); and the Weekend Pass (includes Opening Night, All Day Pass for films, Panels, Closing Night Reception, T-Shirt and BHERC Commemorative Bag) is $150. To purchase tickets and for the complete schedule, please visit www.BHERC.org or call (310) 284-3170. Plan your trip on metro.net or call 323.GO. METRO (323.466.3876).
