Behind the Scenes: Black Women Calling the Shots

Although, we are seeing more leading roles for African American women on the small and even the big screen (Zoe Zaldana in Avatar, Mo'Nique in Precious), it's very rare that we hear about the Black women in film on the opposite side of the lens. These women are the storytellers. The women who make sure the story is told correctly from beginning to the end. Take a look at some of the few Black women who are holdin' it down and calling the shots from behind the scenes.

• Gina Prince-Blythewood: If you’ve watched The Secret Life of Bees then you know Gina’s work. Gina directed the film which she adapted from the best-selling book by Sue Monk Kidd. She first discovered her love for directing while attending UCLA’s film school.
  
  Credits: Love and Basketball (director), The Secret Life of Bees (director), Felicity (writer), South Central (writer), A Different World (writer)
  
  
• Kasi Lemmons: Kasi is most known for her role as Ardelia Mapp in The Silence of the Lambs. She later went on to direct several films.
  
  Credits: Eve’s Bayou (director),The Caveman’s Valentine (director), Talk to Me (director)
  
  
• Sanaa Hamri: Born in Tangier, Morocco, Sanaa struggled to become an actress before deciding to try directing. In 2000, she taught herself to use an Avid editing machine and surprisingly has never taken a film making course. Before directing movies, Sanaa directed music videos for Lenny Kravitz, Prince, Joss Stone, Common, and Jay Z just to name a few.
  
  Credits: Something New (director), episodes of Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy and Men in Trees (director)
  
  
• Mara Brock Akil: After graduating from Northwestern University, Mara began her career writing for the 90's critically acclaimed series South Central. But Mara is best known for her series Girlfriends, which aired for eight seasons. Along with her husband Salim Akil, Mara owns the production company Happy Camper Productions.
  
  Credits: Moesha (writer), The Jamie Foxx Show, (producer), Girlfriends (producer), The Game (producer)
  
• Sara Finney-Johnson: A USC alum, Sara has become one of the top director/screenwriter/producers of Black sitcoms.
  
  Credits: The Parkers (writer/producer), Family Matters (writer/producer), The Parent 'Hood(writer/producer), Moesha (writer/producer)
  
• Shonda Rhimes: Shonda earned her bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and her master's degree from USC's School of Cinema-Television. After graduation, she struggled as a writer and took on odd jobs such office administrator and counselor at a job center. After years of dedication and hard work, she finally hit it big with Grey's Anatomy.
  
  Credits: Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (writer), Crossroads (writer), The Princess Diaries/The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement (writer),Grey’s Anatomy (creator/producer), Private Practice (creator/producer)
  
• Felicia Henderson: Felicia's passion for writing landed her a job in television at NBC as a Creative Associate. After attending the prestigious Warner Brother's Writing Camp, she landing an apprenticeship on the hit sitcom Family Matters. Later, Felicia would go on to create “Soul Food: The Series,” a one-hour drama for the Showtime Network based on the hit film, “Soul Food.” She currently teaches television drama writing at the UCLA film school.
  
  Credits: Family Matters (writer), Fresh Prince of Bel Air (writer), Moesha (producer), Sister, Sister (producer), Gossip Girl (producer), Fringe (Producer)

--Tymika Morrison
Brownstone Team