Black Women Film Network (Awards ceremony in Atlanta)
on February 22nd, 2011 at 7:18 am
Atlanta—As the Black Women Film Network(BWFN) celebrates nearly 15 years, the organization is planning its annual Untold Stories Luncheon to be held March 11, 2011 at Atlanta’s Marriot Marquis. This year’s event will honor an array of all-stars in the film, television and entertainment industries. Whether in front of the camera, behind the scenes or in the marketing arena, the 2011 honorees represent the best in the industry at the art of telling or selling the untold stories of African Americans.
“Our Untold Stories Luncheon allows us to showcase digital media, its creators and players, as well as help develop future media artists,” said Black Women Film Network Founder Sheryl Gripper. “We are delighted to honor these stellar individuals making important strides in film and new media—on all fronts.”
The 2011 honorees:
Cassi Davis, a Holly Springs, Miss., native, is a thespian of stage and film, appearing in many Tyler Perry Productions, including “Madea Goes to Jail”, “Daddy’s Little Girls” and “Madea’s Family Reunion”. She has also appeared on “Living Single”, “Chicago Hope”, “Women Thou Art Loosed” and “School Daze”. A graduate of Spelman College, Davis won a NAACP Theater Award for best supporting actress in 2004 from the Los Angeles Chapter.
Chip Fields is an early pioneer in television as it relates to African Americans and women in the industry—both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. An actress, director, consultant and dialogue coach, she is often recognized for her seminal work on “Good Times” and other shows such as “Days of Our Lives” and “The Amazing Spider Man” TV series. She has also directed episodes of “One on One”, “All of Us”, “Girlfriends” and “The Parkers”. Fields has also appeared in “Facts of Life” and “Living Single”, playing the mother of characters portrayed by her real-life daughter, Kim Fields.
Kim Fields will always be remembered for her indelible roles on both “Facts of Life” and “Living Single”, and she has built on this legacy by adding producer, author and award-winning director to her credits. The Pepperdine University graduate has directed episodes of “Living Single”, “Kenan & Kel” and “Taina”. She also directed “The Jersey” for Disney Channel, and won a NAACP Theater Award for her stage directorial debut of “The Vanities”. A filmmaker, she produces documentaries and did her own short film “Silent Bomb”. Currently, she directs episodes of BET’s “Let’s Stay Together”.
Keisha Knight Pulliam left a mark in the minds of the American public when she appeared on television sets as Rudy on the long-running “Cosby Show”. The Spelman College alumna became the youngest actress ever to be nominated for an Emmy Award for best supporting actress at age six. She played Keisha on “Sesame Street “at age three. Currently, she stars as Miranda, wife of Calvin Payne on “House of Payne”, which won her NAACP Image Awards for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series in 2009 and 2010.
Deanna Nowell, CEO of the Edit Factor, is one to watch in the realm of television, documentaries and film. The Atlanta-based, post-production expert has put finishing touches on promos for Turner Studios, and worked on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” and TBS, Inc.’s “Movie and Makeover”. Her film credits include “The World of Julia Peterkin” for Lightfoot Films, “Three Can Play that Game” for Sony/Screen Gem, as well as work with Rob Hardy and Will Packer of Rainforest Films.
Terri Vaughn has a host of television and film roles on her resume, but is widely known for her role as high school secretary on “The Steve Harvey Show” and as a teacher on “Daddy’s Little Girls” and “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood”. She currently stars on “Meet the Browns”.
Terrell Whitley, an alumnus of Florida A&M University, is the CEO of Liquid Soul Media, a lifestyle marketing agency that has become a go-to source for film and television studios such as Disney and Warner Brothers. The company has executed marketing campaigns for seven number-one box office films, including “The Princess and the Frog”, “The Town” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. LSM has also spearheaded marketing for “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns”. The company won an Effie Award for its work on “CNN Presents Black in America” in 2008, and also worked on CNN’s “Black in America 2” and “Latino in America” documentaries.
Support for the Black Women Film Network’s Untold Stories Luncheon is provided by Anheuser-Busch, Fulton County Arts Council, National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame and Spelman College. Artist Janseen will create a painting— live at the event, producing a real-time work of art that will be auctioned to support BWFN.
To purchase tickets and learn more about BWFN, visit www.blackwomenfilm.org.
