FILM SOCIETY
Reel Divas Initiative By El l en Howl e
E xperience. Power. Intelligence. These three words describe many things, but in today’s world this describes the Reel Divas Initiative, a brand-new collective of women of color that have come together to provide support and advice to other women working in the film and television industry. Some of these women have worked in front of the camera; some behind the camera; but all have worked in film, television, and all the different divisions involved in making those creative engines work. Cas Sigers-Beedles has worked for more than a dozen years in her craft as a producer, writer, and director; and is one of the founding members of Reel Divas Initiative, founded in Atlanta, GA in October 2019. She and 19 other producers, directors, writers, and actresses have created an organization that has caught national attention by simply championing for women in the entertainment industry. “We decided that now is the time to focus on women in this industry, because that whole spirit of celebration is necessary,” says Sigers-Beedles. “You can feel alone and a lot of us are moms that need support. We all work 12, 13 and 14-hour days, and had kids later in life because we were working on our careers.” Meetings aren’t always about business. “We talk about balance — you know — life, motherhood and production,” she says. “We are all looking around for nannys and help and asking each other, ‘Where did you go for help.’” Since the start, the members have been asked to sit on panels; and they’re hearing from other Divas all over the country who want to have their own organization supporting women of color, who are asking what they can do to help. “We want to inspire them all!” Sigers-Beedles says. “We realize that we can often become prey to not rooting for each other, or we see where we don’t do all we can to help the other person climb up.” She adds that that’s a stigma this group wants to stop. “It’s a mindset we want to break. We want to be able to help the younger generation, because it’s harder when you’re a woman of color.” What’s next for this talented group is strategizing and establishing an official mentoring
program. She says they already mentor, but they want to make it more official. “We want to bring in mentors and bring in interns that will stay with us, so that the group as a whole can develop the right kind of mentorship program.” They’ll work out a handbook, which utilizes all the bullets and missions they’ve already created to continue their consistent message. “We’re also working to create a scholarship fund to advocate on behalf of women in color in 2020. We’ve gotten calls of interest from corporations and we’re going to be doing meet and greets in coming months, with a luncheon to be held next year.” She says they want to open it up to more women and to make sure they continue to rally behind creative funding to help get the projects done by women of color. “We’re going to open it up more for membership in late 2020, but the focus now is our founding members and getting recognition for the work we are all doing.” Sigers-Beedles says that the whole experience has been eye-opening. “When you realize you can get people together to share ideas and do projects it’s a great thing, but now? It’s a movement that’s making a difference.” Sigers-Beedles collegues include: • Jasmine Guy – Actress and director • Denise Hendricks – Producer • Terri J. Vaughn – Actress, director, and producer • Gieva Stinchcomb – Producer • Star Smith – Line producer • Lisa “Captain” Cunningham – Writer, producer and director • Wanda Shelly – Executive producer • Autumn Bailey Ford – Producer • Angi Bones – Executive producer and director • Samantha Ramirez-Herrera – Content creator • Deborah Riley Draper – Director and brand consultant • Shante Paige – Producer • Ty Johnston – Producer and director • Dianne Ashford – Producer • Tamra Simmons – Executive producer • Rhonda Baraka – Writer and director • Tammy Garnes – Producer and actress • Wendy Eley Jackson – Writer and producer • Angela Barnes Gomes – Writer and director
Cas Sigers-Beedles
Photo courtesy Prime Phocus LLC
When you realize you can get people together to share ideas and do projects it’s a great thing, but now? It’s a movement that’s making a difference.
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