an exclusive conversation with Oscar nominee, Shaka King.

PLUS - first look at brand new work by rising star, Malakai. [View Online]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Forward]( Hi there, Did you watch the Oscars® this weekend? One of our favorite parts was Daniel Kaluuya's amazing acceptance speech, where (moments before [turning his mom into a meme]( he paid tribute to Chairman Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party: “What a man. What a man. How blessed we are that we lived in a lifetime where he existed... Thank you for your light. He was on this earth for 21 years. 21 years and he found a way to feed kids breakfast, educate kids, give free medical care against all the odds. [The Black Panther Party] showed me how to love myself, and with that love, they overflowed into the Black community, and other communities, and they showed us the power of union, the power of unity." Well said! Coming off the high of an incredible Oscars night with our nominated films JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH and COLLECTIVE, we’re thrilled to share our latest work by an up-and-coming artist whose work you should keep an eye on. We’ve also got an exclusive Q+A with JUDAS writer/director, Shaka King. Check it all out below. - Your fellow Participants [Oscar winners 2021]( What a Night! In a year unlike any other, we are celebrating one of our films taking home the gold at this year’s Academy Awards®! JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH ([now streaming]( earned two recognitions: '[Best Supporting Actor]( for Daniel Kaluuya's moving performance, while H.E.R, Dernst Emile II, and Tiara Thomas earned ' [Best Original Song](. We couldn't be prouder of our partnership with Warner Bros, Macro and Bron Studios as well as the incredibly talented producers: Shaka King, Charles D. King, and Ryan Coogler. Most importantly, by shedding more light on the inspiring and revolutionary story of Chairman Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party, we’re honored to help elevate the truth about their impact and legacy and share it with the world. Big congrats go out to Chloé Zhao, who broke the glass ceiling as [the first woman of color]( to win ‘Best Director’ and Yuh-Jung Youn who became [the first Korean]( to be nominated (and win!) in an acting category. And while our nominated film COLLECTIVE didn't take home the gold, we’re so proud of this amazing achievement in investigative journalism which exposes the vast corruption within Romania’s healthcare system and shines a light on the way we can keep government officials accountable. Make sure you check out [this fascinating conversation]( between the director, Alex Nanau, and fellow compatriot, Romanian-American actor Sebastian Stan. [READ MORE]( [Headlines + Highlights] [Shaka King on Zoom ] Q+A with Shaka King When JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH was first released back in February, we had the awesome opportunity to chat with Shaka King at our virtual Participant office. He inspired us with an incredible behind-the-scenes look at his experience, before he even had an idea of the success the film had in store. Here’s what he said, paraphrased for brevity. Q: How are you feeling? With the pandemic, the film - how’s your spirit? A: It’s a mixed bag. The response has been great. Some people knew the story and some didn’t. The debate that’s come with it, the valid critiques- it’s been fulfilling, interesting, different. I’ve never had something this widely seen, so I’ve never had to talk about it this much. Some days are great, some days are overwhelming. I have a real desire to get back to making something new. So I’m just trying to, for the most part, honor where I’m at and be in the moment. Q: You studied Political Science. Did you always want to make a social impact? A: All that stems from my upbringing. My mom is playwright, and her writing was always material she thought Black people needed. She’s been a very big influence on me in every way. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized the power folks like me have when we make things that people consume. I realized that if I invest in making something, it should have some utility. I don’t want to limit myself with what that means. Like, I did find that Curb Your Enthusiasm was very useful for me, during the pandemic. I needed that at night to wind down, to laugh. And everyone needs something different, I go in with that mindset. Q: You have been direct and open with your own politics. Do you have any lessons that could inspire us as Participants? A: The narrative we get in this business is “do it this way and then they’ll let you do it the way you want to.” But I always recognize you have to set the tone from the beginning. If you make the sacrifices early, they will just change it more and more and more. So set the tone from the beginning. Q: There’s been a lot of talk about Judas being a very radical film. Agree? A: I did read that headline, and that was crazy. Craziest thing I’ve read. In Hollywood maybe, big budget Hollywood, maybe. But not in cinema at all. I can’t say there are a lot of radical films, but that’s Hollywood - that’s not what they’re invested in. And if this movie is successful, you might find more films like it. This movie exists the way it does so much because of my producers. We had the same idea of what this movie should be. Two of the biggest Black people in the industry, and we’re doing it this way. The support these filmmakers have for a radical, or even just an accurate vision, is dependent on their support system. You can’t be the only person advocating for the work to look like this, especially if you don’t have that kind of power. [A Revolutionary Act]( Love Is A Revolutionary Act The fight for Black liberation lives on within Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. We’re so excited to premiere our new ten-minute short digital film, “A Revolutionary Act'', about the life and work of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, directed by the talented rising star, [MALAKAI](. This passion project aims to help us unlearn what we were taught about the Black Panther Party in order to truly understand their legacy of love and service to their community. [Let’s help #SaveTheHamptonHouse]( to turn Chairman Fred Hampton’s childhood home into a landmark and community center where today’s youth will carry on his revolutionary vision. [WATCH THE VIDEO]( [art + activism in the world] [Grief and Grievance Exhibit]( Art Has The Power To Heal It’s been a full year now since the pandemic began, and while some parts of the world are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we’re all still coping with the grief of one of the hardest years in living memory. Add to this the heartbreak of waking up each day to the endless list of Black lives carelessly taken by police - it’s been rough. But in the midst of our shared pain, one thing holds true: art has the mysterious power to heal our hurting souls. - It’s National Poetry Month. From Covid to racism and in between, the words of poets can help soothe a grieving world. [The Global Vaccine Poem]( is a crowdsourced living art piece you can contribute to, and [Nytesia Ross]( is a poet using spoken word to remind us that Black mourning and joy can coexist. - We’re loving the work of [Janine Kwoh]( and [The Glorious Hum]( two artists of color creating communities on Instagram for folks to grieve and heal together. - [Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America]( an exhibition at the New Museum, explores the way Black artists have grappled with tragedy -- “a direct response to the national emergency of Black grief.” (Above, “Antoine’s Organ” by Rashid Johnson, 2016.) [Participants wanted]( We're Hiring! We are all Participants. But if you’ve ever dreamed of having a job where you can use your creativity to make meaningful change, come roll up your sleeves with us. We’re hiring across several departments, so check out all of our current openings on our site. (We’ve got internships, too!) [JOIN US]( Like this email? 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