Celebrating Black History Month and Diversity & Inclusion in the Industry

Today's Stage 32 Blog comes from Karen "Kay" Ross a filmmaker, screenwriter, and Stage 32's Community Manager based in Los Angeles, California. Happy Black History Month! Or, for anyone outside the United States, happy February! One of the great accomplishments of Stage 32 is providing a safe and welcoming space for creatives all around the world, regardless of age, sex, race, or creed, to gather, network, and build relationships. Naturally, as we began celebrating Black History Month in the Stage 32 Lounges, this poignant question arose - why do we celebrate? In a word… history. In the United States, since celluloid was first used to craft tales to astonish, stories from minority perspectives have been marginalized (i.e. given a space but with so small an audience it has a minimal impact), sensationalized (i.e. made with a heavy dose of entertainment while avoiding the issue at hand, or the opposite where the message is preachy and cannot be absorbed by those who need to hear it the most), or are out-right silenced. When we celebrate the voices of those who have been silenced, we remind ourselves that there is more to our history than what is mainstream, and assuredly a better way forward. Knowing that film and television can dramatically shift the perceptions of its audiences, American filmmakers are shifting their approach to storytelling to include more of these stories so we can continue to grow. By “celebrating”, we invite deeper study into the art and its implications. Through study, we allow reflections of our lives and into our values. By reflecting upon and processing new information, we have a chance at a deeper appreciation for the art, the artist, the culture, and the context. In effect, celebrating Black History Month enriches our lives. [Continue Reading ]( Copyright © 2022 Stage 32, All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because you are either a member of Stage 32 community, or you have subscribed to receive a newsletter on our landing page. Our mailing address is: Stage 32 2711 N Sepulveda BlvdManhattan Beach, CA 90266-2725 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.