Black representation has been an essential subject of discussion in the entertainment industry. Productions houses are looking for more Black and diverse content, and there has been a slight increase of diversity with new shows like the Porter, but progress has been slow and long. We are not seeing much change.

This panel will explore why it is crucial to have diversity in the media, what the lack of it does, how this lack impacts marginalized communities and what strategies need to be implemented, to see actual changes on our screens.

MODERATOR:

Samantha Kaine, Founder and CEO of the Independent Media Producers Association of Creative Talent -I.M.P.A.C.T.

Samantha Kaine is a Jamaican-Canadian, award-winning independent film and television creative producer, advocate, mentor and alumna of the Cineplex Entertainment Producers’ Lab Program at the Canadian Film Centre.

Samantha is the Founder and CEO of the Independent Media Producers Association of Creative Talent -I.M.P.A.C.T, a national, member-based non profit organization created to combat systemic and anti-Black racism, by breaking down barriers and opening the gates for producers who are of Afro descent, Afro-Indigenous descent and who identify as Black, of all intersectional identities, as we create a fair, equitable and a truly representative film, tv, digital media and music industries.

Samantha sits on the Board of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for Black and People of Colour and is also a vital voice as a member of several of Telefilms sub committees.

SPEAKERS:

Marsha Greene, Showrunner, The Porter

An accomplished Executive Producer/Writer, Marsha Greene was recently the Co-Creator and Show-runner on the Emmy-nominated series The Porterfor CBC and BET+. Marsha previously served as a Show-runner on Mary Kills People, a Co-EP on Coroner, and has staffed on 10 Days in the Valley, Private Eyes and Departure.

Mariah Inger, Actor, Director, Mentor - Chair of ACTRA’s DEIB (Diversity, Equity, inclusivity & Belonging) for both Montreal and National Committees

As an actor working in film/TV, voice, video-games, radio and theatre for over 30 years, Mariah Inger has had the chance to work with some of the industry's finest, both in front of and behind the camera. Mariah is also a theatre director, script consultant and creator, a teacher in the professional theatre program at Humber College, is VP of Black Wealth Media (a company that focuses on producing and distributing Afro-Centric content for Film/TV and the Web) and is a Co-coordinator and mentor of the Artists Mentorship Program (AMP) at Black Theatre Workshop, mentoring emerging marginalized artists. In addition to being the Chair of the National Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Mariah is an ACTRA Montreal Councillor and served as the Vice Chair of ACTRA Montreal’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee.

Patricia Chica, Award-Winning Producer, Director

Patricia Chica is a Latina-Canadian award-winning filmmaker who divides her time between Montreal and Los Angeles. Her production company Flirt Films advocates for diversity, inclusion and authentic representation on screen and behind the camera since 1997. As a Chi Energy educator, Chica also brings conscious practices and growth mindset into her work environments and productions. Her upcoming production MONTRÉAL GIRLS is the first feature film ever made with the Chi Energy method that she has developed over the years and has the authentic representation of actors and languages from diverse backgrounds: Arabs, Quebecois and Anglos.

Roderick Lawrence, Co-Founder, Black Man Films; Creator, Actor, and Producer, Silent Partner

Roderick is a highly-acclaimed actor and the Co-Founder of Black Man Films. A 2020 AUDELCO nominee, Roderick’s credits include Simba in Disney’s THE LION KING National Tour, Ramses in the Broadway-bound THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, Othello in John Leguizamo’s OTHELLO: THE REMIX, Floyd Barton in August Wilson’s SEVEN GUITARS and Jesus in GODSPELL. During the pandemic, Roderick created, starred in, and produced the multi-award-winning narrative short, “Silent Partner,” which is currently on the festival circuit garnering 16 festival acceptances (4 Oscar qualifiers; 7 awards and nominations) and is a finalist in the HBO MAX® Latino Short Film Competition. BM, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.