Representation in Cinema

Our Voices Project LLC
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We discuss the representation of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in movies. We address the things that we love seeing, the tropes and stereotypes that Hollywood continues to perpetuate on screen, and what representation we'd like to see moving forward. You can listen to this podcast on any podcast platform!

  1. APR 30

    Decolonizing Your Consumption

    Hello pod! In tonight’s episode, we’re discussing the kind of representation we want to see and talking about the films, filmmakers, and production companies that are changing the way that we see Arabs portrayed on the big screen. If you haven’t already tuned into our previous episodes where we break down the film Reel Bad Arabs and the destructive stereotypes we’ve seen throughout Hollywood’s history as well as define a few terms that we’ve used throughout this series, we highly recommend that you go back and listen to those episodes. If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I Here are suggested TV shows, movies, and streaming services from our guests: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animated series, Netflix)The Encampments (Watermelon+)A Sad and Beautiful World (Watermelon+)All That’s Left Of You (In Theatres & Watermelon+)Amreeka (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)Palestine 36 (In Theatres & Watermelon+)Salt of the Sea (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)Slingshot Hip Hop (Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)Caramel (2007, Available to rent on Amazon Prime, Google, and Apple)I Am From Palestine (YouTube) Follow these filmmakers and artists: Jackie Reem SalloumCherein DabisSuheir HammadAnnemarie JacirNadine Labaki Our guests (and how you can support them) are listed below: Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. Muna Najib is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7. Munir Atalla is the Head of Production & Acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures. Visit their website at https://www.watermelonpictures.com to learn more about the distribution and production company whose mission is to shift culture on a large scale by bringing Palestinian cinema, and other untold stories, to broad audiences in a way that entertains, inspires, and activates audiences. Subscribe to Watermelon Plus for $7.99/mo or $79.99/year at https://www.watermelonplus.com! Ryan Shrime is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent and is an actor, voiceover artist, writer, and producer in Los Angeles. Since having been a producer for the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York and the co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles, Ryan has been using his platform to help combat stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood and the media at large. To support him, you can hire him as an actor (especially if you have any pirate roles in a period piece!), get him into the writer’s room, and rewatch episodes of Sam and Cat so that he can collect royalties. He’s on all social media platforms as @ryanshrime. We need to support our actors! Saafa Tahboub is a Palestinian American in her third year at the University of Rochester studying Brain & Cognitive Science with a minor in Spanish. Sarah Aljitawi is a Palestinian American and a senior majoring in public health and nursing. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.ur and donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit https://www.ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. Again, if you haven’t listened to our previous episodes in this series, we highly recommend that you do so. Not only that, do yourselves a favor and go watch Reel Bad Arabs available for FREE on YouTube as well as the films and TV shows that our guests recommended tonight. We’ll be taking 3 weeks off and we’ll be back on May 21st to dive back into films that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices and stories. This has been Jackie McGriff, your host for tonight’s episode of Representation in Cinema. As always, thank you again for listening! 00:00 Intro 06:00 Diverse Voices in Arab Cinema 08:58 Understanding Authentic Representation 12:07 The Role of Storytelling in Representation 14:57 Cultural Narratives and Media Influence 21:05 Challenges in Representation 24:00 The Need for Diverse Narratives 33:16 Resistance and the Role of Encampments 39:07 Media Representation and Its Impact 48:50 Shifting Narratives in Film and Media 54:05 Emerging Projects and Representation 58:01 Solidarity Across Movements 01:00:51 The Future of Arab Representation in Media 01:18:30 Empowering Female Voices in Film 01:21:41 Encouragement for Emerging Filmmakers & Actors 01:33:58 How to Support Our Guests Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Dialed In: A Coffee Podcast Get Dialed In to the world of coffee with Aaron and Wade! Tastings, coffee news and opinion and more! https://dialedincoffee.captivate.fm

    1h 44m

  2. APR 23

    Reel Bad Arabs: Part 2

    Welcome to the third week of Arab American Heritage Month! I’m your host, Amira Ferjani taking over for Jackie McGriff. We’re continuing our conversation about Arab representation using the framework of the late Dr. Jack Shaheen’s, Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People. If you missed the first 2 parts of our series talking about Orientalism and covering the first half of Reel Bad Arabs, go back and watch and/or listen to those episodes! If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I Muna Najib is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She has been advocating and teaching about Palestine and other marginalized communities for well over a decade. She is a graduate of University at Buffalo with a degree in English, Third world literature and African American studies. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7. Returning to the podcast is Laith Ali, a computer science major, Class of 2026. He’s a Palestinian American whose family is from Jenin and Abu Qash. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.urand donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP Lastly, but certainly not least, is Ryan Shrime. Ryan Shrime is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent and is an actor, voiceover artist, writer, and producer in Los Angeles. Since having been a producer for the Arab-American Comedy Festival in New York and the co-founder and producer of the Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles, Ryan has been using his platform to help combat stereotypes and misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood and the media at large. Ryan can be found on most socials at @ryanshrime. To support him, you can hire him as an actor, get him into the writer’s room, and rewatch episodes of Sam and Kat so that he can collect royalties. We need to support our actors! Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. In our next episode, we’re going to talk about decolonizing your consumption and what authentic Arab representation really looks like. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 08:22 - Exploring Stereotypes in Media 15:53 - The Impact of Hollywood on Perceptions of Arabs 20:24 - Advocacy and Representation in Hollywood 21:37 - The Need for Authentic Representation 24:46 - Colorism and Stereotypes in Media 25:32 - Modern Depictions and Cultural Erasure 28:26 - The Impact of Hollywood on Arab Identity 29:59 - Personal Experiences in Acting 38:27 - Recent Portrayals and Cultural Misrepresentation 44:33 - Shifts in Representation and Future Outlook 48:35 - The Role of Social Media in Documenting Genocide 49:29 - Shifts in Hollywood's Narrative 51:56 - The Impact of Boycotting Films 54:47 - Creating Alternative Narratives 01:01:25 - The Power of Representation in Storytelling 01:09:41 - Boycotting Roles: A New Approach for Actors Mentioned in this episode: Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business Check out Getting Real with Bossy: For Women Who Own Business on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/gettingrealwithbossy/ Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Mind of Magnus Artist Magnus Champlin Interviews guests sharing the stories and life adventures with the goal of expanding minds.

    1h 21m

  3. APR 16

    Reel Bad Arabs: Part 1

    Tonight we’re breaking down the film Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People, a feature documentary where acclaimed author, the late Dr. Jack Shaheen, analyzes the ways in which Hollywood has depicted Arabs from the earliest days of silent film to the early 2000s looking at Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters. If you haven’t already seen Reel Bad Arabs, we HIGHLY recommend that you watch. It’s less than an hour and you can watch it for FREE on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I Returning to the podcast is Amira Ferjani, a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist uses her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Subscribe to her Substack, Amira Out Loud here: http://amiraoutloud.substack.com. She’s also on most social media platforms as @amiraoutloud. Also returning to our podcast is Muna Najib. Muna is a first-generation Palestinian social justice activist, writer, speaker and educator. She has been advocating and teaching about Palestine and other marginalized communities for well over a decade. She is a graduate of University at Buffalo with a degree in English, Third world literature and African American studies. She believes in fighting for full land back for all indigenous peoples which includes Palestine’s full liberation and sovereignty from the river to the sea. Reach out to her at mntaha@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mnnajib7. Joining us for the first time here in the studio are 2 college students – I’ll start with Lina Abdou. Lina is from Morocco and a senior studying International Relations who’s also a photographer who dabbles a lot with identity as a topic. Next is Laith Ali, a computer science major, Class of 2026. He’s a Palestinian American whose family is from Jenin and Abu Qash. Follow Students for Justice in Palestine on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sjp.urand donate to their group and efforts to helping the people of Palestine here: https://linktr.ee/UR.SJP Lastly, but certainly not least, is Munir Atalla. Munir is the Head of Production & Acquisitions at Watermelon Pictures. Visit their website to learn more about the distribution and production company whose mission is to shift culture on a large scale by bringing Palestinian cinema, and other untold stories, to broad audiences in a way that entertains, inspires, and activates audiences. Subscribe to their streaming platform, Watermelon Plus, where you can watch over 60 films elevating bold voices from marginalized and underrepresented filmmakers. As promised here are some other resources: Books – Orientalism by Edward Said; Reel Bad Arabs by Dr. Jack Shaheen Articles - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1priV6Ew23wYz1Vm0tefsERqVCz-a4UCP77UdWWrAqbY/edit?usp=drive_link Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 06:37 - The Influence of Animation on Cultural Identity 09:52 - Arab American Heritage Month: A Time for Reflection and Hope 19:27 - Exploring the Impact of Stereotypes in Film 28:03 - Exploring Media Representation of Arabs 37:55 - Reclaiming Narratives: The Impact of Stereotypes in Film 41:40 - Representation and Misrepresentation in Media 46:21 - The Rise of Alternative Storytelling 58:03 - Continuing the Conversation on Real Bad Arabs Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Common Thread Check out Common Thread on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/common-threads-hardcore/

    1h 2m

  4. APR 9

    SWANA vs. "Middle East" & Orientalism

    Tonight starts a new series highlighting the representation and (mis)representation of Arabs in Western cinema, specifically in the US. We’re going to be breaking down the film Reel Bad Arabs, talking about the destructive stereotypes that writer and lecturer, the late Jack Shaheen, talks about both in the film and in the book of the same title, and about what authentic representation looks like. For so long our government has fed us these stereotypes repeatedly in movies manufacturing consent for global atrocities, so we’re going to dive into what to look for and how to advocate for the kind of representation that paints them as the multifaceted, complex human beings that they are. You can watch Reel Bad Arabs for free here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxak6lFd-I We’re joined by Amira Ferjani, who’s going to be devoting this episode to defining the SWANA region, identifying anti-SWANA and anti-Arab discrimination, and differentiating between those terms and others we want to keep in mind throughout this series. Amira Ferjani is a Tunisian American and Marketing and Communications Specialist with a keen eye for detail and a passion for creative problem-solving. She brings a unique perspective to conversations about representation, using her platform to educate others on anti-SWANA discrimination and the often-erased diversity of the South West Asia and North Africa region. She draws on her lived experience and cultural heritage to challenge the erasure and misrepresentation of SWANA peoples in media, policy, and everyday language. Amira centers clarity, accountability, and the belief that education is the first step towards solidarity and, ultimately, liberation for all. Amira can be found on most social media platforms @amiraoutloud, but she is primarily on threads @amiraoutloud2026. Her Substack also has several blogs detailing anti-SWANA racism and breaking down why she uses the term SWANA. As promised, here are resources to check out: Books: Orientalism by Edward Said Reel Bad Arabs by Jack Shaheen Articles: MENA vs. SWANA and where Arab fits in Standing ovations but no distribution: Films about Palestinians meet a divided Hollywood by Rebecca Keegan | Oct. 23, 2025 | Source | Archive Missing & Maligned: The Reality of Muslims in Popular Global Movies by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative | June 2021 | PDF Hollywood’s problem with Arab representation (or a lack thereof) by Mina Tobya | Michigan Daily | Mar. 28, 2024 | Source | Archive Khalas!: Institutionalized SWANA Erasure, Resilience, and Resistance In Higher Education by Journal of Leadership, Equity, and Research | Vol. 8 No. 1 | April 2022 | Source Erased or Extremists: The Stereotypical View of Muslims in Popular Episodic Series by USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative | September 2022 | PDF The novel ‘Dune’ had deep Islamic influences. The movie erases them by Haris A. Durrani | The Washington Post | Oct. 28, 2021 | Source | Archive Sonic Orientalism in the Dune Film Scores: Challenging Harmful Depictions of SWANA Culture by Amy Maatouk | Rising Voices in Ethnomusicology Vol. 21 No. 1 | PDF Hollywood's Bad Arabs by Jack G. Shaheen | The Cairo Review of Global Affairs | Source | Archive Dune: An accomplished escape into the realm of cinematic Arab appropriation by Hanna Flint | The New Arab | Oct. 1, 2021 | Source | Archive Dune 2 and Hollywood's commodification of Muslimness by Nadeine Asbali | The New Arab | Feb. 27, 2024 | Source | Archive ‘Dune 2’ is set thousands of years in the future — so why does it feel like a parable about Gaza? By Mira Fox | Forward | Mar. 4, 2024 | Source | Archive Hind Rajab director refuses Berlin film festival award over Gaza war by The New Arab Staff | The New Arab | Feb. 18, 2026 | Source | Archive Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. In our next episodes, we’re going to break down the misrepresentation of Arabs in Hollywood, Hollywood’s ties to US government, navigating the film industry as an Arab actor, and what authentic representation actually looks like. Until then, we highly recommend that you go watch Reel Bad Arabs now available for FREE (this education is FREE, y’all!) on YouTube. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 12:05 - Understanding Identity in the SWANA Region 18:01 - Orientalism 24:28 - The Importance of Representation in Education and Media 33:42 – Intro to the rest of our Arab American Heritage Month Podcast Series Mentioned in this episode: Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

    37 min

  5. SEASON 3, EPISODE 11 TRAILER

    PREVIEW: Arab (Mis)Representation in Hollywood

    Starting this Thursday, April 9, we’re going to be breaking down the film Reel Bad Arabs, talking about the destructive stereotypes that writer and lecturer, the late Jack Shaheen, talks about both in the film and in the book of the same title, and about what authentic representation looks like throughout Arab American Heritage Month. For so long our government has fed us these stereotypes repeatedly in movies manufacturing consent for global atrocities, so we’re going to dive into what to look for and how to advocate for the kind of representation that paints them as the multifaceted, complex human beings that they are. Subscribe to our podcast, Representation in Cinema, leave a comment about this topic, and share with family, friends, colleagues, peers, students, and grassroots organizations committed to liberation for marginalized communities! Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription!

    1 min

  6. APR 3

    Ava DuVernay: Queen of Confronting Pain & Opening Doors

    Tonight’s episode is about QUEEN Ava Duvernay, the director behind 13th, Selma, A Wrinkle in Time, and Origin as well as the founder of ARRAY, “a multi-platform arts and social impact collective dedicated to narrative change,” which is what we’re all about here on Our Voices Project. Joining us on the podcast is Dr. Katrina Overby aka DJ Spin Dr. KO, Dominique Alexandria Simmonds, and Kamesha B. Katrina is an activist scholar who is interested broadly in media, race, sexuality, and gender. Specifically, her research interests are in: Black Twitter, social media and culture, African American cinema, race and identity in television and popular culture, sports media, and the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Follow Katrina on Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube Channel. To learn more about paths to repair the harm done by media, visit Media 2070: https://mediareparations.org/. Dominique Alexandria Simmonds is a creative, mother, and founder of Caribago Designs, where Afro-Caribbean heritage, Melanated arts, and visual storytelling converge. Passionate about celebrating culture through design, photography, and textile art, she brings vibrant energy, heritage, and joy to every encounter. Visit her website at https://www.caribagocreative.com/ or give her a phone call at (585) 622-4562 to work with her! You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Kamesha B is a multifaceted creative based in NYC and Rochester, NY, weaving her talents as a writer, producer, director, and media consultant into a tapestry of storytelling. She has worked with CBS News, The Food Network, Six Point Pictures, Seed Vision est89, and Amazon Prime Video. Kamesha’s career aspiration is clear: to create uncompromising stories that challenge conventional paradigms and bring authentic visions to the screen. Her academic journey includes a B.A. in English from Buffalo State University, followed by a deep dive into Storytelling at Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a dual M.A. in Business and Film Media Studies. Visit her website at seedvisionest89.org. Wherever you’re listening from and hit that subscribe button. If you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you loved about tonight’s episode. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be back with more episodes every Thursday with old and newly released movies that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous folks, general movie news, and interviews with film festival programmers/curators, film critics, and filmmakers! This has been Jackie McGriff, your host for this episode of Representation in Cinema. As always, thank you again for listening! Chapters: 00:01 - Introduction to Representation Cinema 00:56 - Introducing Ava DuVernay: A Journey Through Storytelling 22:26 - The Role of Media in Criminalization 42:25 - The Impact of Media on the Civil Rights Movement 47:08 - The Impact of Media on Historical Narratives 01:02:07 - Exploring Themes of Identity and Transformation in Film 01:18:20 - Exploring Diversity in Film Adaptations 01:25:52 - Exploring Grief and Historical Narratives Mentioned in this episode: Lunchador Podcast Network Lunchador Podcast Network is a network of podcasts originating in Rochester, NY. Our goal is bringing creative people together to be a positive force in the arts community. The shows that make up Lunchador are owned by the creators and cover a wide range of topics and backgrounds. http://lunchador.org/ Behind the Studio Door Behind the Studio Door, hosted by Molly Darling and Christian Rivera, takes listeners on a captivating exploration of artists and their creative processes. Through deep and meaningful conversations, they uncover the stories and experiences that shape the outward expression of their work. https://behind-the-studio-door.captivate.fm/ Joe Bean Roasters Visit joebeanroasters.com to get fresh roasted specialty coffee either by the bag or with a Perpetual Joy subscription! Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement

    1h 42m

  7. MAR 27

    Abolish the Hollywood Shuffle (Or How to Support Indie Filmmakers)

    Borrowing the title of the satirical classic by LEGENDARY filmmaker, Robert Townsend, to break down how we watch more original films and support independent filmmakers! Now this episode is going to look a little different. We’re taking a short break between honoring Black directors for a second to talk about something that’s been on my mind for quite some time. Hollywood continues to play in our faces when it comes to original stories. If we really love films and we really want more original stories, that means doing a little more work on our part. (Just a little!) And I’m going to take you through that right now. Please let me know in the comments if you want more videos like this! If so, you have to let me know! As per usual, you can find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Threads. You can also visit ourvoicesproject.com for more information about what we do. Support the indie filmmaker you’re listening to right now by signing up for our newsletter on our website to be the first to get notifications about new podcast episodes, upcoming community screenings and panel discussions, and new film projects! nUPpZf2WG1T7mfoSSQ6R Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Joe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.com Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement

    29 min

  8. MAR 20

    Nia DaCosta: The Queen of Complex Characters

    Hello pod! We are midway into Women’s History Month or as I’m calling it, BLACK Women’s History Month! We’re continuing our series giving our flowers to Black Directors! Tonight’s episode is about Nia DaCosta, the director behind The Marvels, Hedda, the 2021 remake of the horror classic, Candyman, Little Woods, and a recent release, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Our guest tonight, from our Sinners: Black AF and Oscars Reactions episodes, is Brianna Milon, a published author, communications professional and model who blends creativity and connection in everything she does. With a background in media, public relations, and storytelling, she’s passionate about using her voice and presence to inspire and uplift others. You can follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/suunnybri Wherever you’re listening from, hit that subscribe button and if you liked tonight’s episode, please give us a 5-star rating, share this episode and leave a comment to let us know what you liked the most! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, & Threads. Visit ourvoicesproject.com and sign up for our newsletter for more information about what we do. We’ll be handing flowers to another Black woman director who we should be talking about. Of course, you won’t know until the show premieres so make sure you subscribe! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:38 - Exploring Nia DaCosta's Impact on Storytelling 06:24 - Exploring Complex Characters in Adaptations 17:41 - The Complexity of Hedda's Character 26:13 - Exploring the Marvels: A Deep Dive into Female Representation 35:28 - Representation and Complexity in Marvel Films 35:34 - Exploring Representation in Marvel's Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel 41:44 - Analyzing the Social Commentary in Candyman 49:56 - Exploring the Themes of Identity and Race in Film 54:16 - Discussion on Character Complexity in Cinema Mentioned in this episode: Joe Bean Roasters Joe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. https://shop.joebeanroasters.com Our Voices Project - Land Acknowledgement Nights and Weekends Check out Nights and Weekends on Lunchador! https://feeds.captivate.fm/nightsandweekends/

    1 hr
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About

We discuss the representation of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in movies. We address the things that we love seeing, the tropes and stereotypes that Hollywood continues to perpetuate on screen, and what representation we'd like to see moving forward. You can listen to this podcast on any podcast platform!

Information

  • Creator
    Our Voices Project LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Our Voices Project LLC 2026
  • Show Website
    Representation in Cinema