On February 18, the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee (EDSC) virtual meeting featured the panel discussion, The New Resistance: Tiny Budgets, Tall Faith, and the DGA. In a conversation moderated by Director Rashaad Ernesto Green, Directors Ellie Foumbi (Our Father, the Devil) and Tamika Miller (Undercard) discussed how to better equip truthful storytelling and ensure visibility in order to continue the legacy of Black art as a form of resistance and empowerment, amidst new federal mandates and financial restraints.
During the conversation, Foumbi described how having a micro-budget on her upcoming short film, Afufu freed her in the filmmaking process. “Having spent so much time getting a $3 million feature off the ground, I realized going micro-budget was the way. Part of that was having the freedom to make the film the way that I want to make it. I just wanted to tell a story that would resonate with people in a way that I wanted to tell it. My goal was to make something that was representative of my voice and the kind of cinema I wanted to see. For me it was just going small and trying to keep control and try to stay true to my voice. The film was funded through a small grant at the Venice Biennale College.”
Miller spoke about the importance of who gets centered in stories especially as DEI programs are being dismantled. “I think moving forward in anything I do — because I do like to tell stories that have some social commentary — I’m always wanting to push against and resist in the sense of being able to tell stories I want to tell and see people that I want to see on screen reflected back to me. That’s very important. I want to tell stories that are about us being visible. Everything that’s happening with dismantling and erasing us as people of color, I’m all about doing the opposite. That’s my mission. I always want us to be at the center of the storytelling that I have control over.”
See video from this event in the gallery below.
About the Panelists:
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 Ellie Foumbi
In addition to her upcoming short, Afufu, Foumbi’s directorial credits include the feature Our Father, the Devil; and the short films Black Amber, Home and No Traveler Returns. She has been a DGA member since 2019.
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 Tamika Miller
In addition to her upcoming feature Undercard, Miller’s directorial credits include the feature Honor Student; and episodes of Quantum Leap, The Equalizer and Station 19. She became a DGA member in 2021. |
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 Rashaad Ernesto Green (moderator)
Green’s directorial credits include the feature films Premature and Gun Hill Road; an episode of the mini-series Looking for Alaska; and episodes of the series Grimm, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Being Mary Jane, The Quad, Vida, Luke Cage, Proven Innocent and TheChi. He has been a DGA member since 2013. |
About the Committee:
The Eastern Diversity Steering Committee represents the concerns of Guild members of African, Asian, Native American, Arab-Middle Eastern or Latino descent residing in the East. Committed to improving the employment opportunities, working conditions and the skills of ethnically diverse Guild members, the Committee sponsors workshops, seminars, round-table discussions and networking events to showcase the talents of its members, recognize their contributions and increase their visibility in the industry. The Committee’s current Co-Chairs are Directors Seith Mann and Bertha Bay-Sa Pan and UPM Canella Williams-Larrabee.