Many of us blindly pay our bills every month without checking the line items. Whether it’s autopay or paying online, most people don’t take the time to make sure that they’re being charged properly.
An AT&T customer says she recently realized that she’s been overcharged for her cell phone plan for two years. And she claims that her carrier, AT&T, is refusing to refund her.
Many of us blindly pay our bills every month without checking the line items. Whether it’s autopay or paying online, most people don’t take the time to make sure that they’re being charged properly.
An AT&T customer says she recently realized that she’s been overcharged for her cell phone plan for two years. And she claims that her carrier, AT&T, is refusing to refund her.
Relativity? Time dilation? Quantum physics? BORING. When I read a star-spanning sci-fi epic, I don’t care about the physical motion of celestial bodies, I care about being moved by them. Space operas, aka “soft” sci-fi are science fiction stories about our universe without being bogged down by the pesky laws of physics. How do those sandworms in Dune not collapse under their own weight? How do Gideon and Harrow travel to distant planets without experiencing time dilation in Gideon the Ninth? Doesn’t matter, these authors weren’t sweating the science when writing the 10 best sci-fi space operas, and neither should you.
Dune
(Ace Books)
Obligatory Dune paragraph incoming: Frank Herbert’s sci-fi magnum opus is the pinnacle of soft sci-fi. The Magic Flute of space opera, if you will. The story of Paul Atreides’ rise to intergalactic power inspired countless works of classic science fiction, everything from Star Wars to the Warhammer 40k universe. It’s got giant worms, whacky spaceships, a villain propelled around by anti-gravity tech that defies all physical laws, and a sandy substance called spice that lets people see into the future! The science makes absolutely no sense, and that’s the point! You want an explanation of how the Bene Gesserit do all the superhuman nonsense they do? You’ve come to the wrong place. You want the most seminal sci-fi work ever penned in spite of all the scientific hoo-ha? Come right on in, the ornithopter’s waiting.
At a time when the value of Black storytelling is resonating louder than ever, a powerful conversation unfolded at ABFF 2025 with a panel titled One of Them Days and the Undeniable Power of Black Audiences in Theaters. The session spotlighted the intersection of creativity, strategy, and cultural authenticity in elevating Black-led content, and the 2025 box office hit One of Them Days served as the cornerstone of that dialogue.
Jon Gist, VP of Global Intersectional Marketing at Sony Pictures
Moderated by Jon Gist, VP of Global Intersectional Marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment, the panel gathered a dynamic slate of experts shaping the way stories are marketed and experienced in the global arena. Bridgette Wright (SVP, Global Creative Advertising), Ellene V. Miles (SVP, Global Intersectional Marketing), and Janessa Ross (Director, Influencer Marketing) pulled back the curtain on the strategies that take a film from production buzz to cultural phenomenon.
Together, they unpacked core marketing principles crucial for emerging creatives, emphasizing the importance of identifying your audience early, weaving in culturally resonant narratives, and using the production phase to lay the groundwork for future engagement. From building out teaser campaigns to activating influencer partnerships that feel organic and earned, the panelists offered a roadmap for how marketing isn’t just the end of the filmmaking process, it’s embedded in every step.
Bridgette Wright, Senior VP of Global Creative Advertising
Senior VP of Global Creative Advertising Bridgette Wright shared that it’s no longer just about trailers and posters. It’s about world-building. “We’re beyond that now,” she said. “It’s about telling the story around the story.” Think viral campaigns, immersive experiences, and creative content that extends far beyond the movie screen.
Bridgette’s team focuses on building buzz early and building it in ways that invite audiences to become part of the narrative.
Janessa Ross, Director of Influencer Marketing
Janessa Ross, Director of Influencer Marketing, emphasized the power of content creators to build momentum. Whether bringing influencers on set for cameos, involving them in trailer launches, or pairing them with cast members for exclusive content, the goal is to authentically hype up the film before and after it hits screens.
And when it came to One of Them Days, that strategy paid off. “We did some great stuff,” Janessa said. “Influencers helped carry the conversation into communities that matter.”
Ellene V. Miles, SVP of Global Intersectional Marketing
That same energy was front and center in how the overall marketing strategy took shape. As Ellene V. Miles, SVP of Global Intersectional Marketing, put it:
“Because we’re always like, let’s hide it, let’s soften it — but this time, we leaned all the way into what the movie was giving. It was bold, it was unapologetic, and we had to match that energy in the marketing. That had to be our number one approach. You can’t worry about outside forces when your gut is telling you this is it. So we just kept pushing to make sure we could show that and let the organic word of mouth do the work.”
That approach led to a standout moment on social, where the team dropped a unique piece of content tied to the poster rollout, a perfect example of how they blended traditional marketing with a more organic, culture-first strategy.
The studios are now looking to content creators for that strategy in addition to legacy media like traditional broadcast junkets, trailers campaigns and brick and mortar billboards. In the digital age the shift to organic ad placements on social media channels, influencers partnerships and fan reviews are the new methods studios like Sony Pictures are tapping into emerging new audiences.
From tapping into influencer communities to crafting trailers that speak directly to Black women, the team revealed that great marketing doesn’t just sell a film, it amplifies its soul.
In the end, the panel underscored a powerful truth: when Black creatives are empowered to market stories with authenticity, care, and boldness, the results speak volumes: not just in ticket sales, but in lasting cultural impact.
Movies have seriously dropped the ball when it comes to presenting Black dads, they’re either total stereotypes or just missing. This has shifted in the hands of Black filmmakers. We’re seeing Black fathers, from different walks of life, highlighted in films now. From tear-jerking dramas to real-life documentaries that actually show Black fathers as they really are: loving, imperfect, and dedicated to their kids. BLACK ENTERPRISE selected nine movies that show all the complex layers of Black fatherhood through different generations. And it’s about time, right?
Boyz n the Hood
Boyz n the Hood (1991) is more than a coming of age story, it digged into what fatherhood looks like in the crazy world of South Central L.A. It highlighted the complicated father-son relationship between Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his dad Furious (Laurence Fishburne). Furious is that tough-love dad, keeping his son on track while the neighborhood’s falling apart around them. What makes this film hit different is how it shows something we rarely got to see back then: a single Black father who’s actually there, protecting his kid and teaching him how to become a man. John Singleton broke records as the youngest director ever nominated for an Oscar, and the first Black one too!
The Pursuit of Happyness
The Pursuit of Happyness came out in 2006. It’s honestly one of my favorites. Will Smith not only produced it, but also starred in it alongside his son Jaden, which makes those father-son moments hit so much harder. Director Gabriele Muccino really captured the gut-wrenching journey of Chris Gardner, a real guy who went through homelessness while trying to give his kid a better shot at life. Will’s performance was on point, and the character’s determination poured through the screen. The Pursuit of Happyness is way more than just another tearjerker; it completely flips the script on how Black fathers are typically shown in movies. Instead of tired stereotypes, we get this raw, beautiful story about a dad who would do absolutely anything for his child.
Fences
Fences (2016) really hits you in the gut. It’s a raw look at Troy Maxson, a father in 1950s Pittsburgh played by Denzel Washington. The film is an adaptation of August Wilson’s play that won a Pulitzer. Troy’s story is pretty heavy. The family man was killing it in the Negro Baseball League scene before ending up as a garbage man, carrying generational baggage — while trying to love his family the best way he knew how.
Denzel absolutely crushes it both directing and acting. Together with Viola Davis, the two thespians show you what’s going on inside the heads of many Black fathers, that internal battle of wanting to shield your kids while somehow preparing them for a world that isn’t always kind. Fences is tough to watch but worth the watch.
King Richard
King Richard, released in 2021, is a movie about Venus and Serena Williams’ dad, Richard. Will Smith also crushes this role. The film shows how this determined father had this crazy but genius plan for his daughters to become tennis legends, and wow, did it work out. Richard’s stubborn, outside-the-box parenting style actually paid off. Richard faced so many obstacles but never gave up on his vision. It’s dope how the movie also flips the script on how Black fathers are typically portrayed in the media.
Moonlight
Moonlight, written and directed by Barry Jenkins, created quite the stir in 2016. Jenkins really knocked it out of the park with his take on what fatherhood can actually look like beyond the typical. The movie doesn’t bother with a biological father storyline at all, but Juan (played by Mahershala Ali) played one of the most powerful father figures on screen. He’s a drug dealer. He spots something special in little Chiron and takes him under his wing, everyone else in the boy’s life is dropping the ball left and right. Juan actually shows him real kindness and gives him solid advice, and accepts him for who he is. Moonlight earned its Oscar award. Jenkins’ film nails how random father figures that pop up in our lives can be absolute lifesavers, giving children that love, identity, and emotional stability they’re so desperately missing.
A Thousand and One
A Thousand and One snagged the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2024. The story follows Inez (played by the amazing Teyana Taylor), who makes a desperate decision to take her son back from foster care. While you’re drawn into the intense mother-son relationship, I was really moved by Lucky’s character (Will Catlett), Inez’s partner who steps up in such a beautiful way. The film showcases Black fatherhood in a powerful way, especially as it’s chosen rather than biological.
Crooklyn
Crooklyn is a Spike Lee gem, part funny, part heartwarming, that looks at growing up in 1970s Brooklyn with some real-life Lee family vibes thrown in. Spike teamed up with his siblings Joie and Cinqué to write it. Delroy Lindo kills it as Woody Carmichael, a musician dad of five, who is both the source of laughs and drama in their cramped brownstone. What makes this film special is how it shows the beautiful mess of a Black family with dad right there in the mix, creative, deeply human, and very much present through all the daily chaos and love.
Daddy Don’t Go
Emily Abt’s 2015 documentary, Daddy Don’t Go, follows four young New York City dads. Alex, Roy, Nelson and Omar, hustle against poverty and systemic BS while raising their kids. Omar Epps helped fund it with Malik Yoba executive producing. The film debunks tired stereotypes about absent Black fathers who pour into fatherhood despite everything stacked against them.
John Q
In John Q, Denzel Washington plays a desperate dad who literally takes an emergency room hostage to save his kid’s life. Sure, it’s a jab at our messed-up healthcare system, but at its heart, it’s about how far a father will go for his child. Washington shows the raw emotional, physical, and moral sacrifices that Black fathers make for their kids.
