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In case you haven’t noticed, there’s an increasing number of black women blazing trails in social change and entrepreneurship. In fact, a 2017 Nielsen report shows that black women are not only the fastest growing group of female entrepreneurs, but they’re also increasingly influencing the economy, media, and politics. So, who are these new age pioneers unapologetically breaking barriers? What propelled them to turn their obstacles into opportunities and passions into profit? Well, meet Renae Bluitt, the founder of Crush Media and creator and executive producer behind the film: She Did That, a cinematic project, featuring the story behind New York Times best-selling author, Luvvie Ajayi; the founder of Carols Daughter, Lisa Price; Tonya Rapley, a millennial entrepreneur and financial educator; and Melissa Butler, founder of the beauty startup The Lip Bar. To bring the project to light, Bluitt has partnered with General Motors, the world’s third-largest automaker.

On what inspired the film.

Believe it or not, the idea for the film derived from her award-winning blog ‘In Her Shoes.’ “I’ve been creating content centered around black women entrepreneurs on In Her Shoes for nine years now, said Bluitt. On a personal level, I was ready for a new challenge. It was time to dig deeper and explore a different medium to elevate the conversation. Capturing these women on film, in their homes, in their workspaces, and having people close to them weigh in on their stories is so much more impactful.”

On the biggest lesson Bluitt wants viewers to take away from the film:

SHE DID THAT (TRAILER) from Renae Bluitt on Vimeo

The post From Blog to Film: This Woman is Telling the Story of Successful Black Women Entrepreneurs appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Marvel and DC movies tend to get compared a lot because, really, there’s no other meaningful point of comparison for cinematic superhero movie universes of this scale. That leads to a lot of ire over perceived bias against DC movies, but for most superhero movie fans, there’s nothing we’d like to see more than both of them succeed. That’s why it was so disappointing when Justice League—as Screen Junkies’ honest trailer put it, the best comic book characters ever united for a film—was just kind of … there.

It’s extra difficult to deal with when the movie clearly isn’t the end product that was originally envisioned, after Zack Snyder stepped down well into production and let Joss Whedon take over. It’s hard not to wonder how the movie would have turned out without those outside circumstances changing to an extent we may never really understand. It would’ve been easier to stomach a straightforward disappointment than watch the movie obviously struggle with different creators’ ideas of how it should be.

Still, the “Snyder cut” doesn’t exist, and we got the movie that we got: one ripe for the honest trailer treatment. Sadly, the hodgepodge of weird choices and awkward moments memorialized here are likely the way most of us will remember this movie, even if we wish it had turned out differently, so we might as well at least get a laugh out of it.

(image: screengrab)

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Brisk, a billion-dollar iced tea beverage brand owned by PepsiCo, announced the launch of the Creators Class program in partnership with Michael B. Jordan to provide emerging artists in urban areas with the opportunity to collaborate with and be mentored by industry leaders. Young creatives selected to participate in the initiative will gain real-world experience and exposure by working with established members in the film industry, visual arts, and writing to develop a special project. As a partner with Brisk, Jordan, who stars in Marvel’s groundbreaking Black Panther film, will give three lucky creators an apprenticeship with his production company.

“Brisk encourages the same boldness and creativity that I strive for in my work and with my production company, Outlier Society,” said Jordan in a statement. “That’s why I’m honored to be a part of the Creators Class and offer up-and-coming hustlers the opportunity to work on this special Outlier Society project.”

To promote the Creators Class program, Jordan directed, produced, and starred in an online video that spotlights a street artist’s hard work and creative hustle. In the ad, the 31-year-old actor prepares for his role in Black Panther while the artist simultaneously paints a mural of the Black Panther superhero. Brisk also celebrated the launch of Creators Class by hosting an exclusive Black Panther event in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Melanie Watts, director of Marketing at Brisk, said the drink giant partnered with Marvel Studios and invited some of the talent behind Black Panther to join the Creators Class to “empower aspiring creators in the urban arts by providing real opportunities, mentorship, and game-changing industry exposure.”

The marketing campaign also serves to attract millennials and Gen Zers, consumers that Pepsi has struggled to reach. There’s a chance that the effort will connect with Gen Zers based on a popular film that defies negative perceptions of women and people of color and speaks to the generation’s hunger for success—two factors that cause-driven Gen Z finds important. “These generations tend to embrace creative efforts and innovation while shunning traditional views of gender roles and racial stereotypes, which appears to align with the Creators Class program and spirit of the Black Panther movie,” states MarketingDive.com.

Interested participants can apply to the Creators Class by visiting www.briskcreatorsclass.com up until March 2.

The post ‘Black Panther’ Star Michael B. Jordan Teams Up With Brisk Iced Tea to Empower Urban Creatives appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Ava DuVernay’s upcoming film, A Wrinkle In Time, is brimming with #BlackGirlMagic. Starring Storm Reid, Gugu Mbatha Raw, and Oprah Winfrey, the film follows 13-year-old Meg (Reid) as she tries to find and her missing father and ends up saving the world. In the February issue of ESSENCE DuVernay called her latest project a love letter to Black women and girls, and judging by the soundtrack, she wasn’t kidding. [brightcove id=5712894157001] DuVernay took to Twitter to break a little Wrinkle news Tuesday morning, informing fans that Sade — yes, that Sade — has created an original song for the film. “I never thought she’d say yes, but asked anyway,” DuVernay said of the illusive singer. “She was kind + giving. A goddess. We began a journey together that I’ll never forget.” DuVernay continued, “Proud to announce that Sade has created an original song for WRINKLE IN TIME. It’s entitled ‘Flower of the Universe.’ And it’s a dream come true.” The last time Sade released new music was in 2010 when she dropped her award-winning album Soldier of Love. Known for taking extended breaks, Sade’s decision contribute to the Wrinkle In Time soundtrack is not only a coup for DuVernay, but it’s also a treat for the singer’s fans who have been clamoring for new music for nearly a decade. In addition to Sade, DuVernay also announced Demi Lovato, Chole x Halle, Sia, and Kehlani would also appear on A Wrinkle In Time’s soundtrack. “My hope was to gather dynamic women artists to craft a majestic soundtrack for Meg’s journey,” DuVernay explained. Winfrey has dubbed A Wrinkle in Time this generation’s Wizard of Oz, and DuVernay said the film “was made [with] love for young people. To share ideas about being a light in this often dark world.” We can’t wait. A Wrinkle in Time hits theaters on March 9.