BET HER and MegaMind Media’s Tressa Smallwood have partnered on four original short films directed by notable names including Meagan Good, Naturi Naughton, Tichina Arnold, and LisaRaye McCoy.
All four short films will air during Minority Mental Health Month in July and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
As part of BET HER‘s “Her Stories“ franchise, the films will be available through a curated selection of original movies and documentaries.
Through their stories, these films bring awareness to issues affecting Black communities like breast cancer, mental health struggles, and domestic violence.
“Even though I’ve licensed films to BET previously, being chosen for the third year in a row to produce these crucial initiatives and expand the series with all African-American women in front of and behind the camera exclusively for BET Her is such an honor,” says Tressa Smallwood.
Lorisa Bates, VP, Content Strategy, Co-Productions & Multiplatform at BET, added that “BET Her is dedicated to telling stories that support and celebrate Black women in front of and behind the camera as well as bringing awareness to important issues directly affecting the Black community. We are proud to be the platform for these powerful stories and the work our female talent has put into these projects that are ever so timely. Partnering with Tressa, BET Her hopes to educate and empower our audience by continuing to provide a platform for women filmmakers who are trailblazers in the industry.”
Premiering on July 9, Meagan Good will direct the original Ariel Driskell film Thin, Like Me! This story revolves around the unhealthy relationship a fitness model has with food and body issues, which brings to a head when planning her parents‘ 40th anniversary.
Naturi Naughton will direct Behind The Smile! written by Lori Conway Ray. In this film, a newly promoted anchorwoman falls into depression after choosing between her dream job and a support group for those living with Vitiligo. It will also premiere on July 9.
Tichina Arnold is set to direct Oh Baby Baby! premiering October 8. Co-written by Maggy Francois and Maimah Karmo, this film is about a high fashion entrepreneur trying to conceive a child when she is blindsided by developing breast cancer from IVF estrogen treatment.
Also premiering October 8, Lisa Raye McCoy will direct The Pink-Fight, written by K. Senay. This film will tell the story of a female boxer diagnosed with breast cancer and her journey both in and out of the ring as she fights for survival.
