Pathmakers

Stephanie Allain

Rising Star: Huriyyah Muhammad

Yvette Lee Bowser

Rising Stars: JaNeika and JaSheika James

Writer-producer Yvette Lee Bowser is the first and youngest African-American woman to create and run her own television series. She also has the distinction of executive producing and shepherding eight series onto myriad primetime, cable, and streaming platforms.

A graduate of Stanford University, Bowser earned dual degrees in political science and psychology. Bowser began her career in television as an apprentice writer on A Different World, where she penned 25 episodes and became a producer during her five-year tenure. Bowser proceeded to produce Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper before creating Living Single for FOX. Living Single was the number one comedy in African-American and Latino households for its entire five-year run. The series has had a robust presence in syndication and streaming for over two decades. Bowser also created the romantic comedy, For Your Love and served as executive producer of the hit series, Half & Half. After that, Bowser transitioned into the drama world where she consulted on several series, including Lipstick Jungle. Bowser also helped launch the groundbreaking and award-winning comedy, black-ish.

Bowser is Executive Producer on the critically acclaimed Dear White People and the EP/Showrunner on the new Starz series, Run The World, premiering spring 2021. A highly sought-after Showrunner and Creator, Bowser currently has a full slate of series she’s developing under a new overall pact with ABC Studios. Her dedication to producing high-quality programming compromised of culturally inclusive stories earned her a place in Stanford’s Multicultural Hall of Fame. Deeply committed to charitable causes, Bowser has lent her support to many organizations, including The Children’s Legal Defense Fund, The NAACP, The HollyRod Foundation, Free America, United Way, Girls Inc, My Good, and Tree People. In 2003, she founded The Butterfly Foundation to help disadvantaged children gain access to better education. In 2007, she joined forces with First Tuesday Media to combat apathy and encourage voter participation.

In 2008, Bowser worked on the Obama for America Campaign as a surrogate, often speaking on behalf of then-Senator Obama in support of his candidacy for President. Bowser was recently recognized by Black Enterprise as “One of the 50 Most Impactful Women in Business Over the Past 50 Years.” She currently holds a position on the Stanford Alumni Board, where she serves as a resource and as an ambassador for the Alumni Association in local communities. She also serves on the board of Less Cancer, an organization deeply committed to cancer prevention.

Understanding the value of helping others, Bowser is dedicated to mentoring writers and women in particular. Over the years, her guidance has empowered numerous writers to find work and success in the highly competitive television industry. An industry veteran, Bowser helped launch the Writers Guild of America’s Showrunner Training Program that has prepared some of today’s most prolific and successful writer-producers.

Born in Philadelphia, Bowser was raised and currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, producer Kyle Bowser, and their two sons, Evan and Drew. She continues to strive to share her unique point-of-view and capture realities of our world with clarity, compassion, authenticity, and a generous amount of humor.

Nicole Brown

Rising Star: Fassa Sar

Nicole Brown is the President of TriStar Pictures, Sony’s specialty division that she helped restart with Tom Rothman in 2013. At TriStar, she’s overseen movies such as the LGBTQ+ holiday romcom Happiest Season starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, the highly acclaimed A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks and directed by Mari Heller, the breakout hit Baby Driver directed by Edgar Wright, Danny Boyle’s sequel to Trainspotting, Jodie Foster’s Money Monster starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and Jonathan Demme’s Ricki and the Flash starring Meryl Streep.

Brown has several projects in development, including: the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, to be directed by Stella Meghie and penned by Anthony McCarten; Matilda the Musical; Gina Prince-Bythewood’s next film The Woman King, starring Viola Davis; and an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s best-selling novel The Nightingale starring Elle and Dakota Fanning.

Before TriStar, Nicole was an EVP at Good Universe, originally formed as Mandate Pictures, where she oversaw the development of the company’s slate of films. Movies Brown shepherded and helped produce during this time include Neighbors, This is the End, Last Vegas, Evil Dead, the Harold and Kumar franchise, Independent Spirit Award-winning 50/50, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, The Possession, and Whip It. A Los Angeles native, Brown got her start interning at Miramax while attending Columbia University. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Nicole was accepted into the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC, but instead chose to work for producer Marc Platt where she worked on projects such as the Legally Blonde franchise and Honey. Nicole is an Academy member and a mentor for Reframe Rise and Sony’s Mentorship Initiative.

Tina Gordon Chism

Rising Star: Jane Barr

Tina Gordon started as a writer, interning for The Cosby Show. She penned the acclaimed hit Drumline in 2002, starring Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana and Orlando Jones, for 20th Century Fox. She went on to write ATL, starring T.I., for Warner Bros. in 2006. Her directorial debut came in 2013 with Peeples, starring Kerry Washington and Craig Robinson.

Tina wrote and directed her most recent comedy, Little, starring Issa Rae, Regina Hall, and Marsais Martin for Universal Studios in 2019. Up next, Tina’s working on a project for Pixar Animation Studios and a new TV series for Warner Brothers. She currently resides on her farm in Virginia.

Patrisse Cullors

Rising Star: Noni Limar

Patrisse Cullors is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, artist, and abolitionist from Los Angeles, CA. Co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Patrisse has been on the frontlines of abolitionist organizing for 20 years. Since she began the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013, it has expanded into a global foundation supporting Black-led movements in the US, UK, and Canada and has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. The significance of the Black Lives Matter movement has been recognized by The New York Times as the “largest movement in US history.” TIME 100 also named Patrisse as the 100 most influential people in 2020.

Patrisse has led multiple Los Angeles-based organizations, including Dignity and Power Now, Justice LA, and Reform LA Jails. Each of these organizations has won progressive ballot measures, fought against a $3.5 billion jail plan, and implemented the first-ever Civilian Oversight Commission of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Patrisse is also the Faculty Director of Arizona’s Prescott College, a new Social and Environmental Arts Practice MFA program, which she developed nesting a curriculum focused on the intersection of art, social justice, and community organizing that is first of its kind in the nation.

Not stopping there, Patrisse is also a former staff writer on Freeform’s Good Trouble series as well as an actress on the show. She also co-produced the 12-part YouTube Originals series titled Resist which premiered on the platform November 18, 2020. In 2020, Patrisse signed an overall production deal with Warner Brothers, where she intends to continue to uplift Black stories, talent, and creators that will continue to transform the world of art and culture.

Cheryl Boone Isaacs

Rising Star: Soni Ede Williams

Boone Isaacs is a past president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, having served the maximum of four one-year terms. During her 24 years as a board member, Boone Isaacs held every officer position, served as President of the Academy Foundation and produced the Academy’s 4th Annual Governors Awards in 2012.

As President and CEO of CBI Enterprises, Inc. Boone Isaacs has consulted for companies such as MTV Films, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Lionsgate and Sony Entertainment. She previously served as president of theatrical marketing for New Line Cinema and developed and executed campaigns for such films as Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Rush Hour and Blade.

Prior to joining New Line, Boone Isaacs was executive vice president of worldwide publicity for Paramount Pictures, where she orchestrated, among others, the publicity campaigns for the Best Picture winners Forrest Gump and Braveheart. Boone Isaacs is currently an adjunct professor at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. She has an Honorary Doctorate from Chapman University Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and is an NAACP Hall of Fame Inductee and AFI Trustee Emeritus.

Debra Lee

Rising Star: Gabrielle Glore

Debra Lee serves as a Director on the Boards of AT&T, Burberry Group plc, Marriott International and Procter & Gamble. Ms. Lee is the Chairman of Leading Women Defined Foundation. (an association of U.S. black female strategic thought leaders, located in Beverly Hills, California), which she founded in 2009. She has served in this capacity since June 2018.

Ms. Lee recently launched The Monarchs Collective, a venture created to put more BIPOC on corporate boards and in executive leadership positions. She is a Co-Founder of The Monarchs Collective. Ms. Lee served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET Networks (a global media and entertainment subsidiary of Viacom, Inc., headquartered in New York, New York) from 2006 until her retirement in 2018. Ms. Lee joined BET Networks in 1986 and served in several leadership roles, including President and Chief Executive Officer (2005-2006), President and Chief Operating Officer (1995-2005), and Executive Vice President and General Counsel (1986-1995).

Andrea Nelson Meigs

Rising Star: Eni Akintade

Andrea Nelson Meigs is a Partner/Agent in the Talent & Literary Departments at United Talent Agency (UTA), having built a clientele over 20 years that consists of actors, writers, producers and directors. In addition to negotiating their deals in television, film, and theater, she also secures multi-million dollars branding and book deals for them.

Nelson Meigs’ clients are ones that impact and influence pop culture all around the world. To name a few, she represents Beyoncé Knowles Carter (multi-Grammy wining artists, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, international superstar and icon); Roger Ross Williams (Oscar winning/Short Film category and documentary Emmy winner), Quvenzhané Wallis (the youngest actress to be nominated for an Oscar in the history of the Motion Picture Academy for her performance in Beasts of the Southern Wild); Ellen Burstyn (the Tony, Emmy, Oscar, and Golden Globe winning actress known for films such as The Exorcist, Requiem For a Dream, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore); Stefon Bristol (Winner of Best First Screenplay at 2020 Independent Spirit Awards for See You Yesterday) and Aunjanue Ellis (nominated for best supporting actress for Ava Duvernay’s limited-series When They See Us who most recently can be seen in HBO’s Lovecraft Country and Lifetime’s The Clark Sisters which were just nominated for Critic’s Choice Awards’.

Andrea received her Bachelors of Arts degree from Tufts University in Boston, her Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar. Later, she worked with Congressman Maxine Waters and the Los Angeles’ District Attorney’s Office, but then she decided to change paths and pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She left practice of law and started in the mailroom at Creative Artists Agency, and in a relatively short period of time, she worked her way up the ranks to become a Motion Picture Talent Agent (only the second African-American in the history of the agency). She has since become a dominant force in the entertainment business as a trailblazer – breaking ground for other young women and people of color to follow.

Nelson Meigs accepted membership with the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science in 2016, is an establishing board member for TIME’s UP and, in 2018, she joined the Board of Directors for Women in Film (WIF). Along with being a member of the Council of Motion Picture and Television Fund, she is a steering committee member of American Black Film Festival (ABFF), on the Advisory Committee for the Black Film Foundation (BFF) and is a new member of the Ebell Theater of Los Angeles.

Niecy Nash

Rising Star: Bria Samoné Henderson

Niecy Nash is a multi-talented Emmy®-winning producer and three-time-nominated actress. Her multifaceted career includes roles in HBO’s Getting On, which earned her two Emmy nominations, Netflix’s limited Ava DuVernay series When They See Us (which earned her a third Emmy nomination and an NAACP Image award), FOX’s Scream Queens, Showtime’s Masters of Sex and TV Land’s The Soul Man. Nash currently headlines TNT’s drama Claws. She has also expanded her repertoire to include directing.

The protean actress was the host and producer of the Style Network’s home makeover show, Clean House, which became the network’s #1 program. Her work earned her two Daytime Emmy® nominations, and the American Women in Radio & Television honored Nash with the 2007 Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Program Host. In addition, she was seen regularly as a celebrity panelist on the top-rated entertainment news program The Insider on CBS.

Nash is well-known for her role as no-nonsense ‘Officer Raineesha Williams’ on the hilarious Comedy Central hit, Reno 911!, a half-hour unscripted spoof of Cops that aired for six seasons. The cult series now has a new iteration on Quibi. The show was so popular that it was also spun-off into a feature film, Reno 911: Miami, in 2007. Nash went on to star in her own FOX comedy series, Do Not Disturb, opposite Jerry O’Connell, in 2008.

Niecy has had featured roles in the films Selma, Guess Who, opposite Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher; Code Name: The Cleaner, opposite Cedric the Entertainer and Lucy Liu; Not Easily Broken, based on the best-selling book by Bishop T.D. Jakes; and the Walt Disney Pictures summer blockbuster release G-Force, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Most recently, she starred opposite Courtney Vance in Netflix’s telefilm, Uncorked.

Nash’s television credits are another testament to her talent. Her style, humor and quick wit garnered her a stint as a correspondent on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She is also well known for her recurring role on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series The Bernie Mac Show, portraying Bernie’s uproarious baby sister, “Benita.” Other recurring roles include TV’s Presidio Med, That’s Life, Popular, and City of Angels. Also included on her resume are guest-starring roles on such top-rated series as My Name Is Earl, Monk, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Girlfriends, NYPD Blue, That’s So Raven, One on One, Judging Amy and Reba.

Additionally, Nash is developing various television and film projects through her own production company, Chocolate Chick, Inc. In her rare spare time, she is devoted to church and participating in charitable functions in support of causes that are close to her heart, including the prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, school violence, and domestic abuse.. In July 2018, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Nash with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to celebrate her career.

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Rising Star: Francesca Castelbuono

Award-winning director/writer/producer Gina Prince-Bythewood is one of the most versatile storytellers working in film and television. Known for her authentic character-driven work, Prince-Bythewood has directed and written such influential feature films as ​Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees, ​and ​Beyond the Lights.

Other recent credits for Prince-Bythewood include the special event series, Shots​ Fired, which she and her husband Reggie Rock Bythewood served as series creators and executive producers. The 10-hour series for Fox examined the dangerous aftermath of two racially charged shootings in a small Southern town. In addition, Prince-Bythewood directed the pilot for Marvel’s Cloak​ & Dagger​, which launched to strong reviews and viewers, starring breakout actors Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph as two teenagers with newly acquired superpowers who are mysteriously linked to one another. An advocate for equal representation in film, Prince-Bythewood funds a scholarship for African American students in the film program at UCLA, her alma mater.

Nina Shaw

Rising Star: Fatima Goss Graves

Nina Shaw is a founding partner in the entertainment law firm of Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano. Her practice is in the television, motion picture, and live stage area. A native New Yorker, Nina was born and raised in Harlem and The Bronx, educated in the New York City public school system and is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Law School. Among her clients are successful and award-winning actors, writers, producers and directors as well as entrepreneurs and entertainment executives. She began her legal career in the Entertainment Department of the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers.

Shaw is a Variety Dealmaker Impact honoree and has been named repeatedly to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Women in Entertainment Power 100” list. She is a recipient of the WIF Crystal Award, and has been named Entertainment Lawyer of the Yearby the Beverly Hills Bar Association. In 2016 Nina was profiled in the New York Times: “She’s the Hollywood Power Behind Those Seeking a Voice.” In 2019 Nina received Columbia Law School’s prestigious Medal for Excellence Award, the Athena Film Festival Athena Award and the NAACP LDF National Equal Justice Award. Most recently, she was featured in Harper’s Bazaar August 2020 issue among changemakers who are reshaping the way we think about art, identity and progress.

Shaw has a long-standing commitment to the education of children and is an advocate for the education of girls and women in particular. She is currently Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs and one of the founding organizers of Time’s Up.

Terilyn A. Shropshire

Rising Star: Shannon Baker Davis, ACE

Terilyn A. Shropshire collaborates with some of the industry’s most talented filmmakers and television creators. Recently, Shropshire edited the feature film, The Old Guard, marking her sixth project over a 20-year collaboration with director Gina Prince-Bythewood.

In 2019, Shropshire received an American Cinema Editors Eddie nomination for her work on Part 1 of Netflix’s 4-part mini-series When They See Us, directed by Ava DuVernay. Her distinctive roster includes feature films such as Miss Bala, directed by Catherine Hardwicke; Beyond the Lights, The Secret Life of Bees, and Love and Basketball, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood; as well as Kasi Lemmon’s films Eve’s Bayou, The Caveman’s Valentine, Talk to Me, and Black Nativity. Other notable work includes: Sparkle, Jumping The Broom, Waist Deep, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Biker Boyz, and Cops and Robbers, an animated short on social justice.

Shropshire earned an Emmy nomination for the Lifetime Achievement Award tribute to Sidney Poitier for the 74th Annual Academy Awards and an ACE Eddie Award for Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story. Shropshire’s career success crosses media platforms, contributing to TV projects such as HBO special Between the World and Me, the pilot for Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, Shots Fired, and Quantico.

Shropshire earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Cinema at the University of Southern California. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, American Cinema Editors and the Diversity Committee of the Motion Picture Editor’s Guild. She is the recipient of the 2021 Sundance Institute/Adobe Mentorship Award for her commitment to supporting the future’s rising stars in the craft.