Dancing on Road, mandem, Lloyd the Instructor drop on discovery+
October 2, 2024
Black Britain Unspoken season three films, Dancing on Road Directed by Lauren Gee, mandem Directed by Joladé Olusanya and Lloyd the Instructor Directed by Donell Atkinson-Johnson are now on the discovery+ streaming and YouTube channel.
Part of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) Access, the talent development programme for under-represented creatives, Black Britain Unspoken aims to give opportunity and voice to Black British filmmakers who are breaking into the industry, as data continues to show that Black creatives remain particularly underrepresented across director, writer and producer roles in the UK.
Launched in 2022, Black Britain Unspoken was formed in partnership with WBD Employee Business Resource Group (BRG) the Multicultural Alliance who worked with WBD’s UK & Ireland commissioning teams following the death of George Floyd in 2020. It was an important moment to come together and look at how as a media company WBD could impact change and address some of the diversity challenges in the sector.
Black Britain Unspoken provides filmmakers with a pitch-to-production experience and, via programme partner Media Trust, professional development opportunities through tailored workshops that focus on media training and career progression. For season three, Wall to Wall, part of Warner Bros International Television Production, joined the programme as production partner alongside Bounce Cinema, who partnered with Black Britain Unspoken in 2023, who continues its support through mentoring, training, and as premiere event partner.
This year’s three short films Dancing on Road Dir. by Lauren Gee, mandem Dir. By Joladé Olusanya and Lloyd the Instructor Dir. by Donell Atkinson-Johnson each present stories, characters and viewpoints that present audiences with a unique, untold perspectives of what it means to be Black and British.
The three shorts were premiered on October 1st to industry, press and the filmmakers’ networks at the Picturehouse Central, Piccadilly Circus, celebrating the films and the filmmakers ahead of public release. The event, delivered in partnership with and hosted by Mathieu Ajan, Founder and Artistic Director of Bounce Cinema, showcased the diverse storytelling and inspiring creative vision of Atkinson-Johnson Gee,and Joladé Olusanya.
Atkinson-Johnson said: “I think I have really improved my collaboration skills. This was the first time I have directed a project for a platform the size of WBD. It has been an adjustment from making passion projects with my friends or working in a production role on a set where you’re not as involved creatively. Going from that to directing a project that has a lot of backing behind it and a lot of new faces – you have to quickly learn people’s working styles and be able to adjust.”
Gee commented: ‘This experience has given me a huge amount of confidence and given me such a sense of community both in the filmmakers and mentors I have met along the way and the amazing women in my film. It has shown me that I can trust my instincts.”
Olusanya said: “One of the main takeaways for me is the process from a broadcasting perspective. As someone with ambitions to make more visual stories on a bigger scale as well as facilitate talent into the right spaces within the industry, it’s been very helpful to know the lay of the land and build meaningful partnerships with WBD.”
Commenting on Black Britain Unspoken Asif Sadiq MBE, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer WBD, said: “It is a proud moment to be celebrating the third series of Black Britain Unspoken – bringing our Black Britain Unspoken cohort to a total of nine exceptional Directors3. Lauren, Joladé and Donell are fantastic storytellers, each providing an insight into their community that is unique and thought provoking – we are incredibly excited to launch their shorts and to continue supporting them in the next steps of their creative journey. By supporting new and emerging talent through WBD Access programmes we can continue to create content that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our global audience and inspire positive change in the world at a time when it’s never been more important.”
Mathieu Ajan, Founder and Artistic Director of Bounce Cinema, said: “It’s been a massive honour for Bounce to be the screening partner for this year’s Black Britain Unspoken and mentoring the filmmakers throughout the filmmaking journey has been equally as special. I’ve seen them all grow throughout the process, from first hearing their pitches to now watching their films on the big screen at Picturehouse Central. Their work has left me even more inspired, I can’t wait to see their careers blossom even further.”