May 10 @ 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
Making independent film and tv is hard work and doesn’t come with a “how to” handbook but, fortunately, SeriesFest has a conversation to help. Join us for an intimate chat with Color Creative President, Talitha Watkins, and creative partners, Affion Crockett and Damaine Radcliff, to share tips and tricks of packaging, producing and selling your indie pilot.
In Attendance: Talitha Watkins (President, ColorCreative), Damaine Radcliff (Director/EP, “Manyouscript”), Affion Crockett (Creator/EP, “Manyouscript”)
Moderator: Malcolm Venable (Senior Staff Writer, Shondaland)
Panelists
Actor, writer, comedian, dancer, rapper, and director, Affion Crockett has an extensive career that expands over 20+ years. Affion was introduced to the world on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam demonstrating his crystal clear impressions and physical comedy and continued his sketch work starring on MTV’s ‘Wild’n Out’.
As an actor, Affion has appeared on various hit shows from HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm to ABC’s Black-ish. On the feature side, Crockett has worked with all the major studios appearing in comedy classics such as: DANCE FLICK (Paramount), WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS (Universal), SOUL MEN (MGM), A HAUNTED HOUSE 1 & 2 (Open Road Films), THE WEDDING RINGER (Screen Gems), and BAGGAGE CLAIM (Fox Searchlight).
Crockett continues to bring the world laughs through the AFFION CROCKETT VS KEVIN HART roast that amassed millions of views, hosting the LOL Network x JFL Comedy in Color virtual festival on YouTube, developing two original comedy features and a sketch show based off his hilarious IG Live videos. His first hour-long stand-up special MIRROR II SOCIETY released on Peacock and across the LOL Digital Network in 2021.
Damaine Anthony Radcliff is an American film actor Producer and Director who was born in The Bronx, New York City. Founder of Raining Giants, he is most known for his starring roles in the movies Glory Road, Step Up and as Executive Producer of Rambo: Last Blood and the feature film Tesla starring Ethan Hawke. His sketch parodies on his YouTube Channel has garnered millions of views. Most recently, Damaine expanded his role as an Award-Winning TV Director for his work writing, producing, directing and starring in the independent pilot Up North, which the project won Best Actor, Best Pilot, Best Director, and the overall Audience Award voted on by all festival attendees at SeriesFest Season 3.
Talitha Watkins is President and Head of ColorCreative Management – a management and production company. ColorCreative was founded by Issa Rae and Deniese Davis with the mission of delivering women and people-of-color creators best-in-class representation to build career-defining brands through ownership, commercial success, artistic fulfillment, and visibility amongst the multicultural community and industry at large.
Formerly a Motion Picture Agent and Cultural Executive at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Watkins is based in Los Angeles and represents producers, writers, directors and actors. In addition, Watkins helps build out CAA’s multicultural business and capabilities including the multicultural leadership event CAAAmplify.
Previous to CAA, Watkins spent seven years as Vice President of Multicultural Marketing at Universal Pictures, where she worked across all marketing divisions, including publicity, media, digital, creative, research, and partnerships, to maximize the studio’s outreach efforts to African American audiences. While at Universal, she worked on numerous films, including the multicultural blockbusters FAST & FURIOUS 6, FURIOUS 7, and the record-breaking STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. She was also instrumental in supporting the success of African American films, such as the box-office hits THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY and RIDE ALONG.
Prior to Universal Pictures, Watkins was an Assistant General Manager with Telepictures Productions, Inc. and oversaw operations, sales, and marketing for five female-focused digital properties in the Warner Bros. portfolio, including Ellentv.com, Extratv.com, and TyraShow.com, as well as worked in a development capacity for Essence.com.
Watkins is a board member of the WIF, Saturday Morning, and Made in Her Image organizations.
Watkins received her B.B.A. in Marketing from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Selah.
Moderator
Malcolm Venable has covered arts, culture, and television for outlets including The Washington Post Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Emmy magazine, and many more. He is currently Senior Writer at Shondaland.com.
