“You can’t tell yourself no. There’s going to be a lot of people saying no. You can’t be one of those people,” says one of the characters in “Emerging Artist Series,” a new web series released by JuVee Productions. Launched in 2012 by Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, the film, TV, and digital production company’s most recent project is a five-part web series that centers on the experiences of up-and-coming creatives working in different fields within the entertainment industry. “Emerging Artist Series” was produced by Lisa Nicole Bell (“Being”).
“We put this series together because we wanted to give artists a platform to share their experiences,” Tennon explained. “It’s an important part of the inclusion conversation happening now in Hollywood that’s often overlooked… simply giving people the space to be heard.”
“Nearly every representation of a black woman that you’ve ever seen on TV [and] on film has been filtered through the white male lens, the white male gaze,” another character from the “Emerging Artist Series” emphasizes in a new trailer for the project.
Back in March it was revealed that JuVee Productions is aiming to raise $250 million in a global expansion plan for the development, production, and distribution of diverse and inclusive content. “The shift in storytelling should be inclusive and we aim to make it a reality,” Tennon commented.
Upcoming JuVee Production titles include Claire McCarthy’s period drama “The Personal History Of Rachel Dupree,” a biopic about trailblazing Texas Congresswoman and civil rights activist Barbara Jordan, and an HBO film about Harriet Tubman, who helped hundreds of African-Americans escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. All three projects star Davis, who won an Oscar this year for her supporting role in “Fences.” She was previously nominated in 2012 for “The Help” and in 2009 for “Doubt.”
“Suicide Squad” and “Custody” are among Davis’ recent credits. She stars in Shondaland’s “How to Get Away with Murder.” The ABC legal drama will return for a fourth season later this year.
Check out the trailer for “Emerging Artist Series” below.
