Sydnee Roberts-Crews Wants More Black Representation in the Film Industry

Sydnee Roberts-Crews is the founder of the Black Ohio Film Group. Not only is she the founder but she is an all-around badass. She is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion manager for OpenStax, a screenwriter, and a director. Her goal is to center and represent people of color in the film industry.

We have had the pleasure of working with Sydnee for several shoots and her inspiring energy and commitment to equality within communities inspired us and we knew we needed to share her brilliance with you.

Emma Parker Photo sat down with Roberts-Crews to talk about film, her beautiful family, and her drive for creating community spaces for Black filmmakers. When speaking of the importance of Black representation within the film industry, Sydnee shared that only around 12% of television and film includes Black people, but they are some of the top consumers of it and Roberts-Crews wants to change that. “We’re portrayed as a sidekick, or somebody who is quote-on-quote ‘ghetto’, or doesn’t have a range of emotions, but that’s totally unfair right? Because Black and Brown folks are also humans, so we have those range of emotions, and that's the kinds of conversation I want to start. Blackness can look any type of way."

Black Ohio Film Group’s mission is to make it more accessible for Black filmmakers to create films in Ohio and to be part of a supportive community. Accessibility, connection, and centering local Black artists are what they are about.

Check out their website, regarding screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and more. In addition to free resources, people also have the option of becoming a member for a fee.

Sydnee left us by saying- "I create films because blackness can look any type of way- That's the end."

All photos are taken by Emma Parker Photography

For more information, please contact Emma at eparker.photo1@gmail.com.

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