On Thursday, November 7th, the award-winning Ghetto Film School celebrated its dazzling annual fall gala. Hosted by Kathryn and James Murdoch and honoring Tony Award-winning writer and performer Sarah Jones (Sesame Street, Broad City, Bridge & Tunnel, Sell/Buy/Date, Marriage Story), Erika Olde (Home Again, Woman Walks Ahead, The Female Brain) and Chairman of NBC Universal Film and Entertainment Jeff Shell.
Jeff Shell, Neal Arthur, Tiffany R. Warren, Alejandro Ayala, Naheem Adio Kujenya, Adnan Haque, Ciara Page, Erika Olde, Alyse Arteaga, Kian Cloma, Octavia Anderson, Julia Song, Celine Gimpirea, Tony Fernandes, David O. Russell, Sarah Jones, Stosh Mintek, Montea Robinson and James Murdoch attend as Ghetto Film School celebrates their fall gala at a Private Residence on November 7, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo credit: Alex J Berliner/ABImages
Board members and supporters also at the gala included David O. Russell (American Hustle, Joy, Silver Lining’s Playbook), Rashida Jones (Parks and Recs, I Love You Man), Malcolm Washington (She’s Gotta Have It) and Ludwig Goransson (Black Panther). And of course, the stars of the GFS program: the students and alumni of the school.
Stosh Mintek, Sarah Jones, Erika Olde, Jeff Shell and David O. Russell attend as Ghetto Film School celebrates their fall gala at a Private Residence on November 7, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA
The students are, of course, what the night is all about. Ghetto Film School was founded in 2000 and is an award-winning film nonprofit that educates, develops and celebrates the next generation of great American storytellers. GFS identifies young talent from local communities is New York City and Los Angeles, providing them with the access, opportunity and resources to pursue creative careers.
The Knockturnal: What have you learned from being in GFS?
Julia Song: “Who I am and my place in the world and what I want to do… And for me, I learned I want to tell stories and that’s what I love to do.”
The Knockturnal: And what is one of your favorite experiences that you gained from the program?
Julia Song: “Even after you’ve graduated, you’re still very much a part of this family.”
David O. Russell and Stosh Mintek attend as Ghetto Film School celebrates their fall gala at a Private Residence on November 7, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA
Stosh Mintek, CEO of GFS, also mentioned during the night: “We’ve served over six thousand young and emerging actors of color ages 13 to 34 with extraordinary training and resources. The unifying element in every Ghetto Film School film is its source–it’s our student’s creativity and it takes tremendous courage to have a vision and bring it to reality.”
Sarah Jones and Rashida Jones attend as Ghetto Film School celebrates their fall gala at a Private Residence on November 7, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA
Honoree and hilariously funny Sarah Jones agreed. “Our world needs these stories now more than ever, and nearly twenty years ago, long before the shifts we are starting to see now in the industry, GFS understood the value and necessity of diverse voices and perspectives. They’ve always been ahead of their time, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”
The Knockturnal: How did you get involved with GFS?
Sarah Jones: “I feel like I grew up with GFS. When I was starting my career as a storyteller, wanting to bring stories from the margin to the center, they were doing the same thing and making sure that more diverse voices and a range of stories are put center stage and that was literally what I was doing for stage productions. It was like kindred spirit energy.”
One of the most exciting highlights of the night came from honoree Erika Olde when she announced that the students will be going to South Korea this year to do their thesis project.
