Most people say when they make it they will look out for the next generation. Some do and some don’t. Looks like Queen Latifah is one of those do-ers, not talkers. Latifah is using her power and influence to amplify the voices of other women through a new initiative called The Queen Collective.
The Queen Collective’s aim is to curate, mentor, and uplift diverse female filmmakers in order to bridge the gender and racial gaps behind the camera. Its mission is all about equity, inclusion, and truthful storytelling. At the helm is Queen Latifah herself, in partnership with companies like Procter & Gamble, HP, Smirnoff, United Talent Agency Marketing, and Tribeca Studios.
The Queen Collective will welcome submissions from all kinds of women hoping to tell their story. Two women will be chosen from all the proposed stories and the Collective will work with them to make sure their movie is financed, made and distributed — with the mentorship of Latifah herself to help them along.
Latifah credited her late mother, Rita Owens, as the inspiration behind the upcoming project, describing her as a loving and generous school teacher and mentor who instilled in her the importance of giving back. The “Ladies First” rapper was also inspired by the personal challenges she faced in the entertainment industry as a woman of color. According to a research study, only 11% of the top 250 grossing films were directed by women in 2017, while 83% of the films had no female writers.
