Black Voices in Hollywood

Happy Black History Month! As part of Backstage’s ongoing mission to provide platforms for BIPOC storytellers and amplify inclusive stories, we’re presenting a very special podcast episode for Black and non-Black listeners alike. Echoing questions the arts community has faced with particular urgency over the last year, “In the Envelope” has asked recent guests about the state of the biz: How do Black actors and creators navigate the entertainment industry today? How can white people leverage their privilege and allyship in creating a more inclusive Hollywood? What should individual artists of all backgrounds do to instigate systemic change?

Prentice Penny, Aldis Hodge, Bob the Drag Queen, Rashida Jones, Justin Simien, Simone Missick, Jonathan Majors, and Janet Mock gave us frank answers to these questions and more. For Black listeners, there’s plenty of actionable advice on working in the biz; for non-Black listeners, we hope these conversations provide perspective, reflection, and a call to action. As Prentice says in a previously unaired clip, fighting for authentic representation and ending discrimination in Hollywood isn’t solely the responsibility of people of color: “It should be on the system to fix the system.” Check out coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement here: https://bit.ly/3a7QWo9

Joining this week’s Backstage casting insider segment is Destiny Lilly, New York theater casting director and advocate for actors and artists. To read our interview with Cicely Tyson, the late trailblazer and icon, click here: https://bit.ly/2LuCehm
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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Check out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0
Backstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5

Special thanks to...
- Host: Jack Smart
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis