2021 BADWest Day of Black Docs

The What’s Up with Docs podcast is proud to be a sponsor of the BADWest’s 14th Annual Day of Black DocsI Check out our convo with officers Joyce Guy and Malissa Strong. During the convo, we chat about their BADWest origin stories, their work in the documentary field, and the film lineup for Day of Black Docs. Because BADWest celebrates Black stories and Black filmmakers, this episode’s song is James Brown’s “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.” To learn more about BADWest, take a listen to episode 13 with former BADWest co-chairperson, Denise Hamilton.

Click here to buy your ticket and learn more about the films and filmmakers!

About the First Annual Day of Black Docs

In 2006, BADWest hosted its first DAY OF BLACK DOCS, a celebration of the Black documentary and its filmmakers, at the American Film Institute. Films screened included Kevin Willmott’s mockmentary, CSA: Confederate States of America; Michele Stephenson’s Faces of Change; Yoruba Richen’s Promised Land; and Mario Van Peebles’ Poetic License.

Joyce’s Bio

Joyce Guy, actress, playwright, filmmaker, and choreographer was a member of the DC Black Repertory Company and has performed at the Kennedy Center, Mark Taper Forum, Boston Court Pasadena, Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company, Horizon’s Women’s Theater, Source Theatre, and Washington Project for the Arts. Her solo work performed at St. Mark’s Church NYC, LACE, Highways, Dance Place, 2100 Square Feet, Theater 150, Watts Towers, and the Los Angeles Festival. In the January 1, 1992 issue of the LA Times, she was a “People to Watch in 92”. She was nominated for an Ovation, Stage Raw, and NAACP Award for choreographing Lorraine Hansberry’s Les Blancs and won the NAACP award for Best Choreographer in 2019. Joyce is the creator/writer/performer and co-producer of the digital series, Racism Never Sleeps: Kitchen Series and Kitchen Conversation. She is the director/producer of the documentary film Dancing Like Home.

Screen and television roles include Moneyball and The Santa Clause; with guest-starring roles on Good Girls, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, S.W.A.T., This Is Us, Kidding, Bosch, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Animal Kingdom, Criminal Minds, How To Get Away With Murder, Parenthood, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The West Wing to name a few. She has a recurring role in the upcoming Netflix series Clickbait and a recurring role on General Hospital.

Joyce is a member of SAG/AFTRA, AEA, Television Academy, International Documentary Association (IDA), Film Independent; and is a founding member, officer, and treasurer of the Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West (BADWest) in Los Angeles.

Malissa’s Bio

Malissa Strong graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government. She has acted in theatrical productions in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre as well as the Bailiwick Repertory and The Black Ensemble Theatre. She participated in the Women’s Theatre Alliance as a director. Malissa’s film Voting While Black had Honorary Mention at the DGA student film awards in 2001. Her production credits include The ACLU Freedom Files, a 10-part documentary series with Brave New Films on Court TV; Deal or No Deal on NBC; and Take Home Chef on the Discovery Channel. Malissa is a Board Member of the Burbank YMCA and a UCCE Master Gardener. She is currently producing the documentary Black Magic: African-Americans and the Conjuring Arts.