When writer and actor Wanda Sykes returned to the spotlight in May with her third Netflix comedy special, “Wanda Sykes: Legacy,” the production did more than deliver laughter; it celebrated the culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and spotlighted emerging talent from Spelman College and across the Atlanta University Center.
 
Filmed at Hampton University, “Legacy” is a tribute to Sykes’ HBCU roots and a full-circle moment for the Emmy-winning comedian. At the helm is renowned filmmaker and Spelman professor Julie Dash, MFA, Diana King Endowed Professor in the Department of Film, Filmmaking, Television and Related Media. Her direction brings both cultural depth and intentional mentorship to the project.
 
For Dash, the production is not only an opportunity to collaborate with a celebrated artist but also to create meaningful pathways for the next generation of filmmakers. She recruited Zach Thomas, MFA, from Spelman’s documentary technology program and alumna Neema Griffin, C’2023, to serve as camera drone operators, continuing a pattern of bringing her students into professional, high-impact environments.
 
“As the founder of Spelman’s camera drone workshop and a professional film director who continues to work in the industry, I am in a unique position to hire emerging filmmakers from our AUC and HBCU community for high-profile industry projects that help advance their careers,” Dash said.
 
This marks the second time Dash has tapped Thomas and Griffin for a major project. The pair previously worked under her direction on “Monuments” at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles, gaining valuable industry experience that has now translated to a global streaming platform. The production’s camera team included several other women of color, forming an all-women-of-color camera crew, an achievement rarely seen at this scale in the film and television industry.