Bryant continues to be one of the driving forces behind Lifetime’s success in the world of unscripted content. She spearheaded the production of “Surviving R. Kelly” and followed it up earlier this year with “Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning.” Bryant’s current focus is on growing the diversity on the production teams she works with by working closely with up-and-comers. “Lifetime is a network that’s committed its entire platform to telling women’s stories,” Bryant says. “It makes as much sense to make sure we’re making the same kind of commitment to the people who get to make these stories come alive behind the camera as well.”
The conversation about racial injustice in 2020 has been… the most raw, needed and provocative peek into this nation’s looking glass that the world has been privy to in decades.
What initiatives in our industry best embrace diversity?
Lifetime’s Broader Focus program is fantastic, and only growing stronger. It is a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color to make our content. Lifetime is a network that’s committed its entire platform to telling women’s stories. It makes as much sense to make sure we’re making the same kind of commitment to the people who get to make these stories come alive behind the camera as well.
What current television shows best embrace diversity?
“Insecure,” “Pose,” “Blackish,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Indian Matchmaking,” “Love on the Spectrum,” “Born This Way” and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the impact that “Surviving R. Kelly” has had on our culture. I also loved what Kenya Barris did with “Mixed-Ish.” Over the years we have seen some depictions of mixed-race couples…We’ve had Ricky and Lucy (“I Love Lucy”) and Tom and Helen Willis (“The Jeffersons”) and Olivia and Fitz (“Scandal”) and Mindy and Danny (“The Mindy Project”) and some others for sure. But I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone explore a mixed-race childhood. I’m ready for it!
