University of Leeds. Research Journeys.
100 Black Women Professors Now.
Role: Art Direction, Performance Coach, Editor.
Context
This project sits within The University of Leeds’ Research Journeys. With this iteration supporting the 100 Black Women Professors NOW initiative by WHEN – a programme aiming to increase the number of Black women in UK academia and dismantle barriers to progression. whenequality.org
Our brief was to raise the profile of Black women professors through short films that humanise their research, bridge academic complexity and emotional narrative, and contribute to WHEN’s mission of visibility and equity.
My role:
As this was the second itteration of the Research Journey’s projects I had previously shaped the film series’ visual identity.
I had previously been involved in the workshop stages of the original project but this time I met contributors for the first time on shoot day, coming in pretty much blind to their stories. I needed to process richly different research topics, personal histories and emotional layers quickly and sensitively.
Many professors had limited or no prior experience in front of camera. My task was to build immediate trust, guide them through delivering their story with authenticity, and help them relax in the unfamiliar environment of a film set.
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Dr Theresa Munyombwe. Data driven healthcare.
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Damarie Kalonzo. Breaking down barriers: access for all.
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Anna Grace Linton. From puzzle solver to AI pioneer.
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Dr Kendi Guantai. People, place and the neo-collonial problem.
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Dr Tatendashe Dondo. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
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Dr Sally Osei-Appiah. Levelling the playing field: Women, politics and the media.
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Dr Adele Mason-Bertrand. Finding my place within geek culture.
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Eme Asquo. The age of information: Ensuring better health.
I guided contributors through rehearsal, prompting narrative clarity and emotional resonance, but always respecting their personal tone and pacing. My direction leaned minimal: let the person be seen, let the research speak, and support rather than overshadow.
I also collaborated with editors, sound, and post-production to ensure the final films reflected both academic integrity and emotional connection.
The films are part of a broader portfolio of forty films across the Research Journeys programme. Each one makes complex research accessible and personal, contributing visibility to voices often excluded from mainstream academic narratives.
This was a deeply meaningful project for me. Directing four films a day, across 2 days, spanning research disciplines and emotional registers, pushed my creative empathy and technical judgment.