“Shots Fired’s” First Season Features Equal Number of Male and Female Directors
In addition to bringing the Black Lives Matter movement to the mainstream media, Gina Prince-Bythewood is also working to bridge the gender gap. “Shots Fired,” the upcoming Fox event series created by “Love & Basketball” and “Beyond the Lights” director Prince-Bythewood and her husband, Reggie Bythewood, will feature an equal number of male and female directors.
IndieWire recently reported that Prince-Bythewood and Bythewood “deliberately brought in an equal number of male and female directors, a majority of whom were people of color.” Kasi Lemmons (“Black Nativity”), Ami Canaan Mann (“The Blacklist”), and Millicent Shelton (“Scandal”) are among the directors to helm episodes in “Shots Fired’s” freshman season.
As we’ve previously reported, “Shots Fired” explores the social unrest that occurs when a racially charged shooting in Tennessee— a young white man is killed by a black cop — provokes a special investigation. This in a time when dozens of unarmed black citizens have been killed by white police officers without any legal consequence. The subject matter is prescient and extremely sensitive but Prince-Bythewood says her directors were more than up for the challenge. “Everybody came in, wanted to do research, wanted to read the whole bible, wanted to read all the character work, and really dig in and get great performances,” she said.
It’s great that Prince-Bythewood prioritized gender and racial equality as she developed “Shots Fired,” and it’s obvious her team was receptive to her vision. We can’t wait to see how this dedication to equity behind the camera will translate onscreen.
The first episode of “Shots Fired,” directed by Prince-Bythewood, premieres March 22 on Fox.
