Sierra Taylor and Nicole Dixon discuss Black Casting project

Nicole Dixon talking to RISE-DH students

On Friday, April 14, two of our graduate students, Sierra Taylor and Nicole Dixon discussed their collaborative work focusing on black casting in novels adapted to film. They gave the presentation to participants in RISE-DH -- a project that provides black students with opportunities to work on technology projects.

Dixon and Taylor worked together to produce a series of videos focusing on casting:

• Casting Bias

• Casting Cora

• Casting across black diaspora

For several months now, Dixon has researched African American novels adapted to films, and she has identified actors from across black diaspora who play in the roles of African American characters. She wrote short scripts based on her research and findings.

Taylor used the scripts as a basis for producing whiteboard animations. In late 2022, she began learning how to use a software program to make the animations. She has now produced several for our African American literary studies program. 

Sierra Taylor talking to RISE-DH student

For the presentation on Friday, Dixon and Taylor talked about the research and production, respectively. They gave students a chance to see the possibilities of graduate work and collaborative projects that merge African American literary studies and technology. 

The plan is for Dixon and Taylor to give additional presentations based on their projects in fall 2023.  

Related:

• A notebook of compositions by Nicole Dixon

• A notebook of compositions by Sierra Taylor