Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

It isn’t easy to stand in front of a room of complete strangers from international backgrounds and discuss racial and economic differences; however the TED speaker I’d like to discuss today was able to attack these hard issues with a hint of comedy and humility.  Novelist Chimamanda Adichie discussed the danger of a single story during her 2009 TED talk.  She started her speech with a slight quiver in her voice and smile on her face.  Through addressing her background and upbringing she was able to bring the audience to a place of trust and understanding.  As she described her enlightenment through literature she says she realized after reading African books that, “Girls like me with skin the color of chocolate whose kinky hair could not form ponytails could also exist in literature.”  Although this young woman had grown up in a middle class family, she soon found that stories are more powerful than she could have ever imagined.

Chimamanda describes her personal experiences with the single story including people with a single story of who she is and where she comes from.  One very powerful story she discussed was when she first came to the United States to study at an University.  She describes how her roommate’s single story of Africans left her with first hand experience of a single story hindering understanding from those who only know that story as fact.  Through her words she illustrates how she learned how to understand that learning more than one story about a person or place was more valuable than listening to one popular story or watching what information is simply placed in front of you.  Chimamanda relates to the audience by illustrating that she is no different from anyone in the room, because she is African through the mention of popular music and literature references.  Her ability to expose her background and uncomfortable experiences opened a window of trust that otherwise may have been slighted.

Chimamanda’s speech allowed me to take a deeper look at how the industry uses stories to either develop or destroy a brand’s image.  As an entertainment business professional it is my responsibility to ensure that my brands entire story is told.  Our lives and cultures are a collection of overlapping stories that add to the fabric of who we are.   Chimamanda Adichie expressed how through her journey she found her authentic cultural voice, but she warned listeners that if we only accept a single story as fact about a person or place then we risk misunderstanding them and potentially misjudging their situation.

Florida's Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive Program

There are many very important organizations and associations in the film and media industry nationwide, but in Florida none is more vital than the Florida Film Commission, because it offers discounts and details that can help make a production a success.   The Florida Film Commission is a state economic development program that was created to help with the growth ad expansion of the film and entertainment industry in Florida.   This organization plays a very important role in the production process including working with production teams to navigate government rules and regulations.  They are the subject matter experts when it comes to successfully filming and promoting in Florida.  They work with various organizations and agencies to ensure a smooth production.

This program has dramatically assisted with the film and entertainment industry in Florida.  One recent film shot in Florida is the highly anticipated “Rock of Ages.”  The Florida Film Commission launched the Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive program on July 1, 2010 and sunsets on June 30, 2015.  The programs offer tax credits, discounts and secure locations for approved productions, which are separated in three queues based on the project type and budget.

Due to a constantly changing economy this program has brought more filming to Florida.  This program’s three major categories are general production, commercial and music video queue and independent & emerging media production queue.  Each area has specific application requirements and regulations.   In order to grow and expand the film company these types of programs are important because they entice production companies to spend money in Florida and hire Florida production crews.  This brings jobs to production professionals in Florida and helps to increase and sustain the industry.

The best strategy to create connections with the Florida Film Commission is to reach out to the by email or phone.  Their website offers a wealth of information for production companies.  The programs offered by this organization can save both the production company and client money, so it’s important to stay current on their information.