Draft:Tamika Lamison

Lamison was born in Richmond, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts from The American University,{{Cite web |title=Tamika Lamison - Actor |url=https://makeafilmfoundation.org/tamikalamison/actor/actor_bio.html |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=makeafilmfoundation.org}} where she initially majored in Journalism before switching to Performing Arts.

Lamison began her career as an actor, performing in various theaters in Washington, D.C., and New York City. She co-starred in the Off-Broadway revival of "For Colored Girls." directed by Ntozake Shange, for which she won an Audelco Award.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-17 |title=Directors - Film Fatales |url=https://filmfatales.org/directors/tamikalamison/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=Film Fatales - An inclusive community of women feature film and television directors}} Her film and television credits include producing and starring in the feature film "Last Life," and serving as a writer and supervising producer for the television series "Monogamy,".{{Cite web |last=Lamison |first=Tamika |title=Tamika Lamison |url=https://tamikalamison.com/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=Tamika Lamison |language=en-US}}

Lamison's first screenplay, "The Jar By The Door," was a Sundance Finalist and won the Gordon Parks Indie Film Award. She has received several fellowships and awards, including the ABC/Walt Disney Screenwriting Fellowship, the CBS Director’s Initiative, and the Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller Fellowship.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=Meet Tamika Lamison |url=https://boldjourney.com/meet-tamika-lamison/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=Bold Journey Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Urban |date=2024-11-13 |title=Interview: Acclaimed Director/Writer Tamika Lamison Talks Superman Doesn't Steal |url=https://www.urbanmag-online.com/interview-acclaimed-director-writer-tamika-lamison-talks-superman-doesnt-steal/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=Urban Magazine |language=en-US}}

File:Tamika Lamison.jpg

{{Main|Make a Film Foundation}}

In 2006, Lamison founded the Make A Film Foundation (MAFF),{{Cite web |title=Meet Tamika Lamison |url=https://canvasrebel.com/meet-tamika-lamison/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=canvasrebel.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2019 |title=Meet Tamika Lamison of Make A Film Foundation |url=https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-tamika-lamison-make-film-foundation/}} a nonprofit organization that grants film wishes to children with serious or life-threatening medical conditions by teaming them with noted actors, writers, and directors to create short film legacies.{{Cite web |last=Wissot |first=Lauren |date=2014-05-02 |title=Wish Granter Tamika Lamison on the Make A Film Foundation - Filmmaker Magazine |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/84985-wish-granter-tamika-lamison-on-the-make-a-film-foundation/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=Filmmaker Magazine {{!}} Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Todd |date=2013-08-25 |title=Sarah Silverman, Tom Papa Headline Make A Film Foundation Benefit |url=https://www.thewrap.com/sarah-silverman-tom-papa-headline-make-film-foundation-benefit-113126/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} MAFF has produced over 100 short films through its Short Narrative Program and Vidz 4 Kidz Short Documentary Program.{{Cite web |date=2011-08-12 |title=Make a Film Foundation and Hollywood celebrities help sick teen Clay Beabout realize his filmmaking dream |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/film-foundation-hollywood-celebrities-help-sick-teen-clay-174849294.html |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=sidreddy |date=2020-10-19 |title=Meet Tamika Lamison {{!}} Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Producer, Non-Profit Owner & Executive |url=https://shoutoutla.com/meet-tamika-lamison-filmmaker-writer-director-producer-non-profit-owner-executive/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=SHOUTOUT LA |language=en-US}}

Notable projects include "The Magic Bracelet," written by Rina Goldberg and adapted by Diablo Cody, featuring actors such as Bailee Madison and Hailee Steinfeld and "Deep Blue Breath," written by Clay Beabout and starring Sean Astin and Ernie Hudson.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Woman Helping Terminally Ill Kids Realize Their Movie-Making Dreams |url=https://people.com/human-interest/make-a-film-foundation/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=People.com |language=en}}

{{Main|Superman Doesn't Steal}}

In 2024, Lamison wrote and directed the coming-of-age short drama film Superman Doesn't Steal. Released on January 10, 2024, the film quickly earned critical praise for its storytelling and emotional depth.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=A. R. |date=2024-10-30 |title=Tamika Lamison's Film 'Superman Doesn't Steal' Takes Introspective Look At 'Atlanta Child Murders' |url=https://atlantadailyworld.com/2024/10/30/tamika-lamisons-film-superman-doesnt-steal-takes-introspective-look-at-atlanta-child-murders/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Atlanta Daily World |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Huguenot graduate brings acclaimed short to RIFF |url=https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/sep/26/huguenot-graduate-brings-acclaimed-short-to-riff/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=richmondfreepress.com}}

Inspired by true events, the film explores themes of Black ownership and takes place during the tragic era of the 1970s Atlanta child murders.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=O. J. |date=2024-12-07 |title=Writer, Director & Star Tamika Lamison Talks Creating Short 'Superman Doesn't Steal' [Video] |url=https://theknockturnal.com/writer-director-star-tamika-lamison-talks-creating-short-superman-doesnt-steal-video/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=The Knockturnal |language=en}} It resonated deeply with audiences and made its way to several film festivals,{{Cite web |title=2025 Richmond International Film Festival |url=https://riff.eventive.org/films/662691abcd2c8a008270e5fe |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=riff.eventive.org}} including the Cleveland International Film Festival and the Tallahassee Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=Superman Doesn't Steal |url=https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/superman-doesnt-steal-2024 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.clevelandfilm.org}}

In 2024, Superman Doesn't Steal received multiple nominations and won seven awards. It was also honored with the Outstanding Short Form award at the 56th NAACP Image Awards, held in 2025.

Lamison served as the Executive Director of the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP), a diversity and inclusion program under the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). She is also the Senior Vice President of Development & Production at PhilmCo, a company focused on art advocacy and commerce.

In February 2018, Tamika Lamison publicly accused Hollywood talent manager Vincent Cirrincione of sexual misconduct.{{Cite news |last=Pirani |first=Fiza |title=One year after Weinstein: A timeline of powerful men accused of sexual misconduct |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/national/from-weinstein-kavanaugh-timeline-the-year-biggest-high-profile-sexual-harassment-cases/UlrSiSF8IrBUrICPJqGPGI/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}} She alleged that in 1996, at the age of 27, she met Cirrincione at a Tony Awards dinner. He invited her to his hotel suite for an audition, during which he took a phone call from Halle Berry and put it on speakerphone.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-05 |title=Vincent Cirrincione, Hollywood manager, accused of sexual harassment - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vincent-cirrincione-former-halle-berry-manager-accused-sexual-harassment/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bellstrom |first=Kristen |title=Uma Thurman, Katie Roiphe, Janet Jackson: Broadsheet Jan. 5th |url=https://fortune.com/2018/02/05/uma-thurman-katie-roiphe-janet-jackson-broadsheet-jan-5th/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Fortune |language=en}} Lamison claimed that while she was performing a poem, Cirrincione grabbed and kissed her, then propositioned her by stating he would represent her if she agreed to have sex with him whenever he wanted. She rejected his advances and left the suite.{{Cite magazine |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=2018-02-02 |title=Manager Who Worked with Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Accused of Sexual Misconduct |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/vincent-cirrincione-sexual-misconduct-allegations?srsltid=AfmBOoovhAO6JF36oxX3DiWAXFh_221Y-EdJSPj52IdOv1q8YWYY5gU2&utm |access-date=2025-05-08 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}

Lamison was among nine women, predominantly women of color, who accused Cirrincione of sexual harassment.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2018-02-02 |title=Nine Women Accuse Taraji P. Henson Manager Vincent Cirrincione Of Sexual Misconduct: Report |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/nine-women-accuse-manager-vincent-cirrincione-sexual-misconduct-halle-berry-taraji-p-henson-1202277372/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mandell |first=Andrea |title=Nine women accuse Halle Berry's ex-manager of sexual harassment |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/02/02/nine-women-accuse-halle-berrys-ex-manager-sexual-harassment/302206002/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} These allegations highlighted a pattern of behavior where Cirrincione allegedly exploited his position to proposition aspiring actresses. Following the public accusations, Cirrincione denied any non-consensual acts but acknowledged pursuing sexual relationships with clients. He subsequently closed his management company, Vincent Cirrincione Associates.{{Cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Richard |date=2018-02-05 |title=Hollywood Star-Maker Accused Of Sexual Harassment Closes Talent Agency |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/05/583527280/hollywood-star-maker-accused-of-sexual-harassment-closes-talent-agency#:~:text=Henson%20Hollywood%20stars%20says%20he,published%20in%20the%20Washington%20Post. |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=NPR |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Rebecca |date=2018-02-05 |title=Vincent Cirrincione Shutters Management Company After Sexual Harassment Claims |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/vincent-cirrincione-shutters-management-company-sexual-harassment-claims-1081872/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

In the early 1990s, Lamison, who held the title of Miss Black Virginia 1990, voiced concerns about the management of the pageant. She reported being frequently asked to solicit funds for the organization without transparency on how the money was used. Lamison also stated that two years after winning, she had not received the full prize money promised. She took action by sending numerous complaint letters to businesses, seeking accountability from the pageant organizers.{{Cite web |title=Winn v. United Press Intern., 938 F. Supp. 39 (D.D.C. 1996) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/938/39/2596574/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}

Short films / Documentaries

Lamison has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Trailblazer Award from the Baron Jay Foundation . Her original pilot "B.E.E.S." was a finalist for the Producers Guild of America's Power of Diversity Workshop.

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