Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — It’s not about who you see in front of the camera anymore, it’s about who’s doing business behind the scenes. This is the mantra at Four Screens, a Black-owned management and production company helmed by CEO Messiah Jacobs.
Messiah, a successful Los Angeles-based Producer, is not new to the challenges of creating content in Hollywood for the African American audience. For the last two decades, he has been integral in developing content celebrating Black culture. He has worked with the most successful names in the entertainment industry including Tiffany Haddish, Vivica A. Fox, Billy Dee Williams, Monica Calhoun, Robert Townsend, and the Estate of Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement, Jacobs realized that, for a lasting change to take root in entertainment, he had to pivot the mission of Four Screens: The company went from simply producing projects to providing full-service management.
“It isn’t enough to make diverse content, we must change the way deals are financed, greenlit, constructed and how under-represented talent is managed,” Jacobs says. “Black talent in front of the screen is not always being managed and represented by entities with the same goals of inclusion and diversity in mind.”
“The social uprisings of the BLM movement made people finally start seeing the inequalities in Hollywood,” continues Jacobs. “When you look at under-represented talent, you do not see strong African American management companies in Hollywood. We are doing just that.”
Four Screens has managed the legacy brand the Estate of Ol’ Dirty Bastard for 10 years, creating licensing and production deals for the legendary rapper. Most recently, Four Screens is the company behind many projects, including Amazon’s mini-documentary on Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Showtime’s Documentary WuTang: Of Mics and Men, Hulu’s Wu-Tang: American Saga, and WEtv’s Growing Up Hip Hop: New York series.
With these accomplishments under its belt, Four Screens’ 2021 agenda continues its mission of inclusion and diversity in Hollywood.
Four Screens has a stable of projects in the works, including a Black superhero animation project featuring a diverse cast of characters, and an Ol’ Dirty Bastard Biopic feature film.
Four Screens is also expanding its roster of diverse directors. The company recently signed two award-winning African American directors: Addison Henderson, winner of the 2020 American Black Film Festival Best Screenplay award for his feature film Givers of Death, and Abdul Malik Abbott, well known for directing the cult classic movie State Property featuring Jay Z.
Besides opening its door to represent more African American legacy and estate intellectual properties like the Estate of ODB, Four Screens is currently looking for contributors including co-production companies, creatives, writers, directors, and all industry professionals who want a better, more inclusive Hollywood.
“If you believe what we believe and if you want to share in our mission, connect with us on IG,” says Jacobs. “We want YOU to be a part of the change. Diversity and inclusion is our company’s DNA– Like Majora Carter says, ‘If we are going to be part of the solution, we have to engage the problems.'”
ABOUT FOUR SCREENS
Four Screens is a management, development, and production company that produces fresh new content celebrating under-represented voices. With two decades of experience Four Screen’s knowledge of entertainment, branding, and licensing allows them to navigate the industry and close deals.
For more information, visit 4-Screens.com or follow the brand on Instagram @FourScreensManagement
