Podcast

‘It’s UATL’ podcast: Why this Atlanta filmmaker’s online plea went viral

Plus, the reason our hosts can’t stop thinking about ‘Love Island.’
Atlanta's Nina Lee is an award-winning writer, director and actor. (Courtesy of Nina Lee)
Atlanta's Nina Lee is an award-winning writer, director and actor. (Courtesy of Nina Lee)
1 hour ago

Back in March, filmmaker Nina Lee went viral for dropping this post on X.

Admittedly, Lee, who doesn’t shy away from speaking up about injustice on social media, was floored. “I wasn’t expecting anything to come from that,” she said

What started as a young creative sharing their real-life challenges turned into an online-wide discussion about what it takes to bring Black stories to mainstream film audiences. Specifically, Black romance flicks.

Lee, an Atlanta native, director, writer and actor, is glad to have initiated the dialogue, which got more than 600,000 views.

“People just don’t really care about our stories on every length,” she told the hosts of “It’s UATL.”

“Non-Black people don’t really watch our films,” she said.

On this special edition of the podcast, Lee talks to the hosts about hurdles Black filmmakers face in Hollywood.


Also on this week’s episode

Season 8 of Peacock’s “Love Island” is nearing its end, but it’s still very much on the minds of our hosts. The ladies discuss the current drama and standout moments from past seasons.


Related reads from UATL and AJC

Follow the stories that inspired this week’s episode.


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Roll credits

“It’s UATL” comes from DeAsia Paige, Nedra Rhone, Najja Parker, Isabelle Kerby-McGowan, Cara Shillenn, Gavin Godfrey, Mara Davis, Shane Backler, Ron Williams, Matt Gannon, Kishuna Joseph, Keith Lovely Jr., Megan Nadolski, Samantha Stamler and Janel Davis.