THE PEARL BEHIND TWENTY PEARLS :
SORORS YOU SHOULD KNOW
ACCLAIMED
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER
SOROR DEBORAH RILEY DRAPER
Critically-acclaimed filmmaker and storyteller Soror Deborah Riley Draper was the right choice to write and direct Twenty Pearls for many reasons — chief among them her own experience as a soror at Florida State University . As she recalled in a BlackFilmandTV . com interview , “ The women on campus were extraordinary . Their leadership and community service was really important , and the history compelled me to want to investigate and become a part of the organization of which I am so proud of and so glad I did .”
Today , Soror Deborah is regarded as one of the industry ’ s top documakers , with an outstanding body of work . Beginning her career as an award-winning TV commercial director for major advertising agencies , she made her film debut as the writer / director of Versailles ’ 73 : American Runway Revolution which appeared at festivals around the world , and will soon have a Fox Searchlight feature film version with Soror Deborah serving as executive producer .
This early success was followed by the NAACP Image Award-nominated Olympic Pride , America Prejudice telling the untold story of 18 African-Americans who defied Hitler and Jim Crow in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games . The film world-premiered at the 2016 LA Film Festival and was an official selection of the Traverse City Film Festival , Chicago International Film Festival , St . Louis International Film Festival , Cambridge International Film Festival ( UK ), and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival .
Currently she has a TV documentary about the 1921 Tulsa Black Wall Street massacre , and is set to direct her screenplay of the coming of age novel Coffee Will Make You Black , being produced by Octavia Spencer .
Soror Deborah ’ s storytelling technique involves a passion for her subjects and a fascination for exploring the motivations of people who are trail blazers . She credits AKA for this unique perspective . “ What the sorority inspires me to do is to look at all the women who came before me and pushed past incredible obstacles for great achievement . I want to make sure we highlight the extraordinary heroes of our community .”
When she is not shooting film , Soror Deborah is a frequent guest on panels and in media speaking on storytelling , diversity , and advertising . She is a TEDx speaker , an alumna and mentor for the Facebook SEEN Initiative , and is the Atlanta chapter lead for the women ’ s advocacy group Film Fatales . She has served as a jury member for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and a board member for the BronzeLens Film Festival . Deborah also recently completed the inaugural cohort of the Georgetown University Law Center Execution Certificate Program in Arts and Cultural Heritage .
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