Bet Her Launches Four Female-Centric Original Films With Producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood Premiering July 25 And October 17

BET HER in partnership with producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood of MegaMind Media announces the green light of four female-centric original short films, directed by prominent African American women primarily known for being in front of the camera. Veteran Hollywood stars Kim Fields (“Living Single”), Victoria Rowell (“The Young and the Restless”), Sheryl Lee Ralph(“Moesha”) and Vanessa Bell Calloway (“Coming to America” ) are currently in Maryland’s Prince George’s County shooting four 20-minute dramatic short films that will focus on topics vital to today’s Black families, ranging from mental health to breast cancer awareness.

Tressa Smallwood, Kim Fields, Victoria Rowell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Vanessa Bell Calloway

“BET Her is dedicated to telling stories that support and celebrate Black women in front of and behind the camera as well as bringing awareness to important issues directly affecting the Black community,” said Lorisa Bates, VP, Content Strategy, Co-Productions & Multiplatform. “We are proud to be the platform for these powerful stories and of the work that our female talent has put into these projects that are ever so timely.”

“Even though I’ve licensed films to BET previously, being chosen to produce these crucial initiatives with all African-American women on BET Her is such an honor,” says Tressa Smallwood.

Kim Fields steps behind the camera to direct “Baby Blue,” starring Shaquita Smith (“NCIS: New Orleans”) with a cameo appearance by Traci Braxton (Singer – The Braxton Family). “Baby Blue,” written by Nakia Stephens, drops us into the world of a first-time mother who after giving birth to her son, spirals from mild postpartum depression into severe post-partum psychosis. While she gets support with the baby, we see the heart-wrenching consequences of her not getting support for her mental well-being.

Victoria Rowell is set to direct “Everything is Fine,” starring Charmin Lee (“Just Mercy”), Malachi Malik and a cameo appearance by former NFL star Vernon Davis (Tight End, Washington Redskins). Written by Dez White, the film shows us the charmed life of an affluent Black family that seems to have it all but faces a challenge with their estranged son who struggles to hold onto reality with the confidential help of his younger sister.

“Like, Comment, Subscribe” is directed by Sheryl Lee Ralph, written by Shateka “SJ” Johnson, and will star newcomer Jasmine Luv (“Chicago Med”) and a cameo appearance by Victoria Rowell. Raven Taylor of, Raving Tales, a popular vlog on Media Box is newly engaged and looking forward to having the wedding of her dreams. When she is diagnosed with stage III breast cancer, she is faced with vlogging the fight of her life.

Vanessa Bell Calloway will direct “A Long Look in the Mirror” starring Golden Brooks (“Girlfriends”). Written by Deshawn Plair & Sade Oyinade, it tells the story of a broken mother-daughter relationship tested to the limits after the youth-obsessed mother receives a cancer diagnosis and struggles to cope with the disease.

“Baby Blue” and “Everything is Fine” will be the first two films to premiere in the BET Her Presents franchise on July 25^that 9pm ET/PT, produced by Tressa Azarel Smallwood and production companyMegaMind Media.

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Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.