00:00Thank you. So let's give them all a round of applause. Thank y'all for joining us here.
00:10Beautiful film. It was like chills, like emotions, feels, right? Throughout the whole film.
00:16So I want to first just dive into with you, Debra, the filmmaking process. What was this
00:23like for you? The research, there was so much historical data, facts that was in there.
00:27What was that process like for you? You know, it's so funny because
00:29I'm sitting up here crying like I haven't seen it, right? I'm like, I wrote it and I
00:34directed it. And every time I watched it, I cried because I'm so inspired by the
00:38sisterhood and our sorority. But this film was conceived during the pandemic. So a
00:44lot of the archives, a lot of the libraries, a lot of the sources were
00:48closed. So we really had to dig really deeply and go around the entire country
00:52to speak with historians. Obviously, you saw the secretary of the Smithsonian. So
00:56we had a lot of research to do. Obviously, you know, I was initiated at Florida State
01:02University. So I thought I knew, right? I thought I knew a lot, but I didn't. Being able
01:09to write and direct this story, this is history. Certainly it's Alpha Kappa Alpha
01:13history, but it's American history. So being able to tell a full story of, you know, nine
01:18women in 1908. So we have to think about that. That's 114 years ago and what our
01:24country was like and what they had to go through in order to organize, in order to
01:29be heard, to be seen, and literally to create the brand that we know. The colors,
01:34right? Can you guys all hear me? Yeah, the colors, the names, the hymns. But that was a
01:40lot of work and thought that was put into there. So I wanted to capture it in the
01:44most delicate way possible, but tell this trajectory from nine women to over 325,000
01:51women in just 114 years and all of the things in history, American history and
01:57world history, that were shifted and transformed because of the presence of
02:02this sisterhood. So that's what it was like. Was there some pressure there taking on this task? Was there some pressure?
02:06There was a lot of pressure because I was like, I don't want to get this wrong.
02:08No, there was a tremendous amount of pressure. And when Dr. Glover said I wanted to do a documentary, I was like, no, we can't do a documentary.
02:16It's COVID. It's a pandemic. She was like, no, you'll do the film and you'll have the film ready by next year.
02:23Man, we don't take no for an answer. Okay. So I did the film and I had it ready by next year. That's how that went. But I was very fortunate that SARS were like, in the middle of COVID, we'll come on set and we'll be a part of the film.
02:35And be a part of this history making. In 1921, we created the Ivy Leaf. And then 100 years later, we distributed a full feature documentary. So innovation is a part of who we are. And I wanted to show that.
02:56Congratulations. And speaking about cast members coming across the country, what was that process like for you being a part of this in the middle of COVID and getting that call to be a part of this time capsule for AK?
03:06Oh, well, it was fantastic. I just have to say it is beautiful up here looking out at this crowd of SARS. Give yourselves a hand.
03:15Being a part of the cast, working with the team, working with Deborah was absolutely incredible. As soon as I saw the email, I got an email. I knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of.
03:26I've seen this film, I think five times now. And like you, so are Deborah, I have had tears in my eyes every single time. And it really just boils down to the legacy, the impact.
03:38You know, we are the legacy. We are the impact. So being able to be a part of it in some small way was huge for me. So it was really great to work with the team and being able to travel and share this experience. It's just been fantastic.
03:53Where was the studio? Where did you guys shoot? We filmed in Washington, D.C. Okay. Yeah, we kind of tricked out a hotel room and turned it into an entire studio.
04:04And Yolanda, how will this piece, how will this film help as you try to usher in that next generation at HBCUs, specifically Dillard, but worldwide? How do we get those new sororers through this?
04:16So I think that this film is an amazing representation of our sorority, but also the HBCU experience. I think being initiated into any of the Divine Nine organizations is such a defining opportunity and moment for our students on our campuses.
04:35Because I think it helps to iterate a lot of the things that we attempt to teach them in their classes, but they actually learn being a member of a sorority. For example, leadership, sisterhood, dedication to a task. So it's great.
04:55I also think that it's wonderful because for a lot of our students, it provides them with an opportunity to connect with other students, whether you're from a large city, whether you're from a small city. So it's an opportunity for our students to really grow and blossom.
05:14Awesome. Great. We got a chance to meet some of our panelists here. I want to ask for a minute of any questions from the audience. Do we have anyone who has like that burning desire to ask a question about something that we saw on film today?
05:26I see a hand right, is that right there up front? Okay, go ahead.
05:31I don't even have a question. I have a comment. I was literally overwhelmed by what we're doing.
05:43I was overwhelmed by watching this documentary. I know about Alpha Kappa Alpha and all the divine eye, but today just to see in this historical perspective, which is so powerful.
05:53So I just want to thank you and everyone who's a part of this documentary. I'm just overwhelmed.
06:00I work with my daughter, Dorian Murray Thomas. We have a girls organization in North New Jersey called She Wins.
06:07I would love to host you to come to our city with Mayor Rasparaka and show this film. So thank you.
06:13It'll be our pleasure. We'll come. Not a problem. We love Newark. It's done.
06:18Look, I want to wrap this up with one last question because there was so much history in this film and we all probably learned something throughout watching it.
06:26For each of you, as a director, as a cast member, as a watcher, viewer, what was one thing that you learned that surprised you about AKA history?
06:33The one thing that I learned was just the presence of the sorority early on in policy making in Washington, D.C., in the White House, being able to have the ear of the First Lady and to be able to turn policy and integrate the military and NASA, which ultimately led to all of those sorts, not just the three we know in figures, but 65 percent of those human computers at NASA were members of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
07:00So that was significant. And I didn't know that.
07:04Something that I've learned. So I went to PWI. I went to George Washington University in D.C.
07:12And hearing the story about the chapter that did not have their pictures published because they weren't representative of the student population.
07:20I absolutely could identify with that and the lack of representation that they felt.
07:26So I'm African-American on my mom's side. I'm Irish on my dad's side. I grew up in Ireland, the U.S. and a few other countries as well.
07:33And being able to go to a school and the first pageant that I ever competed in, the Miss Freshman pageant, was sponsored by Mu Delta, a chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, which ultimately led me on a journey to Miss Universe.
07:48That was huge for me. That was the representation I needed. So that was something that was really interesting to me that I learned through the film.
07:55And we have about a minute left you want to share?
07:57So for me, it was just getting a sense of the tenacity and commitment of Nellie Quander.
08:04She was such a phenomenal person. You know, we so often put so much of a focus on Soror Hedgman Lyle, as we should, but she was just an amazing person.
08:14It inspires me to do a lot more research on her.
08:17Oh, yeah. Thank you so much for giving us this piece to reflect on.
08:21And if you want to share this with your sororers out there, you can go to the Sorority website after the festival to find out where to see the film.
08:28Okay? Thank y'all so much for being here. Thank you. Thank you ladies.
08:32Okay, one moment. I want everybody to just stay seated for a moment.
08:36We're going to take a few photos on stage, and then we're going to have the panelists turn around so they can take a picture with you.
08:43So if you just give us one moment, we're going to have a big moment.
08:47Okay. Yes.
08:49We do...
08:51So, um, this activity would not have been made possible without the due diligence and hard work of our coordinator.
09:00So Soror Markisha, would you please stand and take her a bow?
09:05So we really appreciate Soror Markisha.
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