In an age where you can turn on primetime television or your favorite Netflix or Hulu series and see shows with more diversity than ever, that include more characters of color and LGBT people, the reality of performing artists who work in, or are climbing the ladder of the showbiz industry is a lot different, with various challenges that make the experience confined, difficult and more challenging. This statement is evidenced by the growing tension around the lack of opportunities that exist in Hollywood and the growing tension over black and minority films not being acknowledged at awards shows, like the Oscars. The conversation about diversity in media and entertainment is reaching a boiling point.
A Tough Act To Follow is a documentary film that follows some of the experiences of Sampson McCormick, (Sampson), a touring, black, LGBT standup comic and writer, who navigates the already difficult business, as well as many of the added hurdles and setbacks with lots of humor, a few tears, heartfelt honesty and admirable determination. Through humor as well as serious inquiry, it focuses on the homophobia, sexism and sometimes racism and other challenges that affect the level of visibility of diversity in comedy houses, television, on stages and opportunities for minority artists in the entertainment business. The film will be playing at film festivals around the country starting in the Spring and Summer of 2016, and eventually make its way to Netflix. The film, is produced by Sampson and Todd Clark (Emmy Award Winning Producer, The DC Place) and features a notable television, film and stage stars that include Sinbad (A Different World, Houseguest), Luenell (Borat, American Hustle), Darryl Stephens (Noah’s Arc, Boy Culture), Adele Givens (Def Comedy Jam, Queens of Comedy), and a soundtrack provided by LGBT hip hop artists Bry’Nt, Kaoz, Tim’m West, Nhojj and folk singer Toshi Reagon.
