EXCLUSIVE: RadicalMedia has been sued by a manufacturing coordinator who alleges that she skilled racial discrimination on the corporate’s upcoming Earth, Wind & Hearth documentary.
Jhanelle Elissa was employed for 11 days on the Questlove-directed movie in April 2024 and, in a criticism filed on the Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom, claimed to have been “harassed and discriminated in opposition to” on the idea of her race. Different defendants are Leroy & Morton Productions and Karla Zambrano, RadicalMedia’s head of manufacturing.
Elissa’s most important criticism involved being required to carry out “stand-in” work on set, which she argued was due to the colour of her pores and skin. The manufacturing coordinator stated she and her two assistants had been used as substitutes for actors and expertise to help with lighting and digicam setups. Elissa’s criticism stated they carried out this operate for lengthy hours and in “freezing chilly temperatures,” and that no non-Black crew members had been required to finish the identical degree of stand-in work.
“Different non-Black crew had been used as stand-ins, however beneath completely extra accommodating and nice situations. Non-Black crew had been used much less typically, in ways in which didn’t interrupt their different work, and for shorter durations of time,” the 16-page criticism stated.
It added that Elissa was not allowed to make use of her laptop whereas standing in. “The consequence was that anytime Zambrano and the group demanded it, Elissa was prevented from doing her assigned job as Manufacturing Coordinator and decreased to a lighting prop, merely due to her race,” the authorized writ stated.
Elissa additionally alleged that she skilled “normal mistreatment and excessive disrespect” through the shoot, claiming that she was spoken to “rudely and aggressively” and was sidelined from sure duties.
Elissa’s lawsuit stated she complained to line producer Suzanne Giordano about her remedy and was “ignored.” She later wrote a proper criticism to Frank Scherma, the president and co-founder of RadicalMedia, however was denied a gathering and was advised to boost her issues with HR.
Elissa alleged that she was not invited again for the rest of the Earth, Wind & Hearth shoot, which she characterised as a “clear act of retaliation.” The criticism added that she has not been supplied different work by RadicalMedia because the incident, regardless of being engaged commonly by the corporate prior to now.
RadicalMedia declined to touch upon the lawsuit. A spokesperson stated the corporate will “reply by means of the courts on the acceptable time.”
In an announcement, Elissa advised Deadline: “It’s unlucky that we have now to file this lawsuit, however I used to be subjected to blatant racial discrimination after which retaliated in opposition to for asking for assist. That is unacceptable, particularly from an organization that seeks accolades for its so-called revelations about injustice (see tasks like Hollywood Black). RadicalMedia management has repeatedly fallen in need of upholding the very ideas it income from.
“Anti-discrimination legal guidelines should not solutions; they’re the muse of any moral office. But, RadicalMedia has allowed patterns of mistreatment towards individuals of colour to persist unchecked, ignoring repeated complaints and alternatives to course-correct.
“Nobody ought to should battle for fundamental respect or threat their profession merely to be handled pretty. I’m taking this step to make sure no different crew member or worker of colour at RadicalMedia — or anyplace on this business — has to endure what I went by means of. Everybody deserves a office free from discrimination. I’m holding RadicalMedia accountable and pushing for actual protections and lasting constructive change for professionals at each degree of the business.”
Elissa is in search of the restitution of all monies owed, particular damages, normal damages for emotional misery, and punitive damages.
RadicalMedia’s Earth, Wind & Hearth documentary is scheduled for launch this 12 months. It’s going to highlight the band’s legacy, cultural affect, and physique of labor, that includes unique entry to archives of visible, audio, and written materials. Fifth Season financed the movie and is dealing with gross sales alongside WME.
RadicalMedia has produced documentaries together with Summer season of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Might Not Be Televised), Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Wealthy, What Occurred, Miss Simone?, and Hollywood Black. Employees within the producer’s nonfiction leisure division sought illustration from the Writers Guild of America East final 12 months, citing the will for a “collaborative, equitable, and respectful work surroundings.”
