Movies

Tara Duncan Is Using Disney’s Reach to Share New Stories

BBG News

Tara Duncan, an entertainment executive, admits she doesn’t experience impostor syndrome. She attributes this to her unique approach to her work, which involves forging new paths rather than adhering to a predefined route of success. As she puts it, “I’ve been fortunate enough to be at pivotal moments or even help create change from the ground up.” In these situations, no one has all the answers, and the focus is on experimentation, trying out different ideas, and making improvements along the way.

2014 marked the beginning of Duncan’s career at Netflix, where she was among the initial creative executives. She oversaw the production of popular series such as “Orange Is the New Black” and “Narcos,” contributing significantly to the rise of streaming services. Fast forward to 2020, she moved to Disney and took charge of Freeform, a brand catering to Gen Z audience, responsible for hits like “Cruel Summer.” As of now, she heads Disney’s Onyx Collective, established in 2021, which concentrates on content creation by artists of color and underrepresented groups. Duncan explains that the aim for Onyx is to narrate stories rooted in cultural specificity yet universal in their human appeal. Her role involves identifying these creators, fostering relationships, and allowing them to tell their unique tales.

The Onyx Collective kicked off its programming with the documentary “Summer of Soul,” directed by newcomer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. This strategic decision, according to Duncan, was deliberate, as they were captivated by the story’s uniqueness, the portrayal of “Black joy under pressure,” and a cultural relevance that would appeal to a broad spectrum of viewers. Prior to its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it bagged both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award, they started tracking the film. Eventually, they acquired it, and this movie—which later won an Oscar—set the mood for the entire company.

After that, Onyx has branched out into various storytelling genres, including the docuseries The 1619 Project, the documentary Anthem, the legal drama Reasonable Doubt, and the comedy How to Die Alone. Notable figures in the film industry like Oprah Winfrey and Kerry Washington have been involved as executive producers in Onyx’s productions. Duncan is particularly looking forward to The Deli Boys, a side-splitting, unconventional comedy that will debut on Hulu on March 6. It is created by Abdullah Saeed and produced by Jenni Konner, who previously co-ran Girls.

Duncan emphasizes that the brand’s objective is to genuinely embrace diversity by creating both scripted and unscripted series, encompassing comedy genres. Moreover, he aims to leverage his influence and the expansive reach of The Walt Disney Company to provide underrepresented artists with a platform to tell their stories on a grand scale.

For Duncan, leadership isn’t about having all the solutions; instead, it’s about asking insightful questions and empowering creative minds who can help find those answers. She’s always mindful that many of the spaces she occupies weren’t initially intended for a Black woman, but her network of Black female executives and artists – both mentors and contemporaries – have been instrumental in her perseverance. They offer each other encouragement instead of seeing each other as rivals.

Duncan expresses that there seems to be enough room for everyone in this field, and frankly, the entire industry could benefit from our presence. Since we encounter certain pressures that are quite distinct, having individuals who truly comprehend these challenges, triumphs, and pleasures becomes indispensable – it’s like forming a vital support network.

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2025-02-06 16:08

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