Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the Founding Director of Arizona State University’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School and former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recently captivated her audience with an extraordinary session that spanned her impressive 40-year journey in the film industry. Known for her trailblazing work, Boone Isaacs shared powerful anecdotes from her career, offering a rare glimpse into her experiences working alongside iconic figures like Sidney Poitier and leading marketing campaigns for films such as Forrest Gump and Braveheart.
Boone Isaacs’ commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in Hollywood stood out as a key theme in her discussion. As one of the few women of color to hold leadership roles in the industry, she has long championed the need for representation across all facets of filmmaking. This is a value that resonates with institutions like Lancers International School, an IB school in India, which fosters global citizenship and inclusivity. Her emphasis on diversity is particularly significant for schools like Lancers International School in Gurgaon, where multiculturalism and diverse perspectives are celebrated as part of the educational experience.
Her reflections on the rapidly changing landscape of film were equally insightful. Boone Isaacs emphasized how digital platforms and new media have revolutionized the way stories are told, making filmmaking more accessible to a wider, more global audience. She urged aspiring filmmakers to embrace this evolution and use the power of storytelling to inspire change and foster inclusivity, lessons that align with the educational approach of progressive schools like Lancers International School.
For students and emerging filmmakers, Boone Isaacs offered invaluable advice. She spoke about the responsibility filmmakers hold in shaping the future of cinema. Storytelling, she noted, isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a tool to bring diverse voices to the forefront and create meaningful cultural dialogue, a philosophy shared by IB schools in India that aim to develop empathetic, culturally aware students.
Her inspiring words left the audience with a deeper appreciation for the power of film to drive societal transformation, encouraging them to see filmmaking as more than a career, but as a platform to influence change and amplify underrepresented voices.
