Now here’s something worth watching!
Netflix just premiered “She Did That,” a new documentary by filmmaker Renae L. Bluitt, exploring the narratives of Black women entrepreneurs, Forbes reports.
Bluitt is a Brooklyn based digital content creator and PR consultant who also happens to be a staunch advocate for accurate representation of Black women in the media. She said the inspiration behind the film was #BlackGirlMagic and she really just wanted to give an inside look into how this particular group of Black women are making it happen.
“As the fastest group of entrepreneurs in this country, [Black women] are literally turning water into wine in spite of the many obstacles we face on our entrepreneurial journeys. This film was created to let the world know what it really takes to be a successful Black woman entrepreneur in this world. Platforms like social media only show us the results and the highlights, but “She Did That” pulls back the curtain to reveal how and why we do it,” Bluitt said.
The film highlights tells the story of four Black female entrepreneurs, author, speaker and digital strategist Luvvie Ajayi, hair care maven Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter, Melissa Butler, founder of beauty brand The Lip Bar, and financial guru Tonya Rapley of My Fab Finance. In the documentary, you get a peek into their world, offering up close and personal testimonies about their journeys and exploring issues such as funding gaps for women of color.
The documentary is an extension of Bluitt’s blog, “In Her Shoes,” which travels a similar narrative. Bluitt decided to finally create a documentary after nearly a decade of blogging about the life of women entrepreneurs. “I knew it was time to elevate the conversation and dig a little deeper. I wanted to explore entrepreneurship through a new medium, so after plenty of prayer and meditation, I decided that film was the medium I wanted to explore. I identified the women I wanted to feature, put together a team of talented creatives who were equally passionate about telling these stories and we started the process.
Throughout production, Bluitt made sure to be intentional about everything, renting Black spaces for film and hiring Black women on set. She filmed for two years, making sure to undergird the stories of the lead characters with other voices from prominent Black women leaders in various industries including Myleik Teele (curlBOX), Chioma Ngwudo (Cee Cee’s Closet) and Gwen Woods (The Crabby Shack). Her journey culminated with a sold out screening of “She Did That” at Essence Festival, the mecca for Black women.
Eventually the opportunity to partner with Netflix came about and Bluitt couldn’t help but feel like she was literally making history. She hopes that the film will inspire another generation of Black women entrepreneurs, but most importantly, she just wants to let all the Black women who are on this journey to know they’re not alone.
“Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, particularly for Black women who may not have the resources to hire a team. I want women to know that even the most successful women in business have experienced the challenges and obstacles they face while building their brands. We all make mistakes, learn from them, and stop to refuel or keep going even stronger. I want women to know they are not alone in their fears and the biggest takeaway is this – if the women in this film can do it, you can do it, too,” Bluitt said.
“She Did That” is currently streaming on Netflix!
Congratulations Renae! We love it!
Photo Courtesy of Renae L. Bluitt/She Did That