Jan 17, 2023
📣 Helloooo 2023! Happy New Year Beyond excited to kick off the new year with my chat with UK producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. A true multi-hyphenate, she produces, writers and directs.
She runs Joi Productions, a company focused primarily on Queer, Black and female work. In 2019, she produced the hit Blue Story, which became the top grossing film of its genre. In 2020, she was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a BAFTA Breakthrough, as well as Joi Productions receiving a BFI Vision Award.
Yaaaapp, she’s very impressive!
At the end of 2021, she produced Aml Ameen’s debut, Boxing Day, the first all-Black Christmas film out of the UK 💪🏿💪🏾💪🏽More recently, Joy produced Champion for BBC and Netflix. In 2022, Ringside Studio acquired a stake in Joi Productions.
Speaking with Joy was especially wonderful because she has such a unique background. Her origin story formed her incredible perspective and give her a clear vision for the kind of stories she wants to bring to life.
We will dive deep into:
➡️How getting her start outside of the industry’s mainstream helped benefit her work
➡️How being kind and treating people well gets you further
➡️How challenges, such as seeking asylum and being homeless, drove her to succeed in her work