The Black Women Film Network Salutes Our 2012 Winners

Traci Blackwell - Vice President of Current Programs, The CW Network, is among the top African American programming executives in broadcast television and definitely one to watch. Traci oversees the day-to-day production of some of the most buzzed-about shows on television, including breakout hit dramas Hart of Dixie, 90210 and Vampire Diaries. Not only have the series helped to improve the network’s ratings by double-digits in key demos, but the premiere of Diaries was the highest-rated debut in the network’s history. The series’ sought-after young stars have graced major magazine covers from Entertainment Weekly to TV Guide, Seventeen, Nylon, In Style, Cosmo and many more.

Blackwell cultivated her expertise in network TV programming working for UPN. During her stint there, Blackwell worked on the production of several sitcoms, such as The Parkers and Moesha. Traci began her career at UPN as assistant to then-President of Entertainment Tom Nunan, who served as a mentor and encouraged her aspiration to become a current programming executive.

She is passionate about mentoring and shows her strong commitment to grooming the next generation of aspiring television professionals through her involvement with the CBS Diversity Writers Training Program, the Organization of Black Screenwriters, the USC African American Cinema Society and USC’s Graduate Mentoring Program, and other organizations.

Traci is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and did her graduate studies in Communications Industries Management at Emerson College in Boston, MA.

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Judy Mauldin - is a native of Silver Spring Maryland. Prior to moving to Atlanta she worked for The Washington Post Companies, LEGI-SLATE Inc., an online Federal Legislative and Regulatory tracking system. In Washington D.C., she worked with a diverse client base of lobbyist, labor unions, trade associations and embassies to help them effectively lobby Congress and the Federal Agencies. After moving to Atlanta she’s been working diligently in the non-profit sector as well as the fashion and entertainment industry.

For the last six years, Judy has served as a juror in the annual SCAD senior fashion show, which culminates in May with the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. During this time SCAD President, Paula Wallace and André have given this honor to designers such as Marc Jacobs, Isabel & Ruben Toledo, Vera Wang, John Galliano, Diane Von Furstenberg and Manuel “Manola” Blahnik Rodriguez.

After witnessing Neiman Marcus’ launch of Fashion Night Out in 2009, she was asked to join a diverse group of fashion industry professionals who helped sanction Atlanta as an official FNO city in 2010.In 2011, she served as the Co-Chair of Fashion Night Out Atlanta 2011 which extended FNOA from a one evening retail experience to a city wide week-long event. Currently Judy serves on the Board of Advisors for Georgia State University School of Social Work, Savannah College of Art and Design Advisory Council, The Atlanta Fashion Retail and Development Council, Saks Fifth Avenue Atlanta Diversity Advisory Board and just recently finished a four-year tenure as a Trustee and founding board member of The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Saptosa Foster - is Managing Partner of the 135th Street Agency, where she oversees the company’s day-to-day operations and spearheads most PR projects.

A native of Wilson, N.C., Saptosa attended Spelman College as an English major. During her freshman summer of 1995, she landed two simultaneous internships – one as a promotions/publicity intern at Pendulum Records (where she met Shante) and the other as a writer in the marketing department at Bad Boy Records. Saptosa went on to graduate cum laude from Spelman in 1998 and, after a brief stint at Accenture Consulting as an analyst, she moved to New York City in 1999 where she pursued a career as a freelance writer. She got her start as a fact-checker for Seventeen, Rolling Stone, Blaze, In Style and O. She then went on to write for XXL, The Source, Savoy, Honey, Vibe, Fader, The Ave, Creative Loafing and Complex.

During her writing career, Saptosa has interviewed artists such as Nas, Nelly, Ludacris, T.I., Jill Scott, Bow Wow and many more. Now a public relations professional, Saptosa has been featured in ESSENCE, Black Enterprise, VIBE Vixen, KING and the Food Network.

 

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Wendy Raquel Robinson - actress, producer , director one of the stars of Bet’s highest rated comedy, THE GAME as “Tasha Mack”. Robinson known for her role as the feisty, intelligent, sexy, sports agent in this fresh, funny, upbeat comedy that focuses on the lives of professional football players, careers and the women in their lives. Robinson, a cum laude graduate of Howard University received a BFA in Drama. Throughout her professional career as an actor, she has found success in the television, film, and theatre. She is the co-founder of Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC), located in Los Angeles; a highly respected training ground for young actors and performers.

Robinson is a burst of solid energy on a theatre stage. Her theater credits include: Extremities directed by Brent Jennings; co-starred opposite recording artist, Brian McKnight in Eric Jerome Dickey’s novel, “Cheaters”, The Vagina Monologues (V-Day-L.A.), Black Woman’s Blues, Agnes of God, A Mid-Summer’s Night Dream, The Colored Museum and Vanities for which she received an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Choreographer and Best Actress Nomination and recently, “Cheaper To Keep Her” opposite Vivica A. Fox and Brian McKnight.

When not working, Wendy enjoys travelling, spending time with her family and her pets, reading, writing and travelling. Robinson currently resides in California with her husband and three dogs.

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Tasha Smith - As a dedicated and consummate performer, Tasha Smith brings style and intense character portrayals to the screen. Her outstanding performances have garnered widespread reactions from audiences and critics alike. Tyler Perry was so impressed with her stellar work, that he cast her to star in three of his films, including Lionsgate’s “DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS” opposite Idris Elba and Gabrielle Union; the #1 box office hit, “WHY DID I GET MARRIED?” alongside Janet Jackson and Jill Scott; and its sequel, “WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO.” All three films have grossed over $146 million domestically combined. She can currently be seen in Tyler Perry’s new TBS dramedy series, “FOR BETTER OR WORSE,” reprising her popular character, Angela, from the “Why Did I Get Married?” films.

On and off the silver screen, Tasha seems to naturally command attention. Most recently, she co-starred in the #1 box office hit romantic comedy, “COUPLES RETREAT” (Universal), starring opposite Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman and Faizon Love. She also recently co-starred in the family sports drama, “THE LONGSHOTS” (Dimension/The Weinstein Company), with Ice Cube and Keke Palmer. She can currently be seen in the hit wedding comedy, “JUMPING THE BROOM” (TriStar/Sony), with Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps, Romeo Miller and Pooch Hall.

Smith takes the time to share her inspirational life story through motivational speaking, as well as mentors emerging actors through the Tasha Smith Actors Workshop (TSAW). A native of Camden, New Jersey, she is in the process of writing her first book. In her free time, she loves to workout, cook gourmet meals, and entertain friends at her home in Los Angeles.