Laron Marquez Chapman
[he / him]
Film Director and Screenwriter
Laron M. Chapman is an actor, screenwriter, director and co-producer from Oklahoma with a BA in Film and Media Studies and a background in journalism and film production. A passionate screenwriter and filmmaker, his work spans from reality TV featured on the Food Network, FOX, and Discovery Channel, to the Oklahoma-filmed, Academy Award-nominated film, August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and other Hollywood stars. Laron made his directorial debut in 2018 with his now multi-award winning feature film, You People, which explores issues of race and identity in a confessional and comedic fashion. He has since co-directed the five-part anthology film Mono and is currently in pre-production with two new features. Laron also serves as a Rodeo Cinema Board Member and the Curator of Queer Programming for deadCenter Film Festival.
Watch Laron's work
You People
Vudu Tubi FandangoNOW
M O N O from Perm Machine on Vimeo.
MONO
Laron's Recommendations
ORGANIZATIONS
Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/
Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO): https://okfilmmusic.org/
deadCenter Film Festival: https://www.deadcenterfilm.org/
Rodeo Cinema: https://www.rodeocinema.org/
PODCAST
The Cinematic Schematic. "I co-host monthly with a dear friend of mine and we give deep, insightful discussions about film."
BOOK
Promised Land by Barack Obama. "It’s a powerful, articulate, and moving account of the 44th President’s experience ascending to, living within, and life after his historic presidency."
FILM
One Night in a Miami and Sound of Metal. "Both films that give audiences a deep and personal look into the lives people not regularly depicted on camera."
MUSIC
Jabee Williams. All things Billie Eilish. "She’s a remarkable young and unique talent that is the best thing to happen to pop music in years."
PLAYWRIGHT
La'Charles Purvey
Reverend T. Sheri Amore Dickerson
[she / they]
Executive Director, Black Lives Matter OKC
Women's March National Board Member
Sheri is an activist, clergy member, and yaya. As an actor, she is known for her work in Oklahoma theatre and as Aunt Ruth in Laron's feature film, You People.
Sheri's Recommendations
ORGANIZATIONS
Matriarch: www.facebook.com/matriarchok/
Dream Action Oklahoma: www.daok.org/
OKC Artists for Justice: www.facebook.com/okcart4justice/
Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice (OCRJ): http://www.ocrj.org/
Diversitty Center: www.diversitycenterofoklahoma.org/
BUSINESSES
Nappy Roots Bookstore: www.facebook.com/nappyrootsbooks. Great resource and unofficial headquarters for BLM OKC and other activist movements in OKC.
ACTIVISTS
Learn from leaders like Clara Luper, Fannie Lou Hamer, Stacey Abrams, Coretta Scott King, and Bernice King.
POETS
Pauli Murray, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Amanda Gorman
AUTHORS
Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston
PLAYWRIGHT
La'Charles Purvey
MUSIC
Lincka, Jabee Williams