Episode 189
Shola Lynch: Directing Black Women's Hollywood Stories
In this episode of Blacklisted Conversations, we sit down with award-winning filmmaker and historian Shola Lynch, celebrated for her powerful documentaries centring Black voices and untold histories. With a legacy that includes Free Angela and All Political Prisoners and Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed, Lynch brings a distinct, truth-driven approach to storytelling.
We dive into her latest work as director of the Leading Women in Hollywood segment of the Apple TV+ docuseries Number One on the Call Sheet. Lynch shares the care and craft behind building trust with initially hesitant icons like Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, and Gabrielle Union — ultimately capturing deeply personal reflections on navigating stardom as Black women in the industry.
From the politics of representation to the pursuit of creative freedom, this conversation explores the resilience, legacy, and quiet power that fuel both her subjects and her own journey as a filmmaker.