Zelie Dember-Slack

Zelie Dember-Slack, born and raised in New York, moved to Los Angeles to further her career in performing. As a result of the lack of opportunities for women of color, she moved behind the camera to become an independent filmmaker. More recently, she completed the six-month Universal Pictures Production Accounting Accelerator Program and the California Film Commission's Entry-Level Production Accounting Training Program. She obtained her M.F.A. in Film Production from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Program. Upon graduation, Dember-Slack completed her first labor of love feature film, The Sweetest Heir. It received the Best Family Film Award at the IFS Los Angeles Film Festival. She also produced and co-directed a feature film, Stratton Castle: Jessie Golden Heart, with writer, Peggy Roger. The picture received worldwide distribution with Indican Pictures. Dember-Slack also co-directed Teri Brown-Jackson's short film, Dark Chocolate, with Lynn Slack. In addition to her industry endeavors, her passion is also training and empowering other underrepresented artists to helm their own productions. She has been a guest speaker for Girls, Incorporated, the Organization of Black Screenwriters, Compton High School, Wyandanch High School, NCNWOC, Delta Gems-Embodi Teen Program, etc. Dember-Slack is also a member of Women of Color Unite, The Organization of Black Screenwriters and Women of Color Filmmakers. Dember-Slack is of African-American, Native American-Occaneechi Tribe out of Virginia, Barbadian and French descent.