LEADERSHIP
TATE TAYLOR
A born and raised Mississippi native, Tate Taylor has established himself as a distinctive voice in filmmaking with his ability to tell extraordinary stories on screen. Best known for directing The Help (2011), Get on Up (2014), The Girl on the Train (2016), MA (2019) and Filthy Rich (2020), Taylor is a renowned filmmaker who, after 15 years in LA and NYC, has returned to Mississippi to reinvest his success into Natchez, elevating his home city into an internationally competitive destination for filmmakers and enriching the local economy and community in the process.
JOHN NORRIS
John Norris is a film and television producer known for his ability to hone new talent and develop prolific stories with universal appeal. His films have become prominent on the festival and awards circuit, including Academy Award nominated The Help and Get on Up. A tireless community leader, John has created internships and shadow opportunities at his and Tate Taylor’s production company and film and television production studio, Wyolah Entertainment and Crooked Letter Picture Company, to increase the diversity and inclusion in film while also fostering the local talent of Natchez, MS.
CLETA ELLINGTON
Cleta Ellington is a director, producer, and actress whose credits include Teeth (2007), The Girl on the Train (2016), Ma (2019), and Breaking News in Yuba County (2020). A Jackson native, Ellington will produce "Rumble Through the Dark," the upcoming film adaptation of Mississippi author Michael Farris Smith's fourth novel "The Fighter."
DIANA ALVAREZ
Diana Alvarez began her career in entertainment at Larger Than Life Productions, working with Director Gary Ross on the Best Picture Oscar nominee Seabiscuit and the animated adventure The Tale of Despereaux. In 2012, Diana served as Co-Producer on the box-office hit The Hunger Games. She also co-produced the American Civil War drama The Free State of Jones starring Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Diana served as an Executive Producer on Ocean’s 8 which gathered an all-female cast, including Academy Award winners Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.