The Colorize Project is a left-of-center initiative founded by Hollywood production companies Bad Robot and Monkeypaw Productions alongside The League, a left-of-center media advocacy group. The project is hosted by the New Venture Fund, a left-of-center organization managed by Arabella Advisors that acts as the fiscal sponsor for hundreds of left-of-center advocacy groups. Much of the activity of the Colorize Project is unknown and it is unclear if the group is active, as its website is limited in content and little else is available publicly regarding the organization. 1 2
Background
The Colorize Project first appeared online sometime in 2023. The organization’s website states that the group is a collaboration of The League, a media advocacy group; Monkeypaw Productions, a production company founded by comedian and director Jordan Peele; and Bad Robot, a production company affiliated with J.J. Abrams which has created several major motion pictures. 3 4 5
The focus of the project is to combat “colorism” in the filmmaking industry. The concept of colorism is described by the group and others as the preference for lighter skin tones among those in the same racial group. In many contexts, colorism is referred to as the preference for or better treatment of lighter skin-toned Black Americans, and, in the context of the Colorize Project, skin tone preferences in regard to casting decisions in Hollywood. 6 1
The only content on the Colorize Project’s website is a definition of colorism as “prejudice or discrimination, especially within a racial or ethnic group favoring people with lighter skin over those with darker skin.” 1
The group also dedicates just two sentences to describe the planned work of the organization, stating “Colorize, proudly created by Monkeypaw Productions, Bad Robot Productions, and the League, is a first of its kind initiative designed to raise awareness of colorism in the entertainment industry and its harmful impacts to communities of color. The campaign works towards providing industry professionals the tools to learn about and combat colorism in casting, makeup, lighting, wardrobe departments and beyond.” 1
Affiliated Organizations and People
As indicated by the privacy page on the Colorize Project’s website, the group is a project of the New Venture Fund, a left-of-center funding organization managed by Arabella Advisors that makes grants to left-of-center advocacy and organizing projects and provides incubation serves for other left-of-center organizations, focusing primarily on social and environmental issues. 7
The League is a left-of-center media production organization that runs activist media campaigns in order to influence politics and drive voter participation in minority communities. The group has operated campaigns hiring influencers to urge 2022 midterm election voting in the Black communities in Detroit and Miami and urging for the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. 8
Monkeypaw Productions is a production company founded by Jordan Peele, a comedian and director who is a self-described Democrat. The company describes itself as dedicated to the “unpacking of contemporary social issues.” 5
Bad Robot is a Hollywood production company run by director J.J. Abrams which has produced several major motion pictures including titles in the Star Wars, Star Trek, and Mission Impossible franchises. 4
References
- “Home.” Colorize Project. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.colorizeproject.com/
- “Privacy Policy.” Colorize Project. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.colorizeproject.com/privacy-policy
- “About Us.” The League. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.wearetheleague.org/about-us
- “Bad Robot.” IMDB. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.imdb.com/list/ls063060310/
- “About.” Monkeypaw Productions. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.monkeypawproductions.com/about
- Newman-Bremang, Kathleen. “’I Just Wanted to Be the Right Kind of Black’ A look at the complex politics of colorism.” The Kit. March 7, 2018. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://thekit.ca/beauty/skin/the-complex-politics-of-colorism/
- “2023 Impact Report.” New Venture Fund. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NVF-2023-Impact-Report2-Final.pdf
- “In Action.” The League. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.wearetheleague.org/in-action