Zelie Dember-Slack

Zelie Dember-Slack (Zay-lee) Zelie Dember-Slack is an independent content creator that resides in Southern California. Her focus is on creating multicultural, family oriented and faith based content for film and television. In May 2017, Dember-Slack graduated from Chapman University, Dodge College of Film & Media Arts Program with an M.F.A. in Film Production. Her Emphasis was in Editing and she received her AVID Certification. Shortly after graduation, Dember-Slack finished her labor of love and first feature film, The Sweetest Heir, a multicultural, all inclusive, family oriented Christmas film, which garnered the Best Family Film Award at the 2018 Independent Filmmakers Showcase Film Festival. Dember-Slack is seeking distribution for her latest feature, Jessie The Golden Heart, an 1800's Scottish love story, which she Produced and Co-Directed with the writer, Peggy Roger. Prior to returning to school, Slack built a strong track record for creating award-winning family oriented content. A few of her Finalist Awards are the 2013 Beverly Hills Film Festival, 2012 "Sistah's Are Doing It For Themselves", 2012 African-American Film Marketplace at Raleigh Studios, 2008 Page International Screenwriting Competition, the 2007 Scriptapalooza TV Writing Competition and the OBS Pilot Competition. Slack also became a NAPTE/LATV Diversity Fellow and also took top honors at the 2003 Hollywood Black Film Festival Storyteller Competition. Also, to her credit, she became a 2002 Finalist in the Guy Hanks & Marvin Miller Screenwriting Competition and was invited to attend an intensive screenwriting program at USC which was sponsored by Camille and Bill Cosby. As one of the 2002 Fellows, Dember-Slack had the opportunity to have ten minutes of her screenplay directed by Debbie Allen and showcased at the Writers' Guild of America West. The Showcase was sponsored by WGAW, ABC, CAA, Fox Entertainment Group, CBS, Final Draft, Hollywood Creative Directory, Screenplay Systems, Debbie Allen Dance Academy and BHERC. Dember-Slack also became a Semi-Finalist in the 2002 HBFF - Storyteller Competition with her script, The Sweetest Heir. Dember-Slack's passion is training and empowering other underrepresented artists to helm their own productions. She's been a guest speaker for Girls, Inc., the Organization of Black Screenwriters, Compton High School, NCNWOC, Delta Gems/Embodi Teen Program, etc.