Jalen Coleman

Jalen Coleman is a filmmaker and media journalist. His passion for film was born as he came of age in South Central Los Angeles and has driven his life since high school. In 2011, his debut short on bullying gained the attention of the National PTA, and he was invited by the organization to speak on, and screen, his film. Upon graduating, he decided to share his love of film with his community, by teaching an introductory film course at his former high school. In 2014, his short film about the prevalence of police brutality, "Be Free," won numerous film festivals. A year later he sought an internship with BlackTreeTV, where he started working press junkets and red carpet interviews for major movies and TV shows. This experience gave him the opportunity to interview Tyler Perry, Usher, Jordan Peele, Ridley Scott, Spike Lee, Zendaya and countless others. In 2016, Coleman's short film, "Silent," spawned by the aftermath of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Mass Shootings, tackled the tough topic of gun violence in schools and sacred spaces. Screened at several film festivals across the country and abroad, this film marked another highlight in his career. The following year, he ventured into new territory with, "Ashes," a film that revolved around a new black superhero who questions keeping his cape. The challenging and exciting experience of making the film served as an apt bridge between his love of social issue stories and comic book culture. The film went on to screen at various festivals. Last year, he launched his "Geeky Misfit Podcast," where he sits down with actors, directors and writers from productions like Snowfall, Insecure, One Day at a Time, On My Block, and the likes. His latest short, "Please Say Anything," has been screened internationally.