HER and Oprah Winfrey to Produce Film Inspired by HBCU Cheerleaders

Grammy Award-winning singer HER has teamed up with media mogul Oprah Winfrey to produce a majorette-inspired dance film at 20th Century Studios. The multi-talented singer is set to develop, produce and star in the film.

HER made her acting debut last year in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple. During the filming, she was able to work with Winfrey and producer Scott Sanders. Intrigued by cheerleaders and their impact on black culture, HER pitched the idea for the film to Winfrey and Sanders after working with them on The Color Purple. The duo will produce the film with HER Winfrey through her company Harpo Films and Sanders through Scott Sanders Productions.

Screenwriter Lauren Ashley Smith has been attached to pen the script for the film. The film will be set at a fictional HBCU in Atlanta. The story will follow an introverted ballet dancer from Los Angeles who goes against her parents’ wishes by putting her blossoming dance career on hold to attend college. Once there, she joins her HBCU’s struggling cheerleading squad and struggles to overcome culture shock, her formal dance experience, and fierce rivals to help her team return to its former glory.

The film’s goal is to celebrate authentic HBCU life in a fun and joyful way, told from the perspective of a dancer who, upon discovering HBCU life for the first time, will finally discover who she really is. The Majorette dance style is an important part of HBCUs and black culture.

In addition to the film produced by HER, Winfrey and Sanders, Carla Gardini and Mara Jacobs will also work on the film. Rashonda will supervise the film for 20th Century Studios.

Lauren Ashley Smith is an Emmy-nominated writer and co-host of SiriusXM’s daily cultural radio show, Smith Sisters Live. Smith is currently under an overall deal with CBS Studios. Prior to CBS, she was head writer and co-executive producer on the first two seasons of HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show. Her work there earned her a TCA Award and three Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Writer for a Variety Series – Sketch.

The start date for filming the movie has not yet been set.