Ep. 27: Five Songs With Filmmaker Cheryl Dunye

It's a real honor to kick off our 2024 season with the esteemed Cheryl Dunye! A world-renowned writer, producer, and director of film and television, Cheryl's work includes the groundbreaking 1996 film The Watermelon Woman, which is part of the permanent cinema collection at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, and was added to the Criterion Collection in 2023. More recently she has directed episodes of The Umbrella Academy, Bridgerton, Lovecraft Country, and Queen Sugar, among many other shows. Born in Liberia and raised in Philly, Cheryl is now rooted in the Town’s vibrant filmmaking community, having founded Jingletown Films, her Oakland-based production company. Hear Cheryl talk about five of her favorite tunes of the moment, the emotional places they take her, and the big wide cinematic possibilities that music can open up.

Cheryl's Selections:

5. Joan Armatrading - "Cool Blue Stole My Heart"

4. Chilly Gonzales - "Gogol"

3. Elis Regina - "Upa, Neguinho"

2. Wildcookie - "Serious Drug (Instrumental Version)"

1. Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir- "Like a Ship"

Learn more about Cheryl's work and Jingletown Films here