Name: Niki Roberts

Age: 30

Occupation: Director/Producer

Place of birth: Washington DC

Current residence: New York

I’m a diverse mix of African-American, first nation (Black Feet Indian) and Irish. I grew up in a musical household and the arts are very important in both of my families. My eldest cousins used to play the piano at Julliard for Judy Garland before she passed and my grandfather managed screen movies and renowned musical acts in a time when African-Americans didn’t have that kind of access because of segregation. I grew up hearing those stories when I was just a little girl and it has inspired me greatly.

My business partners and I were at a bar one night somewhere in New York, and over drinks, we said, ‘hey let’s just start a company and make movies already!’ Once we began to go out and about and actually make films the company and concept started to grow and since then we have joined forces with another company based in New York that does viral media content.

Our most successful film was ‘Out of the Darkness’ staring Jessica Andres about a troubled teen fighting her own demons after the accidental death of her infant. ‘Out of the Darkness’ has been around the world and back on the festival circuit and was well received at the 64th Festival de Cannes 2011. We’ll be at Cannes again this year with another project that I had the pleasure to direct called ‘Botes al Amanecer’.

I believe that there is a season for everything, even for when you feel like you may have missed the boat. There are times when I feel like I’ve missed a great opportunity, but I remind myself to be patient because it will come back around again, or a better opportunity is on it’s way. I have had so many ‘no’s’ sometimes based on first impressions that it has made me tough. Whenever I feel a little de-motivated I zone out to some good dance music and run. Once I’m in that musical zone I can meditate.

As a woman I like that I can show my vulnerability but be a bad-ass at the same time. There are over 7 billion people and of all the women in that 7 billion we cannot label a small percentage as beautiful, its absurd! We need to break stigmas and long-standing beauty stereotypes and within my industry, that’s why I believe that advertisers, media makers and brands need to start diversifying their look.

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