Mary J. Blige’s My Life

Composer

MERVYN WARREN

Director

VANESSA ROTH

MODERATED BY GIL ROBERTSON

(President, African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) / LA Times Contributor)

Screening Link available upon Registration

YouTube Live Stream Q&A 

Thursday, May 19, 2:00PM (PT)

Grammy-winning recording artist and actress Mary J. Blige reveals the demons and blessings that inspired her 1994 LP My Life, and celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most influential work by performing the album live for the first time. R | 82mins

Mervyn Warren is a five-time Grammy winner, 10-time Grammy nominee, and Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductee who is a highly accomplished film & TV composer, record producer, lyricist, songwriter, arranger, pianist, and vocalist. Equally adept at practically any style, Merv’s work spans the genres of pop, R&B, jazz, orchestral, classical, vocal, country, and more. One of the industry’s most sought-after producers, his credits include Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah, Boyz II Men, Barbra Streisand, David Foster, Celine Dion, Rascal Flatts, Michael Bublé, Dolly Parton, Chicago, The Manhattan Transfer, Al Jarreau, Faith Hill, and many more.

Merv has composed the orchestral underscore for numerous feature films—from comedies to dramas to action—including the #1 hit The Wedding Planner, A Walk To Remember, and A Raisin In The Sun (2008)—the first made-for-television film ever to be accepted into the Sundance Film Festival. In 2021 Merv was selected by Executive Music Producer Quincy Jones to compose the musical score for the film Mary J. Blige’s My Life. Merv has also written, arranged, and produced songs and lyrics for numerous films, including Sister Act 2, Living Out Loud, and The Preacher’s Wife, featuring Whitney Houston. Merv also composed and arranged both the underscore and songs for the film Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.

On his own, Merv earned an additional Grammy Award for the all-star Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful celebration, as well as five additional Grammy nominations, an additional Dove Award (of three nominations), and two Gospel Music Workshop of America Awards, including one for Contemporary Producer of the Year. 

Vanessa Roth is an Academy Award, Emmy, Alfred I DuPont Columbia, and Sundance Award-winning filmmaker who has been writing, directing, and producing premium documentary features, shorts, series, and social justice impact work for over 25 years. Vanessa has garnered the highest of honors in documentary, film, television, social justice, women in film, and journalism with over 60 awards including the Oscar, The Television Academy Emmy Award for Social Impact, The DuPont Columbia Award, Sundance Special Jury Awards, The Gracie Award, The Women Image Award, Cine Golden Eagles, Casey Medals, Impact Doc Awards for Best in Show and Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking, IDA honors, Audience Awards and Jury Prizes at top festivals around the world, as well as special honors for her work in social impact, social justice, witness to history and legacy, youth empowerment and equal rights.

At the helm of over 20 feature documentaries, shorts, animated projects, and streaming series’ some of Vanessa’s most notable work includes Mary J. Blige’s My Life (Amazon Prime), National Geographic Presents IMPACT with Gal Gadot (6 parts – Nat Geo, Disney +), Daughters of Destiny (4 parts -Netflix),  The Other Side (30 for 30 on ESPN), Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses (Discovery), The Girl and the Picture (Nanjing Memorial/international theatrical), Freeheld (HBO), American Teacher (Amazon), The Texas Promise (PBS), Taken In (PBS), Aging Out (PBS), No Tomorrow (PBS), Close to Home (Theatrical/Discovery), 911 Toxic Dust (A&E), Third Monday in October (Theatrical/Sundance Channel/Special Presentation at President Obama’s Inauguration). 

*** IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ ***

FREE for current SCL members (click HERE to check membership status).

Attendees will be emailed a Screening Link upon Registration and a Q&A YouTube Live Stream link on Thursday, May 19, 10 minutes before Q&A start.

Attendees can ask questions on YouTube chat, and the SCL Host will pass them on to the Moderator. The SCL Member Code of Conduct applies to online Q&As.

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