13 hours Ago By Jake Kanter
EXCLUSIVE : RadicalMedia has been sued by a production coordinator who alleges that she experienced racial discrimination on the company’s upcoming Earth, Wind & Fire documentary . Jhanelle Elissa was employed for 11 days on the Questlove -directed film in April 2024 and, in a complaint filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, claimed to have been “harassed and discriminated against” on the basis of her race. Other defendants are Leroy & Morton Productions and Karla Zambrano, RadicalMedia’s head of production.
Elissa’s main complaint concerned being required to perform “stand-in” work on set, which she argued was because of the color of her skin. The production coordinator said she and her two assistants were used as substitutes for actors and talent to assist with lighting and camera setups. Elissa’s complaint said they performed this function for long hours and in “freezing cold temperatures,” and that no non-Black crew members were required to complete the same level of stand-in work.
Watch on Deadline Related Stories 'My Happy Place': CNN Sets Premiere Date For Travel Series Featuring Alan Cumming & Octavia Spencer Questlove & Black Thought's Two One Five Entertainment Brings AGBO Vet Josh Williams On Board As Scripted Development Director “Other non-Black crew were used as stand-ins, but under entirely more accommodating and pleasant conditions. Non-Black crew were used less often, in ways that did not interrupt their other work, and for shorter periods of time,” the 16-page complaint said. It added that Elissa was not allowed to use her computer while standing in.
“The result was that anytime Zambrano and the team demanded it, Elissa was prevented from doing her assigned job as Production Coordinator and reduced to a lighting prop, simply because of her race,” the legal writ said. Elissa also alleged that she experienced “general mistreatment and extreme disrespect” during the shoot, claiming that she was spoken to “rudely and aggressively” and was sidelined from certain tasks. Elissa’s lawsuit said she complained to line producer Suzanne Giordano about her treatment and was “ignored.
” She later wrote a formal complaint to Frank Scherma, the president and co-founder of RadicalMedia, but was denied a meeting and was told to raise her concerns with HR. Elissa alleged that she was not invited back for the remainder of the Earth, Wind & Fire shoot, which she characterized as a “clear act of retaliation.” The complaint added that she has not been offered other work by RadicalMedia since the incident, despite being engaged regularly by the company in the past.
RadicalMedia declined to comment on the lawsuit. A spokesperson said the company will “respond through the courts at the appropriate time.” In a statement, Elissa told Deadline: “It is unfortunate that we have to file this lawsuit, but I was subjected to blatant racial discrimination and then retaliated against for asking for help.
This is unacceptable, especially from a company that seeks accolades for its so-called revelations about injustice (see projects like Hollywood Black ). RadicalMedia leadership has repeatedly fallen short of upholding the very principles it profits from. “Anti-discrimination laws are not suggestions; they are the foundation of any ethical workplace.
Yet, RadicalMedia has allowed patterns of mistreatment toward people of color to persist unchecked, ignoring repeated complaints and opportunities to course-correct. “No one should have to fight for basic respect or risk their career simply to be treated fairly. I am taking this step to ensure no other crew member or employee of color at RadicalMedia — or anywhere in this industry — has to endure what I went through.
Everyone deserves a workplace free from discrimination. I am holding RadicalMedia accountable and pushing for real protections and lasting positive change for professionals at every level of the industry.” Elissa is seeking the restitution of all monies owed, special damages, general damages for emotional distress, and punitive damages.
RadicalMedia’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary is scheduled for release this year. It will spotlight the band’s legacy, cultural impact, and body of work, featuring exclusive access to archives of visual, audio, and written material. Fifth Season financed the film and is handling sales alongside WME.
RadicalMedia has produced documentaries including Summer of Soul (...
Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) , Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich , What Happened, Miss Simone?, and Hollywood Black . Workers in the producer’s nonfiction entertainment division sought representation from the Writers Guild of America East last year, citing the desire for a “collaborative, equitable, and respectful work environment.”.
