RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab 2024
Nandi Bowe
Storytelling is Nandi Bowe’s passion. After the devastating diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, Bowe moved with her husband and sons to Mumbai, India for three years where she wrote her memoir, Hollywood to Bollywood. She currently is developing a television series based on that story. Bowe wants to utilize her global experiences of living in the USA, England, Africa, and India to tell universal stories that inspire and highlight audiences’ shared humanity.
Bowe began her professional career as a Production Assistant on a film directed by Sidney Poitier. She moved to Africa and worked on five films in Zimbabwe including Mandela and Cry Freedom.
Back home in the U.S., Bowe went on to work as an Assistant Director on Do The Right Thing, Daughters of The Dust, Sister Act 2, House Party, Hocus Pocus, Sneakers, Frankie and Johnny, To Wong Foo, Thanks…, Just Jordan, and many more films and television shows. Bowe was a Staff Writer on The Lone Gunmen, an X-Files spin-off.
Bowe was a DGA/Disney Directing Fellow and attended AFI as a Directing Fellow. She has written and directed eight short films. Statistically Speaking, starring Alfre Woodard and Garry Marshall, aired on Showtime, and was featured in a nationwide HBO screening tour. In February 2023, Bowe was awarded a DGA Award for her work as the 1st Assistant Director on the Apple+ show, Best Foot Forward.
Bowe has been a member of the DGA and WGA for more than 25 years and is a proud mother of three adult sons. She continues to take definitive steps toward realizing her lifelong goal of being an extraordinary storyteller who writes, directs, creates, and works on powerful stories that entertain, inspire, and uplift.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 25 individuals were invited to participate in the Virtual Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2024 Entertainment Lab taking place May 7 – September 24, 2024. This 5-month Lab aims to develop and elevate the talent pipeline of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming, while connecting them with industry professionals and creatives. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 60’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
