Independent publisher Bronzeville Books has joined the lineup of SAG-AFTRA audiobook publishers after an agreement was facilitated by actor and longtime former SAG-AFTRA national v-p Anne-Marie Johnson. Bronzeville will begin producing covered audio recordings through its sister LLC, Bronzeville Pictures, starting with its most recent book release, Ace Boon Coon: The Tales of Elliot Caprice by Danny Gardner.
Gardner, who is also an actor, director and screenwriter, founded Bronzeville Books to elevate the voices, stories and talent of Black and other underrepresented creatives. Through its expansion into audiobooks, Bronzeville said it will also create new opportunities for narrators of color.
"We are thrilled to be working with Danny and the team at Bronzeville Books," said SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris. "The audiobook industry has been experiencing explosive growth and with that we've seen the need for greater diversity and authenticity both in terms of narrators and the stories that are chosen to be told in this format. Bronzeville has a unique role to play in cultivating diverse storytellers."
Gardner commented: "As a member of SAG-AFTRA for more than 30 years, I wanted to leverage my role as a publisher to provide opportunities for actors of color in the same way that the union has taken steps to create diversity and inclusion initiatives for its members. I am proud to be involved, both as an actor and a publisher."
Johnson, who will be a co-producer for Bronzeville, added: "Americans today demand the kind of authentic, rich storytelling that can only be achieved when both creatives and decisionmakers are committed to recognizing and honoring diverse experiences and voices. SAG-AFTRA and Bronzeville's partnership has the potential to not only produce compelling entertainment, but also to help cultivate the pipeline of narrators from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds."