COLORFUL
COLORFUL is a free portfolio competition and grant exclusively for young BIPOC creative professionals who qualify for Young Guns — they just haven't entered and won it yet.
COLORFUL 2023 Jury
Jamaal Parham
Director/Writer
Jams x Bash
New York, NY
Jamaal Parham is one half of the Brooklyn based directing team Jams x Bash. He has spent the last decade crafting award-winning TV shows, commercials, documentaries, music videos and a film. He has directed some of the best talent in the industry, including Michael B. Jordan, Sameul L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne, Jake Gyllenhaal, Derek Jeter, Marshawn Lynch, Mindy Kaling, Sam Rockwell and more. Jamaal is driven by a desire to tell stories of the authentic American experience, infused with magical realism and rooted in a love of boundary pushing design and classic filmmaking technique.
Under the moniker Jams x Bash he has created award winning content for ad agencies and production companies around the world. Most recently creating a short film to honor the 25th anniversary of The Lion King for Disney. The project was awarded a 2023 Webby Award. His work on spots for the theatrical brands “The Sound Inside” and “The Inheritance”, both earned Clio Awards and his work for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child not only took over Times Square but was honored with a national ADDY Award, an Adweek Experiential Award and most recently a Grand Clio. The first ever awarded for a live entertainment brand.
Jams x Bash's first feature film THE DAY ONES premiered for SoundCloud last winter while he wrapped his second full season in the directors' chair for HBO’s PAUSE WITH SAM JAY, a late-night comedy show which premiered on HBO and HBO Max last spring. Prior to this, Jamaal co-directed a one hour special for ESPN/Disney titled A ROOM OF OUR OWN, a unique and groundbreaking hour of television that explores the relationship between Black athletes and Black music and its transcending impact in powering social movements. The special stars Grammy nominated musician Freddie Gibbs, pop-star Tinashe and singer-songwriter Jensen McRae. Up next is the feature film SOMETHING KINDA WONDERFUL, based on a script co-written by Pilar Valdés and Jamaal. The film stars include Kiki Layne (Netflix’s THE OLD GUARD), Jermaine Fowler (COMING TO AMERICA 2, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU) and Jamie Chung (HBO’s Lovecraft Country) and is being produced by Prentice Penny (HBO’s Insecure) and Sundial Pictures (OBVIOUS CHILD, JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI).
Under the moniker Jams x Bash he has created award winning content for ad agencies and production companies around the world. Most recently creating a short film to honor the 25th anniversary of The Lion King for Disney. The project was awarded a 2023 Webby Award. His work on spots for the theatrical brands “The Sound Inside” and “The Inheritance”, both earned Clio Awards and his work for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child not only took over Times Square but was honored with a national ADDY Award, an Adweek Experiential Award and most recently a Grand Clio. The first ever awarded for a live entertainment brand.
Jams x Bash's first feature film THE DAY ONES premiered for SoundCloud last winter while he wrapped his second full season in the directors' chair for HBO’s PAUSE WITH SAM JAY, a late-night comedy show which premiered on HBO and HBO Max last spring. Prior to this, Jamaal co-directed a one hour special for ESPN/Disney titled A ROOM OF OUR OWN, a unique and groundbreaking hour of television that explores the relationship between Black athletes and Black music and its transcending impact in powering social movements. The special stars Grammy nominated musician Freddie Gibbs, pop-star Tinashe and singer-songwriter Jensen McRae. Up next is the feature film SOMETHING KINDA WONDERFUL, based on a script co-written by Pilar Valdés and Jamaal. The film stars include Kiki Layne (Netflix’s THE OLD GUARD), Jermaine Fowler (COMING TO AMERICA 2, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU) and Jamie Chung (HBO’s Lovecraft Country) and is being produced by Prentice Penny (HBO’s Insecure) and Sundial Pictures (OBVIOUS CHILD, JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI).