Persons of color aren’t highly represented in the horror and sci-fi genre. We are never seen as the protagonist or hero of a horror story. This project will show minorities as the majority cast in non-stereotypical roles in horror and sci-fi productions. It will also showcase stories written by POC.

The 5th Column is a show that will showcase people of color in the horror and sci-fi genre. It will be an anthology bringing a new story each episode. The title is the 5th Column because each episode is a story from an article in a newspaper called 38th & 5th. 38th & 5th was created by a group of us called The 5th Wall. We came together to create diverse comic books initially, and decided to expand throughout all types of media.  We wanted to create an original take in our approach to this genre.

I have always been a fan of the horror genre. I remember watching shows like, The X-Files, Tales from the Crypt, and Goosebumps as a child (I still watch a few currently). As an adult I enjoy horror and sci-fi shows such as Black Mirror, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, and Stranger Things. This genre provided me with a sense of escapism from my own life. I didn’t grow up in a wealthy environment. My family struggled a lot when I was growing up. We didn’t get to travel and go on vacations. My window into the world was through books and TV. I loved the thrill and suspense of being able to dive into a good mystery book or ghost story. I was intrigued by old school scary movies and the feeling of fright they brought to people. I had a true passion for this genre, and I could no longer continue the what ifs.  My interest for reading and watching horror and sci-fi sparked me to want to create my own projects based of what I saw, learned, and felt was missing. I knew I wanted to write stories that brought back the classic feel of scary movies. I also wanted to people to feel connected to elements from the stories and characters. Most importantly, I wanted see people who looked like me in this genre doing more than being the token black, being the first to die, or not being present at all.

I found a group of like-minded individuals who shared this same vision. We strongly felt the urge to create positive content, which would spotlight minorities in a way that would increase our presence in non-traditional roles. A horror/sci-fi anthology show created by and starring black people is something that has not been done. Now more than an ever is the time to show audiences that representation matters. We can be seen as superheroes, nerds, scientists, villains, and scream queens in a horror movie. We can also have the power, resources, and talent to write and produce projects that defy stereotypes.