The Colors of Atlanta Documentary: A Conversation with Sheretha Bell, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy, and Executive Producer, at the 49th Annual Atlanta Film Festival
- Mandisa A. Johnson, MS, MFA
- May 1
- 5 min read
ATLANTA — The Colors of Atlanta, a documentary that follows 12 visionary photographers as they explore the city through food, history and the faces that define its culture, made its debut Monday, April 28th, at the 49th annual Atlanta Film Festival.
The screening was held at Plaza Atlanta, preceded by a reception honoring the photographers. Their work — a vibrant showcase of Atlanta’s diverse communities — was on display for attendees to view before the film.
While each image captured in the film tells a unique story, Colors of Atlanta goes beyond the lens, diving into the deeper narratives that shape the city’s identity.
Sheretha Bell, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy, for Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Executive Producer for Colors Atlanta, was in attendance, and we were fortunate to have a conversation.
Atlanta Film and TV: What inspired the concept of the Colors of Atlanta, and how did the idea evolve into a full documentary?
Sheretha Bell: "The inspiration behind the Colors of Atlanta was Atlanta’s creativity. It’s a beautiful, welcoming and innovative city. We had previously worked on a Voyager series with the Tantra team, which highlighted Atlanta’s creative energy — from chefs and performing artists to muralists and musicians.
A lot of our work had focused on those in front of the camera, but we began to notice the creativity happening behind it, too. That sparked the idea — we wanted to see Atlanta through the photographers’ eyes and explore the city from a different perspective.
As the project evolved, we realized the story was much deeper. There isn’t a single image or viewpoint that can define Atlanta. Each of the 12 photographers brought unique perspectives, yet none could create one image that captured the city in full. That was the story — the diversity of thought, vision and artistry — and that’s what led us to create the documentary the Colors of Atlanta.”
Atlanta Film and TV: Why did you choose photography as the lens—both literally and metaphorically to tell Atlanta’s story?
Sheretha Bell:"We chose it both literally and metaphorically because photographers offer a different perspective. While we wouldn’t call ourselves filmmakers, per se, we are the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and our mission is to attract conventions, tourists, and leisure visitors to Atlanta. We approach all of that from our unique perspective.Once we began working with the Tantra team, we started seeing the city through a different lens. Viewing Atlanta through their eyes became a beautiful and distinctive way for us to tell the city's story."
Atlanta Film and TV: How did you go about selecting the 12 photographers featured in the documentary?
Sheretha Bell: "Our team conducted intensive research alongside our Head of Development, Maya Burnside, and our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer, at Tantra Worldwide, Farook Singh, and our Director, Ron Gonzalez.. Much of the research came from their end—whether through Google searches, Instagram, reaching out to other creatives in Atlanta, gaining insight from them, asking questions, or identifying who could showcase these Atlanta storybooks. One of the artists featured in the docuseries has two books that highlight their photography. All of these elements played a role in how we selected the 12 photographers."
Atlanta Film and TV: As a follow-up, what qualities or perspective were you looking for in each of the photographers?
Sheretha Bell: "Each photographer had to tell the story differently. We wanted a diverse mix and didn’t want just one type of photographer. They couldn’t all be sports photographers—we needed individuals who viewed Atlanta through different lenses. The photographers we selected included a food photographer, lifestyle photographers with magazine covers to their credit, and photographers who focused on the sports industry. Having that mix was the only way we felt we could do this documentary the right way."
Atlanta Film and TV: What were some of the biggest challenges in visually capturing a city as diverse and complex as Atlanta?
Sheretha Bell: "More than anything, the photographers faced the challenge of capturing a city as diverse and complex as Atlanta. One photographer chose to create a collage, reflecting Atlanta's diversity by photographing different people at various times of day, aiming to represent as many cultures and ethnicities as possible in a single image. Yet even then, he admitted that he couldn’t capture everyone and asked, “How do I do that, with Atlanta being such a diverse city?”
Other photographers approached the project through the lens of Atlanta’s history—particularly the Civil Rights Movement—grappling with how to show where the city has been and where it’s headed. They wrestled with the question: Who is the right person to photograph to represent that story?
For each image, even once a photographer decided, 'Yes, this is what I want to do,' there remained the challenge of showcasing the destination they love. How could they represent everything they cherish about Atlanta’s diversity in a single photo? Ultimately, it didn’t seem possible for any one photographer to do it alone."
Atlanta Film and Film and TV: What does it mean to you for Colors of Atlanta to debut at the Atlanta Film Festival, especially given the film’s deep local roots?
Sheretha Bell: "The fact that the Colors of Atlanta is debuting at the Atlanta Film Festival is overwhelming! I have to take a step back and reflect on the fact that Christopher Escobar has deep roots in Atlanta — from the historic Plaza Theatre, the oldest theater in the city, to his other venue, The Tara. The Atlanta Film Festival plays such an important role in our city. Alongside events like BronzeLens, it provides a platform for our creatives to be recognized — not only locally, but also nationally and internationally."
"We’re doing our best to represent Atlanta in the most authentic and powerful way. More than anything, if we can showcase our city in a way that brings more visitors, attendees, and convention business — ultimately creating the economic impact we hope to make — then we’re doing the right thing!"
Sheretha Bell
Photographers included in the Colors of Atlanta:
Farook Singh, Chief Executive Officer and executive producer at Tantra Worldwide
Ron Gonzalez, director, Colors of Atlanta
You can now watch the Colors of Atlanta on Discover Atlanta's Youtube!
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