Numa Perrier

Numa Perrier is a Haitian-American actress, artist, director, writer, and producer. She is a co-founder of Black&Sexy TV. Her debut feature film, Jezebel, premiered at SXSW in 2019 and received accolades from the American Black Film Festival and the Indie Memphis Film Festival.[1][2]

Numa Perrier
Born
Haiti
NationalityHaitian-American
Occupations
Years active2008–present
Notable workJezebel
SpouseGabrey Milner (m. 2020)
Children1

Early life

Perrier was born in Haiti and was adopted and raised in Washington state in a family of eight children.[3] She got to know her biological mother when she was 17.[3][4] Perrier moved to Las Vegas in late adolescence and did online "peep show" work as a cam girl to make money. Her savings allowed her to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and visual art.[5]

Career

Perrier co-founded Black&Sexy TV, a creative collective and streaming service for Black millennial audiences, with former partners Dennis Dortch, Brian Ali Harding, and Jeanine Daniels in 2010.[6] Their first collaboration was a film called A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy, which premiered at Sundance and was picked up by Magnolia Pictures.[7] Beginning in 2011, they used YouTube to post their content. Notable shows include The Couple, The Number, Hello Cupid and RoomieLoverFriends.[3] Numa starred in The Couple alongside Desmond Faison, and HBO picked up the series for development.

In 2017, Perrier directed her first feature film Jezebel, starring Tiffany Tenille. The film is semi-autobiographical and draws on Perrier's experience as a "cam girl" performer. Perrier also co-stars in the film, which was shot on-location in Las Vegas.[5] Jezebel premiered at SXSW in March 2019, and received positive critical reception.[2] The Hollywood Reporter selected Jezebel as one of its "Best of SXSW 2019" picks.[8] The Los Angeles Times referred to Perrier as "a very fine naturalistic actor" and gave further praise to her filmmaking, noting her "striking handling and welcome thoughtfulness of style."[9] Array Releasing acquired the film in 2019 with a limited theatrical run and it debuted on Netflix on January 16, 2020.[10] Perrier was awarded Best Director and Best Feature Film for Jezebel at the 2019 American Black Film Festival.[11]

Perrier played a recurring guest star role on Showtime's SMILF prior to its cancellation. She has also directed television episodes for programs including Queen Sugar, The Wonder Years reboot, Cinema Toast,[12] Reasonable Doubt, and Unprisoned.[13][5] For her work on The Wonder Years, Perrier was nominated in the Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series category at the 2022 Black Reel Awards.[14]

She also has a production company called House of Numa.[15]

In 2020, it was announced Perrier would direct the Netflix romantic comedy The Perfect Find starring Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers. The film is slated for a 2022 release.[16]

In December 2021, it was announced that she will produce and star in The Erotic, a biopic about poet and author Audre Lorde.[17]

Perrier directed a live magic show, The Legend of Black Herman, as a part of Derek Fodjour's art installation, Magic, Mystery, and Legerdemain, which ran from March 29 to May 7, 2022 at The David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles.[18]

In June, 2022, it was announced Perrier would produce and direct The War and Treaty, from a script by Will McCormack and Craig Borten, based on the life of the Nashville husband and wife vocal duo.[19]

In November, 2022, it was announced Perrier would direct the Wall Street drama Midas Touch, with Chloe Bailey set to star. The film follows the true story of Lauren Simmons, the youngest equity trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and only the second African American woman to hold that position.[20]

Personal life

Perrier has one daughter, Rockwelle, with former partner, Dennis Dortch.[3] Dortch and Perrier split up in 2014.[5] Perrier married Gabrey Milner, son of Broadway playwright Ron Milner, in October 2020.[21]

Filmography

As Actress
Year Title Role Notes
2019 Jezebel Sabrina [5]
2023 The Perfect Find Pearl Bailey

As director
Year Title Notes
2019 Jezebel [5]
2023 The Perfect Find [16]

As Actress
Year Title Role Notes
2012–2014 The Couple Chick
2013 The Choir Rochelle
2019 SMILF Elsie

As director
Year Title Episode Notes
2019 Queen Sugar Episode 4: "Skin Transparent"
2021–2022 The Wonder Years Episode 6: "Be Prepared" and Episode 19: "Love & War"
2022 Reasonable Doubt Episode 8: "Song Cry"
2023 Unprisoned Episode 6: "Nigrsecene" and Episode 7: "Unavailably Available"

References
  1. Christian, Aymar Jean (9 January 2018). Open TV : innovation beyond Hollywood and the rise of web television. New York. ISBN 9781479815975. OCLC 994144475.
  2. "'Jezebel': Film Review | SXSW 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  3. McDonald, Soraya Nadia. "Meet Dennis Dortch and Numa Perrier: The couple behind 'The Couple'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  4. Mumin, Nijla (11 August 2014). "Women In Red: Numa Perrier's 'Florida Water' Reconstructs Image and Memory". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  5. McDonald, Soraya Nadia (25 March 2019). "In 'Jezebel,' director Numa Perrier recalls the early days of internet sex work". Andscape. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  6. "Cool Jobs: Get Hip To 'Black & Sexy TV,' The Now Generation's Netflix". Black Enterprise. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  7. Ramos, Dino-Ray (20 February 2019). "'Jezebel' Clip: SXSW Coming-Of-Age Drama From Numa Perrier Explores Sisterhood And The Internet Fetish World". Deadline. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  8. "'Booksmart' - Critics' Picks: The Best of SXSW 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  9. Abele, Robert (16 January 2020). "Review: Day in the life of a sex worker turns up unexpected gem in 'Jezebel'". Los Angeles Times.
  10. Ramos, Dino-Ray (4 December 2019). "ARRAY Acquires Numa Perrier's Cam Girl Coming-Of-Age Drama 'Jezebel'; Watch The First Trailer".
  11. Miami, ABFF. "The 2019 American Black Film Festival Wraps With Diverse Slate of Winning Films Content Creators and Historic Moments – American Black Film Festival Miami". Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  12. Perrier, Numa (4 May 2021), Kiss, Marry, Kill, Cinema Toast, retrieved 10 November 2022
  13. Perrier, Numa, Nigresence, Unprisoned', retrieved 10 November 2022
  14. "6th Bolts TV Nominees". Black Reel Awards. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  15. "'Jezebel' Director Numa Perrier Is Just Getting Started". shadowandact.com. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  16. "Gabrielle Union Romantic Comedy 'The Perfect Find' Lands at Netflix; Numa Perrier Attached to Direct". 12 June 2020.
  17. Complex, Valerie (9 December 2021). "'Jezebel' Director Numa Perrier To Produce And Star In Audre Lorde Indie Biopic 'The Erotic'". Deadline Hollywood.
  18. Jackson, Leigh-Ann (19 April 2022). "Derek Fordjour examines magic, race and revelry in two L.A. art installations". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. D'Alessandro, Anthony (6 June 2022). "Gilbert Films, Get Lifted Film Co & Harvey Mason Media Producing 'The War And Treaty'; Numa Perrier Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  20. Tartaglione, Zac Ntim,Jesse Whittock,Nancy; Ntim, Zac; Whittock, Jesse; Tartaglione, Nancy (15 November 2022). "Chloe Bailey Boards 'Midas Touch'; Hires At 'The Pact' Producer Little Door; 'The Battle At Lake Changjin' Named Golden Rooster Best Film; First Poster For Sudhanshu Saria's 'Sanaa'; 'Ackley Bridge' Ends — Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  21. William, Kimberly (13 October 2020). "Writer-Director Numa Perrier Celebrated Her Wedding With A Unique Drive-In Movie". Essence. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
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