Dominique Telson, EVP Film/Television
Dominique Telson is a multiple Emmy-nominated producer and Executive Producer of both feature films and television series. In February of 2023, Ms. Telson became the Executive Vice President of Malcolm Lee’s Blackmaled Productions where she will lead the company in developing feature films and television series under the company’s three-year deal with NBC Universal. In 2022, Dominique Executive Produced alongside creator Malcolm D. Lee and showrunner Dayna Lynne North, The Best Man, The Final Chapters. The eight-episode series is based on the popular films and stars the original cast, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Terrence Howard and Melissa DeSousa all reprising their roles. The much-anticipated series premiered on Peacock on December 22,2022 and shattered all existing records for the network. The result, a three-year first look deal with NBC Universal Productions to create on multiple platforms for the studio including feature films, series and unscripted programming. Prior to joining The Best Man series, Ms. Telson produced Sarah Elizabeth Mintz’ film, Good Girl Jane, starring Andie MacDowell which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and won the coveted award for best feature and the best actor award for it’s lead, actress, Rain Spencer. Prior to that, Ms. Telson produced Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day starring Aja Naomi King, Marianne Jean Baptiste and Little Mix’ Leigh Ann Pinnock. The holiday film was released theatrically in the UK through Warner Brothers and released domestically on Amazon Prime.
In addition to Good Girl Jane, Ms. Telson has also produced several films for Astute Films, LLC, the Los Angeles-based, privately-funded motion picture financing and production company alongside former Sony Pictures exec, Fred Bernstein. Films produced under the banner include Here Today, starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish released through Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ Stage 6 Films. Astute’s feature film, Queen Bees, led by Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Loretta Devine, Ann-Margret and Jane Curtin, was also developed and produced by Ms. Telson. The film was a 2021 release through Gravitas Ventures and MGM and was nominated for the prestigious Humanitas Award. The Best of Enemies, starring Academy Award-nominee Taraji P. Henson and Academy Award-winner Sam Rockwell was Ms. Telson’s first feature for Astute and released theatrically by STX in 2019. Ms. Telson also Executive Produced Spirit Award winner and the Sundance premiere Premature directed by Rashaad Ernesto Greene andstarring Zora Howard and Joshua Boone. Short History of the Long Road starring Sabrina Carpenter, also premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival that year and received a special jury mention for best screenplay. Ms. Telson co-produced An Interview with God starring David Strathairn and Brenton Twaites for Astute Films’ sister-company Giving Films. All profits from Giving Films productions are donated to charity.
In the TV space, Ms.Telson produced All BLk’s “5th Ward,” the Houston based television series written and directed by Greg Carter starring singer Mya, Carl Anthony Payne, Omar Gooding and Gary Sturgis. Telson has also served as an Executive Producer on over 25 Hallmark Channel and Lifetime Movie Network films including “The Twelve Trees of Christmas” starring Mel B and “Christmas Unwrapped” with Tiffany Haddish, and Safe Room starring Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker.
Prior to being an independent producer, Ms. Telson was the longtime Vice President of Original Programming for Showtime Networks where she oversaw the development and production of multiple award-winning and critically acclaimed Original Movies and Series Including Soul Food, based on the feature film and The Devil’s Arithmetic starring Kirsten Dunst and produced by Dustin Hoffmam.
Ever pioneering to create opportunities for minorities, Telson created Showtime’s Black Filmmaker Showcase which was one of the first programs designed to discover emerging talent such as Malcolm Lee. Ms. Telson, an immigrant of Haitian descent, plans to continue her goal of creating quality films and television that make her community and family proud.
