Filmmaker Talamieka Brice makes directorial debut on PBS ‘Our Rebellious Hearts’
By Brinda F. Willis, Ph.D.
JA Contributing Writer
Talamieka Brice put in the work to arrive at the Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) with her current project… “Our Rebellious Hearts”
According to Brice, the “Our Rebellious Hearts” project began about three years ago. It finally came to fruition on March 14, 2026, as a short film shown on Mississippi’s premiere public station. Brice said: “MPB is a station that is considered by the industry to be the pinnacle for up-and-coming filmmakers. I consider it to be a blessing to have been the director for this precious short film.”
The song “Our Rebellious Hearts” was written by Teneia Sanders and performed by Sanders, Dr. LaQuanta Nelson, and Rita Brent. It is an anthem celebrating the fortitude and resilience of women, and highlighting that women can do anything into which they put their minds and energy.
This song provides an individual solo platform segment in which each of the three women portrays her rebellious heart and tells her story of how she arrived at her current career state. Each explains who inspired her during childhood, laying the foundation for each to become advocates.
Sanders explains: “Wild women lead the way, and I consider myself a wild woman. I feel empowered to express my creative self in so many ways. Women are a revolution. I feel so grateful to be able to travel the world exploring different cultures. I’m glad to have written ‘Our Rebellious Hearts’”.
Nelson said, “Music is my release; in music I am free. Music is an extension of my being; it allows me to acknowledge my creativity, and playing music allows me to feel free to express any feeling, whether it is joy or sadness.”
Brent, a well-known comedian, shares her very personal story of a lineage that includes Mama, Grandmother, and Big Mama. They instilled in her the idea that she could do anything, including becoming a drummer, which has now become the epitome of her rebellious heart. Brent is a darling of the Jackson, Mississippi, entertainment scene and beyond.
“Our Rebellious Hearts” won the 2024 Jackson Film Festival and was screened at Fondren Guitars in 2025, formerly Patrick’s Guitars.
“Our Rebellious Hearts” was produced by Teneia Sanders, Seema Thakker, and Sarah Henry, and directed by Brice.
Additional announcements and project details are available at https://brice-media.com/ and https://www.mississippi2.com/. The short film can be seen at https://www.pbs.org/show/our-rebellious-hearts/.
