Will Packer doesn't make movies for Hollywood. Although his career has spanned 30 years and his films have collectively grossed more than $1 billion at the box office, the prolific producer learned this powerful lesson early.

"When I made that very first movie, 'Chocolate City,' I invited all of Hollywood to come to our world premiere," he told Variety during a conversation at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), where the series premiered. "Here's how bold we were: I did a black-tie premiere in Tallahassee, Florida, on the campus of Florida A&M University (FAMU) in the Lee Hall Student Auditorium."

He adds, "We invited all the Hollywood executives, and none of them showed up, but all the students showed up, and it was packed. It was standing room only. It taught me something about the audiences I make these films for. I wasn't making them for these executives in ivory towers who would never come. I was making them for students who had never seen themselves on screen."

Three decades later, with a string of number one films including “Think Like A Man,” “Ride Along,” and “Girls Trip” (all of which feature a predominantly black cast), Packer has continued to thrive by defying the Hollywood structure and speaking directly to audiences still yearning to see themselves represented.