Tue May 20 02:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
Filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris, 27, believes that a Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama and featuring WNBA star A’ja Wilson bears striking similarities to a scene from her short film “Grace.” Harris, who met Obama at Sundance in 2024, expresses disappointment that Nike and Obama didn’t consider hiring her for the project, highlighting the struggles emerging independent filmmakers face when competing with established names and brands. She questions whether this trend stifles innovation and originality in filmmaking, and she hopes to receive acknowledgment from Obama and Nike. Harris shares her passion for storytelling and desire to overcome obstacles in the industry to become a successful director.
**News Article:**
**Independent Filmmaker Alleges Nike Ad Mirrored Her Short Film**
**DENVER, CO** – Natalie Jasmine Harris, a 27-year-old filmmaker, has expressed her disappointment after noticing what she describes as striking similarities between a recent Nike advertisement directed by Malia Obama and a scene from her award-winning short film, “Grace.” The Nike ad features WNBA star A’ja Wilson.
Harris, whose film “Grace” and Obama’s film “The Heart” both competed at Sundance in 2024, says she first saw the commercial on Instagram and immediately recognized echoes of a pivotal scene in her short, a Black Southern Gothic film exploring a young girl’s feelings for her best friend.
“At first, I was confused, wondering whether it was real,” Harris told reporters. “It featured two people playing pat-a-cake in a way that echoed an early scene from my 14-minute short film Grace.” Harris added.
Harris is not making claims of copyright infringement but rather suggesting there are strong similarities to the camera angles, color palette and overall composition.
Harris contends this situation points to a broader issue within the industry: the tendency of major brands to prioritize established figures over emerging talents, potentially stifling innovation and diversity. “If they wanted these shots that were similar to my shots, why not hire me to direct?” she asked.
While understanding the criticism of her statement that she didn’t invent pat-a-cake, Harris wants people to understand the cinematic tools used to depict it. Her cinematographer noted a lot of similarities from a technical perspective, from the camera angles to the shots to the framing composition and the color palette.
Despite early success with her films being acquired by HBO and earning a DGA Student Film Award, Harris says she still faces challenges in securing funding and opportunities for her feature-length projects.
As of press time, representatives for Malia Obama, Nike, Wieden+Kennedy, and Iconoclast have not responded to requests for comment. Harris hopes her experience will spark a conversation about supporting independent artists and fostering a more inclusive and innovative film industry.
First Piper 