Deborah Lee Fong isn’t a household name. She’s something better. She is an artist on the cultural front lines, working hard over three decades to perfect her craft and communicate with audiences through a variety of pieces, and shows no signs of slowing down or losing her passion. If anything, her appearance as Agnes in Secret Santa during the Live Screenplay Readings portion of the 23rd Annual Urbanworld Film Festival suggests her passion may be deepening rather than dissipating with the passage of time. It isn’t often that experienced performers of her caliber can find time or exhibit the inclination to champion new work through their participation alone. It is a testament to her faith and belief in the quality of Secret Santa, the Urbanworld Film Festival as a whole, and her enduring love for performance that she took part.
It is the latest addition, as well, to a growing list of credits Fong has accumulated over her long professional run. She is a talented dancer with specialties in salsa and pole dancing and the physicality of those endeavors informs her acting. She has made notable appearances in praised PBS productions such as You and Your Decisions, Footsteps, and Footsteps 2, along with a great deal of work with theatrical productions across the country. The bilingual Panamanian/American performer commands the camera and stage with palpable energy and an unwavering commitment to communicating with the audience no matter the medium. It is one of an artist’s primary mandates and she once again acquits herself well with her performance as Agnes in Secret Santa.
Her appearance at the Urbanworld Film Festival adds further luster to an already memorable five-day event covering the gamut of creative expression via film. The festival, first founded in 1998 by Stacy Spikes, features a variety of events such as the inevitable film screenings, the aforementioned live screenplay readings, short films, documentary features, and conversations in front of a live audience. The festival keys its ambitions around introducing attendees to a wide scope of different points of view from many walks of life and it is difficult to imagine that there are many groups or stories that the festival might shy away from addressing.
It has become a staple of the New York City cultural calendar and one of the world’s most respected film festivals of its type. The festival accepts scores of submissions each year, boasts a competitive yet healthy atmosphere, and attracts a wide range of talent to take part. It is little wonder a serious performing artist such as Fong involves herself with Urbanworld. They treat creative work with the reverence it deserves and provide individuals like Fong with the chance to highlight their gifts for appreciative and respectful audiences. She brings distinction and a tangible level of class to whatever creative work she takes on and Secret Santa is no exception. Let’s hope and believe this appearance proves to be a springboard for Fong towards ever greater heights and further chances to enhance movies and stage shows alike with the full scope of her skills.
Jodi Marxbury