Episode 16 - Elegance Bratton & Chester Argenal Gordon - “Solid”

Episode 16 - Elegance Bratton & Chester Argenal Gordon - “Solid”

Photo Credit:

[Image Description: Chester and Elegance stand next either in front of a reddish, brick wall. A window reflects the image of brick wall across from them. Chester wears a long black coat his had is turned slightly to look at Elegance. Elegance wears a knit cap, sun glasses, and a long, tan coat. He looks into the camera. They both have their hands in their pockets.]

In this episode, I speak with writer and director Elegance Bratton and producer and costume designer Chester Argenal Gordon. In our conversation, we chat about how they met, their latest documentary project Pier Kids. and the joys and strength needed to stay true to themselves and their protagonists’ stories and voices. Because they are my favorite power couple, this episode’s song is Ashford & Simpson’s classic, “Solid as a Rock.”

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Episode 13 - Denise Hamilton - “We Shall Not Be Moved”

Episode 13 - Denise Hamilton - “We Shall Not Be Moved”

[Image Description: Denise Hamilton is pictured from the torso up. She was an aqua colored button down shirt, tortoise-shell glasses, and a black folded scarf around her head that has white lettering and pink, blue, and yellow graphics. She smiles slightly as her chin rest on her hand.]

In this episode, I speak with educator, filmmaker and former co-chairperson of BADWest: Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers - West, Denise Hamilton, In our conversation we talk about BADWest, her latest doc/interactive project Race Relay, and what it’s like to be educating the next generation of international documentary filmmakers at the New York Film Academy. Because Denise and her family has deep ties to the Black liberation movement that go all the way to Mary McLeod Bethune, the song for this episode is Mavis Staples rendition of the gospel classic, “We Shall Not Be Moved.”

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