Episode 20 - Victoria Thomas - “Survivor”
[Image Description: Victoria is pictured from the torso up and sits in front of a starry, black background that is just out of focus. Her hair is slightly longer than shoulder length. She wears a red and black blouse and red lipstick. She smiles at the camera.]
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and educator Victoria Thomas. In our conversation, we chat about her latest project, Born in New York, Raised in Paris, her teaching at the London Film School, the production company she founded, the Polkadot Factory, and the challenges of navigating a documentary and narrative film industry rooted in a white supremacist work culture that is resistant to change. Because just like many Black women, Victoria finds being in these spaces can be taxing and exhausting, to say the least, this episode’s song is Destiny Chid’s “Survivor.”
Episode 19 - Lindsey Dryden & Day Al-Mohamed - “Say My Name”
Photo Credit: Rachel Ellis
[Image Description: B&W photo. Day is pictured from the torso up. She sits on the ground with her dog, a light-colored Labrador retriever named Veni. Day has a pair of sunglasses on top of her head and wears a denim-like jacket over a dark-colored top. She wears a metal necklace as she looks at the camera.]
Photo Credit: Jo Irvine
[B&W photo. Lindsey is pictured from the chest up smiling with her body turned slightly as she faces the camera. She stands in an open field, her hair blowing in the wind. She wears a dark velvet-like top.]
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker Lindsey Dryden and filmmaker, novelist, and podcaster, Day Al-Mohamed. In our conversation, we chat about Day’s advocacy work in Washington, D.C., Lindsey’s work as a producer of the film Unrest, and the organization they co-founded with the Oscar-nominated director of Crip Camp, Jim Lebrecht and Alysa Nahmias, FWD-Doc. FWD-Doc is committed to empowering filmmakers with disabilities and part of that advocacy is being bold saying the words “disability” and “disabled.” With that said and the spirit of naming what is, is, this week’s song is Destiny Child’s “Say My Name.”
Episode 18 - Chloë Walters-Wallace - “Take Me Home, Country Road/West Jamaica”
Photo Credit: Aura Aura
[Image Description: Chloë is pictured from the neck up as she looks straight into the camera. She wears a black top and black and gold earrings. Her hair is an Afro parted on the side.]
In the this episode, I speak with Firelight Media’s Manager of Artists Programs, Chloë Walters-Wallace. In our conversation, we chat about what got her started in the documentary field, her work at the Tribeca Film Institute and the New Orleans Film Society, and some of Firelight’s new initiatives for BIPOC filmmakers. Because she is originally from Jamaica, this episode’s song is Toots & the Maytals, “Take Me Home, Country Road/West Jamaica.”
Episode 17 - Rüzgâr Buşki - “İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir/Consistent Fantasy is Reality”
Photo Credit: Sibel Özen
[image Description: Rüzgâr stands by a large rosebush and leans their head into a large flower. Behind them is a high fence with flowering vines. The wear a multicolored shirt beneath a red jacket.]
In this episode, I speak with artist and filmmaker Rüzgâr Buşki. In our conversation, we talk about immigrating from Instanbul, where to get great Turkish food in Berlin, discrimination in Germany, and their current project, I’ve Got the Power. Because I’ve Got the Power explores how imagination and fantasy can be used as tool to process and heal grief and be basis for creating a new reality, this episode’s song is Gaye Su Akyol’s “İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir/Consistent Fantasy is Reality.”
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.”
Episode 15 - Lillian Benson, A.C.E. - “Wanting Memories”
Photo Credit: William Stetz
[Image Description: Lillian is pictured from the torso up. She wears a dark brown button down shirt, red lipstick, hoop earrings, and a beaded necklace with a metal amulet. She sits in an empty theater with red chairs. She smiles at the camera.]
In the final episode of 2020, I speak with the director and editor, Lillian Benson. In our conversation, we talk about when she met the Civil Rights icon, Congressman John Lewis at the Academy Awards, the film she edited about his life, Get in the Way: The Journey of John Lewis, her documentary editing career, and her transition to the narrative world. Lillian’s commitment to integrity in her work and the telling Black stories is rooted in her keen sense of responsibility - a responsibility of truth-telling and of the reclamation buried and denied of histories. Because in all her work, she strives to help all of us remember who we truly are, this episode’s song is Ysaye M Barnwell’s “Wanting Memories.”
Episode 14 - Set Hernandez Rongkilyo - “A Thousand More”
[Image Description: Set is pictured from the torso up. They have a beard and wear glasses and a red shirt. The shirt has black text that reads “I AM UNDOCUMENTED.” The background is out of focus.]
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and co-founder of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Set Hernandez Rongkilyo. In our conversation, we discuss their filmography the ways undocumented filmmakers are demanding authorship and agency in the telling of their stories. Because Set is a very proud Pilipino/Bicolano, this week’s song is Love, Anthony, & Maya’s “A Thousand More” from the album Rock the Mic for Human Rights in the Philippines: Stop the Killings.
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.”
Episode 12 - Bo McGuire - “Fancy”
Photo Credit: Carl Conway Maguire
[Image Description: Bo McGuire is pictured from the chest up. He wears a black hat, pink blazer, navy blue and white patterned shirt, and a bolo tie. He holds the blazer by the lapels as he looks into the camera.]
In this episode, I speak with the writer, director, and producer of Socks on Fire, Bo McGuire, winner of the Best Documentary Feature Award at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Since Bo is a country boy at heart and Reba McEntire is one of his favorite artists, this episode’s song is the country classic, “Fancy.”
Episode 11 - Brigid O’Shea - “Down Under”
Photo Credit: Susan Jennichen
[Image Description: Brigid, a white woman with long brown hair swept to one side, is pictured from the torso up. She wears a white t-shirt and black coat. She smiles at the camera. The dark colored brick background is slightly out of focus.]
In this episode, I speak with the Head of Dok Industry Programme at Dok Leipzig and founder of the Documentary Association of Europe (DEA), Brigid O’Shea about what brought the Australian transplant to Germany and the upcoming festival, the oldest documentary festival in the world. Because she is an Aussie, this week’s song is Men at Work’s “Down Under.”
Episode 10 - Jamie Starboisky - “Live Your Life Be Free”
Photo Credit: Jamie Starboisky [Image Description: Jaime stands against a red brick wall. He has a beard and wears a black sleeveless sweater with white heats, spades, diamonds and a red button shirt.]
In this episode, I speak with director, creative producer, writer Jaime Starboisky about the Queer Media Film Festival and his virtual reality project, Therese & Peta: A Tale of Two-Spirits. In 1991, the two protagonists of the project, Therese & Peta, did a road trip back to Peta’s home on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Because in conversations with Jaime, Peta described that time as a moment they felt free, this week’s song is Belinda Carlisle’s “Live Your Life Be Free.”
Episode 9 - Claire Aguilar - “A Meeting in the Ladies Room”
[Image Description: Claire Aguilar is pictured from the shoulders up She stands in front of a screened window and a multicolored abstract painting. She smiles.]
In this episode, I speak with award-winning film curator, film festival director and television commissioning editor and broadcaster, Claire Aguilar about her career in documentary and her recent work with the American Film Showcase Pakistan. Because we first began working together, we always seem to run into each other to and fro from the restroom, this week’s song is Klymaxx’s R&B classic, “Meeting in the Ladies Room.”
Episode 8 - Fallon Young - “Walking to New Orleans”
(Image Description: Fallon Young stands slightly to the side and smiles at the camera. She has red hair and wears a black dress that has a black and gold design, and a gold necklace.)
In this episode, I speak with Fallon Young, Executive Director of the New Orleans Film Society about the plans for the New Orleans Film Festival and other programs in the time of COVID-19, “regional” documentary filmmakers, the George Floyd Uprising, and the specific, anti-racism remedies that are being put into place. Since the motto of the Crescent City is, “Laissez les bon temps rouler,” and there is no better place to be, just let the late, great Fats Domino take you there with the classic song, “I’m Walking to New Orleans.”
Episode 7 - Dante Alencastre - “Finally”
Photo Credit: John Skalicky
[Image Description: Filmmaker Dante Alencastre is shown from the chest up and at a slight angle. He wears a black T-shirt. In the background is a black chair with a patterned pillow. He smiles.]
In this week’s episode, I speak with the filmmaker, Dante Alencastre, director & producer of AIDS Diva: The Legend of Connie Norman. This episode’s song is one of Connie’s favorites, CeCe Peniston’s “Finally.”
Episode 6 - Lily Zepeda - “Waterfalls”
Photo Credit: Lily Zepeda
[Image description: Lily Zepeda pushes her hair back as she stands on a sidewalk. She wears a green top.]
In this week’s episode, I speak with Lily Zepeda, director, producer & writer of Mr. Toilet: The World’s #2 Man. Because she is a self-proclaimed of the child of the nineties, this week’s song is TLC’s “Waterfalls.”
Episode 5 - Ani Mercedes - “Money”
Photo Credit: Aymeé Cruzalegui
[Image description: Ani Mercedes smiles. She wears a black top.]
In this week’s episode, I speak with Ani Mercedes, CEO, Founder, & Impact Producer at Looky Looky Pictures. Because she’s a fearless hustler, this episode’s song is Cardi B’s “Money.”
Episode 4 - Sonya Childress - “I Am the Black Gold of the Sun”
[Image description: Sonya Childress smiles. She wears a multi-colored top.]
In this episode, I speak with Sonya Childress, Senior Fellow at the Perspective Fund, about her pioneering work in the field of documentary and impact. Because in all her work, she centers People of Color and Blackness, in particular, this week’s song is the New Rotary Connection’s classic, “I Am the Black Gold of the Sun.”
Episode 3 - Godisamang Godi Khunou - "Lady"
Photo Credit: Leeroy Jason
[Image description: Godisaman Godi Khunou sits on a beige chair. She is shot from the torso up and has locs. She wears a white long sleeve shirt. Shadows fall across her face.]
In this episode, I speak with Godisamang Godi Khunou founder of Mogale Pictures, a production company dedicated to creating content from the Pan African and Pro African Feminism perspective. Because she is in late development on her first film Black Women & Sex, this week’s song is Hugh Masekela’s remake of the Fela Kuti classic “Lady.”
Episode 2 - Emily Cohen Ibañez & Ashley Solis Pavon - "It Takes Two"
Photo Credit: Andrew Kemmis Photography
[Image description: Ashley Solis Pavon sits in a chair. She wears a grey sweater and blue jeans. Emily Cohen-Ibañez sits next to her on the arm of the chair to Ashley’s right. She wears a beige sweater, a burgundy blouse, and blue jeans. The background is black.]
In this episode, I speak with director/writer, Emily Cohen Ibañez, and protagonist/writer Ashley Solis Pavon about their upcoming project Fruits of Labor and what it’s like to collaborate on the filmmaking process. Like Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock say, “It Takes Two.” I spoke with them at the 2020 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.
Episode 1 - Tracy Rector - "I'm Every Woman"
Photo Credit: Petter Cohen
[Image Description: A black and white photo of Tracy Rector. Her head is turned slightly to the left and her hands are in her pockets. She wears a dark-colored coat and dress. The background is made up of gauzy materials of varying textures.]
In this episode, I speak with Choctaw/Seminole co-founder of Longhouse Media, Tracy Rector about her filmmaking, her new gig with Nia Tero and, her mentorship with the 4th World Indigenous Media Lab. With everything that she does, like Chaka Khan and Whitney Houston, Tracy’s informal mantra should be “I’m Everywoman.” I spoke with her at the 2020 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.