26 Nov Pandemic and Community Filmmaking
4 Valuable Insights from an Emotionally Intelligent Filmmaker
(8 minutes of value)
Amandla Baraka: Filmmaker and Photographer
Amandla Baraka is quite the filmmaker. Self taught, and very emotionally intelligent, she joined me to talk about her experience in the industry specifically during the time of the pandemic.
If you like what you are about to learn check out the full video:
1.Community is a shared way of viewing the world
Community is a shared way of viewing the world.
Amandla had a lot to say here. I’ve never been more impressed with a definition of community.
Community is circumstantial or made.
If it’s made then
Community is a shared way of viewing the world.
It’s not about skin color or religion.
Community creates connectedness.
Connectedness is the most valuable thing in the world.
Community is of the soul
Where people argue with her
Yet still see her
And let her see them
2. Perception judges a book by it’s cover
Amandla, having a strong resume and work ethic got turned down without her interviewer even looking at the resume.
She would be asked instead: can you lift 50 pounds?
She’s also a woman of color so more potential perceptions that we can fill in.
She genuinely asked “Are things supposed to be fair?”
Probably not, reality.
But that never stopped her from fighting to tell the stories she wanted to tell. Her unique experiences made her qualified to tell powerful stories that others could not and those stories are pretty cool.
Take a look:
3. You don’t need to go to school to become a filmmaker
Many ask the fair question as to whether it’s worth shelling out thousands of dollars for a filmmaking diploma? Back in the day it was more essential….few could get their hands on a camera, or find the necessary connections needed to succeed.
That’s exactly what a college diploma enabled students to get: experience and connections. Now it’s still the case. Not hating on college, just saying it’s not the only way to hit those filmmaking credentials.
In Amandla’s case, her curiosity fueled her. She was studying journalism but had a curiosity for film. She scoured the internet referencing USC recommended books and began her quest for knowledge. She multitasked in addition to her major to give herself the opportunity and credentials to pursue film. Her first job was something related to fashion and social media.
If I wasn’t so lazy I’d go back and find the exact title. She built from there. Learning as she went, and adding skills via credible recommendations. Now she’s directing commercial work. She told me “curiosity will lead you to some of the most beautiful places.’”She’s the perfect example.
She also learns something new everyday.
4. The early days are hard, they’re supposed to be
I love romanticizing the early days. I’m in them right now. But they’re not easy. I romanticize them 10% of the time and complain about them the rest. I know I’m going to look back on them with an indie filter but for now, for now I’m grayscale.
Anyways, Amandla reminisced on living in New Jersey with her dad and best friend, the taxing commute into the city (play some rocky training music as your read this part), the long hours she worked, and the occasional night she spent sleeping at the train station because she missed the last 2:00 AM train because of work. However she loved these times. She got to experiment, find herself and creative style, and develop confidence in herself through trial and error. Diamonds are made under pressure.
“The early days are hard, they’re supposed to be”.
