Just your African girl here trying to one day sip tea with Tarantino and Rhymes.
Dear you,
I remember it like a repeating film: wearing my light blue overalls and just got my hair done, five big plots of braids sticking out at each angle imaginable. I was...an awkward little girl. In front of me played the film that would change my life forever, shaping my future desire to become a film director and screenwriter. I don’t remember the film title; in fact, I don’t remember much about the film at all. All I recall is that it was terrible. And this is coming from the girl who at the time thought the movie "Sharkboy and Lavagirl" deserved an Oscar.
I remember looking at the screen with my mouth wide open as the movie came to an end. I couldn’t believe that this film had made it to the big screen. I was upset because not only was the film terribly done, but it also had no message to take away. I write a lot, with time and effort, and always leave messages for my readers. I presented my very first poem, “Slave Free” in a competition and each person who heard it took it differently. Some took it as a piece about “bondage," while others saw it as a piece about “renewal” and “recognizing true beauty and potential." This reaction was amazing because it evoked emotion and started a conversation. It became my hope that my future films would evoke this kind of emotion, and cause little girls to be moved, for their minds to actively work as events on screen take place, instead of movies that cause little girls to stare blankly at a screen in disappointment. At that moment I knew I wanted the words I conceive on paper to become living and moving pictures for the world to experience; I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker.
My parents were not happy to hear this at first, as perusing arts is not a popular path to take in traditional African households. Honestly, right next to criminal activity, the arts as a profession is up there with a BIG no-no. However, I stood my ground. As the years went by my love for filmmaking and the arts grew stronger. Whenever I watched movies I began to take mental notes of little details—effectiveness of the script, camera angles, even down to what each character was wearing. I took note of what moments in my favorite movies left an impact on me, and how I could translate this into my work.
I came to realize the majority of this impact came down to the script the effectiveness of its message. As I grew up my writings did also, becoming more intense and descriptive. I wanted people to see what I see as I write. As my ideas became more creative and detailed, I knew that expressing myself through film was the best way to get my stories out to the world.
-E
