Why diverse creators are better for film | Aletha Shepherd | TEDxReigate
Summary
TLDRThe speaker shares her journey from aspiring actress to passionate filmmaker, highlighting the power of authenticity in storytelling. She discusses overcoming industry barriers, the importance of diverse voices, and the profound impact of connecting with audiences through film. The narrative emphasizes the untapped potential of diverse storytelling and its commercial value, advocating for an inclusive cinematic landscape that enriches our shared human experience.
Takeaways
- đŹ The speaker initially aspired to be an actress but found her true calling in filmmaking.
- đ€ïž She grew up with a love for storytelling through film and TV, which allowed her to dream of visiting different worlds.
- đ« The film industry presented many barriers and stereotypes, which left her feeling frustrated and unsatisfied.
- đ Despite the challenges, she found success and validation through attending top drama schools and auditioning for roles.
- đĄ A pivotal moment in her life was when an industry professional advised her to write, direct, and understand the business of filmmaking.
- đ She took this advice and wrote her first script, which led to her first award at the LA indie film festival.
- đ„ The experience of filmmaking captivated her, and she went on to create multiple short films, finding joy in storytelling.
- đ Film, as a medium, allows for intimate and personal experiences, connecting with audiences on a deep level.
- đ° The speaker realized the importance of understanding the business side of filmmaking, especially for financing feature films.
- đ Authenticity in storytelling, particularly from diverse backgrounds, is crucial for resonating with audiences and is good business.
- đ The film industry has a significant opportunity to grow by addressing barriers to equality and inclusion, potentially unlocking additional revenue.
- đ The speaker emphasizes the importance of diversity in storytelling for cultural, societal, and commercial reasons, and the role of film in preserving humanity's legacy.
Q & A
What was the speaker's initial dream before life took her down a different path?
-The speaker initially wanted to be an actress.
How did the speaker describe her childhood environment and its influence on her interest in storytelling?
-The speaker grew up on a council estate where film and TV were her favorite pastimes, allowing her to dream of worlds and places she could only imagine.
What challenges did the speaker face when she first tried to enter the film industry?
-The speaker faced challenges such as a lack of connections, limited opportunities, and roles based on stereotypes that left her feeling frustrated and unsatisfied.
Why did the speaker decide to try her luck in Hollywood?
-The speaker wanted to break through the barriers she faced in the UK and hoped for a breakthrough in Hollywood.
What pivotal advice did the speaker receive from an industry professional that changed her life's trajectory?
-The advice was that to succeed in Hollywood, one must not only be an actor but also write, direct, and understand the business side of filmmaking.
What was the speaker's first experience in filmmaking, and how did it impact her?
-The speaker's first filmmaking experience involved writing a script about a personal experience of betrayal and shooting it with friends in one night. This experience sparked her love for filmmaking.
How did the speaker's first film project influence her filmmaking career?
-The film won her the 'Best Short Short' award at the LA Indie Film Festival, which solidified her desire to continue making films.
What realization did the speaker come to regarding the importance of authenticity in storytelling?
-The speaker realized that her most successful films were those based on elements of her life, highlighting the importance of authenticity in connecting with audiences.
Why does the speaker believe that diverse voices are crucial to the cinematic experience?
-Diverse voices can bridge gaps between different factors such as race, sex, religion, disability, and socioeconomic status, contributing to a more inclusive and representative industry.
What commercial incentive does the speaker mention for embracing diversity and inclusion in the film industry?
-The speaker mentions that the film and TV industry could potentially unlock an additional 10 billion in revenue by addressing barriers to equality and inclusion.
How does the speaker view the role of film in preserving humanity's legacy?
-The speaker views film as a timeless artifact that captures the essence of our era and preserves a piece of humanity for future generations to cherish and learn from.
Outlines
đŹ From Actress to Filmmaker: Embracing Authentic Storytelling
The speaker reflects on their initial dream of becoming an actress and how life led them to filmmaking. Growing up in a council estate, they found solace in film and TV, which opened up worlds they could only dream of. Despite their passion, the film industry seemed unattainable due to lack of connections. The speaker's desire to be seen and heard led them to acting, but they faced stereotypes and barriers in the UK and Hollywood. After a pivotal suggestion from an industry professional to write and direct, they discovered their true calling in filmmaking. Their first film, inspired by personal heartbreak, won an award at the LA indie film festival, igniting their passion for storytelling. The speaker emphasizes the power of film to create intimate connections with audiences, allowing them to see into characters' lives and feel less alone.
đ The Impact of Authenticity in Filmmaking and Representation
The speaker discusses the transformative power of authenticity in filmmaking and its impact on audience engagement. They share their journey of realizing the importance of diverse voices in cinema, especially as a black woman from a Caribbean heritage raised in Britain. The speaker's successful films are rooted in their lived experiences, highlighting the need for a multitude of authentic stories to resonate with a broader audience. They argue that diversifying cinema can bridge gaps between different factors such as race, sex, religion, disability, and social economic status. Citing studies that show the potential for growth in cinema attendance through representation, the speaker calls for more inclusive storytelling. They also point out the commercial incentive for embracing diversity, with research suggesting the film and TV industry could unlock additional revenue by addressing equality and inclusion.
đ The Power of Diversity in Storytelling and the Future of Film
The speaker passionately advocates for the amplification of diverse voices in the film industry, questioning why more isn't being done when there's a clear demand for representation. They argue that successful diverse stories are often seen as anomalies rather than indicative of broader demand. The speaker emphasizes the untapped potential of diverse storytelling and the commercial benefits of embracing diversity, citing research that suggests significant revenue potential. They call for an industry that celebrates humanity in all its forms, leaving a legacy of diverse stories for future generations. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of authenticity in storytelling and their commitment to supporting authentic voices in their role as a producer, aiming to connect with audiences on a deeper level and share stories that reflect the diversity of the human experience.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄAuthenticity
đĄPassion
đĄStorytelling
đĄDiversity
đĄBarriers
đĄRepresentation
đĄEmpowerment
đĄInclusion
đĄCinematic Experience
đĄHuman Experience
đĄFilmmaking
Highlights
The speaker's initial dream was to become an actress but life led to a different path in filmmaking.
Growing up on a council estate, the speaker found solace and inspiration in film and television.
The film industry seemed inaccessible due to lack of connections and perceived opportunities for the connected few.
A childhood desire to be seen and heard was evident in the speaker's early years.
The speaker faced industry prejudices and barriers, feeling frustrated by stereotypical roles in the UK.
Hollywood aspirations were met with disappointment despite networking and attending acting classes.
Self-doubt and questioning of potential arose from the lack of callbacks in Hollywood.
Success in drama school auditions silenced doubts about the speaker's abilities.
A pivotal moment involved advice to write, direct, and understand the business of filmmaking.
The speaker's first script was a personal story about a recent breakup, leading to their first award at the LA Indie Film Festival.
The exhilaration of audience connection through short films was addictive for the speaker.
Filmmaking's intimacy allows viewers to connect deeply with characters and stories.
The speaker realized the importance of creating stories that resonate with diverse audiences.
The business side of filmmaking was a necessary realization for making feature films.
A film sales agent's advice to draw from personal experiences led to a successful film pitch.
The speaker's films that resonated most were based on elements of their life, highlighting the power of authenticity.
Diversity in cinema can bridge gaps between different factors such as race, sex, and social status.
Studies show that diverse audiences are frequent cinema goers, indicating potential for growth with representation.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of diverse voices in storytelling for a more inclusive industry.
Recent progress in representation is noted, but more work is needed, especially for women in the industry.
The commercial incentive for embracing diversity and inclusion in the film industry is significant.
The speaker's commitment to authenticity and supporting diverse voices in their filmmaking journey.
Film as a legacy and a testament to the stories we choose to tell and the voices we choose to amplify.
The speaker's call to action to embrace authentic storytelling and the potential for film to inspire, educate, and unite.
Transcripts
[Music]
five years ago if you had asked me what
my dream was I would have said I want to
be an actress but life took me down a
different path one of discovering the
true power of letting go of a passion
and finding my true calling in film
making I would like to explore with you
today the idea of embracing our
authentic selves and the impact that has
on storytelling and The Human
Experience growing up on a council
estate in s film and TV was my favorite
pastime it allowed me into Worlds and
places I could only dream of going but
despite my passion for storytelling the
journey into the film business seemed
impossible no one I knew had any
connections or clue about the
business and opportunities seem reserved
for those with connections
from a young age I had an innate desire
to be seen and heard my parents have
this old footage of me from when I was
younger saying put the camera on me
Daddy put the camera on
me obviously I was obsessed with being
the center of
attention but it came to no surprise to
my parents when I decided I wanted to be
an
actress however as I ventured into
acting I encountered an industry that
was riddled with prejudices and
barriers at the time in the UK the roles
that were offered to me were based on
stereotypes and they often left me
feeling frustrated and wanting
more dissatisfied I wanted to try my
luck at Hollywood hoping for a
breakthrough but despite three and a
half years of efforts time and time
again I never got the call
back I attended all the acting classes
possible networked and I rubbed
shoulders with some of Hollywood's
greates but never seemed to make any
difference was it my
abilities doubt started to creep in and
I started to question my potential and
my
selfworth so on my return back to the UK
I auditioned for the top drama schools
and not only did I get into the final
round of one but two of the best drama
schools in the world so if I had any
doubt about my ability that definitely
silenced them it was at this time that a
pivotal moment occurred that changed the
trajectory of my life
forever seeking guidance from an
industry professional I asked for help
this is what they said this is Hollywood
you can't just be an actor you got to
write down direct you got to make your
own movies you got to know every single
thing there is to know about this
business then we'll see if you still
want to be an
actor lo and behold they were right I
had never written a script before so I
took their advice and wrote what I knew
a shitty guy at the time had just
cheated on me so I wrote about
that and I got a bunch of friends
together who are also discovering their
love for film making and we shot it all
in one
night this ad hoc first attempt of film
making was the making of
me we submitted that film into the LA
indie film festival and would you
believe it won me my first award best
short
short so I guess I have that shitty guy
to
thank after that award and my first
experience of film making I knew I
wanted more I must have made about 12
short films in the space of four years I
couldn't stop I was hooked having an
audience watch something that was in my
mind come to life and connect to it in
some way it was one of the most
exhilarating
feelings they may not have had that
exact experience or lived that life but
there was something about connecting to
a large number of
people it made you feel not so alone in
this world
I mean that goes across all forms of
Storytelling it's not just film but
there's something very powerful with
film because with film The one thing
about it is it's the only medium of
Storytelling where you can see and have
intimacy one way into seeing so you
could be with someone you can watch
someone and you can watch directly into
that character's eyes you can dream into
that space you can be with them
but they're not with you and that's
pretty impactful don't you think because
you can have these very intimate
personal
experiences from with a wide range of
people from different walks of life and
then you can put it back down and carry
on and there's something very powerful
about that now that I have the film
making bug I find myself wanting to
create and bring stories to life in ways
that resonate deeply with audiences
but as exhilarating as it is film making
comes with its
challenges especially when it comes to
financing I soon realized that if I
wanted to make a feature film I would
have to understand the business side of
things so I reached out to a film sales
agent with the thought that it's
probably best to ask people who sell
films for a living to see if my film
ideas are any good I spent hours
crafting ing my
pictures but none of them seemed to
capture her
interest as the last ditch attempt as
she was just about to leave I picture
something that happened to me years
ago I hadn't formulated it and I simply
expressed just what I had gone
through instantly she was she was like
if you can find money for that and get
it made I can sell that
film so here I was trying to come up
with cool ideas and all I had to do was
take a look at myself and take a piece
of my lived
experience my films that I have made
that have had the most success have been
based on elements of my
life they're successful because they're
based on
reality examples of what it's like to be
a
human armed with this knowledge I took a
look at myself
I am a black woman from a Caribbean
Heritage who was born and raised in
Britain experiencing firsthand the
impact of my authenticity and how it
connects and resonates with audiences
the most I began to understand the
importance of a multitude of diverse
voices and how important they are to the
Cinematic
experience by diversifying cinem we have
the opportunity to bridge gaps between
factors such as race sex religion
disability and social economical
status Studies have shown that black and
Asian audiences are already frequent
Cinema goers more than the national
average even when they don't see
themselves represented on
screen imagine the impact for growth if
they
did by authentically portraying diverse
backgrounds we not
only increased Cinema audience
engagement but we contribute to a more
inclusive and represented industry that
allows people to be seen and
heard it's evident that progress has
been made in recent years with a rise in
representation across various
demographics yet there is still still
more work to be
done women for example make up half the
population but then shouldn't 50% of
writers and directors be
women Barbie for is a great case study
who would have known that a movie about
a doll made for women by women would be
the highest grossing movie of last year
you all would have probably laughed
until it was
done but that film resonated so deeply
with audiences far greater than the
creators could have ever
imagined by expanding the landscape of
the types of Stories being told we can
truly showcase the depth and breadth of
The Human
Experience each unique perspective
adding another layer to the narrative
enriching our understanding of the world
and fostering
empathy cuz when you watch a film and
you find that sweet spot between the
familiar and the unique and you get to
experience it through someone else's
eyes that helps to build empathy and
understanding once I was immersed in the
industry I got to see the landscape for
what it truly is I understood the
barriers and challenges that
marginalized groups face when accessing
opportunities
And yet when diverse stories are
successful they're often seen as
anomalies or flues rather than
indicative of a broader demand for
representation this begs the question
why aren't we doing more to amplify
diverse voices especially when we know
they resignate more deeply with
audiences I would even go as far as to
say we've been excluded for so long that
when something goes well it's seen as a
surprise rather than a testament to the
untapped potential of diverse
storytelling but the reality is there is
a significant commercial incentive to
embracing diversity and inclusion in the
industry McKenzie and Company's research
shows that the film and TV industry
could potentially unlock an additional
10 billion in Revenue by addressing
barriers of equality and
inclusion so as a new filmmaker I would
be silly not to try and tap into that
abundant
opportunity so not only is telling
people's authentic stories important on
a cultural and societal level but it
also makes sound business
sense it's time that we acknowledge the
commercial value of
diversity and create an industry that
celebrates Humanity in all its
forms film is one of the great imprints
we leave on this Earth it's our Legacy
it's a testament to the stories we
choose to tell and the voices we choose
to amplify by capturing diverse stories
on film we preserve a peace of humanity
for future Generations to cherish and
learn from it's through storytelling
that we leave our mark on this world
adding to The Narrative of our shared
Human
Experience from the beginning of time
humans have used storytelling as a way
to communicate with each other from the
very first cave
drawings it allows us to showcase our
struggles triumphs Joys and sorrows in
this literature age where information is
ever more abund and present film acts as
a Timeless artifact that will
encapsulate the essence of our
era our cinematic Creations will last
way beyond our
existence so let's flip the script
together embracing our true selves and
becoming authentic storytellers by
expanding the
landscape of Storytelling our film
Legacy has the power to inspire educ at
and unite us all let's continue to allow
voices from all walks of life to shine
and celebrate the rich
tapestry that is the beauty of
humanity ultimately being uniquely
yourself is your storytelling
superpower as I continue on my film
making Journey I'm reminded of the
importance of my authenticity and saying
true to myself
as a producer I actively seek to support
people who have found their authentic
voice with each project I strive to
connect with audiences on a deeper level
sharing stories that resonate with The
Human Experience in all its
diversity and while I might be at the
beginning of my
journey I am
excited to see where it leads because I
know there is countless more stories
waiting to be
told thank you
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