“It's not always expected of filmmakers to do stereotyped stories. But one has to be willing to travel to festivals and hook up with people, engage people intellectually about your passion and the kinds of films that interest you, and sooner or later you find people that have the same affinity that you have.” PeopleKindStoriesFilmPassionInterestWillingExpectedFilmmakerSooner Or LaterHookFestivalsAffinityHook Up Author:Haile Gerima
“There are filmmakers like me in different parts of the world that have a story they want to tell, and it's a story that comes out of a certain historical reality within their own life. Then you get committed all the way and however long it takes, stay very committed.” WorldWayWantLongDifferentStoriesRealityCertainHistoricalCommittedLike MeFilmmaker Author:Haile Gerima
“Most, especially the young filmmakers, do not see strength in communal or collective existence. They just think they're going to conquer the world as individuals. There is no world like that. In cinema it's always, even in Hollywood, a collective surge.” ThinkingWorldYoungIndividualExistenceHollywoodConquerCinemaFilmmakerCollectivesConquer The World Author:Haile Gerima
“When my film went to the Venice Film Festival and won the best script writing, the jury [prize], it didn't go to my head. I know how many black filmmakers that I am operating with whose name will never be mentioned. But I'm part of them in that silent existence.” KnowsWritingFilmNamesBlackExistenceKnow HowSilentScriptsFilmmakerPrizeFestivalsJuryVeniceFilm Festivals Author:Haile Gerima
“I think once you have films in certain festivals you begin to have name recognition, and there are possibilities. Especially for independent filmmakers, it's always good to try the international market because it doesn't have the same kind of baggage.” ThinkingTryingKindFilmCertainNamesPossibilityIndependentInternationalRecognitionFilmmakerFestivalsBaggage Author:Haile Gerima