Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel “birdfoot” Brown.
Hi Ariel “birdfoot”, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a storyteller — writer, filmmaker, and photographer. My artistic journey began with writing and transitioned into film. Much of my writing is focused on Black fantasy and sci-fi, imagining new worlds while unfolding the reality of ours. I’ve spent the past eight years working as an editor, rooted in documentary, a videographer, and a photographer. More recently I also moved into directing and producing, independently and for public media. My independent work is focused on Black and queer stories, uplifting ancestral knowledge, and internal and communal healing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Finding work that aligns with my vision was a struggle in the beginning. But more than that, understanding what my vision was so that I could even know what I was attracted to. Moving from taking any gig to taking gigs that align with me has been a great transition. I’ve been able to work on Black centered stories with largely Black crews, dispelling a lot of the isolation one feels when entering the film industry. Finding long term work in a gig economy among strikes and a recession has been a more recent struggle, but has also allowed me to focus more on my own projects, working with other artists, and birthing more necessary art into the world.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My writing expands fiction, poetry, and screenplays. As a filmmaker I work primarily in the documentary space, focusing on stories elevating Black experiences and the vastness of our being. Editing is one of my best strengths, breaking raw footage open to see its greatest potential and the heart of the project. I love getting to collaborate with other creators to craft their vision into a holistic story. My photography focuses on nature and myself as a subject, exploring more of my own mind, the world around me, and those who came before me. I also do event photography, capturing pure joy, magic, and creativity around Atlanta. My first work as a director is a dream-like music video for Hopefully by Airamas. Most recently, I produced and directed my first short film, a documentary entitled Three Heads that explores the crossroad of mental health and Afrospirituality.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
An easy way to collaborate would be to reach out on Instagram — @byarielbrown — or via email — brown.ariel.n@gmail.com — with the work you’re interested in creating, we can see if our ideas align, and create magic together. Supporting my work includes engaging with my posts on social media to keep up with my projects, and in the near future attending screenings of my documentary, and eventually streaming it and future works.
Pricing:
- Video Editing: $50/hr
- Event Photography: $50/hr
- Photo Editing: $45/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: www.byarielbrown.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byarielbrown/?hl=en
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/arielbrown061632
Image Credits
Ariel “birdfoot” Brown
