Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie White.
Hi Charlie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I actually had no intention of making films. I’ve always done a lot of creative things like poetry, fashion design and a little music. But I never wanted to be a filmmaker. I was really more compelled by my passion for the story, the subject matter. Vocationally, I was a teacher at the time and I wanted to teach people about this story. I just realized that film was a platform that could allow me to teach from a bigger platform and reach more people. It was a platform that made room for all my creative passions to come together. Thankfully I was surrounded by a creative community that was able to teach me and help me make it happen and a spiritual community that help me stay the course when it was incredibly hard.
Of course, the pandemic (along with certain life changes) threw all of my plans for a loop as far as the release and promotion of the film the way I’d envisioned. So I haven’t gotten back out there with my second project as quickly as I’d hoped. But this pandemic threw major studios for a loop. So I’m keeping everything in perspective and approaching this next project with an updated strategy..
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This was absolutely not easy! LOL! I didn’t come into this with either money or experience. I was teaching and I’m also a wife snd mother already so I’ve had plenty of responsibilities that compete. Making one film was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do! I definitely can’t do the next project under the same circumstances. It will be a longer outlook to get it done and I will definitely prioritize securing funding so I can hire a lot more help.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a filmmaker with my first film under my belt (UNSUNG, The Movie) and planning for my next. Promoting my first film will be a long-term strategy contrary to my original plan due to the pandemic. But I’ve decided it’s important to move forward planning for my next film project as well. I also intend to release a spoken word album. I’m really proud of completing such an ambitious film project in the first place. It took everything out of me. (I wouldn’t recommend starting a film career with a historical period drama, LOL!).
I really want to tell stories that amplify the perspectives and humanity of those whose stories are normally filtered through someone else’s gaze. In order for me to do that, I have to be committed to holding tightly to my own agency and creative integrity and not just creating things I think will get an easy “green light” from major industries. I really want to figure out how to empower communities to “green light” what they want to see by giving them access to the process so they can support projects that appeal to them and reflect them authentically. I want to go to “the table” with community support behind me.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I always say “You may not have money, but do you have people?” I got all the way through pre-production with almost no money. I just had other people who believed in what I was doing. They are how this project got done. I got those people by sharing my vision. I just couldn’t stop talking about what I wanted to do. And it attracted the people who would want to be a part of it. So I would just say, make the phone calls, join the groups and just talk to anyone who will listen about what you want to do.
Contact Info:
- Email: Unsungthemovie2020@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.charliewhitemedia.com/
- Instagram: Instagram.com/iamcharliewhitemedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charliewhitedirector
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCACxI0O8LrgnKKpqJJb06GQ
Image Credits:
KK Horhn Photography (Krystal Kofie Horhn)
Denarius Allen Productions
JDubs Productions (Justin Wyatt)
Kim White
