By Patrice D. Bowman
Since graduating with a B.A. in Film Studies in 2015, there have only been two instances where I asked myself if I should continue to work in entertainment.
The first instance occurred in 2016, when I was a Post-Production Assistant for a reality television show in Connecticut. While I learned a lot about post-production for a network television series and was mentored by several decent professionals, the rest of the experience was...not great. Racist and sexist micro-aggressions (and macro-aggressions), ever-changing personnel, and, towards the end, late payments all negatively affected my outlook on working in film and television.
I adore the creativity and power of media to impact how we see ourselves and the world. But did I want to continue to work in this field and hate it as a result of the questionable working conditions? I didn’t have much luck getting non-media jobs, so I had to work on smaller, temporary projects. Slowly, I became more involved with various filmmaking communities online. Because I worked with people who cared about diversity and inclusion in media and who actively worked to research and tackle pay disparities, I decided to stick around and see if my circumstances would improve.
Once I moved to New York City in 2017, my world expanded. I worked at several companies that, while not perfect, cared somewhat about decent work environments and cultivating their employees. For the first time, I felt like a part of a team as I worked on television shows, commercials, and feature films in different capacities (Dailies Technician, Finishing Assistant Editor). At this time, I joined Filmshop and its community of like-minded individuals who not only worked hard in order to succeed in this industry, but believed in crafting meaningful stories and improving the media landscape. I continued to expand my business and provided post-production services to fellow marginalized filmmakers. I connected to more groups that worked to change media for the good via grants and mentorship programs. I was growing as a business owner, a filmmaker, and a post-production professional.
And then COVID-19 hit in 2020. This was the second instance.
My full-time job furloughed myself and many others. Entertainment has always been a fickle business, but shutdowns caused by COVID-19 were a harsh reminder of how easily I could lose my place at a company. Unemployed and isolated, I felt uncentered. Then I read about Ahmaud Arbery’s death at the hands of vigilantes, Breonna Taylor’s murder in her sleep and George Floyd’s slow death at the hands of law enforcement. I was angry, depressed. And, again, I questioned my career choice. Did the films that I create really mean anything? In 2021, I had to relearn the power of media. Even if my work was small, I could work with others to contribute to a larger conversation about the power of sustained hope, social justice, and organizing people for the greater good.
As a result, I wrote Under the Sun After the Wind, an experimental adaptation of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is one of the most unique parts of the Bible. In a text filled with assurance about how to live life, Ecclesiastes questions everything. Why do the good suffer? Why do evil deeds seem to go unpunished? Is life truly meaningless? This was the perfect time to create a short film that captures the ambivalence of human life at this time. In the short film, an isolated Black woman lives in a barren white room. She can only interact with the outside world via her cell phone. Images of COVID-19 and police brutality project into her room. Will the woman survive?
In the larger scheme of things, my film production was a minor accomplishment. But knowing that I contributed to a production that provided a safe environment, gigs for a diverse group of people, and that told a relatable story felt like a small victory to me. I was able to reinvigorate my filmmaking skills and connect with old and new collaborators. We bonded over our similar concerns and hopes. I felt less alone because I knew others that were struggling as well. There was still meaning in the creation of media. Though fear, cruelty, and injustice plague our lives, we can’t afford to sink into despair. Too much is at stake.
TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/598390283 BTS VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/607750209
My Support Groups:
https://www.blackfilmspace.com/
https://www.blacktvfilmcollective.org/
http://www.bluecollarpostcollective.com/
https://browngirlsdocmafia.com/
Hue You Know: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1625996114375097/about
https://www.thelightleaks.com/
https://nycwomenfilmmakers.org/
https://www.postnewyork.org/
https://www.womennmedia.com/
https://newlife.nyc/ (Church community that I’m a part of and do audio-visual work for)
PATRICE D. BOWMAN
Director, Editor, Colorist
Patrice D. Bowman is an award-winning filmmaker, editor, and colorist. She is the owner of the production and post-production company Bowman Pictures. She received a B.A. in Film and Media Studies from Yale University in 2015.
Currently, she’s submitting her new short film, "Under the Sun After the Wind," to a variety of film festivals. Her previous short film, "Saturday Grace" (2019), was selected for the Academy Award-qualifying Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series and won awards for directing, editing, and cinematography at other festivals. She is now in pre-production for a proof-of-concept horror short, "Father’s Shadow."
Her color grading work can be seen in a variety of places, from PBS Reel South to Facebook's branded content. She also edits a wide range of projects, from independent shorts to music videos for artists at major labels.