Supporting Black Filmmakers All Year Long
If you’re an indie film fan you have probably noticed the lack of people of color in the independent landscape. A study last year found that only six percent of American films have Black directors. It also found that Black cast and crew members are less likely to be hired when Black filmmakers aren’t working on the project.
Why does this matter? Everyone has a different way of breaking into the film industry, but many actors and filmmakers start with independent films. Whether they want to work in blockbusters or purely independents, starting with indie films is pretty common. They’re a great way for emerging filmmakers and actors to get their work seen without spending millions of dollars. However, indie films can be expensive, and take an incredible amount of work to get made.
Fundraising for independent films is difficult, especially for filmmakers of color. While lack of funding is only one of the many systemic issues facing Black filmmakers, it’s very important. The McKinsey study discovered that films by Black filmmakers get forty percent less funding than those by non-Black filmmakers even though they earn an average of ten percent more profit.
Independent filmmakers often rely on funding from international distributors to help fund their films. There’s a view in independent markets that Black-led features simply won’t do well internationally. Many believe that audiences in Europe and Asia don’t want to watch Black films (as if Black people don’t live there, like what?). One of the apparent reasons for this is that these films often feature actors that aren’t very well known in other countries. However, it could also be the lack of diversity in distribution teams. White distributors might be less likely to take a chance on Black films.
Everyone deserves to be able to tell their story, and diversity within storytelling can only enrich our lives. If Black filmmakers are getting shut out of the opportunities to tell their stories independently, how are they supposed to break into the industry?
There are many ways that each of us can help Black filmmakers. The first would be to help fund Black films if you’re able. GoFundMe, IndieGogo, Kickstarter, and many more fundraising websites offer ways to donate to independent films. Even if you’re only able to donate a few dollars, it can make all the difference. Sharing these pages can also help filmmakers spread the word about their fundraisers. If you’re a filmmaker yourself, hire Black talent. You can also have antiracism and diversity training for your cast and crew to make your set a more inclusive place.
Another way to help is by supporting Black films. Simply watching, reviewing, and spreading the word about Black films can help boost their popularity. Even just giving them a shout-out on social media helps. Black film festivals like the American Black Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, and Urbanworld Film Festival are great ways to support independent Black artists. Besides these, we all need to be pushing for more representation in Hollywood. There’s no reason that a film should have an entirely white cast and crew today.
The more we support Black films the more Black films will be able to be made.
