Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandrina Andre.
Hi Alexandrina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a director, writer, and actress based in L.A. I started off by making short narrative and documentary films in college. I debuted my first feature documentary last year called “One Life to Blossom”. I have wanted to make films and write for tv ever since I was a kid. I used to watch shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show, True Life on MTV, Moesha, and Living Single, and then I would use my Barbie dolls to create stories like the ones I watched on TV. That’s when I knew that I should be a writer and entertainer. I recently got my “Marie Condo” on and found one of my old Jr teen pageant questioners, on it I had written that my biggest goal in life was to graduate college and become a film director, it was a full circle moment for me because I think I would have made 12 year old Drina proud.
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?
It has not been a smooth road, especially as a black woman in this world. Everyone, regardless, is going to go through some type of struggle. To me, what’s important is not letting those moments define you. I could tell you all countless stories of racism, colorism, sexism, and all the isms that I’ve encountered in my life. I could describe all the awful experiences and bullying that I had to go through with family, at school, college, etc., but looking at where I’m at now, all those things don’t define me nor did they ever define me. I’ve overcome everything people and life tried to put on me and will continue to. It took a lot to get through the hurdles and right now I’m focused on the road ahead.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The most successful moment of my career so far has been releasing my feature documentary One Life to Blossom which is currently streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV! It follows the life of black trans activist Blossom C Brown as she undergoes face feminization surgery a year before protesting at the CNN town hall. It premiered at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival and I also recently won the 2022 Telly Award for best online direction. This whole experience has been a full-circle moment for me. I did this movie with mostly self-funding and filmed it on my friend’s iPhone in 4K, but I knew the story was imperative to tell especially with BLM and Black trans women dying in numbers. It just shows that when you have a passion and surround yourself with the right people you can really make something powerful.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If I could give any advice to people out there that want to direct a film or documentary I would say don’t wait for someone to give you an opportunity. If you have an idea or you want to create your film or project just go out there and do it yourself. If I had waited to continue to apply for fellowships I would have missed so many important moments. If you can get funding great! But one thing I learned is to pave your own way and then make it work. If you know you don’t have a lot of equipment or money write a story or document a story that surrounds the environment that you have. Make do with what you have and you will get there in time.
Contact Info:
- Website: alexandrinaandre.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrina.andre/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexandrinaAndre
Image Credits
Photography by: Field.wav (Joshua Morales)
