Conversations with Nana Adwoa Frimpong

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nana Adwoa Frimpong.

Hi Nana Adwoa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia in a family of five. My parents immigrated to Canada from Ghana as young people and then had my sisters and I in Canada. I lived the first part of my life in BC before moving to Toronto where I studied English at the University of Toronto, and then eventually moved out to Los Angeles to pursue my MFA in Film and Television Production.

I didn’t grow up believing that I’d pursue a career in film. I’ve always loved reading and movies but never thought about how that might translate into a career. In undergrad, I took a film themes and theories class out of interest and instantly fell in love with movies in a new way. Up until that point, I’d never thought about films beyond their entertainment value and that class blew my imagination open. Having the opportunity to sit in a class with fellow artists that were just as eager to unpack every moment of a film was energizing to me, and I knew that I wanted to be part of that world in a deeper way. I also discovered my love for moderating panels and interviewing artists while I was in grad school. I had always been part of facilitating conversations in one way or another, but my deep appreciation for the craft blossomed a few years ago.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all! At every step of my educational journey and professional career, I’ve had to confront some sort of hard thing (or, if I’m being honest, several hard things!). I grew up believing that my self-worth was tied to how well I did in school or whatever task was presented before me. I don’t think I’ve completely healed from that conditioning, but it’s certainly not what it was. That belief sustained me for some time until I realized that I couldn’t lean on a result to tell me how to feel about myself. Untying that web has been extremely difficult because in the process of doing that work, I’ve also had to come to deeper realizations that youth, privilege, and ignorance can shield you from. Nothing in our culture says that women, immigrants, or people of color should feel good about our accomplishments until we’ve gone above and beyond for them. You’re forced to chase ghosts you’ll never catch. It has taken years of coming up empty, alone, and afraid for me to realize that I have to create a new narrative for myself and start defining success on my own terms. The alternative is too costly.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently the Chief of Staff at Breakwater Studios, a production company that specializes in short documentaries. Prior to that, I studied film and specialized in writing, producing, and directing. I still consider that my creative outlet, and continue to be inspired by stories that center women and give voice to our experiences. I like to celebrate the seemingly mundane parts of life in my work. Films that shine a light on the ordinary, for example, a woman preparing herself for the day or taking the time to decompress after a highly emotional moment, are the types of things I am drawn to and long to create in my own work. I am a big fan of Garrett Bradley and Nadine Labaki’s films for this reason. I think both artists have a reverence for women and celebrate our lives in a way that feels familiar and safe.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve never believed that true risk is only ever about making a grand gesture. In my experience, a risk can be choosing to be still and not make a move at all. One of the biggest risks I’ve made was moving to Los Angeles 4 years ago to attend film school. I didn’t have any connection to the industry, and up until the time I applied, I had made 1 short film in a 6-week film and art class. To most people I told, I had nothing to prove that I could make films, but I knew that I had my love of story and my desire to create worlds on television that reflected the experiences of people I loved the most. I used to believe that the most compelling stories and the ones worthy of being told existed outside of my own family. I had convinced myself that the stories worth leaning into were ones that I had to go out and find. What’s interesting is that when I actually started making films, that completely changed. I immediately turned inward. My senior thesis, Healing in Color, about a group of Black women’s use of visual art as a mode of healing, came from my own desire to understand how other Black women were taking steps to heal themselves. I took a risk and made a film that I found interesting to get answers to the questions I had.

I think we all instinctively know when it’s time to take a leap. That doesn’t mean it isn’t scary! But, you know. And maybe that’s all we can hope for: that tiny nudge towards the next thing, whatever it may be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nanaadwoafrimpong
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nana-adwoa-frimpong-455400111

Image Credits
Personal photo credit: Sam Vladimirsky