Conversations with Redd Coltrane

Today we’d like to introduce you to Redd Coltrane

Hi Redd, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My artistic journey actually began in classical music! I started playing the piano at the age of 6, then picked up the Double Bass when I was 9. For the following 13 years, I played in local, regional, and national orchestral ensembles until I started college in New York City at Columbia University and The Juilliard School. I took up a content creation job for my school’s admissions office to make some extra money, which was inadvertently my first foray into anything resembling filmmaking.

By pure coincidence I found myself attending a lecture by a nuclear physicist who wanted to make a documentary about his work. He said “if there are any filmmakers in the room, please find me later!” Despite only knowing how to use iMovie, I sashayed up to him after the lecture, introduced myself, and within a week was charged with directing a feature length documentary! I immediately checked in to YouTube University and learned everything I could about editing softwares, storytelling, cinematography, interviewing, sound, documentary production, cameras, lights–you name it. Before I knew it, two years had passed and I had directed, shot, and edited a feature film! By that point, I was head-over-heels in love with filmmaking and knew I had to learn everything I could, which led me to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, where I am only months away from completing my MFA in Film & Television production.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I felt completely out of my depth when I first moved to LA. I had spent over a decade learning my craft as a classical musician and performer, so transitioning to a brand new art form was really scary. I knew I had a lot to learn and it was the first time I had ever experienced imposter syndrome, especially around so many talented filmmakers in my program. I also wouldn’t have considered myself much of a film buff prior to coming here, so my film literacy was (and maybe still is) something I’m insecure about. On top of all that, I have often felt lots of pressure to find my voice and prove that I made the right decision leaving everything behind in NYC. I have found that because I am a Black Queer filmmaker, many people have a lot of ideas on what kind of films or TV shows I “should” be making. A big part of my maturing as an artist has been finding the freedom to make whatever feels right to me regardless of what others think.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to filmmaking. Because my filmmaking practice began with me playing many roles for one production, that has only continued to grow as I make more films. That said, I am most often producing, writing, or directing the projects I work on these days.

At the risk of sounding cheeky, I’ll say that my work is all about love. Not romantic or platonic love, but the perfect energy that connects us all that writer bell hooks calls “life-force love.” The stories I care most about are those that promote healing, mutual respect, and harmony within our society. Our industry has a very troubled history of glorifying loveless behavior and I’m proud to be part of a new generation of filmmakers who are changing the tide. If life imitates art, as practitioners of one of the most powerful art forms on the planet, it is our duty to make art worth imitating.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can always find out what I’m up to on my website, reddcoltrane.com, and can find me on all socials @reddcoltrane. Shoot me an email or a DM, I always answer!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://reddcoltrane.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/reddcoltrane

Image Credits
These are all personal pictures.