Meet Princess Garrett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Princess Garrett.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, I struggled with my self-esteem quite a bit because of the lack of representation I saw on screen with people that looked like me or came from similar experiences. My transition from my teen years to adulthood was sometimes a struggle because I often found myself trying to fit into boxes and constructs that weren’t necessarily meant for me. I had my phases with my hair, weight, friends, style and so much more but none of it really felt like it was for me. Being in this limbo of identity left me feeling exhausted and lost. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I realized the power that my own voice had. I decided to do my research paper on women behind the lens throughout history. It was an eye-opening topic to explore but I was left with two big takeaways; One, there weren’t many women behind the camera sharing stories, and two, if they were behind the camera, they were primarily white. This paper ignited a fire in me to want to share my own stories to put women of color and our experiences on screen.

As someone who is both Filipino and Black, it’s frustrating to not see yourself represented on screen accurately, positively, or as multidimensional. There’s just not one “version” of us, there’s a spectrum of our experiences and there needs to be more of our stories being told. I sometimes think people underestimate the power of content. Shows like “Insecure” and “Dear White People” have allowed me to feel good about standing in my truth and being unapologetic about how I feel. if it wasn’t for shows that put women of color at the forefront, I would continue to be what society deems as “acceptable.” I’m a director and writer with a goal of creating stories that amplify and highlight the experiences of being a woman of color in a world that still has so much to learn when it comes to our struggles and perspectives. When it comes to creating content, my hope is that a young girl will see it and be able to navigate the world a little easier knowing that there’s someone whose been through this experience and they were able to get through it. I am all about helping the next generation of women!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s never been a smooth road for me and I don’t think I would have it any other way because the challenges have definitely taught me an appreciation for the journey once I got to the destination. But being a young woman of color director/writer is sometimes difficult because people don’t always take me seriously, especially in an industry where things are still dominated by white men. I’ll walk into a room and people will look at me like I’m at the wrong place. I’ll talk about my accomplishments and they’ll be shocked as if I wasn’t capable of doing the things I said. I’ll talk about my future goals and future projects and they’ll dismiss it as something they don’t think is practical. I’ve probably heard it all, but it doesn’t discourage me.

I’ve honestly turned my attention away from trying to convince other people of my worth, you’ll lose your mind trying to be on everybody’s good side. I’ve found solace in people who just get it and if they don’t get it, they’re open to learning more which is a lot easier than trying to be liked by everyone. Another challenge is not doubting myself. A lot of times, I question the timing and progression of my journey because it’s a lot of patience and waiting you have to have for something to happen. There are periods where there’s nothing happening and then periods where it’s hectic. However, I know that what I am building and working on is going to have longevity and not be short-lived. My faith in God is what guides a lot of my decision making so knowing that I can leave my worries with him puts a lot more ease on my mind when I’m uncertain about life.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
What I am most proud of is a documentary my class and I worked on in college called Sankofa. It was a compelling story about the loss of identity and its negative systemic impact on individuals across the world, specifically Black men. It was such an important story to tell especially in a time where the value of a Black life was being questioned. What really stood out to me in the process of making this film is how we’re not only able to highlight the struggles of being Black but also shed light on the beauty of it too, something that we don’t see enough of in media. I am so so so proud that we were able to create something that can not only educate people but empower people. The film has won the gold medal at the Student Academy Awards and has been screened in film festivals around the world. That is the power of storytelling, the fact that people around the world can resonate with this particular story.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’d love to work with more people that have similar interests in storytelling. Social media is the best way to reach me!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://princessgarrett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pg.ii.iv/?hl=en