Today we’d like to introduce you to Kwanza Nicole Gooden.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey in LA as a filmmaker started simply with a wishful thought. After graduating with a degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University, I moved back home to Maryland and worked in DC as an editor and videographer for USA Today. Though I was grateful to be working at one of the nation’s top news companies, a year into the job, I realized that I longed to make content that I had more creative control over. On a daily basis, I was pretty bored and I would often spend time procrastinating in the office (don’t try this at home, kids).
One of those times I was scrolling through Facebook when I saw a sketch video that someone shared from BuzzFeed. The company was fairly new at the time, so I didn’t know much about it. But I loved the video, and their content seemed more aligned with what I desired to create at the time. So, I looked up the career page and saw that they had a paid video internship/fellowship program. But of course, it was in LA.
While in college, I had spent a summer in LA as an intern for a production company, and I left feeling like I’d eventually move back. But a cross-country move was a daunting step, so “eventually” felt a while away. That is until I saw the BuzzFeed opportunity. I knew that whether I worked for that company or not, I’d find greater joy in living and working amongst the like-minded, young creatives that lived all over Los Angeles, and that I would fully be able to pursue my ultimate goal of being a film director. A fire was ignited inside of me and right then and there, I decided that I would quit my job and move to LA. Two months later, I packed my Honda Civic to the brim and did just that.
Since making that cross-country trip in 2015, I’ve accomplished goals that I never thought I would. Though it took me three tries, I eventually did get that BuzzFeed job. After working there for 6 months I decided to go freelance so that I could find time to balance my personal projects. I’ve since worked as a producer, director, shooter, and editor for companies like BET Networks, All3Media, Complex, and Snoop Dogg’s digital media company, Merry Jane. I’ve also produced a feature film, worked on several web series, and have written and directed several short films. My most recent short film Token premiered at the Oscar-qualifying, Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival in NYC, and won Best Director. On a personal level, I also achieved a big goal of mine this past year (2018) when I purchased a home in East LA (with the help of my parents, lol). Currently, I’ve taken a small break from freelance (so that I can pay my mortgage, lol), and am working as the Head of Video for a growing love and lifestyle brand/website called blacklove.com, all while continually working on personal projects.
Though I still have many more goals that I’d like to accomplish, I am very proud of myself that I had the courage to take such a huge leap of faith. The life of a filmmaker is very difficult and there are many uncertainties, but I am beyond grateful to be doing what I love every day.
Has it been a smooth road?
My journey, thus far, has definitely not been a smooth road. From very early on in my LA experience, (like when I totaled my car a month after moving here) I’ve faced many challenges, big and small. For one, I moved here without a job and without any prospects. Getting that job at BuzzFeed did not quite turn out the way I expected it to. I was confident that I would at least get an interview, and I knew that if I got an interview, I would get the job. I had it all figured out and was certain that I would be moving to LA with a job at BuzzFeed already lined up. But, of course, the universe laughed, and I spent my first six months in Los Angeles jobless with only $2000 to my name. Luckily, I stayed persistent, and after the third try, I finally got that interview and I got the job.
Having a job at the internet’s most popular media company (and getting 15 minutes of internet fame lol) was a great way to kickstart my LA career. But after six months, I was released from the company, and that peak quickly turned into a valley. It took some time for me to re-establish myself as a freelancer, but slowly yet surely, I gained client after client and became fully self-sufficient while creating my own schedule and mostly working at home.
Not only did I work with major companies and crew on studio sets, but I also established many professional relationships with recognized industry names and worked closely on independent projects with them. I had developed a really great creative friendship with one of those names but after a year of working closely with them on several projects, our relationship took a drastic turn. They randomly accused me of stealing money from them and tried to open a criminal investigation on me and my boyfriend at the time – lol (I literally laughed thinking about this again because it’s so ridiculous). Because there was completely NO evidence to back up their claims, the investigation never took off and that person and their drama thankfully faded away. I was worried that because that person had more acclaim and a more established career than I did, that such a scandal could tarnish my reputation. So, it was, of course, a trying time for me. But luckily, it never hindered me from continuing to excel.
These experiences are just a few of the challenges that I’ve faced while pursuing my dreams. And I know that there will be many more challenges to come. As an artist, every day can feel like a challenge because our path to success is not as easily defined as say, a doctor or a lawyer’s path. There is a constant struggle to stay financially stable while still committing to your art. And getting to a place where those things are synonymous can often feel impossible. Especially as a black female filmmaker – the opportunities for me are not as abundant as they may be for my white male counterparts. But what brings me solace is truly believing that everything happens for a reason and that what’s meant to be will be. All I can do is stay true to myself, be kind to others, and actively try to be the best version of me. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to do just that.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Kwanza Nicole Gooden is a director, writer, producer, and editor from the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Her professional career began with great prestige when she interned at the 65th annual Cannes Film Festival. After receiving her B.A. in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University, where her thesis film won Juror’s Choice Award for best film, she moved from her hometown to Los Angeles to further pursue her filmmaking dreams.
Mere months after arriving in Hollywood, Kwanza landed a job at BuzzFeed Motion Pictures where she created digital content on a daily basis. Since then, Kwanza has created a successful freelance career, working as a producer, director, shooter, and editor for companies like BET Networks, All3Media, and Snoop Dogg’s digital media company, Merry Jane. Notable works from these companies include story producing for the black women focused television show, “Being” (BET Her, formerly Centric), and directing a four-part docu-series, “Prisoners of Prohibition”, highlighting the stories of people serving life sentences for marijuana crimes (Merry Jane). In addition, she’s worked on several independent projects including producing and editing a female-led, feature-length, social thriller (Take Back The Night, in production), and producing and co-directing a feature-length doc on the black beauty industry (Social Beauty, in production) with Andrea Lewis (Degrassi, Black Actress), and Bradford and Keesha Sharp (Lethal Weapon, Girlfriends).
What makes Kwanza passionate about film and television is its incredible ability to evoke thought and emotion from people of all walks of life. Female-centric stories, and those that highlight and battle social issues, have always been what she’s drawn to. Through film and television, she hopes to continue to provide a platform to help amplify the often muted voices of those that are underrepresented and misrepresented. Currently, she does just that by creating video content for blacklove.com, while continuously working on independent film projects.
Links to some work: vimeo.com/kgooden
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Absolutely. Women are well positioned for everything, let’s be real. But the truth is that there ARE way fewer opportunities for women, LGBTQ, and people of color in the film and television industry. To combat this, studios like Sony, Paramount, HBO, and NBC have all created inclusion and diversity programs to help catapult women and minority filmmakers into the industry. People like Issa Rae and Shonda Rhimes have created competitions and mentorship programs that give women the opportunity for hands-on experience. There are also several film grants that are specific to women which is very helpful for an independent filmmaker. There are film festivals that highlight the work of women filmmakers like Reel Sisters of The Diaspora and Lunafest. And there are many digital media companies that create female-driven content and actively promote female artistry (Hello Giggles, Girl Gaze, WhoHaha). There’s still an uphill battle for inclusion within the industry, and getting to this point has been a long time coming, but the world is finally beginning to recognize the value in women’s voices and now is the time yell as loudly as we can.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liketheholiday/
Image Credit:
Liana Lydia, Laurel Leaves, Mannon Butt
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