I feel responsible for fostering the development of future documentary filmmakers and researchers, so I started Collected Voices Ethnographic Film Festival to highlight the films created by young people, anthropology professors, and professional filmmakers. I have worked with many producers over the years, and I wanted to give them a platform to screen and discuss their work beyond awards season. I worked with Community Filmworkshop and Reel Black Filmmakers to build an audience for ethnographic films from Chicago and worldwide.
I know some people enter the world of documentaries hoping to hit it big and get rich! But you might want to reconsider if that’s your goal. While it’s easy to look at the Hollywood landscape and feel like the industry is shrinking, I see more demand for emerging documentary filmmakers than ever. Hollywood budgets are bloated, have huge crews, and unpredictable schedules. But, the anthropological approach offers smaller production crews, limited schedules and budgets, and more authentic moments for a greater social impact. There are still opportunities in LA for passionate, dedicated filmmakers willing to give their all to produce their films.
It’s essential that media education begins in elementary and that more young people have the tools and resources available in their schools and youth centers to experiment with filmmaking. People now make entire films with their phones and constantly post narrative scenes on their IG. Knowing filmmaking allows us to challenge notions of who gets to record history and push the boundaries of storytelling with less expense. Sure, not everything is good, but I find amazing gems of ethnographic media every day online! I know that the power to film is in the hands of the masses more than ever before. So, what story are you documenting?
Ife Olatunji, MA, BA, is a visual anthropologist, documentary filmmaker, writer, and producer. They are the daughter of UCLA, LA Rebellion filmmaker Iverson White, and musical theatre actress & activist Una Vanduvall. Ife has researched in Brazil, Ghana, India, and more, producing photography and films through ethnographic observational fieldwork, and is currently an independent producer and film critic in Los Angeles, CA. Visit FreedomLoverFilms.com and LinkedIn for more information.
