Power: Being a Queer BIPOC Artist, 2022
Directed, Produced and Edited by Gladys Lou
Screening: Pride in the Square, Garden Square, City of Brampton (2022); CineAsian Films (2023); Story? - International Student Documentary Festival (2023); Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF), Quarterfinalist, Best Super Short Film Award (2023)
At the very heart of my artistic practice is the goal to create accessible art that examines the issues faced by those marginalized in our society, uplifting voices of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community. During my artist residency with the Brampton Art Organization, I have directed and produced Power: Being a Queer BIPOC Artist, a short documentary featuring interviews and behind-the-scene talks with 4 BIPOC performing artists from the 2SLGBTQ+ Residency. Due to the lack of films about the community, I created this documentary to properly represent the challenges members of marginalized communities face. I interviewed the artists. Their stories became the focus of the documentary, enabling viewers to empathize with their stories and therefore creating an inclusive experience for all participants. It was challenging to work with the interviewees due to the sensitive topics and personal information. Creating a safe space for participants involved careful planning and a lot of time prior to production. Post-production involved a lengthy careful selection of footages that would resonate with most viewers and still reflect the genuine struggles faced by artists from marginalized communities. The result was an inclusive experience for all concerned.
Power was screened at the Garden Square during the City of Brampton’s Pride in the Square event in June 2022, and the message has reached over three thousand people who have attended the event. I plan to reach out to more film festivals around the world in 2023 to spread my messages to a wider audience, inspiring more people and helping to improve lives by advocating for more resources and mental health support for members of marginalized community. I hope the documentary can connect people with similar experiences of marginalization, who could resonate with the interviewee’s stories.
Screening: Pride in the Square, Garden Square, City of Brampton (2022); CineAsian Films (2023); Story? - International Student Documentary Festival (2023); Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF), Quarterfinalist, Best Super Short Film Award (2023)
At the very heart of my artistic practice is the goal to create accessible art that examines the issues faced by those marginalized in our society, uplifting voices of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community. During my artist residency with the Brampton Art Organization, I have directed and produced Power: Being a Queer BIPOC Artist, a short documentary featuring interviews and behind-the-scene talks with 4 BIPOC performing artists from the 2SLGBTQ+ Residency. Due to the lack of films about the community, I created this documentary to properly represent the challenges members of marginalized communities face. I interviewed the artists. Their stories became the focus of the documentary, enabling viewers to empathize with their stories and therefore creating an inclusive experience for all participants. It was challenging to work with the interviewees due to the sensitive topics and personal information. Creating a safe space for participants involved careful planning and a lot of time prior to production. Post-production involved a lengthy careful selection of footages that would resonate with most viewers and still reflect the genuine struggles faced by artists from marginalized communities. The result was an inclusive experience for all concerned.
Power was screened at the Garden Square during the City of Brampton’s Pride in the Square event in June 2022, and the message has reached over three thousand people who have attended the event. I plan to reach out to more film festivals around the world in 2023 to spread my messages to a wider audience, inspiring more people and helping to improve lives by advocating for more resources and mental health support for members of marginalized community. I hope the documentary can connect people with similar experiences of marginalization, who could resonate with the interviewee’s stories.
