The District of Columbia Office of Motion Picture and Television Development (MPTD) is pleased to honor Be Steadwell, emerging filmmaker, songwriter and producer, as the May 2014 Filmmaker of the Month. Be Steadwell is a native Washingtonian who discovered her love and talent for filmmaking through her songwriting and learning to shoot and edit her own music videos. Be describes herself as being “unapologetic in her filmmaking, telling stories with queer women of color at the center of the narrative.” Her work focuses on re-imagining the lives of her ancestors, the stories of marginalized DC residents, and creating futuristic love stories.
Be Steadwell founded fatback films, a DC-based film production team comprised of talented woman of color, while a student at Howard University's MFA film program. Her production team offers community workshops, events, and affordable services in film, music video, and event production.
Using rhythmic pacing, and melody driven narratives, Be's work highlights the parallels between music and film. One of her first works, a music-driven short entitled Bones tells the story of an enslaved woman who runs from her captors to find the woman she loves. Bones won Howard University's Paul Robeson award in cinematography in 2011. Be's next work, Red Sky Snow White featured an interpretation of the Brothers Grimm's Little Red Cap. In 2012, Red Sky Snow White was selected for the Black International Cinema Festival in Berlin and the Queer Women of Color Film Festival in San Francisco.
Be is completing her MFA in film from Howard University this month and is currently facilitating songwriting workshops and touring internationally. Her thesis, a short film entitled Vow of Silence, will have its premiere screening on May 19th at Busboys & Poets 5th and K at 6:30 pm. Vow of Silence tells the story of Jade, a heart broken composer who takes a vow of silence in an attempt to win back her true love. The film fuses characteristics of experimental, narrative and musical film.
Be currently resides in Ward 4 of the District of Columbia.
MPTD launched the Filmmaker of the Month initiative to feature a District-based filmmaker who exemplifies the vast amount of talent and creativity based here in the nation’s capital.
The Filmmaker of the Month initiative is part of MPTD’s mission to elevate the national and international profile of the city’s most talented filmmakers. Previous filmmakers honored include Indie Capitol web series creator Anthony Greene; Emmy award-winning filmmaker and founder of Video/Action Robin Smith; The Church Lady Cake Diaries creator Michon Boston; and Multiple CINE award-winning filmmaker Brad Allgood.
You can visit the Filmmaker of the Month section to learn more about Be and previous Filmmaker of the Month recipients.