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"My journey towards a college degree is about to come to a close... and I just felt like I should share a part of my journey with you all. Below is an essay that I wrote for acceptance into the Creative Minds in Cannes program... hopefully this will shed some light on my background for your convenience..." P.Reels
In the beginning it was love. I was introduced to the art form called film and I fell in love. It was the year 1999 and my family and I had just moved to California (from Seattle) and once again I was the new kid. Then it happened. I remember it vividly. My teacher announced an extra credit opportunity filming the football team games and editing the highlights. I was very curious and decided to take on the position. That was middle school. The rest is history. The next few years I didn’t think much of it but in high school I joined a program that directly involved the art of the field of communications.
I remember creating a project about the Harlem Renaissance that was very special to me. I was able to learn about my 
history, which I felt was not something addressed in as much detail as I would like. They always told us little bits and pieces of information about Black History but my thirst for knowledge prompted my interest. My high school years birthed my passion for human rights, politics and knowledge. Film helps me to be able to tell stories, the stories of real people, the forgotten, which may have gone to the grave without my creative juices to cater to the fulfillment thereof.
I interned during the summer for National Youth Congress creating films for the purpose of preventing kids from doing drugs and educating the community on Lead Poisoning. More recently I interned at HRC (Human Rights Campaign) where I immersed myself in the knowledge of hands on experience in the studio. That experience opened my eyes to a whole new world.
I am a fighter and that is what attracted me to Howard University. Every obstacle that came up during my time here at Howard I turned it into a triumph. Howard is it's own community... a family... and even though we get frustrated sometimes with certain things we still won't go for anyone else bad mouthing our University. My passion for women’s rights landed me the Paul Robeson Award in 2007 for the short film “The Road Not Taken” adapted from Robert Frost’s poem with the same name. That film was special to me because it was a personal triumph over something in my past.
Film has been my refuge and the light at the end of the tunnel and the air that I breathe. Just like the poem I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference. More recently, in April 2009 the documentary "The Revolution Will Be Televised" was nominated for Best Production and Best Documentary for the Paul Robeson Awards which took place at the AFI Silver Theatre April 9th. The Revolution Will Be Televised received honorable mention for Best Documentary at The Paul Robeson Awards this year and is in competition for other film festivals throughout the nation. I am very proud and thankful that God intrusted me with such a gift to share with the world and will be forever indebted to people like my family who gave up many of their dreams to pour life into mine. I have been one of the fortunate few and can only hope that in the future I can give back to my community what they have given to me.
"It takes a village to raise a child..."
So I have a new outlook on life now I should say... I now understand that things don't always work out like you've planned but yet and still it is good to plan. I am sitting here in the Dean's office at Howard University waiting for some paperwork to be completed for funding for the Cannes Film Festival... or more importantly the Creative Minds in Cannes Program. I am realizing that the money is out there for whatever it is that you want to do... you just have to be a "Go Getter" and Go Get it!. So more importantly as a young independent woman it is important to keep that Go Getter spirit alive.
When I wake up in the morning I have to actually set my mind to do what I need to do. You don't just wake up with this kind of Go Getter attitude you must cultivate it daily. It is a day by day process like pruning of a tree. Being a student is a world full of stress that may lead to doubt at times but YOU have to be the one to stop those negative thoughts from actually blooming and embedding themselves into your conscience. I know that I have something special to share with the world but it is up to me to go out and show them and make myself visible.
I particularly like what Spike Lee said in his promotion for the Babelgum online film festival "Young people need vehicles ... there's a lot of talent out there... you can have a great film ... but if nobody can see it, it's not going to do that much good!" I believe that this is absolutely true that we have to be the vehicle or the promotion tool to get our stuff out there! No one is going to do it for you because NO ONE is more passionate about what you do than YOU! So get up and get out there and DO YOU! Do It! There are NO EXCUSES! I have developed this NO EXCUSES attitude due to the passing of many people close to me in the past few years... it's like this... once you realize that you are about to die you start trying to do everything that you've ever wanted to do in life! The thing is we all know we are going to die someday... but you don't know when! SO why not take the risk NOW ... TODAY! Why not? It is up to you... that is what I am doing and plan to do from this moment on! I am a Go Getter with a Go Getter Attitude! So develop it and let it be known! That is my motto... Purple Reels on the MOVE! My first step is major ... I will soon be distributing "The Revolution Will Be Televised" online on Amazon.com which will be available for purchase and viewing ON Demand!
BELOW IS A LINK TO THE PREVIEW FOR "THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED" AND ABOVE IS THE COVER FOR THE OFFICIAL DVD WHICH WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COMYOUTUBE PREVIEW CLICK HERE!
I wrote this piece a couple of days ago... hope you enjoy...WINGSAmazing I cannot breathe But then again I’m floating How did I get my wings I am not worthy of these things Yet and still I’m flying Over the same rivers and streams That brought me pain and grief Over the laughter of my enemies Over the stains of my past Amazing I cannot breathe Having a great feast With the author of my dreams He let me know he planned all of these things It was a set up for my destiny If you didn’t pass the test … How would you ever get your wings? I can still hear my mother saying “Testing… Testing…” Inside I would be screaming but I didn’t want to lose my blessing always remembering Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. Amazing I cannot breathe Floating on the agape Through the clouds I see My story … remembering all I’ve been through The secrets finally erased Because you have forgiven me Behold old things have passed away All things have become new And it’s amazing I cannot breathe Overwhelmed by your anointing Just like fire shut up in my bones I can’t help but tell it That was the premise of my story To go through all of these things So that I might travel and tell the world How I got my wings Written by “Purple” 3:01pmEST Washington, DC
© 2009
history, which I felt was not something addressed in as much detail as I would like. They always told us little bits and pieces of information about Black History but my thirst for knowledge prompted my interest. My high school years birthed my passion for human rights, politics and knowledge. Film helps me to be able to tell stories, the stories of real people, the forgotten, which may have gone to the grave without my creative juices to cater to the fulfillment thereof.
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