Palm Springs First Black Female Filmmaker, Gina Carey Makes Black History
AGE TO AGE- by: Veronica Ogunbolarin
All through the era and genre, history is made continuously in the American
movie industry, Hollywood – The oldest film industry where several styles of
movies and production companies emerged. Several prominent actors, directors,
editors, and filmmakers have come up to hold the mandate and will to create the
perfect atmosphere during the period of movie production. Every one of these
people has their roles to play for the successful completion of any movie from
the Storywriter to the Director and then the Actors. Let’s not forget the
Cameramen and Editors too; they are all essential parts of the process.
Despite each cast and crew have their specific roles to play during movie
productions, some people have two or more job descriptions such as the
filmmakers- In layman’s terms; anyone who can tell a story with a camera.
However, don’t we all have a story to tell? It is how we show them that
determine people’s reactions, whether good or bad. So, there is more to just
saying a story. As a filmmaker, they are trying to say something that they
would like to see hence create it into existence that is unique- the uniqueness
which is often up for debate. They are one who can lead with a goal and vision
to fulfill the collective purpose. They are involved in the scripting,
budgeting, casting, hiring, pre-production, production, post-production,
release processes, all the behind the scene works, but in some cases, some even
appear on the scene.
The history of film making began with the Lumiere brothers in France;
Auguste Lumiere and Louis Lumiere and Edison in the US. They are said to be the
first filmmakers in history- from their innovations to their narrative film
making and over time through civilization and technology, we have seen several
records of success stories of different filmmakers among the different genres,
race, gender, social and religious boundaries. We now have several movies and
short plays that are ensured to keep the viewers glued with best casts,
graphics, locations, and storylines - special thanks to the filmmakers who continually
oversee the movie from the development stage to the finished product. The
saying; ‘There is so much to do now, but only few time is left’ is correct when
it comes to Hollywood and film making as different movies are released daily
touching different story, group, beliefs, age, and fantasy, but we have only
about 5 hours of free time per day. Not enough to watch all our favorite movies
and it is even harder to select what to view from the hundreds available to us!
Gina Carey; Making history against all odd –
The film industry has been challenging for women, black women especially, to
break into and according to Nsenga Burton ‘the film industry remains
predominantly white and male.’ There is a substantial amount of work created by
black women filmmakers extending back to the early part of this century.
However, the actions are overlooked by the distributors as well as critical
reviews analyses. This issue with women and black women filmmakers is not the
lack of involvement but the degree of influence given to them which makes them
go unnoticed despite their active contributions to the movie industry. Even
till recent, statistics in Europe showed that only about sixteen percent of
filmmakers are women while in America, female filmmakers make just about six
percent. However, there is something more to what women are putting on film all
over the world, and in Palm Springs, Coachella Valley, CA, Gina Carey is
working to promote this fact. Being a female filmmaker herself and
understanding the challenges that come with it, she aims to push for the growth
of female filmmakers and local acts in the US as well as promoting the black
history all around her city, and in California as a whole- a purpose that is
quite hard to achieve but promising nonetheless. Being the first female African
American filmmaker in Palm Spring CA, she has witnessed first-hand the
struggles and challenges involved, but with determination, success is certain.
Her favorite quote- weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the
morning’ gives her constant hope to push onward.
Ranked by her prestigious community,
Gina Carey is positioned
as the first African American female filmmaker in Palm Spring, CA. Her style of
film that ranges from poetic to religious to daring and romantic has earned her
the position- with excellent works, performances, and inspiration in any genre
of film that sits in your hearts and won’t let go. She is determined to make
films out of the ordinary that ensures to connect people, their family, faith,
and struggles. Born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, Gina Carey is a black
woman who has been entertaining people with songs her whole life from her
church to her neighborhood. She has found success in music as a songwriter and
has recorded different songs with prominent producers and artists and even made
number 1 spot on UK gospel charts.
However, maybe like any other person, she didn’t always know that her
creative thinking and leadership skill, as well as her patience, will be a
stepping stone to producing her material in the entertainment industry,
particularly in filmmaking. With the many challenges involved in film making,
you need a lot of patience and creativity to work with the several casts-
attributes she embedded on herself right from time. Which probably has
contributed to her success story so far, as they say- Teamwork is a goal.
Gina Carey believes that ‘
While creating a movie, you want to have your
voice and express it in your way, but the only way to that is if you are in
control of the whole work’- that is how it
works being a filmmaker.
And so far so good, her first feature film captured a wide range of
audience
and has earned her a recognition in her community- even though it started as
some
first time amateur work when her stage play turned to a film she
had to capture herself because
her lead role couldn’t make it to the
scene.
Starting as a self-taught filmmaker with no desire for fame, Gina developed
a love for movie production in 2016 when she ended up filming her movie ‘The
Unexpected’- a faithinspired drama because one of her acts couldn’t make it.
Although,
‘it came out horrible, blurry and was quite embarrassing
but isn’t that the usual with first timers?’ She says.
‘
My first movie was horrible, but I used it as a tutorial to learn my
mistakes and get better’ she said. Gina Carey was the director, editor,
writer, producer, art director, make-up artist, supervisor and executive
producer of her first film ‘The unexpected.’ It is a whole lot of work for one
person but believing that teamwork creates perfection, she worked diligently
with her local acts to create a full-length film that earned her the Nevada
International Film Festival Award on November 15, 2016. Indeed, it was
unexpected, and she believes that is more reason to aim for perfection. Since
then, she has taken the role to heart and has become a filmmaker and
independent producer of six feature films.
Gina Carey is the first African American Female Feature Filmmaker in Palm
Spring, Coachella Valley CA. She is a prominent producer of Family and
Christian films and is described as
‘The Mother Theresa of the film
industry.’ Being the help to inspiring acts and providing them with an
opportunity to get their first experience in a film while pushing them to
succeed in areas they thought they couldn’t. She is deemed the backbone of
future acts as most of her casts got their hard authenticity and first film
experience by being in her movies.
‘There is always such a beauty in
a huge heart everybody experiences’ she says.
Like with many female independent filmmakers, starting was a struggle where
one woman has to fill the role of producer, writer, editor, cinematographer,
and director to create a unique movie while being self-sponsored. Being a
filmmaker is much work but being a filmmaker with little to no sponsorship?
That is a whole lot of challenge. Moreover, being the first African American
Female Filmmaker in your community? That’s another level of hard work, and this
is why Gina Carey believes it is more important to maintain consistency and
improvement while holding the status quo.
‘Being self-sponsored remains the greatest challenge in film making
because in this business to move to the next stage, it is imperative that you
make yourself more visible in the competitive world of arts and social media
and you need money to do this.’
‘Without the proper amount of funding, it is challenging although not
impossible to succeed as a filmmaker, and this might slow down the process of
possible advancement in the entertainment industry’ said Carey.
However, we got to try, don’t we?. Her persistence to be a successful
filmmaker despite being self-sponsored spurred her to establish her own
independent film company ‘Gina Carey films’ in Palm Spring Coachella Valley,
CA. Which so far so good has successfully released six feature films within
three years where she was the writer, producer, director, editor of her feature
films while making use of local talents and materials;
Rose of England
Acts of Kindness
The One Year Pact 2018
The Assumptions 2017
Aspire to Inspire 2016
The Unexpected- 2016
She is currently working on her new film-
‘The star connection’ that
is set to be released soon. Her movies best known are;
‘Rose England’ and
‘Acts of Kindness,’ and many of her feature films have earned her some
awards and nominations;
November 15, 2016; Nevada International Film Festival Award Winner- The
Unexpected
November 24, 2016; IndustryBoost Competition Finalist- The Assumption
December 1, 2016; Hollywood Screenings Film Festival Semi-Finalist- The
Assumption
April 21, 2017; The Miami Epic Trailer Festival Award Winner- The Assumption
September 7, 2017; Los Angeles Cinefest Finalist- The One Year Pact
October 2, 2017; The Cinemafest Award Winner- The One Year Pact.
Aside from benefitting from these awards, Gina Carey also launched the first
annual Coachella Valley Indie Film Awards in 2017- an event to award and
recognize independent filmmakers producing low budget films as well as give
local actors a chance to be known for their talents.
You’d be forgiven to think that the best days of Gina is only as the first
Female African American Filmmaker in Palm Spring CA. Maybe her best movies are
in the past because the big places where most of the movie productions happen
have gotten too difficult to find cheap rents that a self-sponsor filmmaker
like herself relies on profoundly. Gina Carey, however, promises constant
improvements and growth while supporting her movie career as a vocalist and
stylist. So, maybe you think we can’t see another Ava Marie DuVernay anytime
soon but, somehow the works of Gina Carey will continue, not just in Palm
Springs CA and Coachella Valley but all over where she is fostering aggressive
acts and directors who are interested in making different movies, click here to
view more on
Gina Carey films.
Despite the skyrocketing cost of living and hostility in the movie industry,
Gina is staying put in Palm Spring CA, rather than moving to New York or L.A.
She will be making California proud in few years to come, not only as the first
female African American filmmaker in Palm Spring but as one of the most
groundbreaking independent female filmmaker. She acknowledges being an amateur
with room for growth so it is best to keep an eye on her because sooner or
later, Gina Carey is going to be a big deal you might see soon on a list of
Oscar-nominated films.
