American Cinematographer - April 2023 - 65

Top: Cinematographer Dominic " Domo " Jones helps lead the
discussion. Bottom: Ernest Dickerson, ASC was a surprise guest.
Hicks created the opportunity
to hire a new camera assistant for
his team and sought to find a Black
woman to fill the role, but " every
Black female camera assistant I
knew was working - which was
great - but it also demonstrated
how few experienced candidates
there were. So, I went to Twitter
and posted that I was willing to
personally train someone to take
the position. "
Hicks was shocked to receive
more than 40 responses and set out
to organize a training session. " I had
the cameras and other equipment,
and a friend had space at IFB
Studios in Glendale, so we started
to design a class to teach technical
basics, as well as how Local 600
operates and what it takes to find
work. One of the first people to
become involved was Michelle
Clementine, who had the experience
as a union camera assistant
and camera operator to really add
something to the discussion - and
she's outspoken. "
With Clementine and assistant-operator
Naoe Jarmon aboard
as hosts, the first BLK Women
Behind the Camera event was held
on March 20, 2022, with some 35
participants. Sixty more turned out
at the second event, which also
focused on women and was held
a few weeks later with help from
camera operators Michelle Crenshaw
and Pauline Edwards. Word
spread.
" When Tommy Maddox, Don
Morgan and I learned about the
second workshop, our first question
was, 'Why were we not there?' " Simmons
says with a chuckle. " And Sam
knew we were a little upset about
not being invited. "
Hicks explains, " I just never
thought they would have the time.
They're working, and we were just
this little thing, so ... I was wrong. "
" We can always find time for
opportunities like this, " Simmons
says. " So Tommy was talking to
Sam about what was going to come
next, and how we could participate,
with the older cats sharing what we
have learned along the way. And,
unfortunately, this includes obstacles
that are not confronted by the
majority population in this industry.
That's undeniable. "
The third BLK event, designed
to facilitate networking and the
exchange of experiences, was led
by Jarmon and fellow filmmakers
Jenise Whitehead and Dominic
" Domo " Jones. It attracted more
than 150 attendees. " Men had been
calling me, asking if we could make
it co-ed, " Hicks explains, " and we
just had to open everything up to
inspire everybody.
" A lot of the successful Black
cinematographers working today
are the first generation, " he adds,
" so having these role models there
to discuss how to navigate the
workplace, what sacrifices have to
be made, how to balance home life
with a very demanding career, how
to get into the union - these are
things we had to hear. "
" Being a cinematographer is a
very solitary profession, " Simmons
says. " It's not like we often work
with one another. Out in the freelance
world, you're by yourself.
Unless you're at the point in your
career when you can become part
of something like the ASC - which
has a home like the Clubhouse,
events and the camaraderie of
belonging - these kinds of events
are essential. The journey can
be very isolated. And that's why
Tommy, Don, Kira, Ernest and I
felt so strongly about attending
and participating. Also, we did not
have this kind of support when we
were trying to learn and establish
ourselves. I have to applaud Sam for
making it happen. "
Simmons notes that the Jan. 7
attendees showed keen interest in
speakers' individual professional
APRIL 2023 / 65
EVENT PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY JANAE, COURTESY OF BLK BEHIND THE CAMERA.
American Cinematographer - April 2023

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