I'm definitely drawn to stories about outsiders. Feeling like that myself as a gay black man, I often seek to give a voice to those in the world who don't have one.
Roger Ross WilliamsRead
While the documentary community is way ahead of Hollywood, it is still nowhere near where it needs to be. Filmmakers of color rarely get hired by the powerful production companies, and they are not getting supported enough by broadcasters and funders to tell their own stories.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The documentary industry has made progress, but still faces significant challenges regarding diversity and support for filmmakers of color.
Roger Ross Williams emphasizes the progress made in the documentary community compared to Hollywood, yet highlights the persistent lack of opportunities and support for filmmakers of color. He points out that the industry's major players continue to neglect the diverse storytelling that could emerge from these underrepresented voices, which is crucial for a richer, more inclusive narrative landscape.
Themes
DocumentaryFilmmakersDiversitySupportStorytelling
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about diversity in film programs.
More from Roger Ross Williams
All quotes →When I was in high school, I felt totally alienated from the world, but I loved movies. They were my escape, but coming from a disadvantaged community, I never knew that filmmaking was an option for me. A program like School of Doc would have been a game-changer.
Roger Ross WilliamsRead
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