DREAMS IN BLACK: WITH LOVE FROM THE SOUTH TO LOS ANGELES

Directors:

Writers:

Destiny D. Owens

Producers:

Destiny D. Owens

Run Time:

1:01:20

Awarded for the following Category(s):

Awarded Category(s)

Dreams in Black: With Love from the South to Los Angeles profiles three creatives and HBCU alums from Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia who all relocated to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams of joining the entertainment industry. The film documents their journeys to landing roles they once dreamed of, working at major production companies, for major talent, and entertainment executives while focusing on alignment of self within their roles, the systems they work within, and in life overall. The themes and explored commentary include foundation, welcoming, Black history, culture, and joy, education, family, community, faith, and identity. This film was created after the director experienced the passing of a close friend and fellow filmmaker who was signed up for an artist retreat that she later took his place in, where funding was offered with complete creative freedom for all artists in attendance to creatively respond to the experience of learning about artists, their communities, history, culture, and the challenges faced in their hometown of Asheville, NC before and after experiencing the transformation and erasure of their communities and subsequently their art and identities due to gentrification. The film aims to honor those artists, artists at large who can identify with those themes and experiences, and her late friend, who was extremely integral in her own filmmaking journey but also in creating communities of artists and intellectuals who might not usually cross paths. The film also aims to propel the idea forward that, despite challenges in any part of life or when pursuing a passion, you can absolutely overcome and reach your goals with the proper foundation, mindset, community, and plan, no matter where you come from.

Submitter Statement

Destiny Owens is a North Carolina native who seeks to change the minds and hearts of others through filmmaking, digital media, and higher education. Owens is extremely passionate about Black history, Visual Storytelling, and helping to share stories that reflect the complexity of the lives of underrepresented groups through independent documentary filmmaking. Storytelling in her family traces back generations with her great grandma Georgia taking her grandma Lois to the movies during segregated eras and her grandma Lois then doing the same with her mom Tõna when she was a child, and her mom then doing the same with Destiny and her siblings. Her great grandmother was also an extremely strong Oral Historian in her own right which helped to further impact Destiny’s love for storytelling. Generations of Black women storytellers and historians birthed Destiny who is a creative focusing her talents on independent documentary filmmaking, writing, and visual media. Stories most important to her to capture include Social Justice Activism, Black History and Culture, and stories that center Black people and People of Color living, existing, and thriving in the ways they enjoy most. She is a proud 2016 graduate of her HBCU North Carolina Central University where she earned a BA in History and a BA in Journalism/Media Studies. In 2018, Owens graduated from American University with an MFA in Film & Electronic Media and relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of Producing in the Film & TV industry. Since relocating to LA, her experience has been focused on Digital Content Creation for brands such as WW, The Black Women’s Book Collective, and 3BlackDot Media’s Gaming While Black in addition to being heavily focused on Post Production In feature filmmaking for studios and companies such as New Line Cinema, Warner Bros, and Netflix. She is currently employed at HBO in the VFX Department for television series on the MAX streaming platform. Additionally, she is passionate about helping the next generation of creatives find their footing and does so through mentorship and higher education as she teaches Film and TV History and Culture courses at Los Angeles Valley College and Academic Coaches Film History and Theatre students at Youngstown State University. Lastly, she Is a small media production business owner (DDO PRODUCTIONS LLC) offering a wide range of media services.

Key Cast

Tevin Giddens, Symone Crews, Chelsea Samuel

Other Credits

Director of Photography : B.P. Edwards; Editor : Kofi Scott Tendai; B-Cam Op: Kim Cohen; 1st Assistant Camera : Matai Jones; Gaffer: Markus Fields; Key Grip: Chris McLean; Production Assistants : Sarahi Rivera; Sound Mixer: Rayana Villalpando