Episode 220: Directing Going to Mars

In this episode, Christian Taylor interviews Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, the directing duo behind the documentary “Going to Mars, the Nikki Giovanni Project.” They discuss their background in filmmaking, the founding of Rada Studios https://radastudio.org/, and their dedication to telling stories of the Black Diaspora. The conversation also covers their award nominations and recognition, the cinematic beauty of “Going to Mars,” the challenges of making the film, and their favorite documentaries.

Takeaways:

• Movies and storytelling have always inspired Joe Brewster, leading him to pursue a career in filmmaking.

• Storytelling is deeply rooted in Black culture and the South, as Brewster learned from his father’s preaching.

• Brewster believes that telling stories and creating films is a more significant way to make an impact than practicing medicine.

• Representation of Black characters and their experiences in film and television is important to Brewster, as it was lacking during his childhood.

DocuView Dèjà Vu:

Michèle:

“I Called Him Morgan”, 2017, 92mins, Watch on Amazon Prime, IMDB Link:

I Called Him Morgan (2016) – IMDb

Joe:

1. Making Do The Right Thing, 1989, 60mins, IMDB Link:
   Making Do the Right Thing (TV Movie 1989) – IMDb
2. Slaying Goliath, 2008, 70mins, IMDB Link:
   Slaying Goliath (2008) – IMDb

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:00 Founding Rada Studios
08:45 Award Nominations and Recognition
15:10 The Cinematic Beauty of “Going to Mars”
23:18 Challenges of Making the Film
28:26 Revealing Nikki Giovanni’s Story
31:06 Favorite Documentaries: “I Called Him Morgan” and “Slaying Goliath”
39:45 Conclusion