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In this episode, No Film School\u2019s GG Hawkins speaks with director C.J. Obasi and Cinematographer L\xedlis Soares about the film, Mami Wata. They explain their shared vision in creating a film about people of color. They also share how they dealt with challenges like filming the ocean at night and losing almost three weeks of shooting time. Mami Wata premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography.\n\nIn this episode we talk about:\n\nTheir intention to shoot a black and white film from day one\n\nWanting to show the value and beauty of people of color in this film\n\nBeing ghosted by the equipment provider on the first day of shooting\n\nFilming for 24 days instead of 6 weeks\n\nNot wanting too many shades of gray\n\nTreating the ocean as another character\n\nHow Africans see themselves and portray themselves in film\n\nLeveraging an empathetic gaze versus a sympathetic gaze\n\nWhy being patient is key to being in this industry\n\n\n\nMemorable Quotes\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a story of sisterhood. It\u2019s a story of mortality versus spirituality. It\u2019s also a story about what it means to be African.\u201d [3:43]\n\n\u201cThe eyes of the ocean are everywhere.\u201d [26:41]\n\n\u201cI wanted to do something deeper\u2026something that had more meaning.\u201d [34:34]\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s like trying to figure out a jigsaw. When you find that one jigsaw, all the pieces make sense.\u201d [35:38]\n\n\n\nResources:\n\nFind CJ on Instagram\n\nFind L\xedlis on Instagram\n\nMami Wata Movie\n\n\nFind No Film School everywhere:\nOn the Web\nhttps://nofilmschool.com/\n\nFacebook\xa0\nhttps://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool\n\nTwitter\xa0\nhttps://twitter.com/nofilmschool\n\nYouTube\xa0\nhttps://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool\n\nInstagram\nhttps://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool\n\nGet your questions answered on the podcast by emailing editor@nofilmschool.com!\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices