Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to DeZell Lathon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi DeZell, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Although I love to create my own works, sometimes I find the most meaningful moments are when I can produce projects for other talented underrepresented filmmakers.

To date, my most impactful experience as a producer would be when I produced a film for a blind director. She recruited me earlier on in the development phase of the project and over the course of pre-production she developed a series of medical issues that eventually led to her loss of vision. It was news that broke and shook our producing team but despite her diagnosis, her pregnancy announcement and even relocating to Colorado she remained hopeful and determined through it all.

This news drastically changed the mission of the film. It grew from another project into a testament to the capabilities of handicapable directors and proved that it’s possible. We poured our hearts into the film while battling the climate of the small town in Colorado. It opened my eyes and gave me the experience to advocate for my directors who suffer from impairments.

DeZell, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In my hometown, there’s a story about the Mississippi Curse. It’s a sad myth reflecting those, who despite their best efforts, seemed destined never to leave the banks of the Mississippi River. I was never sure if it was a fear of success or failure or maybe it was that their roots were too thick to be removed from the soil. Over the years, I watched dreams wither away in the Mississippi sun and listened as cicadas sang the cries of the cursed.

This experience led me to believe that the more the character fears what they could become, the more colorful their story and the richer their arcs. Most of my work focuses on exploring the intersectionalities of identity and subverting stereotypes; with a focus on the nuisances of blackness and queerness. I love the idea of characters running from themselves, too scared of the truth behind the subconscious mask.

I believe the best directors have a specific degree of emotional intelligence to guide actors into a vulnerable emotional space that produces a great performance even on the fifth take. I believe the opportunity to shadow a director would give me the intimate knowledge needed to propel me forward as a television director.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Throughout my professional creative journey so far I’ve had to deal with an extremely toxic and abusive relationship, a global pandemic, and a historic writers’ strike. Throughout it all I’ve had to constantly reassure myself that my journey is a marathon and not a sprint.

I’ve found that a strong community helps you through the darkest of times. finding like-minded, well-intentioned people who share similar interests and work ethics helps hold you accountable. They also help remind you of your progress and ground you in reality. Sometimes it can be easy to get lost in the success of others but you must remain steadfast and focused on your journey. The most helpful advice I received was to “enjoy the process”. It’s not about the process of your craft but of life. Don’t wait until you reach your ultimate goal to start enjoying life. You should enjoy it every day because the greatest storytellers have such strong voices because they lived a life free of regret. Think about James Baldwin and Maya Angelou, both iconic writers who dared to experience everything life had to offer.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The beauty of living. It’s one of the rarest fulfillments in life to enjoy the work you do. People spend their lives working in jobs that don’t fulfill them because of some estranged obligation and later find that they missed out on experiencing so much of the world or at worst so much of themselves. It is a privilege and an honor to work with your passion.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dezell_lathon/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harold-dezell-lathon/

Image Credits

Amelia Asilis, Blake Williams, Sophie Gemeles, DeZell Lathon,