We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Steven Knoworries. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Steven below.

Steven, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

Black-owned businesses have been underserved and gate-kept away from generational resources and opportunities for over a century. These measures have been written into law and bound together by corruption, greed, tyranny, and racism. But we, the underserved, the systemically oppressed, continue to persevere through all odds.
Take Lewis Howard Latimer, for example – without him, we would still be in some kind of dark age regarding electricity. Even though he is a quintessential American inventor, not many people, even in this country, know about him. He created a light bulb far superior to Thomas Edison’s, yet he never received the same acclaim and credit as Edison. However, over a century later, in present times, Rob Jackson is the only black-owned light bulb manufacturer in the United States. He pays homage to Lewis Latimer by putting him on his Ujamaa packing. History has a way of repeating itself, and Ujamaa reminds us of that. It is time to bring awareness to our glorious past hidden in plain sight and advocate for it.
Rob’s story marks the onset of many unrecognized, underprivileged, black-owned companies tied to African American inventors who have not been given the acknowledgment they merit. Fortunately, a black renaissance is on the horizon, and African American creativity will be at the helm of this revolution. The economic climate is turbulent, yet the disadvantaged will have a chance to make an impact and bring about an economic transformation in our communities.
With our creative abilities, we are determined to bring about a new era of products and services that will benefit our communities for generations to come. This is like the modern Medici family, where the artists now stand at the helm. We are witnessing a continual cycle, and I am merely a messenger for my ancestors. My mission is to use my lens to capture our narrative and tell our story as our ancestors did. This is my point of pride; it was already predetermined.

Steven, 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?

As a Black Film Director, I know the camera’s power to create justice for those who cannot tell their own story by themselves. The camera, for me, has always been about service to showcase and highlight the best an individual or business has to offer. I use my camera and storytelling gifts to collect and communicate positive evidence of the underrepresented through the cinematic arts.

As a native of Wichita, Kansas, I painted with my mind because there was little around me to see. A blank canvas of sorts where it’s up to you to form your reality. I gained my gifts of perception and vision by having an internal canvas I can share through filmmaking. I’m passionate about using filmmaking to impact our communities positively. I’m very inspired because there has never been a time like this where you can tell your story and control your narrative like there is today.

So I needed to create a brand that used the cinematic filmmaking arts to showcase the best we have to offer. It’s a divine calling for me; it’s my purpose.

I created ShowBlackss, as a one-of-a-kind cinematic studio representing the creatives and the people we serve. A unique service production.

ShowBlackss takes the concept of our client’s business, brand, or service and creates a vibrant piece of visual storytelling art. It’s a cinematic universe that dynamically showcases black-owned products and services for companies to market everywhere direct to consumers. Think of these products and services as superheroes for their communities and ShowBlackss the universe they live in.

Our Studio helps emerging black-owned businesses capitalize on visual marketing through cinematic ad engagement. The truth is these are the businesses of the future! All were are doing is showcasing a new era of products and services through commercials handmade by creatives from the same demographic as their clients. This rewards small business owners for investing in their company’s film and photography campaign needs through green-lighting artists within their communities. Our clients deserve high-quality, cost-effective creative productions that accurately portray their business to their target market. We are the perfect match for this necessary type of work.

We will use our art to paint a new era of products and services that will serve our communities for centuries. Think of this as a new Italy like the Medici family, where artists are now in power. All things work in cycles. I am merely a messenger for my ancestors.. a scribe seeking to paint with a camera and tell our story as our people have always done. That’s what I’m most proud of it’s already been written.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

As a film director, I get to know people. I put the camera right in front of them, and they rely on me to make them feel safe and open to showing their gifts. The camera doesn’t lie, it just captures what’s there. So, people must have faith in me before I can show them anything. Like singers and rappers, they can show their talent right away. But filmmakers must convince you that something might be possible, even if you don’t believe it, and still make you want to see it. That’s why I work behind the scenes and let others shine – I have to see the bigger picture and work for those who, through our shared vision, can be their best.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love showing people what we created together. Filmmaking is an inclusive process. It’s essentially arts and crafts with a script, and it takes a team to make that fantastic cinematic art come to life. The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being blessed to have no choice but to work with other artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theknoworriescompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soknoworries
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-knoworries-company/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhyaujMsZn4
• Other: https://www.showblackss.com https://vimeo.com/451361192 https://vimeo.com/451361169

Image Credits
Personal Photo Credit – Michael Escobedo @baedoe approved article.