We recently connected with Bennie Wilson and have shared our conversation below.

Bennie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally after my college football career was done in 2018. The transition from a four-time Division 1 national championship team to a championship-contending Division 3 school shifted my focus towards long-term career that I was passionate about beyond football. This transition forced me to question what truly fulfilled me and what my dream job would be if I could choose anything in the world, which lead to a home in the creative space as a video producer and editor.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Reflecting on my high school and college experiences outside of athletics, I realized that the moments I cherished the most were those involving creativity. Whether it was ceramics, art, drawing, or film studies classes, I found genuine joy in creating. But, it was in studio broadcast and journalism class where I really flourished. The opportunity to film, edit, and produce content that could potentially reach thousands of viewers through KBNG, our daily news channel broadcasted to every classroom in the high school, sparked a passion for storytelling and visual arts within me.

From that point on, I committed to professionally pursue my passion as a video producer, aiming to capture and celebrate the rich nuances of Black culture in as many ways as possible, in all the ways that I love. I’ve taken online courses, masterclasses and studied a TON of tutorials on YouTube-literally where I spend most of my time- to keep honing in on my craft. My dream is to become a full-feature director/filmmaker. Since 2019, I’ve been on a journey—from taking on freelance projects with rented equipment to embracing a vow of poverty with the AmeriCorps Vista program to enhance my photography/videography skills. In 2021, I was honored to receive a Minnesota State Arts Board Grant, allowing me to provide BIPOC-owned restaurants, businesses, and entrepreneurs of Minneapolis with high-quality video production following the murder of George Floyd.
Currently, I’m actively creating as a Video Communications Specialist for a non-profit in Minneapolis while still pursuing freelance projects with creatives and growing my skills. Additionally, I host advanced movie screenings for Disney, A24, Paramount, and other major studios through a media agency I’ve been associated with since 2019.

The journey has been both challenging and rewarding, and I am excited to see what 2024 and beyond has in store for me as I continue to build towards my ultimate goal.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely! My mission is to create a timeless piece of Black cinema and/or television. I envision producing a full-length feature film or series that resonates deeply within the Black community for years to come. Growing up, I admired classics like “Friday” ,”Martin,” and some others… but I believe there’s room for more authentic Black narratives on screen, of all spectrums- comedy, surrealism, sci-fi, documentaries, horror and the list goes on. I aspire to craft stories that celebrate Black excellence and showcase diverse experiences beyond Black trauma. The current Black Renaissance in film and TV, spearheaded by visionaries like Jordan Peele, Issa Rae, and Donald Glover, inspires me. I think we haven’t seen people put their flavor on when it comes to some shows in a really long time and again its refreshing to see, and inspires me to do the same! Their innovative storytelling and commitment to authenticity is just dope as hell and it really inspires me to contribute meaningful work to the cultural landscape. Ultimately, I aim to create impactful art that transcends boundaries and resonates with audiences worldwide.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

In my creative journey, I wish I had discovered the power of collaboration earlier. Connecting with fellow creatives fosters a sense of community like no other. It really allows for idea exchange and mutual support too, from people who just get it. It’s refreshing to be around like-minded individuals who understand your creative energy. I’ve learned that success often involves teamwork; having a diverse team with different skills and assets can elevate your work. Its ironic that I’ve played team sports my whole life, understanding the importance of teamwork making the dream work and others being essential for ultimate success, but not being able to conceptualize that immediately when I transitioned into the creative space. Collaborating with friends who have complementary skills has been invaluable, whether it’s sharing equipment, studio space, ideas or helping work on each others projects to help each other succeed. There is community in creativity!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wilsonbenniejr.wixsite.com/rrrmedia
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real.recognize.reel/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/withbenniew/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@realrecognizereel4092