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

Hi Honesty, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

It’s hard to pinpoint when I knew I wanted to be creative because art and creativity have always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family with people who appreciated or practiced the arts outside their traditional careers. For example, my grandmother was a nurse but loved to dance. One of my uncles was in the Air Force but loved music and reading. Another uncle used to play the drums and now has a thriving barber business, and two of my younger uncles and aunt are excellent at drawing and painting.

My mother constantly exposed me to the arts and encouraged me to read and write often. So, in grade school, I began writing poetry and song lyrics, and by the time middle school came around, it evolved into writing short stories. I suppose you can say storytelling was always engrained in me, but it wasn’t until my mother went back to college to receive her Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts that I knew I wanted to tell stories through film.

When my mother went back to school, she took an array of classes, many of which my sisters and I joined her from time to time. Some of the courses were Indigenous Studies, Environmental Science, African American Studies, and Film Studies. Movies were already a way my family would bond, but going to my mother’s evening or weekend film studies course was when something ignited in me.

I vividly remember being in her class with more than twenty other adults analyzing a style of filmmaking, a genre, and more. Then, on Saturday mornings, we would go to the Tivoli to watch an independent film or film noir. I saw movies like Imitation of Life, The Birds, and American Violet and knew I wanted to make films.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I credit my mother and my education for guiding me into the film and television industry. My mother sowed the seed of filmmaking by taking me to her film studies courses, reading what I would write, and encouraging me to pursue the arts. Missouri State University is where I learned the craft of filmmaking, the why and how one produces cinema. I learned how to refine my craft through constant trial and error with my student films. Professors like Andrew Twibell, Cristina Pippa, Dr. Holly Holladay, and Dr. Deborah Larson saw something in me and supported my journey in any and every way they could.

I am proud to say because of my mother and my educators I’m telling authentic and raw stories of my community. I’m dedicated to developing films about the vulnerable and layered experiences of black and brown people but, most importantly, the identity, love, and loss struggles of black women and girls.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Simply support. Many filmmakers struggle to tell their stories because of lack of support. Support can be provided in a multitude of ways. It can be attending a screening, watching a short online, donating to a crowdfunding campaign, fostering connections, or more. I’m currently where I’m at within my career because of community support. That’s my family, friends, mentors, and their family, friends, and mentors believing in me and wanting to support me in any way they can.

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

When I’ve created something that resonates with people, It can take months to years to develop a story that has been so close to the chest, so when I finally put it out in the world, and people connect with it, I feel as if I’m telling the right stories. Filmmaking can be a difficult passion to pursue. Sometimes, you’re critical of yourself: those with years in the industry could not see your vision, and pulling together resources is hard. So when your story goes from script to screen, there’s a powerful feeling that waves over you, but you’re reminded of what a privilege it is to be a storyteller when someone has fallen in love with your work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.honestytaszhe.com
• Instagram: @honestytaszhe
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/honesty-gant
• Youtube: @honestytaszhe

Image Credits

Jaylen Early