Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to LaQuan Lewis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi LaQuan, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
The confidence that I currently posses was channeled from within myself. I came into the field that i’m in without any prior knowledge or connections. I knew what I wanted to do and regardless of what was available or not available, I did what I felt I needed to do in order to get to where I wanted to be. So in this case, money and recourses were not on my side. I used all available mediums to educate myself; whether through reading books or watching numerous videos on YouTube. I spent about three years teaching myself all I needed to know in order to build and hone my craft as a filmmaker. Not being able to attend film school created a high amount of insecurity and uncertainty, but I refused to allow that to stop me. I had to rely on my abilities and trust myself. And it’s through this belief in myself that I gained confidence and began to create work that proved that personal disadvantages and lack of recourses should not limit the creative power I know I hold.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Black, queer, filmmaker born and raised in Los Angeles. My work focuses specifically on POC and LGBTQ+ narratives. My goal is to create and share stories about these demographics that are authentic and gives representation in a way that I personally feel have not been shown before. Zeroing in on the nuance of the communities, not relying on or reenforcing stereotypes. Most importantly giving a broader perspective that could hopefully garner empathy and relatability from those who may not identify with these groups. From my personal experience growing up in the 90s and 2000’s, I never felt that I saw myself on screen or related to the stories I was exposed to as a Black and queer young man. I find importance in representing those who do not feel seen or understood due to the fact that they are a minority. So I’ve written and directed three short films that depicts characters who are apart of communities that I feel are under and/or misrepresented in cinema (trans men, black lesbians, HIV). These three short films have prepared me to transition from short form story telling to long form narratives.
I am currently writing my feature film debut which will serve as the extended story of my third short film “Come As You Are”. This film follows a young gay black man who is newly diagnosed with HIV and now has to maneuver a budding romantic relationship as well as his relationship with his religious and domineering mother-withholding this secret as it slowly swells from within the shadows. I find Come As You Are to be an important story because I believe that there is little to no modern representation of what it’s like to be HIV positive today with current medications. Most films about HIV are period pieces taking place in the 80s and 90s and often culminates in major illness + death. This is no longer the case and we deserve to see a story that doesn’t end on such outdated and discouraging notes.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Determination, patience, and passion. These three traits were my driving force to set out and work towards my dreams/goals and why I’ve gotten as far as I have on this journey.
Advice that I’d give anyone who wants to do something is; don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone has their own path and everyone has different starting point. No one’s journey is the same and so there’s no use in comparing yourself to someone who is coming from a different background as you. I spent a lot of time thinking that I wasn’t good enough or wishing that i had what others had, but I eventually realized that I am where I should be and it’s because of where I came from that I am creating the work that I’m creating today. No one person is better or worse because of their situation. Take what you’ve been given and make the best of it.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my mother had done for me was support my creativity from a young age. She always expressed how proud she was of me for using my imagination. It was this type of support that has pushed me to feel that i am good enough and believe that I do have potential to create impactful work. I feel that if she did not nourish my creativity and art throughout my childhood, I wouldn’t think that pursuing art would be an option as an adult.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/lqnlws
- Instagram: @lqnlws
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