Dominique Seward-Campbell on the Untold Stories of Film

Dominique Seward-Campbell is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles. A filmmaker for more than 13 years, her clients include PBS, MTV, Universal, VH1, and more. Through Ideas United, she has done work for Google. Her work has taken her to the Central Florida Film Festival and the Cannes International Film Festival, where she was accepted to the Creative Mind Group Filmmakers Institute. Her original film, The Art of Silence, was the finalist in several screenplay competitions and chosen by Kickstarters marketing team as a crowd favorite. She currently teaches at the Los Angeles Film School. Learn more about Seward-Campbell’s work both in- and outside Ideas United in this exclusive interview!

iU: How did you get started in film?

DS: I went to high school at Design and Architecture Senior High. It's a magnet school located in the Design District of Miami. I was in the film sector and that's where I discovered my love for filmmaking.? Furthermore, I went on to study film at California College of the Arts in San Francisco and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Distinction. Since then I have freelanced for companies such as Pbs, MTV , Universal and Vh1 for the last 13 years. Filmmaking gives me joy and purpose, I can’t envision doing anything else in my lifetime.

iU: What kind of stories do you like to tell and why?

DS: I aim to make films that raise awareness about topics that I feel that have been brushed under the rug such as domestic violence, race, and poverty. I really enjoy adding an element of science fiction or suspense to the narrative, as it challenges my creative ingenuity and the trajectory of the plot.

iU: What stories do you feel are missing from the entertainment industry today?

DS: I feel that stories about affluent people of color are missing from the entertainment industry. I understand that things are changing, however I would like to see more narratives of BIPOC people? portrayed as doctors, lawyers, and from upper middle class backgrounds.

iU: Why do you want to start a film school in your hometown? What does your vision for it look like?

DS: This was a long time dream of mine because I grew up in the arts. Film was not really a focal point in Miami and I wanted to build something that was accessible to people who couldn’t travel to New York or Los Angeles. It would be available to people who are deaf, mute, and blind and any person passionate about storytelling. People would learn the art of screenwriting, cinematography and directing. There would also be a paid mentorship/internship program for college students.?

iU: Between narrative and commercial work, which is your favorite? Are there similarities in your approach to each, or do you approach them differently? How?

DS: Commercial work is probably my favorite. There are similarities when I am generating a commercial concept and narrative film. I begin my process by identifying the visual language and the target audience first. Moreover, I brainstorm and create a sequence of shots that make sense to me editing wise. I work this way because I have a background in drawing and painting. Color, composition, and detail have a heavy emphasis on my process and shot arrangement.

iU: What’s your biggest lesson from your time in the industry so far?

DS: It’s important to have your own entity and not to be reliant on just one job for income or stability.

iU: What have you learned from teaching filmmaking to today’s students?

DS: All people need is the opportunity to be heard. In today's society we are? constantly bombarded with information. It can be so hard to focus on what is being said or emphasized. By intentionally giving someone a safe space to address their ideas, the sky's the limit for creative endeavors.

iU: What advice would you give a new college graduate who wants to do what you do?

DS: Go after what you want. Don’t let anyone or anything get in your way. Be persistent in pursuing your dreams.

iU: What’s your dream project? What’s been your favorite so far?

DS: My dream project would be a science fiction narrative that? involves social commentary. My favorite project thus far is the development of my feature film, entitled The Art of Silence.

iU: What can you tell us about your current works-in-progress?

DS: My current works-in-progress are films that I hope will be financed someday. My film The? Art of Silence has gone through many reworks and funding campaigns. It was the finalist in several? screenplay competitions and chosen by Kickstarters marketing team as a crowd favorite. However, I never have been able to reach the funding goal. I am not discouraged though, because I have faith it will all workout in the proper? timing.

Everyone has a right to have their story told; The Art of Silence is a narrative film that celebrates people's differences. It reminds us that what society deems as "flawed characteristics" such as autism, deafness, or blindness are actually powerful enhancements. Imagine having a deaf Black girl as your protagonist and going with her on a journey to conquer the inevitable. Her "disability " is not her limitation, but rather the driving force behind her success. She is the bridge between the flawless and incapacitated. This film is very dear to me and I know that in my spirit, once complete, it will be monumental and change lives!

iU: How do you feel being part of the Ideas United Community helps you as a creator, either personally or professionally?

DS: It has helped me tremendously as a creative. I’ve had the opportunity to pitch and shoot a short film for Google (Infinite Deviation 2016).? I am incredibly grateful for Ideas United and the support that they provide for independent filmmakers/creatives. Whenever there is a gig, I submit even if I’m not chosen. It makes me fulfilled to have the challenge of coming up with a pitch, or uploading my curriculum vitae for an opportunity. I am able to develop pieces for my portfolio all while gaining exposure as an artist, and to me that is priceless.

Follow Dominique’s work through her Instagram @dom_the_director, Vimeo, or YouTube and check out the iU Community here. iU Community is a global creative collective of producers, directors, designers, art directors, writers, ideators, editors, strategists, and everything in between. The iU Community is powered by Ideas United, a creative studio and production company based in Atlanta, GA with collaborators around the world. Together, the iU Community and Ideas United produce unforgettable content, campaigns, and events for our partners. We’re changing the way stories are told, one project at a time.