Head to Head

I never want to be called the funniest Indian female comedian that exists,” she said. “I feel like I can go head-to-head with the best white, male comedy writers that are out there. Why would I want to self-categorize myself into a smaller group than I’m able to compete in?” Mindy Kaling

While I am not a female Indian comedian, this automatically reminded me of a time at a friend’s dinner party some months back. I was introduced to a young, white male (yes, I know I am a young, white female so I am lacking in the minority element here) who “does what you do”. This is almost always a real crapshoot. There are plenty of people who work in film, of course. Usually this is followed up by a conversation revealing that we don’t actually do similar things. This time, however, was somewhere in between. When I asked him what projects he usually works on and what camera he usually shoots on his reply was, “Oh you know doc style stuff, mostly 5D.” For those of you who don’t know what this signifies let me break it down for you. Doc style = some sort of reality based web series thing with no concept. Mostly 5D = ALL 5D. Only 5D. Never tried to light a damned thing or shoot with any other real camera. This is what ALMOST every young person aspiring to be a shooter says. Especially young, male ones. Now, do not misunderstand my critique here. The Canon 5D Mark II was a game changer for independent film, giving very high image quality to anyone who could shell out $3,000. It has its wonderful uses (I shot a documentary in India about death & dying and did so with a 7D because we did not have the proper permits and it allowed us to fly under the radar both legally and visibly while shooting on certain grounds). And doc style is also useful and a look to be utilized as a creative choice. However, most of the time it is utilized because of lack of money, lighting knowledge, and/or concept in these situations. I would not probably remember this conversation these months later if he hadn’t followed up these gems with the ignorant, entitled sentence, “Aw yeah man, we need more women shooters in there with us”.

Us? The idea that you know nothing about me, you know nothing of the projects I have worked on or been a part of, or the very talented people I have studied under and yet the arrogant words “in there with us” spill out of your mouth instantly after sipping on watered down urine that is Heineken. You feel, inherently, that you are somehow in on some club that I have to continually knock on the door of and how kind of them to let one of ‘me’ in? I work with and have learned from women (and men for that matter) who would not have you in their club. A club inclusive of artists who have studied their art and do not have to uptalk themselves because they work on projects they care about. I can go head-to-head, toe-toe, anygoddamned appendage-to-appendage with any of your ilk. I have studied cinematography because I respect it, know its power and effectiveness in telling a story well, and because I know any fuck can pick up a camera and get at least some…something pretty now and again. Because of this I study it, its lovers and its masters to be better than you…who shoots Fashion’s Night Out and calls himself a cinematographer.