HBO Urban World Film Festival (Red Carpet)
The Experience
Red carpets are always interesting for me. I’ve never been one to fight to get close to a celebrity and I’ve never been the selfish type of photographer either but, the carpet can bring this out of you. It can be both a great space and also a very negative space. It can be a place for acknowledgment of creativity and also a place of destruction of character. Either way, I participate because it allows me to capture beautiful images of actors and actresses such as Meagan Good, Tyrese Gibson, Gia Peppers and more. Whenever I shoot these red carpets I always give advice to those who may be reading! I think the best thing you can do is approach these events with the same creativity that you do when you go to a fashion shoot. Don’t abort your style just because the genre has changed. Look for good lighting, try to find a good angle (left, right or center) and allow your personality to reflect onto the talent. Don’t be afraid to speak to them, ask them questions even though you may not be interviewing. Always keep a flash on your camera (just in case) but, don’t hold your self to it. If there is a beautiful ray of natural light seeping through the window, capture it. Don’t let your flash even out those natural tones because it will destroy the ambiance in the area. Most people don’t have time to think on the red carpet. They are in a panic and a constant fight but, if you breath, take your time and slow down you will come out with some amazing emotional shots!
Megan Good / Tamara Bass / FRIENDS
Let’s give a round of applause to Meagan, Tamara and her team for creating a beautiful film for this year’s Urban World 2019 film festival. It was great seeing them on the red carpet being acknowledged by the film industry for their creativity. Before this day, I hadn’t heard of Tamara but, I’ve been invested in Meagans new walk with Christ and her new health and fitness goals.
But on this red carpet, we got to see the emergence of Meagan the Director and for that I am grateful! She shut down the runway of course but, nothing was better than seeing her and her team share authentic moments as they celebrated the viewing of their new film, “If Not Now, When?”. This film explored the journey of four friends, who met in high school and are bonded by an event that suddenly forced them back together fifteen years later. Without spooling too much, this crisis forces them to have to lean on one another once again and creates a story of love, forgiveness and the incredible bond between women. In a time where black men are now being appreciated for their artistic capability we are now starting to see black women get their shot as well. Its a beautiful thing to watch.
Tyrese Gibson / Nafessa Williams / deon taylor / frankie smith
Tyrese made his way to the carpet looking fresh off of a GQ Magazine cover. Talk about essence! He walked onto the red carpet with such poise just as a true seasoned veteran would. That level of experience was proven by his calm demeanor and his effortless crowd control. It was cool to watch and I caught myself taking mental notes. He took his time on the carpet, engaged with everyone and even acknowledge the press as if he had known us for years. David Letterman once explained that you can tell a true celebrity with power when they take their time and slowly acknowledge the crowd in front of them. By doing so, they are showing their alpha personalities, they are showing their strength and they are embracing the fans which results in people loving them even more. If you’re looking to learn more about the actor, singer and mogul, Tyrese Gibson he can be seen in his newest project “Black and Blue”. Go support a legend because he’s worked hard for it!
RonReaco Lee / Danielle Pearman
I also ran into RonReaco Lee, American television and film actor. Tyreke Scott was best known for his roles on the ABC/The WB sitcom “Sister, Sister”, and as Jamal Woodson on the BET romantic comedy "Let's Stay Together”. Danielle Pearman was also there on the runway. Danielle is an entertainment luminary and a one-woman show. She can shoot, edit, produce, and write. She has a podcast, “Well, What Now?” which showcases the struggles of others. Her podcast gives a bi-weekly girl-chat about the daily struggles every millennial can relate to. She also produces and hosts original video content for the young women’s empowerment site, babe.net. Danielle is a growing force in this media world. It was great getting to see her building her name and brand.
GIA PEPPERS
Gia Peppers is actually a close friend of mine. We first met through TheCCnyc on the CultureCon stage and it is always a pleasure running into her. Gia, multi-talented entertainment journalist hosted this year’s Urban World 2019 Film Festival and she did an amazing job. She had no problem teaching us the way that it should be done. She killed the runway as she strutted in a dress designed by Ali Keener. She has more than proven herself in this game, working with huge names such as Wendy Williams. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. If you are looking to find out more about her current endeavors, give her a follow on Instagram. We laughed and had an amazing time on the red carpet and she even confirmed that she will be at this year’s CultureCon!
