Filmmaker Emily Branham is a director, a producer, and an editor in New York City. She specializes in unexpected, intimate, and deeply human films about artists.
Her first feature documentary Being Bebe, premiered at Tribeca Festival, was a New York Times Critic pick, and won jury and audience awards on its festival tour across five continents.
Being Bebe Intimately charts 15 years in the life of drag performer Marshall Kudi Ngwa, AKA Bebe Zahara Benet, an Immigrant to America From Cameroon, first champion on reality TV phenomenon, RuPaul's Drag Race, and a leading artist celebrating Black Queer Excellence today.
Marshall's emotional journey raises timely concerns at the intersection of LGBTIQ, BIPOC and immigrant lives within the context of a hard fought artist journey towards success against all odds.
Emily directs doc style films for clients, including Lincoln Center, Atlantic Council, Martha Stewart Weddings, and AT&T, as well as music videos for artists including Jonatha Brook, Jeff Littman, the Muckrakers and Eleni Mandel.
She has years of experience working with incredible creatives in high pressure environments as a post-production and visual effects producer for clients including Apple, Google, Nike, Lexus, Paramount Pictures, Gwen Stephanie, and Kanye West.
We had a beautiful conversation exploring many topics including:
her film Being Bebe and the 15-year process of bringing that film to fruition;
her other award-winning short documentary Legend, about iconic bluegrass musician, Greg Garing;
the synchronicity of the universe;
her childhood acting career;
the creative process and the community that forms around collaborative artistic endeavors;
playfulness, and its role in emotional and mental wellness.
We also talked a little bit about Drag Race, my squeamishness with the meanness of reality TV, and Emily's prescription: Willow Pill.
This was so much fun. It was my immense privilege to have had the opportunity to hang out with such an extraordinary and talented woman. She's a giant force in this delightful and humble human. Enjoy!
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:
Being Bebe now available on iTUNES/appletv & prime video!
You can access it here: https://geni.us/BeingBeBe
or here: h
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