Reel Conversations: Filmmaker Nia Malika Dixon
One might consider art as a meaningful expression of aesthetic beauty and vision. In the mind of an Independent filmmaker, their vision is a canvas filled with ideas, that come together to form an artistic point of view; like a picture. The picture becomes a story, one in which the artist is compelled to tell and share. In my interview with award winning writer, producer and Indie Filmmaker, Ms. Nia Malika Dixon, you’ll find a passionate visionary, determined to share her stories with the world.
QOTS: Why film? What is it about film-making that intrigues you?
Dixon: Well, I guess it’s because it’s visual. I am a visual storyteller. So, you know, growing up I spent a lot of time with my mother reading books, and my imagination just took me places and I was able to make up my own stories. But then, when I realized that most people would rather watch a movie, I figured I could probably reach more people with my stories that way, so I shifted. I still write stories [she giggles].
QOTS: In order to make a good film, one needs to be able to tell a story and bring the audience into that story. What do you believe makes you a good storyteller?
Dixon: Well, connecting with the audience is primary. You have to connect with the audience, otherwise there’s no storytelling, you’re just talking to yourself [she giggles]. I’ve been blessed with a talent. I can, pretty much, write a story off the cuff. It’s more like an innate kind of thing. I can see stories in my mind and put them on paper, and there’s a certain fluidity to it. I don’t use computers, I hand write everything. It’s more of an organic experience, you know, from my imagination to the page. Being such a visual person, it’s really engaging, for me to be involved in the whole set. I like behind the scenes, because I’m a hands- on kind of person. I like to be a part of the whole process, because I have a vision from what I’ve written on the page. So a lot of the crew and I spend time together talking on set about visuals, I guess it’s more because I’m a visual writer.
QOTS: So what you’re seeing in your story, you’re able to put it on paper, then you translate that information to your crew, then they’re able to, I guess, facilitate it for you?
Dixon: Absolutely. So having the vision, at first, is primary. You know, with the stories I have in my head, I could literally truck out a story and tell you right now [giggles]. I have so many experiences, that I can shave away ice, much like you file them away in a filing cabinet. And then when I put them on the page, I’m able to know which crew person to talk to about which story details, if that makes sense.
QOTS: That makes sense. As a writer, how hard is it to transition your written work into a physical performance with scenery, actors, a production crew, etc. How do you transform that?
Dixon: Oh, that’s the fun part! The facilitating of, I call it “the magic”. On my first film set, oh gosh, back in 2006, it was the first film set of my own on Temporary Loss of Power. I experienced what scientist call flow. Have you ever been in flow before?
QOTS: Yes, I think I have, because I’m a writer so…
Dixon: Yeah, so you get it! It was so awesome. I felt like a composer. And, I had at my disposal, the best instrumentals, and then I just put it together. The only way that I can translate the feeling to you is flow, that’s really what it was. I felt like I was where I was supposed to be; directing behind the scenes, letting each crew person know what it was that I expected for it to come on screen.
QOTS: I guess it’s a feeling of euphoria, when you’re able to see what’s in your mind come to fruition.
Dixon: Yeah, you’re in the place that you’re supposed to be. That’s what flow is. And it’s synergy. The crew, they get what I say. They see it on paper, but they also get to hear what I’m able to translate to them from the story, then, yell action, and it happens! (We giggle)
QOTS: That’s got to be a blessing.
Dixon: You know what, it’s amazing! I think, out of all of my productions, the one I’ve had the most fun on was shooting Chrysalis in Baltimore.
QOTS: Right, going back to your roots again, and then also being able to facilitate that story-line.
Dixon: Yeah, that storyline was very much close to home. I was in my neighborhood. I was in my community. It was really great to have people on the crew who were from Baltimore. I had Baltimore actors…it was flow!
QOTS: That sounds wonderful. After writing and producing for industry known producers like a Morgan Freeman, why wouldn’t you just continue to do that as opposed to being an Independent filmmaker? What’s the draw?
Dixon: You know, that’s a good question. When I first came out here to LA, back in 2005, I talked to my cousin; she’s a producer in the studio system. And, I wasn’t really sure how I wanted to go about it because all I wanted to do was just tell my stories. I had the option of choosing to be a part of the studio system, but I just didn’t feel like that is where I fit. Because of my creativity, I did not want to be…I mean, there is power and value in being a cog in the corporate machine of the studio system, there is. I’m not going to knock it, but at the same time, being the creative writer that I am, I was drawn to the Indie aspect of the industry, because of the creative freedom. Growing my own modest tiny machine, and having the creative freedom, was more important to me than being a valuable, powerful cog in the corporate machine of the studio system. I value the freedom of the story, just letting the story breathe. That’s something in the studio system, that we just don’t have yet. The bottom line is their main driver, and a lot of what gets produced through the studios is really good stuff, it is.
QOTS: It is…I think there’s room for both. Being a person who is enamored with film as a visual medium, I can see the value of both. But as an individual, having to do the work, having to be quote unquote, your own studio system, your own cog within your own essence, it seems like that would just be very daunting.
Dixon: It is…it’s very difficult. I’ve been at this for ten years, but it’s fair to say that for most of that time, I’ve had the priority of taking care of my family. I have put my children and family first. Now my children are grown. My son is about to graduate. My youngest child is graduating from high school next month, so I’m kicking it into high gear now!
QOTS: How long is your process, from conception to production? What kind of challenges have you had to deal with during this process?
Dixon: One of my first ventures was into short films because of a contest. There was a contest someone told me about. From conception to editing, it was seventy two hours for that short film.
QOTS: Wow!
Dixon: I know. It was amazing (she laughs)! Then, I don’t know, Chrysalis took a lot longer, the web series, because I started off with the feature script, which I wrote back in 2005. I still want to shoot that feature. I have a name actor attached to it, and I’m building a cast around it; but the web series, I don’t know, it took me about a year to do that…conception to completion. The series was, you know, it was when I had no money [she giggles]. But I did a little Indigogo campaign, and I raised the funds, and we shot it.
QOTS: Cool, so obviously raising funds is an issue?
Dixon: It is the number one issue [she laughs] time and money!
QOTS: So how are you actually able to do that? Is it all through different funding efforts like that?
Dixon: Well…yeah. My production company is funded through me. I don’t get outside funding for my company. However, Indigogo helped me raise money for Chrysalis: The Web Series; so that was successful. But everything else was my money; I had to come up with the money myself.
QOTS: Are you seeing back anything from this?
Dixon: No, no there’s no profit yet, except the audience enjoying Chrysalis, and that to me was value right there. Because, you know, I don’t really do this for the money. I would write…I would make films for free [a giggle]. Honestly, my Husband would be upset if he heard me say that. [We laugh]
QOTS: I think that’s just the passion talking, right?
Dixon: Yes, but you know, if you find something you would do for free, that’s really not work; even though it’s work, you know and that’s your passion.
QOTS: Yeah, I can see that…so what is it about your films that is different, and what do you feel would compel an audience to even take a chance on the films you’ve produced?
Dixon: Oh, my characters are different. I have different characters and different story-lines. These are characters and storylines not being made into movies and films, but people want to see things like that. For example, my audience would love the see a black man in a film, where he’s the main character, but he’s a good guy, not a bad guy…and he’s Muslim [a giggle]. There are billions of Muslims in the world and a lot of them are black. They would love to see a show or a film that reflects someone who looks similar to them, with a similar background to who they are. When I was growing up, I never saw black girls in the lead. I never saw black women in the lead. I didn’t think that the stories they made were for me. But these stories that I’m making, they’re not just for me. They’re for people like me. I’ve got stories where the main character is a transgendered girl. I’ve got stories where the main character is a Muslim drug dealer. You know, a diverse story life [a giggle].
QOTS: Like Chrysalis, for example, which I enjoyed by the way.
Dixon: I am so glad (We both laugh)!
QOTS: So diversity is paramount with regards to the productions you make?
Dixon: Oh, yes, I am not shy. This is what I tell people. None of my protagonists, none of my leading characters are straight white males; they are all others. I write and produce for all the others. Which is just about everybody, right?
QOTS: It would be because, like you said, the predominance in film, most of our lives and prior, has been just that, a Caucasian male or female. To see someone doing something for the rest of the world’s society, the global society, that makes a difference, I think that matters a lot more to people, being able to see something they can relate to.
Dixon: Right, exactly. There’s something about that being similar to you. We’re tired of those stories, that “save a life”, savoir stories…yeah I mean, I don’t want to see anymore slave movies, and I don’t want to see anymore. You know what I mean?!
QOTS: Yeah, I get that. I appreciate them, but I want to see something just as riveting in a current essence.
Dixon: Right, where we are now!
QOTS: Have you had any backlash about any of the subject matter that you’ve chosen for your films?
Dixon: Oh, yes, of course (slight laugh). One of my favorites came from someone who was actually my mentor, and he said, “Well I’m sure they would love Chrysalis the feature, but does the character have to be Muslim?” Yes, because that’s who she is. If she’s not Muslim, she’s somebody else. You can’t just take away her religion and then say okay, so that’s a totally different person… it’s her story. Because then, all of the stuff in the story, that refers to her upbringing as a Muslim, would be gone. That’s a part of the story. The guy was like a backlasher, which was not upfront. Let’s change it. Does she have to be Muslim? Then, from the Muslim community, I got backlash too, of course, because you’ve got to get it from both sides. Why make something about a Muslim doing bad things, like selling drugs. It makes us look bad. Well, because the guys in my neighborhood who were Muslim, that’s what they did. I grew up with that. That’s what I saw. Those are the stories that people lived. Those are the stories that are interesting, and people can connect to. And even if you can’t connect to somebody who’s a drug dealer and a Muslim, you can still connect to his dilemma. You have your own personal religious beliefs right? What would you do if your religious beliefs clashed with your choice of how to make money? That’s really the heart of the story…the survival story. I’m sorry, did I answer the question? [She giggles]
QOTS: Yes, you most certainly did.
Dixon: But you know what, to be fair, just to balance out the backlash, actually more than balance it out, I have so many people who tell me how it’s refreshing having different stories. They never knew that Muslims did stuff like that. I’m sure that is something they never imagined, someone like me, having to struggle with whether or not to sell drugs.
QOTS: You know, it’s interesting, there’s a blissful ignorance in the world when it comes to situations and circumstance from neighborhood to neighborhood. Being from Chicago, I understand that. Big cities warrant different things than small or rural cities. Perceptions are different. Bringing all those things together is, I guess, what people in the Indie world are trying to do.
Dixon: Yeah, because the stories are nuanced and layered. There’s more to it, more to us in humanity than blowing up buildings, or saving elders from earthquakes. You know what I’m talking about? Those movies that they make just to sell tickets.
QOTS: Right, right, I think I’d rather see a film that’s riveting and giving me pause, or making me think about things, as opposed to fluff, or “cookie cutter” type films.
Dixon: Right, trust me I’ve seen some. Now I’m a big fan of film and television, because I’m a huge story fan. I will tell you, I’ve see some really good blockbuster movies that gave me pause because it was a very well written story. But, I’ve also experienced movies that were supposed to be full of good, riveting stories, that I wanted my money back! I wanted my time back! I was so made after watching Seven Pounds, and I know somebody might say, wow, that was such a powerful movie. I did not like it. I’m sure somebody else found it nice, but some of the story elements, really pissed me off (She snickers).
QOTS: Right and I get that. I’m a lover of a story, and what makes sense to me. Even in conversation, I have peers with similar or even different views about a movie and that’s refreshing, but sometimes the movie doesn’t live up to the hype.
Dixon: Right…I’m always thinking hmm, now if the director would have done this, that would have been a better scene! [We both laugh]
QOTS: That’s where your perspective is a little more unique.
Dixon: You know what? I am such a nerd when it comes to that. [We’re still laughing] Oh, man, I can tell you about watching Daredevil with my husband and then I have to pause it and say, oh man, I love the way the shot is lit. Tell me, what do you think? What kind of lights are they using on the camera angle? Are they using a crane? What do you think? [I laugh) That’s the kind of conversations we have! [Now, she laughs along with me]
QOTS: That’s too funny! I have similar conversations here, and my wife is like, “Can you please be quiet so we can watch this?”
Dixon: [She laughs] I literally called my husband. I think he was in Australia at the time, or some other trip, and I said dude, I’m watching Jessica Jones, and this shot just really blow my mind! Can you tell me what you think? [We giggle]
QOTS: So, it’s okay to borrow from others to help your vision?
Dixon: Oh God, yes! Artists do it. You know I respect other artists, and when I see a really phenomenal shot, oh my God, I have to take pause. It’s like a work of art in a museum.
QOTS: Are all Indie filmmakers on a mission when it comes to getting their films noticed and in front of the viewing public? Are you on a mission?
Dixon: Well, I know I am. I don’t know about other filmmakers, because we don’t seem to hangout. [We’re laughing] We’re all busy trying to make our films. I’m sure they’re on a mission as well. My mission is to get as many of these diverse, compelling stories that bring people together, on the screen. To me, it’s all about bringing people together and connecting. Even if you’re reading a book by yourself, you are still connecting with other people who read that same book, having similar feelings and you can talk about it with them. That’s really what storytelling is about, bringing people together; to me that is.
QOTS: I think so too. A good story helps us understand what our differences and likeness are. It’s paramount in bring people together. It’s interesting how people view their ideas or opinions as unique and not shared, or experienced by other people.
Dixon: Oh, yes, we all are, and we could talk all night about the metaphor of the crew of Star Trek and how I really believe that’s the metaphor for humanity, but we don’t have all night, so… [We laugh] But a good story does that, it causes people to come together, and to talk about new ideas and learn from each other. It allows us to see how we are the same, and see how we are different and how we’re awesome! I don’t know if I’ve ever told another journalist this, but at the risk of being “quote, unquote” religious, I’m a very spiritual person, and part of my drive for being a filmmaker comes from believing this is my purpose. My purpose in life is to share stories with people. Because of the gift that God gave me, and one of my favorite verses from the Koran (Qur’an) talks about reflecting, and actually God talks about the people who reflect, or the people who think about things, throughout the whole Koran (Qur’an). I’m one of those people, and I’m sure you are. And what God envisions in the Koran (Qur’an), I’m not trying to prophesize, but this is my favorite verse that…”we are made in different nations and tribes to be different so that we can learn from each other”… That is the verse. And that’s my drive. That’s what keeps us going. Bringing people together, and learning from each other, and improving humanity that way.
QOTS: What an awesome statement, just in general. I’ve got just a few more questions for you.
Dixon: Oh, no problem, I like talking to you. You’re fun! [I laugh]
QOTS: I appreciate that. Currently, talking about filmmakers “you don’t hang around with” [She giggles] Who are your top two Indie Filmmakers that you watch and enjoy their work?
Dixon: Man, that’s hard. Now, there’s a wealth of Indie Filmmakers. Like I said, I don’t know any others, other than me, I’m sure I’ll meet some [We laugh]! But I do watch them. I know Ava DuVernay’s company is the first distribution company, and I recently watched one of the films from out of her company called Echo Park; which was pretty interesting. It reminded me of another film that I’d seen years ago, Medicine for Melancholy, which was so good. And I thought, “Wow, there are people out there making movies like me.” I watched a few other Indies that came out this year that I was really impressed with and there were a few that I wasn’t. I thought maybe this isn’t for me. I’m not of this generation. I can’t get with it [she giggles]. Dope was pretty good, although I felt like it’s not for me…that it was made for different generation.
QOTS: Even though the scope of it tries to merge generations?
Dixon: But I guess the Indies I’d say, that I respect, first and foremost, Spike Lee; because he’s the guy who inspired me. Him and Robert Rodriguez. They’re the people who actually made me believe that I could do this back in 2000 whatever…2004, I don’t remember. [We laugh] Yes, it was Spike Lee, and the book that I read by Robert Rodriguez was Rebel Without a Crew. That was the most amazing book I had ever read at that point in my life, and that’s when I knew, I can make movies.
QOTS: Hum…I guess I’m going to have to pick that up.
Dixon: Oh, man, if I ever meet Robert Rodriguez, I will give him the biggest hug, and tell him, “Dude”, I am so glad you did all those medical trials, because you know it paid off, and now you have your own production company [She giggles]! That’s really how he got started. He just did medical trials and raised a little money, and made a lot of his own gigs. When I read that, I thought, if he could do it I could do it!
QOTS: That is true inspiration, which leads into my next question. Who inspires you when it comes to your artistic expression?
Dixon: Well I guess you can say those two are my inspirations, but more cinematic, my inspirations are Francis Ford Coppola and Scorsese. I know that they’re not women, but look, I didn’t have a lot of women to pick from (Her voice smiles, and I laugh). The kind of films that I love and that I make, are crime, thriller, action. That’s what I like. I haven’t really come across a really well-crafted action, crime, thriller (whatever) that blew my mind, except for The Godfather and Goodfellas. [She laughs] They really blew my mind, and I admire picture styles, but, I guess I have to give big props to Coppola, because The Godfather changed the way that I looked at film. Even when I’m writing for television, I write cinematic that way.
QOTS: Hum…You write for television often?
Dixon: Well, my first pilot was Vengeful, and I think that was the thing that made me want to do different shows. Because I adapted the short film, then short into a series. And I shot the pilot in Fresno, last August. It was amazing! I really enjoyed that. It was different from shooting a film, but very similar. Writing for television is now, just as cinematic. It really is, because the audience expects it!
QOTS: Anymore, as techniques change, so to do our expectations. As a viewer, I want more. It’s hard, I know, to try and put that in a smaller scope. I guess that’s why we have stories connecting from one episode to the next.
Dixon: Well, yeah, the serials, those are like…okay, I grew up reading book series and television reminds me of these books because at the end of the chapter, it’s another episode. And that’s how television is now. At the end of the chapter, there’s a cliffhanger. And it was really House of Cards that changed the game for me as a viewer. It’s because of the way that it was presented to me in chapters, just like a book. I was hooked, and in love. It’s because I started off writing stories. It’s a perfect match.
QOTS: So, let me ask you this, what are you working on now and how do we get to see your work?
Dixon: Oh, so right now I am, actually today I was super busy. I’m on deadline for this Rom-Com (Romantic Comedy) feature script that I’m writing. It’s going to be ground breaking. I’m writing this Rom-Com and one of the main characters is a Muslim woman!
QOTS: Okay…Do you know anything about Muslim Women? [We Laugh] [I just had to throw that in there.
Dixon: You are so funny! But, yeah, this is a Rom-Com in the vein of 28 Dresses.
QOTS: Huh, I actually liked that movie.
Dixon: It was entertaining. Of course, I will add that there will be some drama and some comedy, more of a mixture.
QOTS: It’s kind of a Melodrama in scope?
Dixon: It’s very much in the vein of 28 Dresses. I didn’t want to say Bridesmaids, because that was more slapstick. But it’s funny, in a romantic comedy way [She giggles]. So to watch what I have now, you can go to my Youtube channel, or my website, there are videos on my website, or my Facebook pages. All the episodes for Chrysalis are on the Chrysalis Facebook page. There are clips from City In the Sea.
QOTS: Oh, I liked that, by the way. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I really liked that.
Dixon: Oh good, I’m glad! That was one of my favorites. City In the Sea is on the Youtube Channel. Everything is on the Youtube Channel. I have another film that will be released soon, that I’m the producer for, it’s called The Story of You, and you can find out all the information about that on my website. All of my projects are up on my website. Currently in development is the Muslim Women’s Series, along with another project in production.
I’d like to thank Ms. Nia Malika Dixon for being so candid, and sharing with us, much of her adventure and journey into independent film-making.
–By Gregory B. Morgan
