Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindell Singleton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindell. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We, as functioning humans, use stories to make sense of the myth — to place sinew on the skeletons of our complex world. We have the capacity to reason as humans — but reason alone is insufficient for sustaining life. Reason, often, is absent of spiritual, spatial and emotional antecedents.
I believe that story helps to free us from the shackles of reason.
Even as a little kid, I carried a ‘Bic’ pen and a loose-leaf paper and wrote stories, scripts, plays, poems — there were all these ideas and characters and plots banging around in my head and I had to get them out.
So, my work, today, as a writer and filmmaker emanate from that place — that relentless desire to tell stories of meaning, depth, virtue, and realness. Stories that force the reader or viewer into a different place, moving them toward action or purpose.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Since I am not a woman, I am deeply hesitant to speak to about women.
My advice to young people — boys or girls — who are starting the journey is this:
1. Realize that parents are often the first ‘dream-killers.’ And they don’t mean to be. They often do it unintentionally, with neither malice nor nefarious intent. Parents want to protect their kids from life. And often, in doing so, they infuse their children with their own baggage and fears. Realize, as a young person, that your destiny is your own. Follow your heart and pursue the core of your dreams. Even if to others it seems fruitless and illogical and doesn’t answer the: “Well, how are you going to make a living question?” — you must still hold fast to extant fragments of your dream that are pushing forward to become reality.
2. Don’t quit. I say to my children — ‘Daily, incremental progress is the key. Steady movement is essential.
3. One person can make a difference. I am ever in awe of how many achievements in life occurred because one man or one woman said: “I’m going to do something.” Young people need older people encouraging them that they — even if it just is singularly ‘YOU’ — can become the catalyst for something that becomes substantive, meaningful and potentially life-altering. Your life force matters. Your destiny is a precious piece of matter. Start now and realize that.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
I am the Chief Creative officer at Media 13 Studios. We are a group of diverse filmmakers seeking to use our talents to tell stories for film and television. I am particularly proud of the work we’ve done in using film to tell stories about health care. That dovetails nicely into my current television projects — the first is a five-part series that tells the unique story of THE CENTER, an oncology medical home in Fort Worth that is using innovative, extraordinary methods to treat men and women with cancer — and, the series we’re developing for a major streaming service. This series is called, ‘The_Gap..” It’s an eight-part series — of extraordinary significance — that lays bare the reality of Black Infant Mortality (BIMR) and Maternal Morbidity (MM) and their impact on our society.
As an author, I believe historical African-American fiction is essential. My novel, ‘Search for the True Love Indicator’ was published two years ago. The second book in the series will publish this autumn. Also, preserving the story of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Calvin Spann was important for us. We created the first graphic novel to tell the story of what the Airmen accomplished — and, what it’s relevant for the youth of today. In terms of using documentary filmmaking as a clarion call to illuminate essential topics, we made the short film ‘Facing East” about the quest to clean up an abandoned slave cemetery. Through that work, the county graciously authorized funding and the project earned multiple volunteers to help restore the site.
Much of my writing and film work is about connecting the past and present. Many black persons in the U.S. are disconnected from their past — my goal is to use to story to galvanize as many true connections as I am able.
Here are links to our work on BIMR/MM–if you are interested.:
You can view the trailer for the series here: https://vimeo.com/234842735
https://vimeo.com/213369627
You can request a newsletter by emailing Ryan@sagassemediagroup.com.
The team curates content about BIMR and MM at 365plusone.org.
Check out our coverage: http://www.dentonrc.com/news/news/2018/02/28/meeting-denton-takes-look-atblack-infant-mortality-maternal-morbidity-rates
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I am love with the Houston Library. Even though I don’t live in Houston, the library makes much of their archive/resources available to every Texas resident. I go to Barnes and Noble every week. And, to Half-Price books every other week. Treasure are there — you just have to go and find them. And, of course, there are Recycled Books on the square up in Denton… I have found more obscure books about the history of cinema in that place than any other location — and, it gives me an excuse to get to West Oak Coffee bar right there on the square for an Americano…of which I have an addiction…
Contact Info:
- Website: m13studios.com or 365plusone.org
- Email: lindell@m13studios.com
- Instagram: Lindell153
- Facebook: facebook.com/psalm7212
- Twitter: Lindell153
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