Ramone Hulet- Filmmaker Friday (Quarantine Edition)
This week we’re joined by Chicago actor, writer, & producer, Ramone Hulet!
(This interview was edited and condensed for clarity)
CA: Hey Ramone! Hit us with your bio.
RH: My name is Ramone Hulet. I'm a creative producer, here, in Chicago. And I'm the founder of Black in Film, an online, Black filmmaker, searchable database.
CA: What's the best thing you've gotten out of quarantine?
RH: I guess understanding that energy is in everything. And that when you share a project idea and you're like, 'Hey, I'm thinking of this.' You're inviting someone else's energy. And if you, yourself, aren't firm in what you're trying to do, you could potentially invite negative energy.
The biggest thing I've learned in self-isolation is what I want to be doing. And through that process, it's been very easy to say, no, and not chase or accept opportunities– although they may be great –that doesn't align with where I want to be as a filmmaker.
CA: Have you returned to set? If so, how does it feel?
RH: I've produced a handful of projects. I've been COVID Coordinator for a project. And when you produce, it's like more than ever, like more than ever before, people are trusting you. They're trusting you to bring them into an environment that is going to be safe. That has the opportunity to be safe. They're trusting you with– not to get super deep, but they're trusting you with their family too. When I agree to a project, now, I'm like, 'Cool, I need to know everything about this project and I need to know all the locations.' And when I put the crew on hold, I'm like, 'Hey, here's everything I know, and if something changes I'm going to let you know.' And then if crews like, 'Hey, I don't want to do this.' Then you gotta be okay with that as a producer.
CA: Tell us more about Black in Film!
RH: Black in Film is a public, online, self-submission, Black filmmaker database. What that means is that any Black filmmaker: editor, writer, post-supervisor, anyone that works behind the scenes in film production can submit themselves to the database and become searchable. So when people are like, 'Hey, I would love to hire Black, but hey, I don't know anybody.' Then, I send them this website when people are like, 'Hey, I'm looking for a sound person in Florida.' I be like sending this website.
It was really a fruit of my experiences of Candyman. And I, as somebody who's been in Chicago for six-seven years, working professionally didn't know everybody and that made me angry and I couldn't get to sleep one night. And then I sat down at my computer and made Black in Film.
CA: Are you working on any new projects?
RH: I have a couple of new projects, a couple of things that I'm very excited to drop and very excited to share. Some things that are very much in line with what I believe in new energies. And yet, as soon as I'm able to share those and put those out, I would appreciate any support! The best way that you can support me right now, honestly, is sharing Black in Film and getting that word out there. Cause that's also very important to me and that can affect more people than just me.
CA: What advice do you give young filmmakers?
RH: You know what your vision is. Do it and execute it. Don't feel pressured by any external factors. You feel very strongly about it, if you have like something you're really trying to share to the world, that's important. Sure. Like they see every story has been told. I don't believe that. I believe that with every new iteration, with every new person that is your take on that story. I think that that's important.
CA: Thank you, Ramone! Where can people find you?
RH: You can find me at ramonehulet.com, or you can find me on Instagram, @ramonehulet, or you can find me at @blackinfilm or blackandfilm.com.
Check out the video interview (and all our #filmmakerfriday videos on Youtube):