Meet Blayre Pichon | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Blayre Pichon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Blayre, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
About 6% of writers, directors and producers in US-produced films are African American. As black filmmakers, in order for us to keep making films – most of us will also need to start a media company or collective of artists who are invested in creating and supporting black content. Waasi Films was created in the spirit of rebelling against the traditional way we see the filmmaking industry. We need more diversity amongst executives at major studios – but we also need more film studios in the hands of diverse people, in diverse locations. There are many different ways to step into this, but most of the resources and information is held close to the vest by the town gatekeepers. Despite the on-going journey, I believe Hollywood is becoming less like a reservoir and more like a river. Myself and many other artists here in Los Angeles, are connected and committed to unique filmmaking communities across the country. There’s a flow happening to and from these places and all of us are going to flourish because of it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up in Calvert County, Maryland, about an hour south of Washington, D.C. Being from a small, rural-suburban town motivated my interest in traveling and seeing the world, but it also taught me the value of growing and evolving within a smaller community. I took a photography class my sophomore year of highschool and it changed everything. The photos led to the videos and after filming a few student projects, I knew what I wanted to do when I graduated. At that time, I was excited that I found my passion, but terrified that this seemingly unattainable lifestyle in media production was what I was falling in love with. Trying to “find Hollywood” at 18 years old from the cornfields of southern Maryland brought me to Morgan State University’s film program in Baltimore. After graduating, I continued to live and learn in the city, where myself and my filmmaking partner Toroes Thomas, produced our own independent projects. It was here that I learned you can make films from anywhere. Our company, Waasi Films was born. “Waasi”, is swahili for “rebel”.

I didn’t always know my passion, but I wanted to be passionate about the work I was going to do in the world. If I’m spending hours away from my family and friends, it has to mean something – it can’t just be for the money. I wanted a career I went to bed still excited about. Art is so easy to love. The way this medium moves through space and time will always take my breath away. It is the second-best weapon we have. Making art your profession will also break your heart, take all your money and make you question your sanity at times. I’ve had those moments where I “wished I loved something else”, but if you choose this profession, you have to take the joy and pain. You will love the highs and learn to cherish the lows. I’m working on a documentary right now, a very raw, personal look at the last few years of my life and how it has changed me forever. From an intensely low place, I am finding revelation, purpose and peace – which I’ll be sharing with the world. I feel like art is the most authentic way I can express myself, and I have so much respect for it.

Risk is inevitable in life and I think it’s best to embrace it. I like to think of myself as a professional risk-taker at this point. It doesn’t mean that I seek them out or I always enjoy the process, – but I’ve been forced to take risks in order to survive. I’ve learned to accept the workflow. Over the last 10+ years – living and working in Baltimore, New Orleans, central California and now Los Angeles – I’ve constantly freelanced, produced and co-wrote our first feature film, and worked at a major media company for five years producing content.
This all went against another set of plans I once had, but you have to be open to switching it up when life is coming at you, especially as an artist. Creators are also vulnerable to the changing economy and major risk taking can come with high-anxiety. I’ll roll the dice, but not without God and therapy.

I want a lifetime making films. I want to help other people make their films. I want months on set living in a make believe world with talented and unique strangers. I want weeks in the post-production bat cave orchestrating chaos into the film of the year. At the end of my career, when I’m in my nineties I want to still be working on my art. If I go out like Cicely Tyson, y’all will know I did the thing I was trying to do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fair wairing – I’ve lived in Los Angeles for three years but I’m still very new to the city. Traveling a lot for work and post-production has kept me mostly in my neighborhood and throughout the Valley, so I’m still figuring it out. If I had a friend visiting, we’d start off with a sunrise at the beach – breakfast taco with jamaica, followed by a mochi donut with coffee from anywhere because coffee is good just about everywhere in LA. It’s 11am and we’re still at the beach, playing with local kids, local dogs, and meeting up with friends. Now, we’re at a museum or an art exhibit just before lunch at a new fusion restaurant where local cultures are blending all over your plate. Then, a quick nap, because tonight we’re at a rooftop screening of a friend’s short film. We end the night connecting with other artists and dance the night away.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Service is really important to me and it is a major player in any revolution. The idea of more black creatives moving into the film industry is revolutionary, and requires people to fill in the gaps before the resources arrive. Coming from Baltimore, there’s a lot of talent but a lack of consistent projects being able to come to fruition because creatives are not always met with funding or the knowledge to go pro. The acts of service we provide to our peers and aspiring creators will feed the entire creative community for a lifetime. One half of what I learned came from college, the other half came from the community. Organizations in Baltimore like Crew Call, where they provide “a learning and collaboration community for creatives below the line”, are an invaluable act of service. This action sparks belief in those who receive it and inspires them to continue the mission.

Website: waasifilms.com

Instagram: @blayre_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blayre-pichon/

Other: http://vimeo.com/blayrepichon

Image Credits
Toroes Thomas