Inspiring social change through film
Juliet Mawusi (Radio Television Journalism ‘21) is working to develop eye-opening documentaries to educate people and promote social change.
While finishing school, Juliet received a lot of media attention around her final project, a documentary called Being Black in the Nova Scotian Music Industry. The film was featured at the FIN Atlantic Film Festival and profiled by CBC East Coast, The Nova Scotian Advocate, Eastlink Community TV and other sources.
The recognition gave Juliet the confidence to move forward and pursue other documentary projects.
The Launch: Documentary Development and Pitch Contest
Currently, Juliet is one of five finalists competing in The Launch: Documentary Development and Pitch Contest, happening at Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg Doc Fest from September 22-28, 2022.
The winner will receive a mentorship with a leading Canadian documentary filmmaker and a $10,000 prize of cash and in-kind filmmaking services to help create a short documentary. The completed film will be screened at the Lunenburg Doc Fest in 2023.
“That pitch was introduced to me by somebody, and it will be my first time ever entering into a pitch competition,” says Juliet.
“What I'll be pitching is about Black fathers. You know the stereotype of Black fathers being absent in their kids’ life? I'm looking to educate the public more about it, and that sometimes there's a lot to it, not just what we see in the society,” says Juliet.
“That particular project is closer to my heart. I don't really care about how much money that I'm going to get from this pitch competition. Even if I don't win, it's still going to get done.”
Being Black in Canada
Juliet is also representing Halifax in a pan-Canadian project, the Being Black in Canada documentary series, which is screened at various Black film festivals across the country.
Inspired by her own journey from Ghana to Canada, Juliet’s documentary, The Canadian Dream, is about immigrants in Canada.
“For The Canadian Dream, I’m hoping to educate people about us, immigrants,” says Juliet. “We travel from miles and miles and miles away. We come in here and try to live, try to survive, and quest for the greener pastures.”
Juliet says that Canada has a lot of resources that she and other immigrants can’t get back home.
“There’s a lot in being an international student here, a lot to be a foreigner on this land, a lot to be an immigrant on this land,” says Juliet.
“The Canadian Dream is an eye opener, telling people who we are and the struggles we go through on a daily basis – and telling people to be kind to us.”
Equipped to stand on her own
When talking to her friends from other countries, Juliet always tells them to consider NSCC if they want to study in Canada.
“It's because of the sense of community that is in NSCC. I went to a different school and then I came to NSCC. When I came to NSCC I saw the difference,” says Juliet.
“Everything that I needed to succeed, it was there; from the administration to my teachers, to my colleagues, to my projects and the experience.”
Juliet says that going to NSCC shaped her to get ready for the industry.
“It equipped me to stand on my own, even if I'm not getting any job opportunities right now, I can stand on my own and create something myself because I have all the equipment and skills.”
Looking Forward
Juliet hopes that her chosen career allows her to return home to Ghana for some projects, and also continue to work in Canada. She would like to branch out and create other types of films along with documentaries.
“I want to be like a source of inspiration to the young generation out there. I want to tell them to do anything and everything that they want to do,” says Juliet.
“Be a risk taker. Be a go-getter even when people think you don't deserve it, or people think you don't fit in. The only answer you can get is a yes or no.”