“My name is Zainab Floyd (ZB), I was born in New York and moved all around from Pennsylvania, Saudi Arabia, New Jersey, and to Mount Vernon New York.I never have felt a sense of home and I guess that is why I feel so passionate about the arts. Each project is a new definition of what home is.” Zainab is a 19-year-old filmmaker on the rise. Her interest in the art world started after being apart of an art residency program at the Studio Museum of Harlem called ETW (Expanding the Walls). 

Her works are usually surrounded around the concept of identity, whether her identity or another’s. She says “Being Black, Muslim,and of Haitian decent which all are very prideful and also plays a huge role in my color schemes, poems, and what it means to be living in America today…” She enjoys being around friends and family as she was brought up being surrounded by people who were all about unity and love.  

Zainab aspires to one day have her film premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France. She wishes to be the Thelma Golden of her day. “The one thing I have always said to myself, when people have caused me to suffer and cause doubt I would say ‘One day, they will never stop hearing my name’, and this sounds terrible but it is the only thing that constantly pushes me to better  myself. It is not for them but it is for everyone who has ever felt as if they were never good enough.”  She gives credit to Gerald Leavell who sparked the passion in her to pursue film and photography. 

teenAGE got the opportunity to have a talk with her.

TA: How do you come up with your concept for your films?

ZB: My concept for my short films often times begin when I am daydreaming or writing a poem.  I commit myself to making it more than just words on a piece of paper.  It is a very short process compared to the editing.  I always say that I never go into a project knowing the end result it comes together when I am editing.

TA: What films have been most inspiring to you? How did it influence your work?

ZB: Hmmm…  I have been doing a lot of research now for the short film I am working on called

Age Of Innocence and as of now the films that are inspiring me are the VHS music videos.  I was watching a music video by David Dean Burkhart called

Cemeteries a song by Sodus. But I am really inspired by Eric Rohmer’s early films and his use of colors.  He uses text for his transitions in

L’amour l’apres midi which reminded me of a book by chapter.  I am also a BIG fan of Xavier Dolan’s films there has not been a film of his that I did not watch. I love his use of colors, and his poetic transitions from scene to scene.  Hands down,

Crooklyn by Spike Lee is my all time favorite film.  The short film that I am currently working on has a lot of these influences in regards of storytelling, transitions and use of color.  I want it to be a result of the directors who has inspired me.

TA: As a young filmmaker how do you get your work out there in the art world? 

ZB: I mostly focus on trying to get my work done before I get it out there.  This may sound very cliche but it is not what you know, it’s who you know.  Many people think that it is very difficult getting your work into galleries, museums, and having your filmed screened.  It can go as simple as, posting up a snippet of your film on Instagram and someone may comment and ask to show your work at their shop, or gallery. It has happened before to me.   Also remaining current on the pages you follow on either your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr  there are many ads looking for artists specifically emerging, young artists I just go for it. There are many, many, many curators looking for teenage artists that they want to vouch for and have their works in their show. New York City is where it is at, and this is the place where many artists are made.  

TA: Do you create for yourself first and let the audience find you, or do you create for a market? 

ZB: When I am approaching a project it starts with a conversation with my girlfriends.  And I am really, really, really excited then I write my ideas down and I begin to film.  I never have a specific audience, I sort of figure if my friends like my idea and what I show them, then it is good enough.  It is the short films that my friends and I are into when we watch YouTube videos at home alone. I say “I am going to make a film about what we just spoke about” and I go for it, without ever thinking about a market, or the likes of what the general public would’ve liked to have seen. I go through many critiques before I actually produce the work.

TA: Do filmmakers have any responsibility to culture? Do you feel that being a creative person requires that you ‘give back’ or tell a particular story? 

ZB: This may sound weird but I don’t call myself a filmmaker, because I don’t feel like I have made such a significant amount of work that has resonated with our culture or spoke of our times. But I do believe that filmmakers have a VERY significant role in our times, they mirror our culture, times, communities, and at times ourselves.  We watch films for knowledge, to feel at ease, to feel sad, genuinely to feel.  Because of filmmakers we can attach memories to moving images with stories that move people in ways that are indescribable.  I feel that being black, a young woman, and a Muslim I feel that at times people push me into a box to tell a particular story that they feel comfortable with.  But I don’t care about that box.  Nina Simone once said “You can’t help it. An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.”  and it is in a way of  us giving back.  I personally tell my stories, I think that being black in America, a Muslim, and a young woman remaining in my truth and demonstrating beauty, and pridefulness in itself is an act of giving back.  There are not many stories about black girls, or Muslim black american girl in our times that is not tied to a tragedy and I want to create more stories about my experience, my girlfriends, my community and I think that is giving back.  I owe it to myself, and the world around me.

TA: What is the art scene like in New York?

ZB: The art scene in New York all depends where you are at, the hunger is stronger depending what borough you are rep-ping.  I say the art scene in Mount Vernon is really small, and everyone knows everyone.  All of the artists have either attended high school with me, or we either got in contact through word of mouth.  I have my artsy friends in Harlem whom we meet up with other artists at a time and mainly collaborate or just vibe off of one another (mostly laughing).  The art scene in Brooklyn is very hectic, I’d say.  It is like boiling water, willing to explode or evaporate at any moment… which is exciting, but also tiring.  But all the more I love it!

Check out Zainab on social media! 

Instagram:

@datgirluna