I’ve been fortunate in my life. Having spent nearly ten years living outside the continental US, I’ve been able to travel independently through roughly twenty countries so far. I love learning about different cultures as well as different viewpoints. And these experiences help shape my feelings about life here at home, in America.
Photography and video production have always been hobbies of mine. But in 2003, I bought my first Mac. I couldn’t believe how easy it was, or how fun it could be, to make simple videos on my home computer. Within weeks I was posting short production videos on Youtube.
One day, I was playing around with some Hi-8 video tape I shot a few years earlier in Bangkok, Thailand, and before I even realized it, I had a ten-minute movie laid out. I added some “borrowed” music and a simple voice-over, and it became what I’ve titled, ““21 Hours in Bangkok.” which is being hosted online currently by Spike TV.
“21 Hours in Bangkok” received over 42,000 views on Youtube, as well as many positive commments and suggestions. And I became encouraged try something larger.
I put together a one-hour feature, edited from hours of Asia travel footage, and set to 1990s music. It’s tilted, “China ’95”. Excerpts can be seen here on Youtube; http://www.youtube.com/user/Craigbe It took nearly two-months to create, but I was learning to edit!
And it was at about that same time, I started to become aware the “disconnects” and double-standards that eventually became the theme of, “A Conversation About Race.” There always seemed to be something clouding attempts at any genuine discussion on the subjects of race, or “racism.” I also began to notice, through simple questioning, that according to many, the only people capable of the crime of “racism,” are caucasian white people! This seemed like one, huge contradiction to me.
So I decided to form a production company. And for my first project, I would make a film on that very topic. I would attempt to document what the conventional wisdom on matters of race REALLY is in America and how it differs from most of what we’re all taught on the subject.
“A Conversation about Race” is my answer to President Obama’s call for such a dialogue. As I state in the opening lines of the film, “I can’t think of another issue that is more artificial, manufactured or manipulated, than this whole construct called, ‘racism.’”
About Craig