Episode 37: Lori Webster

There are very few black female filmmakers that have been acknowledged by mainstream media and Hollywood. By no means does it mean that the work of such artists is not good enough. Kasi Lemmons, Ava DuVernay, Julie Dash and Euzhan Palsy are but a few that have had the opportunity to breakthrough. Their work is exquisite, only surpassed by their work ethic.

It is from this lineage and tutelage that Lori Webster emerges. Lori grew up in a small town in North Carolina. She was fascinated with stories and more importantly storytelling as far back as her childhood years. That fascination led her to shoot, direct and edit her first film by her teens. She admits that the film was her 16-year old interpretation of John Singleton’s Boys in the Hood set in her beloved North Carolina.

Lori’s experimental film solidified her love for the artform and ushered her thoughts in one direction. When others were wondering what their major would be in college, Lori knew that she was destined for the world of media. She was convinced that being a storyteller was her calling. A series of life events including pageants, (she’ll tell you about that later) and travel to several countries, plus 18-hour days at several networks has produced in my estimation one of the next great African American filmmakers.

Lori’s eye is among the best, her imagination limitless, her ability to compose and deliver stories… exceptional. From her work in documentary to narrative tales, Lori Webster is a name that you should remember. Though I have attempted to provide a brief synopsis of Lori the filmmaker, she is somewhat of a renaissance woman. In her own words,

This is the story… thus far… Of Lori Webster.