Interview with award winning filmmaker Sev DeMyers
The mind behind {Black Title Here} speaks
If there’s anything that makes us happy here at Gritty Vibes, it’s watching an artist take step after step, in pursuit of their true purpose. We first came across Sev DeMyers’s work in 2017 through his film “When Branches Break”. The layered themes and quirky sequences caught our eye, cementing him as a filmmaker with something to say and a unique, stylish way to say it. A routine scroll on Instagram reconnected us with his newest work of art entitled {Black Title Here}. Sev’s directorial style and knack for effortlessly witty dialogue shines even brighter with this one.{Black Title Here} depicts a struggling Production Assistant’s terrible day off. It showcases the quirky surrealist tone of ATLANTA (FX), with the backdrop of HBO’s Insecure. After a successful festival run, Sev was cool enough to answer some of our questions about his inspirations and creative process.
1. I've been a fan of your filmmaking since 2017. It seems as though you've really reached new heights with {Black Title Here}. What's the film about and how did you decide on wanting to tell that story?
Thank you, that means a lot to me, sincerely. {BLACK title here} is a story about a guy whose day off goes all bad. All my work is layered so while it is somewhat of a simple premise, there is always much more to the story. The main character is James, an LA transplant, who is living with a new girlfriend while PA’ing in Hollywood. As it is his day off, he just wants to chill but his day starts with his dreams being interrupted, then his friends crash the place and it just keeps falling apart from there. The title is a take on the state of Black television and the idea that any story involving Black people often has the “Black” moniker, hence {BLACK title here}. https://youtu.be/VQmJoOJCqgc
2. I've always loved the independent, get it done mindset in indie filmmakers. How would you describe your process on set. What are you like as a director?
Seriously, I have so much going on in my head at once that I feel like a different person. I think the actors would say I am an “actor’s director” because I spend a lot of time on performance and tone. I walk into scenes with technical ideas but usually improvise and look for what gold I can find in the moment. We all do so much pre-production but you have to be prepared for the idea that your film is going to be different from your script, so when you finally get on set as my man says “it’s jazz baby”.
"It’s a sick process but I love it, that’s really the best I can say."
3. When did you decide to be a filmmaker? Who were some of your earliest influences?
I would say I decided to be a filmmaker when I finally lost all inhibition. That was around 2014. I had been in the beat-making world for a while and felt like it was time to move on. I had always wanted to make films but to be real, it's a daunting task to take on. Especially, if you want to make something decent not just the “me and my friends made a film” stuff. I grew up in the 1990’s music video era and then all the classic Spike films and Singleton, plus Juice and Menace but also even the 80’s comedies that came before it with Eddie Murphy and such. Those eras produced a lot of content too and it was pre-internet, sometimes I think voices were more original because everyone wasn’t so in tune with what everyone else was doing.
4. What’s something you know now that you wish you could tell Sev right before he directed “Doo Doo’s Revenge?” (2015)
Great question. I’d say so much... become an editor, buy a camera, f*ck worrying, write more, collaboration is as important as a good idea and be proud of yourself, this is not lightwork. 
"when you finally get on set as my man says “it’s jazz baby”.
5. I know that filmmaking is an expensive art form. Bringing everyone together to tell your story can be a lot. What keeps you going?
It’s a relationship you think can always work out but it is also the hardest relationship that you have ever been in. Still, you keep going back and you learn stuff and it makes you better but you also go broke and might cry. It’s a sick process but I love it, that’s really the best I can say. After every film, I’m like “I’ll never do that again” then a few months later I’m like ummmm, I can’t say I’m a filmmaker and not make films! Here I go again!For more dope content, click here
Like our content? Support the movement! Check out our merch.[metaslider id=7842]Want to guarantee a feature on Gritty Vibes? Choose an option below:[ecwid widgets="productbrowser" default_category_id="0" default_product_id="0" minicart_layout="MiniAttachToProductBrowser"][yikes-mailchimp form="1" title="1"]For more music reviews, indie artist interviews, and articles click here