Filmmaker Justin Simien, who won “Best First Screenplay” for Dear White People at the Film Independent Spirit Awards Saturday night, offered some great encouragement to anyone who doesn’t feel represented in popular culture.
Simien, who is Black and gay and includes a Black, gay character in the movie, said in his acceptance speech that he began writing the script “because I didn’t really see my story out there in the culture. I didn’t see myself reflected back at me.” He advises, “If you have a story, if you don’t see yourself in the culture, please put yourself there, because we need you. We need to see the world from your eyes.”
Listen to his full speech: