Episode 135: Andy Hodgson

Andy Hodgson is a cinematographer-producer who made his directorial debut in 2020 with El Color Negro, a short film that explores the concept of the colour black. Is it a colour? An idea? What does Blackness mean in this historic moment? Andy drew inspiration for El Color Negro from his experiences as a Black man in a country that was built on a foundation of white supremacy, as well as the experiences of Black people through history. These were topics that Andy addressed in a June 2020 panel presented by VAFF entitled Amplifying Black Voices. Andy joined Rukiya Bernard, Mariam Barry, Jem Garrard, and Zach Lipovsky in discussing racism and white supremacy in the Vancouver film and television industry, and specifically how it impacts Black artists (that panel was hosted by Sabrina Furminger and can be found in the YVR Screen Scene podcast feed). In this thought-provoking and fascinating episode, Andy reflects on his childhood growing up in the midst of a turbulent civil war, his move to Vancouver and his discovery of cinematography and producing, and the mix of politics, art, and social justice issues that drive him forward in his work. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment