Welcome Trelanda Lowe, director of Delusional State, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a neurodivergent filmmaker specializing in writing and directing powerful disability, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other community content. Another thing about me is I'm also from the sober and LGBTQI+ community. In addition to being disabled, LGBTQI+, and a woman of color, I have been creating psychological and comedic stories to offer intellectual dialogue worldwide about how to live together better. It's been a fantastic journey exploring content. As a Californian native, I understand the art of media (photography, art, film, and television). It's exciting to observe how media has transformed and where it has progressed today. I originally started my journey during the analog days and transitioned to digital exploring so many ranges of the art. I've never been into cog formation on one-dimensional expression. However, as a filmmaker, I see my work as unfiltered expression, providing space for collaborative magical infusion that fully brings the story to light. My production company's mission is to produce various genres and employ people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other groups. Creating a space for creatives to contribute to the Vision Edge Media brand is essential because everyone can contribute to each magical creation. Aside from owning my production brand Vision Edge Media and Bourgeois Magazine LA, I've worked numerous years collaborating with disability-branded companies such as ADA LeadOn, I'm an advocate in the community, a juror with various award organizations, and I'm involved in other areas in the media industry.
You've submitted Delusional State, please describe the project to our readers.
When I wrote the Delusional State television series, I focused on religious story content that explores good versus evil. It was initially written as a feature film but later became a television series. The story introduces a blend of talented professionals that help guide the Delusional States television series about two supernaturals who find themselves forced to give thirty days of redemption to problematic mortals, while competitively fighting for a position next to their bosses: God and the Devil. However, as my work progressed from pre-production to the big screen, winning awards (the Telly Awards and fifty-something other awards)demonstrated viewers' love of my creative vision.
How did you find out that this was your vocation?
Growing up as a young pupil watching various media arrays introduced me to this artful world. I remember looking at magazines (Elle, Vogue, Essence), photographers' work (Thierry Le Goues, David LaChapelle, Gordon Parks, Roy DeCarava, etc.), and watching a zillion media industry pieces (television, film, and documentary). As an individual who struggled to find her voice as a selective mutism survivor, with onset fluency disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), media allowed me to self-express freely. I advise anyone who questions if they have the potential of a specific career by leaping forward to that desired path. One will only know one's true potential once one dives in without fear.
As a female filmmaker, how would you describe your experience and what are pros and cons about it?
As a filmmaker from various communities, I don't focus on the cons of my experience as I used to loop my head into it. I take the cons of the industry and turn them into a positive objective to guide myself at a higher level as a filmmaker. I'll give several examples of cons that enlightened my perspective on the word: "No." I'm a go-getter, and "No" motivates my objectives to keep pushing. Another is watching individuals putting a lot of attention to knock me down because of their self-loathing agendas. These types of folks energize me to spearhead forward, and in the process, I knock them out of my way of achieving my goals. As an industry professional from the disability community, I understand the challenges of attaining leadership executive positions and the diligent work I've invested to get where I am today. Much of my hard-edge working style started in my younger years when folks bypassed me because of what they saw of me visually as a woman of color. I've worked around a dominant profession but never considered quitting because that's different from my style.
How does Delusional State reflect your way of seeing life? What inspired this project?
It reflects on societal issues that are forever evolving daily over religious perception, the inner fight we navigate on progressing or staying behind. It's essential to examine another dimension of Delusional State story to open the audience's eyes to a whole embodiment of the story premise with a supernatural television series. As an enthusiast of religious content like Highway to Heaven, Touched By An Angel, Lucifer, and others helped guide me to the direction I've aimed with the film Delusional State.
What difficulties or challenges did you face during the development of the project?
The challenge I faced was making changes to the story premise. However, reviewing the concept after shifting gears sparked many imaginary ideas about where the Delusional State television series is today.
We previously talked about your project and you said "The core of the story is about how we as humans move our lives based on the reflections from our past that affect our current life and executive decisions for a healthier direction." Is there something in your past that brought you to your current decisions and also directions in your artistic life?
Yes, I can answer that question. After many years of navigating alcohol addiction, my eyes opened once I stopped drinking. Not many people understand what it is like to walk that path. However, a large community connects to what I've expressed. My point is to connect to a healthier direction with sobriety but focus on the now of life. I'm happy where life has guided me and excited about where I'll head next. We only have this one life, so get out there and make things happen, but remember to smile in the process.
Trelanda, in a previous conversation you said that as a disabled director it's important to define the struggles of your community, but also how you navigate relationships and your every-day life. Did you already get a feedback from the community? Or what do you like to communicate to your audience with your projects?
Yes, I have. My community loves Delusional State. So many people in my community are glad that story concepts such as Delusional State are pushing the envelope. It's essential to avoid the stereotypical story plot that puts the disabled community in a box as creatives and story content.
From your biography, we noticed that you are also a podcast creator, can we know more about it and where to find it?
My podcast Phenomenal Disabilities with Tree Lowe is a podcast show designed to be a vocal platform for individuals in the community to discuss their journeys, and careers, and offer resource information to anyone seeking it. Phenomenal Disabilities with Tree Lowe is on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon, etc.
What is your secret dream? A project not yet completed or a collaboration with another artist you respect.
I would'nt call it a secret dream. However, I would say my goal at this point is receive Oscar's for my work and serving humanitarian work. I’ve collaborated on projects such as ADA LeadOn (30 and 31), Hearing You Breath, Mistress Candi, Platonic Love, Delivered, Kickstart Theft, and many more. Working with Vilmos Zsigmond, Fredric Goodich, Linda Nelson, Michael Madison of Indie Rights Movies, Danny Woodbury and Tari Hartman Squire of ADA LeadOn, and many others has been an honor to learn from.
Who would you recommend "Delusional State" to? And why?
I would recommend Delusional State to anyone because everyone can relate to the message about giving another chance at life. The show is not designed for a specific demographic at all.
We are already excited to watch Delusional State, when is it coming out and what should we expect?
Delusional State is an ongoing television series in another pre-production phase. Right now, there is no definitive date for its release. However, we'll update once out on the big screen.
What advice would you give to a new filmmaker starting out?
My advice for anyone to never take advantage of people who offer professional insight about any career field. So many people assume they can take the easy route working in media, but it requires hard work. If someone provides insight, stay open. Be patient in the process because success doesn't happen overnight. Be kind to yourself when receiving rejection. Take rejection as a chance to learn something from and blossom with the knowledge thrown in your lap. Another word of advice, as anyone continues climbing the “Hollywood ladder,” is not every employer will align with your views, but take in the information handed. Once you’re ready to branch out execute that leadership mindset by employing strategic measures of including core value’s of your organizational business structure.
One thing you wish you had discovered sooner? (About your profession)
I wish someone spent invested time guiding me on the marketing aspect sooner. However, I approached marketing from a self-guided perspective but later learned effective ropes from others. It's been such an eye-opening experience listening to sound advice.
Aside from Delusional State, what are you working on at the moment?
Another project I've been working on is the Phenomenal Disabilities documentary, a dramedy about life after divorce while finding one’s self without boundaries, a reality challenge game show, and a family dramedy show exploring the various levels of life journey. Others will in be revealed soon. But I'm excited at the direction they each are headed.
Can''t wait to hear more!
What is your opinion on the involvement of artificial intelligence in the world of entertainment?
I'm not a fan of it in film, but it's okay to play around for fun for personal reasons (self-portraits). As filmmakers, AI takes away from the filmmaking process and jobs. Others think AI is excellent, but I don't, in all honesty.
Thank you for your time, we are proud to have an artist of your caliber in our fourth edition of Morgana Film Festival! Thank you for being incredibly inspiring.
Thank you so much for having me onboard!
Email Trelanda here: visionedgemedia@gmail.com
WATCH DELUSIONAL STATE'S TRAILER HERE:
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