“On to the Next Thing” with Hadassah Curry

Hadassah “Das” Curry joined Chatham’s MFA in Film & Digital Technology program in 2020 with eight years of filmmaking under her belt. Despite being only 23, Hadassah’s films have already been screened in festivals around the world, winning numerous awards, including “Best Documentary” and “Best Documentary Short.” We caught up with this illustrious and determined jack of all trades to learn more about her filmmaking process and aspirations. Read on for a glimpse behind the camera—

Can you tell me a little bit about what led you to filmmaking?

Hadassah “Das” Curry. Photo by Michaela Soler

Hadassah Curry: I grew up in a household with three brothers, a mom, and a dad. My brothers are 43, 37, and 33, and I'm 23. Growing up, I got to see everything from Turner Classic Movies to Boyz n the Hood to Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier classics. My biggest influences are Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. Watching their craft led me to my identity as a filmmaker. When I was 14 years old, my mom gave me a camcorder, and this is really what led me to filmmaking. I would edit these videos at the YouTube Studio and put them on Facebook. People started to say, Man, you're really good.

What led you to Chatham’s MFA in Film and Digital Technology program?

HC: Chatham came to my undergraduate university for college fairs. [Chatham] was the only college that came that had a Master of Communication or anything film-related. When I first decided to apply to Chatham, I was applying for the Master of Communication program. I found out last minute that there was a film program. That was really what I wanted to go for. Chatham was the cheapest graduate application I ever did. I was literally like, why not?

Do you identify as a filmmaker, a screenwriter, or all of the above?

HC: I've been meeting a lot of producers from Showtime and HBO and I try to introduce myself as a writer as well as a producer. I am a writer, producer, content creator, director, and editor. I have a dream to continue screenwriting and telling stories that have never been told. Associate Professor, Marc Nieson, MFA has pushed me to continue screenwriting.

Could you share your thought process behind producing some of your films?

Hadassah’s award-winning short film, BLM, can be watched here.

HC: I'm co-executive producer on this new series called Pittsburgh Legacies with Anthem Video founder, Stephen Kraus. Stephen was my cinematographer for Miss Blue Moon and Dear Body as well. We’re focused on telling stories of anybody who wants to leave their legacy in the Pittsburgh scene. I try to help people who don't have social media platforms channel their story.

During my first semester here, Assistant Professor, Kristen Shaeffer, MFA asked us to make a film project that dealt with text. The Black Lives Matter movement was so big at that time; I wrote something in 15 minutes about what I felt in the moment being Black. It's assumed all Black people are oppressed and I didn't agree with that. I came from a different background; I was raised with a silver but kind of wooden spoon in my mouth. I worked really hard for everything I have done. I [interviewed other people] about their experience being Black. Our society has taught everyone the wrong things about what a Black person should be. My audience wasn't white people, my audience was all people. We're all different shades but we should support each other.

Can you talk a little bit about Miss Blue Moon?

HC: [The documentary focuses] on the newly crowned Miss Blue Moon, Scarlet Fairweather, and how the pandemic forced them to come up with creative ways to perform and maintain their income. Everyone was struggling with the pandemic and I was wondering how are drag queens doing? Someone wrote an article about Dan Minkel (Scarlet Fairweather) and a few other drag queens that had been struggling throughout the pandemic. I wanted to focus on Dan's story so I said let's talk. I found that mental health is always an issue. The pandemic has caused a lot of people to start questioning themselves and their abilities.

Can you describe the process of having your film selected for a film festival?

HC: Film festivals are a lot of money. Every film I have done, it was my own investment. I have submitted my films at least 100 times; I've probably gotten denied in 30. It happens, it is trial and error.  I've been accepted to at least 10. I'm getting into ones that qualify for my IMDB. I'm putting a lot towards my thesis; it's supposed to be my breakthrough film. My end game for that film is submitting it to festivals that can qualify me for the Golden Globes and the Oscars. You don't have to win, you just have to keep getting selected. If you get in, it's your breakthrough. You've got to find distributors for your films because that's how you're going to end up making it as a filmmaker.

Is there a specific accomplishment you're aiming for that would make you feel like you've made it?

A behind the scenes shot from Miss Blue Moon; you can watch the full film here. Photo by Stephen Kraus, Hadassah’s co-producer and cinematographer.

HC: I'm a critic. I'm very hard on myself. People ask do you ever get a chance to celebrate your accomplishments? And I never do. I'm always on to the next thing. I have made at least 27 different versions of my films. I have a lot to prove. Currently, I'm shadowing under a two time Emmy-winning director that sees my work and says I'm going to get an Oscar at 30.

Clint Eastwood is 90 years old. He is still in the industry and it amazes me. There is really no age of retirement. Before I decided to go to film school, a lot of people had doubt in the film industry. If people doubt me, that makes me want to prove them wrong even more. Even working on shows currently, I've been told, you know it's hard right?

I worked on Netflix’s The Chair [which filmed at Chatham] and connected with a lot of people [in the industry]. I'm not afraid to talk to producers and writers. I will pick their brains to see how they got there. How can I get there earlier? I have that drive. I might have to rock with it for a little bit.

What is your #1 goal in telling the stories that your films tell?

HC: Can anyone relate to it? That's the thing I really focus on. Professor and Program Director of Film and Digital Technology, prajna parasher, Ph.D. always says, make sure if you're telling someone's story, you're not telling the story. You have to let people tell their story. I meet a lot of strangers in the city and there are so many stories that a lot of people have never really noticed. I'm focused on telling Pittsburgh stories before I leave Pittsburgh.

Special thanks to Hadassah for discussing her work with us. You can explore Chatham’s Film & Digital Technology program at the link.