Before it became a worldwide beer campaign, the phrase 'Black Is Beautiful' was a positive affirmation in my childhood. I had previously written about it on GoodBeerHunting.com in the essay, Colorism, Black Pride, and the Black Is Beautiful Initiative. Then, in June 2020, the saying also became the name of an international collab beer as an initiative created by Weathered Souls Brewing’ Marcus Baskerville, raising more than $5 million across 1,601 partner breweries that sent proceeds to organizations that support equality and inclusion.
Now, the initiative enters into a new phase, supporting the National Black Brewers Association's work in developing and growing Black brewers nationwide. Thanks to documentary filmmaker Marco Ortega, we get a glimpse into what this initiative meant for so many people and how Baskerville is evolving it beyond the project's initial goals.
I had a chance to sit on a panel for the film with Ortega, and I knew I had to share his inspiration and passion for the film with you. In this episode, you'll hear how much admiration Ortega has for the way Baskerville is driven to help his community. We go behind the scenes to explore what it takes to make a film and along the way, Ortega provides advice for aspiring filmmakers. He also shares the emotional rollercoaster he considers a part of his creative process and talks about the unlikely celebrity who encouraged him to pursue his dreams.