At just 35, Dr Clare has done it all. From teaching, to makeup artistry, to dermatology, to rapping, to writing and now screen writing and directing movies. Growing up in foster care in England, U.K. after the untimely passing of her father in 1994 attributes to her indefatigable purpose driven success.
We sat down with Clare virtually to celebrate the good news and find out what it truly takes to create a life filled with dreams.
PM: Congrats Clare! Or Madam! How does it feel to win your 4th film award today from your native home of Nigeria.
CAO: It feels sensational. Honestly, I never tire of winning or recognition. It’s not like I need the validation, I have great self esteem and a brilliant support system (her husband Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe MBE is the Founder of the longest standing black film festival in the U.K., BUFF and the Co-Founder of their production/ distribution company BUFF Originals) but what awards really do is connect you with people that are looking for you but haven’t discovered you yet. I’ve found financiers, cast and crew through winning awards globally. I am grateful to the AMA Awards committee for bestowing me with this award, for taking the time to watch my film and for even nominating it. The win is the icing on the cake, for what has been an unusual and challenging year – emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.
PM: Amen. And to date, you are only the 6th black British female director to bring a movie to the cinema for distribution. What was that experience like and why are these stats so alarming low for black women in Britain?
CAO: The experience was daunting. I think when you are diverse – a woman and a black woman, there is this ridiculous pressure to succeed because you know that the next woman’s destiny may lay in your success or failure, which frankly is super unfair. White women are not held to this standard. If they bomb at the box office, it’s fine – they can dust themselves off and ‘fail forward’ by getting an even bigger budget next time to ensure they succeed. For black women, that first go might be the end of their whole career. Historically, black British female directors are given just 6 out of 600 cinemas to screen in. That’s a 1% chance to win. That’s what I got. I was never going to make millions a the box office from 6 cinemas, but we did do very well online – with over 16 million streams, we have reached my intended audience (primarily African-American and native African women) with a story they truly resonate with. We held private screenings across the globe in 2019 from Brazil to Holland and we have now made a profit from the film (with the recent distribution to Apple TV). It’s a long game, the film business. And we took the stairs. We financed it, I wrote, directed, did the hair and some makeup, custome design, stage design. On shoestring budget, you do what you must. But this makes you a master. No Shade was my apprenticeship. My sophomore movie will be a whole new level. I’ve grown so much since 2018. Also, it’s about opening the door for the next person. I love how Ava DuVernay does that for her American peers. Now that BUFF has a global home on Apple TV, my hope is that BUFF has shone a light on new filmmakers like: RCL Graham (S.O.U.L of A Black Woman), Aletha Sheperd (Transference), Danielle Vassell (Women Defying the Odds), Morenike Balogun (KnightVolf) and Aysha Scott (Dismissed) who we’ll support to make their feature length directorial debuts.
PM: Talk to us about that, as you are some what of a unicorn – a wife, mother and movie maker. Most women feel they must sacrifice their career. How do you balance it all?
CAO: When my husband met me in 2014, I was a very successful entrepreneur in the science and beauty space (Clare Founded Premae in 2011 – the brand afforded her celebrity clients and 17 industry awards including a British Empire Medal for HRH in 2017) so there was no way I was going to become a housewife and push my dreams to the side. Infact, I managed his festival whilst continuing with Premae for another 2 years. The penny dropped when he realised I could write – he read my script for No Shade and after several drafts was really impressed. Then I became pregnant on our trip to Cannes in May 2018 and we were 1 month away from doing the festival premiere in East London. I realised quickly that I’d need to learn to be super duper viligiant with my time, hence why I take social media breaks and rarely speak on the phone to people. Premae was closed so I could rest and enjoy my pregnancy and the film distribution marathon. Apart from Ngozi Onwurah (Welcome to the terrordome) none of the other 5 women British female directors are parents. So I didn’t have anyone to look up to. I had to figure it out, and it was hard. at the top of this year I was very unwell and I burnout. In many ways, the lock down of 2020 was the retreat and sanctuary that my mind, body and soul needed. This unicorn needed a break!
But now that I have had a reset, I have a very clear vision of a balanced life. Success is not just financial. I’ve had that. It is also spiritual, physical and environmental. All four corners of your life need to be in tact. I know many people with lots of money who are miserable. Other areas of their lives aren’t fulfilled or in order. Everyone must be true to themselves and be guided by a higher power – for me, that power is God.
PM: So what does the future look like for you?
CAO: Everything I have ever visualised has come to pass so I hope with God’s power it will continue. I have spent 2020 wisely, writing some very interesting projects and have been approached by some amazing companies to develop, direct and produce. I love being a stay at home mum to my daughter (Lavender Ngozi) and wife to Emmanuel. If I’m not on set, I’m on my sofa, writing, living and enjoying teaching my daughter how to be a productive human being.
Clare Anyiam-Osigwe is the writer, director and co-star of No Shade, available globally via Apple TV app. Clare is also the script judge at BUFF and Co-Founder of BUFF Originals. This year, BUFF made an unprecedented deal with Apple TV App to bring 70+ independent movies to the app, firmly solidifying their position as a leading exhibition, distribution and production brand.