On Thursday, April 20th, we attended the Sam Pollard/Herman Program Event. It was a talk hosted by Baruch College inviting back its alumni, Sam Pollard (class of 19730, an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker whose career spans over more than forty years. He has released three new films in just the past few months, Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power, Bill Russell: Legend, and Max Roach: The Drum also Waltzes. There was a lot covered during the talk as the conversation was very intriguing and inspiring in the sense that many of us in the class will soon be Baruch graduates.
Sam Pollard mentioned how he grew up in the 50s and 60s and how he used to live on 99th street on 2nd avenue, just a few stops away from Baruch College on the 6 train. He transferred from BMCC to Baruch and within the first months here he was lost and unsure of the area he wanted to major in so he went to his advisor. Many students who come to Baruch often play it safe and go the Zicklin school route and so did Mr.Pollard but he hated his marketing and finance courses. When asked about his interests and hobbies, he answered, “I like to read and watch old films” so his advisor recommended a one-year film program that he should look into. He applied and got in and the rest is history. During Mr.Pollard’s teenage years, media consumption was happening from 5 channels only while now there is just so much stuff to watch and read about that we often take it for granted and our brains just can’t handle the excessive amount of information. It was at an early age and specifically at 14 years old that he came to realize how much power lies within those who control media and information flow. It was when he joined New York City Military Society and was introduced to cultural icons like Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, and James Baldwin. He became aware of the duty he had to fulfill of making films about unheard stories and “showing the shades of gray because when you make a film you have to make sure you show all sides of a person and even the not so pretty.”
When asked how he was able to produce five films in one year, Mr.Pollard responded, “I have a lot of work but I also have a lot of support.” He reiterated over and over again that he’s not alone in this journey and hasn’t been because he is surrounded by a great team that helps him be better everyday. Also, he jokingly emphasized that “when you have the freedom to do something it takes longer to produce films but when you take other people’s money then it becomes easier because they give you suggestions sometimes.” Mr.Pollard does fund himself sometimes and he looks for people to do it for him the other times and perhaps the con to that might be being under supervision or watch. Those who finance the whole thing obviously care about the success of the project so they will be attentive to the work and express their ideas and opinions on major aspects at least if not everything all together.
