Published on August 14, 2024
Lynn Dow with Malynda Hale and Loretta Devine on set of the Bull Street
This week, I spoke to Lynn Dow who just had a limited theatrical release of her debut feature film Bull Street. I was not able to see the film but I was interested in hearing about her journey as a filmmaker born and raised in New York City. As a New Yorker myself, I am excited to showcase voices of female filmmakers from the city and share their stories. During our conversation, we discussed her short film It’s Alright Dad and how through making Bull Street, she was able to honor her family’s legacy and find her own path as an artist.
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As you know, I live in NYC and know firsthand how much culture and diversity the city holds. How has your experience growing up in NYC shaped the stories you want to tell?
Growing up in New York has deeply shaped the stories I tell in my films. For me, they are matters of the heart. New York City has a vibrant culture with voices from every corner of the world. I love it because it does not belong to one group—no one can claim it for themselves. We all have a stake in the Big Apple. Everyday moments provide a rich backdrop that pushes and inspires me to write them all down. My simple love stories set against these epic backdrops resonate with people from all walks of life. It's funny, I've always believed that New York City is not just made up of boroughs; it feels like a country. I'm proud to have been born, raised, and to still live here.
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I saw that you used to work on Wall Street. What inspired you to make a drastic career change and pursue narrative films?
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Are there any filmmakers, artists, or mentors who have had a profound influence on your career and approach to cinema?
I draw inspiration from a range of filmmakers whose works deeply resonate with me. Whenever I start a new project, I often revisit three films that never fail to lift my spirits: Inherit the Wind, Claudine, and Sophie’s Choice. Their compelling stories and memorable lines always guide my creative process.
I also find deep inspiration in trailblazing women filmmakers like Lois Weber and Ava DuVernay. Their pioneering efforts and commitment to future generations continually motivate me on my filmmaking journey. Their work reminds me to push boundaries and to create stories that matter.
I watched your short film It’s Alright Dad and was struck by how it intertwines the themes of family and gun violence, particularly within the context of the COVID-19 quarantine. What inspired you to explore these themes in your work? Were there specific personal experiences or other influences that led you to address the pressing issue of gun violence in such a timely setting?
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of the world and sadly, an increase in gun violence has followed in its wake. In It’s Alright, Dad, I wanted to tell this story to bring light to the other pandemic running rampant in the United States, senseless violence that is taking the lives of our youth. We are losing young people, young minds of all races. I wanted to do my part to show the pain that the violence brings to our community. To encourage each of us to standup and do what we can to help stop the violence. If we don’t act now America will lose that which is most precious, our children.
Although I have not yet seen your most recent feature film, Bull Street, I am so excited to see it from what I have read. It is clearly a deeply personal story for you. What was it like to go back to your maternal family’s birthplace in Clarendon County to shoot a film inspired by your grandmother?
It was a surreal experience. Clarendon County, SC, is steeped in American history—it's where the Briggs v. Elliott case originated, the first of five cases that led to Brown v. Board of Education. It's also the county where 14-year-old George Stinney, the youngest person in America to be executed, lived.
I spent my summers in Summerton, SC, one of seven towns in the county. Coming from New York City, I was so enamored by the Piggly Wiggly. But what struck me most was how, despite its complicated past, the community came together to support this film. They wanted to show unity. They haven't forgotten Briggs v. Elliott or George Stinney; they've accepted these parts of their history. Now, they have the chance to add something new, showing that we can move forward together.
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And to dive into that a bit further, do you feel closer to your family after making this film? What were their reactions to the film?
This experience has definitely brought me closer to my family. While filming in Clarendon County, where my mom, grandmother, and great- grandmother lived their lives, I felt surrounded by a protective presence. Like all my films, this project has been a vessel for my healing, allowing me to express and process deep emotions. It’s brought me solace and growth, while also giving my family insight into my innermost feelings.
I know that films can take years to make and that you need a solid team around you. When times get tough, which women in your life have inspired and/or supported your creativity and artistry as a filmmaker? Who truly supported you every step of the way?
My grandmother, although gone, is always with me and guides my every step in this process. I can still hear her voice when I'm feeling down, saying, "Lynn, write, write, write." Her words push me to give it my all, every single time.
Another incredible woman who has been my rock is Wendy Tucker-Tannock, my Executive Producer and Producer. Wendy is a remarkable black woman from Bermuda who took a chance on me and funded the movie. She believed in me even when I felt like giving up. We have this amazing ability to feed off each other's energy and support one another when it feels like the doors are closing. When she's up, she holds the door open for me when I'm down, and I do the same for her. And once we both make it through, whether it's finishing a short film or a feature, we ensure to leave the door open for other women to follow.
What advice do you have for individuals aspiring to work in roles similar to yours in the film industry?
The film industry is challenging, and you'll hear many "nos’" before you get a "yes." Don't let rejection bring you down or affect you negatively. My advice is to stay the course. Even when you're assuming the worst, when your self-confidence is low, and you're just inching along, mostly hoping to be invisible—stay the course. Also, whatever your faith may be, keep it strong.
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The defining moment when I knew I wanted to write was when I was about four or five years old. My uncle had a nervous breakdown and came to live with us. He locked himself in my room and didn’t come out for what seemed like a lifetime. When he finally emerged, he opened the door, and I saw stacks of papers. I remember seeing the words, "In the beginning, God created Heaven and Earth." I looked up at him and said, "You wrote the Bible." As a child, I didn’t understand the difference between copying and writing. So my uncle became my hero. I told everyone—my kindergarten and Sunday School teachers, my friends—that my uncle wrote the Bible. My grandmother had to stop me from spreading this claim, so she convinced me that I was a better writer than him, and I believed her. It’s hilarious even thinking about it.
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But growing up, you’re supposed to finish school and get a great job. My grandmother was the catalyst for my transition from Wall Street to filmmaking. I opened up to her about the emptiness I felt and my longing to pursue my true passion: making movies. Although I was afraid of disappointing her and the rest of my family, her unwavering support made all the difference. She urged me to follow my heart and move to Los Angeles, assuring me that I could always come back home if things didn’t go as planned. Her blessing gave me the courage to follow my dreams. It took away the fear.
Lynn Dow working with collaborators on the set of Bull Street
Madeline McCray, Loretta Devine, and Lynn Dow on the set of Bull Street
Lynn Dow and Amy Madigan on set of Bull Street
Synopsis: A woman faces the battle of her life when her estranged father's family tries to evict her and her grandmother from the only home she has ever known.
Directed by: Lynn Dow
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Biography
Lynn Dow was born and raised in Harlem, New York. After graduating from Columbia University, she left Wall Street to make films about matters of the heart.
In It's Alright Dad (2021) Dow looked at the violence in our streets through the eyes of a young victim. It's Alright, Dad won best short film at the Twin City Black Film Festival. In Compassionate Release (2020)--which features the Bob Dylan song, "I Shall Be Released," and won best screenplay and audience awards at the Chelsea Film Festival--Dow shed light on the prison system's method of obtaining end of life care for dying inmates. The issue of gentrification is the focus of Still Harlem (2018), which was selected to screen by Pan African Film Festival as part of their yearlong 30th anniversary celebration. The debate on medical care versus religious objections is the subject of Above the Sun (2015).
Dow produced the documentary Neutralize (2021) and made her feature film directorial debut with the drama Bull Street (2024).
