I recently discovered that I am over 60% African (Nigerian, Cameroonian, Bantu, Ghanaian, Ivorian, Malian, and more). I am also 30% European. Both of these facts were hidden from me my entire life. I was raised believing I was African-American, but mostly Native American. While I do have a small percentage of North American indigenous blood, I now know that I am African! I am a filmmaker here in the United States, and I loved your article. I was cast in a Nollywood film a few years ago. It was an Indie that never got made called The Beautiful Ones Are All Mad. But, the bulk of my work is in the U.S. That said, I would love to speak with you about ways I may be able to help close the gap between Hollywood and Nollywood, or just African film in general.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Silvia! It’s incredible to hear about your journey of self-discovery and connection to Africa. Your passion for filmmaking and interest in bridging the gap between Hollywood and Nollywood is inspiring. There is so much potential for collaboration, storytelling, and industry growth between both film industries, and I’d love to explore ways we can contribute to that conversation.
I’ll be reaching out via email soon—I’d love to hear more about your experiences and discuss ways we can work together to strengthen the African film industry’s global presence.
Again, thank you for your kind words and support. Looking forward to our conversation!
I recently discovered that I am over 60% African (Nigerian, Cameroonian, Bantu, Ghanaian, Ivorian, Malian, and more). I am also 30% European. Both of these facts were hidden from me my entire life. I was raised believing I was African-American, but mostly Native American. While I do have a small percentage of North American indigenous blood, I now know that I am African! I am a filmmaker here in the United States, and I loved your article. I was cast in a Nollywood film a few years ago. It was an Indie that never got made called The Beautiful Ones Are All Mad. But, the bulk of my work is in the U.S. That said, I would love to speak with you about ways I may be able to help close the gap between Hollywood and Nollywood, or just African film in general.
Thank you for the outstanding article!
Sincerely,
Silvia 'Punkin' Mathis
silvia@punkinstudios.com
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Silvia! It’s incredible to hear about your journey of self-discovery and connection to Africa. Your passion for filmmaking and interest in bridging the gap between Hollywood and Nollywood is inspiring. There is so much potential for collaboration, storytelling, and industry growth between both film industries, and I’d love to explore ways we can contribute to that conversation.
I’ll be reaching out via email soon—I’d love to hear more about your experiences and discuss ways we can work together to strengthen the African film industry’s global presence.
Again, thank you for your kind words and support. Looking forward to our conversation!
Layo from TIMA