Visual Intonation

Vanté Gregory

Visual Intonation, hosted by acclaimed director and screenwriter Vanté Gregory, delves into the vibrant world of Black artistry. Each episode features intimate conversations with visionary creators, exploring the depths of their craft and the cultural resonance of their work. Vanté Gregory's insightful approach illuminates the nuanced voices shaping contemporary art, offering listeners a profound journey through diverse artistic expressions. From emerging talents to established masters, Visual Intonation amplifies the richness of Black creativity, inviting audiences to experience art through the eyes and voices of its most compelling practitioners. Visual Intonation finds film not only as an art form but as a basis for education and cultural interaction.

  1. 5D AGO

    EP 152: Inner World & Reflection with Director/Photographer Paris Silver

    Paris Silver is a photographer and director born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, whose work is grounded in visual storytelling and disciplined craft. With a measured approach to image making, he creates narratives that are intentional, precise, and emotionally resonant. His perspective reflects both technical fluency and a deep respect for story. His professional experience includes directing projects for internationally recognized brands such as On and Adidas. In addition to his work as a director, Paris has served as a first assistant camera for organizations including Apple, ESPN, and ACC Network. These roles have strengthened his understanding of production at the highest level and reinforced his commitment to excellence on set. Paris’s creative foundation is broad and deliberate. His early work in wedding photography sharpened his ability to capture authentic moments under pressure. He developed his technical skills through hands on experience with Canon cameras and mentorship from Mike Seeger. While attending East Carolina University, where he majored in Health and Fitness and was known as Thai Tanic, he balanced academic study with a growing dedication to visual media. His interests in paintball, running, and cycling further inform his discipline and focus. Beyond professional achievement, Paris is driven by purpose. He is committed to empowering minorities to enter the filmmaking industry and to amplifying underrepresented voices through meaningful work. He believes that storytelling is a vehicle for inclusion and change. In this episode of the Visual Intonation Podcast, Paris shares how intention, preparation, and conviction shape both his career and his creative philosophy. Paris Silver’s Website and Socials: https://www.parissilver.com/ https://www.instagram.com/silver.paris/ Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    48 min
  2. DEC 12

    EP 151: The ReWrite with Director/Writer/Producer Terry Dawson

    Terry Dawson tells stories the way a musician plays chords. He starts with something familiar, then adds a note that surprises you, then another that opens a door you didn’t expect. On this episode of the Visual Intonation Podcast, he talks about the path that led him from Washington, DC to Los Angeles and from childhood acting to becoming a filmmaker whose work spans both narrative and documentary worlds. His films The Mason Ring, The ReWrite, and A Whole New Irving show a creator who listens closely to the world and follows the stories that rise from it.  What makes Terry compelling is the way he moves between forms without losing himself. He began in documentaries, cutting and producing environmental and cultural stories like Kiss The Ground and The Lost City Of The Monkey God. Those projects taught him to notice details and honor truth. But his heart kept pulling him toward narrative filmmaking where characters breathe on their own and themes unfold in scenes rather than interviews. The ReWrite is now available on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home, and it carries that blend of craft, clarity, and compassion that defines his work.  Terry talks about building A Whole New Irving from his own search for balance and meaning. He explains how meditation, spiritual curiosity, and the challenges of early adulthood helped shape a dramedy filled with humor and heart. The series grew from a personal journey into a story that resonates with audiences looking for purpose in the noise of everyday life. It also opened doors, landing in development at HBO and placing Terry firmly on the radar of those who care about rising voices in film.  In this conversation you’ll hear the steady rise and fall of a storyteller who believes in representation, dimensionality, and the power of art to widen our sense of what is possible. Terry shares insights from Film Independent’s Project Involve fellowship, his award-winning short The Mason Ring, and his plans to create films and television that amplify the lives and experiences of people of color. By the end, you will not only understand how he works. You will feel why he works and why his stories matter now more than ever.  Terry Dawson's Website and Socials: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1254255/ https://www.filmindependent.org/talent/terry-dawson-2/ https://www.instagram.com/thereal.terrydawson/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrydawsonfilm https://vimeo.com/user150298150 Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    1h 17m
  3. DEC 5

    EP 150: Native Light with Director Dante Ollivierre

    Dante Ollivierre sees stories everywhere. On the streets of Kingstown, in the quiet corners of St Vincent and the Grenadines, in the faces of people who carry their histories with pride. He is a director and creative director who listens closely, then shapes what he hears into images that breathe. His early training at Saint Vincent Community College helped sharpen his eye, but his instinct for truth is entirely his own.  As a multidisciplinary storyteller, Dante pursues the kind of honesty that cannot be staged. He works to draw out raw performances, the kind that linger long after the screen fades to black. His background in documentary and corporate film production gives him a steady hand, yet his heart stays open to surprise. Each project becomes a search for a moment when real life steps into the frame.  That dedication has carried him into new territory as an emerging filmmaker. Dante has led the production of documentaries and corporate films for the French Public Agency for International Technical Cooperation, working within the Expertise France program for the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories. His repertoire reaches across documentary films, music videos, and commercials, where he shifts with ease between bright aspirational energy and moody dramatic tension. Whatever the tone, he brings a sense of intention that holds the work together.  As Founder & Creative Director of Offhand, Dante continues to expand his voice. His recent project, Bush Medicine: Stories that Remember the Land, invites listeners and viewers into the deep memory of place, showing how art can reconnect people to what sustains them. The Visual Intonation Podcast follows this journey, exploring how Dante builds meaning from light, sound, and human connection. Each episode becomes a lesson in how a filmmaker learns to see.  Dante Ollivierre's Socials:   Source: Instagram  Danté (@danteollivierre) • Instagram photos and videos    Source: Vimeo  Dante Ollivierre - Vimeo    Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    47 min
  4. DEC 1

    EP 149: Cultural Weight with Director/Photographer Jamar Silva

    In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit with Jamar Silva, a director and photographer shaped by the rhythm of Jamaica. He grew up in a place that teaches you who you are by showing you both sides of life. Beauty and struggle. Stillness and pressure. That duality trained his eye to find light where others see only shadow and to honor the raw truth that lives in every frame. Jamar brings that sensibility into projects like Yung Bredda with Chloe Bailey, Big Chat with DJ Puffy, and his short film 1816, each one a step toward a future he hopes reaches the big screen.  Jamar speaks about the tension that follows him. The chase for achievement pulls at one side of him while the search for meaning pulls at the other. At twenty seven, he is learning how to navigate a world that rewards conformity even as he refuses to blend in. His work is shaped by those who came before him and those who will come after. Their influence is a compass he carries through challenges that have demanded resilience, humility, and a constant return to self. That process becomes the heartbeat of his storytelling, whether he is filming the energy of a performer or the quiet truth of Payne’s Bay Fish Market.  We explore how his art becomes a mirror for his internal dialogue. Jamar believes the questions are just as important as the answers. His stories are built from that search. They breathe with curiosity, conflict, and discovery. He talks about how adventure fuels his creativity. A road, a camera, a playlist, and no fixed map. He looks for the hidden places. The quiet corners. The scenes that introduce themselves without warning. For him, the journey holds the magic because it brings out moments that cannot be staged.  Jamar also shares gratitude for the community that surrounds him in the country he now calls home. Friends who step in front of his lens. Clients and strangers who connect with his vision. Mentors and peers who steady him when doubt creeps in. Their presence shapes the way he works and the way he lives. Together, we uncover the story of an artist who refuses to rush past his own evolution and instead chooses to build work that is honest, grounded, and alive.          Jamar Silva Socials and Website:    Jamar Silva    Source: Instagram  Jamar Silva (@lextookit) • Instagram photos and videos    Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    57 min
  5. NOV 21

    EP 148: Precision and Progress with Cinematographer Joshua Ighodaro

    This episode of Visual Intonation features Joshua Ighodaro whose career in the camera department reflects a steady progression from Trainee to Loader. Over the past eight years, he has developed a strong command of on-set practice across high-end film television commercials, and music videos. His work demonstrates a consistent commitment to precision reliability and an awareness of how technical decisions support the broader creative vision. Joshua Ighodaro outlines the foundation of his professional path beginning with his academic training and his early experience in a rental environment. He then describes his transition to major sets, where he worked under accomplished cinematographers, including Olan Collardy, Femi Awojide, and Jomar O Meally. Exposure to leading practitioners such as Sean Bobbitt BSC has shaped his understanding of the standards required at the highest level of production. He also discusses the practical elements that equip him for contemporary camera department work. With bases in West London and Hertfordshire and a full driving license, he maintains the flexibility the role demands. His personal kit which includes a Small HD 502 monitor and a Bolex H16 REX 4 supports both his professional responsibilities and his continued interest in celluloid acquisition. The episode situates Josh within the broader landscape of emerging talent. It highlights the growing network of developing cinematographers and references initiatives such as the inaugural Future Cinematographers class which includes filmmakers like Joshua Ighodaro. Through this conversation, Visual Intonation examines how early-career practitioners refine their skills, accumulate experience, and contribute to the future of visual storytelling. Joshua Ighodaro Website and Socials: https://www.joshuaighodaro.com/ https://www.instagram.com/j_ighodaro Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    1h 7m
  6. NOV 14

    EP 147: The Poetry of Image and Emotion with Director/Writer/Producer Alicia K. Harris

    The Visual Intonation Podcast welcomes filmmaker Alicia K. Harris, a storyteller who turns quiet moments into vivid emotional landscapes. She joins us from Scarborough, the community that shaped her artistry and continues to pulse beneath every frame she creates. Alicia talks about the lessons that carried her from student sets to national stages, and how early affirmations like the Best Director award at Ryerson helped her believe that her voice belonged in the world.  In this episode she traces the path from her first short film Fatherhood to her breakout success with Pick, the film that earned her a Canadian Screen Award and opened new doors across the country. She shares how each project taught her a different truth, from the bruised comedy of Love Stinks to the quiet power woven through All Things But Forget and Maybe If It Were a Nice Room. Alicia explains how she builds characters who breathe, falter, fight, and invite audiences to see themselves without apology.  We explore the creative courage behind On a Sunday at Eleven, the film that brought her a second Canadian Screen Award. Alicia reflects on the craft decisions that shaped it, the patience it demanded, and the joy of seeing a personal story resonate with so many viewers.  Alicia closes with a look at the mission that fuels Sugar Glass Films, the company she co-founded to champion women and marginalized voices. She speaks about mentorship, community, and the responsibility she feels to widen the gate for the filmmakers coming after her. This conversation is a study in artistic intention, a reminder that great work begins with a single truthful idea, and a celebration of a filmmaker who continues to shape Canadian cinema with clarity and heart.        Alicia K. Harris’s Website & Socials:    https://www.instagram.com/aliciakharris_      www.aliciakharris.com  Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    1h 21m
  7. NOV 7

    EP 146: The Footage Itself with Editor/Director Jessica Jones

    In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with Emmy®-nominated documentary filmmaker and editor Jessica Jones, whose storytelling brings voice and visibility to communities often left in the margins. Her films move with rhythm and empathy, weaving portraits of resilience, joy, and justice into narratives that stay with you long after the credits roll. Jessica’s work has appeared on Netflix, Disney+, and PBS, with recent editing credits on Born for This and the forthcoming feature Coach Emily. Her short documentaries for The New York Times, BBC, and KQED reflect her commitment to representation and connection, earning her recognition from the Webby Awards and praise across platforms that celebrate authentic storytelling. As both an editor and director, Jessica builds worlds of reflection and motion. Her award-winning film On the Pulse of Life captures the heartbeat of history and humanity, while her current project, Women Who Ride, explores the power of movement, freedom, and identity through the lens of women bikers. Each frame reveals her deep respect for the people and cultures she documents. From fellowships with Sundance, SFFILM, and the Wexner Center for the Arts to mentoring the next generation of storytellers, Jessica continues to shape the documentary field with vision and generosity. Tune in as she discusses her creative process, the responsibility of editing truth, and how sound and image find harmony in her work. Jessica Jones Socials & Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4452330/ https://www.jonesica.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicanicolejones/ Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    1h 11m
  8. OCT 31

    EP 145: Griot with Director/Writer/Producer Effie Rose Theos

    In this episode of Visual Intonation, we step into the world of East London–based director and senior producer Effie Theos, a creative force whose work flows between commercials, branded films, docudramas, and emotionally charged short stories. Effie brings a cinematic sensibility to every frame she touches, shaping narratives that feel both intimate and epic. Her approach celebrates human connection while exploring the layered intersections of culture, identity, and memory. Effie calls herself a “griot director,” a modern storyteller carrying traditions of spoken history into the visual age. Through her camera, the past and present intertwine, as seen in her hauntingly beautiful New York fashion film about two ex-lovers revisiting the cityscape of a love once lived. Her work often transforms everyday emotion into poetry, a reflection of her belief that truth and art are inseparable. From her early days producing music programs in Sydney to leading high-profile campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Google, Effie’s path has been defined by versatility and courage. She has collaborated with creative giants like BBC, Ogilvy, Smithsonian Channel, and Pulse Films, proving her ability to balance artistry with precision. Each project reveals her gift for marrying visual rhythm with emotional depth, a kind of musicality that turns moving images into symphonies. Now developing a short film and a reality TV pilot, Effie Theos stands as both artist and survivor, shaping stories that challenge the familiar and dare audiences to feel more deeply. Tune in as Visual Intonation explores her journey, her process, and the pulse of her cinematic soul. https://effierosetheos.com/ Source: Instagram Effie Theos (@effierosetheos) • Instagram photos and videos Support the show Visual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/ Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/ Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.com Vante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

    1h 3m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Visual Intonation, hosted by acclaimed director and screenwriter Vanté Gregory, delves into the vibrant world of Black artistry. Each episode features intimate conversations with visionary creators, exploring the depths of their craft and the cultural resonance of their work. Vanté Gregory's insightful approach illuminates the nuanced voices shaping contemporary art, offering listeners a profound journey through diverse artistic expressions. From emerging talents to established masters, Visual Intonation amplifies the richness of Black creativity, inviting audiences to experience art through the eyes and voices of its most compelling practitioners. Visual Intonation finds film not only as an art form but as a basis for education and cultural interaction.