Indie Noize is a movement that unites a diverse group of creatives that share an unabashed spirit and passion for their art. In partnership with Indie Noize the ongoing campaign “Women Are Wolves Too” will highlight aspiring female creative entrepreneurs whom embody what the movement is all about. Meet Iris Miller.

Age: 23

Occupation: Sales Associate/Screenwriter

Origin: Washington, DC

Q. Film is an incredibly powerful creative medium. What/ Whom inspired you to take a crack at screenwriting?

Iris: Growing up, I’d use books as a way to kindle my imagination and creativity. My mother is an avid reader and would recommend books and authors to me. When I was about 12 or 13 she had really gotten me into Neill Gaiman. He’s the author of Coraline and lots of other great stories. My favorite story by him is called ‘Mirrormask’ about a girl raised in a circus family who gets sucked into another realm and basically has to rescue that world from mayhem in order to restore balance and get back to her previous life. I fell in love with that story, and found out that there was a film adaptation of it. Gaiman and Dave McKean wrote the script. I was so excited to see it and didn’t know what to expect.. ended up loving the movie as well. So I  thought “I’d be great at this”. To write a story and have it depicted on screen… Why couldn’t I do this? I’ve been writing scripts ever since, but never seriously wanted to pursue screenwriting as a career until about a year ago.

Q. Top 5 Filmmakers. Go!

Iris: Aight so boom. Just a disclaimer: my favorite filmmakers are based on my favorite films and have absolutely nothing to do with their respective characters. Ralph Bakshi, Jim Jarmusch, Gordon Parks, Ava DuVernay, and of course Spike Lee. 

Q. Can you speak to some of the challenges of being a black woman in the world of production?

Iris: Though conditions for black filmmakers have improved over the last few decades, it seems the challenges of being a black woman in the world of production are endless. I know that is what will possibly make my accomplishments all the more great, but the fact that there are loads of black femme identifying filmmakers and the average person can only probably name like two off top speaks to the fact that we’re simply not represented enough. We struggle with being able to afford to get projects made, funded, and seen. You really have to get super creative and constantly worry about doing things to make your work STAND OUT. Sometimes that means straying from your genuine style with hopes to gain some recognition. White/male filmmakers can come out with the most basic mediocre work (nothing wrong with that, I have a few of those in the vault) and folks are more likely to invest in that because odds are they’ll be compensated or recognized for it in some way.  In my case, I’ve had trouble affording school/classes and finding people who are willing to chance working with a novice screenwriter because of my background. 

Q. What does independence mean to you?

Iris: How I define independence for myself is being able to freely express my creativity without considering harmful thoughts and opinions. It is waking up and setting a goal for myself that I would’ve once considered ridiculous and unattainable, and completing it. It is tending to my inner child and making her proud. 

Q. Last but not least, what is your favorite record off of the Indie Noize project?

Iris: Uber Baby is dope.

To learn more follow Iris on instagram @huudrich.

To stream the Indie Noize project, check out the WBC Studios media page below. https://www.wbcstudios.com/media-page

Images shot by Tremell Horne, To take a deeper dive into his photography, follow him @by.1399