Daphne McWilliams: A Woman Untitled
The inspirations of a documentarian, end-of-life doula and all-around creator
This past year, I taught at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the low-residency MFA program, and there I met the fabulous Daphne McWilliams, filmmaker, director, producer, end-of-life doula, mom and mentor (not in that order). In her words, “a woman untitled.”
Daphne has a lot in common with Ramona, having raised a child and made a whole lot of art, changing lanes whenever the road made it necessary, and I am so excited to share her work with all of you.
Here, in her own words, is Daphne:
People often define me as a filmmaker, but I’ve reached a point in my career where I resist labels. I am many things. One moment I’m photographing anything that catches my eye (I have over 70,000 photos on my iPhone), the next I’m sketching, painting, journaling, playing the piano, or diving into NYT games. I like to say, “I am a woman untitled.”
Growing up, I was an actor. In college, I realized I could say “no” to auditioning and to being on set. I was studying fine arts and was the happiest I had ever been. At that time, I felt the freedom to pick and choose on-camera work. Once I had fun playing a detective on a short-lived TV series called Brooklyn Taxi that aired on NBC. Another fun fact from my acting days was being cast in The Wiz with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, which was very cool. [Editor’s note, Daphne worked as a producer with notables like Spike Lee and Sam Pollard for over a decade, her production credits include Lee’s 4 Little Girls.]
Everything I create now is rooted in my experiences, rather than at someone else’s behest. Photography, video, music, animation—they all help me process life, and my mood often sets the pace.
A Boston (R)evolution is a documentary about Boston’s 2021 mayoral race, which was historic because the leading candidates were all women—women of color. After 200 years of electing only white men, Boston elected its first woman mayor, who is also Asian American.
I directed the film, which was a fantastic opportunity. I really enjoyed the collaboration and support from the entire crew. I’m proud of the film; it’s my second as a director. [Daphne’s first, In A Perfect World…, aired on Showtime and explores what it is to be a man raised by a single mother.]
I have several projects in development, including a documentary about Black women photojournalists, seen through the lens of several Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalists and their contemporaries.
Another is a multimedia project on grief, death, and dying called The Grief Box. For that, I received a grant from NYSCA, which was the kind of validation I needed, especially since the topic of death is often taboo.
My midlife revelation is that there are two paths: the one you make or the one you follow. While researching death and dying, I became a certified end-of-life doula; this work constantly reveals many things—especially how precious life is, which I’ve found deeply inspiring.
Every day, I find inspiration through photography. Seeing life and capturing random moments through my camera lens keeps me engaged and curious.
How to See Daphne’s Work:
A Boston (R)Evolution (produced by my friend Jamie Gordon and Sam Pollard, and executive produced by Uzo Aduba) premiered on PBS on August 13, 2024, and is available nationally. On November 9th, it will screen at The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, NY, at The Farmers’ Museum. You can purchase tickets here.
THANK YOU for supporting Ramona At Midlife! Do let us know what you like, what you want to see more of, and so on. We’re currently collecting inspiration and anecdotes for a future Midlife Heroes issue: Who are yours?
As always, be well! You are not done. If you like what you’re seeing here, please share with your network!
Let’s amplify the stories of women over 40.
Love, Brooke