PROFILES: COLE SWANSON

My name is Cole Swanson, I am a twenty-year-old filmmaker, model, creative with and member of the Converse All-Star Team and founder of the fashion, art, and culture publication, Black Swan Magazine from Los Angeles, CA. I attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a focus on writing and directing for film and television. Currently, I am in post-production for my new independent short film called "Baby” starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and Elijah Rashad. The story is about a young Black father who must navigate parenthood after his girlfriend mysteriously abandons him and their five-year-old daughter.

Stills from Cole’s short film “Baby”. SOURCE: @thebabyfilm

I strive to tell the stories that are rarely depicted on-screen while also amplifying the voices of those who are underrepresented in entertainment. I want to challenge the cinematic tropes that surround Black Individuals in the media by expressing my authentic voice. As a Black student who attended predominantly white schools prior to my college experience, representation has grown more important to me over the years. After constantly consuming media that never reflected my own experiences, I quickly realized that I must do something about it. I enjoy using art as a tool to communicate activism, stimulate an important dialogue, and maintain productive and much-needed discourse surrounding a plethora of issues we face today. Whether in film, photography, or print media like my magazine, I am always looking for creative and innovative ways to collaborate and express myself.

Learn More about Cole and His new Film “Baby” below.