A biography for Roger Ross Williamshasn’t been written yet.
“While the documentary community is way ahead of Hollywood, it is still nowhere near where it needs to be. Filmmakers of color rarely get hired by the powerful production companies, and they are not getting supported enough by broadcasters and funders to tell their own stories.”
“All the politicians in Uganda play to their fundamentalist benefactors in America because of the flow of money.”
“It is important for American congregations to hold their churches accountable for what their money does in Africa.”
“All too often, white documentary filmmakers are the ones telling the stories of people of color.”
“Don't boycott the Oscars. Staying away from something that needs to change is no way to change it. Instead, let's help them lead the way in promoting diversity in Hollywood.”
“I'm a recovering journalist, I should say.”
“I just didn't realize the unbelievable impact Disney films had on American society until my assistant coached me on the stories and brought me up to speed.”
“Lack of diversity in Hollywood has been well documented thanks to #OscarSoWhite, but lack of diversity in the documentary world is less talked about.”
“I escaped my destiny. The odds were that I would end up in prison, but I didn't.”
“'God Loves Uganda' is a powerful exploration of the evangelical campaign to change African culture with values imported from America's Christian Right. The film follows American and Ugandan religious leaders fighting 'sexual immorality' and missionaries trying to convince Ugandans to follow Biblical law.”
“The establishment wants to connect with people who are like them, and I wasn't. I'm a black gay man from a poor working-class family. Most of the people who look like me are in prison.”
“As a film-maker, I certainly don't want to be put into some box.”
“I never watched much TV at home - it just wasn't part of our home culture.”
“I began filming 'God Loves Uganda' by first meeting some of the Ugandan and American missionaries who have helped create Uganda's evangelical movement. They were often large-hearted. They were passionate and committed.”
“Hollywood has to diversify.”
“Film has to reflect the real world.”
“The first time I saw the Dutch character known as Black Pete, or Zwarte Piet, my heart sank, and I felt a little nauseated.”
“Why should someone be allowed to remain a voting member of the Academy if they are no longer active in the industry?”
“I went to church every Sunday and sang in the choir. But for all that the church gave me - for all that it represented belonging, love and community - it also shut its doors to me as a gay person. That experience left me with the lifelong desire to explore the power of religion to transform lives or destroy them.”