BEFORE HE KNEW with artist, filmmaker and DJ, Hans Augustave

This week on Pink Among Men we are pivoting our conversation, slightly, and are joined by our wonderful friend and fellow filmmaker, Hans Augustave. Hans recently released a short visual poem titled Before I Knew, which is a visceral poem on a young Black man's journey of developing in a white world. In this episode, Hans chats with us about micro-aggressions, how he left the pre-med world to pursue his art as well as what it means to be sober curious.

 

Hans Augustave is an up and coming filmmaker who isn't a stranger to the art of storytelling. His journey has taken him from the art of spoken word, to the stage with his one-man show The Lost and Found and now to the screen with his latest project Before I Knew; a visual poem depicting the subtle and not so subtle ways Black men come to the realization that they are seen as less than Human. Hans is also co-producer on a documentary feature film The Forgotten Occupation  which examines the United States' occupation of Haiti from 1915-1934 and its negative impacts on Haiti's current politics. The documentary is told through the lens of Haitian-American director Alain Martin, and his complex relationship with his grandfather, a man who lived through the occupation but only spoke fondly of the country that fueled their motherland's downfall. 

 

Hans bit his teeth as a digital video producer for BLUR a startup with an in-house production team. There he directed, shot, and edit dozens of ads for the digital space. He then moved to to the independent film world where he currently works an an Assistant Director. 

 

As DJ Hanzi, Hans is the founder of the popular and growing sober-curious dance party, Reprieve. It's a pop-up Brooklyn party where people leave their souls on the dance floor instead of their puke! It's part Funk, part House, part Pride, very Black and ALL Love! It's defying the misconception that no booze & no drugs = no fun. As a DJ for the past 8 years, and sober for the last 2, Hanzi not only brings his knowledge of all music to the party, but he features a different NYC DJ at each uniquely-themed Reprieve. 

Hans' love for all Humans and for Life itself can be felt when he spreads it through his art, whether in his stories, on set, or while playing music.