Natural Langdon
Natural Langdon is a director, writer, producer, photographer, and award-winning filmmaker who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, he was curious about the arts and his involvement was nurtured by his parents. While in junior high school, his artistic interests were in break-dance, hip-hop music, photography, and drawing. He even sang in the school’s choir. Throughout his teenage years, he engaged in these activities merely as hobbies and did not think much more of them. This changed as he got older.
Natural’s higher educational journey originated at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, where he began taking classes towards his bachelor degree. His interest in filmmaking was intensified while attending Benedict and he vividly remembers one of his professors giving him the opportunity to use a camera. This experience has left a lasting memory and has been foundational for his photographic work.
With a break in his education from Benedict College, Natural later returned to college, but this time at SUNY/Empire State College, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production. Immediately following, he attended the School of Visual Arts where he earned a Master of Professional Studies in Directing. His academic future holds a doctorate in Media, Culture, and Heritage (Film by Practice), which he plans on beginning in the fall of this year (2020).
In 1995, without trained knowledge of film-making, Natural decided that he was going to make a film based on a script sent to him by his cousin. Nothing came out of this attempt because he did not know what he was doing at the time. Nonetheless, this was a foundation that was lightly laid on which to build his creativity.
In strengthening his craft as a creative, Natural acknowledges there were a couple of African American film-makers: Spike Lee and Robert Townsend, who were his influencers. He reflects that two of Lee’s films: Do the Right Thing, and School Daze, along with one of Townsend’s, Hollywood Shuffle left indelible impressions for him. He was both inquisitive and in awe watching the films made by these two African American actors and producers, and this pushed him on a self-teaching journey about filmmaking.
Natural is a global community servant in the truest sense. His love for and dedication to the arts and education is admirable. This has taken him from producing films about urban drama and social injustice in Brownsville, Brooklyn, to teaching youth about film production in underserved communities worldwide. Literally worldwide! This is reflective in various areas of his work, as children are featured.
Natural is passionate! Be it writing, producing, filming, or directing. He is passionate about preserving his African roots and culture, and has done this by his international travels through Africa, Europe, South America, Asia and the Caribbean. While his mission is to explore, learn and embrace his ancestors’ legacies, he is unearthing and showcasing the untold stories of urban communities around the world. He deliberately researches authentic culture and the contributions of people of African ancestry.
In a general way, Natural has experienced some humble beginnings as an artist. As a music scorer, Natural makes music, and has scored for a couple of films. His self-teachings began in 2004
As a photographer, he shot his first set of photographs in high school, when all he knew was that he was just doing it. As an adult, he realized that he is a self-taught photographer.
As a writer, in 2016, Natural co-authored and self-published the book, Exploring the African Diaspora, which is about Hip Hop Culture in Bahai, Brazil. Included in this book was his photographic work. This project was a spinoff of a course taken at SUNY/Empire State College.
As a filmmaker, he began making films in 1994, when he co-wrote his first project, On the Run, and began shooting in 1994.
Natural has collaborated with international recording artists and has produced and directed music videos in Ghana, Haiti, Brazil, Cuba, Morocco, Egypt, Iceland, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.
Akyerekyerefo – (Ghana, 2014)
Jahman – Honor The Mothers "Onore Manman" (Haiti, 2015)
AGÔ SISTEMA DE SOM "O PRECIPÍECIO" (Bahia, Brazil, 2016)
Bazaar Royale “Make Money” (Cuba, 2016)
Bobo Wayne (Morocco, 2017)
Other recording artists with whom he has worked featured Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Bun B, Franchise Boyz, Ali Vegas, Shorty Lo, Rick Ross, Red Man & Method Man. Additionally, he was actively involved in shooting promo videos for Mixcast.tv
Natural’s film-making covers ten documentaries, eight of which were internationally done.
1997 - Heart of Morocco
1998 - Hello Rio Brazil
1998 - Brownsville Troopers, Brooklyn
1999 - Quest a Woman's Journey, Long Island, NY
2014 - First Time Africa
2016 - Exploring Cuba
2017 - Exploring Asia - (Vietnam – South Korea – Philippines)
2018 – The Real Authentic Wakanda – Nigeria
2019 - On a Mission to Ethiopia
2020 - Finding The Guru With in - India
To his credit, Natural is a well-decorated film maker has received numerous awards.
In 2002, his film, POE (Process of Elimination) was recognized by Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, and was received for the Audience Choice Award.
Between 2009 and 2019, his film Bullets Over Brownsville received seven awards.
In 2009, Bullets over Brownsville was distributed and began receiving awards that year from Urban Media Makers and was recognized with the Indie Spirit Award.
In 2010 there were three recognitions:
One from Black International Cinema Berlin for the Best Dramatic Film Award
From Birmingham, UK, for the Best International Film: Movie, Video and Screen Awards; From Pan African Film Festival for the Official Selection.
In 2011, recognition from FESPACO Burkina Faso Africa, as the Official Selection.
In 2013, recognition from People’s Film Festival as the Best Feature.
In 2019, recognition from Newark International Film Festival for the Best International Short Film.
His most recently done film, Nikita (filmed in Brazil) received several awards. Two of them are
in 2019, recognition from Silicon Valley African Film Festival for Diaspora Achievement in Narrative Short Film Award and
In 2020, recognition from Rollywood International Film Festival (in Trinidad & Tobago) for the Best International Action Short Film
Currently, Natural is an entrepreneur who runs the nonprofit organization, Global Arts and Travel Foundation, LLC. This was established in 2019.