About the director
Nkem Big Chief Brian Harrison Nelson is one of the youngest known big chiefs in the history of the New Orleans Black Mardi Gras Indian Nation. In 2014 he was crowned a Nkem (royal chief), within the N’weh Nation of Cameroon, West Africa. In 2011 Brian earned an MFA in cinematic arts from the University of Southern California. His thesis film, “Keeper of the Flame,” has received local, national, and international awards and honorsincluding the prestigious Paul Robeson Award for independent Black Film. Big Chief Brian currently is filming a documentary entitled "Hail to the Queens," supported by a grant from the Independent Television Service Diversity Development Fund. The film explores the Black Indian tradition from a woman's perspective. As a filmmaker Big Chief Brian has been closely mentored by Academy Award winning director Jonathan Demme, actor and Emmy winning screenwriter Harold Sylvester, USC School of Cinematic Arts professor Helaine Head, Afro Pop PBS television series producer Angela Tucker,America’s Next Top Model executive producer Anthony Dominici, and screenwriter of the hit filmStomp The Yard Gregory Anderson. As an actor, Brian portrayed the character of Trail Chief Wardell on HBO’s Tremé Series. As a musical artist he has been featured on several CDs. In addition to filmmaking, Brian currently coordinates youth anti bullying and literacy campaigns throughout New Orleans. In his latest project, he returns to the recording studio as both performer and the executive producer of an upcoming bounce hip hop/ Black Indian fusion musical release that he hopes will take the music community by storm. Other featured performers on this music project are Christian Scott, 5th Ward Weebie, Michaela Harrison, Luther Gray, DJ Hektik, Truth Universal, and Big Choo. No Limit Records' in house producer DJ Blaq N Mild and Legendary bounce producer DJ JMK are handling musical production for the project. Big Chief Brian's musical career has been deeply influenced through close ties to a number of personal mentors who have helped him develop his own musical style and approach. Included in this group of mentors are legendary New Orleans Jazz icon Danny Barker, New Orleans rhythm and blues icon Ernie Vincent, Bounce pioneer Rick B, and Big Chief Donald Claude, Sr., the iconic Mardi Gras Indian chief of the Blackfoot Hunters. Among his most requested songs is his original composition, entitled Happy Birthday to Ya’. He continues to travel the world as a performing artist and as a student of the tradition of the Black Mardi Gras Indian nations.
