The start of the BlackStar Film Festival (Day 1) took a look at the current state of black film with the screening of Black Film Now. With that, festival participants discussed the limited representations and rare opportunities for the African American community in film.
When our presence isn't prevalent, we become irrelevant. When true depictions of African Americans are scarcely portrayed in the media, our stories, our identity, and our culture becomes insignificant to the masses. It's up to us to come together to support and create truthful representations of us on screen.
#BlackStarFF Day 2 served as a response to the previous day's insights. It began with a panel discussion titled "By Any Means Necessary: Producing Independent Film." The panel included remarks from Producer Nekisa Cooper, Nefertite Nguvu of Hollywood Africans, Spike Lee of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Lendl Tellington of HyLo Boutiques, and Dennis Dortch and Numa Perrier of Black&SexyTV. Writer Nzinga Kadalie Kemp served as the moderator.
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| Top (from left to right): Nekisa Cooper, Nefertite Nguvu, Spike Lee, Lendl Tellington, and Numa Perrier Bottom: Spike Lee (Left) and Latifah Waddy (Right) |
When asked why they produce, the majority of the panelists said it was to support black film, to bring many truthful and untold stories to the screen. It's not so much that they choose to produce, but they do it out of necessity. Again, when our presence isn't prevalent, we become irrelevant.
In order to see OUR stories, we need producers, sponsors, donors - just overall financial support - from others and definitely from our own people.
Too often, individuals who set out to enter the film industry aspire to be on the creative end. They want to direct, write, shoot, act, etc. However, without the necessary financial backing and business background, how can you expect to see your project in production? Someone has to produce and put up the funding. Together, we can make it happen. WE can all take part in green-lighting the much needed positive, accurate, and heartwarming representations of us in the media through film.
Spike Lee himself is now using Kickstarter to seek funding for his next project. Critics wondered why a filmmaker as acclaimed as Lee turned to Kickstarter, a site normally associated with beginners seeking funding for a future project. This is what Lee had to say during the panel.
The second day of the festival also included a screening from Tanya Wright, works from youth filmmakers, and many more.
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| Tanya Wright (Left) and Latifah Waddy (Right) at The 2nd Annual BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia |
You might remember Tanya Wright from her role as Theo Huxtable's girlfriend on The Cosby Show. Currently, Wright stars in HBO's True Blood and brought her new project Butterfly Rising to #BlackStarFF. A book and film, Butterfly Rising is the first transmedia project written by, directed by, and starring an African American female. It's an artistic, mythical, creative, and compelling look at family, fantasy, reality, love, grief, and more after two women hit the open road together. She did a remarkable job at presenting and dealing with each theme throughout the film's entirety.
The youth films presented topics such as the impact of the Philadelphia Public School closings, high school pushouts, the Stop and Frisk policy in New York, self empowerment, Seventeen magazine's claim of diversity, and more.
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| Youth Filmmakers |
This festival has been uplifting and inspiring thus far. Thanks to BlackStar for showcasing all of this remarkable talent and fostering the necessary discussions here in Philadelphia. It is definitely helping to strengthen my passion, my plans, and my ideas.
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