BLACK AMERICA IS…

Episode Transcript:

Avril Z Speaks  00:00

The hope is that it will spark conversation that it will spark dialogue that it will provoke thought about what it means and what it looks like to be black and American. In the room. We're giving people space to do that. But then we're also looking to incorporate some of that. Also, in the social media space. 

Isotta Page  00:26

This is art is a podcast for artists are a brainstorm the future of the art world and the creative industries.

Loria King  00:40

The black America is film installation project started with actually April 9, going back to Formula University to film a lot of our cohorts. And one of our professors who was at the timing itself, who was actually chair of the department about our experience at Columbia. And in that process, we'll talk to all of the well, not all but most of the African American students there. And we started to realize that everyone's story was personal in the sense that it was based off of their backstory off of their experiences and how they identify it. And we started speaking about how with that translate to other people routing United States, and we started thinking, Well, what is it life and how you can identify, for instance, on the west coast versus these posts on the site about the different service, Aging's white generations class, you know, before the Ozarks, and Appalachia versus people It seemed a New York City or auto, so started formulating us a whole process of thinking about identity, and intersectionality. And how people identify and the experiences that led up to or experiences that forms how they identify. So that was the genesis of aquatec. So in the project, we explored those themes, we explore how within the African American movie new or Fox News throughout the United States, there is no sense of a mile, like we're not a monolithic communities, we don't think like we don't even identify like it also had people who have come to the United States there if immigrants are their first generation. So just taking all of that into consideration, getting to actually talk to people, and hear their stories and hear their perspective or in different aspects of their identity, as they're incredibly rewarding. And I know for me, as the director, one of the things that I sounds are in the process of filming was that I found that I expanded as a human being I expanded as someone's identifies as a black person in the United States. And that is my hope people will experience the font Jeff,

Avril Z Speaks  03:01

I think Loria did a great job of explaining what the project is, I think it's been a journey of this process of collecting stories has been a journey. It's been rewarding, in a sense that there's just so many varied stories, I think, you know, one of the things that interested us about doing this, as Laurie had mentioned, we started out by interviewing our classmates, but then we also even among ourselves, we started recalling what our backgrounds were just Lauria, and I, and like how we grew up, and the differences there and how and the nuance of how those experiences have shaped how we see things as adults. And this is one of those projects that I think it's an interesting conversation I like to describe black America is as an ongoing conversation. It's an ongoing conversation about what it means to be black in America, what it means to be black in this world. Even if you just take America itself, even just looking at the history of African Americans in this country. Just the very question of how do we identify what do we call ourselves? Are we black? Are we African American? Are we African, like, there's so many ways that people identify and I think that those identifiers, say a lot about who we are as people, and about how we see the world. And a lot of that is influenced by how we grew up, where we grew up their stories and their incidents, which is one of the things that black America is tries to tap into are one of those moments in our lives that have shaped how we see the world that shape how we see other people. I think this is a really important project, especially now as people everybody's having conversations about diversity and inclusion. What does that look like? What does that really look like to go back to that example of Lori and I our experience at Columbia, part of what made this project It's fascinating to us is that that experience at Columbia, I think when we had what was it 11, I think black students in our class at Columbia University when we were grad students there, and it felt like they meaning the administration, the professor's wanted all 11 of us to tell a certain story. But we all didn't share the same story that they wanted us to tell, like we were 11 people with very unique points of view, very different backgrounds, different points of view about the world. And again, like, even as we now we've, you know, worked a lot in film and television. And there's a lot of talk about diversity and inclusion. And it's always a conversation of what does that look like? And you can't just have one conversation about inclusion, there's a lot of different experiences that come with the black experience. So there's a lot of nuance there. And I think that's one of the things that we're trying to cross with this project is the nuance behind what it means to be black in America?

Isotta Page  05:59

How are you using technical filming techniques, or documentary techniques to portray that, I'd love to hear a little bit about what the format of the film installation is. And maybe you could you just walk us through what to expect.

Loria King  06:15

It wasn't important during the filming process that were us that we were in an intimate environment. And we wanted that level of intimacy with our subject. And to complement that, in talking to the photographer, we use a certain color palette, we made sure that we lit well, for all different skin tones, we're just particular, I think it was like magic. It's I think it's all like a magic filter that is used for Darfur scan, only in tone skin color, that was very important that people wouldn't lift very well, it was really interesting, because organically, it happened that in the process of shooting, it was intimate not only in the way that we shot it or how close we were to our subjects. But the environment that we're creating on Seth, that was a very important tool, and then of the rain was was lasting to show the project, we still have that same level of intimacy here. So it's going to be in a really great studio, where we shot some of the footage on it's going to be interactive, we're going to have the actual footage will be foreign a television monitor, we have an another monitor that's going to be interactive, where people can wipe certain things, a things put in fumbles. So like, we got to fight them with a fresh tea and did not answer it all with nearly two or three words or short phrase. Or we're also afforded to have someone selling and taping responses. So if someone comes any see the exhibit, and they watch some of the footage, and they're inspired to share their story, we'd have someone to talk to their story. And that's very important, because as he mentioned earlier, it is a conversation. And it's an ongoing conversation. So we don't want people just to simply cough and do something we want, hides them in our ads on with their experiences and share where they will respond to what they see. So we're utilizing technology in that with the interactive screen that we add as well. So because you had mentioned how was utilizing technology. So that's one way in which we are going to screw those were something I think thinking and see the uniform, creating a very safe space is very important and a very interactive space. And that's from shooting, from conception to shooting, to actually screaming, or I don't want to say screaming because I don't want people to think to come and sit and watch a felled. And that's all but the way that we're selected siru will feel it to you for the public about his comments here.

Avril Z Speaks  08:59

Yeah, and I think our hope is that with the footage and with the people that we've chosen, who are part of the installation, the hope is that it will spark conversation that it will spark dialogue that it will provoke thought about what it means and what it looks like to be black in America. And in the room. We're giving people space to do that. But then we're also looking to incorporate some of that even also in the social media space. So website, the social media pages to be able to share some of those stories. And the idea is to be able to collect several stories from all over of people sharing how they identify and some of their experiences as African Americans wherever they're located. So the hope is that it's an ongoing conversation that will hold that will be facilitated through technology through social media and using those spaces to keep the conversation going.

Isotta Page  09:59

That's so enjoy Just in the interest in really creating a dialogue, and sort of call and response with the audience as well, and having it be interactive, especially as we're coming out of COVID, I am sure that people will be so excited to get to have more of an interactive experience with art. Again, it's really exciting. Both of you have mentioned how the project is ongoing and evolving. What does this look like for you both? And what does the future of black America is look like?

Avril Z Speaks  10:31

Well, this installation, this current iteration of black America is we filmed in the Washington, DC and Virginia area. So we filmed in Richmond, and in Washington, DC. But as Laura mentioned earlier, the whole concept behind black America is is looking at Black people all across the country. So what does it mean to be black in New York versus black in California, or to grow up in the Ozarks or to grow up in the South. And so the idea is that we'll be able to travel and hopefully be able to do interview people in different regions of the country, and also to be able to do screenings in those regions as well. And so we hope to be able to travel with black America is and be able to gauge what are the differences between each region. And then beyond that we you were doing black America is but there are black people that live beyond the shores of America. So Black, in Africa, on other continents, in other countries hope to be able to expand it that way, as well. But the whole idea is to be able to hear from people from all over and understand their experiences from wherever they are.

Isotta Page  11:44

And I think it's really interesting that you're choosing to screen or exhibit the installation in the location where you conducted the interviews and conversations. Could you explain that rationale for us, because often, we're always interested in learning about people in other places, but it seems that you both are kind of interested in showing within a community who's already there, and creating like, a local personal archive of sorts. And I find that to be really interesting and unique perspective. And I'd love to learn more about that. I

Avril Z Speaks  12:24

think it just made sense for us to come back to the community that helped us to make this project again, and going back to the original goal of the project was to understand the experiences of African Americans all around the country. Eventually, once we've collected enough, we've talked about possibly combining all of them into one big documentary, so you kind of get a taste of each region. Yeah, I think we just really liked the idea. We're intrigued by the idea of celebrating people right where they are, I've experienced the number of times where you make a film, you know, in a particular location. And then the film premieres at some far off Film Festival. And everybody's like, how do we get to see it, and you're just like, you can't until it's in distribution, or it's on some platform, or what have you. And I think for us, it just made sense to go to the community that helped us make it and to go to the community that it's about, we chose that particular area to do that area first. And we wanted to do that. And we actually ended up finding a great partner to do that with the African Film Festival, one of the participants in the project Eiseley, Moon invited us to come to Africana Film Festival to show the film there. And it's just a great way to celebrate the people that live there in Virginia, and specifically people who are in that community in Richmond. And I think that it's proven to be a good way of galvanizing the community around this particular project, because this is who it's about for the people that were there in Richmond. So hopefully, we'll get a screening. We're working on trying to get a screening in Washington DC as well, because we shot both in in DC and in Richmond, so we're still waiting on confirmation of that. It just felt like the perfect place to make its debut being that that's where we shot it. And also, those were the people whose voice and as you'll hear in the installation,

Loria King  14:29

I also wanted to add that the conversation that we're having is often a conversation that's had by black people and like I said what it was you will actually tell me and listen to the stories of everyone and their experiences. I grew as an individual and I am from the heart VA area and I'm from Richmond, Virginia originally. So to build my regionally and show it regionally. I think there is such connection with the conversations and a lot of different polls that are participants that we interviews are currently able to own, like they're from Ohio and netiquette and Chicago. We're not Chicago, Illinois. So they're from various different parts of the United States. And California, there was the California as well. So it's a very nuanced conversation that is not often has amongst black people. So to show if in the region in which we shot it or filmed it, I'd say there's something special about having that crew come out and see other people opportunity leave some installation for Jeff this morning, today, Friday, September 16, round Studios, which over Jason, I'll paint a picture for you to the interactive, we're going to have the art of the artists who owns a studio, we'll see out with people to see it seen in the background of the film, as well as myself there. This video on four has a young lady by the name of Jaylen Brown, wolfies performing singer in the beginning on Ben will as refreshments, wine and refreshments for foosball. We want the interaction we'll have that activated on our interactive monitor where people can actually go up and input their response to flex shoes and have to be on the footage. If in a settlement, they are so inclined to share a story or have a favorable reaction, we've had someone in a separate area who will be filming well, so again, instead of doing a very interactive space, so the best way in which or onetoone taping in the film, they're also having conversations about what they're hearing. And April mentioned earlier, that that is one of the most important things about this park is to start that farmer tasteful. So that's how we're building out we all feel it is to create a space where people want to have that opposition they want to talk they want to express and respond to what they're saying.

Avril Z Speaks  17:18

I just wanted to just mention that again, to just reiterate that we are looking to expand black America is into other territories and if anyone is interested in helping us do that or just wants to stay abreast of what we're doing at Black America is and sort of what our next phase of the journey is on they can always follow Lauria for myself on social media I'm at as you speak, that's a Z as in Zebra, U S as in Sam P as in Paul e a k and they can also follow Lauria at about Lauria and both of us are on Instagram.

Isotta Page  18:04

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