My Black Film

I had considered the type of Black film I'd like to see and create long before I realized it was a Black film I was thinking of. I was both inspired by and fascinated with the Movie Love & Basketball, as well as the novel The Coldest Winter Ever. I can not think of what I would call the film because I have not completed the script; however, I know that the film would be a love story chronicling the life of a Black women from adolescence to adulthood.

The major difference between this film and other Black love stories, is that the main character is a Black nationalist. I want to discuss Black issues and cultural practices in a way that they have never been discussed before. I feel that cookouts are a major aspect of Black culture. I contend that there is a major difference between a cookout and a barbecue. In my experiences, white people use the word barbecue and Black people use the word cookout. Words are powerful, though the difference in words may seem menial, I contend that the difference in names reflect that the experiences are vastly different. In my film, I want the importance of cookouts in the Black community to be highlighted.

In the film, I will use clothing, as well as other types of imagery to express ideologies that are important to the protagonist. For instance, the setting of the play will be at a cookout out. I will make sure to emphasize the smoke coming from the grill, food, dialogue, as well as the dancing. Next the camera will focus on the main character, The main character will be wearing a black shirt with the words addicted to Black written in white letters. She will be talking to her two best friends who are sisters.

At the cookout, she'll meet a young man who she's interested in. I want to explore how difference of opinions 'about consciousness and Pan Africanism can causes divisions within the Black community. Some of her friends, and even her love interest, won't be able to understand many of her Black nationalist feelings.  Often times, movies dealing with racial issues in the Black community are primarily focused on how it impacts Black men. Black men are always considered to be the biggest targets of discrimination, while the plight of Black women goes unnoticed. In my Black film, I would explore how it feels to be a pro black individual in an environment that conditions people to feel as if such feelings are a defect. The film will focus more on what is means to be an African American in the 21st century than romance; however, Black love is a major aspect of the African American experience.

In many movies, when Black characters want their children to marry Black, there are often demonized and it is inferred that they are completely irrational. An issue that has not been tackled are the misconception and biases between African Americans, Caribbean people and Africans.