Screenings and “FILMS IN ACTION” videos:

At first I felt like I had to be the sole activist and travel with my BODY TYPED series– hosting screenings and leading workshops. But I soon realized that this might not be the only way to go – and my goal now is to also hook up with already existing organizations and plug the films into the work that they are already doing. So, I’ve decided to produce a series of short videos that show activists and educators using the films in creative ways. They are sort of video activity guides – and were really fun to produce.

As I started this process, I began thinking about the first film in the series WET DREAMS AND FALSE IMAGES –it’s about a barber learning about photo-retouching. Since barbers have so many men and boys sitting in their chairs everyday, they really have a chance to have a lot of influence. So why not host a screening/ discussion in the barbershop…

Dee Dee the barber & his sister Daralee

Dee Dee, the main “subject” (or better as they say in the UK “contributor”) just opened up a new barbershop with the help of his sister, a Brooklyn high school teacher – so I went by and talked to them about the idea of hosting a screening. They were excited about doing it in their new shop, Fade 2 Famous, and about inviting people they know.

I thought about it, and realized that I didn’t want to be the one leading the post screening discussions, and it would be better if it came from the community directly – so I got a team together to do a panel – Daralee Vazquez (Dee-Dee’s siter), Dee-Dee and Raid (two of the barbers from the film), and Quentin Wilcott from Connnect NYC, an organization that leads violence prevention workshops with boys and men. So, people were on board and I was relieved that stuff was in motion and that I really didn’t have to make it all happen on my own. Now it was their event and I was basically going to focus on filming it. We did send emails back and forth and came up with discussion questions – but mostly I let them run with it and decide what key issues were that they wanted to talk about with their community.

I decided to stick with what was a more natural role for me and organize a film crew to come tape the event. And, I’ll admit I was a little overboard on covering it in terms of sound – we had two booms and 3 wireless mikes. But, I wanted it to be covered, and am thinking that some of the footage might eventually get used as a new ending for the longer project (I’m currently at the fine-cut stage of putting all three films together).

Promoting the screening:
So the barbers started organizing the screening — using Facebook to reach out to people in the community, and Dee Dee was able to get a shout out on Hot 97 (since he cuts a DJ’s hair). They also sent texts and emails, and I made small flyers that they gave to customers at the barbershop.

The results: FILMS IN ACTION #2: Media Literacy in the Barbershop

Here’s the video we produced of the screening (Dee Dee’s mother even made empanadas for the event). The post screening discussion really blew me away and there is only a portion in the video but I had to keep it relatively short.

After this screening I decided to reach out to Power Writers at the Nuyorican Poets Café to show that films can be integrated into writing workshops too.
Here’s the video:

FILMS IN ACTION #1: Watch. Write. Read.

Next up is to finish making a website…..

Over-n-out for now,
Jesse