More of this, please: Opportunities in filmmaking
More women, more diaspora, more local, more intentional, more opportunity bridges: more of all of this and more in the film and art community please!
Editor’s note: This is the last article in a series from local arts professionals and arts lovers, as they share reflections on recent arts experiences and what they want more of in the new year. For this article, we asked filmmaker Lajanae Smith to add her own perspective from the vantage point of our vibrant film community. See all the “More of this, Please” articles here.
Mas Cultura Collective
There aren’t many memorable experiences I’ve lived from attending church on a precious Friday night. And yet on October 6, 2017, that’s exactly where I found myself. On a pleasantly warm Michigan post-summer evening I’d ridden my Raleigh Road Runner right up to the newly transformed steps of the hottest church to the southwest side at 333 Rumsey Street. It wasn’t a church at all any more, transformed into a pious exhibit. The Cultura Collective presented, “4 Cultura,” the last party, fashion show and festival. It was slated as the last big hurrah on the block.
I don’t believe it’s the “last” at all.
In that moment, a whispered glow blushed in the streets, and the exhibit explored themes such as purpose, voice, and the daring statement that, “this space is not abandoned.” Curated by Steffani Rosalez (Cook Arts Center, Girls Rock GR!) the former church and the community of buildings gathered around it now showcased the works of radical artists, like Sofía Ramirez-Hernandez (Daily Drawer, Selfie Queen), George Eberhardt (Muralist, WMCAT), Colby Roanhorse (Intuitive Painter/Drawer), Kenyon C. Lovett, Crystal Campbell (Installation Filmmaker/Historian), Javier Torres (Muralist/Painter) and Joshua Solas (Graphic Artist).
These avant-garde artists’ work stood out in an intentional way, all the while remaining inclusive to the community surrounding them. Inside the church-esque exhibit were pews filled with believers and supporters of the arts, as well as the artists that create them. Inside was inspiration, hope, and heat, reminding me of the warmth of home as well as the discomfort of what is new and uncertain. The only thing I can be certain of for sure is that it won’t be the last time I find myself in a moment in time that is reminiscent of all the summer-but-not-quite vibes I’ll need until the next one. More please!
More Women In Film
(bonus if they look like me)
The game-changing moment of my career has been working with women. I unfortunately thought this was only possible elsewhere—I couldn’t seem to find and connect with nearly as many women “working” in film as I could male peers.
I would love for The laFEM Collectif to be brought back. This inclusive community of females in entertainment and media, based in the heart of Grand Rapids, was founded in 2016 by Naomi Brown, Sara Dhyne (costume designer/performer) and a few other fantastic women. I miss the excitement laFEM brought to the local film economy. Bringing together female filmmakers from across the state to connect with potential collaborators was a very inspiring thing to behold. Bonus points if this comes back!
Speaking of bonuses and intentionality, one event that I was incredibly proud to be a part of was the “Black Girls Be Like” Holiday Mixer at Fountain Street Church. Written and soon-to-be directed by GR native Racheal Floyd, the film “Black Girl’s Be Like” is the girls’ side of the story. Very often we see a woman at the end of her journey with no clue as to how she got there. No one starts out broken, hard, and difficult to love. Yes, even the most hardened woman started out as an innocent girl.
In my film journey, I’ve been extremely fortunate to be able to locate and collaborate with other women of color in cinema. A highlight was collaborating with director Dee Rees and actor Mary J. Blige in the Oscar-nominated film “Mudbound,” currently on Netflix. To any other young women in GR wishing or hoping for community, please find me and reach out because working for Rees turned my dream into a reality. More!
More ArtPrize On-Screen
For Grand Rapids movie lovers, the underrated gem during Artprize is Artprize On Screen. It is a gift to the community of a free movie and bragging rights that you’ve seen it first (some of the films have yet to be nationally released). It’s definitely a “you had to be there” moment. My personal highlight was in 2016 watching “The Birth Of A Nation,” which received standing ovations at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT that year.
In cooperation with Partners for a Racism Free Community, a post-film discussion was held investigating racial tensions and lingering disparities that mirror the justice system of today.
Ideally, screenings like this would be attended and celebrated in our city all year long as the independent film-centric culture here grows. Boy was 2017 was a great year! The “talkbacks” hosted by PRFC that incorporated high audience participation fostered thoughtful and necessary dialogue. Can’t wait for more Artprize On Screen!
More talkbacks with Partners for a Racism Free Community
Speaking of the growing film culture in our city, one sweet highlight of calling West Michigan home in the last couple of years has been attending the Partners For A Racism Free Community (PRFC)’s extremely popular “talkbacks.” Breannah Alexander will always be my unsung hero as a cool and focused moderator.
In 2017, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to join a panel dissecting the Academy Award winner, “Moonlight.” “Hidden Figures,” “Loving,” and “I Am Not Your Negro” were also showcased last year—to name a few. These discussions were highly attended and, as necessary as they were, sold out. I strongly desire to keep the standing ovations coming from PRFC!
More Afrikana films in the diaspora
A couple of years ago I lived in Richmond, Virginia. As a Grand Rapids native, I had a lot of firsts down south: my first time visiting a Black-owned art gallery, my first time experiencing fine dining restaurants with a Southern-Creole backbone, and my personal favorite: the “Afrikana Independent Film Festival.”
Showcasing noir cinema, Afrikana hosted movie and mimosa brunch screenings—which sounds like the dream come true that they were. They incorporated exposing their local community to legendary figures such as Angela Davis during their “evenings with an icon” events. While our city has yet to boast a more diverse film community, I am so fortunate to have been able to participate in festivals like Afrikana and I sincerely hope to see something like this at home in the near future, even if I’ve got to curate myself. More noir? — yes please!
More local narrative feature filmmaking
Last year was a pretty great year for native narrative filmmaking at home. Local directors such as David Prindle, Lisa Enos, and Joel Potrykus all shot feature films in and around the West Michigan area. In Grand Rapids, “Made Vicious” (written & directed by Prindle) stars Larry Herron playing “Jim,” who’s a widower attempting to raise his daughter while keeping the peace in a small town. While dealing with his debt to Victor (played by Tom Sizemore) a mobster, a monster is awakened and begins to wreak havoc.
There seems to be something in the water or Grand River perhaps? When it comes to suspense and horror, no one does it quite like Potrykus. “Relaxer” (written & directed by Potrykus) employed many Grand Rapidian filmmakers last summer. While the details are pretty hush-hush at the moment, the film is well on its way to the festival circuit and is certain to make a splash while keeping audiences squirming in their seats. Fully deserving of a standing ovation.
More intentional community support for local visual artists
“Talking about dreams is like talking about movies, since the cinema uses the language of dreams.” — Federico Fellini.
This is one of my favorite quotes. Grand Rapids is fortunate to have an internationally known art competition and a luminescent arts community for most, if not all, that call themselves artists. Another fabulous staple is the Grand Rapids Film Society, which again we are lucky to have in a city our size.
However, while working for writer and director Lisa Enos, or as I like to call her, the “goddess of indie-filmmaking,” I’ve been able to glean a lot of gems from her 20 year tenure in the business of film. First of all, there is no such thing as “tenure.” However, what seems to be lacking in our city is direction to and awareness of “opportunity bridges.”
What I mean by “opportunity bridges” is direct pathways that partner artists, (filmmakers specifically) and patrons of the arts. These bridges are an embodiment of living the dream.
“Once art gets exploited by the money men it ceases to simply be ‘art.’ That’s why artists need patrons rather than investors,” explains Enos. “I think there should be more opportunities made available for emerging or established artists to meet with the patrons and people who would fund their work. Sort of like a symposium like they have at AFM where filmmakers go to find funding.”
I couldn’t agree more…please!
More mash-ups + special guests all 2018!
In a perfect world I’d just love to speak, er, write, more of all of these amazing things into existence. Sigh. On a conclusive note, my greatest hope for 2018 is to see and take part in greater collaborations with other writers, artists, poets, filmmakers, fashion designers, stylists, restaurant owners, entrepreneurs, and so on. I’ve been super lucky to meet some awesome individuals in my city. These include Mimi Valdez, Pharrell William’s creative director and film producer (thanks AIGA GR), MSNBC host Touré (thanks PRFC), and body-positivity songstress LIZZO, who I was even able to get a script to!
For years I’ve wanted nothing more than a watering hole to meet and connect with other local creatives making cool stuff. Instead of complaining I took action and found what I was looking for.
If I had a super socializing genie that was ready and willing to introduce me to visiting artists with international fanbases, I’d curate MORE of the impact I desire for our city on a national level. This month I was blessed to be involved in the perfect example of what happens when creatives, business leaders, and entrepreneurs all come together under one roof. The kicker? They were all bad-ass women. Made possible by writer, style-maven, model and founder of “iGotFace,” Latesha Lipscomb, “Eat More Cake” was an evening of cake, cocktails, and conversations about Body Positivity, Self-Worth and Girl Power. The event was complete with a panel discussion, pop-up shops, photo booth, and IRIE catering (which did not last long!).
Let’s bring more visitors to GR and show off our artists because I want to drink Founders with Issa Rae (Director/HBO) and I have no shame about it and just maybe you do too.
