Things At Rest
'Things At Rest' is a celebratory reimagining of the black aesthetic inspired by matriarchs of classic African-American literature.Director’s Statement
Things At Rest is an amalgamation of a blossomed poet, an observant photographer and an avid reader. Being all three, I’ve come to learn the premise of this project to be true; Everything we consume teaches us to see. In designing this project I do not take for granted the difficulty in the nature of conveying a singular tone. So, I revolve rapidly around many— including regality, sensuality, and a dreamy space between reality and dreams. This project serves as a study in the technique of modernism as well as imitation. Things At Rest pays homage to the words that have sculpted and continue to sculpt a culture. This means reading between the lines, seeing where they take you and translating details to screen.Tonal Goals: Piercing and Unapologetic. Nuanced and Divine.
“EveryTHING we consume teaches us to see…”
-Bell Hooks
Exploration of Visual Grammar
In her essay "An Aesthetic of Blackness", Bell Hooks writes, "I want to share the aesthetic inheritance handed down to me by my grandmother and generations of black ancestors..." She concludes with the argument that everything we consume teaches us to see. I believe that the things we see on a regular basis, the things we choose for our home, wardrobe and otherwise, are a direct influence on how we interpret beauty and its function. Growing up an avid reader of black women authors has shaped even what I couldn't see. Now, I crave to allow these literary memories to take shape. This is the premise of my upcoming experimental short film, 'Things at Rest’. Set to monologues written by Ntozake Shange, 'Things At Rest' explores the philosophy of Bell Hooks, the poetic prose of Toni Morrison, the historical fables of Lorraine Hansberry, and the stage direction of Mildred D. Taylor. The common denominator between these writers is the way they approach materialism. Their characters similarly learn and are shaped by experiences with the loss of things. Which items are held sacred are different based on time and location but their significance holds steady across cultures in the black diaspora. For audience members to perceive this project as intended, the visual grammar will focus heavily on objects and symbolism. Viewers will connect the images to their literary origin by recognizing how characters relate to very literal objects or “THINGS”.
