Cinematic and Educational Influences

1896
Perhaps if Alice Guy Blaché, the first narrative filmmaker who happened to be a woman (1896 - ‘The Cabbage Fairy’ and director of over 1000 + films) had been the prominent influence during the birth of cinema -- instead of the unprecedented popularity of D.W. Griffith whose white supremacist narrative ‘Birth of a Nation’, shaped the cinematic standard by which most films are judged – well perhaps Ms. Blache’s instinct and forward thinking to make films where people are supported to be raw and to speak in a way that’s honest versus the theatrics of the patriarchal gaze -- well perhaps a film like ‘Anatomy of Wings’ would not have been so challenged to be programmed. After a full year of submissions to all the major fests, it was the Black Femme Supremacy Fest and Slamdance who stepped forward and said we believe in what you have created here. We believe in the power of young women’s voices. Additionally, perhaps ‘Anatomy of Wings’ would NOT have been just a finalist for prominent film funds but would have actually received them. Yes, Ms. Blaché made Narrative work, and yes, ‘Anatomy of Wings’ is a documentary, but ultimately we are talking about storytelling. Experimental or otherwise, storytelling governs cinematic moving image, period. 

1928

Zora Neale Hurston is finally being revered as an early and perhaps the first African American filmmaker. Hurston is widely known as the novelist and playwright of Their Eyes Were Watching God. The short ethnographic films she made, ‘Children’s Games’ (1928), ‘Logging’ (1928), and ‘Baptism’ (1929) have been noted as potential research for her writing, yet her natural handheld cinematography intrinsically bears witness to both children and adults engaging their joy. A true inspiration for the camera being a tool to bear witness during the filming of ‘Anatomy of Wings.’ Imagine a world where Hurston’s films had been a major influence during early cinema. Perhaps our Black youth would not have had to wait so long to see their cinematic likeness imaged in love and light. Hurstons’s foundational works of visual anthropology, and rare examples of the everyday lives of ordinary Black people in the American South during the era of 1928 can be seen at this link: https://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/17832

1940’s

Maya Deren’s experimental films encompass a dreamworld symbolism that is bold, embodied, cyclic, and deeply feminine. Ms. Deren was a rebel in Hollywood in the 1940’s when studios were (and still are) catering to the exhalted interests of Western audiences, leading to the dominance of cis, white, heterosexual narratives in film. Ms. Deren understood that film could contain elements of magic and ceremony within both its making and content.

1976

In Agnes Martin’s ‘Gabriel’ a child engages nature and we are reminded to treat life and our relationship to nature as precious. Yet, now in 2021, we must question who had and has the equitable means to enjoy nature in this way? 

1987

‘Eyes Over Berlin’ aka ‘Wings of Desire’ by Wim Wenders is a stunning expression of the desire to be human. How we are invited to treasure living in our human bodies as we bear witness to ALL of the world around us -- including the desire to understand what it means to live in form on planet Earth.

1990

Abbas Kiarostami’s ‘Close-Up,’ is a profound genre bending examination of truth, identity and reconciliation. The film is based on the true story of a man who deceives a family into believing that he is a famous Iranian filmmaker. Fascinated by a news article on the man, Kiarostami visited him in prison, decided to tell his story, filmed his trial, and then directed a stunning narrative wherein all of the characters play themselves. The film is an incredible testament to the power of bearing witness, and to the transformative power of collaborative art making. 

1994

Steve James’ ‘Hoop Dreams’, wherein captivating characters and storyline are developed respectfully over 5-­years with the intention of raising awareness around race, class, economic division and education. Some who have come to our focus group screenings have said ‘Anatomy of  Wings’ is the women’s version of ‘Hoop Dreams’.

2003

Liz Garbus’ ‘Girlhood’ respectfully articulated the alarming challenges of underserved girls becoming women in Baltimore.

2003 

Eroll Morris’ films such as ‘Fog of War’ about former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara are important to witness because of his invention of the Interrotron which brings crucial eye contact between the film subject, filmmaker, and audience. We utilized this en-face technique in our own feminine way when we filmed Nikiea Redmond’s en-face interview with the Eye-Direct and Arri Amira in 2018.

2004

Zana Briski ‘Born Into Brothels’ was the original inspiration to raise funds for camcorders for the ‘Wings’ students and to develop a curriculum based on creativity and finding voice through video skills. In the film, children growing-up in a system are provided with a creative option to see their world through cameras.

2008

Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's ‘Trouble the Water’ is a documentary that continues to profoundly teach about truth telling in filmmaking. I, Kirsten, have deep respect for the trust Dean and Lessin built with their film subject Kimberly Rivers Roberts whose own footage of Hurricane Katrina was revered and authentically included in what became a collective documentary. Meaning is created out of the mix of perspectives to give viewers a you-are-there, human immediacy within a cataclysmic event. The result is empowering, giving Ms. Roberts a voice beyond the conventional documentary talking head. 

2009

Eve Ensler’s ‘What I Want My Words To Do To You’ explored a creative and brave safe space for women in prison to share their stories with each other. 

2010

Roger Ross Williams’ short documentary, ‘Music By Prudence,’ tells the story of the then 24-year-old Zimbabwean singer-songwriter, Prudence Mabhena who leads a group of young, disabled Africans who inspire others with their music, proving that disability does not mean inability. Also in 2010, Ms. Mabhena visited with the ‘Wings’ collective at the Brown Center in Baltimore, MD. Together she and the young women discuss where their lives intersect and they sing together. It was a challenging day when our editor decided we could not include this scene in our feature cut. Ms. Mabhena’s visit was life changing and affirming for all in her presence that day. Tywana Reid said she felt she was in the presence of the most famous woman on the planet. We hope to release this scene as an adjunct to ‘Anatomy of Wings.’

2010
Stanley Nelson’s ‘Freedom Riders’ is an American historical documentary produced by Firelight Media, a non-profit filmmaking company founded by Nelson and Marcia Smith. ‘Freedom Riders’ is based in part on the book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice by historian Raymond Arsenault. The documentary marked the 50th anniversary of the first Freedom Ride in May 1961. During the release of this film Mr. Nelson visited MICA’s campus and some of the ‘Wings’ women attended an intimate discussion with him where they shared an early ‘Anatomy of Wings’ trailer. 

2014 

Ava DuVernay’s ‘SELMA’, chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama -- a march which culminated in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Ms. DuVernay shows what Dr. King did for America but also reveals how much is left to be done.

2016

Ava DuVernay’s ‘13TH’ combines archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars to examine the U.S.' s history of racial inequality drives a prison system that is disproportionately filled with African-Americans. And of course, EVERYTHING by Ava DuVernay is an inspiration and has opened the door for ‘Anatomy of Wings.’

2016
Dawn Porter’s documentary, ‘Trapped’ which explored laws regulating abortion clinics in the South by zeroing in on clinics in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas that — particularly since 2010, have faced a proliferation of regulations that have had the effect of restricting their operations through laws that have pushed clinics to shut down. Incredible investigation of systemic and systematic actions against women’s bodies that result in keeping women in survival mode instead of engaging their power of voice. 2016

Sometimes a simply shot video interview speaks multitudes. Here is our own Dr. Jacquelyn Duval-Harvey speaking on how even just the proximity of violence affects an individual’s approach to their own health.  What's Your Take? with Jacquelyn Duval-Harvey

2016

Raoul Peck’s ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ is a documentary film based on James Baldwin's unfinished manuscript Remember This House. Narrated by actor Samuel L. Jackson, the film explores the history of racism in the United States through Baldwin's reminiscences of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his personal observations of American history. The film challenges what Americans as Baldwin states, “You need to ask yourself why you need someone to be your negro?”

2017

Amanda Lipitz’s ‘STEP’ documents the senior year of a Baltimore girls' high school step team as they try to become the first in their families to attend college. The girls strive to make their dancing a success against the backdrop of social unrest. This film came out while we were trying to finish ‘Anatomy of Wings.’

2018 

Morgan Neville’s ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ examines the life and legacy of Fred Rogers, the beloved host of the popular children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The film honors the importance of neighbors connecting across imposed systematic divides.The film also stresses Roger’s famous words, “Love is at the root of everything...love or the lack of it.”

2018

Ryan Coogler’s ‘Black Panther’ is a American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We like it because if people come together and see and hear one another,  Wakanda can be Forever!2018 

Ava DuVernay’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ adapted from the young adult novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle in 1962, embraces the Intuitive Feminine and is also notable for casting American Actress Storm Reid as Meg Murry, an unusually gifted young girl who trusts her own innate “superpowers” to save her family. Three of the main characters—Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which are multi-taneously spiritual, angelic and magical-witchy. This film is a wonderful testament to the Intuitive Feminine re-emerging as a powerful voice in the cinematic canon..

2019 

Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series ‘When They See Us’ explores the lives and families of the five Black and Latino teens who were falsely accused and convicted of raping a Central Park jogger in 1989. Ms. DuVernay makes it possible for our humanity to question and challenges what it means to find justice in America. 

2019

Courtney Symone Staton, UNC filmmaker, activist and 2018 NeXt Doc Fellow called to action filmmakers, funders, programmers, and audiences to address the recurring problem of racist, extractive and colonial filmmaking practices during a Q&A at the True/False Film Fest in Columbia, Missouri. Ms. Staton addressed that someone’s own story is crucial to their survival and for this reason extractive documentary practices must end. Ms. Stanton stated "By filming us without our consent you contribute to the violent history of state surveillance and to the continued marginalization of black people by the documentary field and people of color. You contribute to the traumatic legacy of white people “studying” us for science and their own gains. Your art, like the University of North Carolina, was built on our backs. And to this, we say: ‘Nothing about us, without us, is for us!” https://www.nextdoc.org/statement-from-courtney-symone-staton

2020

Garrett Bradley’s ‘Time’ blends cinematic genres to investigate the tireless 21-year campaign of Louisiana woman Fox Rich to secure her husband’s release from prison after he received a 60-year sentence for robbery. Bradley made the film composed of both newly shot material and archival footage from decades of home movies that Rich recorded to document her days, months, years of waiting. Another beautiful example of collaboration through shared footage.

2020

Darol Olu Kae’s short experimental film "I ran from it and was still in it" is a meditation on how love endures despite the ever changing shape of one’s family. Kae makes such a beautiful spaciousness in his film to be a vulnerable father missing his children. It’s a beautiful thing when the masculine can be as vulnerable as the feminine and all expressions of humanity on the continuum in between. 

2020

Dulcé Sloan, Comedian and Correspondent on The Daily Distancing Show is the only woman we have thus far publicly say “...We are too caught up in representation and symbolism sometimes...that’s not enough...we need policies that ensure a girl who looks like Kamala but also lives in the hood also has a path to success... 

Kamala Harris Makes History as First Female, Black & Indian VP | The Daily Social Distancing Show

2021
Unlike Leni Riefenstahl who claimed she had not understood what she was fiming during a Nuremberg Nazi rally in 1934 -- Jordan Klepper totally understood that he was filming an insurrection by white supremacists at the U.S. Capital in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. This might be some of the bravest and most important footage of our time. Jordan Klepper Sees It All at The Capitol Insurrection” | The Daily Social Distancing Show  Folks who are white must give voice to the end of white supremacy. Silence is a choice. Action through bearing witness is real. It all comes back to who we are together.