Representation in Cinema

A movie about Black women warriors starring Viola Davis? We're HERE FOR IT so let's talk about it! This is the first episode to feature the entire Our Voices Project team - Jackie McGriff, Deborah Alvarez, Courtney Shouse, and Annalisa Rogers!

The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, the all-woman warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in 1823, The Woman King follows a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies. The film stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and John Boyega and is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

In our discussion, we talk about what we loved about the film, the real history of the Agojie and the Kingdom of Dahomey and reflecting on the importance of accurate representation in movies.

Special thanks to Chris Lindstrom of the Food About Town and In Good Spirits podcasts for letting use his studio to record this episode - thank you Chris!

The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!

Song: "You are so money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls

We hosted our first LIVE, in-person podcast episode after the screening of the film, Sugar, at The Little Theatre on Thursday, August 18, 2022. The recording was provided by The Little Theatre staff.

Sugar is a 2008 drama about 19-year-old Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) who dreams of winning a slot on an American baseball team. His talents as a pitcher eventually land him a slot on a single-A team in Iowa, but culture shock, racism and other curveballs threaten to turn Sugar’s dream sour. Sugar is written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

In our discussion, we brought up topics of culture shock, racism, the importance of community and family, and Miguel’s journey into discovering his own identity separate from baseball.

Featured Panelists: Rosa Vargas-Cronin, Giovanni Santana, Denise Ester

Moderator: Deborah Alvarez

Our Voices Project is a production company that shares the experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people through visual storytelling. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people and to help educators design and implement a student-centered learning environment that affirms racial and cultural identities, empowers students as agents of social change, and contributes to an individual’s engagement, learning, growth, and achievement through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Follow Representation in Cinema and listen to all of our podcast episodes anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts! Subscribe to mailing list to be the first to hear about new projects, upcoming events, and new podcast episodes!

Song: "You are so money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls

We discuss the film "Moonlight."

Moonlight is a drama released back in 2016 starring Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, and Naomi Harris. The story follows Chiron and looks at three defining chapters in his life as a young Black man growing up in Miami. His journey to manhood is guided by the kindness, support, and love of the community that helps raise him. The film is directed by Barry Jenkins and received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017. SO if you haven’t watched the film already, you can watch it on Showtime now and then come back to listen and/or watch our podcast.

Featured Panelists: Ricardo J. Millhouse, Taurus Savant

Moderator: Annalisa Rogers

Our Voices Project is dedicated to dismantling destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people by providing educational resources across marginalized groups brought on by the stories we share. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Subscribe to our channel to view our work and to receive notifications for new films and panel discussions!

Song: "You Are So Money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls

We discuss the movie, Passing, sexuality, relationships, racism, and the MULTIPLE layers that this film touches.

Passing is a period drama released in 2021 starring Tessa Thompson (Sylvie’s Love, Sorry to Bother You, Thor: Ragnorok, Thor: Love and Thunder) and Ruth Negga (Loving, AMC TV series Preacher). Set in New York City in the 1920s, a woman’s world is turned upside down when she runs into a childhood friend who is passing as white. The film is based on the novel by Nella Larsen by the same name and is directed by Rebecca Hall making her directorial debut.

Featured Panelists: Miriam Zinter, Mia Alafaireet, Deborah Alvarez

Moderator: Jackie McGriff

Our Voices Project is dedicated to dismantling destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people by providing educational resources across marginalized groups brought on by the stories we share. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Subscribe to our channel to view our work and to receive notifications for new films and panel discussions!

Song: "You Are So Money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls

We discuss Fast Color, motherhood, family, trauma, and whether or not this film flips the "magical negro" stereotype on its head.

Fast Color is a science fiction drama released back from 2018 starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Concussion, Loki). The film is directed by Julia Hart. After her special abilities are discovered, Ruth is on the run and has no choice, but to go back to her childhood home where she reunites with her mother and her daughter and, in that time, begins to mend the relationships that have long been broken.

Featured Panelists: Vashti Anderson, Deborah Alvarez

Moderator: Jackie McGriff

Our Voices Project is dedicated to dismantling destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color and by providing educational resources across marginalized groups brought on by the stories we share. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Subscribe to our channel to view our work and to receive notifications for new films and panel discussions!

Song: "You are so money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls

We discussed what we loved about Attack the Block, the intersection of race and class, and other themes brought throughout the film.

Attack the Block is a 2011 sci-fi comedy directed by Joe Cornish. Moses (John Boyega) leads a group of South London teenagers facing off against aliens to defend their neighborhood. The film also guest stars Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Leeon Jones, and Nick Frost.

Featured Panelists: Katrina Overby and Deborah Alvarez

Moderator: Jackie McGriff

Our Voices Project provides a safe space and platform for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color to share experiences that have shaped them into the people they are today through visual storytelling. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of BIPOC perpetuated in the media by providing educational resources across marginalized groups brought on by the stories we share.

Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities in line with the NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework to help educators design and implement a student-centered learning environment that affirms racial and cultural identities, empowers students as agents of social change, and contributes to an individual’s engagement, learning, growth, and achievement through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Subscribe to our channel to view our work and to receive notifications for new films and panel discussions!

Song: "You are so money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls

This was originally recorded via Zoom as part of our event series and now podcast series, Representation in Cinema.

We discussed what we loved about The Harder They Fall, different themes, and the real, Black historical figures depicted in the film.

The Harder They Fall is a 2021 western directed by Jeymes Samuel about Nat Love, an outlaw (Jonathan Majors) seeking vengeance for his family against Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). The film also guest stars Regina King, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, and Deon Cole.

Featured Panelists: Katrina Overby, Nick Robertson, Gabrielle Brannigan, Justin Connor, Deborah Alvarez, and The Harder They Fall Director, Jeymes Samuel (The Bullitts).

Moderator: Jackie McGriff

Zoom Tech: Courtney Shouse

Our Voices Project provides a safe space and platform for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color to share experiences that have shaped them into the people they are today through visual storytelling. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of BIPOC perpetuated in the media by providing educational resources across marginalized groups brought on by the stories we share.

Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities in line with the NYS Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework to help educators design and implement a student-centered learning environment that affirms racial and cultural identities, empowers students as agents of social change, and contributes to an individual’s engagement, learning, growth, and achievement through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Subscribe to our channel to view our work and to receive notifications for new films and panel discussions!

Song: "You are so money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls