Black Filmmaker seeks "reel-changes" in Cinema and TV

by Claire Shepherd

The question of Black representation on the screen - whether cinema or television - has been hotly debated since the early British films.

Lack of historical accuracy and flawed representations have been common criticisms of films made by the large companies. This has alienated many Black people from the movie going aspect of popular culture.

Black filmmakers have been an important counter-force to this trend. The best of their work was chosen by Menelik Shabazz for the Pan-African film festival in which 40 feature films, documentaries and shorts will be shown at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London.

Menelik Shabazz, the festival director, is one of Britain's few pioneering Black filmmakers and Editor of the journal Black Filmmaker. The films are drawn from the best of Black World Cinema and showcase the talents of Horace Ove. the UK's most prominent black director, and a wide range of film directors such as: Ernest Dickinson; Michael Ocelot; St. Clair Bourne; Joe Brewster; Haile Gerima; Julie Dash; Christene Browne; and Spike Lee.

Film round-up
Films are being brought together from Africa, The Americas, and Europe. In an exclusive interview with the Shabbazz, he stated " what makes this festival different is that we will be bringing in films, which have not been seen in Britain before. We will also be taking them on a national tour to cities such as: Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Reading, Nottingham and Leeds."

"We are trying to create a gateway for international cinema. In addition we are focussing on the U.K and the Black Shorts underground scene and are giving a profile to some of the works that have been produced within this sector which are very rarely seen by a large number of people. However, there is an underground network out there which is active and bubbling. These films are what is giving that network its life and so we want to feature some of them, a few of which have won awards, but have not had the recognition and acceptance which they deserve".

Awareness needed
As a part of their communities, the Black filmmaker has to be aware of the power of images and representations. This must be considered in relation to our socio-cultural history. Shabazz agreed and argued that " because we are relating to each other as people of African descent and the idea of crossing boundaries is involved in this process, it is necessary to understand this from a filmmaker's point of view. There is a diversity of experiences that reflect our world, that reflect our aesthetics and our way of seeing. That way of seeing isn't one, it is diverse, yet it fits into a whole melting pot and becomes an important stimulant for who we are as a people".

Asked whether he thought that the Black filmmaker can be held responsible for furthering the negative stereotypes so common in many American and British films, Shabazz responded by saying: "I think that it has been an important responsibility for filmmakers to project a world on screen that reflects all of our diversity. In a way I think that this is unfair. It is not everyone who can do this; who can take up the responsibility to make images that reflect a meaningful existence, especially in the light of funding bodies which are always attempting to get you to portray images in a particular way. One is always fighting between the two, that is wanting to make films and getting funding to make films. One can either give in or resist.

Digital future
" Filmmakers, do play an important role, in many cases they are griots and the people we look to tell stories and to tell us the truth", says Menelik.

He believes "It is a very exciting time for filmmakers with digital and computerised systems where one can do one's editing on a computer. There is a whole sense now that people can engage with filmmaking in a way that they could not have done several years ago. We are seeing a whole new group of people out there writing, directing and learning about filmmaking. They are doing things without waiting around for people to fund them. This shows their passion and their commitment. This energy must influence the mainstream. And will do and as time goes on new voices must come out who will re-energise the industry. I think that is what will happen in the U.K."

Claire Shepherd is a free-lance writer and chair of the Camden Black Sisters support group.

Information about Black Filmmaker and the Pan-African film festival can be obtained from:
Tel: 0181-527-9582
E-mail: bfm@lvc.leevalley.co.uk
Web site: www.leevalley.co.uk/bfm