Anchor Intro: New York City hosts a yearly film series celebrating African inspired stories and the filmmakers who bring them to the big screen. This year, a selection of films featured sparked timely discussions about race relations in the U.S., and the challenges people of different backgrounds sometimes face in their search for common ground. Patrice Howard reports from New York.
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VO1: Footage of movie, called Supremacy
ART IMITATING LIFE.
Up Sound:
"Are you going to kill us?
SUPREMACY TELLS THE TRUE STORY OF A WHITE SUPREMACIST WHO KILLS A BLACK POLICE OFFICER BEFORE TAKING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY HOSTAGE IN THEIR HOME.
VO3: Footage of Supremacy, still of newspaper headline from Ferguson
THE STORY IS BASED ON REAL EVENTS OF THE PAST - BUT THE FILM'S DIRECTOR DEON TAYLOR SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESENT AUDIENCES WITH A PLOT DRIVEN BY RACIAL TENSION; A THEME EASILY RIPPED FROM AMERICA'S HEADLINES TODAY.
SOT -- Deon Taylor, Director, Supremacy
"There's no time more important than right now with what's going on in the world race wise - from Ferguson to Trayvon Martin.."
VO4: B-roll of Africa Diaspora Film Festival
RACE IS A THEME THAT RUNS THROUGH MOST FILMS AT NEW YORK'S AFRICAN DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST. THIS SCREENING OF SUPREMACY KICKED OFF THE 18-DAY MEDLEY FEATURING FILMS THAT TELL STORIES OF AFRICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS ALIKE.
VO5: Footage of Supremacy, Shots of film's director on stage
SUPREMACY MAY LOOK LIKE A BOX-OFFICE THRILLER - BUT RATHER THAN SCARE AUDIENCES - TAYLOR WANTS TO PROVOKE DISCUSSION ABOUT RACE - A TOPIC OFTEN KEPT IN THE DARK.
SOT -- Deon Taylor, Director, Supremacy
"From dialogue comes education and from education we begin to understand how we can actually take the next step to get things done the right way."
VO6:
TAYLOR IS REFERRING TO RACIALLY-DRIVEN DIALOGUE LIKE THIS.
VO3: Footage of Supremacy, still of newspaper headline from Ferguson
THE STORY IS BASED ON REAL EVENTS OF THE PAST - BUT THE FILM'S DIRECTOR DEON TAYLOR SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO PRESENT AUDIENCES WITH A PLOT DRIVEN BY RACIAL TENSION; A THEME EASILY RIPPED FROM AMERICA'S HEADLINES TODAY.
SOT -- Deon Taylor, Director, Supremacy
"There's no time more important than right now with what's going on in the world race wise - from Ferguson to Trayvon Martin.."
VO4: B-roll of Africa Diaspora Film Festival
RACE IS A THEME THAT RUNS THROUGH MOST FILMS AT NEW YORK'S AFRICAN DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST. THIS SCREENING OF SUPREMACY KICKED OFF THE 18-DAY MEDLEY FEATURING FILMS THAT TELL STORIES OF AFRICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS ALIKE.
VO5: Footage of Supremacy, Shots of film's director on stage
SUPREMACY MAY LOOK LIKE A BOX-OFFICE THRILLER - BUT RATHER THAN SCARE AUDIENCES - TAYLOR WANTS TO PROVOKE DISCUSSION ABOUT RACE - A TOPIC OFTEN KEPT IN THE DARK.
SOT -- Deon Taylor, Director, Supremacy
"From dialogue comes education and from education we begin to understand how we can actually take the next step to get things done the right way."
VO6:
TAYLOR IS REFERRING TO RACIALLY-DRIVEN DIALOGUE LIKE THIS.
Up Sound:
"Americans don't understand the African culture because we were never taught it."
VO7: Bound footage, featuring people talking
ITS AFRICANS VS. AFRICAN AMERICANS IN BOUND - A FILM ABOUT THE SHARED CULTURAL HISTORY OF THOSE ON THE CONTINENT AND THOSE WHO HAVE MADE A HOME HERE IN AMERICA.
VO8: Bound footage, featuring people talking, shots of director on stage
CHALLENGING RACIAL MISCONCEPTIONS IS THE GOAL OF MANY OF THE FILMS FEATURED THIS YEAR. RATHER THAN SHOUT FOR EQUALITY ON THE STREET - DIRECTOR PERES OWINO SAYS SHE IS GLAD TO MEET THE AUDIENCE WHERE THEY ARE - WITH POPCORN IN HAND.
SOT -- Peres Owino, Director, Bound
"That's the essence of Bound, is just talk, and then you will find there is so much you have in common with people you thought you had nothing in common with, and you'll empathize more than you'll criticize."
Piece to Camera:
Patrice Howard, New YorkCrowds of protestors have taken to the streets of New York City recently to provoke dialogue about race in America. While filmmakers in this festival took a quieter approach - they are confident the messages in their films will be heard loud and clear. Patrice Howard, New York.