04/20/08
NBPC & ITVS LAUNCH THE MASCULINITY PROJECT
In this moment in America with the strong possibility of a first black president, there are many reasons to be excited about a project which promises to examine black masculinity and open a community conversation; a conversation to examine rights and justice, cultural identity, economic status, community and family, among many other themes. What better way to share these varied stories than through this new web 2.0 platform, enabling audio stories, intriguing and experimental viral video pods, online social forums of conversation, and much more.
We are glad to announce that The Masculinity Project will be a collaboration between Blackpublicmedia.Org and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), with generous support from the Ford Foundation. This project is all about sharing varied voices on an agreed topic, our social love affair with masculinity in all its forms. The Masculinity Project will include digital reversions of classic documentary works, specifically commissioned short pieces for the web (audio and video), and finally the community voice, in the shape of an outreach campaign with local community organizations across the nation, viewer interaction on the web, and also short video submitted by you which could get you 0!
We have chosen independent producers to offer us commissioned pieces on masculinity, and they will be producing these pieces through the summer and we will launch them on Blackpublicmedia.Org this Fall. It's all very exciting. These producers are a vibrant mix of veteran, youth and up and coming independent producers. At the end of this entry is a break down of the content these producers promise to bring you.
Going even further The Masculinity Project will also be asking for you to submit your short pieces about your thoughts on black masculinity. These pieces should be no longer than 10 minutes; feel free to be bold and provocative. Irreverent, unexpected and humorous are definitely fair game too. The deadline for submission of your short is July 31st, 2008. Be sure to download the submission guidelines and form.
The Masculinity Project/commissioned shorts
"Top, Bottom & In The Middle" by David Barclay Moore
Photographer David Barclay Moore turns his video lens on for an honest examination of black gay male couples, a study in negotiating gender spaces within intimate relationships.
"The D.R.E.A.M Project" by Robert Bradley/Tennessee State University
In our on-going commitment to engaging young producers, especially from historically black colleges and universities, here Tennessee State University will produce video segments on an influential young black male mentoring project called the D.R.E.A.M Project.
"Barack & Curtis" by Byron Hurt
From the director of the critically-acclaimed documentary film "Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes" this piece will be an intriguing cultural comparison of Barack Obama and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.
"My Life, My Hustle" by Anthony Marshall
Producer and entrepreneur Anthony Marshall, of Lyricist Lounge fame, directs his attention to these documentary profiles on black businessmen, examining in depth the basic philosophy of "the hustle" - the success and the challenge.
"Youth Voice" by The Public Radio Exchange
Our partners at the Public Radio Exchange will be bringing together youth audio producers all across the nation thanks to their innovative Generation PRX project, and will produce a one-hour audio documentary on the youth perspective to cultures of masculinity - ranging from hip hop's place, to prejudiced gender roles in relationships - using music, beats and poetry.
"Invisible Men" by Angela Tucker
Independent filmmaker Angela Tucker, working with ArtsEngine/Big Mouth Films, will be producing engaging video profiles of various homeless male characters, working with the Common Ground organization.
"Dig In" by Noland Walker
Award-winning documentary director and writer Noland Walker dives into a very personal story here which will illuminate perceptions of masculinity within a black family unit. This will be a moving family tale examining illness and the accepted perceptions of familial masculinity.
"Single Father"/"Education-Prison" by Van Dora Williams & Wayne Dawkins/Hampton University
Students and faculty at the journalism school of Hampton University will be producing two audio documentary pieces which will examine these very important issues when it comes to black masculinity; the family, education and that, seemingly more common, road to prison.
We hope all these pieces, and those you submit - not to mention all the blogging which will be done around them - engender conversation which will not only further our understanding of the paradigms surrounding the social phenomena of the black masculine, but also open personal doors on varying local levels, allowing citizens to engage in full and honest dialogue.