As we arrive at the two-year marker since the production "Family" and over a year of film festivals, it would be a good time to reflect a little on the journey. It has been an interesting one, littered with such memorable, encouraging and challenging experiences. "Family" received the nomination for "Best First Feature" during its world premiere at the Los Angeles-based Pan African Film Festival. The event was a reunion of the majority of the cast for a couple of special days. It received the "Emerging Filmmaker" Award at the Tampa Intl Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Finally, it has received some very glowing reviews.
The initial festivals were followed by a generous amount of radio, online, and print interviews that really gave me, the director, the opportunity to distill my thoughts over the experience. I had to explain and sometimes defend my story and characters. So many who saw the film felt that there were reflections of themselves in cinema for the first time, but with that, was the expectation that all of the film reflect their politics and interest; it can't--it's just a film written simply to reflect the writer's (my own) views. While the film was showered with praise and accolades, it was also assaulted with some blows to the prevailing themes, the actors cast, the language used, and the filmming of certain scenes. I found it daunting and exciting to address all of these elements. I feel that that is what I enjoy most about the post-process of filmmaking.
"Family" has seen a great deal of exposure in dozens of film festivals, screening to thousands of people all over the world. The reception in South Africa was a unique experience but not so unlike Boston, and as we head to London, England, I'm sure there will be similiar responses. The film trailers on Youtube have experienced over a 400,000 hits and incredible feedback from those who have viewed them.
The goal for "Family" was to bring exposure to those marginalized lives; to give lesbians of color and particulary those of African descent a voice. I wanted to show their fascinating lives; their challenges, struggles and joys. I feel "Family" had done that and will continue forward to hold a mirror up to those who have been ignored. I feel it will bring a certain poetry to those experiences that are thought commonplace. I know it's a modest film, made from modest means, but the concept and the message, I feel, is priceless.
