BlackmanVision Film Production

Still from Mississippi Damned - 2009

Mississippi Damned has been chosen as one of the 10 films in competition at the 15th Annual Slamdance Film Festival. It will screen twice while in Park City.  It premieres on January 16th, 2009 at 6pm (MST) and plays again January 20th, 2009 at 10am (MST). It is written and directed by Tina Mabry (Itty Bitty Titty Committee) and co-produced by Morgan Stiff ( Hip Hop Homos). These two inspirational women took time out of their hectic schedule to give BlackmanVision a few insights into their filmmaking magic.

What inspired you to make Mississippi Damned?
Tina: I had seen several films based in the south that centered on the African-American experience, but I didn’t really feel they reflected any of my experiences. I began writing a treatment for a story that would portray southern life as I knew it.  I was interested in exploring what it takes to escape a bad situation when there is no example of how to break the destructive cycles. I hoped that by portraying some of the hardships I encountered in my youth would prevent others from creating these similar hardships.

Morgan: When I read the script that Tina wrote, I immediately saw the power in the story. Coming from the documentary world, I appreciated the attention she paid to make the film real and authentic. I also appreciated that the protagonist and people who occupied this world were people we don’t often see in cinema. Tina was giving a large group of people who are often overlooked a voice.

What were the challenges in raising money for this film?
Tina: With a cast of 34, 109 page script, and shooting a period film, we were presented with the problem of making a film that was nearly been impossible to do with the amount of funding we had. However, winning a $10,000 grant from Kodak, collaborating with companies who would work with the limited funds we had available, and relying on the creativity, determination and resourcefulness of both of the producers made this film possible.

Morgan: We couldn’t raise all the money that would have been ideal to make this movie. However, we didn’t want to sit on the script for years waiting for someone to give us a chance. We believe that you make your own opportunities. So even though we had limited financial resources, we relied on our other strengths to get us through. A lot of it has to do with persistence, ALWAYS seeing another solution to a problem when you face many closed doors. Thinking outside of the box, and working everything you’ve got for what it is worth. We were also fortunate to have the assistance of those who saw our potential. The FIND Filmmaker lab was very instrumental in us getting this film done, as was Kodak. We chose to shoot in North Carolina (where both producers are from) so that we could call in personal favors and rely on the giving nature of our friends and family. So, for a budget that was shy of what we would have liked to have, we successfully finished the film.

What keeps you both going in those dark moments?
Tina: What keeps me going is a need to fill a void we see in the current film industry by providing a voice to those often unheard. Voices of the disenfranchised. We hope to show that the stories of those on the margins are just as profound and entertaining as any considered mainstream. If we truly want to create change in cinema, especially American cinema, we refuse to let potential dark moments affect us.

Morgan: Having a good foundation helps. My producing partner, Lee V. Stiff is not born out of the industry, in fact his full time job is as a professor of Math Education. He always has a way to put things in perspective which is often needed. Besides, we believe in what we’re doing. We want to see people like us on screen. We want to hear stories that go beyond the conventional, stories that challenge our beliefs, our understanding of the world around us. We are encouraged by other artists striving to do the same thing, not only in film, but in music, art, and literature. And when I get to my darkest moments, when I think I’ve exhausted all the possibilities or am just too tired, I think, “Damn, I’m lucky to be able to do this for a living. To be creative day after day. What am I tired for? It’s just beginning, there are still so many stories to be told!”

Watch a trailer of Mississippi Damned.

Tags: Itty Bitty Titty Committee, Mississippi Damned, Mogan Stiff, North Carolina, Slamdance Film Festival, Tina Mabry

This entry was posted on Friday, January 16th, 2009 at 1:27 pm and is filed under Interview. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.