BRINGING OUR STORIES TO THE BIG SCREEN

Visit any Cineplex and if you’re lucky to see a Black film on the bill, it may not be the best representation of people of color. It was around this time last year that Eddie Murphy followed up his Oscar-nominated performance in Dreamgirls with another box office success. Even if you didn’t see the movie, I’m sure you remember the commercials. Eddie Murphy+fat suit+fuschia bikini= NORBIT! Some folks found it funny and others were offended by Murphy’s buffoonery. But the movie opened at #1 so a whole lot of someone’s spent $10 bucks to see it.

But what’s out there for those who want to see something other than what’s saturating the media? Luckily, there’s a woman behind a “nation” that wants to give viewers a different perspective.

Started in 1997, Imagenation’s mission is to offset the negative images of people of color in the media. The founder, Moikgantsi Kgama, wanted to create a forum to highlight positive images of people from the African Diaspora. She envisioned Imagenation as a way to “create more room for us” in a medium that generally has limited space for any form of entertainment that’s socially conscious or responsible. From independent screenings, musical performances and spoken word, Imagenation provides a form of entertainment that you’re not likely to find at AMC or on the Top 40 charts. “I wanted to develop an independent audience and disseminate progressive messages about the Black community; film was the best way to do that,” says Kgama.

Imagenation originally captured audience’s attention with film screenings and performances in downtown Manhattan. The successful monthly series included notable artists like India.Arie and muMs. But after 9/11 left the downtown scene deserted, Imagenation decided to move in another direction. Kgama and crew took it uptown and held Brownstone Cinema screenings every Friday in Harlem. The gatherings placed a spotlight on independent films; giving filmmakers an outlet and viewers a cinematic alternative. Whereas the downtown series saw more of an artsy, industry crowd, the uptown screenings created a community feel. Kgama says, “Parents would bring their kids to see progressive films and the vibe became less of a social hub and more focused on community.”

Not content with screenings alone, in the summer of 2003, Imagenation established its own festival. Every August, Imagenation’s Film and Music Festival blesses the streets of Harlem with panel discussions, films and live performances. Kgama sees the festival as not only a way of providing Imagenation with greater visibility, but a way to cultivate screen lovers.

Last year’s festival included performances by artist/activist La Bruja and a viewing of The Adventures of Supernigger: Episode 1, The Final Chapter, a short-film on the shooting of Amadou Diallo. Though Imagenation no longer holds weekly movie screenings, Kgama sees the organization focusing on larger events and opening a theater. You heard right! After the success of the weekly Brownstone Cinema screenings, Imagenation is set to open a 17,000 square foot theater, restaurant and café all in one. Kind of like a one-stop shop to feed your soul. Tentatively called My Image Cinema (MIC), the theater will be located on 116th between Fifth and Lenox and dedicated to showing Black and Latino films. “There was no place for us to show our work,” says Kgama, but MIC aims to be a permanent home for independent films and a vehicle for filmmakers who want to submit their work.

Kgama primarily sees MIC as a way of making independent films more accessible to an audience that may have typically overlooked them. “The goal is to change the landscape of independent films for Black people,” says Kgama. “This has the potential to bring Black independent films to another level.” Backed by a support committee that includes Danny Glover, Erykah Badu and director Lee Daniels, there’s no way that MIC won’t deliver the goods.

By now I’m sure I have you feenin’ for some Imagenation in your life, but if the theater’s November opening date seems too far away, Imagenation has some major upcoming events to wet your appetite. On February 21, Imagenation will celebrate its 10th anniversary with Micheaux Remixed. The event will showcase Oscar Micheaux’s 1920’s silent film Within Our Gates (the earliest surviving feature directed by an African American) but “remixed” with a live score by Burnt Sugar: the Arkestra Chamber. Additionally, the annual Revolution Awards are going down in early June at Lincoln Center. The awards “acknowledge artists and people of color who use their art form to encourage social and political consciousness,” says Kgama. This year’s recipients have yet to be finalized, but if previous recipients (Chuck D and Talib Kweli) are any indication, this year’s show will be pure revolutionary fire!

So I’m not knocking the I-know-I-shouldn’t-be-watching-this type of entertainment (I admit, I DVR I Love New York), but it’s nice to have a positive alternative to what we feed our souls.

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