The Dillard University Afrofuturism Club, Box of Courage Studios, and SoulFilms Studios united to present the B is for Cinema Black cinema experience to celebrate Black History Month.
The experience showcased films all created by Dillard University students, and many involved students as actors and tech crew. Elevator Pitch and Love Jones Recreation, directed by Kiela King, The Unknown, directed by Dionka Johnson, 8 Months, directed by Hildevert Lafeuille, Limitless, directed by Mikayla Weary, and Dark Sand, directed by Tessa Barrett, were among the short films screened on Feb. 25.
The main purposes of the movie night were to celebrate Black art and film and to demonstrate to other creatives that film is a viable career path, even though it goes against traditional expectations.
“It gives us the space to kind of show what we’re working on and what we do and just give us a space to like showcase our talents,” said Weary, the founder of the Afrofuturism Club and a senior film major from Seattle, Washington.
Dillard University film students work hard on their productions, working with their casts and crews to develop awe-inspiring films like the one shown at the cinema experience. Film students like King, a junior film major and the founder of Box of Courage Studios, wanted to show other young creatives that it’s possible to get out and do the work you want to do.
“That is the reason why I made B.O.C. Studios, so people can know, like, people are out here just like you, wanting to great films, and now we have a studio here on campus that helps you create that film,” said King.
Dillard University is home to many film studios, including B.O.C Studios, SoulFilms Studios, and oDD Rabbit Studios. These media companies allow students to explore their creativity. Since it’s an HBCU, students have the opportunity to explore many themes related to Blackness.
“I just believe in the black experience, I believe in black creativity, and I think that’s the reason why I help everybody put out their films. I believe in anybody with a film, or anybody with a script,” said Windie Angelle, a junior film major and founder of oDD Rabbit Studios. “We have a great [film] program here that I believe the school should believe in more, like this would be a normal thing, having movie premieres every week,” she continued.
