Black Privilege. White Power.


TYPE
: Narrative Feature
GENRE: Drama
STATUS: Pre-Production

LOGLINE

After graduating high school, a young Smith College student joins up with an activist group to fight for civil rights in the Jim Crow era South and ends up taking part in one of the great protest movements in American history, inspiring her peers and strangers along the way.

SYNOPSIS

A stirring and topical period drama that examines the courageous work of courageous people, fighting, unrestrained, against injustice. This is a historical story, but these important issues are still very relevant even today, and the script brings them to life with passion, outrage, and insight. As harrowing as the systematic prejudice and seemingly endless violent bigotry is, it is impressive and inspirational to see the resolve and courage of those who would not stand down.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

The foundation of my artistic expression is a mosaic of subtleties, born from my distinctive experience of being a transracial adoptee in America. The ability to blend the contrasting facets of two Americas is a direct result of this upbringing and, happens to be my superpower. The underlying theme of my work, both written and visual, draws from the genuine, intricate interplay of race and cultures. As a filmmaker, I aim to bring forth images usually absent from screens but commonplace in small towns across America. My intent is to engage the viewer's psyche with these images, serving as a reminder of the everyday
reality we live in.

Music is the cornerstone of my creative process as an artist, particularly in filmmaking. The Mississippi Blues convey their unique language, and this vibrancy permeates every component of the project, guiding the film's trajectory, dialogue, cinematography, and editing. I lean heavily on percussion, especially when depicting the hair
raising violence. Conversely, for other elements, such as compassion unity, hope and sorrow I draw inspiration from the gospel music resonating within church walls. It's not uncommon for individuals, upon hearing my life's narrative, to suggest that it should be adapted into a
cinematic piece. I plan to do so, yet I firmly believe that my Aunt Posy's life holds a more compelling tale. Her life has left a profound impact on countless lives, and her deeds have altered the historical fabric of our nation. I am among the last of the generations capable of
narrating this tale. Also, this story's influence on voting rights bears a direct relation to the contemporary manipulation and suppression of these rights.

This film is intended to inspire voters by presenting the story of a brave group of college students who sacrificed themselves to secure a remarkable societal triumph. This film is particularly targeted at first-time and young voters who are yet to comprehend the potency of their vote. We've heard some young voters express their belief that voting is unnecessary, and through this film, we aim to enlighten them about the current and future significance of their voting rights. Voting today not only benefits them presently but also guarantees the safeguarding of their democracy for generations to come. We've meticulously crafted an all-inclusive package, but as first time feature lentgh filmmakers, we're in search of esoteric executive producers and investors who can envision our concept and have faith in the project's potential. While guiding it seemlessly over the threshold to a theatrical and streaming success.

KEY CREW

Daniel George Danielson - Writer/Director

 

Daniel Danielson is an American actor/writer/director/voice talent known for writing the feature length screenplay “Black Privilege. White Power.”, producing/directing its short film/proof of concept, writing producing and directing the six-part web series “Mr. and Mrs. Jackson” starring his wife Josephine Webb and himself as Mr. and Mrs. Jackson . Daniel has starred in a number of films and television series including Steven Soderberghs Full Circle, Fallout (Jonathan Nolan) ,  White House Plumbers (David Mandel/HBO), The Blacklist (NBC /Universal), and Mr. Robot (USA), and many more.
A graduate of the Institute of Audio Research in New York City he also studied media production at the University of Hartford, voiceover at the School of Special Studies at NYU and Cinematography for Directors at School of Visual Arts NYC.

Kate Lanier - Writer/Screenplay

As a trained English writer from Vassar, Kate is best known for her work on the Academy Award-nominated hit movie "What's Love Got To Do With It" and the cultural phenomenon "Set It Off".

Michael D Sellers - Exec. Producer

Michael D. Sellers is an award-winning filmmaker and author whose books include John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood and Warriors of Samar. His films as writer and director include Beneath the Blue (2010), Eye of the Dolphin (2007), Karla (2006), and Vlad (2004). Prior to his career as a filmmaker and writer he served 10 years as a CIA Operations officer, earning the CIA's Intelligence Commendation Medal for his service in the Philippines during a violent coup atttempt. Sellers is married to Kenyan model and prominennt social media influencer Abby Sellers (Tiktok user abby1_sellers). The couple and their son Arshavin Sellers split time between Nairobi and Los Angeles.

 

Connect With The Filmmakers:

ACCOLADES

-
The Gotham Film & Media Institute - Fiscal Sponsorship Program 2024
-
Semi-finalist Big Apple Film Festival/Los Angeles
-
7/10 The Blacklist

 

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