Unfiltered

TYPE: Documentary Feature
GENRE: Documentary
STATUS: Production

LOGLINE

In “Little Haiti” Brooklyn a teenager challenges the ‘Angry Black Woman’ trope through charged poetry that ignites a quest for intergenerational healing and reclaiming her childhood in this lyrical coming-of-age film.

SYNOPSIS

Unfolding as a love letter to herself, UNFILTERED follows an unabashed teenager named Tamia as she carves her place in a world that instinctively sees her as an “Angry Black Woman”. As a part of a school assignment, she pens an original spoken word called “C19H28O2” – the molecular formula for testosterone – pointing out its connection to anger while simultaneously harnessing the power of such a complex emotion. Through her quick-lipped poetic voice, she reclaims a title callously placed on her and relinquishes the burden society has attached to it. With an impending move to an out-of-state college around the corner, Tamia sets off to mend a fragile relationship with her father and provide guiding emotional support for her younger sisters – all while fighting to maintain the tenderness her childhood deserves. What started as a personal mission extends as a memoir to her little sisters as they watch, learn and grow into their own.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

With a character-driven verite storyline representing the present, rich personal archival representing the past and poetic performance vignettes representing a future, escapist world – UNFILTERED utilizes a non-linear story structure that maneuvers between reality and radical imagination.

Observational verite isn’t merely a camera style, but also offers a mostly uninterrupted recording experience where the filmmaking team doesn’t impose ideas that might not otherwise be natural to the film participants. 

Shaped by her narrative voice, the film unfolds as a love letter Tamia is writing to herself. But rather than simply exist as reflective commentary, her inner monologue intercuts with her poetic voice, often blending the two in a melodic harmony. Even more, her poetry comes to life during stylized performance vignettes of “C19H28O2” whereby Tamia is able to break the fourth wall and speak directly to camera. Because Tamia’s writing reflects contemporary issues that are painful and hostile for Black people, this artistic element serves as a safe haven where Tamia can retreat and expand on any given topic. The performance vignettes are interwoven with verite and always motivated by a disruptive story cue in Tamia’s day to day, like her Sweet 16.

We’ll see a different segment of “C19H28O2” performed 3-5 times over the course of an approximately 85-minute film. Revisiting her poem won’t feel like a repetition, but as a storytelling device where we gain deeper meaning than verite alone might fully realize. 

We’re aware that Tamia possesses a deep understanding of herself and the world. As filmmakers we want to be cognizant of the adult-like responsibility that leaves Tamia no choice but to be wise beyond her years. This means we’ll pay careful attention to not establish Tamia in an all-knowing way that inadvertently perpetuates her adultification. At the same time, it’s important to boldly call attention to how she unflinchingly responds to conflict so as to not censor her or strip her of agency. In service of this balance, the stylized performance vignettes will juxtapose lyrics that utilize her more mature voice with her childhood archival – emphasizing she wasn’t born an Angry Black Woman, and is desperately clinging on to her childhood before it slips away.

The production of the stylized element has been a huge collaborative effort with Tamia, her family, and her Flatbush community. Tamia also advises on scenes she wants us to film and communicates the value her suggestions hold. We’ll continue to consult with her as we film more cinematic elements as well as performance vignettes so that we accurately build out her escapist world. She’s also agreed to write any additional narration needed, and will receive a “written by” credit. 

Lastly, the film’s sonic world will emphasize both Tamia and London’s laughter, silliness and pre-teen/teenage vernacular. As they both grow on screen over the course of four years, the film has a special interest to revel in the beauty and innocence of their youth during a specific and tender age span for the both of them.

KEY CREW

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