Fund Troubled Waters Film

Greetings from your recent graduate!

 

In my last semester at the University at Albany, I was tasked with creating a short video for a class assignment. When my professor, David Shapiro, saw my project he immediately believed that I was sitting on something bigger than I imagined. This short video shared with just my class at the time used visuals, images, and spoken word to convey an important message about the relationship between the black community and water, how water was and still is used as a tool by us, but also how throughout history it has been weaponized against our community. After meeting with Professor Shapiro upon graduation, I decided that this was something that I wanted to share with the world. I would call this short experimental film Troubled Waters.

 

Since then, I got to work and started the process of completing Troubled Waters. I wrote down my vision, got actors together, rented equipment, and completed the first shoot in Atlanta, GA. A second shoot in New York is needed to complete the film, and while I’m very excited to continue this process, it is a huge undertaking. In order to finish the work that has begun, I will need your financial support. Your donations will help cover travel expenses, wardrobe, equipment rentals, and most importantly the cost of film festival fees. The goal for Troubled Waters is for it to be sent off to several film festivals in hopes of it getting chosen to be screened. This is how we get our message out to the world.

 

Did you know that in the United States, 64% of black children do not know how to swim and as a result are 3 times more likely to drown than their white counterparts? This project is bigger than entertainment. Giving Troubled Waters a platform will educate others on the history of the negative implications of water in the black community, but also show the hope for a solution, the joy that we have despite our pain, and our ability to overcome.

I thank you in advance for your support in allowing our truths to be revealed through this medium.