CODE SWITCHERS ANONYMOUS tells the story of a community/group of black people who gather together once a week to uplift, listen to , and support one another in a world where being black takes a back seat to the comfort of others. Through laughter and satire, CODE SWITCHERS ANONYMOUS shines a light not only on the daily micro aggressions and hardships, but also the black joy that gets us through. Many times, as people of color attending predominantly white schools, I have always felt like the ambassador of blackness, and the representative for my culture. But is that the role i gave myself or was that thrust upon me? I have always wondered how many people feel the way I do, and so this project is an imagining of this experiance. We are storytellers that have a funny, fresh, and unique way of shedding a light on well known and lived aspects of life as a person of color and we need your help to bring it to fruition.

All donations will go towards paying our amazing cast and crew! As fellow artists, we believe in paying everyone their rates, with respect to their artistry and their hard work. As well, donations will go towards the securing of locations, wardrobe, insurance, and equipment for shooting.

Logline:

Code Switchers Anonymous humorously tells the story of Black professionals working within PWIs (Predominantly White Institutions)

Proof of Concept :

Below is a earlier version of the film that was shot in 2019 with Director Khalid Sena and Producer Niara Sena. This proof of concept film was used as part of the application that got Director Khalid Sena to get into SVA"s MPS Directing Program. The updated version will utilize updated cameras, and feature a completely different aesthetic than the piece featured below.

https://youtu.be/0dHbTMkiUVU

Visual Style:

4:3

The use of the 4:3 Aspect Ratio creates a window into the lives of the subjects on screen. We want the viewer to get up close and personal with the characters, thus putting themselves in their shoes for the duration of the film. It was last used in the directors last short "Concreate Rose", and wants to use it as a visual trademark for further films going forward.

Black And White

The visual palette of Black and White will be used to further dive home the point of Black people having to code switch in a white world. The use of black and white is meant to be enveloping, to give the audience a direct pov into the code switching world of poc’s. Code Switching is black and white, there is no room for color and the film will convey that visually, as well as use it as a tool for silent commentary on a world that repeatedly says “it doesn’t see color”

Directors Statement

“The Motivation behind Code Switchers Anonymous , was to create a safe space for black professionals occupying predominantly white spaces. If you're black or brown chances are high that you’ve had to code switch in a professional and educational space. My motivation was to tell a highly relatable story , that makes you laugh and think back to every moment where you’ve felt you have had to hide a piece of your self to please others. For the majority of my life I’ve been the minority in every professional and education space I have ever inhabited . I have have always felt like there was a piece of myself I’ve had to subdue to make my white counterparts feel comfortable around me. I always remember thinking wouldn’t it be great if I had other people to talk about my experiences as the only person of color. This film is my way of starting that conversation. Creating that dialogue and hopefully others will see this, laugh and think back to their times having to code switch in fear of their blackness being denied in a predominantly white world"

-Khalid Sena