“(Chin is a) Magnetic Presence”
- THE NEW YORK TIMES
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
As a storyteller, my journey is deeply rooted in a personal quest for connection and a commitment to serving those who have been historically marginalized. Growing up as a young Black girl in Toronto, raised by a single mother in government housing, I navigated diverse environments that often left me feeling like an outsider. Attending a high school with a vastly different socioeconomic landscape and grappling with my queer identity in the context of a Christian household added layers to this sense of not belonging. Witnessing my brother's challenges as a professional hockey player in the 90s-00s further underscored the complexities of identity and acceptance.
Through these experiences, I found solace and inspiration in television series, books, and music that resonated with my journey, providing a sense of belonging and validation. Then I discovered the transformative power of film! Under the mentorship of experienced filmmakers, I honed my skills in shaping narratives that reflect the rawness and authenticity of lived experiences from the margins.
Today, my motivation as a filmmaker stems from a desire to amplify voices that are often overlooked, to tell stories that challenge societal norms, and to create spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds can see themselves reflected and celebrated. I believe in the power of storytelling to foster empathy, provoke thought, and ignite meaningful conversations about the complexities of identity, belonging, and resilience. Through my work, I strive to illuminate the human experience in all its intricacies and nuances, celebrating the strength and beauty found in our differences.
Characters
Staceyann
Poet, actor, and performing artist Staceyann Chin is the author of the new poetry collection Crossfire: A Litany For Survival, the critically acclaimed memoir The Other Side of Paradise, cowriter and original performer in the Tony Award–winning Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, and author of the one-woman shows Hands Afire, Unspeakable Things, Border/Clash, and MotherStruck. She has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and 60 Minutes, and her poetry been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post. She proudly identifies as Caribbean, Black, Asian, lesbian, a woman, and a resident of New York City, as well as a Jamaican national.
Zuri
“Her name means vulnerable/resilient rock of beauty/reason for love/I wanted her name to echo the warrior women who came ahead of her/ahead of me…”
~ Staceyann Chin (Crossfire: A Litany for Survival. Haymarket Books, Chicago, IL, 2019.)
Hazel
“People told me I looked like her, but there was no proof. Not even photographs. Only the whispered comments raining negative from the sky of adults who surrounded me. I could only wonder if it was true—if I really looked like her. There was no one to ask. No pictures in any family album to peruse. Plus, I was never really sure I wanted to look like a woman who, in my family’s eyes, had done the worst thing a woman could do—leave her children.”
~ Staceyann Chin (Instagram post January 24, 2020)
KEY CREDITS
PRODUCED BY
ALISON DUKE
NGARDY CONTEH GEORGE
JUSTINE PIMLOTT
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
CHANDA CHEVANNES
ALISON DUKE
NGARDY CONTEH GEORGE
ANITA LEE
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
MRINAL DESAI
ASHLEY IRIS GILL
GABRIELA OSIO VANDEN
EDITED BY
SONIA GODDING TOGOBO
ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY
TOM THIRD
MOTION DESIGN BY
RAMÓN CHARLES