Movies You Made: “For Flow”
March is Movies You Made month at Go Into The Story where we feature the work of independent filmmakers. Today: For Flow. Some background on the project from writer Kesav Wable.
I came across your tweet soliciting submissions for “Movies You Made” month and thought my short film “For Flow” would be great for your consideration.
The logline: Shot on location, in the birthplace of hip-hop, two MC’s (rappers) wait for a record producer on a lonely street corner of the Bronx. Their meeting will change that corner forever.
I adapted the film from my original stage play of the same title and collaborated with director Jason Camp. I was the writer/producer.
This film was one of 5 finalists at the 2011 HBO American Black Film Festival and aired on HBO and Cinemax shortly thereafter. It was most recently aired by AspireTV.
Cast and Crew
Brian D. Coats — Broonzy
Cherrye J. Davis — Roxanne
Devere Rogers — Dee
Vladimi Versailles — Kane
Emile Cambry Jr. — executive producer
Jason Camp — producer
Randall Lorin Sawyer — executive producer
Stephen L. Smith — co-producer
Kesav Wable — producer
Emile Cambry Jr. — unit production manager
Jason Camp — director / cinematography / editing
Jordan Wagenseller — production design
Mindi Levinson — hair stylist / makeup artist
Here is the 17 minute drama For Flow:
I asked each of the filmmakers in this month’s series to answer this question: What inspired you about this particular story to make it a movie? Here is Kesav’s response:
We thought that, because the story turned around two ambitious rappers who are, literally and figuratively, standing at a crossroads of what could be a life changing moment, it would lend itself well to the film medium where we could play with music video-style shots and bring the corner to life as a 5th character.
As for interesting background, the inspiration for the stage play came from Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” and the cast you see is actually made up of the same brilliant actors we used in the stage production. Also, according to the neighborhood folks we met during the shoot (including police officers who’d later try to shut us down) that corner in the South Bronx had seen its share of violence, and we were informed a fatal shooting had occurred on that very spot about a week prior to our arrival. Kids from the block would ask us “What’re you doing here? This block is hot!” But by the end of the final day of the shoot, the same kids were asking to be written into the film and one even professed that he had stories he wanted to make into movies. Beyond the success that this film later achieved, that was probably the most rewarding part of the shoot- to know we brought something positive, maybe even inspirational, to a community that too often endured the worst.
Tomorrow: Another Movie You Made.
If you have been involved in the creation of a film and want to participate, please email me with details. Note: Need an embeddable trailer or movie.