21 BLACK FUTURES

This project was originally has brought to my attention by my friend Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, Artistic Director at Obsidian Theatre Company. An independent Canadian theatre company that has always championed Black voices since its inception. 2021 marked their 21st anniversary and it also marked a shift in the theatre landscape as it sought to address these challenges yet still commemorate their 21st season. As a result, 21 Black Futures was born.

The goal was to create an anthology of 21 filmed monodramas, commissioned from 21 multigenerational Black playwrights across the country, directed by 21 Black directors and performed by 21 Black actors responding to the question, “What is the future of Blackness?”

During the lockdowns of 2020/2021 where people couldn’t go to the theatre, so there needed to be a way to bring the theatre experience to the people. In order to level up and go beyond the live stream experience CBC was brought in as a production partner with the execution of these 21 pieces all shot on the same stage at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. This project brought together various artists & creators from the community and I was super excited to contribute my talents to this great effort and unique moment in history.

The 21 pieces were split among 3 editors (me being one of them). Everything was shot and cut within the month of January 2021. It was fast and furious but all worthwhile in the end. You’ll see the pieces I edited below.

Stills