Anthonia Onyejekwe, founder and executive director of REEL Oakland, talks to CBS News Bay Area Kamilah Tom about how the after-school program equips high school students in all facets of filmmaking.
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/reel-oakland-guides-youth-in-filmmaking/
No matter how many Bay Area icons make it to Hollywood, it’s always a thrill to see local landmarks, culture and talent on the silver screen (shout-out to whatever weirdness Boots Riley is cooking up for us with his upcoming Amazon series, I’m a Virgo). It’s even more exciting to think about what the next generation of Bay Area filmmakers will come up with as they hone their skills. Helping them on their path is REEL Oakland, an after-school program created by Anthonia Onyejekwe (a former producer for KQED’s Check Please! Bay Area) that guides high school students through the making of short documentary, narrative and animation films.
Over the course of a year, the students learn about all facets of filmmaking, from screenwriting to postproduction, working together as a crew and under the mentorship of local professionals. On Saturday, May 28, student films from Oakland Charter High School, Leadership Public Schools in Oakland and Hayward, Skyline High School, Richmond High School and John F. Kennedy High School will be on display at the New Parkway for an afternoon of screenings. A raffle, a Q&A with the student directors and—looking to what comes next—a chance for all attendees to network in the field rounds out the free event.
Anthonia Nneamaka Onyejekwe is a Nigerian-American filmmaker, content creator and blogger from Oakland, CA. She has passion for telling stories through visual media and believes that representation matters in front and behind the camera. Anthonia has produced and directed content for major production companies, independent projects, and created a non-profit film program called REEL Oakland for Bay Area youth.
I thought the film did well in highlighting Sandra Bland as an educated and socially impactful Black female leader. It did an excellent job at balancing the legal storyline and Sandra’s [personality] as a thriving, loving and vocal Black woman. It also showed the relentless drive Bland’s family and legal team had in order to seek justice for Sandra.
As I watched the film, I thought about the international influence Sandra’s death had on folks who lived outside of the U.S. Her death sparked a lot of controversy overseas that I wish that was mentioned in the film.
I do believe #OscarsSoWhite overlooked the issues within the documentary realm because it focused primarily on diversifying actors/directors/screenwriters etc. in the narrative film categories. I’ve been overlooked and disregarded by my white counterparts because I am a Black female director/producer.
The industry will become diverse because many filmmakers of color are determined to tell stories about our experiences in the world. I created an after school film program, REEL Oakland, that allows inner city students of color to create their own short films. Ultimately, this exposure will encourage them to get in front and behind the camera to change the way we see Hollywood films.
Do not give up, press past the negativity and racism within the industry. Do not be afraid of your power to enact change through media, it is completely acceptable to be unapologetically Black.