This really moved me, all of it. I was especially moved by the bits about Ava and Aunjanue. When I photographed them last year before they premiered the film, there was an air of exhaustion to them and to Aunjanue, an air of pre-defeat. It broke my heart. I saw Aunjanue again in October after her and RaMell premiered Nickel Boys at Middleburg Film Festival. Aunjanue is one of the most impressive human beings I’ve ever seen or spoken to. She is an incomparable actor. But I truly believe that a piece of her has been irreparably harmed by her time in this industry. Every time I offer her, very specific kinds of praise, her response… it’s just so evident. Thank you for this.
I'm so glad to hear this resonated. I think about the story behind Origin's creation often, especially in contrast to the treatment Barbie received. It's so cool that you got to photograph Ava and Aunjanue! I produced an interview with them both around the film's release, which is how I first heard about the film's backstory. I also think about an interview I produced with Jeffrey Wright where he said, "Hollywood never invested in me. Other artists invested in me." Sadly, I think so many Black artists relate to that.
Yeah. Reading that Jeffrey Wright line just hit me the same way the Aunjanue stuff does. There is something unspeakably painful that many Black artists seem to carry. The reality of trying to do something meaningful inside a system that truly wants you dead and sees you as only occasionally valuable.
This really moved me, all of it. I was especially moved by the bits about Ava and Aunjanue. When I photographed them last year before they premiered the film, there was an air of exhaustion to them and to Aunjanue, an air of pre-defeat. It broke my heart. I saw Aunjanue again in October after her and RaMell premiered Nickel Boys at Middleburg Film Festival. Aunjanue is one of the most impressive human beings I’ve ever seen or spoken to. She is an incomparable actor. But I truly believe that a piece of her has been irreparably harmed by her time in this industry. Every time I offer her, very specific kinds of praise, her response… it’s just so evident. Thank you for this.
I'm so glad to hear this resonated. I think about the story behind Origin's creation often, especially in contrast to the treatment Barbie received. It's so cool that you got to photograph Ava and Aunjanue! I produced an interview with them both around the film's release, which is how I first heard about the film's backstory. I also think about an interview I produced with Jeffrey Wright where he said, "Hollywood never invested in me. Other artists invested in me." Sadly, I think so many Black artists relate to that.
Yeah. Reading that Jeffrey Wright line just hit me the same way the Aunjanue stuff does. There is something unspeakably painful that many Black artists seem to carry. The reality of trying to do something meaningful inside a system that truly wants you dead and sees you as only occasionally valuable.