Filmmaking trio crowdfunding for coming of age drama about British-Jamaican teen set in Brixton
By Alice Neil
Three young filmmakers are crowdfunding to shoot a new short film about coming of age and battling the impact of colonialism.
The film, Black and White Duppy, is set in the heart of Brixton and follows the main character, British-Jamaican teenager Red, as he clashes with his mum and tries to navigate his way through life and his cultural identity.
Director Tom Blackman, producer Kate Shelley and director of photography Emily Ong, started planning a few months ago.
They often met in the Blank Brixton cafe, Arch Lane, where they would talk about the script and how they would bring their ideas to life.
The trio have also been working closely with Brixton based non-for-profit company Young Creators UK to create the short film.
The group, who hope to raise £10,000 through their crowdfunding campaign, are currently in pre-production and are planning to start filming in August.
People who donate to their crowdfunding campaign will receive benefits including exclusive viewing of the film, official posters and invites to the premiere.
Mr Blackman, a British-Jamaican filmmaker from Herne Hill, said: “Writing the story was a cathartic process and it will connect with anyone who was Red at some point in their lives.
“I want to see Black British films in every genre, and I believe the best way to do that is to tell your story, your way. I want to make the kind of film that never existed when I was growing up.”
Inspired by the new wave of African American realist cinema, the coming-of-age film is a mix of drama and horror.
Black and White Duppy is about love, forgiveness and understanding and follows the themes of family, grief and internalised racism through the decades in Brixton.
Ms Shelley said: “The film is more than just a short film. It captures a journey and I want it to create a community.
“I hope my links to local businesses and people in Brixton will bring a sense of community to the film’s production and I really want the wider community to feel a part of the process.”
Pictured top: Kate Shelley, Tom Blackman and Emily Ong