Willow: An Afrofuturist Anti-Capitalist Womanist Horror Flick
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All Contributions are Tax Deductible thanks to The Notice Foundation, Inc.
"Willow" uncovers the unseen violence inherent in capitalism in a vivid display of terror, and cosmic horror. Can Capitalism feed you in a world where "Flesh is Currency?" Find out through our Seed and Spark campaign link.
WILLOW
an afrofuturist anti-capitalist womanist horror flick.
In an alternate reality, where the bodies of Black and Brown folx were once consumed for power, White people - now food for the powerful - are running out. After her grandma dies the night President Sasha Obama II legalizes "Peer Consumption," Willow is forced to search for stability in a new world, where every moment is a wager in flesh.
WHY THIS STORY?
I wrote the first version of “Willow” seven years ago in 2013. After partnering with director Reg Douglas and producer Glenn Quentin George, we had it go up on its feet at New York Theatre Workshop in 2014, w/ an absolutely stellar cast:
Willow - Keona Welch
Chegge - Paul A. Notice II
Taina - Kristin Watson
Vanessa - Simone Leonora
Diane - Ashley Samona Baker
Janet - Bianca LaVerne Jones
And he told me that a few of the scenes in the original play might look better on screen. I agreed - and 6 years later, here we are!
I grew up spying on my mom, auntie and grandma's weekly movie nights w/ my cousin. Candyman, Star Trek Deep Space 9, Tales from the Hood, Vampire in Brooklyn - all became the building blocks of my nascent Blerdom.
Black women introduced me to Horror/SciFi, and yet were barely present on screen. I wasn't satisfied with one - or even two! Black folx surviving until the end.
I wanted to push the Overton window. Why not make an all-Black cast? Why not have 90% of the principal characters be Black women, and let the one male character talk about the women for a change? And... while we're at it: why not discuss some present issues about exploitation, capitalism and liberation in the subtext too. And thus, came "Willow."
THE GOAL
That’s where you come in: our goal is $69,000 - which will get us through production. That means: actors, crew and location fees.
THE MISSION
This project is also sponsored by The Notice Foundation, Inc - which creates, develops and supports narratives centering perspectives and stories from marginalized communities.
Our movie is part of a larger project that includes a series of panel discussions on navigating the film industry and creative fields, to discussions about Afrofuturism as it relates to our world today.
Our Mission includes employing Black Women and BIPOC folx behind the camera. Not only will Willow employ an entirely Black principal cast, made up of mostly Black women, but all of our Department Heads will be Black Women as well.
STYLE OF THE FILM
The dress and style of “Willow” is intricately intertwined with world-building. Pins/brooches evolved into a subtle nod to social standing, while signifiers of “eaters” like gold adorned talons and fangs - demonstrate wealth and prestige.
Gold + Dark Skin is a beautiful combination, and I want this film to pay homage to that. Furthermore, I wanted to play with the shadows and the dark.
During the early start of my career, I’ve encountered so much prejudice against darker skinned subjects in film - including having a fellow crew member “joke” that the worst thing to light for is a Jamaican wedding (dark skin w/ bright colors). I, for one, have a Jamaican father. But what bothered me more, was that bright colors bounce more light than darker tones. It’s actually a great lighting situation - if you’re accustomed to people with darker skin.
I want “Willow” to add to the canon of films that seek to deconstruct that - NOT through centering Whiteness or oppression - but simply showing a better world, and a better sort of film.
THE TEAM
Paul A. Notice II | Director | Writer | Executive Producer
As a 2017 NY Emmy award-winning producer, with over 12 years of filmmaking and journalism; Paul A. Notice II has produced, directed or edited projects for a wide scale of artists including: Mykal Kilgore, Cedric Leiba Jr., J. Read, Melanie Charles, Taja Lindley, David Whitwell, Kendra Foster and Von Middleton.
Paul’s latest work, “Shaw Boyz” earned the 2019 ISA Bronze Award for Best New Web & Media and the Official Selection, while the music video Notice directed for Hip Hop artist J Read, “Everything,” earned them the 2019 Audio Shoot Unsigned Festival Award for Best Hip Hop Music Video. For more info, please contact them at Paul@TheNoticeBlog.com, or visit www.thenoticeblog.com to see more work.
Suswana Chowdhury | Producer | 1st AD
Suswana Chowdhury is a first generation Bengali-American born and raised in Queens, New York. A multimedia artist and journalist, Suswana works full time as a digital marketing video and audio producer where she manages high budget productions. Most recently, Suswana acted as the executive producer of an independent short film titled "Dawat" which is currently running on the film festival circuit. She is committed to serving her communities through her work, dedicating her time to develop projects particularly narrative films and documentaries that are reflective of the diverse world she has grown up in. Passionate in her belief that education is a human right, Suswana also actively fundraises to build sustainable and accessible education for girls in India with WE Charity.
Katrina Ann Reid | Producer | Production Manager
Katrina Reid is a dancer and performing artist based in New York, by way of Georgia. They collaborate with a range of artists, who explore performance at the center and edges of dance, theater, ritual, and film. Her work has been presented at Issue Project Room, Knockdown Center, the Current Sessions, AUNTS at NYU Skirball & Beach Sessions, BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Dance Chance Atlanta, Florida A&M University, and as a 2016-2017 Dancing While Black Fellow with Angela’s Pulse & BAX. Katrina has been a part of projects by NIC Kay, Phillip Howze, Emily Johnson, David Thomson, Okwui Okpokwasili and Peter Born, Jonathan González, Marguerite Hemmings, Megan Byrne, and Third Rail Projects, among others.
Pierre Jean Gonzalez | Producer | Acting Coach | Grip
Pierre Jean Gonzalez is a New York based actor, singer, and producer hailing from the Bronx, NY. Since a very young age Pierre has worked in many theatrical productions. Currently Playing Alexander Hamilton in the National North American Tour of Hamilton. Some favorite credits that have influenced Pierre include In The Heights and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. He has also appeared in episodes of NCIS:NOLA, Gotham, and P.O.S.E. Pierre received his BFA Acting Conservatory from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
WHY NOW?
I know we’re right in the middle of the holidays and a pandemic. I don’t like saying “but” because there is not “but.” So, I’ll just say: “YES, AND..” ..let’s not forget to still create and cherish Black stories. Because, if we don’t write our stories, someone else will?"
We witnessed Stacey Abrams deliver Georgia to the Democrats with her “Fair Fight 2020” initiative. We witnessed Black churches and seniors lead hand Biden the Democratic Primary in South Carolina. And we witnessed a Black Woman single-handedly turn the tides of the 2020 Presidential Debates with a simple reminder to an interrupting Vice President Pence, that she, “Still Speaking.”
And yet, this still is not nearly enough reflected in our movies. We need to see more images of Black Women in power. We need to depict them as the saviors they are in real life, on screen. We need to push the Overton Window further in how we see and appreciate Blackness. We need a film like “Willow.”
There’s a reckoning happening - and it’s not restricted to policies, but across all industries, including film. “Willow” is a reckoning with American-Born, Racialized Social Darwinism.
It’s taken me 7 years to get to this point, and with your contributions - we can make yet another iconic Black film. One that doesn’t just speak to where we are now, but is already deconstructing a path we could take in the future.
COVID-19 Safety Plan
We understand that we are in a global pandemic, and have currently planned for production to start in 2021. Pending any changes in COVID-19 prevention regulations, we will be implementing the following measures to ensure the safety of our cast and crew:
Mandatory 2-week quarantine before production.
We are following production guidelines in the state of New York.
We will be offering masks and gloves to everyone.
Limited cast and crew size.
Following the SAG-AFTRA regulations
Hiring a Health & Safety Officer
