Barry Jenks crilly acclaimed film, ‘Moonlight,’ sisteps stereotyp to tell a different kd of story about Black gay men.
Contents:
- ‘MOONLIGHT' IS NOT JT ANOTHER BLACK GAY MOVIE
- DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEEFILMMAKERS WHO VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK LGBT PEOPLE ARE OVERDUE FOR SER ATTENTN. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017/3:40 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}MOONLIGHT/A24BY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017 / 3:40 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DARNELL L. MOORE","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE FEW RECENT FILMS AS VISUALLY STUNNG AND HONT AS BARRY JENKS’S MOONLIGHT. THE FILM, BASED ON TARELL ALV MCCRANEY’S PLAY, IN MOONLIGHT BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE, IS A WORK SOME CRICS HAVE NARROWLY SCRIBED AS AN “LGBT FILM.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT MOONLIGHT IS MUCH MORE THAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FILM IS A CEMATIC MEDATN ON FAY, BOYHOOD, MANHOOD, TIMACY, IENDSHIP, BETRAYAL, FIVENS, HUMAN PLEXY, AND HOME, TOLD OM THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BLACK CHARACTERS NAVIGATG LIFE URBAN AMERI—CHARACTERS AND EXPERIENC OFTEN MISSG THE GENRE OF LGBT FILMS. AND THAT IS WHY I UTN THE BROAR, WHE, LGBT MUNY TO NOT BE SO QUICK TO CLAIM MOONLIGHT AS S OWN JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A NEW YORKER REVIEW, HILTON ALS SCRIBED TAIL THE MANY WAYS MOONLIGHT "UNDO OUR EXPECTATNS" OF BLACK REPRENTATN CEMA. BUT ALSO UNRAVELED THE EXPECTATNS OF WHE HOLLYWOOD AFTER THE ALL BLACK ST AND PRODUCTN TEAM WON AN OSR FOR BT PICTURE—ONLY AFTER THE SAME AWARD WAS MISTAKENLY HAND OVER TO THE MOSTLY WHE PRODUCTN TEAM AND ST OF LA LA LAND. THE GAFFE WAS AN IRONIC EXAMPLE OF THE WAYS EXCEPTNAL BLACK FILMS TEND TO BE OVERSHADOWED BY THOSE CENTERG ON WHE CHARACTERS—EVEN IF SUCH FILMS ARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE WATCHG THE AWARDS, I WASN’T EVEN STUNNED WHEN LA LA LAND WAS ANNOUNCED. ONLY A HANDFUL OF FILMS CENTERED ON BLACK PEOPLE’S LIV, DIRECTED BY BLACK PEOPLE, HAVE ACTUALLY WON BT PICTURE. I WAS MOST SURPRISED WHEN THE MISTAKE WAS CLARIFIED AND MOONLIGHT WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE REAL WNER.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED SUCCS IS E FOR LLECTIVE CELEBRATN. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN BLACK FILMMAKERS SPECIFILLY CREATE ART FOCED NOT ON THE HOLLYWOOD GAZE, BUT ON THE WORLDS OM WHICH BLACK PEOPLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT IS ALSO A REMR BLACK MEN WHO FALL LOVE WH OTHER BLACK MEN, LIKE THE TWO MA CHARACTERS MOONLIGHT, ARE NOT NECSARILY BT INTIFIED AS “GAY.” Y, THE FILM PICTS TWO BLACK BOYS-BEG-MEN DISVERG THEIR LOVE, BUT THEIR EXPRSNS OF TIMACY ARE NO QUEERER, NO MORE PROFOUNDLY LIBERATG, THAN THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF BETIFUL AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORK BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS CREATED, AND NOT JT THIS YEAR. BLACK FILMMAKERS WHOSE WORKS VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK PEOPLE—SOMETIM THROUGH CHARACTERS WHO INTIFY AS LGBT—ON THE BIG SCREEN OR THE INTER ARE OVERDUE FOR PUBLIC PRAISE. AND EVEN IF THE FILM DTRY AND PUBLIC REFE TO OFFER PRAISE, THE WORK OF THE FILMMAKERS IS NO LS BRAVE AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS TO BE TE AND HAVE SOUGHT TO “CREATE DANGEROLY,” AS HAIAN-AMERIN STORYTELLER EDWIDGE DANTIT ENURAG, SPE THE WAYS THE AMERIN FILMMAKG DTRY HAS LONG RISTED STORI CENTERED ON BLACKNS AND BLACK LGBT EXPERIENC.TONGU UNTIED/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FILMMAKERS CLUDG MARLON RIGGS, THE BLACK GAY CREATOR OF CELEBRATED DOCUMENTARI LIKE TONGU UNTIED (1989) AND BLACK IS... BLACK A’T (1994), AND BLACK LBIAN FILMMAKER CHERYL DUNYE, THE GENI BEHD THE CLASSIC THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1997), ARE ARTISTS WHOSE WORKS CRIQUED THE SHORTSIGHTEDNS OF MOST LGBT BLOCKBTER FILMS, WORKS WHICH TEND TO LACK BLACK REPRENTATN, S BEFORE MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED ACCLAIM. BUT THERE ARE OTHER FILMMAKERS AND FILMS THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DEE RE’ 2007 FILM, PARIAH, TELLS THE STORY OF BLACK TEENAGE LBIAN ALIKE (APERO ODUYE), GROWG UP AND DISVERG HER QUEERNS BROOKLYN’S FORT GREENE. CHARL B. BRACK’S 2008 DOCUMENTARY DREAM DEFERRED: THE SAKIA GUNN FILM PROJECT REVISS THE MURR OF A 15-YEAR OLD OM NEWARK AND THE RULTG URT BATTLE, AND SHEDS LIGHT ON WHAT MEANS TO LIVE LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK LBIAN NAVIGATG A WORLD WHERE HOMO-ANTAGONISM MIGHT LERALLY KILL.STUD LIFE/ NEW LIME REPUBLIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAMPBELL X’S 2012 FILM STUD LIFE ALSO TACKL THE PLEXY OF BLACK LBIAN LIV. AND THERE ARE OTHER FILMS THAT PEER TO BLACK GIRLHOOD, WOMANHOOD AND LBIAN EXPERIENC THE PUBLIC MT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DIRECTED BY DREAM HAMPTON 2015, THE DOCUMENTARY TREASURE: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRANS JTICE MAPPG A DETRO STORY, CHRONICL THE LIFE AND MURR OF SHELLY “TREASURE” HILLIARD, A 19-YEAR-OLD TRANS WOMAN OM DETRO. SEAN BAKER’S HILAR EDY TANGERE (2015) EXPLOR THE NER LIV OF TRANS WOMEN SEX WORKERS.STILL BLACK/BLACK STAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KORTNEY RYAN ZIEGLER’S GROUNDBREAKG DOCUMENTARY, STILL BLACK: A PORTRA OF BLACK TRANSMEN (2008), IS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ONLY FILM FOCED ON THE LIV OF BLACK TRANS MEN. AND JACQUELE GAR’ FREE CECE, WAS RELEASED 2016, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FILMS’ NAMAKE, CECE MCDONALD, A BLACK TRANS WOMAN OM MNEAPOLIS TOOK A PLEA AL FOR A SEND-GREE MANSLGHTER CHARGE RECEIVED FOR FENDG HERSELF AGAST A MAN WHO ATTACKED HER WHILE WALKG WH HER IENDS ON A PUBLIC STREET.THE SKNY/ SZYMON SAYZ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PATRIK IAN POLKS’ NOAH’S ARC: JUMPG THE BROOM (2008), THE SKNY (2012) AND BLACKBIRD (2014) OFFER NTEMPORARY TAK ON BLACK GAY LOVE AND IENDSHIPS, WHILE DARI CLARK MONROE’S SHORT "SLOW" (2011) ADDRS THE TERSECTNALY OF DISABILY, QUEERNS, AND BLACK LOVE. AND THE WEB SERI NO SHA (2015), IS A TEAR-DRIPPG EDY ABOUT BLACK LGBT LIFE NEW YORK OM CREATIVE AND ROMANTIC PARTNERS SEAN ANTHONY AND TERRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF FILMS CENTERED ON THE LIV OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND FUCK PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY SERVE MORE. FILMMAKERS N ONLY CREATE MORE WORKS, HOWEVER, IF THEY HAVE THE FANCIAL ROURC AND DTRY SUPPORT TO DO SO. MOONLIGHT WAS THE LOWT-BUDGET FILM TO EVER W THE OSR FOR BT PICTURE. WHILE THAT'S EVINCE OF BARRY JENKS’ ARTISTRY AND GENUY, 'S ALSO DITIVE OF A LARGER PROBLEM: AS LONG AS LIMED ROURC ARE DIRECTED TOWARD BLACK FILMS, AS LONG AS HOLLYWOOD . THKS SUCH FILMS WON'T REACH MASS DIENC, THE DTRY’S WHENS PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE FIXED.NO SHA/SLAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANK THE UNIVERSE, THOUGH, FOR THE GENI AND TENACY OF BLACK ARTISTS: NEXT MONTH, THE TORRGTONS ARE LNCHG SLAY TV, AN ONLE PLATFORM FOR ORIGAL NTENT—WEB SHOWS, MOVI, SHORTS, UNSCRIPTED SERI, DOCUMENTARI, MIC, AND MORE—FOCG ON QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR. AND THEY'RE NOT WAG FOR THE MASTREAM AND LGBT FILM DTRI TO GIVE THEIR BLSG. IT'S THAT KD OF DANGEROLY CREATIVE CISN THAT WILL PROPEL BLACK FILMMAKERS, CULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND DIENC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READY FOR THE WORKS. BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CREATE SPE LIMATNS. IT’S UP TO THE FILM DTRY AND THE LGBT FILM MARKET TO TCH UP, OR S BACK AND WATCH OM BEHD AS BLACK FILMMAKERS NTUE TO PH GREAT AND NECSARY ART TO THE ONT OF THE STAGE WHOUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
‘MOONLIGHT' IS NOT JT ANOTHER BLACK GAY MOVIE
* ebony gay film *
Two of the mentors have a romantic history, and one of them unwtgly gets assigned to a boy who is gay, prentg somethg of a plex dynamic as the ruals ntue at a remote mp. Paris Is Burng highlights the importance of chosen fai, as well as creativy and muny borne amid stggl wh poverty, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and accs to health re.
Two Mlim, gay, and closeted teenagers New York's Bed-Stuy neighborhood have a secret love affair that gets swept up amidst the surveillance of mosqu. This 2014 film follows a gay high schooler raised Hattiburg, Mississippi, as he rencil his sexualy and Christian fah, as well as a plex fay dynamic.
Jason Holliday is the tle subject of this 1967 documentary where the Black and gay baret performer, htler, and sex worker shar var tal om his life, eded down om a 12-hour terview. Throughout the film, Holliday sounds off on beg a Black, gay man durg the Civil Rights era, all while sually enjoyg drks, weed, and cigarett on mera.
DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEEFILMMAKERS WHO VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK LGBT PEOPLE ARE OVERDUE FOR SER ATTENTN. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017/3:40 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}MOONLIGHT/A24BY DARNELL L. MOOREAPRIL 20, 2017 / 3:40 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON’T STOP AT “MOONLIGHT”—THERE ARE OTHER BLACK QUEER MOVI TO SEE","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-04-20T19:40:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DARNELL L. MOORE","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE FEW RECENT FILMS AS VISUALLY STUNNG AND HONT AS BARRY JENKS’S MOONLIGHT. THE FILM, BASED ON TARELL ALV MCCRANEY’S PLAY, IN MOONLIGHT BLACK BOYS LOOK BLUE, IS A WORK SOME CRICS HAVE NARROWLY SCRIBED AS AN “LGBT FILM.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT MOONLIGHT IS MUCH MORE THAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FILM IS A CEMATIC MEDATN ON FAY, BOYHOOD, MANHOOD, TIMACY, IENDSHIP, BETRAYAL, FIVENS, HUMAN PLEXY, AND HOME, TOLD OM THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF BLACK CHARACTERS NAVIGATG LIFE URBAN AMERI—CHARACTERS AND EXPERIENC OFTEN MISSG THE GENRE OF LGBT FILMS. AND THAT IS WHY I UTN THE BROAR, WHE, LGBT MUNY TO NOT BE SO QUICK TO CLAIM MOONLIGHT AS S OWN JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A NEW YORKER REVIEW, HILTON ALS SCRIBED TAIL THE MANY WAYS MOONLIGHT "UNDO OUR EXPECTATNS" OF BLACK REPRENTATN CEMA. BUT ALSO UNRAVELED THE EXPECTATNS OF WHE HOLLYWOOD AFTER THE ALL BLACK ST AND PRODUCTN TEAM WON AN OSR FOR BT PICTURE—ONLY AFTER THE SAME AWARD WAS MISTAKENLY HAND OVER TO THE MOSTLY WHE PRODUCTN TEAM AND ST OF LA LA LAND. THE GAFFE WAS AN IRONIC EXAMPLE OF THE WAYS EXCEPTNAL BLACK FILMS TEND TO BE OVERSHADOWED BY THOSE CENTERG ON WHE CHARACTERS—EVEN IF SUCH FILMS ARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE WATCHG THE AWARDS, I WASN’T EVEN STUNNED WHEN LA LA LAND WAS ANNOUNCED. ONLY A HANDFUL OF FILMS CENTERED ON BLACK PEOPLE’S LIV, DIRECTED BY BLACK PEOPLE, HAVE ACTUALLY WON BT PICTURE. I WAS MOST SURPRISED WHEN THE MISTAKE WAS CLARIFIED AND MOONLIGHT WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE REAL WNER.GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED SUCCS IS E FOR LLECTIVE CELEBRATN. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN BLACK FILMMAKERS SPECIFILLY CREATE ART FOCED NOT ON THE HOLLYWOOD GAZE, BUT ON THE WORLDS OM WHICH BLACK PEOPLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT IS ALSO A REMR BLACK MEN WHO FALL LOVE WH OTHER BLACK MEN, LIKE THE TWO MA CHARACTERS MOONLIGHT, ARE NOT NECSARILY BT INTIFIED AS “GAY.” Y, THE FILM PICTS TWO BLACK BOYS-BEG-MEN DISVERG THEIR LOVE, BUT THEIR EXPRSNS OF TIMACY ARE NO QUEERER, NO MORE PROFOUNDLY LIBERATG, THAN THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOONLIGHT IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF BETIFUL AND TRANSFORMATIVE WORK BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS CREATED, AND NOT JT THIS YEAR. BLACK FILMMAKERS WHOSE WORKS VISUALIZE THE WORLDS AND LIVED EXPERIENC OF BLACK PEOPLE—SOMETIM THROUGH CHARACTERS WHO INTIFY AS LGBT—ON THE BIG SCREEN OR THE INTER ARE OVERDUE FOR PUBLIC PRAISE. AND EVEN IF THE FILM DTRY AND PUBLIC REFE TO OFFER PRAISE, THE WORK OF THE FILMMAKERS IS NO LS BRAVE AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THIS TO BE TE AND HAVE SOUGHT TO “CREATE DANGEROLY,” AS HAIAN-AMERIN STORYTELLER EDWIDGE DANTIT ENURAG, SPE THE WAYS THE AMERIN FILMMAKG DTRY HAS LONG RISTED STORI CENTERED ON BLACKNS AND BLACK LGBT EXPERIENC.TONGU UNTIED/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FILMMAKERS CLUDG MARLON RIGGS, THE BLACK GAY CREATOR OF CELEBRATED DOCUMENTARI LIKE TONGU UNTIED (1989) AND BLACK IS... BLACK A’T (1994), AND BLACK LBIAN FILMMAKER CHERYL DUNYE, THE GENI BEHD THE CLASSIC THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1997), ARE ARTISTS WHOSE WORKS CRIQUED THE SHORTSIGHTEDNS OF MOST LGBT BLOCKBTER FILMS, WORKS WHICH TEND TO LACK BLACK REPRENTATN, S BEFORE MOONLIGHT’S WELL-SERVED ACCLAIM. BUT THERE ARE OTHER FILMMAKERS AND FILMS THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DEE RE’ 2007 FILM, PARIAH, TELLS THE STORY OF BLACK TEENAGE LBIAN ALIKE (APERO ODUYE), GROWG UP AND DISVERG HER QUEERNS BROOKLYN’S FORT GREENE. CHARL B. BRACK’S 2008 DOCUMENTARY DREAM DEFERRED: THE SAKIA GUNN FILM PROJECT REVISS THE MURR OF A 15-YEAR OLD OM NEWARK AND THE RULTG URT BATTLE, AND SHEDS LIGHT ON WHAT MEANS TO LIVE LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK LBIAN NAVIGATG A WORLD WHERE HOMO-ANTAGONISM MIGHT LERALLY KILL.STUD LIFE/ NEW LIME REPUBLIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAMPBELL X’S 2012 FILM STUD LIFE ALSO TACKL THE PLEXY OF BLACK LBIAN LIV. AND THERE ARE OTHER FILMS THAT PEER TO BLACK GIRLHOOD, WOMANHOOD AND LBIAN EXPERIENC THE PUBLIC MT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DIRECTED BY DREAM HAMPTON 2015, THE DOCUMENTARY TREASURE: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRANS JTICE MAPPG A DETRO STORY, CHRONICL THE LIFE AND MURR OF SHELLY “TREASURE” HILLIARD, A 19-YEAR-OLD TRANS WOMAN OM DETRO. SEAN BAKER’S HILAR EDY TANGERE (2015) EXPLOR THE NER LIV OF TRANS WOMEN SEX WORKERS.STILL BLACK/BLACK STAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KORTNEY RYAN ZIEGLER’S GROUNDBREAKG DOCUMENTARY, STILL BLACK: A PORTRA OF BLACK TRANSMEN (2008), IS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ONLY FILM FOCED ON THE LIV OF BLACK TRANS MEN. AND JACQUELE GAR’ FREE CECE, WAS RELEASED 2016, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FILMS’ NAMAKE, CECE MCDONALD, A BLACK TRANS WOMAN OM MNEAPOLIS TOOK A PLEA AL FOR A SEND-GREE MANSLGHTER CHARGE RECEIVED FOR FENDG HERSELF AGAST A MAN WHO ATTACKED HER WHILE WALKG WH HER IENDS ON A PUBLIC STREET.THE SKNY/ SZYMON SAYZ {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PATRIK IAN POLKS’ NOAH’S ARC: JUMPG THE BROOM (2008), THE SKNY (2012) AND BLACKBIRD (2014) OFFER NTEMPORARY TAK ON BLACK GAY LOVE AND IENDSHIPS, WHILE DARI CLARK MONROE’S SHORT "SLOW" (2011) ADDRS THE TERSECTNALY OF DISABILY, QUEERNS, AND BLACK LOVE. AND THE WEB SERI NO SHA (2015), IS A TEAR-DRIPPG EDY ABOUT BLACK LGBT LIFE NEW YORK OM CREATIVE AND ROMANTIC PARTNERS SEAN ANTHONY AND TERRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF FILMS CENTERED ON THE LIV OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND FUCK PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY SERVE MORE. FILMMAKERS N ONLY CREATE MORE WORKS, HOWEVER, IF THEY HAVE THE FANCIAL ROURC AND DTRY SUPPORT TO DO SO. MOONLIGHT WAS THE LOWT-BUDGET FILM TO EVER W THE OSR FOR BT PICTURE. WHILE THAT'S EVINCE OF BARRY JENKS’ ARTISTRY AND GENUY, 'S ALSO DITIVE OF A LARGER PROBLEM: AS LONG AS LIMED ROURC ARE DIRECTED TOWARD BLACK FILMS, AS LONG AS HOLLYWOOD . THKS SUCH FILMS WON'T REACH MASS DIENC, THE DTRY’S WHENS PROBLEM WILL NEVER BE FIXED.NO SHA/SLAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THANK THE UNIVERSE, THOUGH, FOR THE GENI AND TENACY OF BLACK ARTISTS: NEXT MONTH, THE TORRGTONS ARE LNCHG SLAY TV, AN ONLE PLATFORM FOR ORIGAL NTENT—WEB SHOWS, MOVI, SHORTS, UNSCRIPTED SERI, DOCUMENTARI, MIC, AND MORE—FOCG ON QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR. AND THEY'RE NOT WAG FOR THE MASTREAM AND LGBT FILM DTRI TO GIVE THEIR BLSG. IT'S THAT KD OF DANGEROLY CREATIVE CISN THAT WILL PROPEL BLACK FILMMAKERS, CULTURAL PRODUCERS, AND DIENC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READY FOR THE WORKS. BLACK FILMMAKERS HAVE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CREATE SPE LIMATNS. IT’S UP TO THE FILM DTRY AND THE LGBT FILM MARKET TO TCH UP, OR S BACK AND WATCH OM BEHD AS BLACK FILMMAKERS NTUE TO PH GREAT AND NECSARY ART TO THE ONT OF THE STAGE WHOUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
In what would be Black gay documentarian Marlon Riggs' fal film, Black Is, Black A't illtrat how there's no sgular, monolhic way for people to be Black wh a muny that's diverse s own right. After his parents kick him out for beg gay, a young Black pater enters a homels shelter, where he meets an olr Black gay poet. After his boyiend di, a Black gay drag queen (Vg Rham) be iends wh a sgle mother and her dgther.
PUNKS, a 2000 film ma by Noah's Arc creator Patrik-Ian Polk, follows four Black gay men who are all close iends searchg for a fulfillg romantic relatnship.