mississippi damned press

Mississippi Damned screens at NewFest: The New York LGBT Film Festival on June 9th at 7:15pm. The screening will take place at The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Theater 2 located at 333 West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Check out the NewFest’s website for ticket information and details.

The Story:

Wanting to escape was the easy part. Taking place in 1986 and 1998 and based on a true story, three poor, Black kids in rural Mississippi reap the consequences of their family’s cycle of abuse, addiction, and violence. They independently struggle to escape their circumstances and must decide whether to confront what’s plagued their family for generations or succumb to the same crippling fate, forever damned in Mississippi. Bitterly honest and profoundly subtle, writer/director Tina Mabry successfully captures growing up in a world where possibilities and opportunities seem to die in the face of the suffocating reality of physical and sexual abuse, obsession, and a myriad of destructive compulsions.

Find out more about the film, watch the trailer, and sign up for updates at www.mississippidamned.com.

 

Spotlight on Bradford Young

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Bradford Young has lensed an impressive amount of independent shorts, features, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. Bradford received his BA and MFA from Howard University where he was the four-time winner of the prestigious Paul Robeson award for best cinematography. In 2002 Bradford was invited by IFP (Independent Feature Project) to participate in Project: Involve for his achievements in cinematography. Recently, Bradford wrapped on Black Sheep, White Lies (directed by James Spooner), which is his third feature as Director of Photography. Bradford has shot multiple music videos for several artists including Foo Fighters and he also recently shot a documentary with Alicia Keys in South Africa.

Q: What was working on Mississippi Damned like?

A: It was lots of fun and definitely a big challenge. When you have a 109-page script, 30 plus actors, emotional material, and only 22 days to shoot, it requires everyone to pull together to get the film done. Thankfully, there were great collaborations on all fronts, from working with Tina as the writer/director to the production designer, Aiyana Trotter to our producers, Morgan Stiff and Lee Stiff. Everyone across the board and in all departments were dedicated to making the film the best it could possibly be. That is a great environment to be in, one where you know everyone is working toward the same goal and is using their particular skill or craft to make the end product the best it can be. In the end, working on Mississippi Damned was a rite of passage for me.

Q: How was the visual style for Mississippi Damned developed?
A: Tina and I spent a lot of time discussing how we wanted the film to look and feel. Early on in the process we visited our actual locations to start brainstorming and developing an overall look. We decided early on that the story lent itself to a documentary approach. We knew that would help create the visceral feel the story needed. I often used and sought out available lighting and a majority of the film is handheld camerawork. Photographs by Birney Imes and films like 21 Grams became templates for the style we were trying to achieve.

Q: What lead you into cinematography? What would you say to aspiring Cinematographers?

A: I started off as a still photographer, then moved to shooting documentaries and then starting shooting films. My advice would be to be yourself. The best tool for being a good cinematographer is knowing who you are and where you come from because that influences everything, the way you see light and frames. Know thyself!

Q: What are you currently working on?
A:I am shooting a short with Caran Hartsfield titled Even So. I am also in Pre-production for the feature film version of Pariah directed by Dee Rees and Mosquita Y Mari directed by Aurora Guerrero.
 

Bradford will be in attendance at the June 9th screening in New York City along with cast members Chasity Hammitte, Jossie Thacker and Selassie Singh. Writer/Director Tina Mabry and Producer/Editor Morgan Stiff will be also be there.

The most exciting surprise of the festival so far has been this rich and unblinking look at an impoverished family’s struggles in the modern day South.  Shot with a casual beauty courtesy of cinematographer Bradford Young, Mississippi Damned concentrates on the sensitive younger daughter Kari (played by both Kylee Russell & Tessa Thompson) who observes her extended family as they deal with deep-cycle poverty and the stresses that it brings to all parts of their lives.  The film is busting with incident but the story isn’t what is most important here, it is what first-time director Tina Mabry sees that makes this riveting ensemble film one of the most original American debuts I’ve seen in some time.  Film has a way of defining people by their actions, Mabry’s intelligence and eye for detail shows an understanding of how community, landscape and politics shape and define its characters.  And how time molds its wounded survivors as well, as Mabry’s deceptively well-structured script jumps ahead from 1986 to 1998, letting us see how its characters are changed over time by momentary decisions made long ago.  Shot without a syrupy score to direct your emotions, the documentary feel of this film left me surprised to see that its cast is drawn from long-working actors with wide-ranging credits; I’d been guessing that Mabry was working with non-professionals portraying folks much like themselves.  Nope, it just part of the invisible artistry that gives Mississippi Damned the appearance of being the first rustling of a major new American filmaker.

~Dan Buskirk, Philadelphia’s Phawker Blog

This lusciously photographed period piece, set in a lower class southern community in 1986 and 1998, showcases writer-director Tina Mabry’s ability to handle the complexities of an ensemble drama with her very first feature. An impoverished black family (including David Malcolm Kelley, who plays Walt on ABC’s “Lost”) cope with dreams of greater ambitions. Whether confronting sexual tensions (in one case, a latent homosexual relationship) or monetary woes, the characters in “Mississippi Damned” represent the voice of a discontented people, which comes through loud and clear.

~indieWIRE


Mississippi Damned: “The Color Purple” meets “Bastard Out of Carolina”. It deals honestly with situations that most people don’t want to deal with. It shows that LOVE truly covers a multitude of sins no matter what. This movie is a must see. It should go to theaters nationwide. It educates people to LOVE instead of judge.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival


This movie is a brilliant piece of film making. It captures all the harsh realities without sugarcoating anything. While at times this film seems like it could be simply a gray, dreary, depressing ride into a sad reality, every moment of pain and anguish is tinged with a glimmer of hope and determination, which shows in every single one of the amazing characters and the actors who portray them. Overall this may be one of the best ensemble casts ever put together, I can’t wait to tell everyone I know about this film.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival

The moment the film began, my heart began to pause. Creatively shot, tightly woven, partly disturbing and reality for so many people. The acting was incredible; each actor delivered so much depth to the characters. We all are the sum of our life’s experiences and this film reminds us of that reality. Don’t judge someone’s journey, just applaud their bravery.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival

One of the edgiest, raw, intense movies I’ve seen in a while. Great character portrayals, especially the actress that played Charlie. Whoever did the cinematography hit a home run. I think that most people can relate to things that are said in this film. Great film! Thanks for bringing it to the ATL.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival.

FEEDBACK:  The most exciting surprise of the festival so far has been this rich and unblinking look at an impoverished family’s struggles in the modern day South.  Shot with a casual beauty courtesy of cinematographer Bradford Young, Mississippi Damned concentrates on the sensitive younger daughter Kari (played by both Kylee Russell & Tessa Thompson) who observes her extended family as they deal with deep-cycle poverty and the stresses that it brings to all parts of their lives.  The film is busting with incident but the story isn’t what is most important here, it is what first-time director Tina Mabry sees that makes this riveting ensemble film one of the most original American debuts I’ve seen in some time.  Film has a way of defining people by their actions, Mabry’s intelligence and eye for detail shows an understanding of how community, landscape and politics shape and define its characters.  And how time molds its wounded survivors as well, as Mabry’s deceptively well-structured script jumps ahead from 1986 to 1998, letting us see how its characters are changed over time by momentary decisions made long ago.  Shot without a syrupy score to direct your emotions, the documentary feel of this film left me surprised to see that its cast is drawn from long-working actors with wide-ranging credits; I’d been guessing that Mabry was working with non-professionals portraying folks much like themselves.  Nope, it just part of the invisible artistry that gives Mississippi Damned the appearance of being the first rustling of a major new American filmaker.

~Dan Buskirk, Philadelphia’s Phawker Blog

This lusciously photographed period piece, set in a lower class southern community in 1986 and 1998, showcases writer-director Tina Mabry’s ability to handle the complexities of an ensemble drama with her very first feature. An impoverished black family (including David Malcolm Kelley, who plays Walt on ABC’s “Lost”) cope with dreams of greater ambitions. Whether confronting sexual tensions (in one case, a latent homosexual relationship) or monetary woes, the characters in “Mississippi Damned” represent the voice of a discontented people, which comes through loud and clear.

~indieWIRE

 

 


Mississippi Damned: “The Color Purple” meets “Bastard Out of Carolina”. It deals honestly with situations that most people don’t want to deal with. It shows that LOVE truly covers a multitude of sins no matter what. This movie is a must see. It should go to theaters nationwide. It educates people to LOVE instead of judge.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival


This movie is a brilliant piece of film making. It captures all the harsh realities without sugarcoating anything. While at times this film seems like it could be simply a gray, dreary, depressing ride into a sad reality, every moment of pain and anguish is tinged with a glimmer of hope and determination, which shows in every single one of the amazing characters and the actors who portray them. Overall this may be one of the best ensemble casts ever put together, I can’t wait to tell everyone I know about this film.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival

The moment the film began, my heart began to pause. Creatively shot, tightly woven, partly disturbing and reality for so many people. The acting was incredible; each actor delivered so much depth to the characters. We all are the sum of our life’s experiences and this film reminds us of that reality. Don’t judge someone’s journey, just applaud their bravery.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival

One of the edgiest, raw, intense movies I’ve seen in a while. Great character portrayals, especially the actress that played Charlie. Whoever did the cinematography hit a home run. I think that most people can relate to things that are said in this film. Great film! Thanks for bringing it to the ATL.

    ~Audience member ATL film festival.
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