In Post
Ain’t No Daisies: Women on the Plantation
Nothing about plantation life was simple. Power in all of its variables, vulnerabilities, betrayals, love, and sacrifice are all themes that played out on a daily basis.
From experts at Jamestown and the beginning of the planter class to the exploration of life and midwifery in North Carolina to the elite setting of Mt. Vernon, a visit to a colonial land grant property in what would become the state of Tennessee, the matriarchal Laura Plantation, and Whitney Plantation in Louisiana, Ain’t No Daisies – Women on the Plantation examines how the women on the plantation worked with the die they were cast in this system.
Ain’t No Daisies is slated for delivery to American Public Television presented by WCTE/PBS.
Friendship Flower
Each year, thousands of Japanese Cherry trees blossom all over the United States. Throngs of people gather at various cherry blossom festivals, including the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrating the arrival of Spring and experiencing an immersion into all things Japanese. Yet, most of them know nothing of the history of the arrival of the first trees and do not fully appreciate the significance of what they symbolize. The film will introduce the symbolism and significance of the Sakura season in Japan, along with how it is celebrated. It will then explore how the first trees came to be in Washington DC and the evolution of annual celebrations in the US, as well as the positive impact on community education about Japanese culture with a central focus on the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival. At a time when Asians are confronted with a new wave of xenophobia in the US and there is a tremendous focus on conflict, the Sakura trees serve as a reminder of how gently and naturally it is possible to fit into a landscape not of ones’ origin; and equally how beautiful the impact of something (or someone) from outside can be. The festivals represent a coming together of people from all walks to learn about, and to celebrate, Japanese culture. They are a place where all are welcome and a good blueprint for positive intercultural relations.
Slated to present to Worldtv (PBS streaming)
The Disappearing Rainbow
The rainbow has come to symbolize many things over time- luck, promise, Pride. But for many identifying as women during the terrifying regime of Hitler, the colors of the rainbow became identifiers of a different kind. They were from Poland, the Soviet Union, Germany, Austria, France, and a collection of many other countries, including the UK and even the United States. While it wasn’t illegal to be a lesbian or trans, they were persecuted by being falsely imprisoned based on other allegations. Colors were assigned in the form of triangles, according to the singular, or multiple, “offenses” of which they were accused. Black was the color ascribed to women who were prostitutes, non-Jewish women who were married to Jewish men, and Lesbians, or those considered “asocial”.
Shot on location in Europe and interviews with others in the US, The Disappearing Rainbow will explore how lesbians and trans were viewed and treated under the Nazi regime, give homage to all of those people who were persecuted, share some highlighted biographical moments, and visit the ongoing efforts to bring justice to the perpetrators who are still alive.
Without light, the bright, vibrant colors of equity disappear into a black hole.
In Development
With the Exception Of: Asian Americans and the Vote
In 1920, the 19th Amendment was codified into law. The Constitution of the United States now granted women the right to vote on a federal level. But for Asian expats, as well as naturally born Asian American citizens, this right would be prohibited for decades. With the Exception Of takes a look at the history of Asian immigration law and other means by which this Constitutional right was blocked.
Presenter Station: WCTE/PBS