There is no shortages of filmmakers in this community who are participating in what can only be called a golden age for local film.
Just attend any one of the many events in our city, from awards shows to film society special screenings to even film festivals, and you will quickly see what I mean. This city is beautifully reflected in the flickering glow of so many films being created here.
Joining the ranks of films being created locally is a new documentary “Rhythm and Race: A History of African American Music in Grand Rapids.”
Produced with the guidance of the
West Michigan Center for Technology and Arts (WMCAT) Advanced Video Production Studio’s Teaching Artist and Film Director Mike Saunders, along with Founder of the
Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA) and Archives George Bayard, this student-created film is nearly ready for its final cut.
But lucky for you, on Thursday night you are invited to attend a special screening of this made-in-Grand Rapids documentary at the Wealthy Theatre.
This new documentary seeks to present to a modern audience how the many different local musicians and music genres of our city influenced our vision of social justice, advanced equity for African Americans, and how the art form of music provided a fitting platform for shining a light on the injustices and racism many were experiencing here in post-World War II up to the 1970s.
Because of the student’s unprecedented access to the GRAAMA permanent archive collection, “Rhythm and Race” will allow us to look back at this time via vintage photos and even rarer recordings, from area musicians and historians.
This is a great opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of our city and the long road many have travelled to get to the city we are experiencing now today. Don’t miss your chance to see a work of art that is sure to resonate within you long after the credits have finished rolling.