Directors Abdi Ibrahim and Jonathan Salmon have released Who Am I, a short initiative film that is an unapologetic ode to the relationship between Black life and the art it creates. The film serves as a visual poem highlighting over 40 Black Seattle artists of all disciplines, ages, complexions and backgrounds in their environments as they recite a poem about the authenticity of their craft.
Who Am I is a call to action to fund two Black-led grassroots organizations in Seattle (Choose180 and Creative Justice) dedicated to restructuring the youth incarceration system in the county.
Ibrahim and Salmon felt a shift in their responsibility as artists to their community back on June 1. After the tragic death of George Floyd, Ibrahim and Salmon joined thousands in Downtown Seattle to protest against police brutality and systemic racism in Black and Brown communities in Seattle. As they protested on this day, Police began to shove, pepper spray, gas and shoot rubber bullets at Ibrahim and Salmon, among thousands of others. This experience left the directors scared, angry and determined to do more as artists and spawned the creation of Who Am I.
The film is the centerpiece of a social media campaign designed to raise awareness for each Black artist and creative involved as well as to generate the most funds for the donation campaign.
Credits
Production/Creative Abdi Ibrahim, Jonathan Salmon, directors; Randi Cerf, producer; Akunna Amaefule, Devonnie Black, William Dutcher, writers; Justin Jeffers, DP; Mitchell Overton, 1st assistant camera; Keegan Ellington, production sound. Editorial Niles Howard, editor. Music Sango, composer. Postproduction Dimitri Zola, colorist. Audio Post Jeff Malen, postproduction sound. Featured Artists (all from the Greater Seattle area) Abdi Ibrahim, Akunna Amaefule, Aramis Johnson, Ari Glass, Bakari Hayes, BigFaceRay, Bruce LeRoy, C Malo, Campana, Carlisa Williams, Darien Muongvang, Devlin Dinish, Edouardo Jordan, G Baby, Hanan Hassan, Himi Martin, JD Rainey, Jada Washington, Jak Knight, Jordan Nicholson, Jordan McLin, Justin Jeffers, Keegan Ellington, Khris P, Kianna Lewis, Liv, Meron Menghistab, Neveah Thompson, Nyles Davis, Perri Rhoden, Perry Paints, RaNiyah Cooper, Rell Be Free, Remix Young, Sango, Shotta Pistol, Sol, Taylor Fester, TiQuida Spillman, Tiffany Hammonds, Ugly Frank, Umi Wagone, Upe Moore, William Dutcher, YiZjuani Waston
For World Cancer Day (Feb. 4), Gustave Roussy, a treatment center in France ranked number one in Europe and number four in the world in the fight against cancer, is once again speaking out through film. “Lucie” retraces the life of a young woman, from her birth, her joys, her encounters and her trials, in particular the illnesses she faced or may have faced (if not vaccinated) during her life but which did not kill her thanks to advances in science and medicine, including the discovery of her rare cancer at the age of 36.
Conceived by Publicis Conseil and directed by Jaco Van Dormael via production company Hamlet, “Lucie” takes the gamble of using almost exclusively scientific images to tell this story (scanners, MRIs, microscopes, 3D). It highlights the beauty of these images beyond their raw meaning, the poetry that can emerge from them to pay tribute to all the researchers, doctors and specialists who over the centuries have transformed what were once serious illnesses into benign ones, saving many lives in the process. Like most of us, Lucie lives her life without even thinking about all the times when science and medicine have enabled her to go on living.
“In a world where cancer affects one person in two and more and more young adults, we want to show that the disease is a stage in life from which the majority of sufferers are now recovering, thanks to scientific progress. Lucie’s story is the story of thousands of patients. This film makes Gustave Roussy, its doctors, researchers and professionals part of the history of major scientific advances,” said Professor Fabrice Barlesi, CEO of Gustave Roussy.
