The directing duo of Pat Heywood and Jamil McGinnis rolled out this short film created for the seventh season of Motionpoems, a nonprofit that turns poetry into film. The short is an adaptation of the poem “Things I Carry Into the World” by Cynthia Manick. It’s an abstract meditation on the body, the feminine, the everyday realities of being young and black, and the fragility between the manmade and the natural. Heywood and McGinnis worked with a nonprofit, Urban Word NYC, who connected them with four poets: Esther Aloba, Nkosi Nkululeko, Makayla Posely, and Trace DePass. The scenes featuring these poets are actually adaptations of their own poems, heard briefly in the opening scene.
Different companies–including The Mill, Cosmo Street, Sonic Union, Heard City and Smuggler–were involved in helping to make the project happen.
McGinnis is an associate producer at Droga5 while Heywood is a coordinator at Smuggler. The two met when they briefly worked at Saatchi & Saatchi and eventually came together as a new directing team.
Heywood and McGinnis ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund the project which made its online premiere on NOWNESS.
Credits
Production Jamil McGinnis, Pat Heywood, directors; Claire McGirr, producer; Frances Chen, DP; Todd Boss, Egg Creative, Carolyn Casey, exec producers; Jessica Miller, Tiffanie Young, assistant directors; Armaan Virani, first assistant camera; Patrick Morgan, Denny Kortze, Steadicam; Chandler Tucker, Manny Munoz, DIT; Adrian Anaya, grip & electric; Kearah Armonie, Will Chambers, Jacob Pirogovsky, Darcie Reisler, Jay Robinson, production assistants. Casting Safiya Martinez Connell Adam Falkner, Shannon Matesky. Story Esther Aloba,Trace DePass, Pat Heywood, Jamil McGinnis, Nkosi Nkululeko, Makayla Posely Editorial Cosmo Street Editorial Mark Potter, editor; Anne Lai, producer. Post The Mill Mikey Rossiter, colorist; Evan Bauer, Jacqueine Sands, producers; Mario Stipinovich, Laura Nash, title design; Kieran Hanrahan, 2D lead. Music Squeak E. Clean Rob Barbato, Matthew Compton, composers; Christine Bilich, producer. Audio Heard City Tom Morris, sound engineer. Sonic Union Paul Weiss, sound mixer; Pat Sullivan, producer. Voiceover Talent Aliah Mourad
Johnnie Walker wraps up the year with an inspiring campaign that is a direct and bold response to those who would question the strength of women. Created by AlmapBBDO in São Paulo, Brazil, this anthem film--“Forte São Elas” (“Strong are the Women”) starring actress Alice Braga--references one of the most iconic productions in the brand’s history worldwide:”The Man Who Walked Around The World.”
Produced by Surreal Hotel Arts, directed by Lu Villaça, and featuring an original soundtrack by Cabaret Studio, “Forte São Elas” shows Braga walking as she describes how strength plays an essential role in the daily life of every woman. Whether facing stereotypes or countless other barriers, women are the masters of their own choices and stay true to their journeys.
“The campaign recognizes the emotional strength and resilience of every woman who faces and overcomes obstacles every day, and boldly challenges outdated stereotypes. And when they say that whisky is too strong for women, we will tell them: it’s the women who are strong,” said Andrea Rubim, head of marketing for Johnnie Walker.
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