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    The Sleeping Negro Film and Filmmaker Come to Gateway Film Center

    Why did filmmaker Skinner Myers choose to make The Sleeping Negro independently, on film, for $40,000?

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    “You can’t make radical cinema through the Hollywood system,” he says. “It’s an oxymoron. You can’t do it.”

    The writer/director’s first narrative feature, The Sleeping Negro has garnered festival accolades and international attention. And now it’s coming to CBUS.

    “The film’s been on our radar for more than a year,” says Chris Hamel, president and programmer at Gateway Film Center. “I think it premiered at Slamdance in 2021 and there was immediately buzz. Obviously, we didn’t get to go to Slamdance in 2021 because there were no in-person screenings. But we made point to check it out and thought it was a really great film. When we were finally able to secure a Columbus date, we reached out to invite the filmmaker and he will be able to make it. So, we’ll have him in person to talk about his first feature film.”

    The Sleeping Negro screens at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 21, to begin its run at the film center. For its Columbus premiere, Myers joins Sydnee Roberts-Crews of Black Ohio Film Group for a post-screening Q&A. 

    According to Myers, the film is, “a surreal drama that mixes essay film style filmmaking with chamber drama but focuses on the interior struggle that a Black person goes through day to day.”

    Is it autobiographical?

    “Oh, yes,” he says. “I would say it’s 100% biopic.”

    And though critics and film festivals have loved his film, it’s sparked some controversy among audience members.

    “You either like it or don’t,” Myers says. “Most people love the movie. A lot of people hate the movie. They hate the message, hate the politics in the film, which is fine. I would rather that than neutrality.”

    Other people hate the structure, he says. 

    “In Paris, we had a woman follow my DP into the bathroom just to say, ‘I hate the movie so much.’ Which is fine. She had a reaction,” Myers says. “She’ll talk about the movie, which is what I want. Experimenting means trying to create something new, different – most people don’t want different. That’s a problem, but that’s a problem with a lot of art forms.”

    Myers says he isn’t making art with the goal of pleasing the masses.

    “I feel that all art forms should be used for the act of liberation for the struggle because a lot of people aren’t free,” he says. “What are we actually doing with our gifts to change the social fabric of the world? Is the art made for right now or is it made for longevity? I’m not trying to take on current trends. I’m not trying to audition for a Marvel movie.”

    And even with the limited money Myers works with, he chooses to make his movies with film.

    “It forces me to be purposeful. It forces me to experiment with form. Form is very important to me. Without it I wouldn’t know how to make movies. There would be way too many options,” he says. “I’m in love with film.”

    Fall in love with Myers’s film The Sleeping Negro this Friday, January 21, at 7 p.m.

    For additional information, visit gatewayfilmcenter.org.

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    Hope Madden
    Hope Maddenhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Hope Madden is a freelance contributor on Columbus Underground who covers the independent film scene, writes film reviews and previews film events.
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