Labels:

Melina Matsoukas, Beyoncé's "Formation" and Why Black Cinema Needs A Terrence Malick

Beyoncé's "Formation" is a relevant example of everything I'd like to see happen in the ranks of black cinematography

I've had several conversations about how indie black filmmakers should be she studying Beyoncé and Rihanna's music videos for technical purposes, to learn from their craft and visual artistry. Whether you like their music or not is irrelevant, their music videos are ground-breaking, and offer great lessons in lighting black skin, and framing a "wow" shot. 

Bradford Young
has become a master of cinematography, and he is at the heart of the Subtle Core movement. His repeat collaborations with Andrew Dosunmu and Ava DuVernay have yielded stellar visual achievements. Selma, and Restless City are beautifully shot. Gorgeous works of art, that offer visual beauty with character and story depth.


We need more black filmmakers and cinematographers to become rising stars in Hollywood. For their visuals: cinematography. 

Steve McQueen. Amma Asante. Gina Prince-Bythewood. Dee Rees. Justin Simien. And many others are out there crafting these kind of visually stunning masterpieces. But we need more filmmakers. More opportunities. More chances for black art to shine... Which brings me back to Beyoncé's "Formation." This music video has the kind of potent images, stylization, and cultural impact that black cinema needs more of. 


Melina Matsoukas has become a music video auteur with Beyoncé's "Formation" and Rihanna's "We Found Love." She orchestrates these weird, and wild, visual concepts that "wow" us with her visual style and artistry. And that's what black cinema needs... Stunning scenes that illustrate deep focus, and deep staging, breath-taking shots that fill the frame in wonderfully original ways. Black cinematography needs a Days of Heaven, a Terrence Malick kind of grand entrance. The kind where the cinematography takes the forefront. Where the cinematography is a character of its own, where the cinematography "steals the show" and gets the bulk of the spotlight and is at the center of all the write-ups and articles.

It's happening. Slowly. We need more films like Middle of Nowhere, Belle12 Years A Slave, and Bessie. I've heard great things about Nate Parker's The Birth of A Nation. It is happening. Black filmmakers are elevating, and excelling in cinematography. I want Hollywood to get to the point where black filmmakers get the same kind of financial backing, and creative freedom to craft weirdly artsy films like The Tree of Life with A-List talent who agree to a project without seeing the script and just go-with-the flow because "hey, it's Terrence Malick." Black cinema needs that. Hollywood needs that. It could produce some amazing films. 


9 comments:

gajjju said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
-JSJ said...

Agreed, artistry speaks in ways that can not easily or consistently be shut out. For centuries we've struggled to have voice, now that we're finally starting to express it, we have to sing like only we can.
Jason Scott Jones

Tieuel Legacy said...

Interesting viewpoint. I believe that people often sacrifice story and lighting to get a project out. Cinematography often goes right behind those. More focus on each will spell more opportunities aceoss the board. Those people named here have done great jobs. Plus there are more in the last several years alone. Tanya Hamilton comes to mind right away. Mateen Kemet has done nice work in shorts out of Oakland.

Karen said...

@Tieuel Tanya Hamilton is one of my faves. I have to check out Mateen Kemet.

chenlina said...

chenlina20160325
hollister kids
michael kors outlet
designer handbags
coach outlet
coach outlet store online
abercrombie clothing
christian louboutin sale
michael kors handbags
hollister clothing
hollister jeans
mcm handbags
cheap jerseys
ralph lauren outlet
abercrombie & fitch
louis vuitton
oakley sunglasses
montblanc pens
jordan 3 retro
toms outlet
louis vuitton outlet
giuseppe zanotti
coach outlet store online
cheap oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet
jordan 3s
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton
air jordan femme
coach factory outlet online
coach factory outlet
adidas superstars
tod's shoes
louis vuitton
michael kors outlet online sale
oakley sunglasses
louis vuitton outlet stores
louis vuitton purses
coach outlet
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors bags
as

chenlina said...

chenlina20160513
louis vuitton
michael kors handbags
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses
louis vuitton
nike air force 1
air jordans
coach factory outlet
coach outlet store online
ray ban sunglasses
abercrombie and fitch new york
ralph lauren
nfl jerseys wholesale
coach outlet store online
adidas nmd
louis vuitton handbags
jeremy scott shoes
jordan 13
tod's shoes
adidas superstar
true religion outlet
lebron james shoes 13
jordan 8
kobe 11
michael kors outlet
timberland boots
michael kors outlet
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors handbags
louis vuitton outlet
nike roshe run women
toms shoes
nike air max
adidas originals
nike trainers men
christian louboutin outlet
nike roshe runs
nike trainers
hollister clothing
coach outlet store online
as

raybanoutlet001 said...

longchamps
houston texans jerseys
hugo boss
oakland raiders jerseys
nike air huarache
nike huarache trainers
versace shoes
versace
new york jets jerseys
michael kors handbags outlet

Unknown said...

louis vuitton outlet online
lululemon outlet
ferragamo shoes
canada goose jackets
nba jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet
rolex watches,rolex watches,swiss watches,watches for men,watches for women,omega watches,replica watches,rolex watches for sale,rolex replica,rolex watch,cartier watches,rolex submariner,fake rolex,rolex replica watches,replica rolex
michael kors handbags
gucci borse
20170208lck

ujoyjulia said...

Cracks.live
Download latest cracks of mac & pc softwares. You can get full versions of latest games, softwares, applications and many tools. 4K Video Downloader With Activation Code Free Download