Frame By Frame

About Frame By Frame

Frame by Frame is a limited audio series of keynote conversations with scholars and filmmakers who visited the Black Film Center & Archive at Indiana University between 2018 and early 2020. Conducted by former BFCA director Dr. Terri Francis, these discussions retrace the interviewees' paths to their professions as they explore the lesser-known aspects of their published work. The series’ title pays homage to the BFCA's founding director Dr. Phyllis Klotman's book Frame by Frame, which is 700-page compendium of around 3,000 international films involving Black artists between 1900 and 1977.

Publisher

Black Film Center & Archive

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Dec 2021

Latest episode

7 Jan 2022

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Jan 2022

   Frame By Frame: Episode 5 - Numa Perrier

   When did sex become so serious? Artist and filmmaker Numa Perrier asks this question not because she doesn’t know the answer, but because she wants to engage in the power of the erotic to encompass a fuller human experience, with not only a seriousness of vision but also intentional and inherent playfulness. Her first feature-length film, Jezebel, premiered last year at SXSW to glowing reviews after developing the script through the Tribeca Film Institute’s Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program. Shot in just 10 days, her semi-autobiographical film follows 19-year-old Tiffany as she starts to work as a cam girl. Perrier joined Dr. Terri Francis in the studio during her campus visit for the film series Numa Perrier: The Politics of Pleasure in September of 2019, to discuss Perrier’s early artistic beginnings, the legitimacy of sex work as work, Audre Lorde, (https://deadline.com/2021/12/numa-perrier-produce-star-in-audre-lorde-biopic-the-erotic-1234887794/) Paris, and how art is borne out of memory and lived experiences. Topics Discussed: 0:00-8:10 – Introductions with a reading from Audre Lorde’s essay, “Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power” and a trailer for Numa’s Perrier's Jezebel 8:10-11:20 – “When did sex become so serious?” and reclaiming the playfulness and intimacy of sex. 11:30-15:45 - "anti-artistic upbringing", her history in the adoptive care system, and coming into herself as an artist. 15:55-27:45 - Relationship with adoptive mother, questioning her own femininity, processing grief through her art, reconnecting with her sister through filmmaking, and being artistically vulnerable. 28:00-32:40 - Life in Paris, Louise Bourgeoise, and Nicola L. 32:40-39:30 - Early Internet, life as sex worker, and the pornography tech boom, criminalization of digital sex work. 39:50-45:10 - Conversation on Spike Lee and Suzan Lori Park’s Girl 6 and how it relates to her experience as a sex worker. Audre Lorde and her quote “The power you are not using, is being used against you” and how it relates to her own firsthand experiences. 45:10-54:25 - The shifting climate in the film industry for black women, Black and Sexy TV, her own independent path as a creative, mentorship, the commitment to writing Jezebel, the fear of standing behind her own branding. 54:50-1:04:40 - Jezebel, the zero tolerance and transgressive attitude amongst her and her peers breaking into mainstream institutions and supporting each other and “fucking it up”. Frame By Frame is hosted by Dr. Terri Francis Theme music provided by BRZ with additional music from André Seewood and Deija Lighon Production by David Carter, Deonna Weatherly and Bria McCarty Notes and episode descriptions were written by Yeeseon Chae with additional assistance from David Carter The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Black Film Center & Archive audio series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Trustees of Indiana University ("IU") and/or its employees. IU is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the content contained in this podcast. This podcast and its content are available for private, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, display, distribute, modify, or perform any of the content contained in this blog without the prior express written approval of the Black Film Center & and Archive.”

2. 

   31 Dec 2021

   Frame By Frame: Episode 3 - Jessie Maple

   Jessie Maple, the first Black woman to join the International Photographers of Motion Picture & Television Union, talked about her career with Dr. Terri Francis in January of 2020 during her campus visit. Her 1989 film Twice as Nice, which screened at the IULMIA, follows twins Caren and Camilla Parker, both star players on a college women’s basketball team energized by the prospect of a first female pick in the upcoming “MBA” draft. The film was restored at the BFC/A with support from the National Film Preservation Foundation. In this podcast episode, Jessie Maple talks about how she broke through the racist and sexist barriers early in her career, and her life philosophy on taking deep breaths and big risks. Topics Discussed: 0:00-5:02 Introductions 5:20-9:35 The Importance of Jessie joining the union as a black woman, knowing your craft. 9:50-12:30 Being independent, her past in the medical profession, having confidence in yourself. 12:30-16:45 The “Maple Philosophy”, doing what she can with what she has, being independent (cont.) 16:46-20:02 Legacy and final remarks Frame By Frame is hosted by Dr. Terri Francis Theme music provided by BRZ with additional music from André Seewood and Deija Lighon Production by David Carter, Deonna Weatherly and Bria McCarty Notes and episode descriptions were written by Yeeseon Chae with additional assistance from David Carter The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Black Film Center & Archive audio series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Trustees of Indiana University ("IU") and/or its employees. IU is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the content contained in this podcast. This podcast and its content are available for private, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, display, distribute, modify, or perform any of the content contained in this blog without the prior express written approval of the Black Film Center & and Archive.”

3. 

   31 Dec 2021

   Frame By Frame: Episode 4 - Philana Payton

   NASA defines a supernova as “the last hurrah” of a dying star. But what do supernovas and Black leading women in Hollywood have in common? That’s what Philana Payton, doctoral candidate for Cinema and Media Studies at USC is searching to answer in her dissertation, “Celestial Bodies: Black Women, Hollywood, and the Fallacy of Stardom.” Payton visited the IU campus this past February to present Claudine during the ‘Love! I’m in Love!’ film series. Payton was awarded the 2nd Annual Graduate Student Writing Prize from the SCMS Black Caucus for her essay, "Claudine, The Original Welfare Queen: Diahann Carroll and the Disruption of Respectability." Here, Payton talks about her dissertation work in detailing out the similarities in timelines of stars Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, Dorothy Dandridge, and Whitney Houston. Payton discusses how the stark lack of structure and support built for black women performers in Hollywood led to an internal implosion and how their stardom contrasted with those of white stars. Building onto the discussion of star theory, Payton elaborates on how past Black women performers of Hollywood have shined brighter than the rest but ultimately died out too early. Topics Discussed: 0:00-4:00 – Introductions, including clip from Julie Dash’s classic, Daughters of the Dust 4:00-11:15 - Introductions including astrology charts and the lived inspiration of feeling closer to the moon in L.A. 11:20-16:50 - Growing up in Atlanta, being an athlete, an early appreciation of art, and Whitney Huston 16:50-21:50 - Starting out in film scholarship and first readings of Bell Hooks 19:45-52:00 - In-depth discussion of dissertation beginning from how Payton first identified seeing Whitney Houston's story, with Lena Horne and Eartha Kitt as precursors. Being a black woman academic. 53:05-1:06:00 - Beyond the supernova and how Payton envisions her work extending beyond to care for present and future generations of cultural and even academic icons, discussing current icons Beyoncé, Halle Berry, and Angela Bassett. 1:05:45-1:16:32 - The impact of Diahann Carroll's performance in Claudine and how the film portrays the U.S. structure of racism and poverty. Frame By Frame is hosted by Dr. Terri Francis Theme music provided by BRZ with additional music from André Seewood and Deija Lighon Production by David Carter, Deonna Weatherly and Bria McCarty Notes and episode descriptions were written by Yeeseon Chae with additional assistance from David Carter The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Black Film Center & Archive audio series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Trustees of Indiana University ("IU") and/or its employees. IU is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the content contained in this podcast. This podcast and its content are available for private, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, display, distribute, modify, or perform any of the content contained in this blog without the prior express written approval of the Black Film Center & and Archive.”

4. 

   24 Dec 2021

   Frame By Frame: Episode 2 - Esther Figueroa

   Jamaican filmmaker Esther Figueroa visited the BFC/A in the Spring of 2019. The visit was a part of the program, ‘Black Sun White Moon: Exploring Black Cinematic Imaginations of Space.’ The film series included Fly Me to the Moon, Figueroa’s feature-length documentary about the natural material of bauxite in the Caribbean that have been mined as an essential component of advanced space travel. Esther Figueroa and Dr. Terri Francis have a wide-ranging conversation here about Figueroa’s beginnings in film, exploring different timelines of world events and their connections to everyday lives, and how she views the impact of her work. Topics Discussed: 0:00-3:00 Introductions 03:10- 4:30 Early life in Jamaica, interest in writing, being well traveled 04:45-11:42 Time in Hawaii, colonial occupation of Hawaii, coming into filmmaking, the indigenous way of filmmaking, conservation. 11:43- 16:40 Return to Jamaica, “Kuleana”, the importance of archival work and creation and distribution of Caribbean knowledge, origins of Cockpit Country: Voices from Jamaica’s Heart 16:45- 21:42 The indigenous perspective, tourism, overmining, overfishing, and it’s effect on Jamaica's ecosystem and economy, the continuing effects of colonialism in Jamaica 22:23-26:55 Sputnik, traveling around America as a child and facing racism, education, athletics, growing up with brothers. 26:57- 29:28 Studying Communications, influences from outside of traditional cinema. 29:30- 37:21 Filmmaking philosophy (filmmaking as a craft), growing up in a patriarchal household, being a female filmmaker. Frame By Frame is hosted by Dr. Terri Francis Theme music provided by BRZ with additional music from André Seewood and Deija Lighon Production by David Carter, Deonna Weatherly and Bria McCarty Notes and episode descriptions were written by Yeeseon Chae with additional assistance from David Carter The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Black Film Center & Archive audio series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Trustees of Indiana University ("IU") and/or its employees. IU is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the content contained in this podcast. This podcast and its content are available for private, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, display, distribute, modify, or perform any of the content contained in this blog without the prior express written approval of the Black Film Center & and Archive.”

5. 

   17 Dec 2021

   Frame By Frame: Episode 1 - TreaAndrea Russworm

   As a part of the Before Representation series in Fall 2019, Dr. TreaAndrea Russworm, Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst, presented her work on race and video games at the IU Media School. Dr. Russworm’s work spans across digital cultural studies to postmodern studies. A natural storyteller since childhood, the professor envisioned herself becoming a writer first until someone told her that she could get a Ph.D. and write books on the side. In this podcast interview, Dr. Russworm describes her academic and personal journey to where she is now, currently writing her fourth book, a monograph on race and technology. Topics Discussed: 0:00-2:45 Introductions 02:45-26:50 Beginnings, becoming an academic, studying multimedia, and the importance of hobbies 27:20-38:10 Shifting from studying cinema to studying video games, what makes a game a game and a movie a movie? 38:47-45:30 Catfish, the protection of anonymity, VR, and The Matrix 45:45:00-1:03:15 Discussing representational meaning making in her upcoming lecture Frame By Frame is hosted by Dr. Terri Francis Theme music provided by BRZ with additional music from André Seewood and Deija Lighon Production by David Carter, Deonna Weatherly and Bria McCarty Notes and episode descriptions were written by Yeeseon Chae with additional assistance from David Carter The views, information, or opinions expressed on the Black Film Center & Archive audio series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Trustees of Indiana University ("IU") and/or its employees. IU is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the content contained in this podcast. This podcast and its content are available for private, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, display, distribute, modify, or perform any of the content contained in this blog without the prior express written approval of the Black Film Center & and Archive.”