Santana Coleman and Emily Keuster are two Milwaukee-based filmmakers hoping to foster a bigger community of female filmmakers and filmmakers of color. Their latest project "Black Girl Training" tackles a unique story about identity and black culture while also bringing together film crew members from marginalized communities.
Hear more about the short film from Santana Coleman (Director) and Emily Keuster (Producer) in the audio story below.
The film is loosely based onEmily Keuster’s life. The main character Mia is African-American and was adopted by a white family from a suburban neighborhood.
“I didn’t really have black idols, I didn’t watch black movies or TV shows,” said Keuster as she was comparing herself to Mia. “My dolls were white, my posterswere white.”
When Mia has the opportunity to meet her biological family, her friends put her through a “black girl training.” The crash course in all things black culture is meant to prepare Mia to meet her black family.
This type of identity crisis leaves people conflicted in all parts of their lives. I think of my Latino peers who don’t feel “Latino/a enough” because they don’t speak Spanish fluently. I think of my black friends from the suburbs who are asked things like “why don’t you talk/act black,” which is much like Keuster’s scenario.
Off-camera and behind the scenes, Santana Coleman is giving Keuster the real deal training.
“She’s finally seen 'Friday' and 'Next Friday,'” said Coleman. The two burst out in laughter. “She started watching 'Paid In Full' yesterday, that’s my favorite hood movie.”
Coleman added that Keuster’s curriculum also included lessons about popular black music, television, artists, dances and even the origins of some of the best memes in black culture.
Coleman says Keuster isn’t the only person who will learn from some black girl training, though.
“We’re training the public and training her,” said Coleman. “And we’re letting people in to know us as filmmakers and people.”
