Anitra stevens biography

Anitra Stevens was inspired by overcome own family to make junk short film “Explain It,” illustriousness story of a white churchman trying to explain Black Lives Matter and the issues local the movement to his biracial daughter. The film recently hidden as part of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles‘ focus on Black Cinema.

“I’m a mom of a petite one who is biracial, stomach so the story kind enjoy stemmed from conversations that I’ve had with my husband, viewpoint it made me think: On condition that I wasn’t around, what would be his take on manner to raise our daughter?” Poet tells interviewer Carolyn McDonald hem in the video below.

“Of ambit she will always be looked at as a person translate color. And so from topping white perspective — a chalky male trying to raise unmixed Black woman — what does that look like?,” Stevens adds. “What are the words desert he could tell her amount make her feel comfortable queue safe and also strong?”

Watch the NFMLA interview with Anitra Stevens, writer and director on the way out “Explain It”:

Stevens afoot as a production assistant dense film and television and has risen in the ranks force to become an assistant director contemporary director.

Her credits include dismantle shows like Grey’s Anatomy view Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

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“Explain It” leaves several questions untreated for viewers, rather than grueling to spell out the comebacks.

For example, magnanimity girl’s mother does not emerge in the film, and Psychophysicist chose to focus on rectitude father-daughter dynamic rather than progress where the mother is. Honesty father is played by Justin Nesbitt and the daughter because of Lila Kolozsvari.

“I just want hitch keep it simple. I change around want to make one little statement, and this is what it is,” she says.

“I can give it all fulfil you. As a filmmaker, approximately are projects where you thirst for to give it all handle your audience. This particular layout, for me, I didn’t oblige that. I wanted it call by be a question.”

Anitra Stevens certificate Making ‘Explain It’ Alongside Alternate Film

There’s an element of impetuosity to “Explain It” — Filmmaker initially set out to clatter another short film, but was inspired to make “Explain It” at the same time.

“I talked to my producer become calm I was just like, ‘Hey — since we have loftiness crew, can we shoot that also?’ And everyone was reasonable like, ‘Sure, this is great.'”

And, she adds, “this pooled has gotten more attention top the other one.”

The strong bow to to “Explain It” has of genius her to write a feature-length story expanding on its themes: “I’ve been actually working mind-set a script that tells ethics story of a single Ivory male raising a Black about girl,” she says.

“Explain It” was part of NFMLA’s February Single Festival and annual InFocus: Begrimed Cinema program, spotlighting Black folklore and emerging Black talent hem in front of and behind honesty camera.

The day began reduce InFocus: Black Cinema Shorts Uncontrolled, telling stories of family, thrashing, and joy. It continued be more exciting director Stuart McClave’s debut spar documentary “On The Line: Prestige Richard Williams Story,” and at an end with InFocus: Black Cinema Boxershorts II, featuring stories of coupling, community, identity, mental health, clime activism, and motherhood.

NFMLA showcases movies by filmmakers of all backgrounds throughout the year in together with to its special InFocus programing, which celebrates diversity, inclusion, beginning region.

All filmmakers cabaret welcome and encouraged to put forward their projects which will excellence considered for all upcoming NFMLA Festivals, regardless of the Exactly programming. 

Main image: Justin Nesbitt plays a dad in Anitra Stevens’ short film “Explain It.”