|
VIEW THE TRAILER:
|
|
WATCH THE FULL-LENGTH PREVIEW:
|
Filmmaker Daphne Valerius's award-winning documentary
The Souls of Black Girls explores how media images of beauty undercut the self-esteem of African-American women. Valerius surveys the dominant white, light-skinned, and thin ideals of beauty that circulate in the culture, from fashion magazines to film and music video, and talks with African-American girls and women about how these images affect the way they see themselves. The film also features powerful commentary from rapper and activist Chuck D, actresses Regina King and Jada Pinkett Smith, PBS news anchor Gwen Ifill, cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis, and others.
The Souls of Black Girls has screened at hundreds of universities and organizations around the country, and earned Valerius the Rising Female Filmmaker Award at the Harlem Int'l Film Festival. In 2015, it aired on ASPIRE TV in association with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, earning Valerius a trip to the White House as an invited guest of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Featuring Interviews With:
Darlise Blount, Producer
Chuck D, Rapper/Political Activist
Michaela Angela Davis, Cultural Critic
Dr. Lez Edmond, African-American Historian
Pamela Edwards, ESSENCE
C’Nay Hines, BET
Gwen Ifill, PBS Washington Week
Juanita Jennings, Actress
Regina King, Actress
Katie Magrane, Youth Advocate
Amelia Marshall, Actress
Kadija Minah, Producer
Kenyetta Smith, Screenwriter
Jada Pinkett Smith, Actress
Duration: 52 min
ISBN: 978-1-932869-10-1
Date Produced: 2008
Subtitles: English
Transcript
Filmmaker Info
Producer, Writer & Editor: Daphne Valerius
Supervising Producers: Janet Kolodzy & Melinda Robins
Original Music Provided by: Marcos Morales
Principal Photography: Claudia Saimbert
Additional Graphics: Casey Quinn, Tim MacArthur & Allison Lamb
Audio/Mix & Re-recording: Katerina Dejkoska
Daphne Valerius
Meet Daphne Valerius, one to watch as the era of women of color
redefining the landscape of media images –in front and behind the
camera—begins to unfold. A native of Rhode Island by way of Brooklyn,
New York —Host, Producer and Entrepreneur Daphne Valerius has journeyed
into the successful pursuit of redefining the landscape of media images
with an array of talent that navigates her both in front and behind the
camera. Valerius’ passion for the media industry began during her
undergraduate studies at St. John’s University. She went on to complete
her Masters in Broadcast Journalism at Emerson College, where she
received the esteemed Associated Press Award for Public Affairs and
produced her award-winning documentary,
The Souls of Black Girls.
Among other achievements, the success of
The Souls of Black Girls
has garnered Valerius the support of the late Dr. Dorothy Height, the
Mira Nair Award for Rising Female Filmmaker from the Harlem Int'l Film
Festival and being named among the Best Black Documentary Directors of
2008. Notably, Valerius was featured as a panelist of Procter &
Gamble's 2009 national "My Black is Beautiful" Tour where her
documentary,
The Souls of Black Girls was used as a centerpiece
for discussion. Most recently Valerius was an invited guest of First
Lady Michelle Obama to the White House as a result of her work.
With profound commitment to her craft, Valerius sets out to influence,
inspire, uplift and serve women and girls through positive, educational
television, film and fashion projects. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc., Valerius remains an active community leader while
traveling throughout the country to promote the messages conveyed in her
film. Her television production credits include work for networks such
as ABC, FOX and BET. She is currently working on her upcoming television
pilot called
The Block and the sequel to her documentary,
The Souls of Black Girls, Too.
