Our Voices Project

20/12/2024

THANK YOU FRIENDS! ☺️🥹🎬

Locking in core memories from last night from seeing all of the folks in our community coming to support these films to friends and peers of ours coming to support us, meeting fellow filmmakers and wanting to find out more about each others films (seriously y'all, LET'S TALK!), to getting to share these stories and our process.

It was EVERYTHING. Thank you and for the opportunity and as always thank you to our storytellers. You are the reason we do this and may we continue to not only have these important and necessary conversations, but to put these into action.

That is the heart of what we do and that's what it means to uplift the people and voices of those whose stories must be shared so that we can move forward towards an equitable society.

📸:

19/12/2024

Sick of seeing the same ol' stuff regurgitated onscreen? (Us too.) That's why we'd LOVE to see you support local filmmakers tomorrow and attend One Take: The Short List, which also includes your friendly neighborhood filmmakers here at Our Voices Project.

Don't miss out and buy your tickets today here: https://thelittle.org/one-take-the-short-list-dec-19-21/

14/12/2024

🎉 OUR FILM, BEING BLACK IN AMERICA, IS AT The Little Theatre NEXT WEEK! 🎉

Join us at the One Take Film Fest: The Short List Series starting on Thursday, December 19 at 7pm followed by a Q&A with all of the filmmakers including the OVP team! 😁

BEING BLACK IN AMERICA is our short documentary film is about a diverse group of Black Americans discussing their thoughts and attitudes behind Blackness answering one central question, What does being Black in America mean to you?

In case you can’t make it on the 19th, there will be an encore screening on Saturday, December 21 at 3pm!

Tickets are on sale NOW so please go secure your tickets today! 🎟 https://thelittle.org/one-take-the-short-list-dec-19-21/

13/12/2024

Vote for BEST FILMMAKER! Voting ends tonight at midnight.

Check our Stories for the link!

(Still processing this nomination - like WOW!) THANK YOU to ALL who nominated and voted! ❤️

11/12/2024

This is the ONE time we're happy that Hollywood didn't cast a Black or Brown actor. 🙃🤭

Because to cast anyone else would be MISSING THE POINT ENTIRELY. For those that get it, get it.

Have you seen American Psycho? If so, do you pick up what we're putting down? Let us know below. 👇🏾

For more hot takes and our thoughts about representation in movies, subscribe to our podcast! [Check the comments.] 🎬

06/12/2024

Looking for a podcast to listen to while you work?! We've got you! 🎙👍🏾

REPRESENTATION IN CINEMA is our podcast where we talk about EXACTLY that - the kind of representation in movies that we LOVE to see and the many issues that we still need to address an industry that pushes harmful stereotypes.

We have a NEW episode with these lovely humans (Gabrielle Brannigan, Dr. Katrina Overby, Kim Smith, and Tiffany Porter) talking about Black identity, intersectionality, and how Black folks, especially Black women and q***r folks are portrayed in the media, and our history like you haven't heard it before and the importance of teaching that history RIGHT.

It's all centered around our film Being Black in America! You DO NOT need to have seen the film in order to listen to the episode, but it IS a bonus! This is a conversation you’re going to want to hear, so grab those headphones and listen in to Being Black in America: Part 2.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WkbWib3h6XgfrvibHKLwE?si=XY9BUEUmRN-Ti2TBVo8rjQ

06/12/2024

Looking for a podcast to listen to while you work?! We've got you! 🎙👍🏾

REPRESENTATION IN CINEMA is our podcast where we talk about EXACTLY that - the kind of representation in movies that we LOVE to see and the many issues that we still need to address an industry that pushes harmful stereotypes.

We have a NEW episode with these lovely humans (Gabrielle Brannigan, Dr. Katrina Overby, Kim Smith, and Tiffany Porter) talking about Black identity, intersectionality, and how Black folks, especially Black women and q***r folks are portrayed in the media, and our history like you haven't heard it before and the importance of teaching that history RIGHT.

It's all centered around our film Being Black in America! You DO NOT need to have seen the film in order to listen to the episode, but it IS a bonus! This is a conversation you’re going to want to hear, so grab those headphones and listen in to Being Black in America: Part 2.

Comment BBIA to get the link to our latest podcast episode!

28/11/2024

Today is not a celebration. It's the National Day of Mourning today and your reminder that this country was built on the genocide of Indigenous Peoples. There’s no sugarcoating this or trying to throw a positive spin on today to avoid “unpleasantries”. “Thanksgiving” is a lie and this is NOT a safe space for white supremacy.

Today, many Nations and their accomplices will join the United American Indians of New England in protest and with speeches at Plymouth Rock. We invite you to tune in at Noon. HUGE thank you to for the education and to for livestreaming this!

WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/live/pdpBNKI31TA?si=eDvtPpujqHce3tz0

27/11/2024

How are YOU supporting Indigenous Peoples this week? We challenge you to buy from small businesses AND support Native creatives, and you can do BOTH!

Shop small AND Shop Native Made this Saturday at La Luna Restaurant! Watch the video to see the featured artists and businesses represented!

We’re proud sponsors of The Third Native Made Market - Rochester NY happening on (11/30) from 11am-5pm followed by a Haudenosaunee community dinner and social dance. Show your support for Indigenous creatives, educators, and community leaders this day and every day.

If you’re unable to make it, Native Made Market will be LIVESTREAMED on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/share/5cWfyS8btsPAZJE4/

25/11/2024

🚨 THIS WEEK'S ACTION ITEM! 🚨 👇🏾

Learn about the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women ( ) movement created to advocate for the end of violence against Native women and to bring awareness to the high rates of disappearances and murders of Native people, particularly women and girls. Learn how you can help! You can start with the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.

3 things you can do right now:
Follow them at and on Facebook
Visit niwrc.org and sign up for their newsletter
Subscribe to their YouTube channel

19/11/2024

🚨 SAVE THE DATE to support Indigenous Artists! 🚨

On November 30, 2024, the Native Made Market will host its 3rd gathering, bringing together Indigenous artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and supporters to immerse attendees in Native cultures in a meaningful, engaging and impactful way.

This year, the event will be held at High Falls, overlooking the Genesee River, located at 60 Brown’s Race, Rochester, NY 14614. There is free street and garage parking available at the High Falls garage.

We encourage you to not only attend but to also support all of the vendors who will be there not only on this day but to support them throughout the year!

https://www.facebook.com/events/768840598504853

17/11/2024

Yesterday was opening day of the Witness Palestine Film Festival with No Other Land at The Little Theatre.

Let's just say, we're going to need to devote a podcast episode to talk about this film. Just WOW.

WOW. WOW. WOW.

No Other Land centers Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist documenting the demolitions by the Israel Occupation Forces in Masafer Yatta. With the help of Israeli journalist, Yuval Abraham, Basel shares the stories of his family and neighbors who are under constant threat of being displaced and their homes being destroyed.

It's a beautifully made film and one, like many Palestinian stories, needs to be shared again and again. Be sure to catch Ambulance at 1:30 today at Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum. Then head over to Asbury First United Methodist Church for lunch at 3:30 courtesy of The Saucey Chef, and then back to Dryden Theatre at 5pm for Life is Beautiful!

17/11/2024

14/11/2024

I remember being assigned a book my junior year of high school entitled, Lies My Teacher Told Me. It was the first account of what REALLY happened on “Thanksgiving”. It detailed the massacre of the Wampanoag and Pequot people.

We’re grateful to the teachers who understood the assignment - teaching their students the truth about our history - and to the Indigenous community leaders, mentors, and educators who have been teaching both youth and adults about the ongoing genocide of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island and about the cultures and traditions of the Haudenosaunee people. HUGE thank yous to , the Indigenous Peoples Day Committee of Rochester, and to Native Made for their commitment to education and truthtelling.

🚨 What are younger generations being taught about this so-called holiday? What are they being taught about the displacement of the Haudenosaunee people? 🚨

These questions, among many others, are what we want to challenge you with, especially if you’re a parent or educator.

THIS WEEK’S ACTION ITEM: Find out how Indigenous Peoples’ are represented in your local school district’s curricula and advocate for the historical truth-telling of ancestral land dispossession and genocide, and the acknowledgement and celebration of Indigenous contributions past and present. Ask your kids what they’re being taught in school. Who’s your district’s curriculum supervisor?

11/11/2024

Need encouragement this morning? Here's something we shared with our email subscribers just moments ago:

Question for you - have you seen the movie, Arrival?

It’s the story about a linguist, Louise Banks (Amy Adams), who’s enlisted by the US Army to learn the language of the aliens that have touched down in various locations around the world. (There’s a point to this. We are, after all, movie nerds.)

In her quest to determine whether or not the entire world is in grave danger, not only does she discover a unique trait about the language itself, but she also bears witness to what it’s doing to the people she’s working with and the world around her. She sees their panic, confusion, grief, and, as a result, the world starts to tear itself apart fearing and becoming suspicious of each other.

As she and her colleagues learn to communicate in this language, they discover something embedded in the language that the world needs to hear - it’s the art of working together.

Of course, there’s more to the story, but this is the crux of the message. This movie was released in 2016 and it couldn’t be more relevant to bring up right now. For the past year, I’ve been in community with folks of all different identities who have (and continue to) come together to support and fight alongside Palestinians and within these same communities, we see how all of our liberation struggles are interlinked. If you can’t take my word for it, look to history. When different communities come together, movements advance and meaningful change happens.

We CANNOT lose that and we REFUSE to.

Right now, I know that it seems impossible with what’s coming. I know a lot of folks are feeling fatigued going through all the stages of grief. You’re angry, frustrated, and confused. Sit with that if you haven’t taken the time already for as long as you need to. There are folks who genuinely care, who truly believe that WE keep us safe.

It’s going to take a lot of organizing to make sure that the most marginalized among us in our communities are well taken care of. Throughout the month, we’re going to be sharing organizations to get involved with so stay tuned for that.

Community care is KEY. If we are a society that truly cares for each other, I truly believe we’ll be ok. And if that’s a naïve take, hit that REPLY button.

08/11/2024

In these (and in all) times, we need to remember our neighbors, especially our Indigenous neighbors. Do you know whose land you're on? Read on. 👇🏾

Our country was founded upon exclusions and erasures of many Indigenous Peoples’ through centuries of genocide and forced separation from family, culture, language, and from land, spirit, and mind.

We must acknowledge this truth, listen and share their stories, culture, and history, and fight alongside Indigenous folks for land sovereignty (aka ).

All month long, we’re sharing opportunities to support local Indigenous artists, creatives, educators, and community leaders as well as action items.

THIS WEEK’S ACTION ITEM: Commit to making a recurring monthly donation to a Native-led organization, such as to Indigenous Peoples Day Rochester NY and Native Made in Rochester, NY.

[Link in the comments] on how to support Indigenous Peoples Day ROC and Native Made!