When Mos Def, Da Brat, Monica Calhoun and MC Lyte get together
in a film, the set might be expected to have a bumping atmosphere
something like “House Party.”
Instead, UCLA film and television professor Neema Barnette
assembled them together for a film about how prisons are home to
new slave labor with clients, according to Barnette, such as
Victoria’s Secret, Lee Dungarees and Tommy Hilfiger.
It’s a touchy subject, and the film was shut down when the
independent studio she worked for was bought by the more
conservative Lions Gate.
“Lions Gate told me I was forcing people to think,”
Barnette said. “I don’t think they were used to seeing
young hip-hop artists in a certain light in films.”
That film, “Civil Brand,” has since been completed
and has won acclaim at various film festivals, including an
upcoming screening at the Sundance Film Festival. How Barnette
finished the film is even more surprising than the underdog success
it has since achieved.
Her original 25-day shooting schedule was shut down without
notice after 14 days. Barnette was forced to go to Los Angeles,
compile an incomplete cut of the film and wait for the OK to resume
shooting. She waited for a year and a half, and only then did she
get one day to finish shooting everything.
“In that one day, I shot 41 set-ups and made a
movie,” Barnette said.
Barnette took the finished product to film festivals across the
country and won the best film award at the American Black Film
Festival in Miami and the audience award at the Urbanworld Film
Festival in New York City. Because “Civil Brand” has
already won at two other festivals, it is not eligible for
competition at Sundance and is screening in the “American
Spectrum” program instead, but Barnette doesn’t
mind.
“I’m glad we’re not in competition, because we
couldn’t compete with all those movies,” Barnette said.
“I’m just happy that we’re in there. We’re
just a small 15-day movie.”
Barnette made it a point to share her experience on “Civil
Brand” with her UCLA students, showing them rough cuts and
telling them about her dealings with studio bosses.
“The students that I’ve had have gone through this
journey with me through this film,” Barnette said. “It
teaches patience and what you have to go through sometimes. You
have to keep your eyes on the prize and really be
determined.”
Barnette studied film at the American Film Institute, where her
student project allowed her to get jobs directing episodic
television and later TV movies. Using her connections, Barnette was
able to get the impressive list of talent for her film. For
example, she knew Mos Def from directing him in episodes of
“The Cosby Mysteries.”
“Nobody thought he would do (my film) because he’s a
big time rap star now,” Barnette said. “After we
started winning festivals and getting more attention, we’re
ready to do a soundtrack that Mos Def and Da Brat will be
in.”
Even after the awards, however, Barnette is still working on the
project. In light of the film festival attention and underground
support on Web sites, the originally hesitant Lions Gate has
decided to distribute “Civil Brand” nationally.
Barnette is now discussing how the film should be marketed to reach
her intended audience.
“The kids I’m trying to get to don’t have
credit cards,” Barnette said. “You can’t give
them a documentary; you have to give them entertainment.”
“Personally, as an artist, I feel film is a strong
political tool, and I never waste it. I never make a film without a
message,” Barnette added.