The most dangerous element of a dictator is his charisma
I love police procedurals in unique locations
On Wednesday March 29th 2023, I had the honor of attending BEBE’s Spring Summer 2023 preview festival collection. When you think of the 2000’s nostalgia, my mind automatically pops up an image of a bedazzled tank top with the words BEBE in bold written all over it. BeBe is a brand that we all know and love. Bebe was founded in 1976, but 2003 is when their impact was made; Bebe’s sportswear and activewear was all anyone could talk about and wear; we are now in the year 2023 and Bebe is still a hot and iconic line to rock.
Exploring trauma, grief, and sorrow in a campy and humorous way
We’ve seen lots of films about gender politics.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre needs no introduction.
Serial killer films are ripe for exploration.
I’m sure we’ve all seen this story before. A beloved child’s plaything takes on a life of its own and in an effort to preserve its own self and way of life, it sees murder as the most viable option. No? Haven’t seen this concept before? Well, maybe you’ve seen the story where the artificial intelligence breakthrough that was initially deemed as a step into a new and brighter future backfired as a rushed and dangerous experiment with lethal consequences.
J. D. Dillard’s “Devotion” is arguably the most important film of the year.
It’s not every day you get to sit in a room full of people talking openly about mental health, but that is exactly what arthur gallery’s new short film, Genesis X, prompted dozens of young adults to do. Hosted at the Hippo Factory Studios in Los Angeles, the 15 minute movie was screened in the large photo studio with an open bar and music featured by William Anthony.
The film follows a down-on-her-luck young woman named Xiomara, played by Jalesa Marks. Xiomara is struggling to turn her life around and impress her esteemed father working for an infamous corporation. As she continues to perform tasks for the company, she struggles to break free from her anxiety feeling as though there is no escape.
As many young professionals have seen, the standards of work ethic and face time set by corporations lead to increased anxiety and a diminished sense of self-worth. gallery explores this notion in Genesis X by outlining the pressures Xiomara faces from the corporation while also outlining the parental pressures that come with said performance. Stylistically, gallery also illustrates these tensions through Xiomara’s body language, a strong cinematic color palette, and action scenes. The film’s musical efforts, led by William Anthony, also create a palpable sense of stress as we see Xiomara struggle to reconcile her work and her emotions.
Q&A moderated by Sadé Unique Grandberry
Q&A moderated by Sadé Unique Grandberry
During the Q&A with gallery and the cast, the discussion centered around the anxieties and pressures of corporate life. The open dialogue was refreshing given mental health is still seen as a taboo subject. Take away from the night? There is a little Xiomara in all of us, but perhaps there is an escape if we continue to de-stigmatize mental health.